A Second Coming

“Alright, Sally has her permit from the dean’s office, so she can use the main entrance. But how am I supposed to get out?”

On the outskirts of the academy, Ewan watched the patrolling teachers and golems, a frown creasing his brow.

Even without the seal of the second-tier Grand Secret Rite, the academy’s defenses had noticeably tightened, likely due to the increasingly tense situation.

Almost every night, a significant number of additional teachers would join the patrols.

Attempting to smuggle himself out of the academy in his current embarrassing late-second-tier cultivation was practically impossible; those teachers were not to be trifled with.

Yet, he couldn’t openly follow the normal procedures. After all, this excursion wasn’t for shopping or buying gifts.

‘It seems I’ll have to use my trump card.’

With no other recourse, Ewan could only resort to his ultimate method. He took a deep breath, his eyes flashing with a resolute and fervent determination as he looked at the patrolling teachers, who were growing ever closer.

“Teacher Mera, please help me!”

“…”

“Please, I’ll buy you your favorite sweets later!”

“Get lost.”

A furious roar, laced with the sentiment of ‘How could I have such a disgraceful disciple,’ echoed from the void. A small, fair foot emerged from thin air and abruptly kicked Ewan squarely on his backside.

Ewan yelped in pain, feeling the world spin around him as if he’d been stuffed into a washing machine on its heavy-duty cycle.

When he rubbed his backside and scrambled to his feet, he found himself already on the street outside the academy.

Being a school day, this street, which thrived because of the academy, was unusually deserted. A faint glow of firelight seeped from the windows of closed shops along the roadside, reflecting on the impeccably clean bluestone pavement.

Night had fallen, and the street was empty.

Only a completely black carriage, devoid of any markings, waited in silence.

Ewan stepped into the carriage.

The person inside had been waiting for a long time.

“Young Master.”

Ann immediately embraced Ewan’s waist. “I’ve been waiting for you for so long.”

“Alright, save the affection for later.”

Ewan inhaled her familiar scent and ruffled Ann’s hair.

“Let’s discuss business first.”

“Understood.”

Ann straightened up, her posture as perfectly rigid as if measured by a ruler, and her expression of adoring joy returned to its usual solemnity.

Clip-clop.

The carriage began to move on its own, heading towards the Lower City.

“Here are the items the Young Master requested.”

Amidst the rhythmic sound of hooves, Ann handed Ewan a document.

Ewan took it, opened it, and quickly scanned its contents.

“Is this all the information on the major gangs in the Lower City?”

“That’s right.”

Ann nodded gently. “Every gang with a name and territory is listed here.”

“The number is smaller than I expected.”

“After all, only a few manage to rise from the quagmire of the Lower City. Most of what you find there are scattered organizations that rely on larger gangs to survive. However, I doubt those would be of any use to the Young Master.

Moreover, for the Lower City, what matters isn’t what’s below, but what’s above.”

“Above…”

Ewan murmured.

“And the information on ‘above’…”

“Everything traceable has been marked. The rest are cautious individuals whose tracks are simply impossible to find,” Ann said, a hint of self-reproach in her voice.

“It’s not your fault. If they were so easily exposed, those greedy individuals would have been wiped out by the Royal Family long ago; they wouldn’t be so arrogant now.”

Ewan sighed.

Although, in his memories, his nominal father had spoken with disdain about those nobles whose minds were consumed by money and desire, there was one thing even he had to admit.

—’When it came to wickedness, those people were truly cunning. Who knew how many layers of aliases they had used to control the gangs in the Lower City?’

‘And how much of the money the ‘rats’ earned through smuggling and selling illicit drugs had ended up in their pockets?’

“However, there shouldn’t be any influence from ‘above’ in the Lower City for a while,” Ann suddenly stated.

“Oh? What do you mean?”

“Because most of the nobles in the Upper City have been conscripted by His Majesty.”

“Conscripted?”

Ewan frowned. “Why?”

“I don’t know. Perhaps because Master isn’t here, the Campbell family hasn’t received any notice. But I visited several noble households, and most of their patriarchs and able-bodied men were gone, leaving only some elderly, weak, women, and children.

After my inquiries, it seems to be His Majesty’s conscription order. It appears something major is about to happen.”

“Something major…”

The only major event recently was…

‘It seems the moon’s actions are even greater than I imagined.’

“But why would those nobles be so obedient? Wouldn’t their first thought upon encountering a major event be to flee?”

“I don’t know either,” Ann said, rubbing her cheek, a troubled expression on her face.

“But generally, with a blade at their throats, people don’t usually lie, do they?”

‘Eh?’

‘Wait?’

‘Ann?’

‘Did I just hear something alarming? Did you really ‘visit’ them?’

‘…I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.’

“However, according to intelligence from the Duke’s mansion, Belrand has recently begun a strict crackdown on smuggling, and the city gates have been temporarily sealed, mostly allowing entry but no exit.”

“I think I understand why those nobles are working so hard.”

Ewan’s lips twitched.

‘Truly worthy of His Majesty, who has purged Belrand’s dark forces multiple times. His methods are truly ruthless.’

If the moon was indeed planning some desperate maneuver, then the entire city of Belrand had become a single rope binding all its inhabitants together. Those individuals had no choice but to exert themselves.

“However, this is a good thing for me.”

Ewan put away the document. “Without their dog masters on a leash, those house dogs are even less significant than stray dogs.”

“By the way, is the other item I requested ready?”

“Of course, Young Master.”

Ann retrieved a box and opened it. Inside, a black formal suit and an exquisitely crafted human skin mask appeared before Ewan’s eyes.

“The formal suit was custom-made overnight from special fabric. It can withstand most cuts, flames, blunt force, and even magical attacks below the third-tier Secret Rite level. Most importantly, it’s incredibly lightweight, weighing only half as much as ordinary clothing.

And this human skin mask was also made by a professional artisan; it’s practically indistinguishable from the real thing…”

‘…’ Watching Ann introduce the contents of the box so earnestly, Ewan felt a warmth spread through his heart.

His original request had merely been for something lightweight enough to disguise himself.

But Ann always managed to prepare these things so perfectly.

Perfectly beyond his imagination.

“Thank you, Ann.”

“Young Master, it’s my duty.”

“Then help me get dressed, just like at home.”

“Mm.” Ann smiled.

“Very well, Young Master.”

****

A few minutes later, when Ewan stepped out of the carriage, his appearance had undergone a dramatic transformation.

His height and build had increased significantly, and his prominent nose bridge and deep-set eyes gave him the cold, arrogant look of a northern lady of the Raths.

The pure black, form-fitting suit resembled a beast’s shadow, exuding a brutal elegance amidst its nobility. Dangling golden ornaments highlighted the wearer’s wealth and extraordinary status.

His golden short hair was tucked beneath a wide-brimmed hat. As he slightly pressed down the brim, all emotion and gaze were rendered chillingly cold and unsettling by the darkness.

“Well, gentlemen.”

Ewan gripped his cane, surveying the silent streets of the Lower City.

“Let’s begin the second round of the game.”