Rhode had always thought stealth was just about using shadows, blind spots, and moving quietly.

But after Hagart demonstrated the proper technique, Rhode was stunned.

Hagart started behind a tree; Rhode stood in a courtyard corner.

Silently, Hagart appeared right beside him—Rhode hadn’t seen a thing the whole time.

He hadn’t blinked once. Eyes locked on the old man.

Yet the moment he blinked… Hagart vanished.

No cover in the courtyard. Still, Hagart gave the eerie illusion of walking over while invisible.

“Master Hagart… you can turn invisible, right?” Rhode blurted.

“Not at all,” Hagart said, gently tapping Rhode’s forehead. “Just exploiting visual blind spots.”

“…” Rhode was speechless.

*Blind spots? That was straight-up invisibility!*

Ignoring the boy’s stunned face, Hagart began outlining stealth fundamentals.

Rhode pulled out his notebook, highlighting key points. No exam—but he had to write it down. His memory just wouldn’t hold it.

“Time to practice,” Hagart said.

“Now?!” Rhode’s pen slipped from his fingers. He hadn’t even processed the lesson! This felt… off.

Like someone saying, “You’ve got the basics—go infiltrate the imperial palace.”

Hagart snapped his fingers.

A pitch-black raven glided down from the roof and landed on his shoulder.

“It’ll stay inside. Catch it,” Hagart said, nodding toward the bird.

“That’s it?” Rhode blinked. Sounded easy.

“Mm. That’s it.” Hagart gave no comment on Rhode’s confidence.

---

Inside Hagart’s modest wooden house, the raven dozed peacefully atop a lamp.

The old man sipped tea, reading calmly.

Rhode, hidden nearby, crept forward—steps feather-light.

*Silent steps. No sound.*

*Controlled breath. Barely there.*

*No sudden moves. Alert targets sense airflow shifts.*

Twenty-one attempts. All failures.

But this time? Success was certain.

*Failure is the mother of success. After this many tries… gotta work once.*

Three meters! Two! One!

Rhode reached out—success felt inches away.

*Illusion.*

Just as he lunged, the raven’s eyes snapped open. It shot upward—

—and dropped a white “bomb” squarely on his head.

Rhode slowly retracted his hand, sat down, face etched with existential doubt.

*Huh? Ravens are this alert?!*

*Shouldn’t I have mastered stealth under a master’s guidance by now?!*

*Why am I still getting wrecked by a bird?!*

“Rhode,” Hagart murmured, “you leave at dawn. Time’s short.”

Rhode jolted upright.

Around 11 PM. *Guess I’m pulling an all-nighter.*

He’d only ever pulled all-nighters studying—not chasing ravens.

But tomorrow morning, he’d be sent home. Last chance.

“I’m turning in. Hehe, try not to be too loud,” Hagart said, setting down his book and cup.

He strolled off, hands behind his back, leaving Rhode to his fate.

Watching him go, Rhode had an idea.

*Click.* All lights off. Darkness swallowed the room.

The raven melted into the black—but Rhode didn’t care. *He* was the one hiding.

The bird was oddly careless, always perched in plain sight. No searching needed.

Holding his breath, Rhode ducked under a cabinet.

Strange… in the dark, he felt lighter.

Like every burden had lifted. Worries gone.

His focus sharpened, waiting for the raven to doze.

He’d checked his status panel earlier: a new ability, [Re-Stealth D].

Probably unlocked during that blazing inferno fight with the assassin.

He remembered nothing of it—too focused on surviving.

Seemed to lower his presence instantly when re-attempting stealth after exposure.

But activation conditions? Unclear.

He’d tried shouting the skill name, deliberately exposing himself—nothing worked.

So he abandoned it. Just hide. Wait.

Moonlight glinted faintly. *There.* The raven’s eyes closed.

Without it, he’d never have noticed.

Rhode crawled out, inching toward the dining table.

Perfect silence. Zero sound. *This time. Guaranteed.*

*Fail? I’ll carry Shilo around the garden twice.*

He rose slowly. The raven sat before him—within arm’s reach.

The moment of judgment is here!