I worked fast after Seth told me everything.

Within a few days, I successfully inserted myself into the planning committee.

And, just as I promised Seth, I involved him in the trip as some kind of alumnus representation.

It was a bullshit excuse, but I already knew it would be approved regardless.

The thing is, since Earl—or should I say Baron—Klaus Gerondester was sacked from the Academy, there really aren't many people who are willing to go against me in this Academy. Of course, when it comes to huge matters, the Noble Faction will resist with all their might.

However, something as minuscule as hopping on the Excursion Train and bringing a friend along is something they can ignore.

There were still petty criticisms here and there, especially since the planning phase was almost concluded before I butted in, but nothing substantial came of it. In fact, most of the staff were happy to see me on board, especially since they had invited me to join before.

I was happily accepted, and Seth's invitation has been taken care of.

Now, we just have to find a way to prevent the tragedy that will occur during this Excursion.

One thing I keep wondering is whether Seth's Divination took account of my presence in the Royal Academy Excursion. He has told me that he didn't notice me in the sea of corpses, so he isn't sure I was present, but I have to think about this deeply.

Normally, people shouldn't be able to divine me, since I am a Leviathan.

The Divination either fails or has an inaccurate result.

However, I have seen exceptions when it comes to my case and how it favors me. Besides, Seth is a special being, unlike the other Diviners I've come across or even heard of.

It's possible that I was present in the Divination, which means the slaughter would happen whether or not I choose to go. However, my participation in the Excursion is only because of Seth, which means I originally wouldn't have gone.

Hence, I deeply doubt that the Divination he made would remain accurate.

My presence alone changes plenty.

I can only hope it's enough to prevent the imminent tragedy.

*************

What an unexpected surprise!

I already deeply suspected that Seth's timely arrival and my involvement in the Royal Academy Excursion were oddly coincidental, but I wasn't able to figure out the connection. However, during the planning committee's meeting today, we finalized the route we will be taking for the Excursion, the places we will be visiting, as well as how long we will be spending in each location.

Imagine my shock when a certain location was mentioned.

'The Hidden Mountain Grove, near Lumian Town. Lumian Town is where I met Brad back in the day, and the reason he was stationed there for so long… was because he found clues that made him deeply suspect the existence of a Vey'lithar Sanctuary near that location.'

Who are the Vey'lithars?

They are the Original Druids—special humans who have a natural connection with nature.

It is said that they can freely communicate with animals and can sense the emotions of even the most frigid tree. Most importantly… they have the natural power to compel Magivores.

Because of this special quality of theirs, they were persecuted.

Many feared their power, while others desired it.

The Vey'lithars had no choice but to go into hiding, creating Sanctuaries all over the Eariel Continent. Brad's village was visited by a mysterious Vey'lithar who was ill, and she taught them many things about the Druid ways before finally passing away from her sickness.

I believe he called her Eva.

In the Vey'lithar tongue, it means 'guide'.

Yes, I know a bit of their language, since Brad taught me during our spare time.

The important thing is that Brad was seeking out their Sanctuary so he could properly be a part of their society—he and the people of his village.

'Before he died… I promised him that I would fulfill this wish of his, no matter what. I told him that I would tell them what kind of man he was and the kind of life he lived…' My eyes flicker with all kinds of emotions as a stirring begins to course through my heart.

'Has the time finally come for me to fulfill that promise?'

I did visit Lumian Town after Brad's death, but I was never able to properly investigate the Vey'lithar Sanctuary. As Brad told me, they are simply too well hidden.

But… I wasn't a Leviathan then.

'With my current abilities, finding them shouldn't be too hard.'

I'll use this chance to secretly investigate the Vey'lithars and find a way to fulfill my vow to Brad.

If all goes well, I'll be able to find the Sanctuary and convince them to take in Brad's village.

"And although tragedy is just beyond the horizon, I can't help but feel a sense of relief… even excitement," I mumble to myself before reclining in my chair to deeply contemplate these seemingly random coincidences.

While thinking about it, I fall asleep.

**************

"Looks like everyone is here. We can start the meeting."

At the head of the table is a man who has a polished appearance despite the cheap clothes he has on and the poor state of his sparsely furnished home. Although everything is neatly arranged and in perfect order, its impoverished state cannot be hidden.

Seated at the wooden table is a family of five.

A father, his wife, and three children.

The youngest is the daughter, and she seems to be only a few years old.

As for the two sons, they are both adults, each having fierce expressions on their faces. One gives off a loud and powerful vibe, while the other has a more silent and dominating aura. Of the two, the younger brother seems to be in much better shape, although he has a scar on his face. The line extends all the way from the left corner of his face, through the cheek.

The older brother also has more scars, making his face slightly uglier than normal.

As for the parents, the father has a clear and distinguished face, while the mother looks plump like an orange.

The three-year-old girl also seems healthy and slightly robust.

It appears only the brothers have experienced a lot of hardships, but they don't show any resentment in their gazes. In fact, deep purpose and determination fill their countenance. They hold deep regard for their parents and unquestionable love for their sister.

This is none other than

"Gregory… Dustin… the two of you have done well. This family owes you a great deal." The father, Jerome, begins to speak with silent trepidation in his tone. "I am so proud to be your father. It appears I didn't raise you in vain."

"Of course, father… we are just doing our duty!" Gregory responds with a tough voice.

"It is as big brother says!" Dustin also speaks. "This is all for the sake of the family."

Jerome nods proudly.

He and his wife exchange affectionate looks and look upon their children with great relief, glad to see that the filial piety of their seed is yet to diminish.

The truth is that these two rely on their boys for everything now.

Ever since the fall of the Aditi Household, the Minor Families have lost their prestigious status and are currently no better than commoners. If not for both of their children being Low-Rank Knights, they would have had to suffer the disgrace of labor just to survive.

'It won't be long now…' Jerome Aditi grits his teeth in repressed frustration. 'Our Aidti Household will rise once again, and we will shine brighter than ever. Most members of the Minor Families have already given up on that dream, dispersing all over the Kingdom. They seem content with working as mere commoners, forgetting the status we used to have… but I have never given up. My ambitions are too large for that!'

Then, he narrows his eyes on his children.

"The two of you are our greatest hope, don't forget that."

"Yes, father." They respond at the same time.

This allows him to nod satisfactorily.

'None of those others have two children who are Knights, and many of their seed even abandoned them once the Household collapsed. I was lucky, my two children have deep affection for us and won't leave us to suffer alone. As long as they are with us, we can rebuild the Aditi Household once more… but we need a lot of resources.'

These are the thoughts of the cousin of Luther Aditi, former Head of Household.

For all his life, he had schemed to become Head one day, and when that was no longer possible, he wanted one of his children to take on that role.

Even now that the Aditi Household is no more, he hasn't stopped with his plans.

"Before you two came, I was approached by the Dark Guild." He finally reveals the truth to his children. "They would like us to join them in their large-scale operations throughout the Kingdom. They would also like me to be in charge of recruiting others, like former members of our Household."

Silence.

There is silence in the room for what feels like an unbearable minute.

Then—

"I already discussed with your mother, and we have both agreed to take them up on their offer."

"May I know the reason…?" Dustin asks with a dreary tone.

He, just like his older brother, was raised not to question his parents and their decisions. But this is a rather serious matter. He can even see Gregory's hesitance, and he knows his older brother has the same thoughts as him.

'It is widely speculated that the Dark Guild was responsible for the death of the Aditi Main Family. They wanted to get back at Javier for striking their operations, so they targeted his weak point. It is also an extremely dangerous criminal organization. By colluding with such a body, are we not compromising ourselves and setting ourselves up for disaster? And what about the Code of Chivalry that Knights must abide by? Do we really need to go this far…?'

"I understand your concerns, my sons… but listen to me closely." Jerome sighs, easily grasping their thought processes in his mind.

He is no fool.

He understands the risks, but he is also fully aware of the benefits.

"The Dark Guild is extremely dangerous, but they also have the resources that we desperately need. Besides, now that they have already noticed us, who is to say that they won't silence us as a way to prevent information regarding them from being leaked? I already know that they are seeking new recruits for expansion, which means they will likely kill me and all of you as a precaution. We can't escape their hold any longer, so instead of fighting or debating the morality of it, we can only look at the benefits and join in."

"F-father…"

"I… understand…"

"Good." Jerome smiles to himself. 'Now that we are all on the same boat, they know they have no choice but to be involved as well. Gregory is currently working for a Noble while Dustin is a staff member in the Royal Academy. Their positions can be leveraged to give me more importance in the eyes of the Dark Guild. In fact, they likely know this already, which is why they put me in charge of recruitment.'

Although his family has fallen on hard times, he hasn't been abandoned by the gods yet.

Jerome knows… this is an opportunity in disguise.

A great, unexpected chance!

"We will bring back all the Minor Family members with this arrangement, and with the threat of the Dark Guild hanging above their heads, they will have no choice but to comply. They will also trust us, since we are all in the same boat. Finally, since I will be their superior in all of this, our family will have the highest position, and it will be a reenactment of the relationship between the Main Family and Minor Families that exist in a Knight Household. This will make it much easier when we rebuild the Aditi Household. We will become the Main Family, and the rest will have no choice but to serve us as the Minor Families."

"I see…" Gregory mumbles, rubbing his chin slightly. "That makes a lot of sense."

"Chivalry is dead anyway. We might as well use what we have to get what we want." Dustin also answers, his smile growing broader.

Once again, Jerome Aditi nods at his children in satisfaction.

"I knew I raised the two of you well. You are able to see the bigger picture and set aside your pride for our ambitions. The Dark Guild thinks they are using us, but we will be the ones using them to get all the resources, connections, and information we need to establish the Aditi Household once again!"

The mood turns light, and hope grows in the hearts of the members once more.

That is, until a question is asked.

"How is the preparation for the Royal Academy Excursion going, little brother? I heard you were chosen to be one of the escort guards this time. That's good, it will allow you to become even closer to the students and reap some rewards in the form of connections."

Normally, these words would have made Dustin giddy with joy.

After all, being acknowledged by his big brother and father was his greatest satisfaction.

And his brother isn't wrong in his assessment.

This Excursion is an opportunity to gain the attention of staff and students alike.

At first, he was even excited about the prospects and worked hard to be chosen among his peers.

But one discovery ruined everything.

"Javier… he is one of the Professors who will be taking part in the Excursion."

"W-WHAT?!"

Everyone at the table is surprised, understandably so.

The thing is, they all know Javier's current status and undeniable prestige in the Kingdom. Even though Dustin wasn't aware of it when he first joined the Royal Academy, he soon learned of Javier's presence in no time.

Even if he wanted to deny it, the First Prince's grand visitation for Javier's sake was enough to silence all his doubts and cement the latter's status in his mind.

Javier was a Senior Professor and one of the Kingdom's influential people.

Despite not having a Noble Title, he managed to get so far in such a short span of time. He even became a High Rank Knight, and just recently, he was granted the incredibly rare status of Intermediate Alchemist.

To ordinary people like these, Javier's accomplishments were borderline unreal.

Simply unbelievable!

Through all of Jerome Aditi's ambitions, his main goal was to revive a Mid-Rank Knight Household. He didn't think of anything beyond that, because he knew just how unrealistic such a thing was.

Everyone had their place in this world, and understanding one's limits is crucial to survive.

Yet, for Javier Aditi, there seems to be no limits.

He has kept rising… Soaring!

Is he not human?!!

How can such a person, one considered to be average at best, achieve so much success?

Compared to him, Jerome Aditi's family might as well be cockroaches.

They aren't even worth looking at.

"It was a last-minute decision, too. He wasn't on the list before. Do you think he joined because he realized I would be among the escort guards?" Dustin's face pales for a moment, but more than anxiety, he feels rage.

The silent contest he had with Javier Aditi before no longer holds any meaning.

The latter has far surpassed the former, leaving him in the dust.

"No, I doubt it…" Jerome sighs, wondering why his son would think so highly of himself or think so low of someone like Javier.

"Right now, our family isn't in a position that would attract Javier, so his actions must be because of something else. It is a humiliating thing to admit, but our present circumstances also have their benefits. We can scheme in secret and make our moves without anyone being aware—not even Javier. Once we experience our meteoric rise, not even Javier will be able to hide his shock."

"Hehe… husband is right." Jerome's wife finally speaks up for the first time. "You all just need to keep working hard and trust in our arrangements. As long as we properly make use of our connection with the Dark Guild, we will be able to rise once again."

"Understood!" Dustin and Gregory smile excitedly.

And so, this remnant portion of the Aditi Household continues to scheme, completely unaware of their foolishness.

For the Dark Guild, which they hold in such high regard, is being run by none other than Javier himself. They think they can use it to escape his shadow… not knowing they are only moving deeper into it.

Such fools! They have no idea…

Javier Aditi has already become a being far beyond their comprehension.

Jerome's family isn't merely a cockroach.

They are specks of dust, even smaller than an ant in comparison to Javier's current status. They aren't worth looking at or being stepped on, and their only worth is to further advance his plans.

Cogs in a wheel.

No… Frogs in a well.

Yet these people are deluded into believing that they are using the Dark Guild.

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