Na-Isekai Ako
Chapter 55: Ruel Ships It, and I’m Filing a Complaint

Chapter 55: Ruel Ships It, and I’m Filing a Complaint

The bell at the café door jingled as Adolfo and Roiselin finally left, leaving Katherine and Ruel in stunned silence. The lingering air of amusement from Adolfo’s last smirk still hung around them, but now that he was gone, reality settled in.

Ruel was the first to break the silence.

"So, uh..." He leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. "What just happened?"

Katherine let out a deep sigh and rubbed her temples. "I have no idea."

Ruel whistled. "That guy just casually dropped that he was your brother’s apprentice, offered us unlimited free coffee, and then left like it was nothing. Kat, what kind of life are you living?"

Katherine groaned. "I’d like to know that too."

Ruel smirked. "I mean, I see the appeal. He’s got that mysterious noble thing going on. And that smile—"

"Don’t start." Katherine glared at him, her face heating up.

Ruel held up his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. But seriously, I didn’t expect that. Your brother being his mentor? That’s huge."

Katherine frowned. "Yeah... and he knew. This whole time, Adolfo knew I was looking for my brother, and he said nothing."

Ruel tilted his head, studying her. "You mad?"

Katherine sighed again, stirring her now-cold drink. "I was mad. But then he said he thought I already knew. And knowing my brother... he was the type to keep things from me."

Ruel nodded. "Seems like it runs in the family."

She shot him a look, and he grinned.

After a moment of silence, Ruel tapped his fingers on the table. "Hey, Kat. Something’s been bugging me."

Katherine raised an eyebrow. "What now?"

Ruel leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "His red eyes."

Katherine stilled.

"You know what that means, right?"

Katherine exhaled. "Yeah."

Red in one’s features—eyes, hair, or even the faintest streak—was not something that simply happened. It only appeared under two circumstances: either an ancestor had once practiced forbidden magic, leaving their mark in the bloodline, or the person themselves had practiced it.

There was no other explanation.

"His mother was from the North," Ruel said. "But even then, red eyes aren’t naturally passed down unless someone in his bloodline—"

"—used forbidden magic," Katherine finished.

The words hung between them, heavy with unspoken possibilities.

Katherine had never seen Adolfo use magic. He never spoke about it either. But now, as she thought about it, wasn’t that strange? Most nobles with strong magical bloodlines made it obvious, showing off their talents. Yet Adolfo? Not a word. Not even a casual mention.

"Do you think he practiced it?" Ruel asked.

Katherine hesitated. "I don’t know. Maybe it was an ancestor."

Ruel hummed, unconvinced. "Even if it was

just an ancestor, it’s not like those kinds of abilities vanish completely. Some traces always linger."

Katherine bit her lip. That much was true. Bloodline magic wasn’t something one could just ignore. Even if Adolfo had never touched forbidden magic himself, if someone in his ancestry had... then that power still ran in his veins.

And he never talked about it.

Ruel sighed, leaning back. "One thing’s for sure—he’s keeping a lot more secrets than just knowing your brother."

Katherine exhaled, staring down at her cup.

"Yeah," she muttered. "I know."

Ruel stretched his arms behind his head, looking entirely too amused for Katherine’s liking.

"You know, Kat," he mused, tilting his chair back slightly. "The more I think about it, the more it all makes sense."

Katherine narrowed her eyes. "What does?"

He smirked. "You and Adolfo."

Katherine almost choked on her coffee. "WHAT?!"

Ruel grinned, clearly enjoying this. "Come on. Your brother was his mentor. You have red hair. He has red eyes. It’s like fate is tying you two together."

Katherine smacked the table. "That is the most ridiculous logic I’ve ever heard!"

Ruel shrugged, unfazed. "I mean, think about it. You both have that noble air—well, you’re more chaotic, but close enough. Plus, he clearly likes teasing you." He wiggled his eyebrows. "And judging by your reactions, you don’t hate it."

Katherine turned bright red. "I—what—SHUT UP."

Ruel laughed loudly. "Ohh, you’re blushing. This is great."

"I AM NOT."

"You so are."

Katherine buried her face in her hands. Diyos ko, give me strength.

Ruel tapped the table rhythmically. "I mean, he did offer to take you to the North. And that proposal..."

Katherine peeked through her fingers to glare at him. "He was joking."

Ruel grinned. "Was he?"

"Yes!"

"...Was he?"

Katherine groaned. "I hate you."

Ruel chuckled, looking way too pleased with himself. "Hey, I’m just pointing out the obvious. Besides, if you ever do marry him, imagine all the free café visits. That alone makes it worth considering."

Katherine threw a napkin at his face. "OUT."

Ruel dodged it, still laughing. "Alright, alright! But you can’t deny, the universe keeps throwing you two together."

Katherine huffed, crossing her arms. "The universe can go throw itself into a river."

Ruel wiped a fake tear. "Ah, young love."

Katherine grabbed another napkin, fully prepared to launch it at him again. "Ruel."

He held up his hands. "Fine, fine, I’ll stop."

She exhaled sharply, trying to will away her embarrassment.

After a moment, Ruel leaned on the table, resting his chin on his hand. His expression turned slightly more thoughtful. "But really, Kat. You are curious about him, aren’t you?"

Katherine hesitated.

Curious? That was an understatement. Adolfo was a walking enigma, and now, with everything she had learned today, she had to know more.

She sighed, muttering under her breath. "That’s the problem."

Ruel grinned. "See? Meant to be."

Katherine picked up her spoon. "Do you want me to throw this?"

"Go ahead. That’ll just prove you’re thinking about him."

"RUEL."

Her laughter joined his, echoing through the café.

***

By the time Katherine returned to her room at the academy, the sun was already dipping below the horizon, casting long golden streaks over Athens. The city outside still buzzed with life, but her mind remained occupied with the events of the day—particularly her meeting with Ruel.

"Para kayong meant to be," he had teased. "Your brother was his mentor, you have red hair, he has red eyes—"

Katherine groaned, flopping onto her chair and burying her face in her hands.

Why does he say things like that?!

She had not been thinking about it that way. But now, thanks to Ruel’s teasing, the idea had wormed its way into her thoughts, refusing to leave.

Still, despite his jokes, it had been refreshing to talk to him. He had a way of making her laugh, of keeping things lighthearted, even when her thoughts were running in circles.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed those thoughts aside and turned her attention to the sealed letter waiting on her desk.

Her eyes widened slightly as she recognized the handwriting.

Aunt Yevon.

Tearing it open carefully, she unfolded the letter and read:

---

My Dearest Katherine,

I hope this letter finds you well.

I have received your message regarding Jonathas, and I understand your concerns. If you wish to speak about your brother, I believe it is best we do so in person when you return to Albania.

Until then, be well, my dear. I look forward to our conversation.

Sincerely,

Yevon

---

Yevon’s words were brief but carried weight.

Katherine sighed, setting the letter aside. It wasn’t as if she had expected a full answer in writing, but part of her had hoped for something—anything—that might tell her where her brother was now.

Jonathas wasn’t a mystery to her—he was her brother, after all. She knew what kind of person he was: intelligent, sharp, and always chasing knowledge wherever it took him. But his whereabouts were another matter entirely.

He had gone to the North. That much was clear.

Why?

And more importantly... why had he disappeared?

Adolfo had mentioned that Jonathas once used his family’s villa in the North, but beyond that, there was no trace of him. No letters, no news. It was as if he had vanished.

She frowned. The North was an isolated region, closed off to outsiders unless they had permission. Her brother wouldn’t have gone there without a reason.

What had he found?

Katherine leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temple. Too many questions, not enough answers. And with Adolfo’s unexpected connection to her brother, she had even more things to think about.

At least she wouldn’t have to wait too long. She would be meeting Adolfo again this weekend, and she planned to visit his workshop soon.

Maybe—just maybe—she could start putting the pieces together.

Adolfo.

His red eyes.

Katherine had learned before that red in facial features wasn’t just something inherited through normal means. It was either passed down from an ancestor who had once practiced forbidden magic—or it came from practicing it yourself.

That meant there were only two possibilities.

Either Adolfo came from a bloodline tied to forbidden magic... or he had used it himself.

Katherine frowned.

She had never seen him use magic. Not even once. He always acted like an ordinary noble—sharp-witted, smug, and a little too self-satisfied for his own good. But now that she thought about it... wasn’t that strange?

For someone as capable as him, why had he never used magic in front of her?

She tapped her fingers against the desk.

She didn’t have enough information yet. But she would soon.

Is he being tied to forbidden magic connected to her brother’s disappearance?

If he was keeping secrets, she would find out soon enough.

A determined look crossed her face.

Adolfo might be good at hiding things, but she wasn’t going to let him keep them forever.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.