After a long silence, he ruffled his hair and said, “Your father hid his whereabouts from everyone.”

“…”

“What happened to that guy, and if anyone knows the circumstances, well, maybe Yung would have known something if he were alive, but he’s already dead and not of this world. What can I say?”

“… I see.”

“Well, sometimes you don’t know because of magic. Are you suspicious about your father’s death? Are you going to investigate it piece by piece?”
“I don’t know. Honestly, I’m not even sure if the father I remember is my real father. Thinking about my father alone makes my head too complicated. Not registering as a magician despite being born as one, and dying under a carriage despite being an excellent magician… It’s just that I keep realizing things that don’t make sense according to my common sense, so I don’t know what to do.”

Seeing the troubled look on Riley’s face, Arpeggio sighed and gently placed his hand on her head.

“He wasn’t a thoughtless person, at least.”

“…”

“Despite the numerous incidents, in the end, there were reasons behind them that others could understand. There must have been a reason for not registering you as a magician, and… I find it hard to understand your father’s death as well. But there must have been unavoidable circumstances. Or maybe you’re misunderstanding something.”

“I can’t be misunderstanding. My father passed away in front of me.”

“Well, the world isn’t only about what you see.”

“… What do you mean?”

“Just that the world’s not just about what you see.”

“Do you know something?”

“… I don’t. Just don’t overly complicate things that you can’t find an immediate answer to. The facts you need to know will eventually be revealed on their own without forcing it.”

He vigorously ruffled Riley’s hair. Riley nodded in a disheartened manner.

“Oh, they announced their marriage at the party. Your identity seems to have become a hot topic everywhere.”

“… Yes, that’s right.”

Arpeggio’s expression momentarily became serious but quickly returned to normal.

“Are they really crazy? None of them seem to be in their right minds.”

?”

“You shouldn’t stick close to that guy. What’s happening here is already a bad situation. But the deed is done, and I don’t know how to handle this situation.”

“What do you mean?”

“… No, nothing. You don’t need to know. It might hurt you if you try to find out.”

Arpeggio stood up. Then, as usual, he sat in front of the magic power measurement graph and began to analyze it.

Meanwhile, Riley, who had finished all the sandwiches and drinks, tidied up and stood up.

“I’ll go up now.”

“Going to Giben?”

“Yes.”

“I told you before, don’t fall for that guy. It’s only you who will get hurt more by staying by his side.”

“… What if that’s what I’ve decided?”

In response to Riley’s timid answer, Arpeggio turned around to look at her. He glanced at Riley and, with a low voice, said,

“Even if it doesn’t go as you wish, don’t show it, don’t get caught. Don’t think too hard about what to do.”

“…”

“You can’t handle him.”

He waved his hand for her to leave quickly. Riley teleported herself onto the teleportation pad and moved to the top floor, contemplating Arpeggio’s words.
The moment they had intercourse in his and Hwanggoong’s room came to mind. A blissful and happy memory. Upon reflection, it seemed like a momentary illusion due to the thrilling sensation flowing through the body.

“Yeah… We’re just faithful to our roles.”

It’s not love; it’s the satisfaction of desires. It’s not affection; it’s liking.

Just a relationship enjoying physical intimacy, acting faithfully to their roles, appearing as an affectionate couple on the surface. It must be neither more nor less. Although Arpeggio’s words briefly caught her attention,

“No one’s here.”

There was no one in front of Giben’s office. Sak, who usually always kept his position, was nowhere to be seen. Was there a guest inside? She wondered, but there was no sound of voices. Instead, she heard something a bit strange.

Thud, thud.

A squelching sound of something being beaten and intermittent moaning.

What’s going on? Several scenes flashed through Riley’s confused mind. The bullet that flew into his head when they traveled with Giben and Lulat, and the memory of him returning to the mansion looking like a lifeless corpse after ingesting poison.

Worried that Giben might be in danger, Riley opened the door wide.

There she saw a man lying on the ground, bleeding, and another man, with his eyes closed, stomping on the chest of the fallen man with his boot…

“… Giben?”