Three days passed.
Surprisingly, nothing happened.
For three whole days, Raphael remained in the hospital.
The doctors continued monitoring him while the Awakening Evaluation Bureau continued monitoring the doctors, and Elena continued monitoring everyone. At this point, Raphael was beginning to think she had forgotten what personal space meant.
Still, he couldn’t complain too much.
His body had recovered considerably, and he could walk normally again. The strange weakness he’d experienced after waking up had mostly disappeared, although he still didn’t feel particularly strong.
His Sovereign’s Eye had also become easier to use. He had tested it several times over the past few days, mostly on Vanessa, and she hadn’t appreciated that.
Apparently, knowing that she was irritated while standing directly in front of him only made her more irritated. Still, Raphael had learned one important thing. The ability wasn’t omnipotent.
There were plenty of things it couldn’t show him, especially anything related to Vanessa’s hidden information. Naturally, that only made him more curious.
But today wasn’t about testing his new ability. Today, he was leaving the hospital.
Raphael stood beside his bed, looking at the small collection of belongings he’d accumulated during his stay.
There wasn’t much.
A few clothes, his phone, which barely resembled a phone anymore, some documents, and the hospital bracelet he’d already decided to throw away.
Elena stood near the door.
"Ready?"
"Yeah."
She checked her watch.
"Your discharge papers are complete."
"Finally."
"You sound excited."
"I’ve spent more than a week staring at the same ceiling."
"You could have asked to watch television."
"I did."
"And?"
"They gave me a remote that didn’t work."
Elena smiled.
"Tragic."
Raphael gave her a look.
"You’re enjoying this."
"A little."
He shook his head.
Before leaving, however, there was one thing he needed to do. Raphael looked toward the empty corner of the room. Vanessa wasn’t physically present.
She had spent most of the morning sitting in a nearby lounge after complaining about how boring hospitals were. Still, she couldn’t simply walk outside with them. Raphael couldn’t exactly stroll through the city with an A-Rank Saintess floating beside him. That would make keeping his circumstances secret rather difficult.
He focused inward.
’System.’
The familiar interface appeared.
[THRONE OF KNIGHTS SYSTEM]
[Active Knight: Vanessa Fencer]
His attention shifted to the option beneath it.
[Summoned Status: Active]
Raphael selected it.
’Unsummon Vanessa.’
A confirmation window appeared.
[Unsummoning will return Vanessa Fencer to the Throne’s storage space.]
[The Knight can be summoned again at any time.]
[Confirm?]
’Yes.’
A faint purple light suddenly appeared in the corner of the room.
Vanessa’s figure materialized from within it, and she immediately looked at Raphael with obvious displeasure.
"Finally."
Raphael blinked. "Wait. You were already here?"
"I was standing outside the room."
"Oh."
She crossed her arms.
"You intend to leave."
"Yeah."
"And you intend to send me away."
"Temporarily."
"Explain."
Her expression darkened slightly.
"We need to keep you hidden," Raphael said, lowering his voice.
Vanessa glanced toward Elena. Then toward the door. She seemed to understand immediately.
"You fear revealing the existence of your ability."
"Exactly."
"And yet you summoned me in a hospital filled with officials."
"I wasn’t exactly thinking clearly at the time."
She sighed.
"Fortunately, I was."
"You were?"
"I prevented several people from entering this room while you slept."
Raphael stared at her.
"You did what?"
"They were noisy."
Vanessa shrugged as though that explained everything. Elena suddenly spoke from beside the door.
"She also threatened a nurse."
Vanessa looked offended.
"I merely informed her that disturbing my Sovereign’s rest would have consequences."
"That’s called a threat."
"It was an accurate statement."
Raphael rubbed his forehead.
"Please don’t threaten hospital staff."
Vanessa studied him for a moment before nodding.
"As you command."
Raphael paused. She had said it naturally. His Sovereign’s Eye activated automatically.
[SOVEREIGN’S EYE ACTIVATED]
[Target: Vanessa Fencer]
[Loyalty: 3]
[Current Emotion: Mild Irritation]
A small smile appeared on Raphael’s face, and Vanessa immediately noticed.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You are doing that again."
"Doing what?"
"Looking at me as though you know something I do not."
Elena chuckled.
"He’s been doing that for the past few days."
Raphael ignored both of them and focused on Vanessa.
’Return.’
Purple light surrounded her. Vanessa looked at him one last time.
"I will await your summons."
"I’ll call you when it’s safe."
She gave a small nod. Then her body dissolved into countless violet particles, and the room became strangely quiet.
[Vanessa Fencer has returned to the Throne.]
[Summoned Knight: None]
[Knight Slots: 1/1]
Raphael stared at the space for a moment. It felt strangely quiet without her. Then Elena opened the door.
"Come on."
Raphael grabbed his bag.
"Where exactly am I going?"
"Your new residence."
"My what?" He stopped.
Elena glanced over her shoulder.
"Didn’t they tell you?"
"No."
"Interesting."
She continued walking, and Raphael hurried after her.
"Elena."
She kept walking.
"Elena."
"Yes?"
"What residence?"
"An apartment."
Raphael stared at her back.
"An apartment?"
"Provided by the Bureau."
"Why?"
She finally looked at him.
"Because you’re still under observation."
Raphael sighed.
"So I’m basically under house arrest."
"Not exactly."
"How is it different?"
"You can leave."
"Then I’m free?"
"No."
She smiled.
"See? Different."
Raphael groaned.
They left the hospital through a side entrance rather than the main doors. There was nothing about the scene that suggested a potentially dangerous newly awakened individual was being transferred.
That was intentional.
The Bureau had handled everything discreetly. Even the vehicle waiting outside was an ordinary black sedan without any obvious government markings.
Two people were already inside. One was a Bureau official Raphael had seen during his evaluation. The other was a woman he’d never met before.
She gave him a polite nod. "Raphael Matthews?"
"Yes."
"I’m Director Miriam Cole."
Director? Raphael straightened slightly.
"Don’t worry. This isn’t another evaluation," Miriam said with a smile.
"That’s exactly what someone conducting another evaluation would say."
Elena laughed.
Miriam smiled.
"I see Elena has already influenced you."
"Unfortunately."
Elena opened the rear door.
"Get in."
Raphael climbed inside, with Elena taking the seat beside him. Miriam sat in the front passenger seat while another Bureau operative took the driver’s seat. The vehicle pulled away.
Raphael looked through the window as the hospital slowly disappeared behind them. He had no idea where they were going. Apparently, that was intentional. The Bureau didn’t want his new residence publicly connected to him.
No address appeared on the documents they gave him. Instead, Miriam explained everything verbally.
"The apartment is located in a residential complex owned through a Bureau-affiliated property company."
Raphael frowned.
"That sounds suspicious."
"It’s supposed to."
He glanced at Elena.
Miriam continued.
"Your information won’t appear on the building’s public resident registry."
"That’s convenient."
"It also means you’ll have to follow a few rules."
"Of course."
Miriam turned slightly toward him.
"First, don’t reveal your Awakening classification to anyone."
"Okay."
"Second, don’t discuss your abilities with civilians."
"Okay."
"Third, if you encounter a Gate or dungeon, contact the Bureau before entering."
Raphael frowned.
"What if it’s an emergency?"
"Then prioritize survival."
"Fair enough."
Miriam paused.
"And fourth..." Her expression became slightly more serious. "If Vanessa appears, make sure nobody sees her."
Raphael’s heart skipped. He immediately glanced toward Elena. She was staring straight ahead.
Miriam continued.
"We don’t know exactly what she is capable of."
Raphael almost laughed.
’Neither do I.’
But he kept the thought to himself.
The ride continued quietly.
Eventually, the city became less crowded. The car turned into a large residential complex surrounded by trees and several apartment buildings. It looked completely ordinary.
The car stopped in an underground parking area. They entered through a private entrance and took an elevator directly to the upper floors. When the doors opened, Miriam handed Raphael a keycard.
"Apartment 1804."
"Mine?"
He took the card.
"Temporary residence."
Raphael looked at Elena.
"How temporary?"
"Until the Bureau determines what exactly you are."
He sighed.
"Right."
Miriam smiled.
"Think of it as a comfortable waiting room."
Raphael looked down the hallway.
"..."
Elena stepped past him and opened the door.
The apartment was surprisingly nice. There was a living room, a kitchen, a bedroom, a bathroom, and even a small balcony overlooking the city. There was furniture, actual furniture.
Raphael slowly walked inside.
"This is..."
"Better than the hospital?" Elena asked.
"Much."
"Good."
Miriam placed a folder on the table.
"Your identification documents, residence information, emergency contact number, and Bureau communication device."
Raphael picked up the device and examined it.
"You’re giving me a tracking device."
"A communication device."
"It tracks me, doesn’t it?"
Elena smiled.
"Probably."
Raphael sighed. At least they weren’t pretending. Miriam headed toward the door.
"We’ll leave you to settle in."
Raphael turned toward her.
"Wait."
She stopped.
"What?"
He hesitated before asking.
"Am I actually being treated as a threat?"
A brief silence filled the room. Miriam looked at him seriously.
"Raphael, a week ago, our equipment couldn’t determine your rank." Her voice wasn’t accusatory. "That makes you an unknown variable."
She glanced toward Elena.
"And unknown variables make governments nervous."
Raphael nodded slowly.
"But I’m not a prisoner?"
"No." A brief pause followed. "Not yet?"
Elena coughed, causing Miriam to give her an annoyed look.
"Ignore her."
"Gladly."
Miriam smiled faintly.
"Get some rest, Raphael."
She left. Elena, however, remained behind.
Raphael looked at her.
"You’re staying?"
"Obviously."
"Of course."
She walked over to the couch and sat down.
"I’m your assigned observer."
"Do you ever go home?"
"When necessary."
"So I’m stuck with you."
"Looks like it."
Raphael dropped his bag beside the couch. For the first time in three days, he was no longer in a hospital. He had his own place. Sort of.
He was still being watched, still surrounded by people who didn’t know what to make of him, and still hiding the greatest secret in his possession.
For a moment, he almost summoned Vanessa again, but he stopped. Not yet. He needed to learn how to live this new life quietly.
Because if the Bureau was already this cautious about him, Raphael could only imagine what would happen when they discovered what the Throne of Knights was truly capable of.
His gaze shifted toward the space in front of him.
The system interface appeared.
[THRONE OF KNIGHTS SYSTEM]
[Authority: 1]
[Throne: Locked]
[Kingdom: Locked]
[Next Objective: ???]
Raphael frowned.
’Next objective?’
The screen flickered.
[New Sovereign Quest Available.]
Raphael stared at the notification.
Well... So much for having a quiet first day.