WHFIO 55

Chapter 55 Don’t Leave My Sight

Elsez examined the back of the note.

On the reverse side, only a single line was written: “Archmage’s Office, Top Floor of the Tower.”
It seemed to mean that anyone interested should go there directly.

“It’s suspicious from the start, but still… this is my chance to meet Rasiel.”

If she weren’t pretending to be his assistant, meeting Rasiel—who rarely showed himself—would be nearly impossible.

It was dubious, but an opportunity she couldn’t afford to miss.

After returning the note to its place, Elsez pushed through the crowd gathered before the bulletin board.

Then she looked up toward the very top of the Mage Tower—where the Archmage’s office sat closest to the night sky.

It could be a trap.

“But if the one waiting in that trap is you…”

Then I’ll gladly walk into it, Rasiel.

When Elsez arrived before the Archmage’s office, she stopped just before knocking.

She checked her disguise and outfit once more, took a deep breath, and then knocked on the door.

“Hello? I came after seeing the notice you posted on the board.”

But even after waiting a while, there was no response.

Just as she was about to knock again, the door opened.

The one who opened it wasn’t Rasiel, but a middle-aged man.

Unlike most mages who wore robes, he was dressed in a tailcoat—the kind butlers usually wore.

“Is he Rasiel’s man?”

If he were someone suspicious with ulterior motives, there’s no way he’d stand out so blatantly in a place full of mages.

“I’m here to see the Archmage. Is he inside?”

“He’s expecting you.”

The man—clearly a butler—guided Elsez into the office.

“So I’m finally meeting Rasiel.”

Swallowing nervously, Elsez stepped inside—only to find the room empty.

“This way, please.”

The butler gestured to one side of the room, where a shimmering portal stood.

“This leads to the master’s residence.”

“His private residence?”

“Yes.”

“And you’re letting me in just like that, without even checking who I am?”

“That’s for Lord Rasiel to decide.”

The butler smiled pleasantly, but Elsez couldn’t shake her suspicion.

“This feels way too much like some pyramid scheme or cult…”

Still, she had no other option.

Whether it was a pyramid scheme, a cult, or a trap, this was the only way to meet Rasiel.

And besides—

“Thanks to the Demon King’s power I resurrected with, at least I don’t have to fear a little danger.”

After all, the Demon King was the final boss of the game.

Her power hadn’t fully recovered yet, but it was enough that she wouldn’t die from a minor incident.

“Then I’d better make full use of this strength.”

With resolve in her eyes, Elsez stepped into the portal.

Blue light engulfed her, and the world around her turned dazzlingly bright.

When the light faded, she slowly opened her eyes.

The office had vanished—replaced by a vast mansion standing alone in the middle of a tranquil forest.

“It’s huge… I could get lost here.”

The estate looked about as large as the Duke of Ritenhaus’s domain she had visited not long ago.

While she was surveying the grand structure, the butler approached again.

“This way, miss.”

He led her inside.

Following behind, Elsez glanced around the mansion’s interior.

“No servants?”

Normally, noble mansions had maids and footmen bustling about. But here, there wasn’t a trace of life.

After a long walk through eerily quiet halls, they arrived at a sitting room.

“Lord Rasiel will join you shortly. Would you like some tea?”

“Anything’s fine, thank you.”

Once the butler left, Elsez looked around the room.

Through the balcony, she could see a wide backyard—but even there, not a single gardener or servant was present.

It was unnervingly empty.

Just as unease crept over her, the door clicked open.

Startled, Elsez turned—and came face to face with the man she had longed to see.

“…Rasiel.”

Droplets of water slid down his silver hair—he must have just bathed.

With a towel draped loosely over his shoulders, he dried his hair while meeting her eyes.

His amethyst-colored eyes—sharp and mysterious—fixed on her with quiet intensity.

Dazed, Elsez stared back for a moment before hurriedly standing up and greeting him.

“Ah, h-hello!”

Rasiel gave her a perfunctory glance and sat across from her.

Up close, Elsez noticed he was wearing only a loosely tied bathrobe—through which glimpses of his firm, sculpted body showed.

“…Was Rasiel always built like that?”

When they had lived together in the past, Cassian and Tezet often went shirtless, but Astaire and Rasiel never revealed their bodies.

“Tch, get a grip. Sit properly and look decent. …Or don’t. No, do. No—ugh.”

Just then, a droplet of water slid from his hair and landed on his bare chest.

“Why now, of all times, does the water have to drip there!?”

Guilty and flustered, Elsez quickly averted her eyes—

“What’s your name?”

“Eh?!”

Rasiel looked at her as though she’d just been caught doing something suspicious.

“I asked your name. You came here to work, didn’t you?”

“Ah… right. I’m Anna Ritz.”

Rasiel’s gaze lingered on her for a long moment.

“Ugh… he looks like he can see right through me.”

Elsez forced a bright, clueless smile. The air between them grew heavy with silence.

Just then, the butler returned, setting two teacups before them before retreating again.

Elsez glanced between the cup and Rasiel, then cautiously lifted the tea.

“This feels like a trap, but he wouldn’t go through the trouble of poisoning me just to kill someone.”

If Rasiel truly wanted her dead, he wouldn’t need poison.

They were in an isolated space, and he had overwhelming power.

If he wanted to kill her, he could’ve done it with magic long ago.

“Not that I’d actually die, but still.”

She sipped the tea. The soft fragrance of flowers spread across her tongue.

“This… it’s not expensive, but it’s the same tea I used to drink often when I was Luel.”

“…Coincidence?”

As she pondered, Rasiel’s calm voice cut through the air.

“Why do you want to be my assistant? You must have heard the rumors about me.”

Elsez set her cup down and met his indifferent eyes.

The interview had begun.

“Probably for the same reason you’re looking for an assistant despite those rumors.”

Rasiel raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her answer.

Elsez continued, answering her own question.

“Because despite everything, you need one. And I need the money.”

For others, a naive line like ‘I believe in you, not the rumors’ might have worked.

But this was Rasiel.

If she tried to appeal emotionally, he’d only suspect her of hiding ulterior motives.

After a quiet stare, Rasiel retrieved a parchment from his inventory and slid it across the table.

“Read it and sign.”

The interview ended far quicker than she expected. Elsez blinked in surprise.

“That’s… it?”

“Do you want more?”

Flustered, she looked down at the contract. It was simple.

Job: Document organization
Work hours: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Wage: 2 lukes per hour, 10 lukes per day
Contract period: One month (extendable upon mutual agreement)

Roughly translated, that was like earning 100,000 won an hour—half a million won a day.

“Wait, that’s… 15 million won a month!?”

Even someone like Elsez, who could single-handedly slay monsters, found the offer hard to resist.

She hadn’t come for money, but her eyes nearly sparkled at the thought.

Without hesitation, she signed the contract and smiled brightly.

“So, what should I do today?”

“Do whatever you need to. Until I call for you.”

“Anything at all?”

Rasiel gave a distracted nod.

“I’d love to keep him under surveillance twenty-four hours a day…”

For now, she decided to be patient. She still had a month.

“I’ll check the library in the meantime. Maybe there’s something there that can help solve my problem.”