While Shion Lan was interrogating Mel Tri, Solan Neumann was treating him for the side effects of his forbidden technique. She took a brief glance at him—and what she saw made her freeze.
Inside him… there was emptiness.
Barely any stars illuminated it. Darkness spread through his soul, and at that moment, his emotions felt completely dead. Yet it was as if that void noticed her gaze—noticed that she had stared too deeply.
Her "Sol Hart" persona began to crumble.
A sharp pain pierced her from within.
' Has Shion been enduring this kind of pain all this time?! '
Her soul ached, and sympathy for Shion filled her heart.
"Oh no!" Realizing her disguise was fading, she quickly covered her face. After Shion stepped out, she fixed it again and followed him outside.
As they walked through the alleys and into the main streets, Shion noticed her silence.
"Sol?"
"Ah—?"
"You seem different today," he said. "You've been unusually quiet."
She looked at his eyes as the stars within them were fading away,
' Shion..... '
She shook her head lightly. ' I'm not Solan Neumann right now… I'm just Sol Hart. '
She said, "I'm good. I just.... didn't expect that, the kidnapper isn't guilty and the family head is the true criminal. Who will believe that?"
Shion smiled and let out a soft chuckle—one that would normally put people at ease.
But to Solan, who could see his soul, it looked like a corpse smiling in despair… as if darkness itself was trying to find light, laughing in hope that it might exist.
Her heart hurt even more.
Shion glanced around. "We're in the main streets now. If anyone asks, we'll say we're investigating like everyone else."
She nodded.
As they walked, Shion casually bought honey candy for both of them, acting carefree in front of others.
"Take one?"
" Oh? Yes."
Solan got her candy and she heard,
"What a lovely couple!"
"Are they from the noble families? Look at the boy he looks like a real noble."
"Although the girl is not that beautiful but she has something special."
Shion, who heard that, laughed lightly and said, "Heard that? They are talking about us."
' He's always been like this ', Solan thought. ' Despite his pain, he still tries to make others happy… from the Baro Ferrer entrance exam until now. He never complains… '
Her thoughts drifted further.
' That person from the Shi family… is there a connection? No—doesn't matter! I'll protect my beloved, even if it means standing against a tyrant that even Tim Ayr backed away from! '
Then she realized what she had just thought.
Her face turned bright red.
"Ooh, I think you got red because of them. Should I face them?"
"No, you don't have to. It's just a talk and —"
Suddenly, a mocking voice came from behind,
"I thought we were in a test… but what I see looks like a date."
Shion turned to look—it was one of Prince Jaiden Joul's followers, also a member of the Shine family.
Shion simply smiled mockingly and ignored him.
The man grew irritated and approached.
Shion said calmly to Solan, "Do you know who the most miserable people are?"
She paused. ' Probably you… ' she thought, but didn't say it aloud.
"Who?" she asked.
Shion smiled.
"People who have nothing—so they mock others for what they don't have. For example, an idiot sees me walking with a beautiful lady and assumes it's a date… because he lacks the ability to handle with ladies. I think it's because of his smell."
"Hahahaha!!"
The commoners couldn't hold their laughing that made the other man get angry.
"What are you trying to say, brat?!" the man snapped.
Shion ignored him and continued walking with Solan who thought,
' Beautiful lady..... me? I think I have to appear as Solan as fast as possible! '
The man grabbed his shoulder. "Explain yourself!"
Shion looked at him with a strange expression.
"Was I talking to you? But if you insist—let me explain."
He brushed the man's hand away.
"A man rejected by women, bullied by girls in his own family, and unable to even get a glance from one… will assume any pair walking together must be lovers. That kind of person is mentally ill—I won't hold it against him."
The man's face twisted in rage.
"'gasp'!! Don't tell me…" Shion added with mock surprise, "you're actually unpopular and bullied?"
He shook his head sympathetically.
"I didn't expect my words to hurt you this much."
"Shut up!!"
The man attacked, forming four magic circles—he hadn't yet reached the fourth level as he had to murmur with words.
Before he could strike, Solan raised her hand. Four interlinked magic circles appeared—proof of her superior level—and a battle spirit shot forward, slamming him back.
He tried to grab onto something, but the spirit raised its fist and smashed his face.
"S-Sol… aren't you overdoing it a bit?" Shion said.
"He attacked us!"
"He's still from the Shine family." He whispered, "A little punishment is enough."
Solan smiled. "Alright."
She dispelled her magic.
The man lay on the ground, face badly battered.
"Shion Lan!" he shouted. "Do you hide behind women?!"
Shion smiled.
"Not at all—and you know that better than anyone. But I didn't expect you to lose to a girl younger than you. Now I understand why you're unpopular."
The surrounding commoners watched, barely holding back laughter.
The man, overwhelmed with humiliation, fainted.
His teammates soon arrived, shocked at his condition.
"Shion Lan! Did you do this?!" one demanded.
"I use a sword, not fists," Shion replied. "And Solan uses spirits—they're intangible. How could we beat him like this?"
They hesitated—his sword was still sheathed, and their hands were clean, holding candy.
"So what happened?" they asked.
Shion shrugged.
"He was probably searching for the kidnapper like everyone else… but judging by this, it seems the kidnapper might be nearby. I suggest you search this area."
Then he added,
"But anyone below the fourth level should withdraw. This is more dangerous than expected. Also, take him for treatment—we don't know if poison was involved."
They thanked him and left.
The crowd tried to laugh again—but Solan's spirits suppressed them instantly.
"You did well." Shion praised her.
"If the commoners laughed and the head of the Shine Family knew, it would be a trouble for you."
"You can hold them earlier."
"It's because of the the boy who appeared in his team."
"???"
Shion couldn't understand but Solan said, "I saw that boy before as he is the little brother of Elai Shine who was insulated."
Shion remembered him and said,
"If it was that idiot he would take it silently so none of his family knows but the boy you mentioned is actually can make it a real trouble. In the end, it would be a shame if a commoner mocked the noble."
After everyone dispersed, Shion and Solan headed toward the palace to meet Violet Night and Princess Jina Joul.
...
Elsewhere, Shun Ranus encountered the Shine team and heard what happened.
After listening, he smiled.
"Alright. We'll search the area first. Take your leader for treatment."
"Aren't you concerned about him?" one asked. "We serve Prince Jaiden."
Shun replied calmly,
"If we let the kidnapper roam free, more children could be taken. And appearing in public means he's planning another move."
He added with a smirk,
"And those fools probably already went after him."
"They went to regroup," the boy replied.
"Good," Shun said. "Still… I think it's a trap. I know my brother—he's cunning."
He left with his team.
The boy muttered,
"I don't know why my father and brother cooperate with him…"
He glanced at the crowd's earlier reactions.
"They weren't afraid—they were holding back laughter… Shion must've silenced them somehow. That bastard probably provoked him."
He used purification magic to heal his injured teammate.
"(Light of Purification)"
A magic circle appeared radiating with the light that fell on his teammate and got rid of the elements that made his face horrible.
"If you want to embarrass the family again," he said coldly, "at least clean yourself up."
The injured man obeyed.
This was Steray Shine—the younger brother of the family heir.
' Shion is probably lying about the kidnapper ', he thought. ' But I won't help that arrogant fool Shun either. '
He walked back and thought,
' I don't care about anything. But if anyone stood before me, I will crush him! '
...
Meanwhile, on the way back, Solan asked,
"Honestly… how did you know so much about that man?"
She meant for the man before, who was beaten by her.
Shion's expression darkened.
"Because I was treated as the trash of the kingdom among nobles. I was constantly compared to others—including him and other fools who never surpassed themselves."
"Oh! I'm sorry...."
"No problem."
They reached the palace.
"Act normal," Shion said before entering. "Don't show suspicion. We're still investigating."
She nodded.
They returned to their quarters and waited.
After more than an hour, Violet and Princess Jina arrived.
"We found some clues!" Jina said.
Shion and Solan looked surprised.
Celesia Joul took control of Jina's body and stepped forward confidently.
"All we have to do now is capture him, and we'll be the first team to pass the test!"
Shion didn't even look at her.
Instead, he turned to Violet.
"This clue… came from the Kito family, didn't it?"
Violet froze. "How did you know?!"
Shion replied calmly,
"Setting aside the document you received earlier… it's obvious you reached an agreement with them."
Violet stepped back slightly.
"Violet," Solan said firmly, stepping closer, "we need to talk—now."
Celisia withdrew, leaving Jina to deal with the awkwardness.
' What?! ', Jina didn't expect that.
Shion continued,
"Lady Knight, you're from the Shadow branch of the Knight family—not the Corrupted branch, correct?"
Violet's eyes sharpened with anger.
"They may use corruption magic, but I won't allow you to insult them like that!"
Shion's voice hardened.
"They're the reason all of this is happening."
Silence fell.
Violet: "..."
Gina: "..."