I Became the Narrow-Eyed Henchman of the Evil Boss

As Knemon and Lampades stepped out the door, Orthes greeted them with his still suspicious face.

“How is it? Did your curiosity get resolved?”

Of course, the curiosity was resolved. It was just that the unease began to grow in the empty space left behind.

There was no strength left to respond to Orthes, who was grinning. They nodded once and started trudging toward their assigned lodgings.

The first to speak was Knemon.

“Did you find out anything?”

“About what?”

“That temple worker who came in between.”

“…That would be Kaicle.”

‘Aren’t you surprised?’ Knemon was puzzled by Lampades’s calm reaction. Lampades wasn’t a cowardly person—if he were, he couldn’t play the troubleshooter at the front line to begin with—but he wouldn’t have predicted such a situation.

Lampades thought, ‘I really have no idea anymore.’

To him, the first impression of Carisia was that she was nothing like Orthes.

‘…Was the image I saw a performance?’

What had happened today? Orthes bowed his head before her, and the depth of his subtle appreciation seemed deep enough to swallow the world.

The strength to call the Mage Tower Master, who had been hiding for decades, just a mere temple worker.

The term ‘mere temple worker’ carried multiple implications. Someone like Kaicle, confident in their belief that they were no different from any ordinary mage in front of him.

Even saying they saw Kaicle here would likely not make it known to the world. Whether it was due to their information warfare skills that had successfully hidden the Hydra Corporation from the eyes of the Ten Towers until now, or if it meant they could deal with anyone who dared to speak thusly, was unknown.

‘It’s probably both.’

As Lampades found himself confused by the true nature of Carisia, Knemon realized that his own inner self had become slightly calmer.

He had been living in haste all this time.

Though no one was pursuing him, he lived in constant dread, fearing when Orthes would reveal beasts from beyond the shadows.

Even in his hometown, where he finally mustered the courage to return, that anxiety never left.

Beyond that window, in the darkness of the alley, perhaps even within the walls. He had no idea when and where Orthes would demand payment for the artifact.

That long-standing anxiety had now been cut off. It was through being dragged along by Orthes and confronting the great evil to whom he owed loyalty.

As the most feared situation came to fruition, there was now nothing left to fear. It was a strange sense of relief that rose from resignation.

‘Come to think of it, it’s like multi-level marketing.’

Following Lampades to meet Orthes, then following Orthes to meet Carisia. It felt like ascending to the pinnacle of a pyramid.

“Are you really going to tell me?”

“Are you planning to keep listening to Orthes’s commands?”

The two former troubleshooters walked out, sensing a mysterious bond that came from having survived the front lines together. They were on the path to hell, but at least they weren’t alone.

*

Meanwhile, as Lampades and Kaicle lamented their situation, Orthes was summoned before Carisia.

“Orthes.”

“Yes, Boss.”

“What were you doing? Where were you?”

“Huh?”

Carisia began twirling a strand of her hair, a habit she had when she had a lot to say but couldn’t organize her thoughts properly.

“So, you said you’d guard outside the office, yet you didn’t come in at all? Then suddenly Kaicle shows up. If you had been in your place all along, it wouldn’t have happened.”

Orthes sighed. He had received a sudden call and had stepped away for a moment, and during that time!

“I had quite the trouble making excuses.”

“How did you excuse it?”

“I just said I was a company subordinate.”

“I hate to say it, but Boss, neither Lampades nor Knemon have such poor eyesight.”

Carisia shrugged.

“If I say I’m not, what can those people do?”

“Oh, Boss…!”

Carisia wasn’t making any excuses mindlessly. It was a logical conclusion; she knew that if she claimed to be a subordinate, Knemon and Lampades would have no grounds to object and pushed forward with it.

Sometimes, strong power itself can be persuasive. Isn’t persuasive power a sort of strength?

Orthes pressed his forehead.

It was indeed a mistake caused by him being absent, but couldn’t Carisia’s brain have come up with a better solution?

“If you say that, it makes our company sound like some kind of secret organization aiming for world conquest. It’s basically the same as saying, ‘That guy was the weakest among us.’”

“What are you talking about? Isn’t that what a secret organization trying to conquer the world is?”

“Oh.”

Now that he thought about it, that was true. The founding purpose of the Hydra Corporation was the destruction of the White Light. Orthes quickly changed the subject.

“It’s about time we gauge when to reveal the company’s real purpose to the directors.”

“I think it would be appropriate to announce it together once the Artificial Ten Commandments are completed.”

“Because for now, we can’t accurately determine when it will be completed.”

As Orthes spoke, Carisia, who had been nodding along, suddenly lifted her head.

“So. What was the reason you were away?”

“It was a contact from the Divine Cult. Along with their thanks for the last incident, they were probing about how I managed to take down the Elder.”

Carisia stroked her chin. Indeed, aside from Carisia, the only group that knew Orthes was the one who took down the Elder of the Ten Towers was the Divine Cult.

“The fact that they’ve contacted you like this means you might have need for something else. But still, being too dependent on outsiders feels off.”

Carisia didn’t pry further about the Divine Cult’s contact. If support was needed, Orthes would report it on his own.

If not, he would handle his work like any other day, tiredly saying, ‘Today was tough again’ and whining a bit.

The memories of the premonition during the Talo incident flashed in Carisia’s mind. The Elders of the Ten Towers who had set out to catch Orthes.

Even for Orthes, winning a fierce battle with multiple Elders without injury was nearly impossible. Carisia took out the elimination she had been keeping and threw it.

“Boss?”

“If you have some place to go, take this with you. We shouldn’t get caught up in dangerous situations again like last time.”

Orthes shook his head and returned the elimination to Carisia’s palm.

“We haven’t even set a specific date to meet the Divine Cult yet.”

Reluctantly putting the elimination back, Carisia shrugged her shoulders in response to Orthes.

“So what did you tell them?”

“I told them the truth. But I said most of it was my idea. You are merely a poor sales subordinate who had to call on your connections because of your eccentric boss’s commands.”

Orthes admired softly. Who would have thought Carisia would go so far as to take the blame for her subordinate?

“Oh, by the way, I forgot to discuss what to give Knemon. Please ask him once you start working.”

Orthes nodded.

That was the reason why Knemon ran into Orthes as soon as he opened the guest room door in the morning.

*

“Uhhuhuh?!”

“Haha, why are you so surprised?”

Orthes flashed what he thought was a friendly smile and chattered.

“By the way, you live quite regularly. Waking up at this early hour just like during your troubleshooter days.”

“What brings you here?”

“Haha, it seems we’ve become those types of acquaintances who only meet when there’s work to be done.”

Knemon shut his mouth. What could be his intention in mentioning their old friendship now? Was he blaming him for running away?

“But well. It’s true that I came for work. Can you spare a moment?”

After glancing at Orthes’s face, Knemon nodded. He had realized that refusing here would be meaningless.

They arrived at the employee cafeteria of the Hydra Corporation after walking through the corridors. Orthes felt regret that the first serious conversation with an old friend was about compensation.

Knemon, who didn’t understand what was going on, took a tray first.

“Please eat while listening.”

As doubts rose whether he had called him just to eat, Orthes opened his mouth.

“Our boss is truly a fair person.”

“Fair?”

“Yes. I had appealed to old ties to bring you in, but in any case, this is work, isn’t it? Thus, our boss said he’d match any conditions you desire as much as possible.”

“Compensation…”

Knemon swallowed his true feelings; after all, if his plan succeeded, there would be no money or anything left.

“I don’t particularly have any wishes, though.”

“Oh come on, don’t say that. Have you seen me lie?”

Suddenly, a scene from the past flashed in Knemon’s mind: the gang from the Apex Towers brutally trampling on his Mage Tower.

‘If the world is going to be turned upside down anyway, wouldn’t it be alright to fulfill one private desire?’

In a state close to despair, Knemon opened his mouth.

“I have a Mage Tower I want to finish.”

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