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Chapter 15
“Just call me Gilbert,” he said.
“‘Guildmaster’ sounds way too stiff.” Gilbert flopped weakly onto the sofa, waving a hand with no energy.
I glanced sideways at the dark circles under his eyes.
“You should probably get some sleep.”
“…Do I really look that tired to you, milady?”
“You look like you’re about to die of overwork.”
“Damn it.”
He scrubbed his face with both hands, looking close to tears.
Ugh. After a low groan, Gilbert muttered in a half-sobbing voice,
“Milady, listen. Don’t ever do anything reckless for money, okay? Don’t pack your schedule too tight either. Got it?”
That… sounds suspiciously like experience talking.
“Ugh… I went crazy for money… seriously.”
He whimpered pitifully. “If I’d known it’d be this hellish, I would’ve just stayed locked up in the back room.”
He twisted around on the couch, groaning. “This isn’t a human life. I’ve done all kinds of missions before, but this one— I’m gonna die. Save me.”
“When’s your schedule over?” I asked.
“A week total. Three days left. But I haven’t slept in three days, haven’t eaten properly either. I was so low on sugar I fell down a flight of stairs…”
He was practically crying now, speaking at machine-gun speed.
“…How much are you getting paid?”
“Ten billion.”
“Then deal with it.”
So weak.
That’s enough to live in luxury for the rest of your life!
A week of hell for ten billion?
Sounds like a sweet deal to me.
Well, maybe the mission was extremely dangerous. But Gilbert was a capable guildmaster; tough, but not impossible for him.
If he’d accepted it, it meant he could handle it.
“You’re so cold, milady. I’m dying here!”
“You sold your soul to capitalism. Nothing I can do about that.”
“Do people often tell you you’re heartless?”
“I hear ‘practical’ more often.”
“…”
Gilbert pressed his lips shut. Apparently, even he couldn’t deny that he’d sold his soul to money. His shoulders slumped in defeat.
“Well, whatever. It’s almost over anyway. Ah, since you’re here, wanna look around the building?”
“Look around?”
I blinked, and Gilbert grinned.
“You’ll be coming here often. Might as well get familiar with it.”
“Hmm—sure, why not.”
I had been curious, actually. Might as well take a look while I was here.
And judging by the size of the place…
What if I get lost?
Well, there were people everywhere. I could just ask. Still, I didn’t trust myself. For someone with no sense of direction, a building this big was basically an escape room.
“I’d show you around myself if I could—”
“You should just sleep instead.”
“…Yeah. You’re right.”
He readily accepted the suggestion and rang a bell.
Moments later, the employee who’d escorted me earlier entered briskly.
“You called, sir?”
“Show the lady around the building.”
The man’s eyes went wide. He glanced between us, then nodded quickly.
“Ah, yes, sir.”
“She’s an important guest. Treat her well. Oh, and get her a room on the sixth floor, the one closest to my office. Make sure it’s decorated properly.”
“I’ll prepare it immediately.”
After sneaking a quick look at me, the man stepped aside. Gilbert yawned long and waved his hand.
“See you later, milady.”
Felix had just stepped off the carriage when he clicked his tongue. Behind him, Maytal stretched and yawned.
“Why the front gate of all places? It’s so crowded.”
“Couldn’t be helped, sir. The road to the back entrance is closed for sewer repairs.”
Even people could barely pass through there, much less a carriage. So they’d had to circle all the way around to the main building, where the carriage now stood before a massive structure.
But Felix was a man who didn’t like people. Meaning—he hated crowds.
So being stared at by this many people while walking through them? He was not pleased.
Maytal, hands shoved in his pockets, followed his master at a careful distance.
“Ugh, really…”
What am I supposed to do with this walking temper tantrum?
When he was little, his prickliness had been kind of cute. But lately, he was getting more and more irritable with age, and it was exhausting.
It must be because of the seizures.
The pain he lived with was something an ordinary person couldn’t even imagine. Feeling that every day of his life would make anyone tense.
Not that he wasn’t difficult even without that.
Did he not sleep again last night?
His face was drawn and tired, irritation clinging to it like dust.
Hopefully no one pisses him off today…
“Welcome, young lord!”
Ah—Maytal sighed quietly at the overly enthusiastic greeting. It was good they’d come to meet them early, but the timing couldn’t have been worse.
“The master just finished a meeting, so if you’ll wait just a—oh!”
The employee froze mid-sentence, breath catching. A chill ran down his spine. Felix’s cold gaze seemed to close around his throat.
“Lower your voice.”
The man’s chin trembled as he nodded rapidly. Felix clicked his tongue and continued walking.
Maytal patted the trembling employee’s shoulder in silent apology before hurrying after his master.
“Go easy on them, sir. He looked new.”
“He should’ve just kept his mouth shut, then.”
Who told him to run his mouth? Felix shot back, frowning.
“What’s with all the people today? It’s packed.”
“I’m not sure myself, sir. But this is the main building. Of course it’s crowded.”
“I don’t like it.”
Oh, for heaven’s sake…
He was at peak irritability today.
At least his condition’s improving, thank goodness.
That was the reason Felix was here, actually—to take part in the highlight of that ten-billion mission.
Tonight, he and Gilbert were supposed to raid the enemy base.
He’s probably been itching for it.
Felix might have a temper, but he wasn’t violent for no reason. Still, he had to vent his stress somehow—
“Hurry up.”
“Yes, yes, I’m coming.”
Maytal answered obediently, glancing at the sword strapped to Felix’s waist. It was nearly as tall as he was, yet Felix carried it with ease, climbing the stairs like a royal guard.
Right. The sword was for tonight—when they’d storm the base and wipe out the organization.
Cutting down enemies one by one was Felix’s specialty.
Well, better that than letting his temper get the best of him.
Exercise was good for him. Daily training had sharpened his skills to the point where he easily outclassed most knights of the household.
If only his personality weren’t so awful, he’d be perfect.
Maytal sighed. Even as a man, he had to admit Felix’s looks were remarkable. It was no wonder all the young ladies of the social circles were already obsessed with him.
It’s just that… all his strengths were overshadowed by that one colossal flaw.
“Hey. Wait—”
“I didn’t say anything bad about you!”
“…?”
Felix stopped dead.
“…”
“…?”
Blink blink.
Maytal blinked innocently and gave a weak smile.
Felix’s mouth curled up in a satisfied smirk.
“So you did badmouth me just now?”
…Please have mercy.
