CH 26

Rosenta had nothing to say after that.

The war of nerves between he and Enoch continued.

Anyone watching this scene might have thought it was funny, but it was a serious situation.

“Please go back.”

“I don't want to.”

“Why?”

“Because I want to be by your side.”

‘What is this conversation?’

The more they talked, the more confused Rosenta felt.

“Why... Why do you want to be by my side?”

“I was able to endure in a place where only endless pain and darkness existed because of the name you gave me.”

So that was it. I knew what place Enoch was talking about.

While being subject to experiments, the reason that child had endured in the Mage’s Tower, where he was tortured to the point of losing his mind, was because of his name.

Rosenta’s mind was confused.

Whether he understood Rosenta’s thoughts or not, Enoch slowly approached while he was thinking about other things.

It wasn't until Enoch grabbed a handful of Rosenta’s hair that he realized he was coming near.

Enoch, as if greeting the back of his master's hand, left a short kiss on Rosenta’s navy blue hair.

“It was you who came to find me, Duke.”

Reosenta was speechless.

Of course, he didn't know that Enoch was the kid he'd known in the past.

However, Enoch was right.

It was as if he had kicked himself with his own foot.

He stared at Enoch in silence, then turned his head away.

Anyway, before he had gone to see him, Enoch was doing well.

He had no intention of taking Enoch under his wing, nor did he need him anymore.

It was better to cut it off here while things were still in the early stages.

It would be quicker to order Edmund to fire him rather than getting into an unnecessary argument.

“Duke.”

Ignoring Enoch’s voice calling him, he tried to descend the stairs.

Rosenta took one step down the stairs, then took another.

He continued to ignore Enoch and kept walking.

Enoch quietly shut his mouth as if he had given up.

Soon after, he spoke again and brought out words that would make Rosenta stop in his tracks.

“There are traces. Is this what you were looking for?”

As Rosenta had it heard from Hugo.*

*[Hugo is the man who constructs Rosenta’s magic tools. He explained this after Enoch removed the magic from Rosenta’s body transformation tool.]

They say Wizards leave traces.

But he had said that, even with expensive magic tools, a person could barely see the traces left behind.

How did Enoch do it?

Ah! Those with magic sensitivity!

Then it was obvious that Enoch had seen traces of magic left there.

Rosenta quickly stopped in his tracks.

Seeing his response, Enoch put on a wide smile.

“That is correct.”

Instead of answering, he approached Enoch.

Enoch whispered sweetly, as if giving candy to a disobedient child, “Since you always seem to be so cold whenever I'm not needed, then...”

Enoch stopped talking and licked his upper lip with his bright red tongue, as was his habit.

It was as if he was gazing at delicious prey.

Then, in a soft voice, he chanted like a song, “I'll have to keep finding reasons for you to need me.”

Rosenta pretended not to hear anything.

He took a few steps away from Enoch then told him, “Tell me what you see.”

Didn't open his mouth.

Instead, he held his hand out to Rosenta.

Rosenta knew that, if he took his hand, he was accepting Enoch’s obsession.

But, he had no hesitation.

Whether he wanted to admit it or not, Enoch was already obsessed with him from the very beginning.

That obsession was also very earnest.

“You won't regret it, Duke.”

He took Enoch’s hand.

****

Enoch did not immediately tell him about the traces.

Instead, he made a request.

“Please announce to everyone that I am your new Butler.”

So, Rosenta called everyone together to formally introduce Enoch.

“I have already introduced myself to some of you. My name is Enoch wolf; I will be serving as the Duke's personal Butler from now on.”

After a brief introduction, Rosenta glanced at Edmund.

He seemed to have something to say but didn't say anything else.

Rosenta focused on managing his facial expression as much as possible.

It was a natural reaction.

He hadn't even set an official start date, but the candidate had arrived before even contacting him.

It was something that would upset anyone.

Judging that it wouldn't be a good idea to start off with the wrong impression, Rosenta spoke to Edmund.

“We met by chance. The man Edmund had spoken of was Wolf, right?”

“Ah... Yes.”

He started to try to explain this absurd situation in his own way.

“As you said, he is very enthusiastic.”

At his words, Edmund looked at Enoch.

Fortunately, Enoch was proactive and was greeting everyone.

“I'm looking forward to working with you.”

He had a very nice face. Perhaps, because of that people quickly melted in front of him.

No one would ever think that he was a famous madman of the back alleys.

‘Should I...’

Rosenta tried to hide his complicated feelings and once again spoke to the staff, “I hope he is of great help to you all in the future.”

***

Enoch kept his promise.

Rosenta was sorry for having even been slightly suspicious as he immediately told him about the magical traces.

“Stones of different colors.”

It was a very short sentence but Rosenta seemed to know what Enoch was talking about.

If you looked closely at the wall, you could see that there were several stones, with slightly different colors, mixed together.

It was slightly grayish.

“What is it?”

Enoch narrowed his eyes.

His green eyes gleamed brightly in the sunlight.

He gave the impression of an animal looking for Rosenta’s praise.

Although that animal was still a wild beast without an owner, unleased.

“They are different colors.”

Rosenta knew he was looking for praise but he had no intention of giving Enoch the response he wanted easily.

“Is that all?”

He did not respond to Enoch’s words.

He just watched him quietly.

Enoch soon withdrew his gaze from Rosenta as though he’d lost interest.

Then he glanced at the wall and said, “A trace is just a trace. We don’t know the order. Then…”

Enoch smiled anxiously. At the same time, he quickly reached for the wall.

Already.

Enoch blew up Rosenta’s spell.

Bang.

A loud roar erupted.

The wall was pierced, exposing its rough surface. Because of this, stones of various sizes were scattered randomly on the floor.

Stinging dust scattered.

Rosenta quickly covered his nose and mouth.

Then he opened his eyes and looked ahead.

There was a cave. He could see inside its jet-black mouth. There was no end in sight. It was a completely dark space.

‘Tsk. People will gather.’

There must have been a reason his father kept security tight.

But the noise was so loud that people will be alarmed and come up from the lower floors.

‘I could have done it myself if it was going to be broken into like this.’

Even without Enoch.

Perhaps, seeing Rosenta’s annoyed expression, Enoch’s narrowed his eyes with a bored expression.

His narrow eyes seemed to be making fun of him.

“I used magic so that no one could hear.”

Rosenta was relieved to hear that.

Rosenta tried to get past the rubble and into the cave.

Then Enoch ran after him as though he intended to follow him.

He had no intention of taking Enoch with him. ‘What runs through a moody person’s head?’

As if training a disobedient animal, he stretched out his palm toward Enoch and he firmly said, “Don’t follow me.”

At his words, Enoch touched his chin and pondered for a while.

His eyes sparkled as though there was a world full of toys beyond the wall.

Then he shrugged as though it was very regrettable but he had no choice but to give up.

“I understand.”