Chapter 9
Aldehyde looked like he was about to kill someone.
But in reality, his mind was replaying the image of the woman in the gray robe over and over again.
The moment their eyes met, his heart jolted.
Whenever Aldehyde saw someone in a gray robe, he had a habit of checking their face.
This time had been no different.
He turned to Paul.
“Where were the civilians who were here earlier taken?”
“They were moved to the temporary shelter. They’re probably receiving treatment by now—huh? W-where are you going?”
He didn’t wait for Paul to finish. Instead, he strode quickly toward the shelter.
Aldehyde reached it in an instant.
Bang!
The door flew open with a loud crash.
‘…Was it noona?’
He lowered his trembling lashes, then opened his eyes again.
Otherwise, why was his heart beating like this?
Without noticing Paul rushing behind him, he scanned the shelter.
It was empty.
“Why is no one here?”
Paul finally caught up, gasping for breath.
“What are you looking for that you’re in such a hurry today—haah…”
“I asked where everyone went.”
“The poison butterflies are dangerous. After moving to the shelter, they likely sorted symptoms and transferred them to the ward. Why? Are you looking for someone?”
“I saw a woman in a gray robe.”
At Aldehyde’s flat tone, Paul’s expression turned awkward.
“Oh, here we go again. That gray robe…”
Paul sighed and fired off his words like a machine gun.
“Seriously, Lord Aldehyde. Why is it that every time you see someone in a gray robe, whether it’s a battlefield, a rift, or the Imperial Palace, you charge in like a mad dog? What do you even call that?”
“What do you call it?”
Aldehyde’s cold violet eyes turned toward him.
Paul flinched.
He had just called his superior a mad dog.
Even if everyone used that term.
Feeling wronged, Paul quickly bowed low.
“My apologies. I misspoke.”
“Well, I guess I am a damn dog.”
“Uh… pardon?”
Is he insane?
As Paul stared at him in confusion, Aldehyde murmured lazily,
“That means, like a mad dog, I’ve found something I want to chase like crazy.”
He clenched his teeth.
“Move out. Find the gray robe.”
“What? It’s not like we’re searching the capital for some random guy named John!”
But Aldehyde had already decided.
Even if there was only a one percent chance she was noona—
He would find her.
***
‘Wow… he’s really dangerous.’
After watching him slaughter the poison butterflies like a madman, I made up my mind.
‘I need to confront Aldehyde directly.’
While the others went to the ward for treatment, I hurried back to the Vuitri estate.
I needed time to think.
His power was overwhelming.
And he had suddenly overused it like an explosion.
He was working for the Empire now, yes.
But what if he ever used that power for something evil?
‘Maybe I’ve been too naive lately, distracted by Ppuppu’s flower-field-like letters. I should have investigated sooner.’
Finding out his identity and purpose.
That might be the last good deed I can do before I die.
After that day, I gathered every piece of information I could.
But neither Bell nor the information guild could provide anything useful.
“Aldehyde appeared out of nowhere. He is currently the commander of the Imperial Knights and has been granted the title of Grand Duke.”
“And?”
“Even the Emperor cannot control him. Some say he’s dangerous.”
“Anything else?”
“Honestly… no information. Aside from his closest aides, no one seems to know anything.”
All efforts failed.
There was only one method left.
Infiltrate the Imperial Knights and investigate personally.
But there was a problem.
Because of the frequent rifts in the capital, access to the knights’ headquarters was restricted. Even the head of the Vuitri family was denied entry.
Then I saw a notice posted at the entrance.
[Recruitment Notice]
Imperial Knights recruiting Stabilization Mages.
Regardless of status, we care only about one thing: the ability to stabilize others!
“Oh, so you’re judging purely on skill?”
An idea came to me.
My life had grown brighter after regression.
Yet still quiet.
And ever since Aldehyde appeared, that quiet life had begun to twist.
***
At the same time, in the Emperor’s reception room.
Aldehyde sat across from the Emperor, tilting his head lazily.
“Old man, don’t bother.”
“My lord! But I am deeply worried about your body!”
The Emperor, nearly in tears, thrust forward a magical device.
It looked like a rectangular ruler.
It measured the rampage level of a power wielder.
The Emperor placed it on Aldehyde’s hand.
Soon, the number 80% appeared.
The emperor’s face crumpled in despair.
“This can’t be… 80 percent means you’re at risk of rampaging!”
Aldehyde frowned.
“If I’m going to rampage, I’ll just go into the mountains and do it there.”
“That’s not the point! It hurts you! And if you’re in pain, I’ll be heartbroken!”
“Sure, be heartbroken. Anyway, I’m busy. I have rifts to handle. Bring me more stabilizers.”
He shrugged.
“Too many stabilizers are bad for you! My lord, I’ll bring more stabilization mages! If you form an imprint—!”
“An imprint, huh… Old man, if you want to imprint with me, they’d need to be high rank.”
The stronger the power, the higher the rank of stabilization mage required.
Someone like Aldehyde needed a one-on-one imprint with a compatible high-level stabilizer.
Only then could he live without rampaging.
But—
“There aren’t any high-level mages in the Empire right now…”
The Emperor looked gloomy.
Aldehyde simply shrugged.
“Doesn’t matter.”
He glanced down at his wrist.
The wrist that had once throbbed and reddened when he first met Noona.
He hadn’t understood then.
But now he knew.
That day, they had formed an imprint as a power wielder and stabilization mage.
That the mark on his wrist was proof.
It was said that imprinted partners could recognize each other upon meeting.
So he would recognize her instantly.
“I don’t need that. I’ve got to make clothes for my doll. I’m busy.”
“A doll?”
He pulled out a fluffy stuffed doll from his pocket.
“How’s this bear, old man? Cute, right?”
The Emperor tilted his head.
It looked like one of those trendy bear-making kits popular in the capital.
But—
The nose was where the eyes should be.
And there was nothing where the mouth should be.
“What kind of cursed doll is that? Were you scammed? Who dares to scam the Empire’s hero? I’ll punish them immediately!”
Aldehyde’s brow furrowed.
He gently cupped the bear’s ears.
“My precious bear can hear you, old man.”
“P-precious?”
“I made it. Cute, right?”
“…”
“Anyway. I’m leaving.”
“Where are you going, my lord?!”
“Shadow Street.”
“Why there?!”
“The dragon says a rift will appear there today.”
Bang.
The door slammed shut.
The emperor stared at it helplessly.
At 80%, Aldehyde could rampage at any moment.
The Empire relied entirely on his Instant Death power.
If he rampaged—
The Empire’s future would be dark.
The Emperor clasped his hands and prayed desperately.
“Please. Let the person who will imprint with our lord fall from the sky…!”
