episode_0005

“When you say ‘peculiar’…”

“Think about it. Has there ever been someone of the young lady’s age around her?”

“Not to my knowledge.”

“Exactly. All of Lady Firunea’s tutors were elderly, experienced scholars, and she had no friends to play with. The children of the family were intimidated by her, and those from other families kept their distance, overwhelmed by her presence. You are the first person of a similar age she has ever recognized as ‘hers.’”

“You’re calling me a toy, then.”

McClain frowned at my blunt phrasing but didn’t deny it.

“Perhaps, perhaps not. But what’s wrong with being a toy? You’ll earn your freedom in ten years. Isn’t it better to endure her whims safely for a decade than to suffer for eighty years as a commoner?”

It was a cutting remark—and the truth. No matter how much I struggled here, my starting point as a noble wouldn’t change. This much hardship was something I had to endure.

More than anything, I was already adapting. The helplessness and fury I’d felt when first ordered to learn magic had dulled. Now, I’d reached a state of resignation—”What’s next?”

“How long until I recover?”

“The physician said three weeks. Two cracked ribs, a fractured arm, and minor internal bruising. Not surprising, considering you tried to wrestle a lion barehanded.”

“Did I at least subdue the lion?”

“…Somehow, yes. The lion was knocked unconscious, and you were left in tatters. Try to restrain yourself next time.”

“It was the young lady’s order.”

McClain let out a deep sigh.

“From now on, I’ll mediate. I’ll speak to the master about allowing you to refuse excessively dangerous commands.”

“That won’t be necessary.”

My firm reply made McClain eye me curiously.

“Unnecessary? You nearly died.”

“I consider this training, too. I can’t remain a sheltered greenhouse flower forever.”

Truthfully, it was stubborn pride. I wanted to prove myself—to Firunea, who’d looked down on me, and perhaps to myself. That I wasn’t just someone who blindly followed orders. That I was a capable butler who could meet any demand.

McClain stared at me for a long moment before smiling faintly.

“You’ve got a ruthless streak. The blood of the Selbus family really is different.”

He stood and added,

“Rest well. The young lady will find another toy to occupy her for now.”

But his prediction was spectacularly wrong.

Just as I’d managed to sit up in the infirmary, the door burst open with a clatter, and Firunea stormed in, her face flushed with excitement.

“Virdem!”

“My lady? What brings you—”

She marched to my bedside, clutching a thick book.

“[Chronicles of Ancient Ruins]?”

“Yes! It’s so fun! Dodging traps, finding treasure—!”

“…And?”

A sense of foreboding crept over me. Firunea confirmed my fears with a single declaration.

“Let’s go too!”

“Pardon?”

“The ancient ruins! There’s an abandoned dwarven mine in the nearby mountains! We’re going!”

I recalled McClain’s words.

“From now on, I’ll mediate.”

…It seemed the time for mediation had come.

“My lady, abandoned mines are dangerous. They could collapse from the slightest disturbance, and we have no idea what threats might lurk inside.”

“It’s fine! I’ll be there!”

Firunea puffed out her chest confidently. Blue flames flickered to life in her palm—larger than before.

“And you’ll be there too! The butler who wrestled a lion!”

“…I wasn’t unarmed.”

A half-lie. If she knew I’d done it barehanded, she might send me after a dragon next.

Ignoring me, Firunea flipped open the book.

“Look! There’s even a map! It says there’s tons of hidden treasure!”

Her eyes sparkled with childlike curiosity and excitement. It was a look hard to refuse.

“…Give me time to prepare.”

I surrendered.

“We’ll need equipment and information. It’ll take at least a week.”

“Ugh, too long!”

Firunea pouted.

“Three days! Get ready in three!”

“My lady, that’s hardly—”

“No! Three days!”

She was immovable. I sighed and nodded.

“As you command.”

Damn these ten years of service. Now I had to become a survival expert too?

—

The moment I was discharged, I buried myself in the library. Records on the “Black Fang Mine”—the abandoned dwarven site Firunea mentioned—were more plentiful than expected. Centuries ago, dwarves had mined silver and mithril there before abruptly abandoning it for unknown reasons. A few explorers had ventured in, but most returned empty-handed.

“Unknown reasons.” The most unsettling part.

I compiled a list: ropes, climbing gear, lanterns, rations, water, medical supplies, weapons (just in case), and gas masks—toxic fumes were a real possibility.

When I submitted the list to McClain, he looked horrified.

“You’re really going through with this?”

“The young lady’s orders. And wasn’t it you who assured me it was safe?”

“I did. The moment she declared this expedition, hundreds of servants were sent to scour the place for dangers. No monsters remain. Still, I’ll try to dissuade the master—”

“Don’t bother. You won’t stop her.”

Seeing my resigned expression, McClain fell silent.

He procured everything—top-quality, no less—even adding a gas detector and a portable barrier generator.

“These are my personal spares. Be careful. Though thirty Shadow Guards will be tailing you, they won’t lift a finger to protect you.”

“Thank you, Head Butler.”

A warmth flickered in my chest. At least someone cared.

—

Three days passed in a blink. After sleepless nights, I was ready. The two expedition packs were heavy—one for me, the other for Firunea (who’d inevitably make me carry hers).

At dawn on the appointed day, I waited outside the mansion.

Firunea appeared not in her usual lavish dress but in practical trousers and a tunic, a small backpack slung over her shoulders—undoubtedly stuffed with snacks.

“All set?”

“Yes, my lady. We can depart whenever you’re ready.”

“Great! Let’s go, Virdem! Treasure awaits!”

She bounded ahead excitedly. I sighed but shouldered both packs and followed.

The Black Fang Mine was a half-day’s ride into the mountains.

The entrance, choked with vines and weeds, was easy to miss. Firunea nearly sprinted inside the moment we arrived.

“My lady, wait!”

I grabbed her arm.

“Safety checks first.”

I scanned the entrance with a mana detector—no dangerous readings. Air samples came back normal too.

“It’ll be dark and slippery inside. Stay close.”

“Yeah, yeah. Less talking, more going!”

She shook me off and lit her lantern.

I activated the barrier generator—a weak shield covering five meters. Better than nothing.

The mine was damp and dark, water dripping from the walls, the ground soggy underfoot. Rusted pickaxes and carts littered the path.

“Wow… It’s ancient.”

Firunea gaped at everything.

“Watch your step, my lady.”

We followed her map deeper, though time had altered the terrain. Dead ends and collapsed tunnels forced detours.

After an hour, we reached a cavern—a subterranean lake at its center, faintly glowing ore embedded in the walls.

“Look, Virdem! Shiny rocks!”

She darted toward the lake.

“My lady, it’s dangerous!”

I stopped her and tested the water. Clear, but depth unknown. The ore was low-grade mana crystals—hardly treasure.

“Disappointing, my lady.”

“Boring.”

She pouted and scanned the area.

“Where’s the real treasure?”

“Let’s check the map again.”

I unfolded it under the lantern’s glow. A hidden passage was marked behind a dwarven mural.

“Here. There might be something behind this.”

We examined the mural for mechanisms.

“Found it!”

Firunea pointed to a subtly different stone. Pressing it, the wall slid aside with a grind, revealing a passage.

“It was real! You were right, Virdem!”

Her face lit up.

Meanwhile, I realized with horror:

…The servants set this up.