Meanwhile—
As he walked toward the front gate, Al wondered how he was supposed to get to his destination.
He was starting to regret not asking Aurielle for a ride before she left.
The school was close enough to reach on foot. But his destination this time was located on the outskirts of the city.
Walking there was out of the question. A taxi was probably his best option.
Casually, he pulled out his phone—which he had only recently turned back on—and dialed a number.
Contact Name: Indra Marin.
"Hello, Indra?"
"Yo! Al, what's up—"
"I'm coming over for a bit, as usual."
"Huh? Hahaha. Looking for a free bed again, huh? You always show up without notice."
"Of course," Al replied with a faint chuckle.
He ended the call, a small smile lingering on his lips, before setting off.
---
He strolled leisurely along the sidewalk, looking for a good spot to wait for a taxi.
Then he narrowed his eyes. A familiar aura drifted through the air once more. That presence again. The stalker.
Woah... That guy was... seriously persistent.
Same as yesterday. Dressed like some cool bodyguard out of an action movie, but with sneak moves so obvious it was laughable.
Al smirked slightly.
He kept walking calmly. No running. No glancing back.
He knew the tailing guard thought he had improved this time.
Eventually, they arrived at the major traffic light in the city center.
People began to flood in from all directions. Vendors, students, office workers, beggars—all mixing together.
Just like yesterday.
And then—
CLICK.
The light turned green.
People scattered in every direction.
The guard, now fully alert, scanned frantically.
"Okay… black hoodie… about 175 cm… walking to the left? Or right? Wait, was he in the middle? Huh?!"
The next second—
"...Shit. GONE AGAIN?!"
Al walked calmly through a narrow alley.
Elsewhere, the guard was now speed-walking in panic—having lost track again.
Al glanced back slightly.
"I thought he'd take a break... after last night."
---
Flashback — The Night Before
Al stood in his room, getting ready to head out for the night. His eyes lingered on the long shadows cast by the lights outside, slipping through the window.
He knew.
A few people were still watching from afar.
But this time, someone had positioned themselves much closer—the same figure who had tailed him to school that morning.
The guard in a black uniform stood not too far away, like a broken horror statue in some cursed park, staring at Al's room with sharp vigilance.
Unlike the others, who remained hidden among the trees at a distance.
Unfortunately… the man didn't realize that Al had already slipped out of the room.
Using his magic skill—
(Elemental – Darkness) Advanced Magic: Shadow Blend
—a high-level dark element ability—
Al had merged into the shadows on the floor, allowing him to move through them.
"He'll probably stand there all night watching an empty room," Al muttered, lounging inside a corridor of shadow.
Then, a mischievous thought crossed his mind.
Using his skill, Al dragged the guard into the shadow realm.
WHAM!
The guard was stunned. Pitch black. It felt like he'd been pulled into a living blanket of darkness.
"Where... am I?!"
He yelled in panic, surrounded by total darkness. Then he felt the presence of an invisible figure.
"Who are you?!"
"I'm… your worst nightmare," Al whispered from behind.
Then he proceeded to pummel the guard inside the shadow space. A kick to the gut. An elbow to the jaw. Even a barrage of slaps.
The guard tried to fight back—but the power gap was far too wide.
Every strike and swing of his own passed right through the dark mist.
Eventually—
THUMP!
The guard was flung out of the shadows, completely unconscious.
Al hung him up behind the house, beaten to a pulp—wearing nothing but plain red underwear.
The next morning, a servant taking out the trash screamed:
"GHOOOST!!!"
Morning – David's Room
The bandaged, limping bodyguard reported:
"Young master David... last night... there was an intruder..."
"Huh? An intruder??"
"I couldn't see his face. He attacked from the darkness. I couldn't touch him."
Annoyed, David checked the CCTV footage.
Nothing.
Al's room? A blank spot.
David sneered.
"Don't tell me you had a dream and fought your own shadow in your sleep."
But the guard's face was a mess. One black eye, split lip, swollen cheek. David was irritated but let it go. Still unconvinced, but with no proof he was lying.
"If it were Al... I should be able to sense his energy. But he's just a filthy, empty shell. Like... a used mop bucket."
"No way it was him. What kind of intruder could beat a guard of your level to such a—ah, whatever. I have to get to school."
David stared at the sorry state of his bodyguard… then simply turned and walked away, followed by another guard—who smirked in amusement at his colleague.
Mocking his misfortune after being humiliated by a so-called "intruder" that only he claimed to see.
He had no idea that, soon enough, his fate would be just as miserable in Al's hands.
---
Back to the Present
The panicked guard, having lost Al again, began acting erratically, looking suspicious.
A nearby traffic officer approached.
"Sir, sorry, can you remove your mask?"
The guard stammered.
"Sorry, I—"
"Please cooperate."
Reluctantly, the guard pulled down his mask.
WHAM!
The officer recoiled, almost dropping his baton.
"Wh-what happened to your face, sir?!"
"Are you seriously injured? Do you need an ambulance? Were you assaulted by a gang?!"
"It's fine, sir. I... I just fell from grace, sir..." the man replied.
Seeing the cop still stunned and the crowd beginning to gather, the bodyguard panicked and fled before getting detained.
---
At the same time...
Al wasn't far from his destination.
He had already boarded a taxi and was taking a different route, yet his thoughts remained occupied by the stalker.
"Just like David's bodyguard, I couldn't fully identify that stalker even when I touched him directly. Who exactly are those shadowy figures?"
The question lingered in his mind for a moment.
Then he shook his head.
"Hmph... whatever. It's not like me to think this hard about things."
"Somehow, ever since I arrived at that house, I've been forced to think about all sorts of complicated matters."
He let out a tired sigh.
"It's seriously exhausting."
A moment later, he nodded to himself.
"Yeah. I should just be myself. Who cares who they are? As long as they don't threaten me or interfere with my daily life, there's no reason for me to deal with them."
He already had more than enough problems to worry about. Still... his eyes narrowed slightly as he looked out the taxi window.
"I really hate being watched."
The taxi driver, who had been secretly watching Al's strange behavior through the rearview mirror, immediately flinched.
For a moment, he thought the boy was talking to him.
He quickly looked away and decided not to glance at the mirror again.
Instead, he focused entirely on driving.
---
And soon enough,
He finally arrived at Indra's house.
Located on the outskirts of the city, it was larger than the average home, yet still carried a humble feel.
In the front yard were a family car and a large fish delivery truck, smelling sharply of the sea.
A modest place that would welcome him warmly.
---
Al finally arrived at Indra Marin's home, located on the outskirts of the city.
It was larger than a typical house, yet still felt humble. Parked in the front yard were a family car and a large fish truck, filled with the scent of the sea.
The compound was spacious. A mango tree, heavy with fruit, towered over a small chicken coop beside the kitchen.
Al quietly took in the sight for a moment. Even from here, the house gave him a sense of warmth.
"I'll be busy again for the next few days. Coming today was definitely the right choice. They're probably curious about my new life," he murmured.
He walked up to the porch and knocked on the door.
Knock knock knock.
Shortly after, the door opened. A middle-aged woman wearing a floral house dress greeted him with a warm smile. Indra's Mom, Mrs. Marin.
"Oh, Al! You came too…"
Al flashed his signature half-mischievous grin.
"Hello, Auntie… You're looking younger every day. Soon people will mistake you for Indra's sister."
The woman giggled softly and patted his shoulder like a fan meeting an idol.
"Oh, you sure know how to flatter. Come in, dear… I'll make you breakfast—you probably haven't eaten yet."
"Ah, Auntie, sorry to trouble you, hehe."
Al stepped inside. The house smelled of home-cooked food and polished wood—warm and inviting.
Inside, Indra sat in his room, surrounded by piles of books and an open laptop displaying modern fish-farming designs—classic imagery for a Fisheries major.
"Oh, you're already he... Eh?!" Indra greeted, trying to speak.
But…
Al was fast asleep on Indra's folding mattress, hoodie still covering his head, backpack half-open.
Indra sighed. A fond smile spread across his clean, round face.
"Some things never change, this kid…"
---
Flashback — Orphanage, 12 Years Ago
Five-year-old Al sat in the corner of the playroom, hugging a wooden doll with a tiny club. His tiny face was incredibly cute—like a talking toy.
So adorable that the caretakers and the house mothers fought over him.
"Al, come here and get a hug from Sister~"
"Al, come nap with Mother~"
Meanwhile…
Other boys began to bristle.
"Ew, what a showoff."
"Let's prank him! Let's shake his bed!"
This all made Al miss sleep—often used as a plaything by the sisters and teased by other boys.
Every time Al fell asleep, someone shook his bed. His toys disappeared. Sometimes his face was smudged with charcoal.
But Al never cried. He just stayed quiet… then drifted to sleep in the corner, sitting.
Indra, then seven years old, watched from afar.
He knew what it felt like to be bullied, but he'd never had a face as sweet as Al's.
Yet… seeing Al sleep with such exhaustion, clutching his wooden doll against the wall, Indra felt pity.
From that day…
He became Al's "sleep guard."
Every time Al slept, Indra would stand watch—hands folded, eyes sharp—deterring the others.
"Mess with him again and I'll toss you in the pond!"
Even though Al was small, he sensed it.
Sometimes just before drifting off, he'd glance at Indra and smile softly. Without a word. Just sleep.
---
Back to the Present
Indra looked at Al—peacefully asleep with his innocent face and tousled hair.
"I don't get it… you sleep so freely here, even after becoming a rich kid with a fancy room and plush bed…"
He sighed.
"Maybe… this kid just doesn't fit into super-rich family life yet."
Indra returned to his work. But before resuming typing, he stood, walked to the window, and quietly drew the curtains.
Guarding someone's quiet sleep…
Just like old times.
---
One hour later, a gentle knock came at Indra's door. His mother entered carrying a tray with hot tea and a plate of homemade cakes—fragrant and tempting.
"This is for Al. Poor child. He probably still hasn't adjusted to his family lifestyle…"
Indra glanced lazily over.
"He's still asleep, Ma. Like a corpse. Just leave the cake on the table…"
Mrs. Marin nodded and went to set the tray down—when suddenly…
A pale hand shot out from beneath the blankets.
Immediately grabbing a cake without hesitation.
GRAB—
Mrs. Marin nearly dropped her teacup. Indra jumped in surprise.
"Wow! Are you a real zombie? Just woke up from the dead—and all for cake?!"
Al sat up, half-lazy. His eyes still sleepy, but his hands busy shoving cake into his mouth.
"How did I fall asleep…" he murmured softly. He looked at Indra's mother, then narrowed his eyes as if forming the most dramatic line of his life.
"…when an angel like you brought me this delicious cake?"
Mrs. Marin giggled.
"Oh, you—you sure are sweet-talkin'."
Indra glared in irritation.
"Alright, Ma. Just let him be. He might make you fall in love with his charm next."
Mrs. Marin left the room in laughter, closing the door softly behind her.
Only Indra and Al remained inside—one boiling with anger, the other with cheeks full of cake.
Indra exhaled and looked at Al seriously.
"I don't understand. You come here always tired. Now you're a rich kid—why act like a refugee? Didn't your house give you a private room?"
Al didn't reply. He calmly ate his cake, then took a sip of tea like a refined noble—pinky finger raised.
"Oh my… when your tongue tastes food, do all your other senses just stop working?" mumbled Indra before sighing,
Al paused, setting down his tea. Then looked at Indra with a pseudo-philosophical expression.
"Indra…"
"Hm?"
"Do rich kids always have to wake up early?"
Indra stared in confusion.
"What kind of question is that... But yes, I guess so. Rich kids probably have lots of rules."
Al stared more seriously now, no grin.
"How do you know? Are you... a rich kid?" he said with a teasing tone.
Silence.
Instantly, the room grew cold. Indra stared at Al in shock—in disbelief that this lazy kid could wound human pride with a single sentence.
The next moment—
BRUK!
A pillow soared and struck Al's face.
"Feel that! You breathing-maligned brat!!!"
"Lying insult!! Waaahhh!"
"Yeah, I'm just a fisherman's kid. Done!!"
Al giggled as he parried the pillow attack.
"If you're a fisherman's kid, why do you live in a room? Go to sea already."
"Hey!!"
"This is my house—command me to get lost, buddy."
Chaos ensued.
---
After finishing his meal, Al stared sharply at Indra. As if he wanted to say something. But in the end, he said nothing.
Guess it's better if I don't tell him. What if he thinks I'm barbaric? Haah… he thought.
Through the reflection of a small mirror, Indra accidentally caught sight of a rather unpleasant expression on the face of the young man he'd always treated like a little brother.
Indra's oversensitivity toward Al's moods made him assume that Al was troubled or feeling down—even though Al wasn't really the sentimental type.
Still, Indra wasn't wrong. Something was weighing on Al's mind.
"Hm? You wanna say something?" Indra asked, turning to face him.
Al tilted his head up, meeting Indra's eyes.
The older man looked like he was trying to be considerate.
Al blinked a few times, and somehow, that small gesture helped ease his hesitation.
His lips parted slightly, but the words still wouldn't come out. He was struggling to find the right way to say it.
Even though Indra was just an ordinary person, he had always been like an older brother who guided and scolded him when needed.
Al respected him deeply and hated the thought of looking bad in front of him. At the same time, he couldn't bring himself to keep everything bottled up.
Seeing Al struggle like that, Indra assumed it must be something serious. Deciding to give him a little push, he spoke first.
"Is there a problem with your new family? Ah, I mean, your real family. Are things going okay over there?" he asked, taking a guess.
Al nodded.
"You already figured it out."
Indra gave him a warm smile.
"I figured as much. Do you want to talk about it?"
Al stayed silent for a moment, sorting through his thoughts and deciding what he could and couldn't tell.
But that brief silence made Indra suspicious.
"...Don't tell me you did something bad over there?"
Al suddenly stiffened and shook his head quickly.
"Of course not. Or... actually, maybe yes. But also no. I don't think so, but maybe other people would. You can judge for yourself..."
Indra stared at him blankly.
"What are you even talking about?"
Then his eyes narrowed.
"So you did do something bad?"
His hand slowly reached for the long ruler resting on the side of the desk.
Seeing that, Al clenched his teeth slightly and let out a sigh.
"Just like old times. You always act warm and protective, but you're the one who's hit me the most."
"Anyway..." He rubbed his forehead. "What I mean is, I have my own way of judging things. Sometimes I think what I'm doing is right, but other people don't see it that way."
Indra paused, stopping his hand midway.
Then he smiled, looking rather proud of himself.
"You know, that was for your own discipline. So don't complain."
He pointed the ruler at Al.
"So, you think you did something right, but everyone else thinks you're wrong? What happened?"
Al nearly rolled his eyes.
Discipline my ass... he cursed inwardly.
Then he began telling the story. A very, very long story. Which, when he thought about it, had all happened within a little over two days.
He told Indra about being looked down on. Being framed. Choosing to live separately from the family. Being banned from eating with them after accidentally triggering his father's trauma.
Nearly getting into a fight with David. And finally, beating up the guards as punishment.
He left out anything related to magic, knowing Indra wouldn't understand it anyway.
He also left out the incident with the maid. More than anything else, that was the part that would disappoint him.
"...And do you know what the worst part is?" Al continued, dramatically pointing at himself. His eyes looked slightly moist.
"They... they make me wake up so early every day... hic..."
This time, it was Indra who rolled his eyes.
After hearing all those stories about injustice—stories that had irritated even him—Al chose to end it with something so ridiculous.
Still, he couldn't fully process everything he'd just heard. The whole story sounded absurd from beginning to end.
Yet he knew one thing for certain. Al had never dared to lie to him.
"Stop pretending to be miserable," Indra said with an annoyed sigh.
Al simply lowered his head dramatically, pretending to be even more heartbroken. One finger wiped away imaginary tears that didn't exist.
Every now and then, he glanced at Indra, anxiously waiting for his reaction.
Fortunately, Indra only sighed.
"Anyway... I think you're right. It sounds like they still haven't treated you properly. They're not ready to accept you yet. But the good thing is that you can still fight back."
"If things really happened the way you described, I can understand why you acted like that. If I were in your position, I might've done the same thing."
He paused.
"Maybe even worse."
Al felt a wave of relief. At least someone understood the way he thought without forcing him to spend hours explaining himself.
"But..."
Indra suddenly narrowed his eyes. Al immediately tensed again.
"You said you beat up the guards over there? Are you serious?"
Al nodded.
Indra stared at him for several seconds, trying to determine whether he was joking. Apparently, he wasn't. That alone amazed him.
"I thought the guards of an elite family wouldn't be ordinary fighters. And you're telling me you beat them badly? That's actually pretty impressive if it's true."
He frowned.
"But... ever since you were little, you've been timid. You wouldn't even fight back when people bullied you."
"Even after you came back, you've never once mentioned being able to fight. Honestly, that's the part I find hard to believe."
Then he chuckled.
"Unless you used some underhanded tactics."
Al shot him a side-eye.
"That's only because I never had a chance to show off my incredible combat skills."
A grin spread across his face.
"And besides, you know..."
He straightened his posture proudly.
"I'm a fan—uh, I mean, the successor of the Yellow Flash."
"So of course I possess incredible speed, agility, and attack accuracy that make me an amazing fighter."
Indra could only stare. His little brother somehow managed to become weirder every day.
"I thought that anime was just a small hobby." He shook his head and sighed. "Turns out it's given you delusions."
"My advice? Stop watching it."
"Delusions?" Al scoffed. "It's real. I'm his successor."
"Look! I can even use teleportation technique."
He raised his fingers and formed a dramatic ninja hand sign.
"Teleportation no Jutsu!"
Then he slipped under the blanket from one side, crawled through it, and popped out from the other side.
"See? Teleportation."
"I was over there. Now I'm here."
Indra's mouth slowly fell open. That was genuinely insane.
Without another word, he reached for his phone and started searching for a psychiatric hospital.
"I think you need treatment, little brother," he said with genuine concern.
Al looked offended.
"Huh?! You still don't believe me? ...Fine!"
His eyes wandered around the room until they landed on the electric fan. With a small leap, he pointed dramatically toward it.
"Futon (Wind Style)—Electric Fan no Jutsu!"
He immediately pressed the button. The fan began blowing a strong breeze.
At the same time, Al flopped back onto the bed and enjoyed the wind while lazily doing absolutely nothing.
Indra smacked his forehead. This time, he was truly done with him. He returned to his work.
"I don't even remember the Yellow Flash having a wind affinity," he muttered with a tired sigh.
"But whatever. Do whatever you want, little brother. Go achieve that dream of yours in your sleep."
"Honestly, it's better if you stay asleep. Every day you're awake, you somehow become less... normal."
Al lifted his head slightly.
"Did you just call me less normal?"
Indra didn't even bother answering. He simply hummed in confirmation. He no longer had the energy to deal with his ridiculous little brother.
Meanwhile, Al narrowed his eyes and smirked.
"I don't mind being called abnormal.But I won't accept being called abnormal by someone who's even less normal than me."
Indra immediately turned around. His eyebrow twitched.
"What did you say?! Are you calling me abnormal? Less normal than you? Huh?!"
"You heard me correctly." Al grinned and deliberately raised his voice.
"I still remember what happened at the orphanage. You secretly hid Mother Corla's underwear. Is that what you call normal? Hahaha!"
Indra froze. Then his face turned pale. How could Al shout that so loudly?
He immediately lunged forward and covered Al's mouth.
"What nonsense are you saying?! Stop slandering me!"
Al struggled free while laughing.
"Hahaha! What is it? Did you like Mother Corla's underwear that much? You're not just abnormal. You're a complete pervert!"
"HAHAHA!"
"Stop bringing that up!" Indra argued desperately. "That was a misunderstanding!"
"Haha. Misunderstanding my ass."
"ARRGGHHH!"
Indra desperately tried to shut Al up before he revealed even more embarrassing stories.
And just like that, childish chaos erupted between the two of them.
Meanwhile, outside the room, Mrs. Marin was busy cooking when she heard the commotion.
She couldn't help but chuckle. A warm smile appeared on her face.
"You two really get along."
Her voice was filled with happiness.
---
The clock struck 11:20 a.m.
Under normal conditions, the trip to school would only take about fifteen minutes. But with the city's traffic at this hour, it could easily take thirty minutes or more.
Al needed to hurry.
He stepped out of Indra's house wearing the sweetest smile he could manage. His hair was still messy, but his smile had the charm of a celebrity in a tea commercial.
"Thanks for the cake, Auntie. Please take good care of Indra."
He paused before adding,
"And tell him to study harder and sleep less."
Mrs. Marin chuckled, a faint blush of amusement appearing on her face.
"Yes, yes. Stay safe, Al."
Suddenly, a shout came from inside the house.
"You lazy bum! Get back here—!!"
Indra burst through the front door, already armed with his long ruler.
FWOOSH—
Al glanced back, grinned, and immediately bolted.
But as he ran, several items slipped out of his loosely closed backpack.
Among them was a black card. Not the one given to him by his family. His personal bank card.
"Al!"
Mrs. Marin quickly picked it up and called after him.
But by then, he had already disappeared around the corner. Only a trail of dust and a gentle breeze remained.
She immediately turned to Indra.
"Quick, go bring these to him."
Indra picked up the scattered items and shook his head.
"No need, Ma. Even if I chased him, I wouldn't catch him. I... can't match his speed."
His expression somehow turned unusually serious. Then he declared,
"...because he is the successor of the Yellow Flash."
Mrs. Marin stared at him. For a brief moment, she wondered if her son also needed to be referred to a psychiatric hospital.
Indra simply grinned and headed back toward his room.
As his gaze fell on the things Al had left in his hands, old memories surfaced—of the frail little boy who always struggled to carry his belongings, and of himself stepping in to help every time.
A warm smile slowly appeared on his face.
I never imagined your family treated you like that. Especially your sisters. That must've been hard on you.
But rest assured. I don't know what your future will be like over there...
As long as I'm around, I'll always be your big brother.
With that thought, he turned back toward his mother.
"Anyway, let him come get these himself later, Ma."
A sly smile spread across his face.
"After all, he still needs to meet me..."
His grin widened.
"...to receive his punishment. Hahaha."
Mrs. Marin could only stare in disbelief.
Somehow, those two boys from the orphanage looked more like real brothers than many actual siblings. They even seemed to share the same level of delusion.
---