Chapter 8

"Can you tell me about yourself?"

During the free time after dinner, Cain, who was relaxing in his room, spoke to Irvaleeno.

Irvaleeno's injury had fully healed, and although he still couldn't run, he could walk without any problems.

There was no longer a reason to keep him at the duke's residence.

"..."

"You can just tell me the surface stuff. You can read and have good table manners, so you're not a homeless kid, right?"

"..."

"An orphan from an orphanage, a commoner living in town, or a commoner living outside of town? Don't you have someone who will worry if you don't return for half a month?"

"..."

"Even though you can walk now, you're not fully recovered yet. Tell me how far I need to take you."

"I can walk back."

With his unapproachable attitude, Cain narrowed his eyes and turned his head around, making a "click" sound.

"I'm not asking you to tell me about an assassination organization or anything... "

"..."

"Did you lose your voice? Are you a mermaid princess?"

"..."

Irvaleeno's puzzled face showed that the mermaid princess reference didn't resonate with him. While escaping into the fantasy of becoming a fairy tale writer with his transmigration knowledge, Cain sighed.

"Irvaleeno, would you consider becoming my valet?"

"Huh?"

"I was thinking of sending you home now that you've recovered, but I want you to come back. Would you work here in this house?"

"You don't have that authority, do you?"

"I don't."

Finally, he's willing to talk, thought Cain as he straightened his slouching posture and sat back on the sofa.

"I don't have the authority, but I need to know about you to convince my father. Your impression on my mother and the nursemaid is very good because Dian has taken a liking to you. You were offered a job here before, right? Your table manners and behavior are quite good... and you behaved well during your stay."

(You didn't steal or misbehave during your half-month stay at the duke's residence.)

"What benefits do I get from serving a stuffy noble like you?"

"There are only benefits. First, the salary is good."

"Huh? Salary?"

"Also, you won't have to spend money on living expenses, so you can save. If you become my valet, you'll live here. You won't need rent, and meals will be provided. Uniforms are provided, so they're free. Since you won't have to spend money on food, clothing, and housing, you can send your entire salary to your family."

"......"

Motivation and helping others are just formalities; money is important.

When he worked at a company with regular hours but low pay, and started making videos, he spent all his savings and emptied his wallet buying equipment and materials. He ate only bean sprout pasta every other day and survived on water on the other days. His heart was very worn out during that time. Poverty robs you of peace of mind.

Irvaleeno's face showed a hint of hesitation.

"Elgrandark is one of the three major ducal families. You'll be in a position to gather information by infiltrating there. If you start showing your face in various places as my valet, you'll build a network. ... If you tell the people you're staying with, they probably won't object."

Irvaleeno's face lit up in surprise.

Is it okay for an assassin to show such a reaction? Maybe it's fine because he's an assassin, not a spy.

"I don't really care about your affiliation or where you were coming from when you fell in the garden. As long as you don't harm Dian, it's fine if you continue to be connected to your organization or keep working for them. The fact that I know your name and that I assume you're an assassin is trivial and unimportant."

"... You're using 'I' now."

"Oops. ... It's unimportant to me. Irvaleeno."

He smiled and crossed his legs. At six years old, his legs were short, and the crossed leg didn't look cool.

"Irvaleeno, I want to keep you within my sight. That's my only wish."

Cain didn't want to create a connection with Irvaleeno before the game's starting point or burden him with a dark heart. To avoid the assassin route, Cain couldn't leave Irvaleeno alone.

It was lucky that he intercepted the event where the protagonist meets Irvaleeno in a near-death state. Early rising is indeed a virtue; if he hadn't gone for an early morning run, he would have missed this opportunity.

"Irvaleeno, I want you to stay by my side. Don't disappear from my sight."

Irvaleeno's mouth curved into a frown, and he trembled slightly, his face turning red.

Cain stared intently at Irvaleeno's eyes, finding it amusing as they gradually moistened, but he maintained a serious expression.

"You know the power of your face, don't you?"

"Of course."

After all, he's a target in a dating simulation game. Cain kept this thought to himself.

Irvaleeno let out a dramatic sigh.

"I live in an orphanage at the western end of town."

"Oh, the one attached to the temple?"

It seemed he had finally decided to reveal his background.

Looking away and speaking in a low voice, he continued.

"I'm in the older group, so I often go out to work. It's not unusual for me to be gone for half a month, so no one will worry. Don't do anything unnecessary."

"I will do something. After discussing with my mother, I'll go with you when the day to return to the orphanage is decided. I need to greet them."

"Don't do anything unnecessary!"

In response to Irvaleeno's loudest voice since being picked up, Cain just laughed out loud without answering.