Chapter 14
“Yeah.”
“And… Boss’s name?”
“Boss? You want to learn the boss’s name too?”
“Yeah.”
Ekision, who had been looking at Rody fondly, suddenly had his eyes sparkle.
Like someone who had just discovered something amusing.
“Newbie, give me the pen.”
Ekision straightened his posture and snatched the pen.
Then he began writing carefully—very neatly.
“You said Brody, right? Here, this is Brody.”
“Br…o, dy.”
“That’s it, good job. Then this is Iklis Cheils.”
“…Hey.”
Horace, who had been watching, suddenly nudged Ekision.
Ekision smiled brightly.
“What?”
“…Nothing.”
“Here, just write it like this. Is it hard?”
“No, I can do it!”
Wanting to earn Iklis’s praise, Rody took the pen back and began carefully tracing the letters again.
Then he looked up.
“How do you write ‘boss’?”
“Oh, that? Easy. Want me to teach you something else too?”
“Yeah.”
“Alright. This is ‘boss.’ Doesn’t this look cooler?”
Chuckling to himself, Ekision again took the pen and kindly showed him.
Horace, watching from the side, shook his head and then, as if giving up, leaned back on the sofa with his arms crossed and closed his eyes.
Meanwhile, Ekision was starting to genuinely enjoy teaching.
“Newbie.”
“Hm?”
“But can you really use that clairvoyance ability? Like, can you see things hidden inside?”
“Yeah.”
Ekision’s eyes sparkled again.
He had already heard about Rody’s ability from Gembil, but had never seen it himself—so he had been curious.
Since there was no work today and they still had “training” to do, it was the perfect chance to check.
Ekision slipped his left hand inside his uniform and asked,
“Then can you tell me what I’m doing with this hand right now?”
Rody’s eyes briefly landed on Ekision’s clothes.
“A fist.”
“Oh? Then this? How many fingers am I holding up?”
“Two.”
“And now?”
“Five.”
“And this time?”
“Still five.”
At that, Horace, now curious too, started asking questions as well.
He hid his hand behind his back and tested him.
“Wow, you really can see. Then see that box? What’s inside it?”
Rody frowned slightly and let out a small sigh.
He wanted to learn letters, but they kept asking other things instead.
“Stop bothering him and continue the lesson.”
Padrid scolded while continuing to sign documents.
“No, this is part of the training. Come on, tell us—is that kind of thing hard?”
“There’s a bundle of keys and two jewel-like stones inside.”
At that, Ekision looked at Padrid.
Coincidentally, Padrid had also raised his head and was looking at him.
His expression seemed unusually surprised.
“Padrid, can I check it?”
“Go ahead.”
Ekision immediately got up and retrieved the wooden drawer from the shelf.
It looked like a leather box due to its fine covering.
Before opening it, he unconsciously licked his lips.
Then—
“…Oh.”
His eyes widened.
“That’s real. Keys and stones. Hmm—not jewels, magic stones. These are magic stones, right?”
“Yes.”
“Newbie, have you seen magic stones before?”
“What kind of jewels are magic stones?”
“Hm? So you don’t know. It’s nothing special—they’re basically the same.”
They looked identical to jewels, but magic stones contained magic and had a different inner hue.
But Rody wouldn’t know that.
“Haha.”
Ekision burst out laughing.
“If you wanted to learn letters, you could’ve just peeked like this. What a waste of a good ability.”
“I thought about it.”
“If I look too much, I get hungry.”
“Oh, I didn’t know that. You shouldn’t go hungry while growing.”
As Ekision returned to the sofa, Rody suddenly stood up.
“Newbie, what is it? Done already?”
“I’m hungry.”
“Hm? It’s not time yet… Oh, is it because I kept asking? Do you know where the dining hall is?”
“Yeah, I memorized it yesterday. Boss said I can eat anytime.”
“Well, that’s true. Want me to take you?”
Rody shook his head.
“I can go alone. Can I come back after eating and learn more?”
“Of course. Anything else you want to learn?”
“Hmm… Ekision.”
“Huh?”
Thinking he was being called, Ekision flinched.
“And Padrid, Jin, Bender too. Horace and Gembil. I want to learn all your names.”
That was why he had memorized them.
Because he would stay here.
And they would all become his companions.
“…Yeah. Go eat slowly and come back.”
“Okay.”
Rody nodded and left without hesitation.
Ekision stared blankly at the closed door.
“Padrid.”
“Yes?”
“…Should I hurry up and get married and have a daughter?”
It was a completely serious question.
No. 3. Let the Cheils Exploration Begin!
Rody headed straight to the dining hall.
Even if he got lost elsewhere, he could definitely find the dining hall.
He had been told he could eat anytime.
Though hungry, his steps grew lighter, and he even hummed.
As he turned the corner—
A person in bright red clothes suddenly rushed out.
Thud!
“Ah!”
Rody was knocked back and fell hard.
“Ow…”
“Why is a kid here? Watch where you’re going.”
The person didn’t apologize and left in a hurry.
“What the heck…”
“Rody.”
“Lexiard?”
“Why are you sitting there? Are you hurt?”
It was Lexiard.
He looked as elegant as before.
Older—more composed.
And knowledgeable.
Rody looked at his own neat clothes.
Black smoke lifted him up.
Still amazing.
“I bumped into someone.”
“With who?”
“An older sister… in red.”
Lexiard’s gaze turned cold.
“I see. How rude.”
“Are you hurt?”
“I’m okay.”
“I’ll take you.”
“To the dining hall.”
“Let’s go.”
Holding hands, they walked.
“Lexiard.”
“Yeah?”
“Why did you leave early yesterday?”
“…Ah.”
“Were you disappointed?”
“Yeah.”
Lexiard’s expression shifted.
“I didn’t know.”
“You don’t know everything?”
“Of course not.”
“I thought you did.”
Lexiard laughed softly.
“I really didn’t know. I was coming again today anyway.”
Rody nodded.
“I’ll say goodbye next time first. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“We’re still friends, right?”
“Huh?”
“Even without an apology.”
Relief spread across Lexiard’s face.
“I see.”
“Now let’s eat!”
At the dining hall, a huge feast appeared.
Just for the two of them.
Lexiard served food gracefully.
Rody tried—but clinked loudly.
Lexiard cut food for him.
Like nobles at tea.
Rody stuffed food into his mouth.
“Aren’t you eating?”
“I am. I came to see you.”
“Me?”
Rody offered bread.
Lexiard ate reluctantly.
“Rody.”
“Yeah?”
“When did you get your ability?”
“I don’t know. Long ago.”
“How?”
He explained about the candy.
“Only the director knew?”
“Other teacher too. Gone now.”
“I was told to hide it.”
“Did you?”
“Yes.”
“That’s why Uncle brought you.”
“Boss scolded the director.”
Rody fed him cheese again.
“Lexiard?”
“Yeah?”
“Doesn’t your ability tire you?”
“No.”
“I get hungry.”
“Hungry?”
“Yeah.”
Lexiard explained everything easily.
His smoke was like a second body.
A weapon. A shield.
“Ask me again later.”
“Okay.”
“I’m full.”
“What now?”
“I want to explore!”
They went to the stairs.
“Want to go down?”
“Yeah.”
They descended.
The distance was long.
Almost isolated.
“I’ll show you a faster way next time.”
“Oh! I know that.”
“You’ve used it?”
“Yeah. But I like stairs more.”
“Fair. That’s for old people like Uncle.”
“I see.”
Reaching the first floor, Rody’s eyes sparkled.
“Let’s go there!”
He moved confidently.
Lexiard followed behind.
Watching.
Interesting.
Rody wasn’t intimidated.
He adapted quickly.
This place wasn’t for children.
To others—it was a jungle.
Upper floors were safe.
But below?
Dangerous.
A child like Rody—
Could easily be swallowed whole.
