Chapter 25: Unexpected Transformations and Troubling Observations in Ashilton

[Welcome to Ashilton, the capital of the Aitoolia Empire. The station is very crowded, so please disembark slowly. Ensure you haven’t left anything behind. Luggage can be collected from Gate EA9…]

“Gate EA9, Gate EA9, Gate EA9…”

Ethan, fraught with tension, scanned his surroundings, searching for the elusive Gate EA9 where his luggage was supposed to appear.

The sleeper car of the long-distance high-speed train, gliding effortlessly on its maglev rail, had been as smooth and comfortable as its hefty price tag suggested. Yet, it felt as if the scenery itself had shifted silently between departure and arrival.

His confident bravado, with which he had assured Hans that Ashilton wouldn’t be much different from anywhere else—Hans still had to remain in their village to sort out his business—had long since vanished.

“Why are there so many Espers?”

Given the station’s immense size and international scope, it seemed that over half of the stationed security personnel were Espers.

While he might have accepted that for the guards, a significant number of Espers were also among the throngs of people bustling through Ashilton, whether arriving or departing for travel or business.

Sometimes, he even spotted individuals who appeared to be A-grade Espers. Ethan’s muscles ached from the sheer tension, and he repeatedly checked to ensure Oweol, his crow familiar, was properly protecting him.

Even Ethan’s eight gwi quietly assessed their unfamiliar surroundings, a place unlike any they had experienced before.

After retrieving his luggage, he loaded it onto a dog-shaped carrier bot, which appeared to be the station’s mascot. Upon scanning his ID card, the amount was deducted, and a cute voice offered a greeting.

[Hello, Ethan. I’m Aaron, of Ashilton Station. I’m delighted to accompany you for the next hour. If you need directions or any service, please press the button or call my name.]

“…A cute exterior and voice, and a slightly more complex navigation system—is that all that’s different? And this carrier bot costs ten thousand ki per hour?!”

‘These swindlers in the capital!’ He felt like shouting for them to bring out the standard-issue carrier bot he’d used at Morapolio City’s station, as he had no need for such a pretty robot.

While Morapolio City’s plain carrier bot had a slightly slower response time, it was available for six thousand ki.

As he began to walk, grumbling under his breath, the carrier bot trailed after him, its screen displaying a wide, cheerful smile.

Ethan, still grumbling that Ashilton should offer more choices for people like him when it came to carrier bots, cast a sidelong glance at the dog-like carrier bot trotting obediently behind him.

“…It is kind of cute.”

Observing the carrier bots dutifully following other people, it seemed there wasn’t just one mascot; they came in various shapes and colors.

He even saw parents with children searching at the information desk for carrier bots featuring their kids’ favorite characters.

“Maybe I should have chosen one myself.”

‘Yes, Ethan, you were too hasty! Look over there! There’s even a cute pink rabbit!’

‘There’s a child here too, it seems.’

“…Be quiet. It’s all just marketing.”

‘But there isn’t a six-thousand-ki bot here, is there? If they’re all ten thousand ki, you could at least choose the one you like!’

“…I like this one.”

‘Liar!’

Yuwol scoffed, but Ethan steadfastly held his head high. While he had simply picked the first one he saw, it was indeed adequately cute.

Checking the time, Ethan entered a cafe, ate some tea and a sandwich, then wandered through the station, browsing various shops.

After one full round, his primary takeaway was that the cost of living in Ashilton was remarkably high.

“Ethan!”

He wasn’t sure why the one who arrived had to wait for the one who was supposed to meet them, but Ethan had spent a rather satisfying amount of time until their appointed meeting.

As he made his way to the noble-exclusive parking area, a welcome voice, one he hadn’t heard in a long time, reached his ears.

“Scott…?”

Ethan, who had turned his head with a joyful expression, faltered, then looked around again.

No matter how he searched, the person who had called him was a sophisticated, slender, utterly urban man, accompanied by two bodyguards in black uniforms. He bore no resemblance to the chubby, naive, and cute Scott he remembered.

“Ethan! I missed you!”

Even as the man hugging him spoke with Scott’s unmistakable voice, Ethan, unable to fully believe his eyes, simply swayed with Scott’s embrace.

“You… you rascal… why have you changed so much?”

Scott gave an embarrassed laugh.

“I don’t even know myself. As soon as I arrived in the capital, there was a mountain of things I had to learn.

On top of that, I started diet management, and after a few months of sleeping while getting massages and skin treatments, this is how I turned out. I’ve even started exercising recently.”

“…You do look good, but…”

Ethan replied somewhat hesitantly, glancing at the figures standing like shadows behind Scott.

Noticing this, Scott patted Ethan’s back vigorously, urging him towards the car.

“Don’t worry about them; they’re good people who protect me. Anyway, what happened with Mr. Hans? I heard there was quite a commotion, right? I’ve been mentally preparing myself to hear all about it directly from you!”

“…Mentally preparing, huh.”

“You’re not going straight home, are you?”

“Well… I’d like to go home, but…”

Scott’s disappointment was palpable as he pleaded.

“Ethan, I’d love to go to your place and talk and play all night, but it’s a bit difficult for me to stay out overnight. That’s why I’m asking.

Besides, graduate school is on break right now. And Uncle Hans said he’d arrive by the enrollment date, right? Just stay for a few days, okay?”

Ethan felt a pang of regret. If he had known this would happen, he would have asked Uncle Dale to pick him up instead.

Scott, who had eagerly awaited his arrival in Ashilton, had insisted on picking him up, and Ethan had readily agreed. After all, his desire to see his friend first had been stronger. But now, that decision was holding him back.

“…Do you see Enoch every day?”

Ethan glanced at the men seated in front, then asked indirectly.

He couldn’t tell Scott that Enoch made him uncomfortable while the bodyguards were present.

“Ah… not every day. Enoch is preparing for retirement.”

“Why is Enoch retiring?”

Scott gave an ambiguous laugh, subtly scratching his cheek.

“Well, it’s probably what everyone is guessing.”

Ethan’s eyes widened. ‘Surely he isn’t planning to jump into the succession race?’

‘The second son, an A-grade Esper, pushing out the eldest son, a C-grade Esper?’

“He has several projects to finish up because of his high public profile, and it hasn’t been officially announced yet. He’s literally just preparing in advance… Still, I see him at least every two or three days.”

“In that case, my staying would probably be more of a nuisance.”

“Haha. Ethan, the Cloud Ducal family estate is made up of several buildings, like Lord Bliss Moore’s mansion back in the village. The building Enoch and I stay in is separate from the main residence.”

Ethan paused, looking at Scott, before finally replying.

“…First, I’ll contact Uncle Hans and Lord Bliss. Then, I’ll impose on you for a few days. I can’t stay long. My luggage arrives at my house in a week.”

“Really?! Ethan! Thank you!”

Scott leaped with joy, clinging to Ethan. Ethan let out a soft sigh, watching the unfamiliar scenery pass by outside the car window.

The Cloud Ducal family estate, just as Scott described, resembled a small city within the city, with several annex buildings surrounding the largest central edifice. The structure allowed for the separate living arrangements of adult direct family members, with different staff assigned to each building.

“It’s incredible,” Ethan exclaimed, looking around. The small manor, seemingly decorated to Enoch’s taste, was elegantly and tastefully furnished, avoiding any hint of vulgar ostentation. Pillars and ceilings, designed with soft, curved lines, harmonized beautifully, while classical masterpieces adorned the walls.

“Enoch won’t be able to make it today because of a shoot. Let’s just have fun by ourselves.”

“Don’t I need to greet the other people in the mansion?” Ethan asked, to which Scott chuckled.

“Do you think company executives or CEOs would be at the mansion at this hour? I did mention you might be coming, so I expect they’ll invite you for a meal sometime.”

“…Ah.”

Ethan, who had seen Bliss daily during his vacation, let out a short sigh of realization. ‘Then Lord Bliss must be busy too.’

The thought that Philip’s words—that he wouldn’t see Bliss much—were true made his shoulders slump slightly for some reason. To shake off his somber mood, Ethan asked something he had wanted to ask for a while.

“Are the same people always on bodyguard duty?”

As they entered the room, the bodyguards checked the interior, then stood outside the door. Ethan looked towards the door and asked, but Scott shook his head.

“No, they rotate. I think they’ll switch after dinner tonight.”

“I see. Are they always the same individuals?”

“They recently redeployed, so some are the same people who were here before, and some are new. Still, I’ve gotten to know all their faces now. I’ve become quite comfortable with them.”

Scott smiled with pride.

That night, Ethan used his gwi to confirm no one was nearby, then called Hans.

[Ethan, you said you were having fun with Scott. Is something wrong?]

Ethan had contacted both the Moore family and Hans in front of everyone so as not to arouse suspicion, so Hans’s voice, when he answered the phone again that night, was filled with worry. Ethan swallowed hard.

“Uncle… I don’t know if I’m overreacting, but…”

[Tell me.]

“Scott is Enoch Cloud’s matching Guide… but the bodyguards I saw today were ordinary people.”

[…!!!]