The sun had already begun descending beyond the horizon.
Crimson light painted the ocean gold.
The academy island slowly returned to its usual rhythm.
Yet tonight—
The island was more lively than normal.
More excited.
More chaotic.
Because everyone was discussing the same thing.
The Leviathan Incident.
Students poured out from ships.
Guild members returned from emergency deployments.
Instructors received reports.
Merchants exchanged information.
And every conversation somehow led back to the ocean.
"I heard there were seven Leviathans."
"Seven? I heard there were fifteen."
"Fifteen? Someone told me twenty."
A nearby student scoffed.
"There were definitely over thirty."
Another student nodded seriously.
"I heard one was bigger than the academy."
The rumors continued growing.
As rumors always did.
Meanwhile.
Kel walked silently among the crowd.
His hands rested inside his coat pockets.
His expression remained calm.
Almost bored.
Inside his mind—
Seiren laughed.
"At this rate they'll say there were a hundred Leviathans."
"They will."
"And somehow you fought all of them alone."
"They will say that too."
The Guardian giggled.
Humans were fascinating creatures.
Especially when spreading stories.
The truth always lost.
The rumors always won.
Around them.
Groups of students walked toward their dormitories.
Others returned to academy buildings.
Some headed toward restaurants.
Others rushed toward taverns to tell exaggerated versions of today's battle.
The entire island buzzed with excitement.
Yet amidst the chaos.
Kel quietly separated from the crowd.
No one noticed.
Or rather—
No one should have noticed.
Because another Kel still existed.
An illusion.
Perfect.
Natural.
Flawless.
The illusion version walked toward the academy dormitories.
Just like every ordinary student.
It greeted classmates.
Nodded occasionally.
Even entered the dormitory building.
To any observer—
Aedon Flinth had returned home.
Meanwhile.
The real Kel disappeared.
Inside a narrow alleyway between stone buildings.
The silver-haired young man stopped.
His appearance began changing.
Mana flowed.
Illusion magic activated.
His silver hair darkened.
His facial features subtly shifted.
His clothing changed appearance.
Then—
A black mask appeared.
Simple.
Plain.
Concealing.
When the transformation ended.
No trace of Aedon Flinth remained.
Inside his mind—
Seiren sounded amused.
"You really enjoy disguises."
"They are useful."
"You have more identities than some kingdoms."
Kel didn't deny it.
Because she was correct.
Again.
Several minutes later.
The academy district disappeared behind him.
The sounds of students gradually faded.
The coastline appeared ahead.
Endless ocean stretched toward the horizon.
Dark waves rolled beneath the evening sky.
The sea breeze carried traces of salt and mist.
Moonlight slowly emerged above distant waters.
Beautiful.
Peaceful.
Deceptive.
Because Kel now knew.
Something was hiding beneath those waters.
Something connected to the missing Leviathan young.
Something connected to the attacks.
Something connected to the mysterious observer in the abyss.
The thought lingered in his mind.
Then he stopped walking.
The waves crashed gently against black rocks.
Moonlight reflected across the ocean surface.
Kel looked toward the sea.
Then spoke telepathically.
"Seiren."
"Hm?"
The Guardian immediately answered.
"Expand your perception."
A pause.
"Fully."
Silence followed.
Then Seiren laughed softly.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"The entire island?"
"Everything you can reach."
The Guardian became quiet.
For the first time that evening.
Her playful attitude disappeared.
Because she understood.
Kel wasn't investigating casually anymore.
He was serious.
Very serious.
Far more serious than when fighting Leviathans.
Far more serious than when founding guilds.
Far more serious than when taking academy examinations.
Because mysteries interested him.
And mysteries connected to hidden enemies interested him even more.
Inside the soul bond.
Ancient power awakened.
The sea responded.
Far beyond human senses.
Beyond mana perception.
Beyond ordinary detection.
Water itself became Seiren's eyes.
Ocean currents became her nerves.
Mist became her hearing.
Every drop of water connected to her authority.
For a brief moment—
The entire coastline seemed to tremble.
Then—
Nothing.
The world returned to normal.
Except it wasn't normal anymore.
Because Seiren was now watching.
Everything.
Minutes passed.
Kel continued walking along the shore.
Silent.
Patient.
Observant.
His boots left shallow footprints in wet sand.
Waves erased them moments later.
The moon climbed higher.
The island gradually grew quieter.
Students returned to dormitories.
Shops closed.
Restaurants emptied.
Only distant lights remained visible.
Eventually.
Seiren spoke.
"Interesting."
Kel immediately stopped.
"What?"
Silence.
The Guardian focused.
Far away.
Across the island.
Across the ocean.
Across countless streams and waterways.
She observed.
Then spoke again.
"There are traces."
Kel narrowed his eyes.
"What kind of traces?"
Another pause.
"Water traces."
The answer wasn't helpful.
The Guardian immediately realized it.
"Not normal water traces."
She continued.
"Something moved through the ocean recently."
Kel listened carefully.
"How recently?"
"Days."
A pause.
"Maybe weeks."
The Guardian sounded uncertain.
Which meant the traces were old.
Very old.
Yet still noticeable.
That alone was unusual.
Extremely unusual.
"What left them?"
Kel asked.
Silence followed.
Long silence.
Then—
"I don't know."
The answer immediately caught his attention.
Because Seiren rarely said those words.
Very rarely.
The Guardian continued.
"It isn't Leviathan."
A pause.
"It isn't merfolk."
Another pause.
"It isn't any ocean species I recognize."
The sea breeze grew colder.
Kel looked toward the dark horizon.
Something unknown.
Something powerful.
Something capable of leaving traces even Seiren struggled to identify.
The situation was becoming more interesting.
And more dangerous.
Inside his mind—
Seiren suddenly spoke again.
This time.
Her voice sounded strange.
Very strange.
"Kel."
"Hm?"
The Guardian hesitated.
For several seconds.
Then finally said:
"Something is looking back."
The silver-haired young man's expression remained calm.
But his eyes sharpened.
"What do you mean?"
The answer came immediately.
"I expanded my perception."
A pause.
"And something noticed."
The waves crashed against the shore.
The wind howled softly.
The ocean remained dark.
Yet suddenly—
The coastline felt different.
As if unseen eyes were observing.
Watching.
Waiting.
Not from the academy.
Not from the island.
From somewhere beyond the sea.
Far beyond the reach of ordinary people.
Far beyond the reach of ships.
Far beyond the horizon.
Kel slowly looked toward the endless darkness.
Then smiled.
A small smile.
A dangerous smile.
Inside his mind—
Seiren immediately groaned.
"I know that smile."
"Good."
"No."
The Guardian sighed.
"That means you've found a new problem."
Kel remained silent.
Because she was right.
And somewhere within the darkness beyond the sea—
Something unknown had finally acknowledged his existence.
The game had officially begun.