A distinguished guest had arrived at the Dyfenril Ducal Estate.

Ray Lavendal, the second son of the Lavendal Duchy—the House of Water—who had already been designated heir.

He bore the Divine Beast’s mark and, though limited, could wield the Divine Beast of Water as well.

“Here.”

Ray offered tea with a gentle smile.

“I came to confirm one last thing. After all, your role in the ‘Entoho Operation’ is the most dangerous and the most important.”

It had been nine years since their days at the Academy. Ray was now a young man of twenty-two.

Unlike in his youth, he wore his short, sky-blue hair tied in a ponytail and round glasses perched on his nose.

But his pale, almost translucent skin and jewel-like blue eyes remained unchanged.

“I do feel a bit guilty for giving you such a risky task…”

Seated across from him with his legs lazily crossed was Zahid.

He had become Duke at the age of eleven and had rapidly built the Dyfenril Duchy into what it was now.

The face of this freshly come-of-age man bore both arrogance and a chill.

In his right hand rested a pipe. Outwardly, it appeared to be for tobacco, but in truth, the hookah pipe was filled not with tobacco leaves—but a sedative.

Over the past nine years, Zahid had endured numerous assassination attempts. One of the most common involved tampering with his sedatives.

Without them, the pain from his mana surges became unbearable.

As he grew older, the required dosage increased, until he was forced to consume sedatives even in front of others.

At first, he carried a private water bottle like Ray. But after several pickpocketing incidents, Theo secretly crafted a pipe that could store a concentrated form of sedative.

No one suspected it, so Zahid always carried that modified pipe, feigning the role of a smoker.

“…You know, back in the day, you had kind of a scary look, but you were still kinda cute. Now you just look like someone no one wants to get close to.”

Ray sighed and shook his head.

Zahid and Ray weren’t exactly friends, but neither were they enemies.

They had a common enemy, and that alone made them trust and rely on each other more than anyone.

It was different from their alliance with the Noart Count Family. They had something stronger in common—the ancient Divine Beasts.

“Anyway, I’m counting on you. You’re the only one who can pull this off.”

“I was gonna do it anyway.”

Zahid gave a lazy smile.

“Don’t worry about me. Just focus on your part.”

They were both boarding the Entoho, carrying out their roles in the operation together. Especially Zahid—he never hesitated when it came to taking down the Temple. As if he were possessed.

Ray took a sip of the tea served at the Dyfenril estate. The flavor was pleasant.

After forming resonance with Athena, Ray gradually stopped relying on his personal water bottle. These days, if he fully trusted the person offering the drink, he could consume it without hesitation.

“You’re ridiculous,” Ray muttered, gazing at Zahid with a faint smile.

“Back in the day, you’d throw a fit if anyone dared call you cute.”

“That was when I was still a brat.”

Zahid chuckled faintly and took a slow drag from his pipe.

Through the smoke that dissolved like white mist in the air, his violet eyes gleamed like a beast’s.

“I’m not a brat anymore, so I can’t act like one.”

He sounded completely unbothered, like no matter what Ray said, it wouldn’t matter.

Zahid had grown into a wolf who concealed his fangs, maybe ever since puberty.

He feigned indifference, but methodically struck down the Temple, piece by piece.

So thorough and skilled in everything he did that, despite only being twenty, few dared to underestimate him.

Except the Noart Family, who insisted they had “no real roots.”

Caliban and Julian still called him a “kid” and treated him without any formality.

Zahid, for his part, would just smile faintly and brush off even their most outrageous behavior.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

It was proof of the trust that had grown between them over the years.

But for someone who acts like the world’s beneath him…

Ray glanced at Zahid’s left hand.

He still wore his engagement ring. In fact, he wore two stacked on the same finger.

Despite the engagement being annulled, Zahid stubbornly continued to wear both rings, and it had become something of a joke behind his back. Especially since the second ring’s owner was blatantly obvious.

And even though he must’ve heard the gossip, he never took the rings off.

He’s still waiting for Rosie, Ray thought.

He didn’t know the details about Rosie and Yuta.

All he heard was that one day, she suddenly declared she’d become a mage and cut ties with the outside world, entering the Magic Tower.

But he didn’t fully believe that story. Because Rosie was one of Athena’s masters—the Divine Beast of Water.

And based on information from the Imperial Palace, she was now also the master of Liri, the Grass Divine ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) Beast.

There must be circumstances I don’t know about. But Rosie will return.

No Divine Beast is ever abandoned by its master. She would return to the world.

And the fact that Zahid never mentioned her in front of Ray only reinforced that belief.

Not because he’s hiding something. He just hates even hearing me talk about her.

It meant Rosie hadn’t vanished forever—she was still someone he claimed as his own.

And…

Ray smiled gently.

I’ll wait for you too, Rosie.

Zahid ignored him, unfolding a newspaper. The date was from a few days ago. Ray glanced at the headline.

A Dreamlike Cruise Party with the Entoho!

Ento Corporation.

A manufacturing firm that had exploded onto the scene in recent years.

There were rumors of secret massive investments fueling its rise, though nothing had ever been confirmed. And this year, Ento had launched into the cruise ship business.

Their first large-scale passenger vessel: The Entoho.

A luxurious, hedonistic party onboard.

Exactly the sort of event that would attract the elite.

To promote their debut, Ento had sent personalized invitations to high-ranking nobles.

Beneath the headline, the article listed the Four Ducal Houses, notable noble families, the Imperial Family, and key Temple officials as expected attendees.

Of course he’d keep looking over even days-old newspapers. It’s a dangerous operation… Huh?

Ray, who had been watching Zahid with mixed feelings, suddenly realized Zahid wasn’t reading the main article—but a smaller one tucked in the corner.

Ethan Noart, Now a Grand Mage

Seriously? That’s the article you’re all giddy about? The one above it is the important one!

Ray narrowed his eyes at the anticipation on Zahid’s face.

“Hey, Zahid. You’re listening to me, right? This ‘Entoho Operation’ is seriously dangerous, so don’t overdo it—”

“I won’t.”

Zahid cut him off flatly. Then, with a look of genuine, irrepressible excitement, he added:

“I’ve been waiting so long… and finally, it’s almost here.”

He took another deep pull from his pipe. Amidst the smoke that clouded his vision, he muttered,

“These sedatives have a sharp, distinct scent. I’m sick of it now.”

“Well, my father says the same. But there’s no choice. It hurts if you don’t take them.”

“Yeah…”

Zahid looked toward the window, raising a brow.

“That’s why I’m always waiting—for another way.”

At his feet, Fire curled up and growled low and deep.

“Without forgetting for a single moment.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep