Reincarnated into Madness: Yandere Family's Unwanted Slave-Chapter 28: VOLUME 2 - 11: The Cage That Judge’s All.

"Let's just hope servitude doesn't end up choking the fire outta him," he muttered before raising his voice again.

"Those I called, get down here now!"

Hitoshi's head jerked up at the sound of his name. "H-Huh? It's our turn?" he mumbled to himself, already scooting forward in his seat with jittery limbs. His fingers fidgeted at the edges of his sleeves as he turned to Aiko.

"Uhh... you go first," he said, trying to sound gentlemanly as he offered her the aisle.

Aiko didn't move right away. Her eyes lingered on him in silence, her expression unreadable.

Hitoshi flinched. "D-Did I say somethin' wrong again?" he asked with an awkward tilt of his head, scratching his temple.

A sharp exhale left her nose.

"Tch. Don't flatter yourself," she scoffed at last, rising with a flick of her silver ponytail. Without another word, she began her descent toward the stage.

Hitoshi stood there blinking, before sighing under his breath. "I really dunno what's going on inside her weird little head..." Still, he hurried after her.

—

Once the group reached the stage, the ten students lined up neatly beneath the looming pedestal, where the glowing cage still hovered atop the narrow stone column. Its faint glow cast strange shadows on the stone tiles, giving the space an eerie ambience.

Since they had arrived last, Hitoshi and Aiko took up the two farthest spots to the right of the line, standing side by side. Hitoshi's feet shifted uneasily on the cold stone.

He craned his head to peek at the others, watching them take slow breaths, some trembling with nerves while others stood proud like they'd already won an award.

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As Kenshin scrawled something into his hovering parchment with the tip of one armored finger, he called out the next students name, "Fushimi Noriko."

At that moment, a timid figure broke away from the line.

Hitoshi's eyes widened slightly as a short, green-skinned girl with pale brown eyes nervously stepped forward. She wore plain linen clothes. No frills, no luxury, just simple cloth stitched with care. Her black hair was tied into a low bun, and she clutched her hands tightly together as she made her way to the spirit's cage.

'Looks like I'm not the only one who's scared.' Hitoshi thought as he watched her make her way to the pedestal. She paused in front of it, her hand hovering inches from the cage.

The moment Noriko's trembling green fingers brushed the spirit's cage, a faint pulse of light flickered from within. It wasn't grand nor dazzling. just a soft, warm glow, like a firefly at dusk. The audience held their breath in anticipation, waiting for something more, something brighter...But the light dimmed in under a second.

" Intermediate Class....Master Craftsman" The spirits voice was heard by everyone.

Somewhere in the crowd, a boy snorted.

"Seriously? That's it?"

"Pfft. Knew it. Just look at her clothes, Fitting display for a scholarship brat, wouldn't you say?"

"Makes sense. That kind of weak class fits a mere goblin commoner like her. Probably just gonna make soup pots and sewing needles."

The murmurs spread like oil on water.

' What's wrong with these idiots, isn't a Craftsman someone who builds stuff. Plus he added master to her title so shouldn't they be envying her instead?'

' They really are a bunch of buttshead... Maybe their just jealous she got a smart class and they all got useless classes...'

Hitoshi glanced sideways at the students whispering near him but said nothing. He wasn't even paying full attention to their words, instead, his gaze was locked on Noriko.

She stood there, small and quiet, blinking up at the spirit that floated lazily in its cage.

The spirit stretched with a loud yawn. "Hnnngh... Well, Master Craftsman it is," it muttered. "Solid foundation class. Good with your hands, aren't you, goblin girl?"

Noriko gasped, covering her mouth with both hands as her big brown eyes shimmered.

"Really...? I-I can make things?" Her voice was so soft, almost lost in the large hall. "I... I can finally help my family..."

The corner of Hitoshi's mouth lifted ever so slightly.

'She's happy... even when they're all laughin' at her...' he thought. 'Wish I could feel that proud...' a genuine grin emerged on his face.

Kenshin let out a low chuckle. "Touching... You'll be assigned to class B1." he said dryly, though there was a hint of warmth buried beneath the sarcasm. "Now get back in line, we don't have all day here. "

"Next."

The parchment floated again before his face, and Kenshin began to read.

"Aoi Ai—"

But before he could finish her name, Aiko was already moving.

Her little heel clicked confidently against the stone as she stepped forward, not even waiting for full permission. Her pace was calm and regal, but her eyes burned with quiet determination. As if she wasn't walking to test her class. But was walking to claim it.

Hitoshi blinked. "Whoa, she's moving fast... She didn't even let him finish saying her name..."

A few more whispers rippled through the audience.

"That's the Aoi heiress, right?"

"Reckless... but bold if you ask me."

" Bold? Hmph!... She's obviously trying to copy Lady Tsukishiro."

"Just wait till she gets a useless class and embarrasses herself"

Aiko didn't bother with the chatter, instead she stepped up to the pedestal, her pale fingers reaching for the cage without hesitation.

The moment her skin made contact with the enchanted bars, an explosion of color erupted.

A massive spiral of light burst upward, shooting through the ceiling like a rainbow-streaked pillar. Red, blue, violet, emerald, and golden strands of raw energy shimmered and twisted through the hall, casting prismatic shadows across every stunned face in the audience.

Gasps followed.

Even the sleepy spirit blinked, a rare sign of interest flashing in its dull eyes. It hummed thoughtfully, then smirked. "Not bad, vampy girl," it said, floating closer to her hand. "Advanced Potential Class: Omni Arcanist."

" Rare Advanced tier class... You'll be assigned to Class S."

The crowd immediately erupted into startled murmurs.

"Omni Arcanist?!"

"That's... that's one of the rarest advanced classes!"

"Wait, isn't that the one that lets you tap into any known school of magic?"

"Some say it's even stronger than certain Legendary classes...!"

"She's really that talented?!"

In the audience, Sayaka Tsukishiro narrowed her eyes, her fingers tightening slightly at her side.

'Omni Arcanist...? That's not possible...' she bit her lip. 'Even among noble circles, that class is practically unheard of... Not to mention the fact that's she's being assigned to class S?!'

Her tails flicked in agitation, though her composed facade didn't falter. Sayaka already knew what it meant to be an S class student. Within the entire academy, there were 2 class A's, 3 Class B's and 4 Class C's, while their was only one Class S. and though Aiko wasn't the first student to get into the S class within this patch of freshmen, just the thought of her surpassing her was what irked Sayaka the most.

Regarding a class D, there was nothing of the sort. Saying one was in class D was just a polite way of saying they had failed their admittance into the academy, even if they had payed for the tuition before hand.

Aiko, meanwhile, gave the spirit a curt nod, then turned around without a word, unmoved by the gasps or envious stares, and returned to the line where Hitoshi was waiting.

As she stepped beside him, she leaned close, lips brushing near his ear.

"You better not taint my image by getting a pathetic class," she whispered icily.

The tickle of her breath sent a sharp shiver down Hitoshi's spine.

"Geh—!" he jolted, caught off guard. But the moment he looked around and noticed several of the boys in the line shooting him heated, jealous stares, his expression shifted.

"Oi, she just whispered to him..."

"Are they... close?"

"They did walk down to the stage together..."

"That brat again?! First that scene at the gates, messing with Tsukishiro-Chan and now this?!"

Hitoshi didn't bother with them, he simply turned around to face Aiko, curious as to why she'd do something like that while Infront of so many students.

Aiko's eyes widened slightly as he suddenly turned to her. The unexpected proximity made her step back instinctively. She immediately frowned afterward.

"Hmph. Afraid of a little eye contact, are we?" he teased.

She glared daggers at him. But Hitoshi just chuckled and leaned forward, placing one hand behind his head.

"Don't worry, Ojō-sama." he said smugly, "No matter what class I get, I promise I won't stray too far from your noble little side."

Aiko opened her mouth, then paused. Her brows knit for a moment, as if unsure how to respond.

She turned her head away, arms crossing with a huff.

"Tch. See that you don't," she said coolly. "The last thing I need is my mother's investment running off and embarrassing itself."

Hitoshi raised his brows, eyes filled with curiosity as he muttered. "Investment... What's an investment?..."

But despite his tone, a faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth when he recalled that it would soon be his turn.

His hand clenched gently at his side.

'Okay, okay... here we go...' he thought, watching the next student approach the pedestal.

'My turn's comin'... Just hold it together...'

Kenshin's voice rang clear over the hall, each syllable lazy and drawn-out like a bored noble waiting for a show to end. "You're up next, Mitsuki." The instructor called Hitoshi out.

The murmurs began before Hitoshi even walked forward..

"Who's that again?"

"Oh, It's the servant boy."

"Bet he gets 'Dishwasher' or 'Cabbage Cutter'—at best."

"Tch. Just look at him. He shouldn't even be here."

The venom behind their whispers stung like nettles against his skin, unfortunately Hitoshi's skin was far too thick. He didn't even wince, nevertheless, his small fingers curled into fists by his side as he struggled to hold back his irritation, his eyes ignoring every pointed glance.

"What a bunch of butts, can't they find anything better to do than gossip..." he whispered.

He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

Thanks to that, He barely felt the pressure. His feet moved on their own as he made his way towards the pedestal. His feet were light and firm, not stopping nor slowing down his gait.

From his spot, Kenshin tilted his head ever so slightly, a spark of curiosity flickering behind his helm. 'Let's see what kind of light you shine, little shadow.'

Hitoshi finally stopped Infront of the pedestal. He hesitated, then took one step closer to the spirit's cage.

The tiny spirit, previously slumped over in a sleepy daze, gave him a lazy glance before yawning.

"Touch it already," it said, rubbing its eyes with its furry paw.

' That's easy for you to say... How am I sure you're not a biter...' Hitoshi eyed the spirit cautiously.

"I-I'm tryin'..." Hitoshi mumbled. He reached out with trembling fingers, pausing for a split second as the hall fell into tense silence.

Then, his fingers touched the cage.

A low hum pulsed from the pedestal. At first, a warm golden light bathed Hitoshi's small frame, thin and gentle like morning sunlight breaking through clouds.

The students blinked.

"Eh?"

"That's it?"

"Does anyone know why the glow isn't coming from the cage but him?"

Aiko frowned slightly, While Sayaka raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued. 'That boy again... did he mess with it somehow?'

But before anyone could say more, the golden glow began to shift. It dimmed. Then dimmed some more and just kept dimming.

The light slowly faded from gold to bronze, then to dull brown... until it was overtaken by a deep, consuming darkness. Shadows bled outward, so faint and yet so absolute it was like watching the sun get swallowed whole.

A chill crawled up the backs of every student in the hall.

Then the darkness too vanished. Gone. As if nothing had happened.

Dead silence followed. For the first time today, The spirit blinked with a blank stare.

' Wait a minute...' It's sleepy haze dimmed, it's body sitting up before it crossed its legs.

The spirit scratched its cheek thoughtfully. Staring at Hitoshi as if it'd seen something weird.

"Huh..."

Kenshin took a step forward, arms crossed as he stared at the spirit. "So. Even you can't tell, huh?"

The spirit glanced at him. "No, I can."

That answer pulled the breath from the room.

Hitoshi blinked nervously. "U-um... did I not do it properly ?" he asked aloud, staring helplessly between them.

" No it's not your fault... Wait no... Maybe it is" The Spirit waved at Hitoshi to relax only to pause and stroke it's chin leaving Hitoshi clueless.

The murmurs resumed again, now faster, the students sounding more anxious.

"What just happened?"

"What was that darkness?"

"Did something go wrong?"

The pressure in the air thickened.

Aiko's eyes narrowed. "That glow... Just what did he do wrong this time." she let out a breath.

Sayaka's ears twitched slightly, her sharp eyes watching the exchange like a hawk. 'That boy's definitely hiding something. What did he do to it though?' she wondered.

While everyone was left in the loop, The spirit finally sighed and waved its paw.

"Well... trouble's the only word that comes to mind," it muttered.

Kenshin stared for a beat longer before speaking. "Class?"

The spirit glanced at Hitoshi.

"Fallen Alarion," it said plainly. "Never seen one before nor have I heard of it either. And I'm definitely sure I have no idea what tier it is... We might need that old mans help with this." it turned to face instructor Kenshin, an awkward smile on its face.

A stunned silence filled the hall.

Hitoshi blinked, frozen on the spot. "Fuh...Fawlen Alla-what-now...?"

---

"Fallen... Alarion?"

The words had barely left the spirit's lips before the orientation hall erupted into chaos.

"What kind of name is that?"

"Is that even real?"

"That has to be a mistake!"

"No tier? What does that even mean?"

"Didn't it say it's never seen it before? Maybe he's cursed..."

"No wonder he looked weird. I mean, his light even vanished not long after emerging."

"Something's wrong with that boy. I knew it when I saw him clinging to that maid!"

Hitoshi blinked, eyes darting across the sea of whispering students, most of whom were now gawking like he was some dangerous beast barely caged. He shrunk a little under their gazes, his fingers twitching at his sides as his heart pounded wildly.

'These Butt heads...'

'Whats their problem anyway...'

' Can't they just leave me alone?!'

Even Aiko stiffened in her place, brows furrowed not in disdain, but confusion. She didn't say a word, but her gaze narrowed slightly, watching his every movement.

Sayaka's tail flicked once, her gaze sharpened. She leaned into the aisle slightly, fangs gently clicking together. 'Fallen Alarion...? What game is this servant brat playing?'

Before the tension could escalate further—

"SILENCE!" Kenshin's voice roared across the hall like a blade cleaving through fog.

In an instant, every whisper died. The air trembled faintly with power, just enough to threaten, not destroy. Students straightened in their seats, some clutching their arms from the pressure. One boy in the third row even squeaked and nearly fell backward.

Kenshin turned slowly, his armored boots echoing loudly on the stone stage as he faced Hitoshi.

He didn't speak at first. He just... stared.

Hitoshi gulped when facing the instructors silent gaze.

(AN: I noticed some readers had trouble purchasing the full version of Volume 1 due to price or platform issues. For Volume 2, would you prefer:

A) Break Volume 2 into smaller, more affordable mini-volumes.

B) Keep it as one full-volume purchase at $2.99 like Volume 1.

C) I don't mind either way, just keep the Chapters coming!

(AN: The final free Chapter of Volume 2, Will be released at the completion of the entirety of Volume 2. Nevertheless, depending on your decision regarding the poll, it might be released sooner than expected.)