The Most Satisfied Reincarnate

"You seem to have misunderstood us; our intentions are not malicious," Jessy explained, her finger still pointed towards something mysterious. She left her words hanging in the air, without offering any further explanation.

Desmond's gaze shifted back to the furnace, realizing that he had no choice but to proceed. With a sense of resignation, he found himself standing before the imposing structure. The white-robed individuals nearby were on high alert, their expressions reflecting a mix of concern and caution.

The crowd was bewildered, including the more experienced individuals who lacked the knowledge and power possessed by Desmond, who possessed the enigmatic system. They struggled to comprehend the sudden change in Jessy's demeanor and the subtle shifts in the posture of the white-robed figures.

Jessy maintained a vigilant glare at Desmond's back, sensing a surge of energy from him. Perplexed by his use of energy without apparent action, she turned her head and exchanged a nod with the white-robed individuals. They, too, were puzzled by Desmond's actions but chose to observe him a little longer.

[Initiating target scan...]

[Scan Complete!]

[Name: Mask of Blessings Furnace

Grade: Unique

Information: This furnace is crafted from an unknown material. The fire within acts as gears and poses no immediate harm to the host. For now, the host remains safe.]

Meanwhile, as Desmond approached the furnace, his face contorted upon reading the information. Damn the so-called blessing! It appeared more like a curse than anything else.

With reluctance, Desmond cautiously inserted his right hand into the furnace's opening, bracing himself for any potential loss. But losing his hand wasn't the primary concern; what if it miraculously healed on the spot?

As his right hand made contact with the furnace entrance, a wave of intense heat washed over him. He couldn't spare a glance to assess the state of his hand, as his body leaned forward, pressing his hand against the furnace's surface.

The furnace emitted a blinding white light and trembled with an audible pounding of iron meeting hammer and the burbling of water.

Desmond attempted to steel himself for the expected pain by opening his eyes wide, but to his surprise, the anticipated agony failed to materialize. Instead, he discovered a peculiar object attached to his wrist. It felt warm, as though freshly forged, and the heat didn't inflict significant discomfort. Instead, it seemed to draw a bit of his energy.

"Good job. Now, withdraw your hand," Jessy instructed. Desmond complied, relieved to find his right hand intact and still connected to his body. However, his attention was drawn to a curious black bracelet glowing with a crimson hue, adorned with intricate and mysterious characters.

The bracelet possessed an entirely black hue, its reflective surface distorting Desmond's image ever so slightly, like a diamond. Neither heavy nor light, it emitted a faint white glow along its edges, surrounded by a trace of energy.

Desmond yearned to scan the object's properties, but Jessy gestured for him to approach and raised his right hand, holding it for an extended period. She allowed the new students to observe, initially perceiving the bracelet as mundane. Yet, those with knowledge soon recognized the significance of its material, leaving them astounded.

"Teacher, was the bracelet made with Blackark material?" The trembling new student mustered the courage to ask, his face drained of color.

"Yes," Jessy replied with a single word, causing the student to collapse to the ground in shock.

Desmond regarded the student with a perplexed expression. The reaction seemed exaggerated for a mere bracelet. Though he was unfamiliar with "Blackark," he was certain it must be akin to materials like "Silveral" and others.

"B-Blackark!" the student stammered.

"Yes, enough of that now," Jessy interjected, sensing the escalating panic among the students. She lowered Desmond's hand and gestured for him to return to his seat.

"Quiet! I will now announce the students who secured 2nd to 10th places. As for the rest..." Jessy waved her hand, and an incantation escaped her lips, causing the large glass panels lining the hall to emit a radiant glow.

The light condensed, revealing the names of the new students, encircling the hall. The seats of the senior students were pushed back, allowing the newcomers to locate their names on the list.

"In second place, Matson... Third place, Aurora... Fourth..."

Jessy continued to announce the names of the top ten most talented students. However, Desmond found himself disinterested, instead engrossed in examining the bracelet adorning his wrist.

[Identifying the material...]

[Matching with the host's database...]

[Data found! Displaying information!]

[Name: Blackark

Grade: Unique

Information: The strongest and rarest material in the Saint World. Harder and more durable than Adamanstyal, possessing the same effect as Silveral. However, Blackark has a greater capacity for energy absorption at a faster rate. Essentially, Blackark has no weaknesses and surpasses Adamanstyal and Silveral in every aspect.

Blackark is found exclusively within the inner territories of the Beasts. Its scarcity arises from the difficulty humans face in accessing these regions. As a result, Blackark is usually reserved for forging weapons for kings, as well as important items like crowns.

The system acquired this information when the host read the book titled "The Material of the Saint World."]

Desmond's expression remained indifferent upon discovering this information, possibly due to being overwhelmed by the academy's peculiarities, rendering him somewhat numb.

He couldn't fathom how the academy had managed to acquire a significant quantity of this rare material, only to fashion it into a simple bracelet for students.

"Perhaps this is a unique feature of this academy or the entire Human Kingdom's academies?" he pondered aloud. From his knowledge, the Northern Kingdom had recently established its academy, while the other kingdoms had built theirs over fifty years prior to the empire's separation.

"And the more the object can store or restore energy, the more spells it can accommodate, right?" Desmond mused, adding his thoughts. To him, this object held no strangeness and bore resemblance to objects from his previous life.

In his previous life, even inanimate objects like phones could function due to the insertion of programs. Essentially, this bracelet represented a magical version of his past life knowledge put into practice.

Simultaneously, after being lost in thought for some time and gaining knowledge from the system, Desmond surveyed his surroundings. He noticed several students who appeared gloomy, crestfallen, or even in tears, unable to locate their names despite frantically searching the hall.