"I'm not sure if I could win against you, but if you dare to speak ill about her, I will fight you." Devy spoke while pointing her hand at Al, a faint blue glow forming at her fingertips, aimed straight at his neck.

Her fingers trembled slightly, yet the icy-blue light of her magic danced wildly, as if trying to cover the uncertainty hidden beneath her bravery.

Al stared back at Devy with sharp eyes, his gaze glowing faintly red. His hand slowly moved toward her.

The air around them suddenly grew tense. Fallen leaves froze in midair for a split second, caught in the pressure of two opposing forces.

—Swooshh—

Al casually brushed her hand aside with just a single finger. A simple gesture, showing he had no real intention of fighting.

The tip of his finger barely applied pressure, yet that small motion completely dispersed Devy's spell. It was as if he had merely brushed away dust in the air—calm, effortless, and without weight. His expression was flat, almost bored, as if the clash just now was nothing more than a trivial spark unworthy of attention.

"You were trembling in fear earlier, but the moment you heard Yura's name being belittled, your adrenaline spiked. That's good. It means she's someone you truly care about."

Al spoke casually, his tone light but observant.

His calm voice was matched by his eyes, which traced Devy's expression carefully—her tense brows, the tightening of her jaw, and her trembling fingers.

Devy's eyes then caught sight of Al's hand—darkened, wrapped in sinister energy. Her breath hitched. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, and she instinctively took half a step back. Her body seemed to move on its own, wanting to retreat even as her mind filled with curiosity.

"What's wrong with your hand? Why is that energy on you? Who exactly are you?" Devy demanded.

Al turned his hand over, flexing his fingers as if testing them. His joints cracked lightly as he moved his wrist. Black energy seeped out like thin smoke clinging to his skin, a disturbing contrast to his relaxed face.

"Oh, this? It has nothing to do with who I am. Just… consider it a side effect of purification." Al answered lazily, though he winced slightly at the sting and ache in his hand. A faint crease formed on his forehead at the pain, but he quickly masked it with a crooked smile, treating the ominous injury as nothing more than a minor nuisance.

"Purification? What do you mean? And what do you mean it has nothing to do with you? Are you some kind of shaman? Or one of those people?" Devy pressed, her curiosity growing.

"Ughh… I think fighting is more efficient than being bombarded with questions like this." Al sighed. "Anyway, I'm not a shaman, and I'm not one of those kinds of people—though you could say I'm not your kind… but actually, I might also be your kind."

His answer was deliberately vague, his shoulders lifting lazily. His lips curled into a half-smile—half teasing, half irritating. It was as though he enjoyed throwing riddles at her, savoring her confusion.

Devy frowned at the ambiguous response.

"What do you mean by 'not one, but maybe yes'? And why did you say 'someone like my kind'? Do you know me?"

Al smirked and folded his arms.

"I don't know you personally. I just know what kind of entity you are. And you know… not every question deserves an answer just because you asked. Haha. Still, I didn't expect to meet a stray DIAR here, especially one with such great power. You must have lived in that dimension for quite some time."

His smile widened, his eyes narrowing sharply. With his arms crossed, his posture straightened, giving him an air of dominance in the exchange.

"You… you know I'm a DIAR? How do you... know?" Devy muttered, her eyes darting toward her bracelet.

Al nodded.

"Let's just say my eyes are sharper than any detection device, even with that advanced tool of yours." His gaze locked on the bracelet.

It felt like his sight pierced straight through its illusion. Devy felt as though every secret she held had just been stripped bare with a single glance.

Impossible. Even detection tools are fooled by this bracelet… how could this man know? Devy thought, her heart racing.

"Relax," Al said calmly. "I'm not a threat to DIARs. If you can live a better life as a normal human, that is what's best for people like you."

His fist tightened slightly as he spoke, his voice carrying a weight that seemed deeply personal. For a moment, his face grew serious. His jaw tensed, and there was a fleeting bitterness in his eyes—words born from an old scar.

"Live as normal human? You… are you part of one of the DIAR groups?" Devy asked in surprise.

"Hmm? So you're also familiar with the dynamics between DIARs. I thought you were just a stray, isolated from the world. How do you know about those groups?" Al replied lightly. His tone was calm, but underneath, there was a subtle sharpness, as though testing her—whether she would open up or stay guarded.

Devy stared at him for a moment, then let out a long sigh. Her eyes softened, her shoulders dropped, and she inhaled deeply, as if finally surrendering a burden too heavy to keep alone.

"Some members of a certain group found me. They explained their goals and tried to recruit me. In the end, it was all about their idealism—wanting to return to being normal humans. Though some of them seemed extreme with the missions they offered. That's why I think you're one of them, because you also talk about living as a normal human."

Al shook his head.

"No. I'm not. So... you didn't join them?" he asked.

Devy shook her head slowly. Her hair swayed with the motion, and her eyes remained fixed on the ground. There was both regret and resolve in that simple gesture.

"I never felt like I was anything other than a normal human. Even though I know the danger if people ever found out I'm a DIAR. But with this… my life became better." She lifted her arm, showing the bracelet wrapped tightly around her wrist.

The faint glow from the bracelet reflected against her pale skin, making her arm look fragile yet unyielding at the same time. Pride and a sense of safety radiated from her in that single gesture.

"That bracelet is what's been hiding you all this time? Where did you get it?" Al asked.

Devy smirked.

"Like you said before, not every question needs an answer. But since you already know about me, I suppose a little explanation won't hurt." The corner of her lips curved upward, her eyes narrowing slightly. There was a subtle satisfaction in turning his own words against him.

Al sighed, exhaling deeply as though weary from this constant exchange of secrets. He gave a small nod in acceptance.

Devy continued, her hand brushing the bracelet.

"Someone gave this to me. A DIAR like myself. He knew I was being approached by other DIAR groups, and that the great power within me was something they desperately wanted. He understood that, and so he gave me this bracelet to help me hide."

"He must be quite remarkable, to create such a tool. One capable of suppressing energy detection and concealing your true form," Al analyzed, his tone shifting into something more focused.

His eyes lingered on the bracelet with the sharpness of a researcher studying a rare artifact. His fingers twitched as if tempted to touch it but he restrained himself.

This item is useful, but flawed. Too risky to give to my people. Still… the technology behind it could be improved. Perhaps she can refine it. Al thought to himself.

"Y-You… you know I've been hiding my true form?" Devy asked in shock.

Al closed his eyes and nodded.

"I already told you—my eyes are sharper than detection tools. I even know how many moles you have on your body." His tone was calm, but a playful edge laced the end of his words. A crooked smile tugged at his lips, as though he were teasing her on purpose.

Devy's pale face immediately flushed red. How could a young man so casually speak about something so private to a girl? Cold sweat formed on her temple, her eyes widened in shock before narrowing again in irritation. Her cheeks burned pink, contrasting her fair complexion.

She quickly crossed her arms over her chest, as though shielding herself from his gaze. Her movement was swift yet awkward, her shoulders curling inward in a defensive stance.

"Y-You… you pervert!" Devy snapped, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and embarrassment. She refused to meet his eyes, fearing he would see the redness of her cheeks.

Al chuckled lightly.

"Haha, relax. I was joking. Of course I wouldn't know."

Though in truth—he did know. A skill dangerous in the wrong hands.

But Devy already felt uncomfortable. She quickly stepped behind a tree, hiding most of her body and leaving only part of her face visible. Her eyes glared sharply at him, like a wary cat.

"Don't you dare try anything funny." Her voice was flat but tense. Her fingers gripped the tree trunk tightly, betraying her nervousness.

"Ugh… fine. I'm not interested anyway," Al muttered with a shake of his head. "Oh, and tell your lady to cancel her ridiculous request."

His head tilted slightly, his eyes lazy but his lips curved into a thin smile.

The mention of Yura jolted Devy's memory, reminding her of her mission.

"Hufff… I can't do that. That girl is far too stubborn to be controlled."

"Really?" Al raised a brow.

Devy nodded.

"You seem to know her quite well," Al said casually.

"She's been helping me ever since I escaped from those DIARs who never stop coming for me," Devy replied, her voice trembling slightly at the memory. Her hands clenched, then relaxed, showing both gratitude and lingering trauma.

"So she knows about you? That you're a DIAR?" Al asked.

Devy shook her head.

"She only knows I can use magic, and she even asked me to teach her," Devy said.

Al nodded, his voice heavier now, carrying the weight of personal experience.

"Hiding is indeed the best choice for people like us."

Devy looked at him quietly, then asked,

"You said you're not a DIAR, but why are you hiding yourself? With strength like yours, wouldn't it be more useful to join a martial arts or magician association? At the very least, in the underground world where magic is understood, you could gain social status and live better."

Al shook his head, a sly chuckle escaping his lips.

"Not every question deserves an answer." He repeated her earlier words back at her. His chin lifted slightly, as if savoring a small victory.

"Ugh…" Devy grumbled in annoyance, puffing her cheeks before exhaling sharply. She looked like a child sulking.

Al chuckled again.

"I just have more important things to do than flaunt my strength. Besides, the stronger someone is, the more problems they attract. And I already have more than enough problems in my life." His tone was calm, yet laced with weariness. His faint smile didn't reach his dimming eyes, where a heavy burden lay hidden.

Devy wanted to argue, but deep down she knew he had a point. In the end, she stayed silent.

"I hope you'll keep everything that happened tonight a secret—even from your lady. Because I'll do the same for you. So relax." Al said firmly.

Devy wasn't sure she could trust him, but what choice did she have? She knew that even if Al couldn't fully use his hands right now, his power was still far beyond what she had seen—already enough to make her tremble in fear.

In the end, she only nodded. After all, even if just for a brief moment, Devy had sensed that Al wasn't the kind of person who enjoyed seeking or creating trouble—let alone meddling in someone else's business. Her secret should be safe with him, and that meant she too needed to keep his.

"Deal," Al said. "Then I'll be going. I'm exhausted, and I need a good night's sleep."

Devy stayed silent. There were so many things she wanted to ask, but it wasn't the right time.

And without any warning, Al vanished before her eyes. His figure dissolved like mist scattered by the wind. The dry leaves beneath him fluttered gently, marking his departure.

Devy gazed into the silent forest, reflecting on what had just happened. Countless questions swirled in her mind, but one thing was certain: she had just encountered someone significant—someone who might be able to help her face everything ahead.

Her eyes softened, and she lowered her gaze. Her heart pounded faster, not from fear but from a strange new feeling. Her cheeks flushed faintly, as if a deep admiration had just bloomed within her for Al, the lazy young man.

---

Meanwhile, at the Norvalien residence—

Rudi's father watched his son, who looked like a deranged lunatic thrashing on the floor like a lost creature. His blood boiled. His eyes turned bloodshot, veins bulging on his neck.

The floor echoed with the sound of Rudi's uncontrollable convulsions, like a soul being torn apart.

His fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles cracked. His breath came in ragged gasps, shoulders trembling as he struggled to contain the fury about to erupt.

"Arrrggghhh…!!!"

"I SWEAR… I WILL KILL THAT BOY. I SWEAR IT UPON THE BLOOD OF MY FAMILY!"

His voice thundered through the entire room, splitting the silence of the night. The dim lamplight cast his face in harsh shadows, his expression twisted with hatred—transforming him into a terrifying figure of vengeance.

---