Codex Null: Simulation Through Madness

Calming his agitated emotions, and the Destruction Law in his soul, took time, but Noel managed it… even if only partially.

His body, already too exhausted, felt like it could collapse — but he stayed upright, and opened his eyes.

His gaze landed on Lilith, who was now standing in front of him, with Linda just behind her.

"Brother…" Lilith muttered.

She was biting her lip, as if holding something back. Her expression said she had too many words, and didn't know where to begin.

But Noel narrowed his eyes and spoke first.

"How about we leave my pocket dimension first, then have our long conversation?"

Noel didn't wait for a response.

He walked past Lilith and stepped through the gate he came from — without a hint of hesitation.

This time, Lilith and Linda were quick to follow him.

And as they emerged from the gate, Noel looked at them and said, "Before anything, give me the necklace that my pocket dimension is anchored on."

His tone was calm. Too calm, as he looked directly at Linda.

But when she didn't answer, and instead turned to Lilith for confirmation—

"GIVE ME BACK MY NECKLACE," Noel screamed.

Lilith bit down harder, the sound of his voice tightening something inside her, before she gave a small nod.

Only then did Linda pull out a simple necklace and hand it over.

Noel took it. But instead of calming down, his eyes only narrowed further.

"Remove your soul imprint from it," he said.

This time, Linda didn't ask for permission. She simply obeyed.

Only then did the tension in Noel's face begin to ease.

"What's going on with you?" Lilith finally asked.

Noel chuckled lightly, slipping the necklace into his pocket.

"Things went wrong at some point," he said. "I'm just trying to fix it."

"Nothing else."

His words, filled with all kinds of meanings, seemed to strike something deep within Lilith. And she couldn't help but lower her eyes, guilt clouding her expression.

She stayed silent like that, unmoving, and Noel — without waiting for her — walked off to another room.

He sat there quietly, waiting for Lilith to join him, while contemplating his next step.

His perception, which had sharpened noticeably after his soul healed this time, along with his Sixth Sense Talent and growing strength, already allowed him to feel it clearly — there were many people monitoring the house.

So, even though he seemed less restrained than he had been inside the simulation, the truth was…

He was still imprisoned.

The prison was simply larger. And he had been granted slightly more room to move.

Noel hummed faintly and paused in his thoughts.

Maybe he was overthinking it?

That was the idea that occurred to him.

Because at the end of the day, now that he had regained the ability to use Law again, imprisoning him had become… literally impossible.

Unless, of course, they wanted to imprison his corpse.

Shaking his head lightly, Noel glanced up just as Lilith finally stepped into the room — alone this time.

Her expression had changed — sharper now, more focused. She didn't sit down. And while still standing, she spoke.

"I don't know how you're healing your soul this quickly," she said, her voice calm but carrying a heavy edge. "But can't you stop doing that?"

"And why should I?" Noel asked, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

And Lilith, eyes flashing with a ruthless light, didn't hesitate as she replied.

"Maybe you haven't regained enough of your memory to realize it yet. But your condition is beyond saving."

"I tried looking for every possible method to help you. I'm still looking. But really, nothing seems able to save you."

"So right now, what you're doing… is just aggravating your condition. You're shortening your life span."

Noel's smile widened. He crossed one leg over the other, then, with a tyrannical air, said, "Now, I'm curious. Why do you think something you were unable to do… would be the same for me?"

Lilith clenched her hands at those words. She was reminded of how brilliant and out of reach her brother had once been to her.

And for a moment, she truly believed that he might find a solution where she had failed.

But then, as if dragging herself back from that dangerous hope, she remembered that incident… and his decision back then.

She let out a quiet, bitter chuckle at her own foolishness before saying, "Brother, I'm already the head of the Cross house."

"And?" Noel raised an eyebrow, his voice as calm as it was sharp.

"Even as the head of the Cross house, I couldn't find a solution to your condition."

Noel heard her next words and laughed — loudly, mockingly — as if she had just told a good joke. Then, with cold finality, he said, "That doesn't mean shit, with how low the Cross house seems to have fallen… you know that, right?"

Lilith's eyes reddened as she took in his harsh words. She lowered her head and bit her lip before saying in a pleading tone, "Can't you just listen to me? And stop doing whatever it is you're doing to heal your soul?"

Her intentions, which seemed to be purely for his sake, didn't stir anything in Noel.

"I even need to listen to your orders now?" he asked.

Lilith still didn't meet his gaze, but she spoke anyway.

"Well… you need to."

"You're not the heir anymore, after all… you need to acknowledge that."

"You need to acknowledge that you don't have any power left."

"… I took everything."

"So, please."

"Can't you live peacefully?"

Her voice, which had started firmly, had become feeble somewhere along the way — barely holding itself together as she pleaded.

She waited for some kind of answer, some flicker of response.

But he gave her none.

So she continued.

"The insignificant strength you acquired… it can't change anything."

"You know that too, right?"

"So please… that's enough."

Lilith dropped to her knees as tears began to fall freely, slipping down her cheeks in quiet, desperate trails. She reached out and clutched at his pants, her voice breaking.

"I can give you anything you want, as long as it doesn't harm you."

"So… please… just live."

Noel heard her hoarse, pleading words.

And as he looked down and saw her trembling hands clutching at him, something deep inside moved — just a little.

But in the end… he knew.

He knew when he could be soft, and when he couldn't afford to be.

He reached out his hand, touched her cheek, and gently raised her chin with a finger. He lowered his gaze to meet hers.

"Let me ask you something."

"Do you think I was living during these past twelve years?"

"You really think so?"

Lilith just stared at him, her lips trembling but silent.

Noel smiled, but it was hollow.

A smile that had long since lost its warmth.

"If so… then you're wrong."

"I wasn't living then."

"No… I was dying."