Seth patted the dust from his pants as he headed out of the training ground. He came across his sister, Agnes, and his younger brother, Elliot.

Agnes was dressed in her knight outfit, indicating that she had just returned from her duty. On the other hand, Elliot was wearing an Academy student uniform with the Academy's emblem on his right chest.

Elliot seemed hesitant and avoided Seth's gaze, taking a step back. Unsure of how to communicate with him, Seth chose to remain silent.

Agnes noticed Elliot's unease, her smile faltering briefly. She shifted her attention to Seth, forcing a smile. "Seth, are you going somewhere?"

Seth nodded. "Yes, I'll be going on a quest today. I won't be back until late afternoon."

"I see. Actually, I've gathered enough evidence on the crimes of Birds of a Feather. It was challenging to obtain the necessary proof under the protection of the Silver Skull Guild, but it should be enough to bring them down. With this evidence, legal authorities and influential figures will intervene, ensuring consequences for the Birds of a Feather. It's time to put an end to their criminal activities and provide closure to their victims," Agnes explained, displaying a mix of pride and relief.

She seemed genuinely concerned when Seth mentioned his dissatisfaction with the lenient punishment the criminals were initially given, based on the storyline development in The Summoned Hero. Seth appreciated her efforts, but he didn't require her assistance.

Seth hesitated for a moment before responding, "I've caused you trouble."

Elliot was puzzled by Seth's uncharacteristic reply, while Agnes appeared to be pleased.

"After this, we will..."

"Agnes, you don't have to involve yourself in this matter any longer. I don't need your help, so please refrain from interfering in my affairs."

‘After all, the kingdom’s situation wouldn't be stable with the coup d'état, the war with the demons, and so on. There are no guarantees that they wouldn't use it as an opportunity to escape. Besides, if they ended up in prison, the Silver Skull Guild could bribe the prison guards to give them better treatment or get them a lighter sentence in a few years.’

He wouldn't feel satisfied unless he personally took revenge on them.

He would make sure those people wouldn't exist by that day.

Agnes appeared shocked and hurt, a pang of guilt hitting him. At the same time, he felt like he was influenced by the body's character and ended up treating her the same way as Seth did.

Elliot also noticed the tension and timidly called him. "Brother..."

"I'll be on my way then."

He left them without looking back. As he walked into the hallway that had paintings on the walls, he began to be deep in thought. ‘After fulfilling my promise to Elizabeth to accompany her during the King's birthday, I’ll leave the capital to go back to the East and then buy my own house so that I can have a life of peace and tranquility in the days to come. Since I’m not the firstborn set to inherit a noble title, I have no plan to get closer to Marquess Gilliame, Agnes, or Elliot. Wait- before I retired, there were still a few things he had to do, such as make sure that Celia was accepted by the Legendary Master of Rejuvenation and find the person that Maline, the twins' caretaker, had planned to meet. I can't just let the twins stay here since I’m not planning to cultivate them. I’m not the right person to do that.’

On the second floor, there was a dedicated room resembling an armory. Shining armor and weapons, primarily swords, were arranged neatly on the walls, along with various other artifacts.

Wouldn't this be an adventurer's heaven?

Among the items, Seth made sure to bring the Book of Instant Summon, explosive magic bombs, and magic barrier and stuffed them in a space-dimensional bag. Naturally, he packed several other essentials, as he was unwilling to take unnecessary risks that could jeopardize his life.

After that, Seth went to the estate mage and requested a change in his appearance before he returned to his room.

He gazed into the mirror in his bedroom. Brown hair framed his face, which was more rounded, and his eyes matched the same shade with a downturned and gullible expression. His face was ordinary and wasn't eye-catching enough that people would immediately remember it.

He touched his cheek and thought. ‘My original face was much more handsome.’

Karles had entered the room and stood beside him, and his own appearance was reflected in the bedroom mirror. With his usual smile, he tilted his head and said, “Young master, you've changed since you returned from the quest in Tudela Village.”

Seth felt his heart thumping louder than usual.

“What do you mean?” he replied nonchalantly.

“You don't furrow your eyebrows as often unless you find something pleasant. You no longer hate sweets or desserts, and you've stopped nibbling on your thumb fingers when you're restless. Even now, as you seek revenge, your approach is calm, not an immediate rush to kill them upon having the opportunity. You could've asked me or hired assassins to bring them to you, but you didn't. It's like you've transformed into an entirely new person,” Karles elaborated on his judgment of Seth's personality.

Seth maintained control over his expression, as if unaffected by his words.

This was why he was wary of Karles the most. Karles had been taking care of Seth since he was five, so he knew Seth the most.

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Seth was only calm because Karles lacked concrete proof that he wasn't the real Seth.

“Is that so? It looks like I reflected on myself too much,” Seth replied with a wry smile.

He decided not to give any other excuses or try explaining himself as he brushed over the matter.

Seth retrieved the space-dimensional bag and a B-rank mage weapon, the Soul Cleaver, from the mirrored table and secured them around his waist. He planned to disguise his identity as a D-rank mage, Adept Mage.

His eyes shifted to Krytys, who maintained his cat form, sleeping on the sofa. Sensing his gaze, Krytys opened his eyes, locking them with his.

Recalling the previous night, he discovered Krytys still in his bedroom. Krytys wasn't much of a chatterbox; instead, he silently observed him until he drifted into sleep.

Krytys' dark brown and silver fur appeared cleaner and healthier than the day before, so he guessed Krytys really listened to Karles' offending remarks. However, he doubted Krytys had made a complete recovery after undergoing experiments at the hands of Malgerius, the leader of the Demon King Worshipper.

Perhaps he could seek out The Legendary Master of Rejuvenation. But then again, that man was a lofty elf who only treated people according to his mood. Even the royal family would find it difficult to get treated by him.

He turned his gaze to Karles and asked, “By the way, have you fed the cat while I was away?”

“Yes, of course.” Karles didn’t pursue the matter further and instead changed the topic: “Young master, should I follow you discreetly?”

“Sure, but make sure to keep your distance and tail us from afar so they won’t notice your presence. I know you're skilled at that.”

Given that Seth prioritized his safety, he would not turn down his offer.

He found himself back in the Red Light District, a residential area characterized by a lesser population and government buildings. As he traversed through the district, the statue of King Gerard caught his eye—standing tall with an excessively jeweled crown atop his head and a regal robe draped behind him, the monument stood in stark contrast to the rundown buildings and dirty streets.

Near this conspicuous monument, he spotted some familiar faces—members of the Birds of a Feather.

The leader, whom he now knew was called Grant, had a robust physique wrapped in dark green and silver armor and a sturdy shield by his side.

Seated next to him was Loy, the skinny man with an X-shaped scar on his face, perched at the monument's base as he played with a dagger.

The mage, Enid, wore flowing robes of deep indigo hues. She was caressing the gem on her ring, which was now notably larger and radiated an azure glow. Upon noticing his presence, a smirk played on her lips.

Amelia had a brown and yellow outfit, holding a brown book in her hands. Despite her innocent smile and friendly wave, he couldn't forget the fact that she, too, was entangled with the rest of the Birds of a Feather.

He returned her smile, concealing any suspicion that lingered beneath the surface.

There was also an unfamiliar figure among them. A guy with short black hair and dark brown eyes donned dark brown clothes and carried a sizable bag on his back. He had an average build and was tall. What caught Seth’s eye was the opulent gear he wore that was usually reserved for the wealthy, and he also carried a sword and a lyre with him.

Another unlucky fellow would be a victim of greedy wolves.

“New guy! You’re here,” Loy greeted him and flashed his jagged teeth.

“Hello,” Seth said, nodding his head as he approached them.

Grant took a glance at him and then said, “Since everyone is already here, let’s introduce ourselves first. I’m the leader of this squad, Grant Ironheart, and my rank is B.”

‘I know already.’ Seth resisted the urge to scowl.

"I am Loy, an assassin. C-rank." Loy introduced himself.

Enid, a mage, followed suit. "I am Mage Enid, also a C-rank adventurer."

“Healer Amelia. I’m also a C-rank adventurer like them.”

The last individual, a stranger, greeted them with a friendly smile and introduced himself. "Ah, I'm also a newcomer. I go by the name of Joshua. I've always dreamt of becoming an adventurer since I was a kid, slaying cool monsters and all that. However, being an adventurer isn't exactly looked up to among nobles. My dad, who happens to be a baron, was dead set against it. I had to convince him until he struck a deal with me, agreeing that I could only be an adventurer after graduating from the academy. That's why I find myself here as a fresh face."

‘He’s talking too much… But thanks to that, I was convinced he wasn't part of the Silver Skull Guild.’ Seth silently thought.

Curiosity got the better of him, and he asked Joshua, "What is your role in this?"

Joshua replied with enthusiasm, "I am an E-rank bard. Technically, my magic can provide buffs to others."

Seth couldn't help but notice that Joshua, as a bard, was overly equipped with gear. Typically, adventurers wouldn't carry anything that could hinder them in battle. Protective armor was not necessary for long-range attackers.

‘No wonder he was recruited for this quest. Birds of a Feather probably already knew about his background. Two gullible, weak, but rich people are easy targets for thieves.’ Seth did not make it obvious when he examined each of the members silently.

Loy smirked and stated, "Being an adventurer is not as grim as you may think. We have the privilege of slaying monsters and reaping the rewards, especially from quests. The rewards are plentiful, so it’s worthwhile enough to risk our lives." He casually draped his arm around Seth's shoulder and added, "Oh, by the way, you have a nice staff here. What grade is it? D? C?"

Seth resisted the urge to push Loy away. "It’s a B-grade staff called Soul Cleaver."

Joshua grinned widely and made eye contact with Enid. "That's cool. So, what is your story, Cain?"

Cain was the fake identity that Karles had created for Seth and submitted to the Silver Skull Guild.

Seth scratched his head and displayed a humble demeanor as he began introducing himself. “I’m a D-rank mage. My family comes from a place that's rich in high-quality coal deposits. We decided to settle here because of its growing industrial sector and demand for reliable fuel sources. My dad's business involves mining and processing the coal in our town, and then transporting and selling it to blacksmiths, forges, and factories in the capital. But since I’m not interested in inheriting his business, I decided to take on some quests once in a while. This is also my first time going on a D-rank mission.”

Inspired by Joshua's example, he decided to subtly showcase his background. As anticipated, the expressions on the members' faces appeared impressed.

Enid barely concealed the look of envy on her face as she said, “It must be nice to be born into a wealthy family and take up some quests only as a hobby. Others have to risk their lives just to get a meal on their table.”

Seth couldn't resist boasting even more in front of her. "You're absolutely right," he responded. "I still need to purchase an A-grade staff and other weapons tomorrow so that I won't grow bored of using only this one."

Enid’s face immediately turned ugly.

"Let us proceed," Grant interjected. "The quest is relatively easy this time, as the target is weak. There's no need to worry excessively."

The members of Birds of a Feather seemed to communicate silently through their eyes as if there was an unspoken understanding among them.