SHAMAN PROTOCOL
Chapter 94: Simulations Never Lie

Chapter 94: Simulations Never Lie

Once the group activity officially ended, the students returned to their classroom for their next class. Meanwhile, Mr. Nocty barely walked them back before leaving, not to his next class, but to the headmaster’s office.

Knock knock.

After knocking, Mr. Nocty stepped into the office. Inside, a few school staff were seated around a table, with an old television placed at the far end.

"Headmaster," Mr. Nocty greeted, stopping a few steps in and giving a slight bow.

"Nocty, can you believe it!?" the headmaster’s childish voice rang out excitedly from the ghost blanket. "Your students took down the Ruminant King!"

"That is surprising," said a blonde woman, resting one finger thoughtfully against her chin. "With their level, they shouldn’t have even grazed it."

"Eli could’ve taken it down if he fought seriously," a bulky man chimed in. "But he wouldn’t have risked that with other students around, and if he had, they would’ve failed because it would hurt both of them."

"So exciting!" the headmaster squealed. "Basil, did you see that?! They’re so good—so cool!"

Butler Basil, standing behind the headmaster, smiled gently. "Yes, Headmaster. I’ve seen it. I’ve been here from the beginning."

While the others were watching the replayed footage, Mr. Nocty’s expression remained composed.

"Huh. That part skipped," the blonde woman muttered, tapping the remote.

"Just interference," the bulky man shrugged.

But Mr. Nocty narrowed his eyes. When he finally raised his eyes, there was a sharp solemnity in his gaze.

"Headmaster," he said, drawing everyone’s attention. "I don’t want to make assumptions without proof, but... I sensed something strange during the last group’s fight against the Ruminant King."

"Hmm?" The headmaster tilted his head.

Mr. Nocty exhaled. "It was a curse."

"It’s Eli," the bulky man quickly said. "He carries one."

Mr. Nocty shook his head slowly. "I’ve known Eli’s curse since we were classmates. What I felt wasn’t his. It was faint—very faint, almost unnoticeable, but even so, it’s dangerous. If that was Eli’s, and it evolved to this extent, I’d suggest moving him to Zone Zero."

"If it’s not him, then there are only two possible explanations," he continued, eyes scanning the room. "Either one of the group members isn’t just cursed—but is a curse... or something is hiding in the forest."

"What do you believe the answer is?" the blonde woman asked, arching a brow at him.

All eyes were on Mr. Nocty. He kept his head slightly lowered. After a long pause, he drew in a breath and spoke.

"I think we should search the forest first. Just to be sure," he said calmly. "At the end of the day... they’re still just kids."

No one replied, and the silence quickly thickened. The staff studied him, then the headmaster nodded.

"I’ll send someone to investigate," the headmaster said. "For now, let’s celebrate their victory. This is the first time in a long while that everyone passed."

"Headmaster, the last group failed," the bulky man corrected, but Mr. Nocty shook his head.

"They didn’t," he replied. "Unlike the other groups, they fought the Ruminant King and managed to defeat it within the time limit. They may not have landed a critical hit on its spiritual core, but they completed the task."

The others furrowed their brows in thought.

"So technically, they didn’t fail," he clarified. "But they were the last to finish. Hence, the punishment."

"That’s Nocty for you~!" the headmaster giggled, and the rest nodded in agreement. "Good work, Nocty!"

Mr. Nocty bowed slightly in response.

"Very well." The headmaster clapped his hands to get everyone’s attention. "That wraps up the first simulation activity of the first-year students. All of them did well, but a few showed exceptional potential. Keep an eye on them."

The headmaster giggled. "You’re all dismissed."

With that, the others got up and began to leave. But just as Mr. Nocty turned to go, the headmaster’s voice stopped him.

"Nocty, stay for a moment. I need a word with you."

The blonde woman and the bulky man glanced back at him but didn’t linger and walked out. Mr. Nocty returned and sat on the long sofa.

"What is it, Headmaster?" he asked.

The headmaster didn’t speak until Butler Basil quietly closed the door.

"Nocty... about what you said. How dangerous is it?"

"It challenged my Zone," Mr. Nocty answered without hesitation. "Though... I also felt instability."

"Could it have been the Ruminant King’s spiritual force?"

"The Ruminant King has wandered through my dimensions since I began teaching here. I would’ve known if it were its energy," he replied. "However, I believe they nearly forced it to create a spiritual zone of its own."

Had that happened, the battle would’ve been far more dangerous, which would have required the teachers to interfere.

"I see," the headmaster said with a nod.

"Headmaster," Mr. Nocty added solemnly, "didn’t you feel it?"

He could understand if the others didn’t. After all, they had only seen the simulation through a screen. But the headmaster was different. Even with the Spiritual Zone Mr. Nocty set up, the headmaster should’ve sensed it.

The ghost blanket grinned. "I did."

"Then why—?"

"Nocty," the headmaster interrupted. "One of your students came here with a personal recommendation... from Stefan."

Mr. Nocty’s eyes widened. He knew Stefan; they were classmates in these very premises years ago.

"What you sensed... can we keep it between us for now?"

Mr. Nocty stared at him. "Why? If I’m right, shouldn’t we send them to Zone Zero for further trials?"

"We lost all our third-years during the Noxhelm Quarantine," the headmaster said softly. "Since then, I’ve had little faith in Zone Zero. I want to protect our students until I’m sure it’s still a place I can trust. Or until I know if I should start negotiating with the Seven Clans."

"We lost our third-years..." Basil, folding a hand behind his back, murmured, "And not all by accident."

Because, contrary to what the students believe, the third-year students weren’t simply away on internships. They had been wiped out along with several Zone Zero agents.

"As for the curse you felt, we’ll begin by checking the forest," the headmaster continued. "If we confirm nothing crept its way into the school grounds, we’ll start looking within."

Mr. Nocty glanced at the floating ghost blanket just as Butler Basil handed the headmaster a new pair of eye masks. The headmaster quickly changed them, now wearing a more serious set.

"I understand, Headmaster," Mr. Nocty nodded.

With that, he stood and turned to leave. But after a few steps, he paused.

"Headmaster," he said, glancing over his shoulder. "Am I going to have... a black stripe in my class? Is that why you changed the stripe color trial into something simple?"

The headmaster smiled, though the blanket didn’t reflect it.

"Time’s the only one who tells the truth, Nocty. Our simulations never lie. We’ll learn the truth... eventually."

*****

Meanwhile, in the classroom, Mikel yawned at the boring class. But as he did, his brows twitched. He turned his head to the window on his side.

Doom, did you feel that?

[Location Unknown]

Mikel narrowed his eyes, his focus moving past the academy gates. And for some reason, he felt whoever it was looking directly at