Later that same night—
Near the main exit road, Ethan walked at a measured pace, glancing around as he carefully surveyed his surroundings.
As the sky darkened further and guards spread across the courtyard, precisely at 9:29 PM, Gilbert spotted Athena walking beside him as they left the library.
Ethan murmured to himself while watching them, that familiar foolish grin slowly forming on his lips.
"And here I was wondering where I'd find them…"
He quickened his steps until he reached them.
When their gazes met, Athena came to a halt and spoke in a low voice, her eyes oddly hollow as they settled on him.
"You took a long time… Did you discover anything new?"
Ethan reached into the inner pocket of his dark coat, pulled out an envelope, and handed it to Gilbert before replying in a weary tone.
"I had to work as bait… That's how Callian handed this over."
At the mention of Callian's name, the two exchanged uneasy glances.
Gilbert averted his eyes briefly before fixing them on Ethan's face, attempting to read his expression—without success.
This man was skilled at managing his expressions however he pleased.
Whatever he felt in that moment was impossible to discern.
Everything he showed them was deliberate acting—and he didn't deny it.
In fact, he enjoyed watching others struggle to uncover what he kept buried inside.
Gilbert sighed and reset his calm expression before addressing Ethan in an indifferent tone.
"At least the meeting didn't end with one of you dismembering the other."
Ethan's eyes widened slightly at the remark.
He turned his gaze aside, raised his right hand, and brushed the bandage on his cheek as he replied sharply.
"Well… he owes me a stab, at the very least."
Athena forced a faint smile and asked hesitantly
"If you hate him that much, why do you still rely on him?"
Ethan answered without hesitation.
"Hate and trust are separate things. I despise him… but I trust his abilities."
Both of them blinked briefly and looked away.
Athena folded her arms, staring at the shrubs nearby, while Gilbert opened the envelope to review its contents.
The moment his eyes scanned the report, a subtle shift crossed his expression.
His brow lifted slightly before he exhaled.
A faint sense of irritation tightened in his chest.
The feeling didn't linger long—he pushed it aside along with his thoughts.
Handing the report to Athena, Gilbert focused on Ethan and asked, his voice sharper than intended
"Did he mention anything else?"
Ethan shook his head.
"No. I didn't even check what was inside… But from your look, I'd say it's not good news."
Gilbert replied
"Not disastrous… but it confirmed my earlier theory—and revealed something else rather troubling."
Athena skimmed the document, her face growing pale, as Gilbert continued in a low voice.
"In short, combined with our previous findings, there's suspicious activity targeting six prohibited regions across the Empire:
The Cursed Desire Village — Eros — in the Duchy of Astria.
The Venus Ruins on the outskirts of the capital.
The Guardians' Village — Juno — in the Archduchy of Regin.
The Eternal Flame Village — Vesta — in the Gray Mist Valley nearthe borders of Hertford.
The City of the Inverted Wheel — Fortuna — in the Duchy of Layton.
the Valley of Eternal Healing — Panacea — in the Duchy of Grandville.
With such a wide distribution across the Empire, inspecting all of them would take at least six months—meaning this operation began long ago.
The motive is still unclear, but what's certain is that some students were seen near these areas… which strongly suggests unregistered external missions are involved.
Despite being labeled 'prohibited,' there's no law explicitly forbidding entry—most gained that status due to local legends or classified military secrets.
Still, getting involved in such places is bound to invite trouble."
Athena whispered
"That means Alice's mission is completely different from what we were told…"
Ethan crossed his arms.
"Seems the lady lied about everything—for reasons yet unknown."
Gilbert nodded.
"At this point, we can't trust the information she provided. It's clear we must uncover her true intent. I'm also unsure whether Alice will cooperate with us at all."
Athena muttered with visible displeasure
"Her twisted methods never really change."
A brief silence followed before Ethan spoke again, his expression suddenly shifting as if recalling something.
"Do you remember the incident that was staged two days before your entrance exam?"
Gilbert replied quietly
"Now that you mention it… yes."
Athena added
"You said the investigation started then—but dragged on longer than expected."
Ethan forced a smile.
"Things got far more complicated than anticipated. Still, we found the sniper who eliminated the carriage driver… He took his own life before capture."
Both of them frowned, signaling him to continue.
"He was a former common soldier, retired about five years ago after sustaining severe injuries during the civil war along the neighboring kingdom's border.
He had a wife and two children.
After retiring, his salary was delayed.
His daughter's medical treatment was delayed as well—she passed away.
Months later, his son disappeared… around the same time the kidnapping incidents increased.
His wife suffered a mental breakdown, hallucinating their children's presence. Despair consumed the man.
He was frequently seen at a nearby church, confessing and praying with the priest—until the week before the carriage incident.
We don't know the contents of their conversations due to confidentiality, but aside from the priest and two fellow commoners, he met no one else."
"How did he commit suicide?" Gilbert asked.
"When cornered in an alley, he slit his own throat without hesitation. Witnesses said his face was pale—as if his soul had left before he acted. Some even praised his 'resolve.'"
Gilbert's voice hardened as he stared coldly at Ethan.
"There's nothing admirable about that. Someone exploited him—likely promised the return of his son if he obeyed. He probably believed his life would return to normal without realizing he was being manipulated. Did you investigate the priest?"
Ethan smiled lightly, almost mockingly.
"As expected of the young master… you followed the thread instantly."
Gilbert shot him a frosty glance, prompting Ethan to grow serious.
"We investigated everyone he met—including Father Lucian Kent. He has an adopted son in your cohort. I believe you know his name."
Athena spoke hesitantly
"Elliot Kent… right?"
Ethan nodded.
"Correct. Lucian Kent became a priest four years ago. He frequently meets with nobles due to his position, but there's no evidence tying him to the high-ranking families."
Gilbert added
"He doesn't appear influential in elite circles, nor connected to the Marquess's household."
Athena sighed softly.
"That just brings us back to square one."
Ethan nodded slowly. The wind rustled the surrounding trees, leaving a heavy silence in its wake.
Moments later, voices of approaching guards echoed nearby. Ethan stepped back and said calmly
"What's your plan now? Wait for Lady Alice and confront her? I don't see another option unless you withdraw entirely. And regarding the assassination attempt—will you investigate it differently?"
After exchanging a brief glance with Athena, Gilbert replied
"Let's postpone the assassination matter. For now, we'll gather information about the original mission and attempt to contact Alice from our side. If anything develops, we'll inform you."
Athena added after a brief pause
"Track illegal traders in the black market and underground auctions. You might find a lead on the slave traders responsible for the kidnappings. I don't expect much, but any information helps."
Ethan bowed respectfully.
"Understood, young master. Young lady. I'll have Callian assign one of his men to assist me. I'll await your signal."
They nodded as Ethan retreated with steady steps until he vanished from sight.
Breaking the silence, Gilbert spoke as Athena continued to stare blankly into the darkness where Ethan disappeared.
"Alice will most likely return tomorrow."
"So it seems…" Athena replied softly.
"You don't seem surprised."
She smiled faintly.
"During this short time, I thought carefully about what I need to do—and realized something. I'll do only what must be done. There's no need for unnecessary emotions."
Gilbert looked up at the gray sky where clouds obscured the moonlight.
A pale smile crossed his face.
"I see… That may be a good choice—but don't overdo it by suppressing everything inside you. It's late. I'll walk you back."
Athena remained silent for a moment, watching Gilbert's composed expression.
The corner of her mouth lifted slightly as she blinked and turned away.
"Let's go, then."
******
On the second floor of the dormitory building, where the evening air felt heavy with dampness, Elliot Kent stood behind the hallway window, staring silently at the overcast sky.
The gray clouds slowly parted, revealing the moon.
Its silver light reflected in his turquoise eyes—cold, lifeless.
He whispered faintly as he clutched a golden pendant pulled from beneath his white shirt.
"Ciel…"
The name echoed in his chest like an old wound that refused to heal.
Then—a hoarse, ominous voice whispered deep within his mind, like metal scraping against silence.
"Seems you haven't lost your feelings after all…"
His breath froze. He stared at his reflection in the glass and replied coldly
"Shut up."
The voice returned instantly—closer, more malicious—seeming to rise from the darkness stretching within his shadow on the marble floor.
"Abandon her… those pathetic emotions. If you want what you seek, you must forget what once was. There's nothing left for you to lose anymore… is there?"
The voice finally faded.
But the final words lingered inside him like a warped pulse.
His gaze dropped.
A dark shadow settled over his features as if the light itself were receding.
His teeth clenched, fingers trembling within his tightened fist.
As he turned away, his eyes caught a reflection in the window—
Gilbert and Athena walking beneath the silver moonlight in the courtyard below.
He froze, watching them with a hollow gaze—free of hatred or warmth, but filled with something stranger… a deadened longing.
Moments later, he turned away.
His soft footsteps faded down the corridor, leaving behind only the echo of words etched deep into his mind
"Everyone believes karma waits for them… They don't realize they've been living it from the very beginning."