The Man Who Couldn't Part Ways (2)

To Ziel, sleep was merely a biological necessity required to keep the human body functional—nothing more, nothing less.

He took no pleasure in it, closing his eyes only when strictly required. Yet throughout the entire journey back to the imperial capital, he found himself drifting off with remarkable ease and waking up utterly refreshed.

He had spent the entire trip subjected to Gunter's relentless chatter.

"Instructor, where was I? Ah, right! I graduated from the Academy too, you know! Haha. The professors from my day have probably all retired by now. Everyone makes a huge fuss about the Arcane School these days, but back then, the Sword School ruled the roost! Well, sure, the Arcane School was doing alright back then too, but compared to the Sword School, they were nowhere near..."

How a single man possessed so many topics of conversation was a mystery; the subject changed every few minutes, yet his words flowed without the slightest hesitation.

Ziel found himself genuinely curious.

"Is there an illness that kills you if you stop talking?"

"Ah, does such a disease exist? If it does, I'm definitely afflicted! Hahaha!"

"So you do have it."

"Looking at me, you might just think so! Hahaha!"

The knight was unnecessarily good-natured, laughing off whatever Ziel threw at him without taking offense. Or rather, he was simply completely oblivious.

He mentioned having a lover in the capital, Ziel mused.

A question surfaced in his mind: was that lover just as talkative? Perhaps one had to possess an extraordinary fondness for listening to ever fall in "love" with such a man.

Is that what love is?

Indeed. The books he had read offered conflicting definitions, yet one particular notion came to mind: to simply cherish the other person exactly as they are. That was love.

Then that must truly be genuine love.

Ziel felt a profound sense of reverence for Gunter's unseen lover.

Meanwhile...

"Though, you know how it is—most folks prefer swords forged by renowned master smiths, but personally, I just carry a standard-issue blade... Come to think of it, Instructor Ziel, you don't carry a sword, do you? Aren't you an elective instructor for the Sword School?"

"I am not particularly fond of swords."

"Mmm. What a philosophical answer! Now I see why the Lord Patriarch spoke so highly of you. How true that is! When one loves a sword too deeply and obsesses over it, one ends up losing the blade instead. What you mean is that you maintain a healthy distance from the weapon, am I right?"

Ziel was gradually acquiring a vital social skill: brushing things off noncommittally.

"Close enough."

"I knew it! Just as I thought!"

Previously, Ziel had always answered literally, saying precisely what crossed his mind. But right now, he could not afford to do that. Instinct—his razor-sharp, assassin-honed survival sense—screamed at him that the moment he answered honestly, another endless train of idle chatter would follow.

Unfortunately, Gunter's mouth showed no sign of tiring anyway.

For the dozens of times that day alone, an intense urge surged within Ziel. Had this been my assassin days, I would have burned his mouth shut. Or sewn his lips together with unbreakable steel wire. Though even then, the man would probably find a way to keep babbling.

Still, Ziel was a former assassin—and a legendary one at that. If there was one virtue he possessed in spades, it was patience.

After enduring with sheer grit and endurance, the capital finally came into view.

Finally.

The escort mission ended at the gates of the capital. Once they stepped inside, his duty was officially fulfilled.

"My goodness, we're at the capital already. What a shame, Instructor. To think we have to part ways so soon! We shared so many wonderful conversations over these past few days, didn't we? It was truly an educational experience for me."

Ziel's replies rarely exceeded three or four words. What on earth the man had learned from them remained a complete mystery—though Ziel himself had certainly learned how to nod and deflect.

"By the way, you're heading back to the Academy, correct?"

"I am."

"Then would you care to stop by my villa along the way? It's right on our route. Since I'm in town after so long, I need to pick up a few things, and a parcel should have arrived by now."

A villa.

"Ah, as I mentioned, I have a sweetheart here in the capital. But since we aren't wed yet, visiting her family's estate too often draws uncomfortable glances... Haha. So I arranged a little private place of my own! It's quite the trend among young nobles these days, you see. Naturally, I jumped on the bandwagon! Being a knight of House Kundel, securing the place wasn't all that difficult!"

At this point, Gunter offering detailed explanations to unasked questions was hardly surprising.

After a brief hesitation, Ziel relented. "Very well."

Without realizing it, Ziel had acquired yet another social skill: compromise.

It's on the way anyway.

Compromise was something one resorted to when circumstances were unfavorable, and circumstances were currently very unfavorable indeed. If he declined now, Gunter would likely launch into a lengthy lamentation filled with even more chatter. Ziel had begun to fear the man.

"Haha, wonderful! Thank you. By the way, Instructor, didn't you mention yesterday that you reside in the Academy's faculty dormitory? From what I recall back in my school days, hardly any staff ever stayed there. If you ever have the chance to purchase a home in the future, taking a look at my villa might give you some ideas."

That was an intriguing point.

Ziel had indeed been pondering the purchase of a proper residence to stabilize his undercover identity and settle down for the long haul. While enduring more of Gunter's chatter was a heavy toll, seeing the property in person held genuine value.

With that, the pair headed toward the residence.

Gunter's villa was located in District 8. The Academy occupied the entirety of Districts 5 and 6, while Districts 2, 3, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and 4 formed the prime residential belt for the high nobility. District 8 sat just beneath them as a prestigious upper-tier neighborhood. The scenery was worlds apart from the destitute lower sectors where Ziel had gone shopping for equipment.

"What do you think, Instructor?"

"The streets are orderly."

"While it may not match the highest noble quarters, it's quite a decent area. It's been rising in popularity lately."

"What is that building?"

"That's the Comprehensive Service Center. An administrative facility catering to local residents, so to speak. There's even a bounty station inside."

"A bounty station."

During his days as an assassin, bounties were an inescapable part of life. Assassins were the primary instruments used to hunt down individuals with prices on their heads.

"From what I gather, it's mostly small fry these days. Apparently, the city is crawling with thieves."

"I see."

Approaching the Comprehensive Service Center as Gunter suggested, Ziel found the bounty notice board plastered almost entirely with wanted posters for petty burglars. Only one or two carried reasonably substantial sums.

The Soffen Family Manor was breached after all.

One notice detailed a burglar who had recently ransacked the Soffen family estate.

It had happened just two days ago.

I pointed out their security flaws, too.

It seemed Lord Olton Sophen had ignored his counsel entirely. In his fury, the patriarch appeared to have added a personal reward ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to the bounty, resulting in a remarkably hefty sum for an ordinary thief.

"Hmm."

Then, Ziel's eyes landed on the most prominent wanted poster on the board.

It was none other than Ziel himself.

Naturally, there were no identifying details. Not a single living soul knew that the unmasked face of 'Phantom' was the very face Ziel wore now. Even the authorities seemed embarrassed by their lack of information, providing only an ambiguous silhouette that offered zero practical clues.

Two hundred million Cel.

"An all-time record," Gunter remarked. "Forget two hundred million, I don't think I've ever even seen twenty million Cel on a bounty before."

"Is that considered high?"

"Astonishingly high, Instructor! Ridiculously so! No criminal has ever commanded that kind of purse. Many consider it purely symbolic—a declaration that shadowy organizations like assassin guilds will no longer have a place in this Empire."

"Is that so."

"Following the destruction of Black Sky, the other guilds are holding their breath. From what I understand, they've ceased virtually all operations near the capital."

If I turn myself in, collect the reward, and then escape, what happens to the two hundred million Cel? Ziel wondered with genuine, innocent curiosity.

"Come along, Instructor! We're almost there. Ideally, I would have preferred District 4 or higher, but that proved a bit difficult. Since it's only a temporary retreat, District 8 felt just right. Hahaha! Property values here have been climbing steadily as well. I even stretched my finances a bit to secure a loan from the Imperial Bank."

A bank loan. Ziel had read about that in books as well.

So one can take out loans for houses, too.

He wondered how much credit he could qualify for.

The townhouse villa was fairly sizable, standing three stories tall. Although it shared a partition wall with the neighboring residence, the overall square footage was respectable.

Security-wise, it offers zero advantages, Ziel assessed immediately.

The adjoining structures meant soundproofing would be poor, and entry points were painfully predictable. While defending the interior might be manageable, escaping unnoticed would be exceedingly difficult. On the whole, it fell far short of what Ziel desired in a safe haven.

Before Ziel could voice his critique, Gunter was already chattering away.

"I still have a few years left on the mortgage, but I'm confident I can pay it off. Considering property value appreciation against the interest, selling it once the loan is cleared will net a tidy profit! What do you think? Quite splendid, isn't it? Haha! Judging by your expression, you seem to fancy it!"

For the record, throughout their entire journey to the capital, Ziel's expression had not shifted an inch—aside from a faint scowl. Well, there were two exceptions: once when encountering the Tollen Merchant Guild, and once when the imperial capital came into view. On both occasions, his face had briefly softened with relief.

"Shall we head inside?"

"I will take a brief look around the interior and head straight to the Academy."

"Ah, of course. You have a busy schedule. Let me give you a quick tour! Hahaha."

Ziel was entirely serious. He wanted nothing more than to return to his quarters and rest. A quick nap wouldn't be bad at all. He was desperate to part ways with Gunter.

"By the way, this home features double security locks on all doors and windows. If an intruder attempts entry, the contracted security firm is dispatched instantly. One must use the authorized key to open the door!"

It sounded like an enchanted security mechanism. Ziel nodded in understanding, then asked, "Do you live here with your lover?"

"Pardon? Ah, no. As I said, it's just the modern style. Rather than living together, it's more of a... private meeting place, shall we say?"

"Does she know you're arriving today?"

"Of course not! If she did, she would have met me at the city gates."

"Then do you employ a caretaker?"

"No, it's a private space. I prefer to clean it myself whenever I visit the capital. Ever since my days as the junior knight in the garrison, I've had more than enough practice sweeping and scrubbing, so when it comes to cleaning, I happen to be quite the expert..."

In a rare display, Ziel cut him off mid-sentence.

"No one should be inside, yet I sense a presence."

"Excuse me?"

"Is there anyone else besides your lover and a caretaker?"

"..."

For the very first time, Gunter fell completely silent. Two distinct reasons choked the words in his throat. First, the terrifying realization that someone was inside who shouldn't be. And second...

I didn't sense a single thing. How did the instructor notice?

"They are holding their breath now," Ziel murmured. "They know we have arrived outside."

Of course they knew. Gunter had been projecting his booming voice right outside the front porch. It was enough to jolt anyone awake from a light slumber. Given the villa's utter lack of acoustic dampening, it was practically guaranteed.

"Sir Gunter. Is there a rear entrance?"

"Y-Yes, there is."

"I will enter through the back. The intruder may attempt to flee. Enter through the front door."

"Understood."

Before the nod fully left Gunter's neck, Ziel had already vanished toward the alley. Only after Ziel was entirely out of sight did a sudden realization strike the knight.

Wait, don't I have the only key?

Shouting after him or running over to hand him the key risked tipping off the intruder. He's probably just covering the rear exit. Most likely.

Surely the instructor had misheard. There couldn't possibly be anyone inside. Yet an uneasy thought flashed across his mind.

No, it can't be.

Only two people in the world held keys to this villa: himself and his lover. The list of people permitted inside was strictly defined...

Click.

He turned the key. He would see with his own eyes. The first floor looked exactly as he remembered—

"Sir Gunter. Do not move."

Ziel's whisper drifted from the shadows. Gunter's eyes widened in sheer disbelief. Ziel was already standing inside the foyer.

"I-Instructor, how on earth did you—"

"Keep your voice down and look at the floor."

Gunter shifted his gaze down. To his eyes, there was nothing unusual. But Ziel's next action revealed what lay hidden.

Ziel crouched low, his chest grazing the floorboards, and exhaled a sharp breath across the hardwood.

A thin layer of accumulated dust scattered, uncovering faint footprints.

"Judging by the stride and size, an adult male. The faintness of the depression indicates a light frame and nimble footing."

"Instructor, what in the world..."

"Lower your voice. Better yet, do not speak."

Ziel placed heavy emphasis on the latter command. Finally, a valid excuse to shut his mouth.

"No presence detected on the first floor. We are moving to the second."

"Wait, but why are you allowed to talk—"

"I told you not to speak."

"..."

Gunter sealed his lips tight. A mountain of questions threatened to burst from his chest, but he kept them locked behind his teeth.

What is he? How did he bypass the lock, and how did he notice footprints in the dust? Is this why the Patriarch praised him so lavishly? The more I see, the more astonishing...

His thoughts ran wild. Following behind Ziel, Gunter crept up to the second floor.

"The presence remains on the third floor," Ziel murmured. "Suppressing their breath, keeping their respiration exceptionally shallow. They are aware we have entered."

How could he possibly know all of that? Was he an ex-thief?

A similar profession, yet entirely different in lethal execution.

"What is the layout of the third floor?"

"..."

"Sir Gunter."

"Ah. You told me not to speak..."

"Answer briefly and concisely. In a whisper."

"It's practically an attic. Mostly stored belongings, but..."

"How many windows?"

"Two. One facing the front, one facing the back."

"When we ascend the stairs, block the nearest window."

Gunter's throat bobbed with tension. That dreadful possibility flared once more in his mind.

No, it can't be.

Betrayal by his lover. They had spent long periods apart, seeing each other only once or twice a year at best. Even with wedding vows pledged, deceit between mortals was an everyday tragedy. He trusted her more than anyone, yet the circumstances forced ugly doubts to the surface.

It can't be true. My love would never.

Chanting that desperate mantra in his head, Gunter followed Ziel up the final flight of stairs.

"Now."

The moment they breached the third floor, Ziel darted across the floorboards while Gunter lunged to block the nearest window. Then—silence.

"...?"

Had Instructor Ziel made a mistake after all? Just as that doubt formed—

"Instructor?"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

After securing the rear window with a small contraption, Ziel walked straight toward a seemingly empty, bare wall.

What is he doing?

He appeared to brush past the vacant space—

Shatter!

With blinding speed, Ziel drew a dagger and thrust it forward. The sound of breaking glass echoed through the room. There had undeniably been nothing in the air a fraction of a second before, yet the space fractured.

What followed was even more shocking.

"Wh-What the?!"

From thin air, a figure materialized.

"Eek!"

Whoever it was, they scrambled to flee—

Thud!

Before the intruder could take a step, Ziel hooked his foot around the man's ankle, seized his upper torso, and slammed him violently onto the floorboards.

"Subdued, Sir Gunter."

Gunter rushed forward to inspect the intruder. To his profound relief, it was not his lover. It was an unfamiliar man.

Who is this?

As Gunter stared in bewilderment, Ziel spoke flatly.

"The face from the bounty board."

"The bounty board...?"

"There was a criminal with a three-hundred-thousand Cel bounty."

The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠very burglar who had raided the Soffen estate.

"...!" Gunter's eyes widened with pure astonishment.

"L-Let me go! If you let me walk, I'll pay you far more than that measly sum!"

"Quiet."

Ziel struck a pressure point near the thief's neck, instantly robbing him of speech.

"Instructor! Does this mean we captured a wanted fugitive?!"

"Presumably."

"Heavens above! This is incredible! To think we bag a criminal the moment we step foot in the capital... Wait, three hundred thousand Cel is a fortune! That's serious money!"

They had caught a fugitive. Ziel had secured a substantial amount of the currency he so dearly valued. Yet his face showed no hint of joy.

Since we caught a bounty... does this mean I must spend more time with Sir Gunter?

He had planned to inspect the house and leave immediately for the Academy. Yet here he was, still tethered to the knight.

More importantly...

Something else entirely held Ziel's gaze: the device the burglar had utilized to conceal himself.

A small, pitch-black stone. It was the exact same tool Ziel had once deployed—the very device he had used at the Academy to vanish from Deleve's pursuit.

An item exclusive to the assassin syndicate. Why is it in his hands?

It projected an impossibly precise optical illusion of empty space—a tool reserved strictly for operatives of Black Sky: the Projection Monolith.

"Sir Gunter. I will handle this individual."

A separate interrogation was clearly in order.

"Ah, of course! By all means! You caught him, so he's entirely yours to claim. Don't worry about me—head straight to the bounty center!"

Gunter nodded enthusiastically. It was an immense relief.

Finally, we can part ways.

Gunter had an amicable nature, but he spoke far too much.

"Thanks to you, a burglar is off the streets, Instructor! Who could have imagined he was a wanted man? Still, what sort of terrible security does this place have that he broke in so easily? I'll have to speak with the caretaker and upgrade the locks..."

"Then, I shall take my leave."

Swish.

Ziel tapped another pressure point on the thief's neck, knocking him unconscious, hoisted him over his shoulder, and bounded swiftly down the staircase.

"Safe travels, Instructor! Until we meet again!"

Ziel sincerely hoped they never would.

"And if you need a witness testimony, just say the word! Victim statements are crucial in these matters! Send a letter anytime! I'll be in the capital for the next three days!"

Ziel had zero intention of writing.