NOVPUBThere were still ten minutes left until Seridan finished repairing the arm guard and wire launcher.
Of course, she wouldn’t just fix them and leave it at that.
Knowing her personality... she’d probably had another flash of inspiration and gone into full-blown modification mode.
She said ten minutes, but considering all that, it’d probably /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ take thirty.
‘Thirty minutes. I’ve still got time.’
Thinking I could take a short break before heading back to Seorn, I leaned against the window on the third floor and looked down.
‘What’s that?’
In the alley where no one should’ve been walking, three black shadows were moving swiftly.
Even putting aside their coordinated formation, their footwork alone wasn’t normal.
‘Fast and light. Their balance is perfect—no wasted movement, no swaying.’
I only spotted them by pure chance.
If I hadn’t happened to be looking out the window, I might not have seen them at all. Their movements were that stealthy.
They wore dark cloaks that obscured their features, but I instantly recognized what they were.
‘Knights. Fully trained, elite knights.’
And not the kind that had been guarding Dutrieu either—these were a different caliber altogether.
At least full-ranked knights, if not higher.
And there were three of them, moving through a back alley?
Regular knights wouldn’t even give this place a second glance.
What’s more, they were heading straight toward the spot where Violetta and I had just fought the Red Society.
Narrowing my eyes, I watched them carefully.
‘Knights who would enter a place like this without hesitation...’
There was only one group that came to mind.
No way...
Just as I was about to come to a conclusion, the leading knight suddenly halted and turned his gaze in my direction.
Shit.
I quickly stepped away from the window.
‘Was I spotted?’
I’d been cautious, but that one had an exceptional sense for things.
We were more than a hundred meters apart, and he still sensed something?
Thankfully, he didn’t fully catch me. After a moment of scrutiny, his gaze moved on.
‘...Security Bureau.’
More specifically, the Nightcrawler Knights, the intelligence arm of the Security Bureau.
Knights who, unlike others, specialized in stealth and secrecy—appearing where they were least expected.
They weren’t the kind of knights who basked in glory under the lights of grand stages.
No, these were the kind who operated in shadows, removing threats to the Empire in silence.
They walked paths soaked in blood and mud—not for glory, but for duty. And they did so willingly.
To those who knew of them, they were objects of fear and caution.
Far more dangerous to encounter in a dark alley than out on a bright street.
‘And just now, when he looked this way... I’m sure I caught a glimpse of silver hair.’
There was only one knight in the entire Security Bureau known for that.
‘Could it really be her?’
Terrina Lionhowl.
Commander of the Nightcrawler Knights and the Security Bureau’s supreme leader.
The Lord Protector of the Empire.
‘Why would she be here? Could it be because of the werewolf incident?’
It was a vague guess, but it made sense.
A cryptid had appeared in Rederbelk. And a major tycoon, Belvotte Rixon, had died.
With the Security Bureau’s intelligence network, they must have learned that Rixon had conspired with someone to conduct human experiments.
Their eyes were everywhere across the Empire.
‘Even so, I didn’t expect the commander herself to step in.’
Then again, these weren’t just some back-alley thugs—they were experimenting on living citizens.
And black mages were involved too. It would’ve been stranger if the Bureau didn’t intervene.
But here’s the real issue:
‘They must’ve investigated Belvotte Rixon’s mansion—and if they did, then they’d know the secret vault was looted.’
And that’s not all.
They’d surely noticed the blazing fire that scorched the area near the abandoned factory.
Even though I burned everything to leave no trace, the lingering signs of something having been there can’t be erased.
‘That might have triggered their investigation. This could be a problem. The Security Bureau’s knights are in Rederbelk—and not just anyone, but the commander herself.’
Terrina Lionhowl was especially someone I had no desire to get involved with.
That monster of a woman was near the very top of my “avoid at all costs” list.
Thank god I stayed hidden.
If our eyes had met—if she had even the faintest suspicion and decided to come find me...
‘That could’ve been bad. Her intuition borders on the supernatural.’
Until the Bureau concludes their investigation and leaves Rederbelk, I’ll have to move carefully.
‘At least I haven’t left any clear trail. That’s a relief.’
They likely won’t consider the investigation closed right away.
But that doesn’t mean Terrina Lionhowl will personally stick around either. 𝔫𝖔𝔳𝔭𝔲𝔟.𝖈𝔬𝔪
She holds one of the highest positions in the Empire.
She can’t afford to waste time chasing unresolved cases—it would be a major hole in the Empire’s security.
‘She’ll probably withdraw soon. But I’m sure she’ll leave a few knights behind.’
That much I can handle.
Without Terrina herself, the others—even if elite—can be avoided.
As I was thinking that, I heard rapid footsteps from below, followed by the door rattling open.
Seridan burst in, clutching the arm guard to her chest.
“Milord! It’s done!”
“All finished? That was faster than I expected.”
I’d figured it would take thirty minutes, but she was back in twenty.
Maybe there wasn’t much to change—or maybe her skills had improved again. I’d know once I saw it.
“Yup! I was going to finish in ten, but as I got into it, a bunch of ideas popped into my head. So I went ahead and gave it a full tune-up while I was at it!”
“Oh?”
I examined the arm guard she handed me.
The one I used before had been large enough to cover from my wrist all the way up my forearm, but this one was noticeably different—it was now less than half that size.
“Smaller. Slimmer.”
“And so much more comfortable!”
Her snow-white twin-tailed hair bounced up and down as she spoke, adding extra emphasis to her pride.
My eyes were momentarily drawn to it before I returned my focus to the arm guard in hand.
“You removed everything unnecessary.”
Previously, it doubled as a forearm protector, so it had to wrap around the whole arm.
This one only covered about a third from the wrist up.
“Yup. You’re not acting as a hunter anymore, right? So I prioritized convenience over performance this time.”
“You got that right. I’m a magic instructor now, not a hunter.”
“Oooh. Then what should I call you now? Van Helsing? Moriarty? Lupin?”
“Call me Ludger Cherish.”
“Mmm. Lord Ludger. I like the sound of that. Still, I’m impressed! A magic instructor now—at Seorn, no less! That’s incredible!”
“There’s a story behind it.”
“I bet there is! But of course it’s you, milord! You snuck into Seorn, the most prestigious academy in all of Exilion! Must’ve been easy as pie for you, huh? Totally what I’d expect!”
Apparently, in her eyes, I was some terrifying genius with unbelievable capabilities.
She probably thought I’d secured my spot at Seorn through sheer talent or masterful plotting.
The truth was far less glamorous.
But I wasn’t about to explain that I’d been swept up in a train bombing and accidentally became a teacher. So I let it slide.
“Anyway, just like you said—I stripped off anything bulky and only left what’s necessary. The wire launcher should work perfectly now, so give it a try.”
“Hm.”
I mounted the arm guard to my left arm.
Maybe she changed the material too—it no longer felt stiff or heavy. Instead, it wrapped smoothly around my arm like a second skin.
Even over my dress shirt, the fit was flawless.
Yeah. Definite upgrade in comfort.
Now, for the test.
‘Let’s aim for that spot.’
I aimed the wire launcher at a blank wall and fired.
Whoooosh! THUNK!
The wire shot out with terrifying speed and punched clean through the wall.
That... was surprising.
“Considerably more powerful.”
“Yup! I boosted the output by nearly double! Upgraded the wire strength too, and swapped in a brand-new grappling hook! Now you can haul another person with you if you want!”
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
“Is that so. It seems there are other added functions too.”
After retrieving the wire, I pointed at a small groove along the back of the wristguard.
Seridan grinned wide, showing off her white teeth.
“Oh, that? I knew it—milord’s got a sharp eye! That’s a new feature I added this time.”
“What is it?”
“Milord, try clenching your fist tight and putting a bit of strength into your wrist.”
“Like this?”
Swish.
In that moment, a gleaming white blade popped straight out from the narrow groove in the guard.
“This is...”
“A concealed dagger—just in case, y’know? Pretty cool, right? It’s made of the same material as your swordstick blade, so it’s super light but strong. Remember? You once mentioned there are assassins who use hidden blades like this.”
“I did.”
“Well, that popped into my head while I was fixing it, so I figured—why not? Gave it a shot. What do you think?”
“Hm.”
Click. Clack.
I released the tension in my wrist, and the blade smoothly retracted back into the guard.
A concealed dagger, huh? Would be perfect in close combat or to catch someone off guard.
Definitely intended for fighting other people rather than monsters like cryptids.
“There’s also a small hole on the left side—see it?”
“I do.”
“That shoots paralyzing darts! Though of course, you’ve gotta load the darts in advance!”
“Hooh.”
Before, the wristguard had only been a launcher for the wire and doubled as arm protection.
This time, it was the exact opposite.
It sacrificed defense to maximize other functions.
Especially for someone like me, who needed to use gear like this discreetly, Seridan’s new design was very welcome.
“I like it.”
“Knew it! Milord gets it! That coward passed out on the floor down there kept whining about how dangerous it was to put things like that in.”
“Don’t be too harsh on Hans. He means well.”
“You’ve got to consider the person you’re worrying about. That was just plain nosy.”
She said that, then propped her chin up between her thumb and forefinger, eyeing me with a thoughtful expression.
“Hm. I’ve always thought this, but you really suit that calm and refined look. The wild hunter look wasn’t bad, but this... this feels more you, y’know?”
“Does it.”
“Yup. Just looking at you now, you totally give off this noble aura. But not just regular noble... you seem deeper. Like... royalty?”
I couldn’t help but chuckle at that.
“Thanks for the compliment.”
“No, I mean it. It just hits me, you know?”
“In any case, thanks for the upgrade.”
“Ah—are you heading out now?”
“Yes. I need to stay at the Academy for work. Today was just a short outing.”
“Aw, that’s too bad. I thought we’d get to catch up properly!”
“We’ll save that for another time. And not everyone’s gathered yet.”
Aside from Seridan, there were still others I had called.
She seemed to know that already, because she nodded brightly.
“I know! The new members of the organization, right? The ones you mentioned!”
“That’s right.”
“What was the name again? Anyway, it’s super mysterious and really suits you, milord—I like it! So does this mean I’m officially a member of your secret organization?”
“You’re not just a member. You’re an officer.”
“An officer!”
That title must’ve struck a chord—her eyes sparkled even brighter.
“If I’m an officer... that means I can make whatever I want, however I want, without anyone interfering, right?!”
So that was the point.
“I’ll allow most things... but maybe ease up on the bombs that blow up entire districts.”
“Oh, I know that much too! Milord, really now. I do have a sense of restraint, y’know. Just a reasonable number of bombs, right?”
“I’d prefer none, if possible.”
Then again, banning that from a lunatic inventor would be crueler than asking a chain-smoker to quit cold turkey.
“Just... keep it moderate.”
“Hehehe! Don’t worry! So, milord—have you decided?”
“Decided what?”
“C’mon, it’s a secret organization! There has to be code names!”
Code names, huh. Guess she’s picked that up from somewhere.
I hadn’t really thought much about it, honestly.
But seeing how excited she was, it was obvious she really wanted one.
If I told her we didn’t have anything like that, she’d be disappointed—then she’d take it out on Hans. And he’s already suffering enough. I should cut him a break.
‘Code name... code name, huh.’
Well, if she wants one, I can give her one.
“‘Wells’ would suit you.”
“Huh? Wells? Ooh, I like how that sounds! Okay! I, Seridan, am now <Wells>, officer of the organization!”
She was beaming. That was a relief.
“By the way, milord—where’s that name from?”
“It’s the name of the greatest inventor I remember.”
“Ooooh. If milord says so, he must’ve been someone amazing.”
“Of course.”
A man who invented a time machine, no less.
The name I gave her—Wells—was taken from H.G. Wells, the author of The Time Machine.
I’d originally wanted to give her the name of the novel’s protagonist, but in the original, he’s only referred to as The Time Traveller, with no given name.
Later, in an officially recognized sequel, the author’s middle name, George, was added as a homage.
But let’s be honest—giving “George” as a code name to a girl doesn’t quite work.
So instead, I gave her <Wells>.
She seemed to like it, so all the better.
“So then, what about the guy lying down downstairs? Does the assistant get a code name too?”
Seridan asked with twinkling eyes.
For all the torment she put Hans through, I guess she did care about him in her own way.
Hans’s code name, huh. If I think about his traits—and a name that comes to mind from what I remember—this should work.
“Kafka.”
