Codex Null: Simulation Through Madness

[You died.]

The second simulation ended, and Noel kept staring at those last two words.

This time he had lived longer than the first. The outcome was a little different too — though both ended in death, one by his own hand, the other by accident.

Equally pathetic ways to die, but anything was better than ending things himself.

That aside, who was stronger… Selena or Lilith?

Noel found himself pondering this, because the simulation hadn't shown him the conclusion of their fight… he had ended up dying before any conclusion could be reached.

He considered, briefly, whether he should slow his progress with Selena, since rushing forward with her seemed tied to his deaths each time.

But he discarded the idea almost immediately.

No matter what, Selena was his woman. He wasn't going to hold back, or let anything dictate the pace of their relationship.

It had only been a week since she'd officially become his girlfriend, after all his efforts to win her over.

… Did his efforts really win her, though?

Questions spiraled into more questions, but Noel knew one thing clearly: he had to find another way to survive longer, no matter what.

[The simulation is over. You can choose one of the following.]

[1: Pain Tolerance (Seedling Talent)]

[2: Strengthened Soul (Slightly Recovered Soul)]

[3: Strengthened Physical Strength (Slightly Stronger Physique)]

[4: Memory of this simulation]

Looking at the options, Noel ignored the first without hesitation. His attention settled on the second and third.

But why was the second choice the same as in the first simulation?

Had the talent not made any difference?

Noel narrowed his eyes, thinking for a while, before he finally made his choice.

[You have selected Strengthened Soul, and your soul healed slightly.]

An unprecedented clarity swept over him. The world around him, even his own self, seemed sharper.

It was as if a fog in his mind had lifted.

Noel stayed in that feeling for a moment. He closed his eyes, letting it wash through him, letting it linger…

When he finally opened them, there was something different in his gaze. More arrogance. More pride. A faint glint of something else hidden in their depths.

But all of that faded quickly, as he forced himself to control the rising emotions stirring inside him.

…

The next day arrived, and Noel was walking down Charles Street in Boston.

It was a short street, sloping gently, lined with crooked gas lamps and old shop signs. Behind dusty windows, shelves and glass cases displayed things better left forgotten.

For antiquity shops, this street was apparently the best choice.

And so, Noel had decided yesterday to search here for items with Null value. He had no intention of relying on the weekly free simulation alone.

His gaze moved calmly across both sides of the street before settling on a store that looked the least remarkable. Faded curtains, a single cracked step at the entrance, and a rusted bell above the door. Plain. Neglected. Perfect.

The bell above the door gave a soft chime as he stepped inside.

Noel's eyes swept the interior, noting the crowded arrangement of dusty antiques, before settling on an elderly woman behind the counter, slumped in her chair. Her thin arms folded over a thick cardigan, glasses slipping down her nose as she dozed.

He didn't speak right away. He stepped in without hurry, letting the soft brush of his shoes against the wooden floor announce his presence. Then, stopping a few steps from the counter, he spoke.

"Excuse me."

The woman stirred, blinking at him.

"I didn't mean to wake you," he added, bowing his head slightly. "It's just… I didn't want to touch anything without asking."

"Oh… no, it's alright, dear," she murmured, adjusting her glasses. "Feel free to look around."

"Thank you," he said with a small nod and polite smile.

Then he turned away, his expression serene — though his thoughts had already moved on.

He went straight to the first item nearby and instantly appraised it.

[Chess Set]

Black and white marble pieces. A pawn from the white set is missing. Possibly handcrafted.

Null Point Value: 0

Without disappointment — since it was only the first — Noel continued appraising other items.

He paused briefly in front of each piece, never lingering more than a few seconds, before moving on. On his sixth try, finally, something different appeared.

[Unmarked Locket]

A tarnished silver locket. No image inside. The clasp appears newer than the rest of the metal.

Null Point Value: 1

No matter how small one point was, Noel was satisfied. He made a mental note of the locket and moved on, methodically examining each item in the shop.

Ten minutes later, the old woman behind the counter had begun to wonder if this polite, quiet young man even intended to buy anything. He only glanced at each item, barely stopping, never picking anything up — just studying them, one after another, with that distant, thoughtful gaze.

It was the sort of behavior that might have seemed a little odd. Most customers either handled the antiques carefully or rummaged through them; this young man only moved quietly past each item, eyes steady, as if looking for something only he could recognize.

By then, Noel had already selected six items in his mind — each with a Null Point value of one — and one item with a value of two. Seven in total. But he still needed three more points.

His eyes narrowed slightly as he moved to the final two pieces.

[Leather-Bound Bible]

Printed in 1962. Inscription on the inside cover: "To James — Stay true."

Null Point Value: 0

Noel exhaled slowly, and without any change in his expression, he turned to the last item.

[Doll Wrapped in Bandages]

A small porcelain doll, no taller than a hand. Its limbs wrapped tightly in aged linen bandages, faint red stains at the joints. The eyes are missing. When held, it feels faintly warm.

Null Point Value: 10

Blinking at the appraisal, a small smile crept across Noel's lips for just a brief moment.

After giving the store one last glance to make sure he hadn't missed anything, Noel began bringing the items he'd selected over to the counter, where the old woman was watching him curiously.

Noel gave her a polite nod, then returned to collect the rest.

"I'd like to take these, please," Noel said, once he'd set all seven items down.

They seemed completely unrelated, which made the old woman feel, for a moment, that this customer was rather really strange. But in the end, she decided not to comment as she carefully packed the antiques into a thick paper bag lined with soft wrapping.

When she finished, she said, "That'll be $420… but for such a polite young man, let's make it $400."

Noel returned her smile, seemingly appreciating the gesture, before he paid, thanked her, and quietly took his leave.