After letting his chaotic thoughts run their course, Ackster’s head finally cleared up a little. It was enough for him to sharpen his senses and hear that the commotion outside on the training grounds was dying down.

Although the only way to guarantee that The Hero wouldn’t be watching anymore would be to wait until the fake Ackster had reentered the house, Ackster couldn’t wait until then.

The knights, most likely surprised by the fake Ackster’s sudden inspection of the training grounds and the estate, would be on high alert as soon as they got back in position. And unintentionally or not, they would keep a constant watch over the window to Ackster’s room in case he would try and make a run for it.

Even with his experience from the last couple of nights, Ackster wouldn’t be able to flee through that kind of security net.

Ackster had to find the timing where The Hero probably wasn’t around anymore – he didn’t even dare hope that The Hero wasn’t around, to begin with – but before the guards were back in position.

And that moment was now.

When he tuned his ears, Ackster could faintly hear the ruckus caused by his doppelganger losing volume. It either meant that someone like Andrea had shown up to check on how things were going, or Mikhail had told Ackster to get back to his room instead of disturbing everyone this late at night. It could also be because the Doppelganger Slime had run out of things to say and do without making the whole thing way too suspicious.

Whatever the case, it didn’t change what Ackster had to do, and he opened the window while slowly peeking his head out.

Since the original Ackster wouldn’t turn off the lights in his room if he were to do something like what the Doppelganger Slime is doing, Ackster couldn’t do that either. And his eyes, used to the light, had a hard time adjusting to the darkness, especially with the light still glowing from behind him like a halo.

His shadow would have been suspicious if anyone had been there to see it. Thankfully, the few guards remaining on the lawn had their attention on the surroundings or in the direction of the training grounds.

But Ackster couldn’t dally. He quickly crept out the window, closing it behind himself, and dropped to the ground after making sure there wasn’t any dirt left on the wall or windowsill, his bare feet not making a single sound as he crouched down on the grass.

His eyes finally adjusted to the darkness, and he could make out the silhouettes of the guards spread out on the lawn. Carefully checking their positions and the directions they were facing, Ackster snuck across the estate.

He made it all the way to the last bush before the wall without being discovered. And he was confident he could make it across the wall without any of the guards noticing him as long as he watched his timing. But he wasn’t worried about the guards.

If The Hero were watching, he would be doing it from outside the estate, and he might have moved to watch the fake Ackster strut around on the training grounds and might have missed Ackster leaving his room. But that was two ‘mights’ more than Ackster liked.

A third one – that The Hero wouldn’t notice him leaving the estate, even while watching the Doppelganger Slime – wasn’t something Ackster would bet on. It wasn’t something he could bet on.

But he also couldn’t wait in front of the wall for the rest of the night. He had an appointment to keep. Having to wait so long before leaving the estate was already making him cut it close. The only thing that gave Ackster security that he wouldn’t be late was the fact that he didn’t know the exact time. But that also meant the window might be smaller than he thought.

Eventually, Ackster forced himself to take a deep breath and calm down to watch the guards’ movements through the bush. He could already hear more guards returning. He had to move. If he didn’t move now, it would be too late, and his death would be set in stone.

Ackster had to risk The Hero still watching since it was the only route where he could possibly live.

Without hesitating any longer, Ackster turned around and, with one footstep on the wall, crossed it and entered the treeline separating the Phileam Estate from Degrest city.

Ackster waited several minutes, still as a rock, after he landed. If The Hero were still around and had noticed his escape, it would only take a moment for The Hero to dispose of him.

It was still possible The Hero wouldn’t want to kill Ackster so close to the estate since it might look like he assassinated and brought out Ackster’s corpse just to taunt the Phileam House.

But The Hero wouldn’t do something so useless to a family that had yet to show any hints of becoming his enemies. And at this point, there were too many witnesses that could confirm that there was an Ackster on the training grounds, so if The Hero killed the real Ackster, there still wouldn’t be any societal or political backlash.

Ackster sighed and relaxed his tense body after those minutes passed. He wouldn’t die yet, it seemed.

Ackster still didn’t let go of his anxiety completely. He probably wouldn’t be able to do that until he left the city, at least, which was why he was going to do that now.

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So, while making sure that no one had noticed his escape, Ackster completed his disguise and escape by dirtying his hair and hiding his tracks.

One would have to look carefully to notice the tracks Ackster had left in the treeline, but it wasn’t impossible that a certain someone with especially keen eyes would notice it and grow suspicious tomorrow. So, Ackster used what meager skills he had to make sure his footsteps weren’t noticeable.

After that, he left for the northern city gate, disguised as someone down and out on their luck. The dirt hid his hair color well enough, and it would hopefully obscure his features just as well so that no one recognized him.

Ackster stopped himself from running or hurrying toward the north gate. A single homeless young man walking through the city at night wouldn’t catch anyone’s attention. But a person, no matter what they wore, would be of note if they ran or looked like they were in a rush.

It would be far-fetched to think that such a person could be Ackster, the villainous young master of the Phileam House. But he might catch the attention of one of the guards patrolling around the city, and they might stop and interrogate him. He could be unlucky enough to encounter someone that would recognize him through his disappointingly simple disguise.

So, Ackster walked at a forcefully calm pace toward the city gate. Thankfully, it hadn’t taken as long as he had expected to leave the Phileam Estate, so he should still be good on time.

Before long, Ackster arrived at the gate, and he sighed in relief when he saw that the friendly guard was in charge of overseeing the passage through the gate.

Ackster approached when there were no people entering or leaving Degrest so that he didn’t bother anyone or hold up the queue.

“Hey.”

Ackster was so used to acting like the original Ackster that he almost added an insult. Fortunately, he managed to keep his tongue in control.

“Oh, Mas. I wasn’t sure if you were going to come tonight since I heard you had quite the haul the other night. Heading out again?”

Ackster shook his head, inwardly a little surprised that the guard remembered his name since he must have talked with a lot of people over the last couple of days. But that didn’t matter.

“No. Not now, at least. When does your shift end?”

The guard was a little surprised at Ackster’s decision, but he quickly realized that Ackster had come to take him up on his offer to help should he ever need it. He smiled gently at Ackster.

“Let me check.”

The guard looked at a pocket watch on the table.

“Any minute now, actually.”

The guard looked around to see where his replacement was as Ackster controlled his expression. If he had been a little slower, a little more hesitant, or a little less lucky, he would have missed the guard.

The friendly gatekeeper stood up when he saw that his replacement was approaching from the street further down, and since there was no one entering or leaving town, he stood up and left his post while smiling at Ackster.

“So, what can I help you with?”

The other guards, those protecting the gate and the one taking over the booth, gave Ackster and the friendly gatekeeper a few looks but didn’t say anything.

Ackster was a little worried that the guard was a human trafficker praying on the homeless since he had a hard time trusting that someone would be so nice and helpful for no reason. But he couldn’t sense any malice behind the friendly guard’s smile. If anything, its gentleness hid a solemnity that greedy or dangerous people didn’t have unless they were extremely dangerous.

Ackster decided to trust him. After all, if it worked out, it would be worth the risk. Worst-case scenario, Ackster got another opportunity to practice his combat skills and train Strong Body.

Ackster looked at the guard.

“I am going to ask for that help you offered the other night. But first, what’s your name?”

The guard was slightly surprised. Those who did come for him for help usually didn’t ask for his name. They took the bare minimum their pride allowed and left, sometimes thanking him.

“Gerrick. Gerrick Lodson.”

“Gerrick Lodson… Alright. I have memorized it. Gerrick, please help me become an adventurer.”

Gerrick was once again slightly startled by Ackster’s request and straightforward attitude.

“The thrill of entering the forest get to you, Mas?”

Gerrick and Ackster spoke as they walked.

“You could say that. I realized that it would be my one chance to change my life. I want to take it.”

“Even if it’s the work with the highest rate of death in the country?”

“Gerrick, sometimes, death is better than a life worse than death.”

“Well, I guess that’s how it works. Mmm, I won’t stop you since I did promise to help you. But I will ask you to be careful. You only have this one life. It would be a shame to let it go to waste due to ambitious recklessness.”

“I know.”

Ackster and Gerrick walked in silence until Gerrick spoke up again.

“So, what are you going to do when you’ve become an adventurer? Will you stay here? If you do, I usually spend my free time training kids and youngsters like you so they don’t die needlessly. You’re more than welcome to join. I’ll even make you pay if you want.”

Gerrick knew how stubbornly prideful some people could be. And Ackster seemed like the type to ask for help while clamping his own mouth shut. He had probably been pretty desperate to ask him for this favor. Receiving free training would be too much.

“I am going to leave this city.”

“I see.”

Gerrick didn’t say anything else. Since Ackster had decided to become an adventurer and get a new start, it made sense he would want a completely fresh start. Staying in the city where he had lived, in the city whose underbelly he was hauntingly familiar with, wouldn’t let Ackster spread his wings and soar into the sky.

“Well, if it doesn’t work out for you, you’re more than welcome to come back here and look for me. I am more than willing to help out.”

“Why?”

Ackster decided he might as well ask and put his worries to rest. Gerrick did seem like someone with a heart larger than his chest, but Ackster was too paranoid to let go of the possibility that it might be an act or something.

“Why what?”

“Why are you so willing to help?”

Gerrick’s face sank a little before Ackster even clarified his question. His gaze deepened, and he looked far away, almost as if he were peering into the past.