My Beast is really not an evil god

Roy went in with confidence radiating from him, his earlier grin still fresh in everyone's memory. Moments after the door closed, a dazzling light, as brilliant as the one Claud had produced, burst forth from the chamber.

The students exchanged excited whispers, and Mr. Borr's face lit up. "Another special or legendary career," he muttered under his breath, eagerly awaiting Roy's return.

But when Roy finally emerged, the sight silenced the room. His steps were slow and deliberate, his face devoid of the cheerfulness and smug energy he had carried before. His eyes seemed distant, shadowed by something heavy and unnerving.

Mr. Borr hesitated for a moment, his excitement now replaced by confusion. Quickly shaking his head, he stepped forward and asked, "Roy, what career did you awaken?"

Roy looked up at him, his voice low and hollow as he replied, "Shadow Assassin."

Everyone in the room was stunned. The profession Shadow Assassin was a rare and advanced branch of the common Assassin career, known for its unmatched stealth and deadly single-hit kills. Its reputation was both terrifying and impressive.

But confusion mingled with the shock. Why was Roy, usually so lively and confident, acting like a soulless zombie? His reaction didn't match the prestige of the career he had unlocked.

As the students and Mr. Borr tried to make sense of it, Roy silently stepped down from the chamber and walked toward Sein.

What greeted him was the sight of Sein struggling to hold back his laughter.

Seeing this, Roy's expression shifted from gloom to irritation. "Oe, Sein! Why are you laughing?" he demanded, his voice sharp with agitation.

Sein's attempt to hold back failed miserably. "Pfft—no, no—hahaha! You're a Shadow Assassin! A Shadow Assassin! Hahaha!" he burst out, clutching his stomach in glee as his laughter echoed through the room.

The other students looked on, confused by Sein's reaction. But Sein couldn't stop. He knew Roy too well. His best friend, who couldn't sit still for more than a few minutes without fidgeting or finding something to do, was now bound to the life of a Shadow Assassin—a career that demanded patience, precision, and endless waiting in the shadows.

It was, to Sein, the funniest and most ironic thing imaginable.

"You're gonna come out of the shadows to tell the target not to move, just so you don't have to wait too long! Pfft—hahaha!" Sein joked, barely able to get the words out through his laughter.

Roy's face turned red, both from embarrassment and irritation. "Shut up, Sein!" he snapped, but his agitated tone only made Sein laugh harder.

After laughing for what felt like an eternity, Sein finally managed to calm down, wiping tears from the corners of his eyes. He looked at Roy, whose face still reeked of devastation, as though the universe had played a cruel joke on him.

Realizing he might have gone too far with the teasing, Sein softened his tone and nudged Roy lightly on the shoulder. "Hey, Roy," he began, "I was just joking. Honestly, you got that career for a reason."

Roy frowned, his frustration evident. "A reason? What reason could there possibly be for this?"

Sein shrugged, his expression turning thoughtful. "Think about it. Shadow Assassin isn't just any career. It's one of the most specialized and rare ones out there. You must've awakened it because it fits something deep down in you, even if you don't see it yet. You've got potential, Roy. Who knows? You might end up being one of the best out there."

Though Roy still looked unconvinced, the faintest flicker of hope crossed his face as he processed Sein's words.

"And who said you have to hide in the shadows all day long?" Sein continued, scratching the back of his head. "You can just—uhm, well, you can just—"

"Okay, Sein, I get it," Roy interrupted, cutting him off with a wave of his hand. His usual confidence began to resurface as he straightened his posture. "There's no need to console me. It's not like I'm going to be let down just because I got a career I didn't want."

He clenched his fist, determination shining in his eyes. "I'll show you. I'll become the best Shadow Assassin there is!" he declared, his voice brimming with his trademark energy.

Sein smirked, leaning back slightly. "Now that's the Roy I know. Let's see how far you can go, Mr. Best Shadow Assassin."

Mr. Borr continued his task, calling out names and recording results as students went in and out of the chamber. However, the excitement from earlier had died down. No more special careers appeared, and Mr. Borr couldn't help but feel a little dejected.

Still, he reminded himself, having two special careers in his class was already an achievement. In the previous year, Academy No. 4 had seen only four special careers in total, so having two in his class alone accounted for half of that.

Taking out his list again, Mr. Borr cleared his throat and called out the next name.

"R no. 4458, Sein Noctis," Mr. Borr called out, glancing up from his list.

Hearing his name called, Sein stood up quickly, brushing off his uniform as if preparing for something monumental.

"Here I go," he said to Roy, his voice steady but with a hint of anticipation.

"All the best, Sein," Roy replied with a toothy grin and a thumbs up, his earlier gloom replaced by his usual energetic demeanor.

Passing by Mr. Borr, Sein stepped into the awakening room, his nerves hidden beneath a calm exterior.

The room was pristine, mostly white with soft hints of blue illuminating from subtle lights embedded in the walls. At the center stood a man dressed in black robes, holding what appeared to be a parchment or some sort of list.

The man glanced up as Sein entered. "Um, you must be Sein, right?"

"Yes, sir," Sein replied, nodding politely.

"Alright, come over here and place your hand on this paper," the man instructed, holding out the strange parchment.

Sein stepped closer, doing as instructed. As soon as his palm made contact, the paper shimmered slightly. When he removed his hand, a bright red handprint remained, glowing for a brief moment before the entire parchment disintegrated into thin air.

Startled, Sein stared at the spot where the paper had vanished.

Noticing his reaction, the man spoke in an almost bored tone, as though he had done this countless times before. "It's just for identification purposes. Your details have now been submitted to the main branch of the Awakening Institute in the capital of Nethyr."

The man then motioned toward an orb-like object that seemed to float slightly above the pedestal he retrieved it from.

"Now," he said, his tone still calm and indifferent, "just place your hands on this orb and focus your mind. If you're able to awaken, there will be a visible light reaction within a few seconds of contact. If not, well… nothing will happen."

Sein nodded, a mixture of anticipation and determination flickering across his face. Wasting no time, he stepped forward, steadying his breathing, and placed his hands on the orb.

For a moment, nothing happened. But then—suddenly—a radiant flash of light erupted from the orb, illuminating the entire room in a dazzling display.