As I read the thesis aloud, I eventually fell silent, though I didn't stop making corrections.0

There are numerous incorrect and inefficient sections. Although the core idea is sound…0

Despite the unfortunate incident Drent caused at the Thesis Colloquium, his talent was exceptional, almost unattainable for someone like the original Deculein. For me, who had only expected Epherene to join, Drent was an unexpected gain.0

Talking to myself was a sign of my unexpectedly good mood, which was unusual. Then again, I wasn’t sure what being myself meant anymore.0

“... Hmm.”0

Deculein's personality trait was Authoritative. The more capable someone was, the more he expected them to lower themselves before him. When they did, he felt a certain joy.0

Yet now, I was filled with unease. The unfamiliarity stemmed from the way the car cornered. My entire body, sensitively attuned by the Iron Man attribute, detected it. The one holding the wheel was not Jeff.0

However, I couldn’t act hastily. I scanned the car with a meticulous eye. Villain’s Fate detected no immediate dangers. If boarding this car had been risky, the attribute's radar would have flagged it. Perhaps this was a gap in its function, as it only flagged variables directly linked to my death.0

I rolled down the window. The ordinary scenery slid by, but as the wind rushed in, the entire road was bathed in a vivid red aura.0

"... This is unprecedented," I remarked.0

The outside was a danger zone. Inside the car, however, was the safest place in the area. As I realized the situation, a new quest notification appeared.0

[Surprise Quest: Encounter]0

◆ Store Currency +10

I pondered for a moment and then said, “An encounter... I shall regard it as an invitation.”0

A smile crept onto my face. I didn't know who had arranged such an absurd meeting, but thinking of it as an invitation...0