IQBSA 17

Chapter 17

Roakin raised his upper body, which had been slumped against the headboard, and clutched at his chest as if feeling stifled. Then, seeming to notice my suspicious gaze, he said.

“No. Just tired.”

‘It doesn’t really seem like “just tired,” though.’

Recently, the Tower Master’s condition had seemed somewhat unusual.

……Could it be that his absence from the subjugation mission last time, claiming poor health, wasn’t just an excuse but genuine?

“……Ah, I came here to ask a favor, but if you’re too tired, I’ll come back tomorrow morning.”

The Tower Master was a difficult person to handle even when he was in his right mind. It wouldn’t be effective to try and talk to him when he wasn’t feeling well.

Assuming I’d be told to leave, I was about to turn around when Roakin spoke.

“It’s fine. Just say it. What’s the favor?”

After a moment’s pause, I got to the point.

“I heard the Imperial Knights have called an emergency meeting. And that you, Tower Master, are planning to attend.”

“And?”

“I’d like to attend the meeting as well. Please take me with you to the Imperial Palace as a member of the Magic Tower delegation.”

For a moment, his eyes, regaining a sharp glint, fixed on me.

“What’s your sudden interest in attending the meeting?”

Serpine, who managed the Tower’s affairs, had always been stationed at the Tower, and the Tower Master, who acted independently, rarely brought others along unless absolutely necessary.

So my request to follow him to the Palace must have sounded abrupt.

‘What should I say to convince him?’

I couldn’t very well ask him to cooperate because I needed to meet the female lead…….

Roakin, arms crossed, was watching me with a sidelong gaze, as if telling me to explain myself.

He seemed to already suspect that my real purpose wasn’t attending the meeting. So rather than making flimsy excuses, I decided to come clean.

“I think the person who sent the assassin to kill me last time is inside the Imperial Palace.”

“……What?”

Roakin slowly uncrossed his arms and furrowed his brow.

“Did you find out something? Who did it?”

“Right now, I only have circumstantial evidence, so I can’t say for sure. What I can tell you is this: the culprit is in the Palace, and I need to go there to uncover the truth. That’s about all.”

“So you have someone in mind.”

Reading the affirmation in my silence, Roakin let out a light sigh.

“You seem unwilling to say, so I won’t ask further. However, if, as you say, the one trying to kill you is in the Palace, why would you want to go there? It’s like walking right into the lion’s den.”

“That’s exactly why I’m asking for your help, Tower Master. Please take me with you to the meeting, let me enter the Palace as a member of the Magic Tower delegation. Then, while I’m there, the culprit won’t be able to touch me easily. If a delegate were harmed in the Palace, it would become a big issue—they wouldn’t want that, would they?”

If something happened to the Magic Tower delegation inside the Palace, it could escalate into a diplomatic conflict.

A full-scale investigation would surely follow. Even the Empress Dowager wouldn’t be able to act rashly.

In a paradoxical way, the Palace, where the Empress Dowager resided, might be the safest place from her.

‘I really racked my brain for this plan.’

I’d enter the Palace under the guise of attending the meeting, show my face briefly, and look for the female lead.

Once I met Ramona and learned of the Empress Dowager’s conspiracy, I was willing to gladly join the plan to eliminate her. Though I wasn’t sure if my help as a minor character like me would even be needed.

“Well, that makes sense, but isn’t it dangerous relying solely on that? If the culprit has a way out, how can you be sure they won’t try something again?”

“Yes, that’s why I have one more favor to ask. While I’m staying in the Palace, you’ll need to protect me, Tower Master. So that I don’t die at the culprit’s hands.”

“Hah.”

Roakin let out a hollow laugh, as if finding it absurd, and pointed at himself with his hand.

“You’re asking me to be a bodyguard?”

“Yes. Exactly that.”

I nodded brightly, with a cheerful smile.

“……And why would I do something like that?”

“Well, you weren’t planning on just sitting back and doing nothing while your subordinate is threatened with murder, were you?”

“Hmm. I heard that subordinate was going to quit? Why would I need to protect someone who’s no longer my concern? I’m not that idle, you know.”

Roakin laced his fingers behind his head and lounged against the bed like a well-fed lion. His attitude was nonchalant, as if telling me to try harder to pique his interest.

‘How petty, after three years of work.’

But this reaction wasn’t unexpected. I never dreamed the Tower Master would readily agree just by appealing to his sentiment.

I pulled out the card I had planned from the start.

“I’ll renew my contract.”

At that, Roakin looked at me with somewhat surprised eyes.

“……You’ll renew your contract?”

“Yes. If you’ll just help keep me alive until I find the culprit, I’ll renew. You wanted me to stay at the Tower, didn’t you, Tower Master? If you want to keep me working, first I have to stay alive, right?”

Catching a flicker of agitation in Roakin’s eyes, I seized the moment and poured out my words.

“That time in Erden Village, you saw the cake box slashed by a sword with your own eyes. I’m not just saying this lightly. This is a matter of life and death.”

Roakin, who had been quietly listening to my earnest plea, spoke after a moment.

“Alright. I accept that proposal.”

‘Nice!’

I cheered inwardly. Having won over the Tower Master would make things much easier.

“I don’t know what you’re planning to do in the Palace, but I’ll protect your life, and in return, you’ll renew your contract. However—.”

“……However?”

Roakin continued, a chilling expression on his face that looked like a smile but wasn’t quite one.

“I’ve been fooled once before, so I’m a bit uneasy. I’m worried you might run away again without a word later on.”

“Ah, that time…… it wasn’t because I wanted to; I had my own circumstances. This time, I’ll be indebted to you, Tower Master, and I’ve even promised with my own mouth to renew the contract. The situation is completely different.”

But despite my earnest explanation, the Tower Master still looked unconvinced.

Had he been deceived his whole life? Why was he so distrustful? They say once trust is broken, it’s hard to restore. It seemed words alone weren’t enough.

“If you really can’t trust me, shall we write up a contract right now?”

“That’s not a bad idea.”

The moment the words left his mouth, a golden border appeared in the air. And then, the same employment contract I had signed with my own hand about three years ago materialized.

‘He’s presenting it this quickly?!’

I had suggested it, but having the contract appear right before my eyes was disorienting.

As I hesitated, Roakin kindly placed a quill pen—appearing from who knows where—into my hand, and cruelly curled one corner of his mouth.

“What’s wrong? Go ahead and sign it.”

I stared at the contract, feeling like I wanted to cry.

Having to renew a slave contract in exchange for saving my life…….

Was it really meaningful to prolong my life in such a pathetic way?

A wave of disillusionment washed over me, but I had no other option. The only thing I could offer in this deal that would interest the Tower Master was the contract renewal.

I brought my trembling hand to the contract. But just as I was about to squeeze my eyes shut and scribble my signature, I suddenly felt that my hand had nothing under it.

“……?”

I cautiously opened my eyes. The contract had disappeared, and I was left awkwardly holding my arm bent in the air.

“Oh…?”

As I rolled my eyes in confusion, searching for the vanished contract, Roakin took the quill back from me and said with satisfaction.

“That’s enough. I’ve sufficiently confirmed your willingness to keep your promise.”

“……So I don’t need to sign the contract right now?”

“Let’s catch the culprit first. We’ll proceed with the renewal after that.”

“Are you sure that’s alright? What if I run away?”

Of course, I had absolutely no intention of breaking my promise and fleeing. But the conditions were so favorable to me that I asked, probing with suspicion.

In response, Roakin curled a sinister smirk on his lips and murmured in a threatening tone.

“If you’re curious, go ahead and try running. I’m curious to see what I’d do too.”

Suddenly, the image of the Tower Master sitting in my window, bathed in white moonlight in the middle of the night, flashed through my mind.

‘Crazy. There’s no way I’m doing that terrifying game of hide-and-seek again.’

I waved my hands, trying to dispel the chilling atmosphere.

“Whew, running away? That’s unthinkable. Well then…… I’ll take it that the deal between you and me today is settled, and take my leave. I’ll see you again tomorrow morning.”

After a light bow, I reached out to draw the canopy back when Roakin called me.

“Serpine, wait.”

I stopped my motion and turned my head slightly back to look at Roakin.

“Yes? Is there something else……?”

Roakin frowned heavily, as if recalling something horrific, and said.

“Do you still have that strange-tasting sleeping aid?”

‘Strange-tasting sleeping aid…….’

He must have been talking about that problematic sleeping aid I had heavily laced with asafoetida.

“Ah, that? No.”

I had only made a small batch as a trial, and since Roakin hadn’t shown any reaction while I was left feeling guilty for no reason, I had disposed of the rest.

“That’s a relief. Now that your resignation tantrum is over, fix the taste of the sleeping aid and send it up. I couldn’t sleep because that strange stuff made me nauseous.”

Roakin wore a look of utter contempt. It was a rather rotten expression for a face as beautiful as a painting.

Even the mighty Tower Master, it seemed, was no match for the asafoetida bomb.

‘Right, why did you force yourself to drink it while pretending it was fine?’

But since I had no excuse, even with ten mouths, for the atrocity of adding asafoetida to the sleeping aid, I tucked my tail between my legs.

“……Understood.”

Soon after, Lucifer came shuffling out from under the bed. It seemed he had been given the order to bring the sleeping aid.

Despite being urged to follow quickly, he kept dawdling, showing his annoyance. I scooped Lucifer up in one swift motion and carried him outside.