Supreme Warlock System : From Zero to Ultimate With My Wives

Warlock Ch 296. Paranoid Lunatic

Damian's eyes immediately went to the food and drinks. The last waiting room had been a trap—spiked drinks designed to weaken or kill the less cautious. If the officials were being consistent, this room might hold a similar danger.

He raised his right hand slightly, focusing his mana.

[Observation Activated]

The world shifted, his vision overlayed with faint streams of data. The food and drinks glowed softly, each item surrounded by faint blue outlines as information scrolled across his vision.

[Foods — No toxins detected.]

[Drinks— No toxins detected.]

Damian exhaled softly and let the skill fade. The faint glow around the food disappeared, leaving the platters and pitchers looking perfectly ordinary again.

"Safe?" Selena asked, her eyes still sweeping the room.

"Yeah. They didn't spike it this time." He stepped forward, grabbed one of the goblets, and sniffed it. The faint scent of frost and mint met his nose. "Or maybe they realized we caught on to their trick last time."

"Hmm." Selena didn't seem convinced, but she reached for the grapes regardless.

Damian took a cautious sip of the water, letting the cold liquid soothe his dry throat. His mana reserves felt slightly better immediately, though he knew it wouldn't last.

Selena bit into a grape and glanced at him. "You always check everything?"

"Always." Damian set the goblet down and grabbed a piece of the grilled ribs. "Paranoia's what keeps you alive."

She chewed thoughtfully. "Well… thanks."

He arched a brow. "For what?"

"For checking the food." Her lips twitched. "And for being a paranoid lunatic."

Damian smirked. "You say that like it's a bad thing."

"It usually is."

"Well, in this exam? It's a survival strategy."

Selena couldn't argue with that. They ate in silence for a few more minutes while the other contestants eyed them from across the room. There were already a handful of contestants scattered throughout the room. Some sat slumped against the walls, nursing wounds and exhaustion. Others hovered near the food tables, warily eyeing their competition. But all of them—every single one—turned to stare Damian and Selena.

Damian exhaled softly. "We've got an audience."

Selena gave a tired shrug, her gaze scanning the room. "Yeah, well… you do look suspiciously healthy."

And it was true. Damian had a few scratches and a small cut on his cheek, but compared to the others, he looked like he'd just come back from a brisk morning jog. The other contestants bore deep slashes, bruises, burns, and signs of severe magical exhaustion. One guy even had his left arm wrapped in a crude sling, his face pale from blood loss.

Damian shifted uncomfortably. He knew what they were thinking. No one gets through two segments of the S-rank warlock exam looking like they just walked through a training field. It wasn't normal. It wasn't supposed to be possible.

He needed to play this off.

He let out a sharp hiss through his teeth and staggered, clutching his thigh as though a sudden pain had hit. His left leg buckled slightly, and he swayed, putting more weight on Selena's side.

Selena immediately caught on. "Hey—Damian, what's wrong?" Her voice rose just enough to draw attention without sounding too forced.

He gave a strained chuckle. "Leg... got hit during that last fight. Must've landed wrong when we jumped."

"You're such an idiot," she said, louder this time. "Why didn't you say anything earlier?"

"Didn't... didn't want to look weak," Damian muttered with a sheepish grin. He bit the inside of his cheek to avoid laughing at how dramatic he sounded.

Selena rolled her eyes and helped him toward the nearest bench. "Sit down before you fall down."

As they moved, Damian glanced sideways and whispered, "Act natural, okay?"

"I am acting natural," Selena hissed back.

They sat down, and Damian winced, leaning forward to rub his leg. The burn of curious eyes weighed on him from across the room.

One contestant, a wiry man with jagged scars across his face, approached cautiously. His robes were torn, and his left arm was scorched black from what looked like fire magic.

"You're Cassius's apprentice, right?" the man asked.

Damian glanced up, keeping his expression carefully neutral. "Yeah."

The man's eyes narrowed slightly. "You don't look like you fought much out there."

Damian forced a chuckle and rubbed his leg harder. "Looks are deceiving, pal. I had to run more than fight. My leg's messed up from dodging one of those damn colossi."

The man snorted. "Hmph. Lucky, then." He turned and walked away, though his suspicious glances didn't stop.

Selena sat beside Damian and dropped her voice. "That was close."

"Yeah," Damian said through a forced sigh. "But they bought it—for now."

Another group of contestants muttered near the food table. Damian caught bits and pieces of their conversation.

"…he barely looks hurt."

"…probably cheated somehow…"

"…Cassius's apprentice, remember?"

Damian kept his face relaxed, even as his jaw tightened. He reached for a goblet of water from the nearby table and brought it to his lips. The cool liquid helped mask the irritation brewing beneath his skin.

Selena's eyes flicked to him. "You okay?"

He shrugged. "Yeah. Just reminded why I hate tests like this. People always think I'm cheating."

"Well… to be fair, you did. You pretended to be a blood-crazed lunatic for half of Segment One, remember?"

"That was strategy."

She snorted. "Sure, psycho."

Thirty minutes passed, and the announcement voice returned.

"The final eight participants have successfully completed Segment Two. Prepare for the next phase."

The lights overhead pulsed with a deep, resonant hum. The contestants exchanged wary glances. Everyone knew what was next.

The final round.

Damian exhaled slowly. "Guess this is it."

Selena shifted beside him. "Yeah. I still don't understand how you're so calm."

He smirked. "What can I say? I like a challenge."

She gave him a long, assessing look. "You're really not like other warlocks."

"That's what makes me fun."

The mana beneath their feet began to glow again, forming an intricate circle.