After making sure Al had left, Sandra gave her husband a rather firm tap on the shoulder.
"You're being too harsh," she snapped lightly.
"Hehe, forgive me, honey. You know I can't stand that smell," Edward replied with a guilty chuckle.
"Huff…" Sandra sighed softly.
Meanwhile, Edward grabbed an air freshener from the shelf and sprayed it around, trying to neutralize the lingering lavender scent.
"There. Much better," he said with visible relief.
Sandra looked at him, smiling faintly.
"Do you think that was really okay?" she asked.
Edward paused for a moment, then nodded.
"I'm not sure, honestly. I thought Al would be at least interested after hearing Nayala's name. Good thing he wasn't."
"Still, it's a bit strange. Considering how famous Nayala is as an actress, does he not know who she is?"
He sat down beside Sandra, his mind still processing Al's reaction.
"Or… maybe he's trying to show he's not some womanizer. Trying to fix his image after what happened yesterday," he added thoughtfully.
Sandra lowered her gaze, then nodded after a brief silence.
"That's possible. Speaking of Al's womanizer image… have you thought about clarifying what really happened yesterday?" she asked quietly.
Edward fell into thought.
"I'm not sure either. You're the one who told me that ever since David heard Al was found, he's been looking rather down—almost gloomy," he said flatly.
His eyes shifting toward the large family photo hanging before them. A picture of the two of them, with their seven children—taken before Al returned.
"And now it's confirmed that David was the one who framed him," Edward continued.
"I don't understand why he'd do something so reckless. But… if we clarify it, David's name will be tarnished. It'll crush him even more, won't it?"
As it turned out, they had already confirmed the truth: the incident yesterday was indeed David's doing, not Al's.
The maid who helped David had been quietly "put on leave"—or rather, fired—without anyone being told.
Sandra's expression softened into a conflicted frown.
"I think it was fear that drove him. David's always been a good, obedient boy. Maybe he was just afraid Al would take his place," she said gently.
Edward nodded in silence.
After a moment, Sandra continued,
"You know how much we love our children. It's just… our feelings toward Al are still different, since we've only just reunited with him."
She sighed,
"Honestly, I can't help but side with David even though he's wrong. Maybe it's better not to clear things up—people will forget with time, right?" she said, rubbing her tired face.
Edward reached out and patted her shoulder.
"Maybe you're right. Anyway… it's just like you said—David's probably just afraid. That's normal, especially at his age."
"At least it shows he doesn't want to be separated from his family, even if he handled it poorly. Luckily, that's all he did. And thank goodness we didn't go as far as punishing Al yesterday."
Sandra lowered her hands and looked at Edward.
"I just don't want anyone in this family ending up at odds with each other. Whether it's Al, David, or anyone else. So... if letting this go spares Al from unnecessary trouble, then maybe it's the right choice for now."
She paused briefly before adding,
"Besides... that boy doesn't seem like the type to fall apart over something like this."
Edward let out a soft chuckle.
"True. The kid's mentally tougher than he looks. Probably because of how he grew up out there. He's used to hardship, so something like this barely affects him."
He smirked faintly.
"Even with Sarah constantly bothering him, he still looks completely unbothered."
Then he shook his head.
"That said... the way that kid thinks is a little strange. And his approach to problem-solving..." He paused, searching for the right words.
"It's like he doesn't care how things are resolved, as long as everything ends as quickly as possible."
Edward let out a dry laugh.
"This is the first time I've seen someone get accused of something and then immediately decide to make the accusation come true."
He rubbed his forehead.
"Good thing David didn't accuse him of murder."
"Now that you mention it..." Sandra agreed with a helpless smile.
"Al really is a little unusual. Do people from lower-class backgrounds generally think and act like that?" she wondered aloud.
Edward merely shrugged.
"Who knows?"
He leaned back in his chair.
"But considering the harsh and messy lives they live, maybe they do. Being indifferent to both opportunities and risks does seem to be a common trait among people at the bottom."
His gaze then shifted toward the family's official seal resting on his desk.
"But... maybe that very personality will help him earn it instead."
Sandra followed his gaze and immediately understood what he meant.
"Are you sure you want to involve him in that as well?" she asked sincerely, concern evident in her voice. "After all, Al is a little different from the others."
Edward fell silent for a moment before letting out a long sigh.
"I don't know whether they've already heard that the boy has returned or not. But involving Al is still necessary."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Whether he ends up becoming the winner... or embarrassing himself, that's a matter for later."
"Besides, our main candidates are still Aurielle and... David."
He paused.
"Although I'm still not sure whether David's eligibility won't become an issue when the time finally comes."
Sandra nodded, her expression growing somewhat gloomy.
"That's true. Aurielle has a huge advantage. As for David... unfortunately, he doesn't share the family's bloodline."
She lowered her eyes slightly.
"But as long as David proves himself, the opportunity will still be there."
Her voice softened.
"And that's one of the reasons we arranged this engagement for him in the first place. It's proof that he deserves the chance to reach for something he was never born with."
Edward nodded in agreement.
In the end, in their eyes, David was the golden child—someone whose value had long surpassed the importance of blood ties.
And so, their conversation continued late into the night.
---
Meanwhile, Al was walking slowly down to the first floor, tracing the long corridor lined with paintings. The cold walls and expensive lighting did nothing to make him feel at home.
Each step echoed faintly across the white marble floor.
At the end of the corridor, someone appeared.
Sarah.
The moment her eyes landed on Al, her gaze sharpened like an eagle spotting a rat trespassing on its territory.
Al frowned slightly, but ultimately just shook his head. Eventually, he stopped in front of her and greeted her first.
"Yo."
For some reason, Sarah felt instantly irritated. Her first instinct was to turn around and leave.
But not this time. There was something she needed to discuss with Al.
"You just came from Dad's study?" Sarah asked, her tone as sharp as ever.
Al gave a small nod.
"Hmph. So... they finally talked to you about the engagement?"
She folded her arms.
"You know that girl, right? She's my junior."
Al thought for a moment. He genuinely had no idea who the girl was.
Feeling slightly curious, he instinctively reached into his pocket for his phone—only to realize he hadn't brought it with him.
Meanwhile, Sarah took a step closer and spoke in a seemingly casual tone.
"I may not acknowledge you as my brother, but I do feel a little sorry watching you get your hopes up. So, as someone older, i'll give you this advice."
Her gaze sharpened.
"A woman like her is only suited for David. Don't expect a top celebrity to end up with someone like you. So know your place, and don't even think about claiming that engagement."
Al wasn't really listening. He was still wondering why he'd forgotten to bring his phone.
Am I getting old?
Seeing his silence, Sarah crossed her arms more tightly, her expression turning colder.
"Listen! That Valendra girl is meant for David. Don't think you can take her away just because you have some inheritance rights or whatever."
Al remained quiet for a few more seconds. Then he shook his head.
Yep. Definitely getting old.
Finally, he looked at Sarah and gave her a small smile.
"Whatever, Second Sis."
He waved his hand dismissively.
"I already told them to donate the engagement to David. So there's really no need to keep talking about it."
"What?!" Sarah's eyes widened instantly. "Donate?! What do you mean, donate?!"
But before she could continue, Al raised a hand.
"Stop. Stop."
He looked at her with genuine confusion.
"For some reason, you seem to really enjoy getting angry at me. Aren't you tired of it yet?"
"Huh?" Sarah blinked, completely caught off guard by the question.
Al tilted his head.
"Ever since I got here, you've been picking fights with me nonstop."
A mischievous grin appeared on his face.
"Are you actually that interested in your adorable little brother? Did you miss the brother who disappeared for all those years?"
"W-What are you talking about?!" Sarah immediately exploded. "It's nothing like that!"
"I just don't want you here. This house would be better off without you."
"But that's not really your decision, is it?" Al simply shrugged.
"Instead of wasting your time harassing me, why don't you just tell Mother and Father? If they ask me to leave, I'll leave."
Sarah fell silent, not knowing how to respond to that. Al had just made it clear he would leave only if his parents told him to.
And she knew there was no way Mom and Dad would kick him out just like that.
"Until that day comes," Al continued lazily, "I hope you stop bothering me. It's bad for both our mental health."
"Wh-Who's bothering you…? You think I want to? Just seeing you disgusts me!" Sarah snapped.
"Then stop seeing me." Al said, shook his head. "Whatever. Well then, excuse me… my dear sister Sarah."
Then he walked away.
Hearing that, Sarah's face paled. Her lips trembled. She rushed after Al, who had walked some distance.
"What did you say?!"
Al turned around.
"I said, excuse me… my dear sister Sarah," he repeated, dragging her name out more mockingly.
A brief silence followed.
"How dare you call me your sister?!" Sarah snapped.
"Aren't we siblings?" Al replied, feigning innocence.
"I only have one sibling—and that's David!" she shouted sharply.
Al raised an eyebrow, pretending to be confused.
"But don't you have six siblings? There's… Aurielle, Vianna, Clarista, Elena, Lysha… then David. And if you count me… that's seven."
Sarah squinted, her rage briefly turning awkward.
"I-I meant... only one brother—and that's David."
Al froze for a moment. His gaze emptied, as if he'd switched to 'don't care' mode.
"Alright. Alright," he said flatly.
Then he bowed slightly.
"Excuse me."
He turned and walked off calmly, leaving Sarah behind. There was no anger. No emotion. Just a slight tilt of the head and a faint smirk, as if to say:
This woman… is weird.
Behind him, Sarah stood still, glaring at his back in disgust and irritation. But behind the disgust… was a feeling she couldn't explain:
Was he mocking me?
She let out a scream—aimless and angry.
---
Al's room was quiet.
He had just returned. And he was exhausted.
Sitting on the edge of his bed, he fell into thought.
Living with this family feels like riding a roller coaster. Every one of them is different, and none of them are easy to understand.
The people I actually want to interact with are nowhere to be found, while the ones I'd rather avoid keep showing up.
He let out a small sigh.
Still... the more I learn about this family, the more connections to the magical world I keep uncovering.
A hidden floor protected by a magical barrier, bodyguards with magical affinities, shadow creatures, shamans, and a magical artifact buried beneath the mansion.
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
Interesting.
He then pulled his phone out of his backpack and stared at the dark screen for a moment.
Come to think of it... he was a little curious. Just who exactly was this Nayala girl everyone kept talking about?
"Oh right, I turned it off this morning…"
His thumb pressed the power button.
The screen lit up—followed by a familiar ringtone...
That tone. The special one. The one that signaled a certain person.
His eyes twitched slightly, as if his soul wanted to escape his body.
"God… not now…"
But he knew. He had to pick up. If he didn't, she would show up in person. And… that was far worse.
With the face of a prisoner receiving a life sentence, he pressed the green button.
"H-hel—" Al stuttered.
"How dare they arrange a marriage for you?! Do they want to die?! You've only been there a few days and the fa—"
Click.
The call ended.
Al sighed deeply.
"Woah… how many times have I been yelled at today…"
He stared at the ceiling. One hand rubbed his face. Looks like there's no need to find out who Nayala is after all.
Then… he stood up.
His gaze shifted toward David's room, and a faint look of displeasure crossed his face.
"That kid..." he muttered coldly. "He's sticking his nose into things again."
A small sigh escaped him.
"I didn't do anything yesterday because I wanted to see just how far he'd take it. But... letting him do whatever he wants doesn't seem like a good idea either."
Then, a smile slowly formed on his lips.
"Fine. Let's play a little.
He stepped toward the middle of the room.
With a light snap of his fingers, the curtains instantly shut.
The lights went out, leaving only faint strands of moonlight slipping through the gaps in the windows and vents.
He glanced around the room.
"Should I use normal magic… or dark magic?" he murmured.
After thinking for a moment, he decided on normal magic—with a slight modification.
He only intended to give David a small punishment for tonight's little stunt. Dark magic would be far too cruel, and he had no intention of going that far yet.
Besides, in his eyes, what David had done was still just a minor provocation. At most, he had tried to stir up conflict between him and the family.
Right now, a bit of spiritual disturbance aimed at David would be enough.
His pupils turned crimson. The Dimensional Eyes' full mode activated.
As he scanned the room, a satisfied smile slowly appeared on his face when his gaze locked onto a certain spot.
He walked over casually.
Grab!
A filthy dark-greenish black creature was suddenly caught in his grip, its neck firmly choked in his hand.
The creature had a humanoid shape—large, bloated, and sagging. Long messy hair covered most of its body. Its eyes glowed red, while uneven fangs and claws protruded wildly from its mouth and hands.
"A genderuwo. Typical nuisance spirit. Smells awful. Decent defensive traits," Al muttered.
He examined it closely.
"But this one looks pretty young. Its magical energy is still quite small."
"Hmph… well, whatever. Out of everything lurking around here… this one seems the most capable of bothering humans."
He spoke casually, glancing toward the other creatures around the room. They stared in stunned disbelief, clearly confused that a human could grab and injure a spirit.
The other beings—each with strange and grotesque forms—slowly backed away. None of them seemed sure whether they should run or stay.
Meanwhile, the genderuwo trapped in Al's grip struggled violently. Its long claws slashed toward him, trying to break free.
But Al casually sent a pulse of magical energy through his hand.
The creature convulsed violently as if electrocuted, its movements instantly weakened.
The display sent a wave of shock through the watching spirits.
Al shook his head lightly.
"Hey… don't fight it. I need you for something," he said casually. "Don't refuse. Or…"
He smiled and raised his other hand toward the cluster of spirits watching nearby.
Then, with a small downward motion—
HIKK!
All the creatures were suddenly slammed to the floor. The pressure grew heavier and heavier—
BOOM!
They exploded instantly, leaving nothing behind.
Not a single one escaped.
Only scattered particles of energy remained, which Al calmly absorbed into his hand.
"…you'll end up like them."
The dark, glossy genderuwo immediately turned pale at the sight. It could only let out a low growl before nodding weakly, submitting to whatever command Al might give.
Al smiled in satisfaction and nodded.
He released the creature, then pressed a hand against its forehead and began channeling a special spell into it.
Advance Magic : Contract
A white-violet magic circle appeared beneath them, glowing brightly as if binding their existence together.
The contract activated.
The creature became his familiar.
A type of magic typically used to contract beasts—or, in darker cases, to enslave humans if cast on them.
The genderuwo looked a little uneasy about its fate—becoming a familiar, or more accurately, Al's slave. But once the contract activated, it seemed strangely fascinated.
The energy inside its body swelled, as if it had suddenly gained a connection to something vast and powerful.
A sense of safety, satisfaction, and delight spread across its expression, forming a shy smile on that grotesque face.
Unlike the spirit, who looked pleased, Al felt rather annoyed. The fact that he had to spend magical energy just to enslave such a weak creature irritated him.
He could only sigh at the thought. Still, in the end, it was better for executing his little plan than doing nothing at all.
Not long after, he ordered the genderuwo to disturb and scare David.
It could appear in terrifying forms from time to time, cause small poltergeist effects by moving objects around,
or—if it wanted to be a little more extreme—throw or drop dangerous objects toward David without actually hitting him.
Al had no intention of hurting David this time.
The genderuwo immediately shot off with confidence, wearing a wide, eager grin.
---
The crystal lights bathed the room in a bright, almost dazzling glow. It revealed a modern space with touches of classic elegance.
High-end furniture and décor fit the vibe perfectly—calm, yet subtly energetic.
This was David's room.
But there was something off. One corner of the room seemed immune to the light, as if the brightness was being swallowed whole.
That shadowed area clung to darkness like it wanted to live in it exclusively.
David lounged casually on his bed, scrolling through his phone, messaging someone far away.
DING!
A new message popped up—an HD photo from his chat partner, along with a string of flirty texts.
He opened it slowly. On the screen was a beautiful woman with a dangerously enticing figure, dressed in a revealing outfit—whether by design or habit, he couldn't tell.
A smirk crept across David's face as he typed back, continuing their conversation.
Eventually, he set his phone down. The smile faded. His gaze sharpened.
"Are they really in such a hurry that they have to bring up that engagement already?" he muttered.
"I don't know what their plan is… I just hope it aligns with mine. But…"
He paused.
"…if they're planning to hand everything I own to that orphan kid…"
His teeth clenched. Hands balled into fists, veins popping along his forearms. Dark energy flickered, almost hungry.
"…they better not expect me to just sit back."
"And you, orphan boy…" His eyes hardened, icy and precise. "Don't even think about claiming what's mine."
A restless anger churned inside him. Nayala wasn't just someone he liked—she was his. Absolutely. No one would take what he already considered his.
He didn't know yet what his parents had planned regarding Nayala and Al.
His shadow forces couldn't infiltrate the fourth floor—let alone get near the study where Al's conversation with their parents was taking place.
Even with tools that could bypass magical detection—or even Al's dimensional eye—David hesitated to send them toward the fourth floor, let alone the fifth.
The guards on those floors were strong; infiltration wasn't easy.
All he had now was anxious anticipation. A refusal to lose. An obsession with his ideal of being the ultimate.
Not long after…
Tap. Tap. Tap.
From the inky darkness, one of David's shadow soldiers emerged.
Brak!
He threw something into the center of the room.
A ghostly entity appeared, horrifying to the eye—a genderuwo sent by Al.
Unfortunately, it was already dead. It didn't move. Parts of its body were dissolving into black particles, fading as if erased from existence.
"What is this?" David asked. "It's rare for you to bring back a ghost corpse like this."
He stared at the body, analyzing it.
"Hmm… a genderuwo… and still very young."
Then he glanced at his subordinate.
"What's this for? We don't have any ritual that requires a ghost corpse at this level, do we?" he wondered.
The shadow guard knelt and saluted David before explaining.
"I found this creature outside, Young Master. It was moving from the direction of the garden and seemed to be trying to force its way into your room."
"Huh?" David raised a brow. "It's rare, but it shouldn't be strange for a ghost to approach my room. This place naturally attracts entities like this."
He crossed his arms.
"So what's unusual about it?"
The shadow guard stood and walked closer to the genderuwo. He raised two fingers, and a black-silver energy formed at the tips.
Then he pressed his fingers against the ghost's forehead.
A jolt ran through the corpse.
A magic circle suddenly appeared on its forehead, its spell formula quite familiar to David.
"Contract magic?" David said, slightly surprised. His eyes narrowed. "Don't tell me someone is targeting me. Do you know anything about this?"
"It appears so, Young Master," the guard replied. "Unfortunately, this spell is quite unique. A professional most likely cast it. Tracing its origin would be nearly impossible."
He paused.
"However…"
"However?" David murmured.
"If a professional truly targeted you… why would they use such a weak creature?"
David realized the same thing—and it irritated him.
"You're right."
He stared at the corpse before stepping on it, reinforcing his foot with magical energy.
BRAK!!
The creature shattered.
Not as completely as when Al destroyed a ghost, but it still showed considerable power.
"How dare someone attack me with such a cheap trick," David said irritably. "Are they trying to target me… or just mocking me?"
The guard could only lower his head, letting David vent his frustration.
"We will search for the culprit, Young Master."
He saluted again, gathered the scattered remains of the corpse, and left.
David ignored him and walked toward the side of the room, his gaze drifting through the large window overlooking the garden—and Al's building.
"A ghost attack from the garden?" he muttered.
"Why does that feel so strange? Don't tell me it was his do—"
But he stopped himself before the thought could fully form.
"No. Impossible."
He shook his head.
"He's just an ordinary human."
A moment later, he chuckled to himself.
"No, my mistake."
A mocking grin spread across his face.
"He's not an ordinary human. He's... a lowly human. Hehe."
With that, he turned back toward his bed.
The room lights went out.
And darkness quietly swallowed the chamber.
---
Meanwhile, a few moments earlier, in Al's room—
BZZTT.
A tremor of energy pulsed through Al.
His spell snapped. Which meant only one thing. His familiar had been captured… or killed.
Al's eyes opened slightly in surprise.
"Ohoo…"
It seemed David wasn't someone who could be bothered by something so trivial.
He felt mildly annoyed that his plan had failed, but a lazy smile slowly appeared on his lips.
"Interesting," he murmured.
The thought of attacking David again still lingered in his mind.
It felt unsatisfying if he didn't at least give that kid a small punishment. But after glancing at the time, he gave up the idea.
For tonight, that was enough. At the very least, it would serve as a minor annoyance.
He had to head out soon. His people were already waiting for him—for their patrol.
With slow, deliberate movements, he reached toward the black ring on his middle finger.
He gently channeled magic into it.
The air around him warped.
The small ring emitted a violet-blue glow, and a holographic projection of the outfit he intended to wear appeared before him, responding to the light command from his thoughts.
Black energy flowed out from the ring, swirling around Al's body.
It wrapped around him, forming the silhouette of clothing.
Moments later, the energy solidified, materializing into a special black uniform that clung perfectly to his body—something akin to a ninja's attire.
Crafted from magitek materials, the suit was lightweight and flexible, yet resistant to both bullets and magic.
Its design was simple but sharp—hooded, face-covered, with a hidden emblem on the chest visible only to certain eyes.
His secret team's uniform.
The uniform fit his body perfectly, as if it had been designed specifically for him.
All that remained was the hood.
He pulled it up, covering his head.
Then he raised the face mask. It slipped smoothly into place.
His body was now completely concealed, his face hidden from view—except for a pair of black, pearl-like eyes that faintly glowed in the light.
---
Moments Later.
The night sky loomed above. A salty sea breeze drifted from afar.
Atop a ship-shaped building—Vinishi Tower, an icon of Makazhar University—a lone figure stood on the roof.
A black silhouette.
Still.
Looking down at the city's glowing chaos.
Only a single red glyph glowed on his wrist: a secret communication sigil for his subordinates.
His black cloak fluttered gently, blending with the night.
Al slowly lifted his head.
His gaze was sharp... even though his face still looked bored.
Before him stretched a sight no ordinary human was meant to see.
This planet was called Blue Star—a world where magic existed.
To ordinary people, it looked no different from any modern world.
But beneath that familiar surface, Blue Star was divided into two dimensions: the Visible Dimension and the Hidden Dimension.
The Visible Dimension was where humanity lived.
The Hidden Dimension was where spiritual beings were born and, in theory, where they were meant to remain.
Unfortunately, the boundary between the two dimensions was never perfect.
Spiritual creatures frequently wandered into the Human Dimension, while unlucky humans occasionally became trapped within the Hidden Dimension.
And right now, Al could see both sides of that reality.
Strange movements, spiritual beings floating through air, land, and water. Glimmers of hundreds of colors, each mixed with dark energy, surrounded the area.
A hundred meters… two hundred meters… no, almost the entire city pulsed with signals of spiritual threats.
"Preventing human casualties. Controlling dimensional gaps. Exterminating dangerous creatures… Huff… living like this is already exhausting," he muttered.
"And now I'm part of an elite family full of drama. Too much contrast for a lazy guy like me."
He shook his head.
"Alright. I need to focus on tonight's patrol." He muttered again, scanning the spiritual phenomena around him.
"Woah… too many threats tonight. This is going to be tiring," he complained lightly.
He then pulled out a dozen small black spheres from his dimensional ring.
He stared at them for a moment before tossing them into the air.
The spheres hovered above him.
Al looked up and placed his hands together. Energy flowed through his fingers, connecting to the spheres.
With a slight magic gesture, the spheres shot off in various directions.
"Okay. Coordinates marked," he said, releasing his hands.
He then brought the glyph close to his face.
"Follow the coordinates according to your level," he commanded.
Soon, a chorus of voices spoke inside his mind.
"Understood, Master."
Al smiled.
At that moment, the spheres he had thrown earlier exploded across the predetermined coordinates, emitting faint light visible only through special devices. Each color corresponded to the level of the troops.
He leapt from the tall building, muttering under his breath:
"Time to move."