~Chapter 22~
‘Was everything I just felt… a misunderstanding?’
He had heard about the girl briefly from his sister.
She didn’t say much, only that she was “someone special.”
After that, he started gathering information.
The illegitimate child of House Egbert.
Egbert’s disgrace.
Egbert’s shame.
A discarded piece of trash.
Gathering info on Esther wasn’t that hard—at least for this black sheep of the Egbert family.
Her parents caused quite the scandal back in the day.
People from high society talked freely about her.
Servants bought with money spoke without hesitation.
Stupid beast. Filthy illegitimate child. Most of the words describing her were like that.
But this child… had healed him. Easily, simply, and in a way no one else knew.
He had been planning to meet her soon. He just hadn’t expected her to come first.
And to bring his sister with her.
Glancing sideways, he saw his assistant Rotten furrowing his brow, staring at Esther with a strange expression.
“You’ll be my subordinate.”
“…Why would I ever…”
“I can fix you. I know. Your white hair and red eyes.”
“…What?”
Rio Argos’s jaw dropped.
“I fix you. You become my number three subordinate.”
“Three? Not even number one or two? Why am I number three?!”
Apparently, he had some pride.
“One is Shiphon. Two is the squirrel. So you’re three.”
“…Sister’s number one? I can accept that—she’s amazing. But why the squirrel?!”
Rio shouted and pointed at Ros, who was perched on Esther’s shoulder.
Ros narrowed his eyes and then bit Rio’s finger.
“OW!”
“You’re noisy, human! Kyut! I am the great Uroboros—”
“Ros.”
“The great Ros…!” he mumbled sadly, correcting himself at Esther’s prompt.
“The squirrel… talks?”
“It’s a magical beast.”
Rotten muttered softly.
Technically, it was a divine magical beast.
He leaned in to inspect Ros more closely.
“Magical beast? They can talk?”
“Very high-level ones can. This one is called a Skimo.”
“Skimo?”
“Yes, also called a chameleon squirrel. Depending on where it grows up, it develops different traits and powers.”
That name… was new to her.
Humans really named everything. She just thought of him as a demon realm squirrel.
“It changes based on where it grows up?”
“Yes. Near water—uses water magic. Grows up in wind valleys—uses wind magic.”
Rio’s eyes widened.
“I think I read about that. Very smart and very rare.”
As they kept talking, Ros’s tail wagged faster and faster—like a dog.
“Kyuuut~!”
He even looked happy.
“They’re cute too, so their fur and tails are used in magical accessories.”
At Rotten’s comment, Ros froze stiff.
Rotten’s gaze slowly scanned Ros like he was about to skin him alive.
“Kyuu?! H-how rude!”
Ros immediately dove into Esther’s clothes—only his face sticking out.
‘…Is this what smart looks like?’
Esther looked at the fluffy tail wagging outside her shirt.
“Never seen anyone raise a magical beast before.”
“I’m a genius.”
That was her answer to everything.
“…So, can you really cure me? I tried everything. No one could do it.”
No surprise—it was a condition found only rarely among western tribes.
“Yup. Mix a herb called Keshifa and a fruit called Iroa. Eat it for 100 days.”
She stretched her palms wide as she explained.
“…100 days?”
“I thought Keshifa was poisonous.”
Rotten asked, amused.
“It is. But mix it with Iroa fruit—it works. You’ll see the sun, your eyes and hair will change. And you’ll be my subordinate.”
Rio’s eyes glinted with desire as he stared at Esther.
“Really?”
“Yup.”
“I can be cured?”
“Yup. I swear. I don’t lie.”
Rio clenched his fist and nodded.
‘Now that I’ve got a cash cow, time to gather capital for my independence.’
Esther grinned and hopped off the sofa.
“Oh, and why did you mess with Rosaline?”
“Rosaline? Oh, that… She bullied my sister for a long time, so I paid her back.”
“When you bully someone, you should always think—‘what if it happens to me?’”
But clearly, he didn’t expect his sister—fallen noble Shiphon—to have a powerful little brother running an info guild.
“Sigh, whatever. You’re number 3 now. Got it?”
“If I really get cured… I’ll be number 3—or even 30.”
If he could just stand proudly beneath the sun he once hated.
“Yup.”
With things wrapped up, Esther hopped down from the couch.
“Bye then!”
“…You’re just leaving?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“…No, I’ll contact you later.”
Esther nodded and turned without regret.
‘How much will a red exclamation mark give me?’
She’d have to wait 100 days to see results.
‘Once it hits 10%, I’ll summon a demon.’
No helper yet—things were getting inconvenient.
As she left, Rio clenched his fist tightly. Rotten spoke.
“You finally found a way. Congratulations.”
“Yeah… not sure yet, but…”
“Remember our deal? I said I’d help until you got what you wanted.”
Rio looked at him and nodded—he understood.
Today, he’d gotten what he wanted. He still needed to test it, but it didn’t feel like a lie.
Even though he’d never seen this girl before, he somehow believed her.
“You’re leaving?”
“Yes. I found someone more interesting. But I’ll still use the guild.”
From the start, Rotten had stayed with him as a favor after saving his life.
Out of curiosity more than loyalty.
He enjoyed watching Rio’s intellect, struggle, and growth from the bottom.
Rio also knew “Rotten” wasn’t his real name.
Who would name their child “Rotten”?
“As you wish.”
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
It was a clean farewell—with no regret, despite years together.
Later…
After finishing up with Rosaline’s situation, Esther returned home with Shiphon—only to find her room crowded with people.
“…What is this?”
“What are you people doing in the young miss’s room?!”
Before Esther could even mumble, Shiphon burst out, hands on her hips, yelling at the busy crowd.
Everyone’s attention snapped to Shiphon… then shifted to Esther behind her.
A woman who seemed in charge stepped forward, lifted her dress slightly, and greeted Esther.
Her fluffy sky-blue hair fluttered.
“Nice to meet you. You must be Lady Esther?”
“Yup. Who are you?”
“I’m designer Silonia. I came by order of Lord Kaelos—to fix your room and make you clothes.”
Esther’s eyes went round. So he found out she helped him in the mountains.
And this was his thank-you gift?
“Hmm… really? My dad?”
“Yes. If you need or want anything, just let us know.”
“Hmmm…”
Esther rubbed her chin.
She couldn’t let free money go. She needed clothes—and maybe something for Shiphon and Ros too.
She bowed her head in thought.
‘She’s probably hesitating. She’s still just a child.’
Seeing Esther thinking, Silonia tried to hide her sympathetic expression and waited patiently.
Of course, Esther was thinking something entirely different.
‘New pushover—secured.’
Esther couldn’t stop her lips from twitching into a smile.
“Take your time deciding.”
So Esther did.
She took her sweet, careful time.
