Chapter 197: Incapable (2/2)

He appreciated beauty, but he didn't feel any attractiveness to these women. Sometimes, just like what happened to Hua, it was simply a sexual desire. However, he couldn't feel anything toward Hazel who he had kissed before.

Maybe it was because it has been so long since he has seen her, but Arthur knew that deep down, he felt nothing but curiosity. They faced life and death together, making him feel like they might be connected in some way.

He didn't know why, but he simply didn't feel what everyone called love. As if everyone was born with the capacity to feel love, without ever needing to question what it is. For him, it felt like he was robbed of that too.

His only interests were getting stronger to avoid what he had to grow through before. Never does he want to return to the poverty, weakness, and humiliation he lived in those three years after his father's disappearance.

”We're here!” Oliver smacked Arthur's knee in an announcement, making him flinch. Arthur glared at him but the Oliver was too busy getting himself out of the car.

Arthur left the car and looked at the Awakeners' Association. Oliver didn't give him the time to admiral the ancient style of the association and pulled him inside.

Once they were inside, they were shown to the registration hall. Arthur remembered what he had read before regarding the annual number of applicants.

Fifty Thousand.

The hall was filled to the brim by young men and their families. There were nobles and there were commoners. The people that were lining up had different shapes and statures as if someone has plucked people from every group or minority to gather them into one hall.

Everyone here was striving for strength.

”Follow me, Alexie!” Oliver called out. ”Nobles get a separate line, although I doubt its shortness. This year is more lively than usual.” Oliver said as he wiped off his sweat with the same napkin from earlier.

As he followed the human shield, Arthur passed many students who were just as excited as he was. As he glanced at the side, he saw a guy of average build and face standing and looking upward at the giant statue in the middle.

The young man's eyes had a certain zeal as if wishing to defy the heavens. Arthur found the scene beautiful yet also a scary confession.

Their world was so dangerous that everyone strived for strength. Some of them strived for riches, which was also obtained by strength.

They were thrown into a wheel that refused to stop. They can either become stronger or simply perish in poverty. Whoever lags behind would be crushed by this wheel.

However, this was like inflating a balloon. At some point, the balloon would explode and everyone will face the consequences. The world's dependence on strength will come back to bite them.

When there's strength, there's also war and battlefield. Arthur knew that the world's balance was approaching its limits. Every day that passes is another day closer until the fallout of everyone seeking strength.

It was the same for the Holy Crown. As long as there are opportunities to get power, then there will be bloodshed. If you forfeit the battle to avoid violence, you'd only be left behind.

You will be crushed by the wheel.

Arthur shook his head as he kept following after Oliver. They found the line for the nobility to register and they took their spots.

”Phew, luckily we were here in time.” Oliver sighed in relief. ”Don't worry about the exam, I'll take care of you there too!”

Arthur smiled at his words and realized this guy wasn't so bad. He might be annoying, arrogant, vain, and conceited but he wasn't inherently bad. As he was about to open his mouth to say something, a figure passed him going in the opposite direction.

The scent was familiar. The stature was also the same. Her blonde hair shone in the light that rolled from the windows. Arthur reflexively turned around and stared at her departing back.

'Emma,' Arthur wanted to call out, but he stopped himself in time. She didn't know his current identity so it was futile to try talking to her. 'Is she also applying for Jerano?' Arthur realized that she has never mentioned it.

Emma stopped when she met a few people and talked to them. Arthur was able to see her side profile. Her eyes were tired and he could see dark halos under her them.

'Was she unable to sleep?' Arthur wondered. 'Was it because of me?'

It seemed she had realized he was looking at her as she turned to stare at him back, with confusion. They held eye contact for a few seconds before a face stood in his way.

”What are you goggling at, Bastard?” Reinhold sneered at him. Arthur looked at him coldly as Oliver strode in front of him.

”Nothing of your concern, eunuch.” Oliver placed his hand on his hips. He then glanced behind Reinhold and his eyes widened. ”Nera! What are you doing here?!”

Arthur followed his line of sight and saw that the person Emma was talking to was Nera, but he had failed to notice her earlier. However, he was confused since Nera should be in her sixteenth year. What was she doing here?