Codex Null: Simulation Through Madness

I was dying.

Words that seemed to deny everything she'd done over the past twelve years.

Words that plunged Lilith deep into the abyss called despair.

Her sobs grew louder as she buried her head in her brother's lap, her shaking shoulders echoing the collapse of everything she had tried to hold together.

But even then, Noel didn't pity her.

His hand continued brushing through her hair, gently patting her head as if to soothe her — but his mouth didn't hold back the sharp truths he had carried all this time.

He spoke of the restrictions forced on him, of how she had kept him blind, refused to tell him anything. Of how, when he had first woken from his coma, he hadn't felt safe at all. Of how he had to study emotion on his own, memorize expressions just to pretend to be normal.

Because his sister seemed to have a few screws loose… and he couldn't trust her.

Even now, even after everything, she was still trying to hide the truth from him. Still covering his eyes, as if he wouldn't learn it all by himself just a few days later.

Noel laid it all bare.

He spoke of the moments he now considered shameful, of how broken and pathetic he had been. And as he did, he made one thing very clear: that going forward, things would change.

She didn't get to decide everything anymore.

And Lilith listened in silence.

But beneath that silence, she felt his fury. It was hidden behind his calm, his casual tone — but it was there, steady and cold and unrelenting. And for a moment, maybe longer, she regretted every choice she had made.

Her voice trembled as she finally asked, "Then what did you want me to do?"

"I was just five years old…"

Her eyes were wide now, helpless, angry, desperate.

"But Uncle — that bastard — he betrayed us! After that incident, while Father was still weak, he took advantage. Invited others to attack him."

Her voice cracked, but she kept speaking.

"And even though our parents came out victorious… they still died!"

She glared up at him, pain tearing through her expression.

"And then there was you. Still not waking up from your comatose state. And I had to take care of you."

Her voice rose, overflowing with everything she had buried for years.

"Tell me! What was I supposed to do?!"

In contrast to how desperate and distressed Lilith sounded, Noel suddenly chuckled, his eyes gleaming with a strange light as he exaggeratedly said, "My little sister really grew up… now she can even act like this."

"What do you—?"

Lilith's eyes widened in confusion. She opened her mouth but couldn't continue.

And Noel, not minding that, simply carried on.

"You're making it sound like you're the heroine of some tragic story."

"Listing off all kinds of reasons... but at the end of the day," he lowered his head closer to hers, his voice quieter now, colder, "it's more convenient this way for you, isn't it?"

"That's why you didn't tell me the exact situation."

'With no memories, I didn't know anyone and had to rely on you.'

'With no memories, Selena — who I had started hanging on with at that time — would no longer be in the picture.'

Noel had a dozen thoughts about the reasons she was acting like this, but he didn't bother listing them all.

Even so, Lilith was still taken aback. She couldn't say anything.

Because she knew the truth.

Back then, if she said one thing — then she'd have to say the rest.

And she feared something would happen to him.

Because of how proud he was. He wouldn't sit still.

That's why, even now, even after all this… she still didn't want to say it.

Her brother would never be convinced to live in mediocrity.

He would never bow his head to anyone.

But he wasn't stupid. He would never pick a fight he knew he couldn't win.

So, she had calculated.

Even if he tried to take things into his own hands, she could afford that.

Because at least… she could still win against the powerless him.

But… is that not the case?

Is she supposed to always lose to her brother?

With unblinking eyes, Lilith thought this silently—

But then, Noel's voice came once again.

"Okay, just tell me one thing."

"And don't try to lie, because I'll know the truth even if you do."

"What about Hilda?"

Hilda — his protector.

Someone he hadn't seen even once, hadn't even heard her name mentioned, in twelve whole years.

What had happened to her?

Noel was curious.

And so, he asked, "Did she die?"

"… No," Lilith said, avoiding his gaze.

And Noel, who had seemed calmer after finally saying everything to her, suddenly darkened again.

He returned to his bad mood.

His eyes narrowed.

"Then why haven't I seen her even once in these twelve years?"

"I sent her away," Lilith bit her lip as she spoke. "We had few hands left… and we couldn't afford anyone to slack off."

And Noel let out a loud laugh.

"So protecting the former heir can now be considered slacking off?"

He emphasized those two words — former heir — and Lilith found herself unable to say anything back.

He shook his head in the end, before saying, "Bring her to me. If not today, then tomorrow. I want to see her."

Lilith gave a small nod, and Noel — who already knew that Selena was bound to arrive at any moment — finally said, "Anyway, I need Soul Crystals, so give me some."

Soul Crystals, the currency of the Hidden Society.

At their core, they were condensed soul power — something one could absorb during battle if their own reserves were exhausted. But that wasn't their only use. Far from it. They had many applications, and that was why they were considered the hard currency of the Hidden Society. Ordinary money held no value in this world.

But naturally, none of that was on Noel's mind right now.

What was on his mind… was Null Points.

He needed more of them. He had to get better talents.

That was the conclusion he'd come to.

Because Noel didn't think his soul's problem could be solved through simulation alone.

So, he needed a truly strong talent.

And relying on Antiquate to slowly grind out thousands of Null Points? That would take far too long.

He also figured that getting the Soul Crystals from Lilith would be easier than asking Selena. So he wanted to secure that first, before anything else.

"What do you need them for?" Lilith asked, frowning slightly.

"Do you need a reason to keep money on you?" Noel asked back with a casual smile.

Lilith narrowed her eyes, clearly not believing him. But in the end, she still nodded.

She fidgeted with her fingers for a moment, before a few rings suddenly appeared out of another ring. After hesitating briefly, she handed one of them to him.

Noel extended his senses to check the contents — and narrowed his eyes.

"I didn't ask for pocket change," he said flatly. "So why are you giving me just a few Soul Crystals?"

Lilith coughed and muttered, "Well… we're not doing too well financially."

Noel was about to argue with her again, but then a voice interrupted him.

"Noel!"

Selena had arrived.