Asin Night was observing Shion Lan and the old man of the Kito family from outside the restaurant. When he saw the old man, he thought to himself:
'Davey Kito… currently the strongest in the Kito family, and the main reason they haven't fallen to third rank nobles. A seven-circle mage who wields the earth element. His abilities are terrifying compared to second-class families—but to me, they're weak… nothing compared to first-class families. Still… let's see how long Shion can hold himself together in there.'
Inside, Shion's eyes ignited with faint starlight as he prepared to activate his forbidden technique, (Death of Stars), the moment the old man so much as moved a finger.
But then the old man spoke,
"So… do you need information to achieve your goal?"
"…?"
Shion was caught off guard.
"What do you mean by that?"
The old man replied coldly,
"Kedna Kito… I want that #### dead."
Shion was genuinely surprised by this turn of events.
"I assume Kedna is involved in this case," he said carefully. "But is there a personal reason that makes you want her dead—especially when your entire family could be dragged into this?"
The old man smirked slightly.
"I heard from my guards that you like listening to stories… is that true?"
Shion thought inwardly,
' Were my movements being monitored?! Since when?! '
He hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
"The old witch… I assume you've heard that story?"
Confusion deepened in Shion's eyes—then suddenly widened.
"The one who enchanted someone to bring her children…?"
The old man's voice turned heavy.
"That was me."
"..."
Shion was stunned—but his attention quickly shifted to the guards.
'Would he say something like this in front of them? Doesn't he feel any shame?? Either he's extremely confident… or he's lying.... but still! It's not something you can say that confidently!'
But as he observed the guards more closely, he felt that feeling again, not alive.
He fell silent.
"They're magical puppets, Lord Lan," the old man said calmly. "That's why I trust them more than anything. After all… I created them."
With a snap of his fingers, the guards' faces melted into earthen clay, reshaping at will.
Shi Yun Lan's voice echoed inside Shion's mind,
"This old man… I'd rank him among the top five in puppet craftsmanship in my world. But because he can't fully suppress the magical aura that exposes them as puppets, he's still lacking. Still… acceptable."
Shi Yun Lan wanted to say more but he was satisfied with those words as he saw something else he wanted to observe in the current time.
Shion looked back at the old man in surprise.
' Even Shi Yun Lan praised him! '
"The food has arrived," the old man said. "Eat while you listen to the story of this old man before you."
A neatly arranged meal was placed before Shion, consisting of tender slices of roasted meat with a light glaze, a small portion of seasoned vegetables, and a bowl of warm stew. Fresh bread was set to the side, along with a glass of red wine, simple in appearance yet clearly refined.
Compared to the status of the restaurant, the meal was very good.
Without waiting, he began:
"I'm Davey Kito. The eldest son of Kito family in my generation. When I was young… I was completely withdrawn. I shut myself away from the world, devoting all my time to studying magic circles and new spells. I was immersed in that life… until my father interrupted me."
"He said he didn't like what I had become. He forced me to go out—meet people, attend gatherings."
"I hated it… but I agreed. For him."
The old man's gaze grew distant.
"Banquets… meetings… endless conversations. I had to smile, laugh, speak nonsense… constantly shifting topics. I longed for my room… for my books… for the scent of old manuscripts."
"Then… one night… I drank too much."
His grip on his cane tightened.
"And I saw her."
Unlike most men recounting such a moment, there was no warmth in his face—only suppressed fury.
"Am Wish… a witch of unknown age. They say she lives as long as desire exists… as long as there is a weak heart for her to claim."
"…And unfortunately… that heart was mine."
He sighed as he continued,
"When I regained my senses, I saw beauty beyond reason. I abandoned everything I once loved… convinced that reaching her would make my life complete."
The regret appeared in his eyes obviously.
"She smiled… and that was enough to enslave me...."
Shion looked at him with the wine in his hand and asked,
"Sorry for interrupting, why did she target you specifically?"
The old man answered,
"What was strange… no one else seemed affected by her beauty. Yet my mind… was already gone.
He struck the ground with his cane.
I brought her into my family.
My father was furious. He warned me—told me to lead the relationship, not be led by it.
But when I tried to follow his advice… everything went blank."
His voice got weak in contrast with the power he showed before.
"I lost five years."
The rage burned in his veins,
"When I came back… I found her in another man's arms.
At that moment… my mind returned.
I tried to attack… but my body failed me. I collapsed.
I called for guards… but none came."
Tears slipped from his eyes.
"And then I realized…
I had killed my own father."
Shion stopped, unaffected by his pain.
"Do you remember anything from those five years?" he asked.
The old man shook his head.
"No… but the results remained.
Dozens of children disappeared.
Chaos consumed the Kito family.
And I was the one behind it all… under her control."
Shion narrowed his eyes.
"You called her 'cursed'…"
His thoughts raced:
'A witch who lives as long as desire exists… tied to weak hearts… that sounds less like a person… and more like a curse.'
The old man continued,
"I used my magical foundation. Back then, even Master Tim Ayr praised my talent.
I had only two choices—die… or kill her."
The insistence flared up in his words,
"I cast a sixth-circle spell—beyond my level.
She didn't expect it.
I killed the man beside her… and wounded her severely."
The shockwave silenced everything.
When I stepped outside… the chaos was gone.
They saw me as a hero.…and made me ruler of this province."
Shion studied him.
'This man's story is tragic… but for some reason… I can't sympathize with him.'
The old man went on,
"I married. Had children.
One of them… was rotten.
I couldn't guide him. So I sent him to the capital. As my dad did before.
Years later… rumors began spreading about me."
The old sighed with anger as he recalled that time of being the kidnapper of the children and the reason of the family ruin.
"…He was behind them.
My rotten son!
And then I discovered…
He had allied himself with that witch."
Shion's eyes sharpened.
"Kedna Kito."
The old man nodded.
"At first, I didn't realize she was Am Wish.
But as the kidnappings increased, I grew suspicious. As it was my sins before.
Then adults began disappearing too… and I lost track of the truth.
Eventually… I stopped suspecting her.
Until… Enfel Kito… my grandson…"
Tears fell again.
Shion spoke quietly,
"Kedna kidnapped him… and killed him after he discovered something he shouldn't have. Right?"
The old man looked stunned.
"How much do you know?"
Shion explained what Mel Tri had told him.
Silence filled the room.
Then the old man asked:
"…And the Night family? They weren't involved?"
"That's exactly what I need to confirm," Shion replied. "That's why I haven't reported this to the royal palace yet. I need at least the formula of the forbidden spell."
The old man leaned forward.
"Do you truly mean that?"
Shion met his gaze.
"Do you know the formula?"
The old man nodded.
"I have the spell Am Wish used back then. But I don't understand why adults were also taken. The spell… only required children."
"I have a question, what is the relation between Night family and Am Wish?"
"The forbidden spell came from them."
Shion muttered,
"…Then we'll need to interrogate someone."
He subtly shifted a knife.
The old man sensed something—and his expression darkened.
"…I believe our discussion isn't over yet."
He gestured with his hand.
The four guards melted into the ground.
Outside, Asin Night's eyes widened in shock.
'What… has my family done…?'
As realization struck him—
A stone guardian emerged from behind and struck him.
Asin lost consciousness.
The last thing he saw…
Was the old man's furious gaze—
And Shion Lan's cold, indifferent eyes watching him fall.
…
Elsewhere—
King Jord Joul sat in his office, reviewing documents.
Before him stood Helm Night, head of one of the Six Great Families.
"Is something troubling Your Majesty?" Helm asked.
The king replied coldly,
"Are you unaware of what your family is doing?"
Helm did not answer directly.
"Am Wish… is more of a family asset than a human."
The king's gaze sharpened.
"Do you even know how your family retrieves her?"
Helm replied,
"Twenty years ago, when I came to you asking to kill her, you said we must retrieve her instead. And now… you reject your own decision."
The tension between them escalated—
Until suddenly—
Two fingers appeared between them.
Tim Ayr.
"Have you no shame… acting like this in your positions?"
Both men bowed instantly.
"Master!"
As the director Tim was their instructor in their youth.
"Do not worry," the director said calmly. "I have assigned this matter… to Shion Lan."
Both men froze.
The old master's voice echoed,
"That boy… will end her… once and for all."
The pattern on the director's hand disappeared with those words.