Al was still walking backward, waving at Clara's car as it drove away, when he suddenly bumped into something.
"Ugh—" Al grunted.
He turned around.
Standing before him was a tall, dignified man in a world-class business suit. His sharp eyes and stern expression exuded overwhelming pressure.
His father. Edward Virellano.
In his left hand, he was holding a phone he had just lowered from his ear. His face instantly twisted in displeasure.
"What is this?" his father said.
His eyes scanned Al from head to toe. Smudged face, dirty shirt, stained pants… and a stench—an unmistakable stench of a damp, sewer-like evening.
Al stared blankly for a few seconds. Then, in a completely flat tone:
"Ah... Hello, Father."
Seeing the anomaly before him—his son's disastrous appearance—Edward's face instantly turned dark.
"What on earth did you do? Fell into a sewer?" he said with a hint of anger.
Al instinctively took a few steps back. This time… he knew he really was in the wrong.
"Hmph… well... something like that."
"This smell? Why do you stink like this? As a Virellano, you should—" Edward's voice cut off as nausea hit him.
Seeing his father fuming, Al sighed.
"I'm sorry, Father. But you look—" he started, only to be cut off.
Edward waved his hand weakly.
"Al… stay back. I can't—ughk!"
Al felt a fleeting urge to help, but he restrained himself and simply nodded. Then he turned and walked toward his private residence.
"Ah… that boy really—uwwekkk!" Edward choked mid-sentence, trying to hold back his nausea.
---
Al had finally arrived at his new residence.
As he approached the building, he immediately noticed that the first floor had already been thoroughly prepared for him. Everything looked spotless.
The front door slid open automatically as he drew near. Stepping inside, Al paused for a moment to take in his surroundings.
The first floor had been furnished with surprising care. A comfortable sofa set, a coffee table, and a compact entertainment unit were neatly arranged in the living area.
Against one wall sat a fully equipped kitchen. Near the back of the room, a treadmill and a set of weights suggested that someone had also taken his training routine into consideration.
Al lightly pressed a hand against the sofa and raised an eyebrow at how soft it felt.
"Not bad... not bad at all."
After a brief look around, he headed for the staircase leading to the second floor.
As he climbed, he noticed that every detail of the house favored practicality over luxury. There were no flashy decorations or extravagant displays—just clean, efficient spaces designed to be lived in.
His bedroom awaited him upstairs.
A neatly made bed, a medium-sized wardrobe, and a study desk furnished the room.
Beside them sat several learning tools, including a high-end computer that was probably worth more than an average family's yearly income.
The curtains were brand new. The walls had been freshly painted in a calm neutral color and accented with subtle patterned wallpaper.
Even the old carpet had been removed, leaving behind smooth flooring that would be much easier to maintain.
The room wasn't luxurious by any means, but it was more than enough. Comfortable. Practical. Ready for him to move in immediately.
His gaze soon landed on a folded note resting on the desk, alongside a black card.
Curious, he picked up the note and began reading.
It contained a message from Edward and Sandra explaining the arrangements for the residence.
There were also a few additional details. They apologized for not purchasing clothes for him yet, admitting they weren't confident about his preferences or exact size.
As for the black card...
It was a supplementary card linked to Sandra's account. His monthly allowance would be transferred there.
"No wonder my allowance never arrived." Al chuckled. "I completely forgot to give them my account information.".
"Although... this does make it feel like I'm being monitored."
After a moment, he shrugged.
"Whatever."
Walking over to the window, he looked out across the estate grounds.
The gardens stretched neatly beneath the fading afternoon sunlight. In the distance, the main mansion stood proudly at the center of the property.
Al turned away from the view and slowly surveyed the room once more. Everything was ready for him to begin living independently.
Almost everything. There was still one final touch he wanted to add.
Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.
Four glowing blue spheres appeared in his hands and landed gently at the four corners of the room.
A moment later, spiritual energy flowed from his body as he quietly chanted a short incantation. Placing both palms forward, he released the gathered power.
A simple Spirit Gathering Array materialized across the room.
Its purpose was straightforward—to subtly draw and concentrate the surrounding magical energy into this space, making cultivation significantly more efficient.
Satisfied with the result, Al nodded.
With that done, he finally decided to clean himself up properly.
After all, his current appearance was the very reason behind the chaos that had happened earlier.
---
Night had fallen.
The elegant crystal chandelier glowed softly above the main Virellano family dining room. The long marble table was already filled with family members sitting gracefully… except for one empty chair.
The large door at the end of the room slowly opened.
"Excuse me…"
A head peeked out from behind the door—messy black hair and a blank expression, or rather, a lazy and indifferent one.
Al.
He hadn't even stepped in when a heavy voice rang out.
"Stop!"
Hmph... What's going on this time? Al thought, a faint sense of unease creeping up his chest.
Don't tell me someone's trying to frame me again?
Edward looked at him sharply, half rising from his seat.
"Harun."
"Yes, Sir," Harun replied as he immediately stepped forward.
"Please see that he's properly cleaned... and check if there's any lingering smell," Edward whispered.
Harun quickly approached Al.
Maintaining a professional demeanor despite the obvious concern, he discreetly checked him over and took a cautious sniff of the air around him.
A few seconds later, Harun returned to Edward's side and lowered his voice.
"His body seems clean, Sir. Smells like mint soap and... a hint of rosemary."
Edward let out a relieved sigh, though his expression remained serious.
Al noticed the exchange and could only shake his head helplessly.
So that was what this was all about. The sewer incident.
He honestly hadn't expected them to still be worried about it. Fortunately, Edward didn't seem interested in making a bigger issue out of it.
Meanwhile, David raised an eyebrow.
Thanks to his enhanced senses, he had naturally overheard their whispered exchange.
Combined with the report he had received from his shadow earlier that afternoon, he already knew exactly what had happened.
And to him, this looked like a perfect opportunity to create a little trouble for Al.
A faint smile briefly appeared on his lips before he quickly replaced it with a concerned expression as he looked toward Edward.
"Dad, why do you look so pale?"
Edward, who had been trying to mentally block out the trauma of earlier, but David's word brought the memory rushing back. And instantly…
"…!"
His face twisted.
"Hur—"
He shot up from his chair, the seat scraping loudly, and bolted toward the private restroom down the hall. The bathroom door slammed shut just before the sound of—
"HUUUEEKK—!!"
Everyone jumped up in shock.
"Daadddd!!" the entire family shouted in unison.
"Oh no, he's vomiting?! Call the doctor now!" Sandra shouted in panic.
Everyone scrambled out of the dining room to check on Edward, leaving Al sitting alone at the table, staring at the food in front of him.
He hadn't even taken his first spoonful of soup yet. A small smile slowly appeared on his face. The whole situation was almost enough to make him laugh.
If laughing at his own father wasn't so inappropriate, he probably would've burst out laughing already.
"This is actually pretty funny."
Instead of getting involved, he simply picked up his spoon and started eating.
After all, he used to live by a simple rule—dirty it, clean it, forget it.
But now, he was surrounded by people who could handle massive problems yet become overly sensitive about the smallest things
However, as he casually glanced around the now-quiet dining room, he noticed movement near the doorway.
Through the small gap of the half-open door, several servants could be seen peeking inside. Some of them had clearly pieced together what was going on.
And the looks they were giving him... it was as if they were silently condemning him. As if he had committed some unforgivable crime.
Faced with those accusing stares, Al could only shake his head and let out a helpless sigh.
"Fine. Fine. I guess I should take some responsibility too..."
Setting down his spoon, he finally rose from his seat and walked toward the hallway.
The amusement lingering in his mind gradually faded, and his expression returned to its usual calm indifference.
Even so, his steps remained surprisingly light.
Once he reached the bathroom door where Edward was, he gave a slight bow.
"Sorry, Father. That was my fault earlier this afternoon," he said calmly, genuine sincerity evident in his voice.
He figured a simple apology should be enough to put an end to the matter.
However...
A shout suddenly came from inside.
"Al... you really shouldn't come home like that. The sewer smell was... quite stro—ughk!"
Edward's voice abruptly cut off as he struggled to suppress another wave of nausea.
Before Al could say anything, more footsteps approached.
"What's going on with Dad?" Aurielle asked.
Then came Sarah's sharp voice, dripping with sarcasm.
"That kid must've done something again. What do you mean, sewer smell? Were you playing in the mud or something? Seriously."
The bathroom door slowly opened.
Edward slowly opened the bathroom door, face pale. Still strong enough to speak:
"Why… did you come home with a smudged face… and smelling like… a sewer…? Hueekk."
But the nausea was too much for him, and he retreated back inside.
Everyone froze.
"What?!" Sandra exclaimed.
Moment later, Sarah burst out laughing.
"Oh my God. Seriously? Sewer-boy actually came home to the Virellano family?"
"Sarah..." Aurielle scolded weakly, though she didn't sound particularly invested.
"Eldest Sister, I hope this incident helps you realize something," Sarah continued, glaring at Al without hiding her disgust.
"He doesn't belong in this house, let alone at the same dining table as us."
She folded her arms.
"And if you're insisting on keeping him here, then from now on, he should eat separately. For everyone's safety."
Several people fell silent.
Unfortunately for Al, nobody immediately disagreed.
For a moment, Al simply stared at them. Then he blinked.
"Wait. Are you saying I'm banned from eating at the dining table now?"
"Obviously," Sarah replied flatly. "You shouldn't have been eating with us in the first place."
"I'm not talking to you," Al answered lazily, shifting his gaze toward the others.
Sarah's eyebrow twitched. Still, she said nothing further. As far as she was concerned, she'd already won.
Aurielle looked visibly awkward.
Sandra briefly glanced at Al before returning her attention to rubbing Edward's back through the bathroom doorway.
David sat beside his father with a concerned expression.
Though the faint curl at the corner of his lips suggested he wasn't entirely unhappy with how things were unfolding.
Silence lingered.
Eventually, Sandra broke it.
"Al..." she began softly. "I think... for now, until your father feels better, it might be best if you eat separately. Just temporarily, okay?"
There was guilt in her voice.
Al thought for a moment before speaking.
"Do all of you think that's the best solution?"
Nobody answered immediately.
Eventually, Sandra nodded. In her eyes, it was the most reasonable compromise available.
Al simply nodded back.
"As long as it doesn't create a bigger problem for me, fine. It's only eating, anyway."
Sandra felt slightly uncomfortable hearing that. Yet at the same time, his indifferent attitude irritated her a little.
Still, given the current situation, she felt this was for the best.
The atmosphere finally began to settle down. Then Sarah decided to ruin it.
"Good. At least you know your place."
A smug smile appeared on her face.
"But honestly, I don't think it should be temporary. It'd be better if you never joined us at the dining table again."
She laughed.
"And seriously, stop playing around in sewers. That's such a disgusting hobby. If you need something to play with, just tell me. I'll buy you some toys."
Al stared at her for several seconds. Then he slowly shook his head.
"Whatever."
He turned around.
"My part is done. I've apologized, and apparently I've already received my punishment."
He started walking away.
"So I'll be heading back to my room now."
For some reason, Sarah wasn't satisfied. Seeing him remain so indifferent only made her more annoyed.
"Hey! You!"
Al stopped and turned around. His expression remained completely calm.
"What now? Do you want me to take responsibility and help Father or something?"
Before anyone could respond—
"Don't!" Edward's voice thundered from inside the bathroom. "Stay out."
Al merely shrugged. Then he glanced at Sarah one last time.
"See?"
That single word left Sarah speechless. Even she couldn't think of anything else to add at this point.
With that, Al turned and walked away without anyone stopping him.
As he left, his fingers flicked lightly. A faint green glow shot toward the bathroom before disappearing without anyone noticing.
Hopefully you won't be this sensitive next time... Father.
The thought crossed his mind as he disappeared down the hallway.
David, whose magical sensitivity was quite high, felt a strange ripple for a split second but couldn't tell what it was.
Then—
"Eh?" Edward blinked in confusion. The nausea that had been tormenting him moments ago suddenly vanished.
He rubbed his stomach and looked at Sandra.
"What's wrong, dear?" she asked, equally confused.
Just then, the family doctor arrived. He was about to check on Edward when the man raised a hand to stop him.
"Wait, Doctor. I… think I'm fine now," Edward said awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck.
Everyone looked puzzled, exchanging uncertain glances.
The doctor still performed a quick examination to be sure, but the result was exactly as Edward had said—he was fine.
---
Later that night...
After the dining room incident, Al finally returned to his room.
He threw himself onto the new bed the family had prepared for him and stared up at the ceiling.
The events from earlier had already been pushed to the back of his mind. Instead, his thoughts drifted toward matters he considered far more important.
After all, his life had never lacked real problems.
Compared to everything else he had dealt with over the years, a bit of family drama barely registered on his list of concerns.
Something that trivial wasn't enough to shake him. Though... he had to admit it was oddly entertaining at times.
An hour passed.
He stared at the ceiling for a while, then slowly raised his right hand.
On his middle finger was a small ring—pitch black. No engravings, no gemstones. Just plain black metal… at least to ordinary people.
But it wasn't just a ring. It was his personal dimensional storage, accessed through that very band. Inside, hundreds of items were stored in perfect magical order.
Al infused a bit of magic into the ring. A soft yellowish-purple glow emerged, sending a faint ripple through the air.
An illusion appeared—miniature hologram-like projections floating above his hand.
A tiny black robe and a plain mask were displayed like miniature models.
It was one of the ring's unique functions. His dimensional storage allowed him to browse and select items simply through thought.
With a mental command, he slid the holograms aside.
The projections shifted, cycling through several outfits—different costumes appearing one after another—until a black hooded outfit resembling a ninja suit appeared.
"This will be my first patrol since becoming part of the Virellano family," he murmured. "Not sure if going out tonight is a good idea… but hopefully nothing goes wrong."
Al settled on the outfit. For clothing items, the ring could integrate them directly onto his body—no need to open the dimensional space, take them out, and wear them manually.
The air around the ring shimmered faintly, like heat rising off asphalt.
Just as he was about to activate it—
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Al froze.
"Young Master… it's Harun. Apologies for the disturbance. Master Edward requests your presence in his study," said Harun from outside the door.
Al let out a soft sigh, canceling his outfit selection and deactivating his dimensional storage.
As he walked toward the door, he snapped his fingers and activated Aroma Magic.
"Lavender. To feel… more human," he muttered.
Instantly, his body emitted a soft, soothing fragrance.
---
Minutes later.
Al was already on the fourth floor of the mansion, following behind Harun as the butler led him toward his father's study.
Without question, this was the most heavily guarded area in the entire estate.
CCTV cameras covered every corner. Multiple layers of security systems were installed throughout the floor, along with emergency countermeasures prepared for any possible threat.
As they walked, Al quietly observed his surroundings, a slight frown forming on his face.
Something felt off.
He could sense an unusual energy lingering in the area.
The presence of powerful individuals was obvious enough. Most likely elite bodyguards assigned to protect this section of the mansion.
But that wasn't what had caught his attention. There was something else. Something far more unsettling. And it was coming from above.
Looking up at the ceiling, Al casually asked,
"Butler Harun, there's another floor above this one, right?"
"What's up there? Some kind of storage area for important stuff? Or is it just a private floor for my parents?"
Harun turned around and offered a faint smile.
"You're quite observant, Young Master. But regarding the fifth floor... I'm afraid I can't say much. You'll understand one day."
"So I can't even know what's inside my own house?" Al asked with an amused smile.
"It's not like that, Young Master."
Harun shook his head politely.
"It's not only you. None of the other young masters are allowed access to that area either. Even entering this floor requires special permission. Those are Master Edward's rules."
He paused briefly before adding,
"So I can only apologize. I'm not permitted to tell you anything more."
"Ah, I see."
Al nodded thoughtfully.
"Then I guess there really is something important up there."
Harun simply responded with a small nod.
A faint crimson glow flickered across Al's eyes as he activated his Dimensional Eyes and attempted to peer beyond the ceiling.
To his surprise, his vision stopped halfway.
A magical barrier? And a strong one, huh. These eyes can still detect it, but not enough to see through it, he thought.
The Dimensional Eyes possessed at least two different modes.
The first mode was subtle. His eyes would briefly shimmer red, allowing him to activate their most basic ability—the perception of essence.
The second mode was far more powerful. His pupils would turn completely crimson, granting him access to deeper dimensional phenomena.
It allowed easier interaction with beings from different dimensions and expanded his perception far beyond normal sight.
He could observe multiple objects simultaneously and even perceive things outside his direct field of vision, covering nearly three hundred and sixty degrees within the range his power could reach.
Unfortunately, activating that mode required magical energy. And that would risk exposing his identity as a magic user.
For now, that was something he couldn't afford to reveal.
Letting out a quiet sigh, Al continued observing the area.
Hmph... now that I think about it... those shadow creatures, the family's connection to shamans, bodyguards with magical affinities, and that magical artifact hidden beneath the mansion.
A faint understanding dawned on him.
Looks like this family's ties to the supernatural run deeper than I thought.
A small smirk appeared on his lips.
Interesting.
---
Moments later, they arrived at Edward's study.
The black wooden door opened with a soft creak. Al stepped in slowly, while Harun stayed behind and quietly closed the door.
Inside, the room was filled with warm brown-and-black tones, lined with bookshelves and stacks of organized documents.
His father and mother were already seated at the long table, golden light from the chandelier casting a soft glow over the room — and the family portraits hanging on the wall.
Al walked in confidently, this time surrounded by a faint, pleasant fragrance. Not sharp, but soothing — a scent he deliberately crafted to seem more "presentable."
Though, apparently, he had underestimated his father's sense of smell.
Just as Edward was about to speak—
"Hmm... What's that smell?!"
He suddenly shot to his feet and stared at Al as if he had just discovered some horrifying creature.
"Lavender?! You... you're wearing lavender perfume?!"
Al stopped mid-step.
"Yeah...? Is there a problem?" he asked, confused.
"I hate the smell of lavender!" Edward snapped. "It reminds me of—ugh. Why would you even wear that scent?"
Al blinked.
Seriously?
Letting out a sigh, he shook his head.
"How was I supposed to know you hate lavender, Father?" he replied flatly.
Then he casually reached for the collar of his shirt.
"Alright, whatever. The perfume's only on my clothes anyway. I'll just take it off."
He began pulling at his shirt.
But the moment he did, Sandra immediately remembered what she had seen the day before.
The countless scars covering Al's body. The image was still vivid in her mind. She couldn't bear to see it again.
"No. No, Son. You don't need to take it off."
She stopped him quickly before turning toward Edward.
"Just endure it for a little while, Husband. You're the one who's overly sensitive to scents."
Edward looked wronged.
"But... but... you know how I am..."
"No. Just pinch your nose!" Sandra's tone left no room for argument.
Edward stared at her for a moment before finally understanding what she was thinking.
His expression softened.
"...Fine."
With a resigned sigh, he pulled out a handkerchief and covered his nose.
Seeing that the issue had somehow been resolved, Al simply nodded and made himself comfortable on the sofa.
"Alright then."
He crossed one leg over the other.
"So why exactly was I called here?"
Edward and Sandra exchanged a brief glance, silently gathering their resolve.
Then they finally got to the point.
"We need to discuss something important," Edward said.
Sandra nodded.
"It's about... an arranged marriage," she said.
Al stared at the two of them blankly, not quite processing what he had just heard.
"An arranged marriage? Who's getting married?"
Edward shook his head, feeling that his son was being unusually slow today.
"Obviously you."
He pointed at Al.
"With a member of the Valendra Family from Vali Island."
"Me?!"
For perhaps the first time since returning to this house, genuine shock appeared on Al's face.
"Yes," Edward replied. Then he continued his explanation.
"Years ago, your grandfather and theirs made a pact. If either side had children of opposite genders around the same age, they would arrange a betrothal."
He rubbed his chin slightly, as if recalling an old memory.
"Back then, they were actually hoping it would be me. But unfortunately, your grandpa's friend's daughter was more than ten years younger than I was. Even his eldest son was still five years younger than me."
He then glanced at Sandra.
"Besides, your mother and I had already started our relationship by then. So the engagement was pushed down to the next generation, the grandchildren. And by coincidence, the one who got picked… was you."
Edward looked at Al a little more carefully before continuing.
"Anyway… they have a daughter who's one year older than you, Nayala Valendra. You might've heard of her. She's quite a celebrity in the capital, and she's also your sister Sarah's junior."
Sandra nodded and continued,
"That's how it is, son. But… there's a bit of a problem."
"A problem?" Al wondered.
Edward and Sandra exchanged a glance before nodding at him at the same time.
"That's right. And that's the important thing we wanted to talk to you about tonight," Edward said.
"Yes, Al. The problem is…" Sandra hesitated, but she continued anyway.
"You know… back then, you went missing. We thought you were… gone. And then there was David. He and the Valendra girl grew up together. They've liked each other since they were kids."
"Ah, I see… but…" Al stammered. "...whatever the problem is, the real issue we should be thinking about is…"
"…Isn't it way too soon to talk about marriage? I just got here yesterday, and I'm still in school."
Edward gave him a sharp look.
"The sooner the better. And don't worry, it's just an engagement for now. Besides, the right to this engagement still belongs to you—because you're our biological son."
Al slowly nodded.
"I see. I understand. But if that's the case, wouldn't it be easier if David just marries her? Since they already like each other? I don't mind."
His parents exchanged glances.
"...Hmmm. That's... not what it means."
Sandra took a deep breath.
"Maybe you don't fully understand, marriages in families like ours aren't that simple. They involve honor, reputation, business ties, public image..."
"...and they can lead to scandal if canceled recklessly," Edward added.
"If you truly have no objections, we'll invite the Valendra family to discuss it. But you must be sure."
Al scratched the back of his head. His life didn't fit this rich-people world, and he wondered why wealthy folks made everything so complicated.
He sighed inwardly, half amused, half annoyed.
Then, he nodded lightly.
"Alright. But wouldn't it be easier if you just called them and told them David would be the one marrying the girl instead?"
"...Al." Sandra's voice turned stern.
Al blinked several times as he processed her reaction. But one look at her expression was enough to tell him everything. The decision had already been made.
Huff... rich families and all their ridiculous formalities, he complained inwardly.
"Alright, Mother."
In the end, he gave in with a lazy shrug.
"If a meeting has to happen, then I'll force this severely energy-deficient body of mine to participate."
He spoke with all the drama of a dying man being dragged to his execution.
Sandra and Edward exchanged a look.
They... smiled.
Not out of joy for Al's decision—but because the problem they thought would be complicated was resolved just like that.
Since Al's image as a womanizer was still deeply ingrained in their minds, Edward and Sandra had secretly worried that he might become infatuated with a top celebrity like Nayala and insist on keeping the engagement.
Thankfully, his reaction was the exact opposite.
His decision aligned perfectly with what they had been hoping for all along.
In a way, dealing with someone as lazy and indifferent as Al was surprisingly convenient.
From any angle, that engagement truly suited David far more. Fortunately, this child isn't too greedy, Edward thought silently.
Let me find someone more suitable for you later, my dear, Sandra murmured in her mind as she watched her son.
I just hope your growth here aligns with the family's expectations. That's what matters most for you right now.
"Good," Edward said curtly. "In that case, we'll arrange the schedule. Now, get out! This lavender smell… it's making my head throb."
Sandra tried to calm her husband, signaling Al to leave quickly.
"Sorry, dear. Your father's just sensitive to fragrances."
Al stood up, nodded weakly, and walked out.
"Alright then. I'll excuse myself, Father, Mother. And… sorry for smelling good."
---