Inside the school grounds, beyond a small, rarely visited garden shaded by a tall tree, Al stood alone.
He scanned the area, ensuring no eyes were watching. Not even CCTV.
Then, raising his right hand, he spoke in a flat tone:
"Gather."
As if summoned, two men stepped out of thin air—concealed by minor illusions.
They looked young—probably in their twenties or thirties.
One wore a full school security uniform. The other, a formal suit—looking like a teacher or academic staff member.
They bowed deeply.
"Master," they said in unison.
Al sighed and asked,
"Were you two spying on me again?"
The suited man replied,
"Apologies, Master. We acted because of a suspicious figure tailing you. He lost your trail at the crosswalk. He's currently combing the city area. Identity still unknown, but we've seen him lurking since you left your house."
The security guard added,
"He displayed no killing intent, but his movements suggest assassin-level training. Possibly a spy. I thought for a moment that it might be from the World Magic Association or the Ministry. But..."
"...I don't think so—he's too weak. His aura's also a bit hard to read. Shall we eliminate him?" he continued.
Al shook his head.
"No need. Just watch and confirm his identity. He might be someone sent by my father," Al replied lazily.
"Also—please. You know I hate being watched. Keep your distance. Focus on your jobs here at school."
His tone grew sharper.
The two men exchanged glances, but said nothing.
Al gave a crooked smile and waved them off.
"No need to overthink. Just move when I give the word."
They bowed low once again.
"Yes, Master."
"Good," Al let out a relieved sigh. "Oh, right. I happen to have something to ask you." His tone flattened slightly this time.
"What is it, Master?" asked the one in the teacher-like uniform.
"Hm... do you two know anything about the data restriction placed on me by the Ministry and the Foundation?" he asked calmly.
"I can understand the Ministry's involvement—it's obviously about the records of the cursed children. But the Foundation?" He added.
"Ah... that..." The man in the teacher's uniform looked awkward. "Forgive us, Master. We haven't had the chance to inform you about that matter."
"Huff... as usual... you people always delay telling me things you don't find important. Haah... So? What's going on this time?" Al sighed in mild annoyance.
The man in the security uniform let out a nervous chuckle, while the other could only lower his head in discomfort. The guard finally spoke up,
"You might've already guessed it, Master."
"Those troublesome girls?" Al asked flatly.
Both men nodded—the guard quickly, while the teacher nodded firmly but with grace.
"Hmph... I figured as much. So, why did they do it?" Al asked, resting his chin on his fingers.
"It seems they wanted to make sure your data stayed safe," the man in the teacher's uniform explained.
"Especially with your sudden return to the Virellano family. They're still not fully convinced everything will go smoothly there."
Al nodded slightly, trying to understand, as the man continued,
"You also know, Master—the Virellanos are a massive family, even on an international scale. We still have trouble getting any detailed information about them," he said.
"We can't really tell what goes on inside, or how they operate behind the scenes. The possibility of your... unique existence being exposed would only increase."
Al processed the explanation for a few seconds before responding,
"Ah, I see. I guess they're just overthinking it. Leaving only my name and physical description in the system... that actually makes me more suspicious. Haah..." he muttered with a helpless sigh.
He then glanced casually at the two men.
"By the way, what about those two?" he asked. "They're not dead, right?"
"Ah… about that…" The man in the teacher's uniform lifted his head, clearly unsure how to explain it.
"Hm?" Al hummed. "Don't tell me this is classified again."
"No, Master," the man replied quickly. "It's just that… they…"
He hesitated, visibly struggling, then after a brief silence, could only let out a sigh and explain.
"Huff… the Fourth took over their punishment and decided to train them personally," he said, sounding utterly resigned.
Al froze for a split second.
"The Fourth?" he echoed in disbelief. An awkward expression spread across his face.
Both subordinates nodded, looking just as helpless.
"Wow… she actually went all the way there just to deal with those two unfortunate souls," Al muttered with a bitter sigh. "I already told her not to use organizational assets for personal satisfaction. Haah."
The two men exchanged glances before nodding in shared misery.
"In the end, she has special clearance to access that place," the man in the teacher's uniform explained. "So it's much easier for her to come and go as she pleases."
"And that's the situation, Master," he added. "They should've been ready by now, but because of the additional punishment and training, it looks like it'll take much longer."
The man in the security guard uniform nodded in agreement.
"At least until she's satisfied," he said with concern.
Al rubbed his furrowed brow, the stress obvious on his face as he processed the information.
"Huff… I can't believe the organization I lead is full of people who do whatever they want."
He let out another long sigh.
"Alright then. There's a lot I want to ask, but it seems every answer will just give me a headache," he said.
"You can both go back to your duties."
Both men smiled awkwardly and gave a light nod before taking their leave.
"Sorry, Master," they said in unison. "We'll take our leave now."
Like mist in the wind, the two vanished—no sound, no trace, not even a lingering aura.
Al stood still for a moment, staring at the spot they had just occupied.
He exhaled slowly, as if carrying the weight of the world in that single breath.
"Huaaam… just as I thought, waking up early always brings me bad luck. Mornings are way too much trouble for me."
He turned and walked toward the school building.
But just as he took a step—
GRAAARR—GRAAARR!!
Al's phone exploded with a thunderous ringtone, like a fire alarm tearing through the peaceful morning.
"Oh, what a coincidence. We were just talking about them," Al murmured casually.
"And one of them just called. This time… it's the Second."
But his expression darkened almost instantly.
"Hmm... why do I have a bad feeling about this? Should I even answer it?"
After thinking for a moment, Al finally picked up the phone. His hand trembled slightly, and his usually composed face looked a shade paler than usual.
"...Hello?"
He barely spoke when—
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'LOOKING AT LOVELY GIRLS'?! DO YOU WANT ME TO CUT YOUR HEAD OFF?! SHOULD I—"
Click.
The ever-calm Al flinched like a kid caught cheating on a test. He immediately hung up and turned off his phone.
Silence.
He froze, then rubbed his forehead and sighed heavily.
"Huff... I knew it. Answering that call was a mistake. She really... almost gave me a heart attack..."
Not long after, his face returned to normal—mostly—but a small trace of trauma remained as he walked away toward the cafeteria.
---
Elsewhere, inside a hyper-modern office tower, floor-to-ceiling windows revealed a breathtaking view of the city under the midnight sky. A towering skyscraper stood nearby, its sharp silhouette cutting into the skyline.
A woman stood quietly by the glass.
Her long hair flowed down her back like a battle banner, her posture regal—like a queen who ruled the battlefield. Her face remained hidden in shadow, her back turned to the camera.
Only the silhouette of her slender figure, wrapped in a violet dress, could be seen.
A faint pulse of dark magical energy radiated from her presence, enough to make even overtime staff who happened to pass by her office door feel a chill of fear.
Any trace of drowsiness vanished instantly, replaced by a sudden surge of adrenaline that snapped them wide awake.
The woman's hand clenched her now-silent phone.
"He. Hung. Up. On. Me?"
Her voice shook the ceiling lamp. She turned—revealing only a chilling smile.
"Just wait, Al. When I show up... I'll make sure you won't even look at another girl again."
Not long after, the sadistic look on her face softened into a blooming smile.
She reached for a sleek, high-tech tablet on the table beside her and activated it.
"Fortunately, I still have this. Haha... You can't escape my sight, Al," she said, sounding almost gleeful.
On the screen appeared a live feed of Al at school—walking lazily down the hallway, his usual bored expression painted perfectly across his face.
The woman couldn't help but giggle at the sight.
---
Back at school, along the corridor leading to the cafeteria, Al's steps were unhurried yet calm.
His eyes looked slightly drowsy, as usual. His only goal now was simple: a sweet snack and a soft cafeteria chair for a quick nap.
But he suddenly stopped. His gaze turned distant, scanning the area. Something felt... off. Almost unnaturally so.
He activated his magical detection for a brief moment, yet sensed nothing unusual.
"Was it just my imagination?" he murmured.
Deciding not to dwell on it, he resumed walking. There was still plenty of time before his afternoon class. And right now, morning naps were his ultimate dream.