We're Rich Now!

As dusk settled in, a crescent moon appeared and disappeared behind the thick clouds.

The maids bowed respectfully. The head maid escorted Ansu out of the hall, through the garden, and to the manor gates.

When the gates opened, Ansu saw Mary waiting outside, looking anxious.

"Well, if it isn't Teacher Mary?" Ansu greeted her with a smile. "You came all the way here so late. It must be something urgent, right?"

"You! What are you doing here?" Mary stared at Ansu in shock, then her expression quickly darkened.

"You're just in time! Come with me to see Lady Cecilia!"

Ansu could see the undisguised killing intent in her eyes, so he smiled and taunted her. "Did the ether fumes burn out your brain? Do you not understand the situation? Can't you see where I just came from?"

Mary froze for a moment. She glanced at Cecilia's mansion, then said in disbelief, "You... already saw Lady Cecilia?"

"Of course."

"What did you say to her!?" Mary was astonished. No matter how furious she was, she should have figured it out by now.

He'd been summoned by Cecilia, yet had come out alive, with the maids escorting him all the way. That could only mean one thing...

Lady Cecilia had fallen for that boy's lies again!

"I said everything that needed saying." Ansu shrugged and began speaking in riddles.

"You lying scoundrel!" Mary cried indignantly. "You must have used your silver tongue to deceive Lady Cecilia again! But don't think you can fool me!"

"The Church's strange movements were all because of your note. And if I combine that with the way you suddenly left the classroom that day, does that mean you knew who I was all along? Were you trying to report the Church so they'd arrest us?"

"Huh?" Ansu blinked in confusion. "Teacher Mary, I didn't know you had such a vivid imagination."

She was actually pretty close to the truth...

"Stop pretending you don't know!" Mary immediately reached for Ansu. "Come with me to face Lady Cecilia! I'll expose you as a liar! We'll see whether Lady Cecilia believes me or you!"

There was a trace of killing intent in Mary's gaze. The more she looked at this boy, the more suspicious he seemed. He was definitely a threat to the Order. No matter what, she couldn't let Ansu leave alive today!

Seeing how agitated she was, Ansu gave a mocking laugh.

"Things aren't the way you imagine. And, Teacher Mary, let me give you a piece of advice: everyone has secrets. Before you try to expose someone else, you'd better take care of your own. If you're really loyal to Lady Cecilia, why wouldn't she agree to see you?"

Mary froze for a moment. Then fear and unease began to spread through her.

She knew the boy was only taunting her. He couldn't possibly know about her ties to certain elders...

But Lady Cecilia had left her waiting outside.

Could it be... that Lady Cecilia had started to suspect her?

Mary panicked. She was completely panicked.

She stared nervously at the mansion, her fear of death eclipsing everything else.

"Don't come looking for me so rashly next time." Ansu watched Mary's frightened expression with satisfaction, the corner of his mouth curling into a malicious smile.

"Lady Cecilia might get angry, and you know what happens when you make her angry... Don't you?"

"You!"

Mary was furious and afraid, but all she could do was watch Ansu leave.

After night fell, Benalu City was ablaze with lights. The commercial port city was just as bustling at night as it was during the day.

Ansu glanced at the sky. After all the turmoil of the day, it was already half past eight in the evening.

If he didn't get home soon, his sister would be worried sick.

Since it was a long way home and there was no public transportation at this hour, Ansu indulged in a rare bit of "luxury." He hailed a carriage from the side of the street and rode home.

The Black Port District wasn't very safe at night. The taverns along the road rang with raucous noise, and Ansu saw countless thugs causing trouble in the streets.

Gunshots and screams even rang out from the main road...

The chaotic, real-life GTA scene only strengthened Ansu's resolve to move out of the slums with his sister.

When he got home, Ansu took out his key and put it in the lock. Before he could open the door, Vera's delighted voice came from nearby.

"Big brother?"

Ansu could already picture her running over excitedly, and a gentle smile came to his face.

He opened the door. Everything at home was as usual, except that his sister looked a little unhappy.

"Big brother... why are you only getting home now?"

Vera looked at Ansu, still in his immaculate academy uniform but with exhaustion written all over his face, and frowned in confusion.

"You've been getting home later and later. If you're any later next time, I might go looking for you at school..."

"Don't!" Ansu took off his coat and warned his gloomy-looking sister. "You know how terrible security is in the Black Port District. Listen to your big brother: no going out at night!"

"Oh..." Vera puffed out her cheeks, but obediently nodded. "I know."

She tied on an apron and headed into the kitchen.

"The food's gone cold. I'll heat it up!"

Warm yellow light glowed in the kitchen. By the time his sister had reheated the food and the two of them sat down at the table, Ansu realized she hadn't eaten at all while waiting for him to come home.

"Don't look at me like that... It's your fault, big brother." Vera gave him an annoyed pout.

"You come home so late every day now. You never used to do that! And you won't even tell me what's going on. Hmph!"

Ansu smiled helplessly. "It's really nothing, just schoolwork. I asked Teacher Mary a few questions today."

"Hm?" Vera knew about Ansu's new substitute teacher, Mary. "The teachers at your school rarely keep you behind. Have your grades gotten worse lately? Or... does Teacher Mary not like you?"

Ansu glanced at Vera, thinking that a girl's intuition really was sharp.

Teacher Mary didn't just dislike him...

She hated him so much she wanted to kill him on the spot.

"Uh... we did have a bit of a disagreement." Ansu replied, "But we were honest and talked things through in the end, so the problem's been resolved."

"Oh." Vera nodded quietly. "I see. That's good..."

The siblings continued eating.

At the table, they chatted now and then about the big and small happenings in Benalu City, and sometimes about amusing things at the Royal Academy. The lamplight flickered warmly, filling the room with a gentle sense of coziness.

Only when he was with his sister did all of Ansu's wariness and unease disappear. He no longer had to think about the Fated Death hanging over his head. It made him feel that this really was home...

When the conversation turned to the academy, Vera started fussing over him like an old mother. "Big brother, don't pay so much attention to the girls at your school. We're not like them. The most important thing for you now is your studies. Graduates from the Royal Academy are in demand all over the country. As long as you focus on school, everything will get better for our family once you graduate! Then we can move out of this awful place..."

As usual, Ansu listened to his little sister's nagging with a smile.

But when she mentioned moving, he spoke up.

"Vera, I think we can start preparing to move now."

Ansu's gaze unconsciously fell on Vera's small hands. She worked part-time at a newspaper office on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Her clothes always carried an ink smell that wouldn't wash out, and her once clean, soft hands had grown callused. It pained him to see.

His sister was only ** years old, an age when she should have been in middle school in another world. Instead, she had to support the family—and him—just to make ends meet.

Ever since he'd awakened his memories, Ansu had been on guard against the future disaster and the unpredictable Scum Witch. He hadn't even had the chance to properly plan his sister's future...

First of all, Vera had to go back to school.

The reason she could work at a newspaper office instead of in some filthy, dangerous factory was that her general education was already more than sufficient. She had just as much talent for studying as he did. And besides...

Vera was also exceptionally gifted in divine arts, scouting, and even martial arts. After all, she would one day become one of the Church's top demon hunters.

If only a powerful Church member could come along and train her...

Of course, given his current "cultist" status, it was best to take his time before helping her embark on the path to transcendence.

"Big brother, you're talking in your sleep again..." Seeing Ansu lost in thought, Vera waved her hand in front of him helplessly.

"How could our family afford to send me back to school? Studying in the Empire puts a lot of pressure on the family finances. Don't go getting any ideas just yet. Once you graduate..."

As she spoke, Ansu suddenly took out a check and gently placed it on the table.

"Who says I don't have any money? Take a look at this."