Several of the more prominent recruits were held back by the end of the dinner. Mainly because others wanted to talk to them, and mainly because some wanted to build connections.
Kyle and Zoey were the most obvious targets within the department. Not only were the two extremely talented, but they also had the highest chances of becoming the next Team Leaders.
Rowan stayed behind for this reason. That… and the fact that he liked Zoey. It was just a pity that she didn’t really show much interest in that regard, but Rowan was fine with that.
He was a patient man.
“Wow, I can’t seem to catch a break.”
“Same.”
“It was late at night when most of the people had left, and there were only a few people left. Kyle and Zoey both looked rather tired.
“…I’m faring a bit better than both of you, haha.”
As Rowan laughed, Kyle smiled at him.
“Don’t worry. You’ll get to that point eventually. You’re quite talented, so I can see that you’ll eventually be in a similar situation. You should get ready for when the time happens.”
“I’m not so sure I’d like that.”
Rowan scratched the back of his head while he looked at Zoey.
She seemed to be looking for someone.
“What do you think?”
Rowan addressed her, his smile pure and gentle.
“Huh? Think what?”
Snapping out of it, Zoey looked at Rowan.
“I wasn’t paying attention. What did you say?”
Rowan wasn’t at all mad and explained slowly.
“It’s nothing really. Kyle said that I’m soon going to be suffering like the two of you.”
“You are?”
Zoey looked at him weirdly before shrugging.
“Maybe? I don’t really know. If you’re good, I guess.”
Zoey’s replies were quite short and disinterested. Not really too different from how she usually was with most people.
Rowan didn’t mind it. He liked her indifference.
“By the way, where did Seth go?”
But at that moment, his focus shattered, and his ears perked up. Why did she bring that guy up again?
Kyle’s face, on the other hand, grew a little tense.
“Huh? Seth?”
“Are there any other Seths?”
“…Oh, I don’t really know.”
Kyle looked away, and Zoey’s eyes narrowed.
“You definitely know where that bastard went!”
“No…?”
“Why is your voice so high?”
Kyle winced as he stepped back. On the other hand, Zoey’s eyes turned even more predatory as she looked at him.
“I swear. If you don’t tell me where he is, I’ll make sure to strangle both of you at the same time.”
“He really annoyed you, huh?”
Unable to remain passive, Rowan suddenly spoke. His face was still gentle, his eyes never leaving Zoey. This was a new side of her he had never seen. He quite liked it.
“Annoyed?”
Zoey spared him a glance before lowering her hands.
Eventually, she sighed while clicking her tongue at Kyle.
“More or less.”
Rowan smiled.
“I see.”
That’s all he really needed to hear.
Shortly after, everyone began to split, all heading towards their own dorms. All with the exception of Rowan, who headed back to the Guild.
’So she really doesn’t like him…’
Taking the elevator that brought him to the lowest floor, he came out and headed back to the offices. There were a few people still present, but it was mostly empty, with most of the people present practically half-asleep.
Rowan’s gaze moved around the room before eventually settling on a certain room.
’That should be his office, right?’
Yes, it should be.
He remembered that room being some sort of old basement.
Quickly glancing around, Rowan made his way towards the office and lowered his body slightly to stare at the keyhole.
’No security, huh?’
He quickly smiled before shaking his head.
Of course, there was no security. This Seth was merely just a regular human.
Rowan wasn’t really planning on doing too much. He just wanted to teach him a little lesson. This would probably be enough to satisfy Zoey. And then maybe…
Click!
With a single flick of his hand, a key formed, and he used it to unlock the door. As someone who specialized in the [Conceptualization] Decree, this was nothing.
Opening the door, Rowan stepped into the office and closed the door behind him.
“Let’s see.”
He took out his phone, turned on the flashlight, and lit up the area ahead.
He could’ve turned on the room lights, but he wasn’t planning on staying for long. He didn’t want to make it look like someone was inside from the outside.
The office was quite small, and there didn’t seem to be much in it.
’That should be his desk, right?’
Spotting the desk, Rowan was just about to head there when he paused.
“Hm?”
Turning his head, his gaze fell on what looked like a painting. He wasn’t quite sure since it was turned.
’Does he like art?’
Curious, he moved towards the painting and turned it over.
“What sort of painting is this?”
Rowan narrowed his eyes at the painting. It wasn’t bad, depicting a girl dressed in white as she stood at the center, clutching an umbrella that obscured her face.
“He really paid for something like this?”
Rowan shook his head as he blinked his eyes.
“Hm?”
But just as he did, his brow rose.
“I swear the little girl was just a little bit further back. Am I seeing wrong?”
Rowan moved his face closer to the painting. However, after a while, he shook his head and laughed.
“…I guess I’m just tired. It’s also strangely cold.”
He didn’t really notice it before, but the room was quite cold.
It was also extremely quiet.
For some reason, he felt his body tense.
Flick!
“…..!”
All of a sudden, the lights of the room flicked up, and his head snapped towards the switch.
“What the…”
As the light covered the entire room, Rowan looked up.
“Are the lights broken or something? Or—”
Flick!
The lights switched off as fast as they switched on.
Once again, the darkness took over.
For some reason, his body tensed. A cold shiver ran down his spine.
“What sort of shitty room is this?”
Frowning, Rowan was just about to go to the light switch when…
“…..!”
His gaze fell on the painting again.
Tak!
The painting dropped from his hand, falling face up against the floor as he took several steps back.
With his eyes glued on the painting, Rowan held onto his chest.
That… That… That…
The girl…
She was closer than before.
“No, that makes no—Huh?”
Feeling his back touch against something, Rowan paused. His entire body seemed to tense as he slowly turned his head.
“…..!”
His heart nearly leaped out of his chest as he saw a massive, shadowy figure appear behind him.
Without thinking, almost on instinct, a weapon formed in Rowan’s hand as he moved to fight, but just as he was about to strike, a hand suddenly grabbed his ankle.
His entire body paused.
And as he slowly lowered his head, he saw the face of a little girl emerge from the painting as her pale features became clear to him. A deep and wide smile marred her features as she settled her gaze on him.
“Hihihi.”
A cheerful laughter filled the room as she latched onto his ankle.
“Come play with me~”
“No, no…”
Panic surged through Rowan as he struggled to pull his feet free, but the girl’s grip was far stronger than he’d expected, pulling him towards the painting.
“No, no, no—hmm! Hhmmmm!!”
Before he even had the chance to scream, a black hand covered his mouth, and his eyes widened in horror.
Then…
“Hihihi.”
Under the little girl’s laugh, he was slowly brought into the painting.
“Play~ Play~ Play~”
Help!!
Someone help!!!