Openbookworm: Potential trigger warning: This chapter has some controversial views on the homeless, beggars, and people who have lost their money due to addiction. I think it’s important to note that this is the characters’ opinion and that the author hadn’t espoused these views in any of the other chapters, so these don’t feel like the author’s personal views.31

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.6

The news was full of conspiracy theories that Eugene and Noir might be in some kind of relationship. Considering that such a clear video had been delivered to the news in less than half a day, it was clear that Noir had pulled some sort of scheme. Noir’s influence may have also played a role in all of the conspiracy theories being raised by the panelists.0

He hadn’t honestly thought that it would spread this quickly, but such speed was what Eugene wanted. If the rumor hadn’t spread, Eugene would have tried openly walking around Giabella Park to personally spread the news regarding his whereabouts.0

He didn’t care about the conspiracy theories. No matter how long they spent yapping away about it, in the end, it was just unconfirmed speculation, and anyone who actually knew Eugene would know that he would absolutely never join hands with Noir Giabella.0

‘Even so, I guess we’ll have to stay in this city for some time,’ Eugene thought.0

Suddenly, he started feeling homesick for the Lionheart estate in Kiehl. If you added in the time while he was away in Shimuin, it had already been a year since he had last returned to his room in the estate.0

Still, he had made sure to keep sending news back. Although it wasn’t a proper exchange of news, as Eugene could only send letters from wherever he found himself instead of receiving them, he had made sure to send news to his family when he had first headed out to the Lehainjar mountain range and before he arrived here in Giabella City.0

Sometimes, he was able to hear news about the family from Sienna.0

Carmen was currently going through closed-door training to reach the Eight Star of the White Flame Formula, and Gilead and Gion had both managed to reach the Seventh Star in close succession. Cyan was also working hard to get over the barrier to the Fifth Star, and Ciel had recently managed to reach the Fifth Star.26

‘The family has enough strength to protect themselves,’ Eugene thought thankfully.0

Melkith had taught spirit summoning to the forest elves as an excuse to wander in and out of the estate’s forest.4

Elves possessed...3