A few minutes earlier.

  Far from the forest and the school...

  In a room drowned in moon shadows, a man sat in his office beneath the moonlight.

  His desk was empty now, save for a crystal bottle of alcohol and an elegant, gold-line trimmed glass in his hand.

  His features were obscured by shadows, but the insignia — a sword within the steel wings of a blood drop — shone starkly under the moonlight.

  The man raised the glass to his lips, taking a slow, dignified sip.

  But, all of a sudden, the man began laughing — hysterically. Uncontrollably.

  He shook, tears streaming down his face as he laughed.

  "Oh my, it seems I was caught... hahahahaha — Ah!"

  As if struck by a sudden realization, he stopped.

  His face, still buried in shadows, froze.

  "These bases..."

  His laughing abruptly came to an end, his face streaked with tears, his gaze fixed on the reflection of the two moons in his alcohol glass.

  "Someone destroyed a base a week ago... and now... another is down."

  He downed his cup in one motion.

  He reached out for the bottle, refilling it.

  Holding the glass in one hand, he rested his chin on the second.

  "You... you should stop what you're doing."

  His voice softened.

  "Digging there won't get you anywhere... Sigh..."

  He smiled slightly, the dim moonlight and shadows distorting his features further.

  He stood and began walking slowly around the room, humming a melody.

  His steps became faster, matching the rhythm, slowly turning into a clumsy dance.

  He danced alone. Raising his alcohol glass, shifting left and right...

  HmmHmmmmHmmmmm~

  "Right..."

  He froze mid-step.

  "They could've found the empire's insignia with that 3rd-rank knight..."

  He remembered something.

  "What was his name?"

  He paused, took a sip, and thought for a moment.

  Another sip.

  Emptying the glass.

  He walked back to the desk, filling to the brim.

  After another sip, and another moment of thought...

  He gave up.

  He whispered, looking to the chair.

  Addressing someone there, someone who couldn't be seen, or who isn't there.

  "It doesn't matter... a useless, dead piece of trash doesn't need a name... right, Teacher?"

  He resumed dancing, emptying one cup after another, speaking in a sing-song tone.

  "Teacher... Teacher... you rejected me... You knew me best... better than anyone... You left so many obstacles for me... but,"

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  he laughed again,

  "Teacher, the only obstacle is you... your existence... how much did you really prepare, Teacher... hahahaha."

  In a distant corner of the universe, a man sat on a grass field, under a boundless starry sky.

  Surrounded by three short-haired cats.

  He poked his ear all of a sudden — a small itch, nothing worth scratching twice.

  And then returned to enjoying the calm.

  One was a calico, mostly white with a few yellow, brown, and gray spots, and beautiful amber eyes.

  His name was George.

  The second was beige with bright green eyes.

  His name was Hazel.

  The third was propped up with his head over the man's shoulder.

  He was a Siamese with two kinks in his tail, a slim body, and bigger ears.

  His eyes held boundless curiosity.

  His name was Grim.

  The man wore a white T-shirt, black shorts, and black flip-flops.

  Beside him was a backpack.

  He was grilling meat on a flat rock.

  Sizzling in its fat, producing an appetizing aroma.

  An aroma he couldn't help admiring.

  Aaron Isidor's POV

  "Kids, aren't vacations the best?"

  I spoke to my cats, as I always do.

  "You eat, sleep... that's the cat life, right?"

  The three cats nodded in agreement.

  Everyone wants to work me to death...

  Sigh...

  Can't a man just be rich and unemployed?

  Life sucks...

  I brought three more flat stones, and of course, one for myself.

  Am I supposed to watch them eat without eating anything?

  What kind of heartless man would I be if I let them eat alone?

  I started cutting the meat and placing it on the flat stones for the kids to eat.

  I don't even remember how many times the four of us have sat like this, but it never gets old.

  This is the true life...

  Simple, peaceful, and fulfilling.

  A moment, a peaceful moment that would never end...

  If only...

  If only such life could exist.

  I reached for my bag...

  BEER...

  haha...

  Drinking has become a hassle after awakening.

  I have to nurture even alcohol.

  Sigh...

  Even alcohol wants to work me to death.

  But it's worth it...

  Click~

  We started enjoying the food, but... I sensed that old presence from far away, but I ignored it.

  "Caw... Caw..."

  In the distance, I heard Huginn.

  "Yeah, yeah... I already sensed his approach. Did he come to cut my vacation short? I'll fight him if he did."

  I spoke in a voice loud enough for him to catch.

  Though, I doubt he would just leave like that...

  And, he really didn't.

  It wasn't long before he appeared before me.

  A man with long black hair, eyebrows like rising swords, monolid brown eyes.

  His beard was smooth and long, with a strand of white on each side.

  He looked impressive in his lavender robes...

  If only he'd stop nagging.

  I'll ignore him... he's invisible.

  I can't see him.

  "Aaron," the man spoke, his tone neutral, as always.

  Sigh...

  Can't he just take a vacation too?

  I lifted my head and looked him in the eye.

  "Um... ah, right... thanks. I nearly forgot what my name was."

  The man's face didn't change.

  He kept looking.

  Yeah, I'll just ignore him.

  He can have a staring contest with himself; I don't care.

  I drank some beer, took a bite of the meat — juicy, well-seasoned, beautifully cooked.

  "Kids, if you're still hungry, we still have more meat."

  I sensed someone else approaching.

  Someone less impressive... totally undignified...

  Another uninvited guest.

  He came running, sat down, and started eating.

  He even took one of my beers.

  Aspen... this stupid bastard.

  "Are you picking a fight?" I asked, snatching the beer from him.

  "What?"

  Looking startled, he said,

  "The beer you nurture is the best... these guys always drink dull stuff," he spoke with a face stuffed with meat.

  The old man's face fell.

  He gave up his solo staring contest.

  "Did someone find the items we left with Pakpok?"

  Oh... was that what he came here for?

  "Ah, a couple of days ago, the sorcery was undone."

  "Did you check the situation there?" the old man asked.

  His tone was the same, but I could feel slight concern in it.

  I looked back at him.

  "Just a peek. Any more and I'll ruin the batteries. But Laozi, aren't you the one who sees the world's fate through the flow of source energy? What are you asking exactly?"

  "Things are progressing rapidly on their side. I'm not sure if the kid will be able to fulfill..."

  "Laozi!" I cut him off before he could finish.

  "Entrusting kids with tasks beyond them is failure from our side...

  If things are beyond them, I'll take care of it personally.

  I don't give a shit about the rules and bullshit you speak of.

  Now stop interrupting my vacation.

  I'll be back within a few days..."

  I pointed at the freeloader.

  "Don't forget to take that shallow bastard with you."

  He looked deeply at me for a moment, and I looked him in the eye this time.

  Ultimately, he started walking over to Aspen's side and placing his hand firmly on his shoulder.

  Aspen shrieked,

  "WAIT! I haven't even taken my second BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITE!"

  The old man ignored him as they began disappearing into the distance.

  A bitter sigh escaped my lips.

  "Sigh... Can't an old guy my age rest?"

  "Meow."

  "Right, Grim... tell them... no manners at all."