ENGDB 32

Chapter 32

“Hmm. Today, I’m planning to spend time with my cute animal friends who follow me well.”

In truth, there wasn’t much Irene could do inside the castle.

Kalid still seemed unstable, which worried her.
But as a guest, she couldn’t just wander around or help with work—it might trouble others.

“Animals…?”

“Grey and Dagu!”

“Ah… Da, gu.”

Kalid remembered that the hunting dog actually had a much grander name.

And honestly, that name suited its proud personality much better than “Dagu.”

He thought about telling her the truth—

but decided not to.

“….”

“Yeah, Dagu! Even though he looks strong, he’s actually very timid. I named him that because I want him to be braver.”

“……”

“When I first saw him, he couldn’t even mix with other dogs. He just watched from far away.”

Kalid suspected that was just Irene misunderstanding—

but he hesitated again about correcting her.

“Why? What’s wrong with the name Dagu? Right, Dagu? It suits you perfectly!”

“Whine…”

“You agree? See, you understand me.”

“…Sigh.”

Dagu followed Irene during their walk outside the castle, looking slightly resigned.

Grey, who already knew Irene’s naming sense, wasn’t surprised at all.

Compared to names like “Jjiru” or “Mocker,” this was actually better.

Still, Grey didn’t like how Dagu was suddenly receiving all of Irene’s attention.

“Hey, Grey! If you keep doing that, Dagu might hurt you. Why are you picking fights with someone bigger than you?”

Irene quickly stopped Grey, who suddenly acted aggressively.

At that moment—

she heard footsteps approaching.

When she turned around in a hurry—

she froze.

It was someone unexpected.

James.

The strange man she had met when she was Whitey.

“Hmm? Who are you?”

Irene accidentally spoke as if she knew him—and immediately panicked.

Why was he here in the Grand Duke’s castle?

Her face turned red.

Fortunately, he didn’t seem suspicious—

but Irene felt cold sweat down her back.

Then, as he introduced himself—

she forced a stiff smile.

“Ha. Of course. ‘James,’ huh? As if. No matter how gentlemanly you act—I already know what kind of person you are!”

Remembering how he treated her when she was Whitey, Irene narrowed her eyes.

When he asked for her name—

she felt annoyed.

“Do you think I’ll just tell you my name?”

While she was thinking about how to respond—

Evan slowly reached his hand toward her.

It didn’t seem threatening—

but it was fast enough to surprise her.

She didn’t feel any hostility, so she stayed still—

Then suddenly—

“Irene!”

“Huh? Kalid?”

A black figure rushed in like lightning—

Something was swung—

And Evan was knocked straight into the lake.

“Splash!”

“Ahhh!”

Only Evan’s scream echoed.

Now there were two stunned people—

Irene and Kalid.

“…He’s still a guest though… right?”

“Kalid! What are you doing?!”

Shocked, Irene ran after him.

But Evan had already surfaced—

completely soaked, gasping for breath.

Irene held her forehead and sighed.

“Kalid, are you okay?”

Kalid’s expression didn’t soften.

He had acted instinctively.

Even without releasing sword energy—

his attack had forced Evan to defend himself.

The recoil sent him flying into the lake.

“Of course I’m okay! Nothing even happened! Why did you do something so dangerous?!”

“Wasn’t he threatening you?”

Irene paused.

Who exactly looked threatening just now…?

“Not at all! We were just greeting each other!”

“Ah… I see. Then I made a mistake.”

Kalid admitted it easily—

with no sign of guilt.

Then he looked at Evan.

“Strange. Only one person was supposed to visit… but this doesn’t match the description.”

“Huh?”

Now Irene also looked at Evan suspiciously.

He climbed out of the water, removed his glasses, and wrung out his clothes.

“What were you trying to do? You’d better reveal your identity.”

Kalid stepped in front of Irene protectively.

Evan sighed.

“I am Guild Master Evan. Is this how the North treats guests?”

“You? The Guild Master? You don’t look like it.”

Kalid looked him up and down coldly.

“Well, that’s understandable. That man has red hair and purple eyes… like this.”

At that moment—

Evan lifted his head.

His brown hair turned into a bright, fiery red under the sunlight.

And his eyes—

shone like purple gemstones.

“Let me introduce myself again. I am Evan, Master of the Arakne Guild.”

Kalid scoffed.

“I didn’t know the Arakne Master was such a sneaky man.”

Evan smirked.

“And I didn’t know the so-called hero was this petty.”

The two men glared at each other—

like growling beasts.

Meanwhile—

Irene stood between them, forcing an awkward smile.

“They weren’t like this before…”

To her, it just looked like Kalid had charged and knocked him into the lake.

Honestly—

she thought Evan was just weak for falling in.

“What were you planning, coming here in disguise?”

“I always look like this. I didn’t disguise myself just to come here.”

Evan shrugged casually.

(He didn’t mention lying to the gate guards.)

“By the way… I don’t think I’ve seen the lady beside you before.”

This time, his gaze toward Irene was sharp.

The tension between the two men tightened like a drawn bowstring.

Irene grew nervous.

“The Master should focus on our deal. My guest is none of your concern.”

“Of course. But I’ve never heard of such a guest in this castle.”

Evan smiled—

but clearly had no intention of backing down.

Kalid’s lips twisted slightly.

The atmosphere felt like it could explode any moment.

“I should stop this… but how?”

Looking around, Irene spotted Dagu and Grey nearby.

They wagged their tails and flapped their wings happily.

Irene signaled to them.

“Stop Kalid and Evan!”

Dagu and Grey immediately moved.

Irene’s eyes lit up—

But something went wrong.

“…What is this?”

“Cough—wait, I can’t see—!”

Dagu scratched at Kalid’s legs—

while Grey flapped wildly in Evan’s face.

“…Haha…”

Irene laughed awkwardly.

Well… at least they stopped fighting.

Soon, news spread through the castle—

a soaked and unusual guest had arrived.

Kalid’s subordinates quickly prepared to receive him, cautiously.

While Evan went to change clothes—

Irene naturally stepped away.

Only Kalid and Evan remained in the reception room.

A brief silence filled the air.

Then—

“It’s late, but welcome, Master Evan. Welcome to the Grand Duke’s castle.”

Evan smiled faintly.

“I didn’t expect such a ‘warm’ welcome. I had to risk my life just to enter.”

Kalid replied coldly—

“Has Arakne declined? You came disguised into the North’s castle without knowing the consequences. And you call yourself a Master?”