Listening to Phantom's words, Azhriel's eyes widened slightly. Someone—a demonic human—had died only a week ago.

That couldn't be a simple coincidence.

'If my guess is right… the demonic human is one of the seven I killed at the old museum.' He thought.

The pieces began to fall into place, forming a clear hypothesis in his mind.

Somehow, one of those seven had discovered Noel's skill in potion-making through the Black Market.

Then, he must have learned about Noel's family situation—likely through the information guild or another source.

After that, he probably approached Noel with the Phoenix Heart. Faced with his son's life on the line, Noel would have had no choice but to agree.

But when Azhriel killed the seven, that particular demonic human would have died as well, taking the deal with him.

Then Noel, believing he would never receive the Phoenix Heart, had decided to steal it himself.

And since the Phoenix Heart was a rare resource coveted by many, the demons had inevitably come for Noel.

Azhriel exhaled slowly, the sound quiet but heavy.

Just a single moment of my involvement… and so many things have already changed. It's insane.

His eyes narrowed faintly as the thought lingered. Well, it's not like I didn't want to change the plot… but oh well, let's deal with this first.

The chair legs scraped softly against the floor as he stood, pulling his hood down over his head. "Let's go."

"Where to, boss?" Phantom asked, rising as well.

"We're going to save my mone—uhm, soon-to-be potion and artifacts maker," Azhriel replied, the slip in his tongue masked with a quick, casual tone.

Phantom tilted his head slightly, a smirk playing on his lips. "Are you sure you're not just a conman, boss?"

"Heh, if I'm a conman, then you'd be the biggest fool for following one," Azhriel shot back, a glint of amusement in his eyes. They stepped out of the cabin, the door shutting with a dull thud behind them.

Behind Azhriel, Phantom's eyes shimmered faintly with a strange hue. The glow flickered once, then faded as his expression tightened.

Again.

It had never failed before—not even once. Yet, on this teenage-looking boy, his ability had failed twice. That alone was enough reason for Phantom to follow him.

"Boss, how are we going to find him in the market?" Phantom asked, his tone curious but calm.

Without turning back, Azhriel answered, "If the demons are at his back and he's already survived a scandal, then he's not the type to surrender. Wherever there's commotion, that's where we'll find him."

Boom.

The sharp echo of an explosion rolled in from their right, rattling a few loose shutters along the street.

Azhriel's head turned slightly toward Phantom, a faint smirk pulling at his lips. "See that? That's where we'll find our guy."Listening to Phantom's words, Azhriel's eyes widened slightly. Someone—a demonic human—had died only a week ago.

That couldn't be a simple coincidence.

'If my guess is right… the demonic human is one of the seven I killed at the old museum.' He thought.

The pieces began to fall into place, forming a clear hypothesis in his mind.

Somehow, one of those seven had discovered Noel's skill in potion-making through the Black Market.

Then, he must have learned about Noel's family situation—likely through the information guild or another source.

After that, he probably approached Noel with the Phoenix Heart. Faced with his son's life on the line, Noel would have had no choice but to agree.

But when Azhriel killed the seven, that particular demonic human would have died as well, taking the deal with him.

Then Noel, believing he would never receive the Phoenix Heart, had decided to steal it himself.

And since the Phoenix Heart was a rare resource coveted by many, the demons had inevitably come for Noel.

Azhriel exhaled slowly, the sound quiet but heavy.

Just a single moment of my involvement… and so many things have already changed. It's insane.

His eyes narrowed faintly as the thought lingered. Well, it's not like I didn't want to change the plot… but oh well, let's deal with this first.

The chair legs scraped softly against the floor as he stood, pulling his hood down over his head. "Let's go."

"Where to, boss?" Phantom asked, rising as well.

"We're going to save my mone—uhm, soon-to-be potion and artifacts maker," Azhriel replied, the slip in his tongue masked with a quick, casual tone.

Phantom tilted his head slightly, a smirk playing on his lips. "Are you sure you're not just a conman, boss?"

"Heh, if I'm a conman, then you'd be the biggest fool for following one," Azhriel shot back, a glint of amusement in his eyes. They stepped out of the cabin, the door shutting with a dull thud behind them.

Behind Azhriel, Phantom's eyes shimmered faintly with a strange hue. The glow flickered once, then faded as his expression tightened.

Again.

It had never failed before—not even once. Yet, on this teenage-looking boy, his ability had failed twice. That alone was enough reason for Phantom to follow him.

"Boss, how are we going to find him in the market?" Phantom asked, his tone curious but calm.

Without turning back, Azhriel answered, "If the demons are at his back and he's already survived a scandal, then he's not the type to surrender. Wherever there's commotion, that's where we'll find him."

Boom.

The sharp echo of an explosion rolled in from their right, rattling a few loose shutters along the street.

Azhriel's head turned slightly toward Phantom, a faint smirk pulling at his lips. "See that? That's where we'll find our guy."Listening to Phantom's words, Azhriel's eyes widened slightly. Someone—a demonic human—had died only a week ago.

That couldn't be a simple coincidence.

'If my guess is right… the demonic human is one of the seven I killed at the old museum.' He thought.

The pieces began to fall into place, forming a clear hypothesis in his mind.

Somehow, one of those seven had discovered Noel's skill in potion-making through the Black Market.

Then, he must have learned about Noel's family situation—likely through the information guild or another source.

After that, he probably approached Noel with the Phoenix Heart. Faced with his son's life on the line, Noel would have had no choice but to agree.

But when Azhriel killed the seven, that particular demonic human would have died as well, taking the deal with him.

Then Noel, believing he would never receive the Phoenix Heart, had decided to steal it himself.

And since the Phoenix Heart was a rare resource coveted by many, the demons had inevitably come for Noel.

Azhriel exhaled slowly, the sound quiet but heavy.

Just a single moment of my involvement… and so many things have already changed. It's insane.

His eyes narrowed faintly as the thought lingered. Well, it's not like I didn't want to change the plot… but oh well, let's deal with this first.

The chair legs scraped softly against the floor as he stood, pulling his hood down over his head. "Let's go."

"Where to, boss?" Phantom asked, rising as well.

"We're going to save my mone—uhm, soon-to-be potion and artifacts maker," Azhriel replied, the slip in his tongue masked with a quick, casual tone.

Phantom tilted his head slightly, a smirk playing on his lips. "Are you sure you're not just a conman, boss?"

"Heh, if I'm a conman, then you'd be the biggest fool for following one," Azhriel shot back, a glint of amusement in his eyes. They stepped out of the cabin, the door shutting with a dull thud behind them.

Behind Azhriel, Phantom's eyes shimmered faintly with a strange hue. The glow flickered once, then faded as his expression tightened.

Again.

It had never failed before—not even once. Yet, on this teenage-looking boy, his ability had failed twice. That alone was enough reason for Phantom to follow him.

"Boss, how are we going to find him in the market?" Phantom asked, his tone curious but calm.

Without turning back, Azhriel answered, "If the demons are at his back and he's already survived a scandal, then he's not the type to surrender. Wherever there's commotion, that's where we'll find him."

Boom.

The sharp echo of an explosion rolled in from their right, rattling a few loose shutters along the street.

Azhriel's head turned slightly toward Phantom, a faint smirk pulling at his lips. "See that? That's where we'll find our guy." sharp echo of an explosion rolled in from their right, rattling a few loose shutters along the street.

Azhriel's head turned slightly toward Phantom, a faint smirk pulling at his lips. "See that? That's where we'll find our guy." sharp echo of an explosion rolled in from their right, rattling a few loose shutters along the street.

Azhriel's head turned slightly toward Phantom, a faint smirk pulling at his lips. "See that? That's where we'll find our guy." sharp echo of an explosion rolled in from their right, rattling a few loose shutters along the street.

Azhriel's head turned slightly toward Phantom, a faint smirk pulling at his lips. "See that? That's where we'll find our guy."