“Yes.”
Van showed the restraint device on his neck. The restraint device that had passed through Rowy and Seilan’s aesthetic sense looked like mere jewelry at first glance. Therefore, unless mentioned first, it wasn’t easy to recognize that this was a slave restraint device.
“Oh my, I’ve never seen a slave before. Ah, I’m sorry.”
“Not at all.”
Van casually dismissed Fin’s reaction. Van didn’t have any particular inferiority complex about being a slave, nor was he the type of person who cared about others’ gazes. Moreover, buying and selling people wasn’t a small matter—in fact, slaves were practically exclusive to nobility—so Fin’s reaction of never having seen a slave was natural. However… the reaction after that was a bit strange.
“Then, you came without knowing anything….”
“Pardon? What should I know?”
“Ah… right, I wonder if the young master has woken up? I’ll prepare a meal.”
At Fin’s sudden interruption of the conversation, Van sent a questioning look. However, Fin was busy transferring the food. The tray filled up in an instant.
“Here you go.”
“Thank you.”
“It’s my job. Hurry and go.”
“Then.”
He had no idea what he was supposed to not know, but… first priority was taking care of Rowy’s meal. Van turned around swiftly, holding the tray full of food. The room and dining room were quite far apart, so he had to move quickly to get there before the food cooled.
“Um, hyung-nim!”
“Yes?”
Even after calling out first, Fin hesitated to speak. After a brief silence, Fin said,
“Um, at night, don’t leave the young master’s side.”
…This was the second time hearing those words. Van stiffened his face and left the dining room.
* * *
“Haaaam….”
So languid. Rowy stretched greatly. Had he been lying down too long? His back was all sore. Rowy, who had been rolling around all over the bed, finally got up and twisted here and there.
‘Where did Van go?’
He had been by his side when he woke up at dawn.
“Haaam.”
Why am I still sleepy no matter how much I sleep? Rowy rubbed his eyes and slowly approached the door. He was planning to go find Van. And at that moment, the door opened with a click.
“You’re awake. Are you feeling alright?”
“Mmhm.”
“Come here.”
Van, who had just brought food, called Rowy to the table. Rowy hesitantly approached Van. It was because Van’s expression seemed strangely stiff.
“Did something happen?”
“Pardon? No. Now, drink water first.”
However, Van just seated Rowy in the chair and took care of him attentively as usual. After looking at Van like that for a moment, Rowy obediently took the spoon handed to him.
“This is something they eat in Fin’s hometown. They eat it when there’s something good happening, and you’ve tried it before, Master?”
“This is eaten when there’s something good happening?”
Rowy recalled a vague memory. He had definitely eaten it sometime before. But at that time, Fin hadn’t said anything particular to Rowy. Of course, he usually didn’t talk to him anyway. Rowy frowned, recalling Fin who would fumble and avoid eye contact and run away whenever he saw him.
“He doesn’t talk to me.”
“Pardon? Is that so? Fin seemed quite lively though.”
“I don’t know, he runs away whenever he sees me.”
Rowy said sulkily.
“He’s probably just intimidated. You’re the highest person here. It must be difficult for young Fin.”
“Everyone’s like that. The butler too, and the twins too.”
The more he talked, the worse his mood became. Rowy eventually put down his spoon. Van naturally picked it up and fed Rowy the soup, bringing it to his mouth.
“Why is everyone like that? To someone as baby-like as this.”
“Don’t tease me.”
Even while showing extreme irritation, Rowy obediently accepted the soup. Seeing that, Van laughed inwardly. Rowy certainly wasn’t that authoritarian a person. Though he had tendencies to be impulsive and stubborn, it was more accurate to say he was just like a child. There was only one thing that made Van feel that Rowy was a noble. When spending money.
‘To see five billion cen in physical form. If I told the priests, no one would believe me.’
The five-billion-cen sword was still hanging at Van’s waist even now. One more modifier had been added to the sword bestowed by God. A five-billion-cen sword bestowed by God. The point was, Rowy wasn’t particularly a difficult master to deal with. In fact, through his eating habits, Fin seemed to already know well that Rowy was more easygoing than expected.
‘But then why does Fin avoid Rowy?’
And the numerous warnings he had heard.
‘At night, don’t leave the young master’s side.’
Fin had said,
‘At night, don’t leave Master’s side.’
The butler had said.
‘The captain had also warned. That it was a cursed island.’
What on earth was happening here? Van looked at the master of the castle, Rowy, again. Rowy was eating bread by himself as if he had never grumbled. Van, who had been watching in a daze as he munched on that small bread cut even smaller with elegant knife work, hurriedly snapped to attention.
From Van’s perspective, Rowy… definitely looked much more comfortable after returning to the castle. Rowy’s characteristic blank expression wasn’t easy to read emotionally, but Van, who had observed his crying face, laughing face, and so on by his side even for a short time, noticed the subtle difference.
‘Some say it’s a cursed castle, and some are this comfortable.’
He couldn’t understand it at all. In the end, Van, keeping his uneasiness inside, asked something else.
“You said you found your magical tools again, right?”
“Hm? Yeah.”
“But why do you keep not being able to sleep at night? Shouldn’t we find a doctor?”
“Hmm, well.”
At Van’s sudden words, Rowy put down his knife. Van grabbed it and cut the bread into pieces for him instead. After chewing and swallowing one piece of bread picked up with a fork, Rowy opened his mouth.
“I don’t know. Actually, I have a few more magical tools that I still haven’t retrieved….”
“Pardon? You have several more?”
“Yeah. Four more.”
“Why haven’t you retrieved them?”
Well… it’s a bit difficult to extract them right now. Rowy scratched his cheek in difficulty. When Rowy couldn’t answer properly and fumbled, Van spoke more strongly.
“Since you keep feeling unwell, unless it’s something special, you should retrieve them all. I heard there’s no doctor here either. What if you become seriously ill?”
“Well… this castle is too old.”
“Yes.”
“It’s too dirty and there’s a lot to repair, so I’m maintaining it with my magical tools.”
“…You mean this entire castle?”
“Yeah.”
It’s a bit much to extract them right now. Rowy said in difficulty. However, Van remained firm.
“Isn’t there another way? Since Master is an amazing mage, what about magic stones? Can’t you use magic stones instead?”
“Magic stones? Mmm….”
After the incident at the auction house, Rowy had digested most of the magic stones into himself. However, there was one magic stone left that was too large to touch. That very magic stone Seilan had come to sell.
Certainly, if he processed a magic stone of that size… it might be possible. But still, to process a size like that, he needed more magical tools. Whatever the case, he had to retrieve more magical tools.
“Hmm….”
But the other places are a bit difficult to touch…. Van keenly noticed Rowy’s hesitation and pressed him.
“What? How can there be no way? Or should I try repairing the castle?”
“This huge place?”
“Can’t we manage somehow? I think it would be better for Master to have all your magical tools.”
Van spoke persistently. No matter how he thought about it, the word “curse” bothered him. Rowy’s safety was more important than anything. The more safety measures, the better.
‘If he can face a demon vessel with nothing, then with magical tools, most things wouldn’t be a threat.’
Van would protect him from the side, but he didn’t want to create any potential problems. How terrible it had been when he thought Rowy might get hurt. Van realized for the first time that day that his abilities were utterly insufficient to protect someone. And that Rowy being in danger was the most terrifying thing in the world.
‘I absolutely don’t want this person to get hurt.’
Van waited for Rowy’s definite answer with a resolute expression. However, Rowy still couldn’t answer properly. It really was a bit… really… Rowy rolled his eyes in difficulty.
‘But why is he so persistent?’
Van still had his face stiffly hardened and kept pressuring Rowy. Usually he would listen to whatever Rowy did without much comment. Feeling somewhat hurt, Rowy pouted. He wanted to stop talking about this. Rowy hastily changed the subject.
“I want to take a bath. Stay with me.”
“…Yes! Shall I draw water? Where’s the bathroom?”
…The effect was tremendous.
