***

Dark underground.

A dim room, only a flickering old lantern faintly illuminating the interior.

From the walls came occasional sounds of something gnawing.

The only thing one could do here was to lie awake having nightmares.

A terrible man’s scream from upstairs. And the thick smell of blood.

Something must have happened, without a doubt.

Something very frightening…

That night.

Humbletine had captured Noah, put restraints on him, and thrown him in here, locked in a cage like an animal, before disappearing.

And since that day, he never appeared before Noah again.

Noah suspected that the scream must have been Uncle Humbletine’s.

The master he served seemed to possess enough power to do such things.

Dark magic was used to toss Humbletine aside with just one finger.

A chill and despair simultaneously wash over him.

He had been captured by a terrifying person who could easily kill others.

‘What will happen to me now?’

Noah, curled up tightly, muttered against the cold surrounding him.

“Ha, it’s cold.”

Unless it was daytime with sunlight, the cold invaded this lightless underground even in northern summer.

The Roberg duchy was said to have temperature control magic, but perhaps this place was an exception.

The man’s subordinate threw in just a water canteen and a withered piece of bread about once every two days.

Hunger was familiar, but this anxiety wouldn’t disappear.

Noah unconsciously put his hand in his pants pocket.

A small cotton ball touched his fingers, spreading a sense of relief.

It was the teddy bear that Liria had once given him through the basket.

The once snow-white doll had now turned a yellowish beige from handling.

Some stitches had come loose, and the black eyes, stubby nose, and red button on its belly looked quite shabby.

While grumbling that only girls play with such things and wondering why she sent this, Noah would fidget with it whenever he felt anxious.

When waking up in the morning or going to sleep.

Even when in pain or distress.

It was just a fluffy ball of cotton stuffing.

Yet, holding the doll brought a comfortable, drowsy feeling.

A warmth he had never experienced in his life.

He recalled the thin voice of the child who had chirped like a baby chick.

“Don’t go home today. Come with me.”

“I’m your friend.”

“I can take responsibility for just one person like you.”

As Noah mulled over Liria’s words, he felt something stirring in his heart.

Liria was the first person who had ever said such things to him.

‘Will I be able to meet her again?’

The promise to meet the day after tomorrow would never be kept now.

‘It wouldn’t have made any difference even if I had gone.’

As Noah bit his lip, moisture glistened in his blue eyes.

Noah quietly closed his eyes.

That’s when it happened.

A scratching sound came from outside the basement.

“Beep-beep!”

Noah’s blue eyes widened.

“This sound…!”

It wasn’t a rat or bird call.

It sounded similar to the noise made by the white ferret that Liria carried around.

‘Could Liria be nearby?’

Just as Noah harbored such hope, thud-thud-thud.

The basement door opened, and someone came down the stairs.

The acrid, murky mana made it hard to breathe.

Even in the dim light, the man’s blood-red eyes were very clear.

Recognizing who it was, Noah’s face turned pale with fear.

Osdel, brushing back his long black hair, approached and examined the boy.

More precisely, his glowing azure eyes.

“…!”

“Shh, there’s nothing to fear. I won’t harm you.”

“…L-liar!”

Gripping Noah’s chin and gazing at his eyes for a long time, Osdel’s eyes gleamed with greed.

“Indeed, a mysterious object, no matter how many times I look at it.”

By now, his wife Matilda, a professor at the Imperial Academy, would be looking for brilliant talents to assist with his great research.

Osdel’s lips curled up crookedly.

***

Liria placed her small palm against the window and stood on tiptoe to barely peek outside.

Kiki hadn’t returned all night.

“I hope nothing bad happened?”

He had stayed out overnight before, but this was the first time he hadn’t returned by late afternoon.

“Young miss, come here. It’s time to get ready.”

“Marit, Kiki still hasn’t come back.”

“No, but don’t worry too much. I’ll tell Yuphi to search hard for him while the family gathering is taking place.”

“Yes… thank you.”

He’s a smart creature, so he should know how to return.

There must be a reason why Kiki hasn’t come back.

***

Conrad was putting his arms through the jacket that a servant was helping him wear, recalling last night’s events.

Hearing that his father Osdel had returned, he visited the study.

However, he was absent.

Just as Conrad was about to leave, he sensed something strange and examined the study more carefully. Through the disarranged gaps between books on the bookshelf, something unusual was visible.

Pushing the bookshelf sideways revealed a door and stairs leading to a dark basement.

Following his curiosity, he found his father with a boy.

The boy, dressed in rags and bound, was lying on the cold floor with his eyes covered.

His father appeared to be communicating with someone through a communication orb.

Conrad watched silently, then quietly returned to the study and casually leaned back on the sofa.

Waiting for his father.

After waiting for some time, Osdel pushed the bookshelf and entered the study, his eyes widening upon seeing Conrad.

“Conrad? Who gave you permission to enter my room?”

Osdel scolded his son with a furrowed brow.

“I heard you had returned, so I made time to visit.”

Conrad retorted, not backing down.

“Why are you doing something you never usually do? Now that you’ve seen my face, greetings are done. We’ll see each other again at tomorrow’s family gathering.”

“Father, who was that child in the basement earlier?”

“……”

Osdel remained silent, realizing things had become complicated now that Conrad knew.

“Did you kidnap someone?”

“What nonsense. It was done out of necessity. I brought him for your training. He’s a child with very strong powers.”

“I don’t need such things. I’m going to tell grandfather about this right now…!”

As Conrad stood up abruptly, Osdel shouted angrily.

“You don’t understand your father’s intentions. Don’t you know that if you fall out of grandfather’s favor, not just me but you too will be in danger?”

“Over just one child?”

“That’s just a manner of speaking. Just saying!”

After huffing with excitement, Osdel became frighteningly calm a moment later.

Seeming to have calculated something in his mind, Osdel patted Conrad’s shoulder and said.

“You need to help your father a bit. How about using that child as your servant? If you train him well, he could be your magic practice partner.”

“A child who can’t even see?”

“That’s why I’m entrusting him to you.”

“Ha, why should I take on such a troublesome task?”

“It won’t be for long. Just keep him as your servant for 1-2 years. After that, I’ll take him back myself.”

Conrad looked thoroughly displeased.

“In return, I’ll fulfill whatever you wish. After you finish your studies, I’ll speak to grandfather and arrange for you to work in a mid-level position at the magic railway or magic bank.”

“That will happen even without your intervention, Father.”

“You’re certainly my son with that confidence.”

Osdel chuckled and asked.

“Then what do you want?”

“Arrange for me to be the top entrant to the Academy.”

“Didn’t you say it was possible with your skills?”

“It’s not easy, though.”

“Then take that child to your palace starting today.”

“…Fine. So I can treat him however I want?”

“Of course. Just don’t kill him, as he’ll be my research subject in the future.”

At his father’s words, Conrad smirked and said.

“I’m not that kind of trash. I’ll play with him moderately and return him to you.”

Seeming pleased with that answer, Osdel looked at his son with increased intimacy and said.

“I’ll trust you, son.”

The father and son, plotting together, rolled their blood-red eyes and smiled.