The Gray Man stared at the spear in Sebastian's hands. A brief silence stretched between them.
Elias had retreated a few steps back. Sebastian stood only a couple of paces ahead of him.
Finally, the Gray Man spoke.
"I didn't know you were acquainted with Night Keepers!!"
But Sebastian immediately stepped in front of Elias, slammed the butt of his spear into the ground, and said:
"You'd better… talk to me!!"
The Gray Man merely gave a small smile and replied in a mocking tone:
"Step aside, stranger… I came to take that duke behind you—not you!!"
Sebastian let out a short laugh.
"What a grand ambition!!"
He leveled the spear toward the Gray Man—who was still at a distance—and continued:
"Unfortunately, I have to inform you… this duke is currently under my protection. You should come back another time!!"
The Gray Man leaned casually against one of the gas lamps.
"Wow… how romantic!!"
Elias's eyes widened slightly in surprise. He opened his mouth to respond to the Gray Man—when Sebastian, suddenly furious, charged forward with terrifying speed.
It took perhaps a second—or slightly more—but Sebastian closed the distance and swung the spear like a sword.
The Gray Man, however, moved with calm grace. He took only a single step backward. A smile touched his lips. He was about to speak—when the spear blade suddenly passed right beside his ear.
The Gray Man's eyes widened for a fraction of a second. He shot Sebastian a sharp glance. He opened his mouth again—when he suddenly sensed something behind him. This time he didn't bother with elegance; he dodged violently.
He saw Sebastian—spear still in hand.
He was stunned. Sebastian had thrown the spear from in front of him—how had he appeared behind so quickly?
The Gray Man's smile grew gentler—when he suddenly heard something behind him again.
He turned.
Elias had extended his hand toward him. A spell circle glowed in front of his palm.
The Gray Man's eyes began to close involuntarily.
Sebastian seized the opening and struck the Gray Man's body with the spear.
But after the impact, the Gray Man's form dissolved into mist.
Sebastian froze in surprise.
Elias clutched his head and muttered:
"Of course… I'm still not skilled enough with spells that my head doesn't hurt afterward!"
Sebastian drew a deep breath and opened his mouth to speak—when the sound of slow clapping echoed from somewhere.
Both Elias and Sebastian whipped around, scanning the surroundings.
No one was there.
Then the Gray Man's voice came again:
"Look up…"
Sebastian and Elias both looked upward—toward the rooftops of the surrounding buildings.
There he was—standing on one of them.
Calm. Composed. Twirling his grey top hat in his hands.
With a gentle smile he said:
"Bravo… really, bravo!!"
Sebastian gritted his teeth.
Elias—still suffering from the headache—lowered his hand from his head and clenched it into a fist.
The Gray Man—standing on the roof—slowly dissolved into mist again and vanished.
Sebastian was certain he was still somewhere nearby.
But Elias gave a small smile.
"I think… he left."
The moment the words left Elias's mouth, the Gray Man reappeared—not far from them—emerging from the mist once more.
Sebastian said:
"You know… if the other Night Keepers arrive here—you're finished!!"
But the Gray Man simply dropped his hat to the ground.
Suddenly four more identical copies of himself rose from the mist around him.
Each had a shadow. Each moved independently.
Sebastian tightened his grip on the spear.
Elias retreated another step.
But all five bodies suddenly dissolved back into mist.
And from behind them, the real Gray Man stepped forward—walking slowly and confidently toward Sebastian and Elias.
He said calmly:
"You don't even know which one of me is real!!"
Sebastian—furious—shifted his grip on the spear and hurled it toward the Gray Man with full force.
But the Gray Man only tilted his head slightly. The spear passed harmlessly by. He caught it casually with one hand, lowered it, and said:
"And… so slow!!"
Sebastian charged.
But the Gray Man vanished into mist again.
The moment Sebastian stopped—Gray Man reappeared right beside him.
Before Sebastian could react, the Gray Man seized his head and slammed him into the ground.
The Gray Man stared straight at Elias and—still holding the spear—charged toward him at terrifying speed.
Elias didn't even have time to blink.
The Gray Man drove the spear into the ground directly in front of Elias and stood balanced on the wooden haft.
"Why won't you just be a good boy… and come with me!!"
Elias gritted his teeth and gave a short, bitter laugh.
The Gray Man grew even angrier—about to speak—when another spell circle suddenly appeared in front of Elias's hand.
The Gray Man flung himself backward to avoid the spell's effect.
But the moment his eyes left Elias—Sebastian leapt toward him mid-air.
Too late.
Sebastian drove a powerful knee into the Gray Man's chest and hurled him toward the ground.
But the Gray Man dissolved into mist again before impact.
Sebastian landed hard. Blood trickled from his mouth. He wiped it with the back of his hand and said:
"Your blows… are stronger than that Bloody Worshiper we saw at the royal banquet!!"
The mist gathered again.
The Gray Man emerged—furious—and said:
"You bastard…"
Without another word he appeared beside Sebastian and drove a knee into his side.
The force sent Sebastian flying toward the wall of a nearby house.
The Gray Man—after striking Sebastian—turned his furious gaze back to Elias.
Elias was kneeling on the ground, clutching his head tightly.
He had clearly seen nothing of what just happened.
Repeated spell use was still too much for him.
The Gray Man smiled when he saw Elias on the ground—but suddenly a furious shout came from inside the house Sebastian had crashed into:
"Who the hell is making noise at this hour?!"
The Gray Man glanced between Elias and the house—then muttered under his breath:
"Unfortunately… not tonight. How disappointing!!"
He vanished into the mist.
The moment he disappeared, the thick fog that had blanketed the street also dissipated.
And Elias collapsed to the ground.
───────────────────────────
My eyes stung under the light. I slowly opened them to see what was happening.
When they adjusted—I saw the ceiling of my own room.
I was certain I hadn't returned to the manor last night. I couldn't even clearly remember where I had been—only that I had left the manor.
I looked beside the bed—and froze in fear.
Frederick, William, Charlotte Vale, and—standing near the other side of the bed—Sebastian.
I slowly lifted my head. Frederick spoke:
"My lord… why did you go out last night!!"
The moment I heard his voice I started coughing. I looked at Sebastian—but the instant our eyes met he said:
"I woke up inside the manor too… So please—don't ask me for help!!"
My face twisted slightly in frustration.
Frederick continued:
"My lord… I'm waiting for your answer!!"
All I could do was lean back against the pillows and lower my head.
But Charlotte spoke up:
"Head Butler—what kind of tone is that to use with the master!!"
Frederick turned toward Charlotte—about to reply—when William added:
"I agree with Lady Charlotte… We should be concerned with His Grace's health—not intruding on his personal affairs!!"
Frederick whipped his head between William and Charlotte.
"Wh—what?!"
But William smiled at me.
Charlotte tilted her head slightly—also smiling.
Frederick stared at both of them, drew a deep breath, then turned back to me.
"I apologize for speaking so harshly to you, my lord… But you have no heir. If something happens to you… the House of Montagu will end!!"
I looked at Frederick and said quietly:
"I'm sorry…"
But suddenly William, Frederick, and Charlotte all turned their heads toward Sebastian at the exact same moment and said in unison:
"Well then… you explain. Why were you with the master last night outside?!"
Sebastian looked at the three of them in shock. He turned his head toward me—lying on the bed.
I gave him a small smile and nodded slightly.
Sebastian scratched the side of his head awkwardly.
"Well… uh…"
Sebastian's scream echoed through the entire manor.
Charlotte had apparently forced him into some kind of stretching punishment.
Fortunately, Elias faced no real consequences.
He ate breakfast with genuine pleasure—because Sebastian was the one being punished instead.
That same morning, police examined the cracks on the wall of the house Sebastian had crashed into.
It was clear the damage had been caused by a powerful impact or collision.
No one knew the details—but it was obvious who had slammed into the wall the night before.
Poor guy.
But outside London—farther away, in a vast plain.
Inside a circus tent, the Gray Man knelt before someone.
Seven other figures stood around him, watching.
Only one person sat—on a chair.
The seated man spoke:
"So now… you lose to a single duke…"
The Gray Man trembled.
The seated man continued:
"Perhaps I should reconsider your rank among the eight members…"
Meanwhile, John Smith was teaching a class at the university. Today he seemed especially lively. Whether he had received good news or not—no one knew.
At Royal Victoria Dock, the Ming trade delegation—along with the body of the Yangban—was preparing to depart Britain.
Everyone hoped the Yangban's death wouldn't cause commercial trouble between Britain and the Ming Empire.
Probably it wouldn't.