Chapter 286: Lucky Guy

The Wizard Tower of the Spellbinders, the main hall—a space once reserved for receiving guests and staging missions—had been transformed beyond recognition.

A collection of high-quality tables had been dragged out and ringed with chairs, lending the hall an inexplicable air of a roadside food stall; though the decorations remained refined and tasteful, the atmosphere was unmistakably that of a common tavern.

It had been only half a day since Wang Yu slaughtered the three demons in the Void, and Lilia, that flighty sorceress, had insisted on throwing a banquet to celebrate.

Her reasoning was sound: Mira had been saved, and she was overjoyed. With the three legendary demons dispatched by Wang Yu, the workload for the wizards responsible for Void containment would be significantly lighter from now on.

"Usually, everyone just holes up in their rooms, burying their heads in arcane research. We never have events like this. While it’s certainly faster for gaining power, if you don't relax your mind, you're bound to have problems. Who knows when the Void might erode you?"

"So, holding a banquet is perfectly fine. As for the funding, we’ll just draw it from the construction budget provided to the tower. It’s a healthy activity that promotes the well-being of the Wizard Tower, anyway."

The members of the Spellbinder Tower were long accustomed to her personality and didn't bother to pick apart the logic of her rambling; if she wanted to throw a party, so be it.

Entertainment in this world was relatively scarce. Aside from consuming potent magical potions to get completely wasted, there was little else for an extraordinary individual to do. This banquet served as a splash of color in their long, monotonous lives.

"How are things with the Night's Edge lately? The thought of you being the Captain-General makes me feel a bit uneasy. Even if Mr. Gilbert were in charge, I wouldn't be this worried."

Sitting at a table, Wang Yu chatted with his old acquaintances, catching up on the situation in Alastair. He raised an eyebrow, teasing Charles.

"Hey, don't look down on me like that. I’m the heir to a great kingdom family, after all. Since that batch of new nobles was purged, our status as the old guard has only risen."

"Besides, I’m quite capable. Even if I’m not as good as Gilbert... well, maybe I’m not handling things as well as he did, but don't say it out loud! You're making me look bad."

Faced with Wang Yu’s mockery, Charles grew flustered, scratching his head and scrambling to prove his competence.

Yet, when he compared himself to Gilbert, he faltered, realizing he truly hadn't matched the performance of the veteran Night's Edge squad leader, and he deflated like a punctured ball.

"He’s not actually that bad. Though there are plenty of issues, the Professor has reviewed the records of how Charles handled affairs during his absence. Given that the Night's Edge lacks administrative staff, his ability to balance two roles and still earn the Professor's approval is enough."

Edward chimed in with a smile, acting as a mediator for Charles.

"My god! Edward, you’re actually speaking up for me? I’m so touched. I knew you were the one who understood me. Come here, let’s have a hug!"

Charles scratched his head, seemingly surprised by Edward’s defense, then pulled a coy expression and made a bizarre gesture as he lunged for a hug, only to be naturally pushed away by Edward, who pressed a hand against his face with undisguised disgust.

"So, the royal family has essentially stopped targeting the Night's Edge and is instead focusing on consolidating the power of noble factions, reclaiming rights and industries previously distributed to the new nobles, and strengthening the bond between the throne and the old aristocracy?"

Ignoring the antics of Edward and Charles, Wang Yu turned to Zig, the professor who had gone to Alastair to fetch reinforcements—a man who was always reliable in such matters.

"Exactly. The royal family has realized that the Night's Edge, an organization with an ancient history but a low profile, hides power far greater than they had imagined."

"There are veterans who no longer participate but possess exceptional strength, technical experts accumulated over long years of missions, and the inextricable ties with the Church of Light."

"To try and chew through the bone that is the Night's Edge and reclaim all power for the throne would come at an unimaginable cost. The addition of the Prayer Communication Network has further freed the Night's Edge from the shackles of the 'Darkness of Heaven'."

"Therefore, the royal family has adopted a policy of delegating power, handing over the kingdom's thorny disasters and Void issues to the Night's Edge, who can act with more freedom, while they consolidate their own power within a certain range to harden their rule."

Zig explained the current state of the Night's Edge in Alastair to Wang Yu.

Wang Yu nodded. It seemed the royal family had realized their grip on the kingdom wasn't as firm as they thought.

The four border dukes, who were nominally under the crown but held absolute independent power, and the Night's Edge, which had been passed down through the ages without crumbling, were both entities they could never truly control.

Even after purging the restless new nobles and seeing the annexation of Seuvintan by Alastair, the royal authority hadn't fundamentally changed.

This was an extraordinary world. Who knew if a few hidden powerhouses might emerge from the populace? They might obey the royal decrees on a normal day, but if the throne tried to use iron-fisted tactics, Wang Yu wouldn't be surprised if something unexpected erupted from the common folk.

If the public was like that, the Night's Edge, with its deep roots, was even more so. The royal family had essentially confirmed a relatively "equal" status with the Night's Edge, treating them as a "fifth border duke."

"Your incident made the royal family understand: it’s impossible to reclaim all power right now. It’s better to give the Night's Edge more authority and let these people, who rarely interfere in politics, do the actual work."

"This way, they can focus on turning Seuvintan’s territory into real strength, slowly enhancing their own rule, which will eventually radiate from the top down and truly improve the kingdom's stability."

Zig summarized the royal attitude. They had compromised. Allowing the sole heir of the old Lade family to serve as Captain-General was part of that gesture.

"Wait, you said I earned the Professor's approval, but you didn't say *you* approved of me. You aren't going to be like Wang Yu, are you?"

Charles suddenly realized something and began to nitpick the words Edward had used to defend him.

"The Night's Edge has also changed. Aside from the teams that openly perform missions and handle disasters, we’ve used the secret lines left by Captain Shugin and the concept of the 'Assassin's Brotherhood' you once mentioned to establish an organization that acts as the dark side of the Night's Edge."

Edward ignored Charles’s questioning and turned to tell Wang Yu about the changes.

"Hey, don't change the subject! Do you really think I’m incompetent? Damn it, whatever..."

Charles looked dissatisfied with Edward’s abrupt shift in topic, but no one paid him any mind.

"The 'Stray Thorns'—that’s the name of this new branch. I lead this team. We handle people and matters that the Night's Edge originally couldn't or found difficult to touch. For instance, certain damned nobles."

Edward pulled a metal badge from his waist and placed it on the table. It was engraved with a dagger hidden in the shadows, looking secretive and lethal—a stark contrast to the ornate emblem of the Night's Edge, far more plain and humble.

Though the name of this new organization carried a strong sense of déjà vu, upon reflection, the actions of this new branch were quite consistent with the source of that name.

"Wendy, are you a member of this new organization too?"

Wang Yu looked at Wendy, whom he hadn't seen since the academy incident. He was surprised that the red-haired girl with such promising knightly talent had joined the Night's Edge.

"Yeah, long time no see, Wang Yu. Master Barrit used to be a knight instructor for the Night's Edge. After I learned about the organization, I asked to join, and he recommended me. It’s also a way to make amends for what my grandfather did."

Wendy flashed the cheerful smile Wang Yu remembered and waved at him. Her words and demeanor were much more mature, and Wang Yu was glad to see she had moved past the trauma of the past without collapsing.

"Hey, hey, stop chatting! The food is here! We ran over here to help you the moment we heard you were in trouble; if we didn't earn credit, we at least put in the effort. It would be too much not to treat us to a good meal!"

Charles’s voice interrupted the chatter. Avia walked to the table, using magic to carry several plates of fragrant dishes. She placed the food they had prepared themselves on the table and sat beside Wang Yu.

"Naturally. Avia made it herself, so you can rest assured."

Wang Yu raised an eyebrow at Charles and was the first to pick up his cutlery. There were no formalities here.

"That’s true... hey, hey, you guys, slow down! Don't finish it all! Leave some for me!"

Charles nodded thoughtfully; he truly respected Avia’s cooking. Wang Yu was lucky to eat this often. Then, realizing everyone had already started, he panicked.

Wang Yu grabbed a piece of roasted meat and shoved it into his mouth, chewing vigorously. The charred aroma and the sweet, rich fat flooded his palate. He picked up the fruit juice Avia had specially acidified for him and took a long gulp, washing away the grease he barely cared about, clearing his taste buds for the next dish.

Dishes were appearing on surrounding tables as well. The cooks were the guests; once the food was served, they sat down to eat. Only then did many members of the Wizard Tower realize that their long-time colleagues possessed such hidden talents.

Everyone was rambling about this and that, laughter and the sound of chewing filling the air. It was lively and casual. Sitting in the middle of it, Wang Yu felt like he was at a banquet with distant relatives back on Earth—no need for the reserve of acquaintances, nor the awkwardness of strangers.

"Well, I suppose I can't be that 'solitary' after all. Helping out where I can is a perfectly fine way to live."

Eating and chatting, Wang Yu was content. He owed this to his old friends. The help he had once given others, without expecting anything in return, had provided him with a full measure of reward today.

"The Captain was right. Wang Yu isn't like what you went through back then. Behind him, he’ll never be alone."

Charles, while competing with others for food, kept his eyes on Wang Yu, thinking silently to himself. He smiled, let it go, and returned to his frantic eating.

...

Time passed quickly. The lively banquet ended as the sun sank below the horizon and the magical moon rose.

Lilia was drunk, giggling to herself. Garcia and Avia took her back to her room, tending to the intoxicated woman while ensuring she didn't disturb Mira, who was still resting.

"Right, I’m taking this one back to his room."

Edward hoisted Charles, who was dizzy and limp from the drink, onto his shoulder and signaled to Wang Yu that he was taking him to the guest quarters; the fellow had insisted on proving his tolerance, but lacking the constitution of a knight, he had naturally succumbed to the spirits.

"Go ahead."

Wang Yu waved him off and strolled alone toward a balcony of the wizard tower. He was not drunk; for one, he had never cared for the taste of alcohol, and for another, his current constitution rendered intoxication a thing of the past.

Leaning against the stone railing, Wang Yu gazed at the distant mountains and the star-strewn sky. It was beautiful—the unpolluted air rendered the heavens clear and luminous.

It was just as it had been when he first arrived in this world, far more breathtaking than the night sky of Earth, and no matter how many times he looked, it remained a wonder.

"It’s been quite a while now. I wonder what the situation is back on Earth. If the flow of time is the same, that would be a real headache, tsk tsk..."

Rubbing his chin, Wang Yu let out a sigh of helpless resignation. He had been in this world for a few years, experiencing things most people here would never see in a lifetime, yet he had found almost no information about Earth, and the path home remained a complete mystery.

Forgive Wang Yu, a man rarely given to sentimentality, for feeling a touch of melancholy now. To say he was merely "well-fed and idle" would be an inaccurate description of his current state, but it was close enough.

Having slaughtered three devils he deemed as vile and squirming as maggots, he had no pressing worries for the moment. The lively banquet had stirred a sense of familiar, mundane life within him, and he found himself, at last, truly missing the things of Earth.

"Hah, I’m still not strong enough, but there’s no use rushing. This journey has been five parts luck, three parts fortune, and two parts effort. Going from an ordinary man to a Grand Knight in a few years is already fast; I need to settle down and solidify my foundation."

He whistled, casting the overly dramatic gloom from his mind. He stopped fretting over the intangible; pining for home was useless. The path was clear: grow stronger. If he kept walking, one day he would find the answer.

"You seem a bit unhappy?"

A familiar voice drifted from beside him, appearing abruptly out of thin air. Yet, knowing who the speaker was, there was nothing strange about it. The figure of the Lady of Night manifested behind Wang Yu, standing significantly taller than him.

"I’m alright, just missing my homeland a bit. What brings you here?"

Wang Yu hadn't expected her to appear so suddenly to chat, but he answered and asked in the same breath.

"I thought it only fitting for a reliable deity to show concern for her High Priest. But tell me, why do you not simply return?"

Wang Yu’s eyebrow twitched. He had noticed that the Lady of Night had developed a penchant for answering questions with "Because I am a god," and he found he could never refute it, because, well, she really was a god.

"You know I’m a bit of an anomaly. My home is incredibly far away, and just as unique as I am. You can just think of me as being from a plane very distant from this world. The distance is so vast that every method I know of is useless for getting back. It’s quite a headache."

After a moment’s thought, Wang Yu leaned against the railing and gave the bright magical moon in the sky the middle finger, speaking to the Lady of Night as if they were just neighbors gossiping.

There was no point in hiding his nature anymore. Having stepped into the void and punched devils to death, such absurdities were already known to his friends. He might as well speak plainly; perhaps, later, he could ask these trusted companions to help him find a way.

"Do you want to go back that much?"

The Lady of Night asked.

"I do. At the very least, I need to see how my parents are doing. They are ordinary people, and it wasn't easy for them to raise me. If I just vanished, I can only imagine them searching the world for me... sigh."

Wang Yu did not deny his desire to return, stating his reasons with frankness. The life on Earth was secondary—this world was fascinating, and he had grown accustomed to it—but the people he cared for were the ones he could not let go.

Wang Yu was no longer the angst-ridden youth he once was. Having worked for years, he had long since reconciled with his parents, understanding that they were the only ones who would love him unconditionally.

He didn't always dwell on such depths, but when he truly stopped to think, the images depicted in certain stories he remembered were unbearable.

The prototype story for the game *Ghost Hunter* told of a mother and child separated by war, the mother pushing a cart in search of her child for the better part of her life.

In her twilight years, she saw the portrait of her long-deceased child at a roadside shrine, and she breathed her last, filled with a mixture of resentment and relief.

Then there was the web novel *Catastrophe of Tomorrow*, where the protagonist’s parents spent their entire savings posting missing-person flyers across China, searching for their vanished child for decades, only for it to end in nothing. That had left a deep impression on Wang Yu.

Some things seem trivial when left unsaid, but once laid bare, the taste is truly different.

Wang Yu had to admit he didn't fully understand his parents, nor did he know what they would do if he truly vanished into thin air. So, he had to see—he had to know how they were faring.

"I can find peace, but I cannot run away."

Wang Yu summarized his thoughts. The responsibility on his shoulders would not vanish simply because he had crossed into another world.

He could accept failure after effort, but he could not lie to himself and quit just because it was hard. That was the kind of man he was, and as for what others thought, he didn't care.

"Good luck."

The words of the Lady of Night reached him, and Wang Yu felt a presence embrace him from behind. The hug, given by a form composed of solidified darkness, was quite a strange sensation.

"Thank you."

His eyes widened in surprise; he truly hadn't expected such a gesture from the Lady of Night.

"Do I look that starved for affection?"

He muttered to himself. He turned and leaned his back against the railing, a faint smile tugging at his lips. Right, he was a normal man; missing home was perfectly fine. There was nothing wrong with that.

The Lady of Night was already gone; he wondered what his superior was busy with these days.

"Go back and get some sleep. Ah, taking out those three disgusting things has put me in a much better mood. Later, I'll ask 'One' about the status of other devils. If necessary, I can take the initiative next time."

He stretched, his spirits much improved, and headed back into the wizard tower. A good night's sleep was, after all, one of the greatest pleasures.

"Wang Yu, so you're here."

He stopped in his tracks as Evia’s voice reached him. He saw the girl descending the stairs, and after scanning the area, she spotted him at the balcony entrance and trotted over.

"Shouldn't you be with your mother?"

Wang Yu asked as she reached his side.

"Mother is still sleeping. The damage to her soul was accumulated over a long time and needs a slow recovery. Aunt Lilia is drunk, but she certainly wouldn't disturb Mother."

The girl replied. They leaned against the side of the corridor, looking out at the sky and chatting.

"I couldn't find you, so I came looking. I have news I wanted to tell you—I think it's quite important!"

Evia clenched her fists, speaking with great earnestness.

"What is it?"

Wang Yu looked at her face, which wore a silly, uncharacteristic smile, and patted her head, his mood lifting even further.

"Hehe, when you entered the void, I used the Perfect Fractal Lens to collect a lot of data, including the results of using the Phase Gate spell in the void."

"By comparing the spatial properties of the void and the material world, and combining them with the spatial knowledge I've learned, I think I've discovered the commonalities between the two."

"If we go to the library in the Sky Mechanical City to collect more information, we might just make a breakthrough regarding your home, Wang Yu."

The girl looked into his eyes, speaking with excitement.

"That's wonderful, haha."

Wang Yu wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer, his laughter free and easy.

"Why are you laughing so happily, Wang Yu?"

The girl’s face flushed, but she leaned her head against him naturally, asking softly.

"It's nothing. I just think I'm a very lucky guy..."

Wang Yu replied.

That promise from long ago—Evia had never forgotten it.