Chapter 407 192: If You Won't Call, I Will

It was already dark by the time Sean and the others returned to Kovloki Castle.

The chef had prepared a sumptuous dinner, along with several bottles of vintage Champagne found in Bofunova's room.

Tonight was their last night in Sonaros State. First thing tomorrow morning, they would take a flight back to Siracle State.

"From now on, this castle is yours." Sean raised his glass with a smile, speaking to Konina and Genduo. "I hope that the next time we visit, you'll be running this place even better than the Kovloki Family did."

Genduo nodded emphatically. "We'll do our best."

Konina joked, "You've saved us twice and given us such a huge gift. Putting everything else aside, for this favor alone, we'll give it our all to manage Sonaros State well for you... Of course, that's assuming you don't forget about us. Otherwise, we'll just pocket all the money we make."

"Don't worry."

Sean said, "I'm sure I'll forget."

Konina: "?"

Sean clinked his glass with hers and said, "You know me, I'm always busy."

'I used to be busy writing, and now I'm busy with my 'revival'.'

'It was fine as long as I didn't think too deeply about it, but once I did, I realized there was a lot to do.'

'For instance, there was Dorunla and the farm where she grew up. Then there were Holkaydo's coordinates for the "New World," and all those missing bodies. According to Elise in Krim State, the Wolf Family castle had a morgue just like the Florist Family's—and it was also empty, with no clue where the bodies had been taken.'

'But one thing was certain: this was definitely not a good sign.'

With one thing after another like this, Sean had no idea when he would have the time to visit Sonaros State again.

"Alright, alright, I get it, you're a busy man." Konina rolled her eyes at Sean, thinking to herself, 'This guy is the same as ever, totally oblivious to my hints.'

Then again, who would have thought that her handsome neighbor would one day become her big boss?

Let alone that Wizards were real, and that she would become one herself.

Every time she thought back on her experiences over the past six months, it felt surreal and magical. It was both terrifying and exciting... Perhaps this was the Charm of life—you never knew who the people around you really were, whether they were human or ghost.

Halfway through the dinner, Konina, who had drunk quite a bit, was already looking tipsy.

Yisha and the other girls were also getting a little buzzed, huddling close together and loudly whispering secrets to each other.

It was proof that the Champagne was indeed good—at least, it was plenty strong.

Only Eleanor hadn't drunk much, looking as if something was weighing on her mind.

"What's wrong?" Sean noticed the young woman's strange behavior and asked, "Don't you like to drink?"

"That's not it." Eleanor shook her head. "I was thinking about this afternoon."

Her intuition as a Grand Mage told her that there might be unknown secrets hidden deeper inside the Gate of Hell. She felt she should have gone down to take a look. She'd assumed Sean would send her, so she didn't say anything at the time. She never expected him to just call it a day, which left her feeling very conflicted...

'She couldn't just publicly defy her Master's wishes and say she had other ideas, could she?'

'She couldn't make Sean lose face.'

'But doing nothing made her feel so useless.'

'She was a Grand Mage, and still, she couldn't help Sean.'

"How about... Master, you give me an order now to go back and take a look?" Eleanor asked tentatively.

Sean was both exasperated and amused. "Are you just looking for trouble?"

Eleanor felt a little wronged. "Don't you want to know what's down there, Master?"

"I do," Sean said bluntly. "But I won't let you go."

"You're the strongest one we have here. If you run into danger, no one can help you."

"If something happened to you, how could I explain it to your sister?"

'This girl doesn't seem stupid, so how can she not understand something so simple?'

Eleanor: "..."

'So he was worried about me?'

Eleanor looked up at Sean. Even though his tone was rather stern, she felt as if she had been rewarded. Her eyes sparkled, her conflict suddenly gone. She raised her glass and said, "The Master's lesson is correct. Eleanor will punish herself with a drink."

"You should be punished." Sean snorted. "Don't leave a single drop."

"Yes, Master." Eleanor tilted her fair neck back and drained the large glass of Champagne in one go.

Meanwhile, Elise was tapping her chopsticks on the side. "Hey, hey, hey."

"What do you mean by that, Mr. Writer?"

She said irritably, "So you can't bear to let your Maid risk her life, but you're perfectly fine with sending me into danger, is that it?"

"Oh, come on, I was just kidding," Sean said, trying to soothe her.

"And what if I took you seriously?" Elise asked.

"You wouldn't."

Sean said, "Even if you did, with your level of skill, you wouldn't be able to get down there anyway!"

Elise: "?"

"Oh, great. Now you're looking down on me."

"You used to be so polite, always calling me 'Miss Elise.' Now that you have a more powerful Maid to back you up, you're saying I'm useless..."

Elise let out a stream of snark, and as she spoke, she pulled Elvire, who was beside her, closer. "See? This is his true face. Hmph, men!"

Elvire didn't respond.

Although she was also annoyed that Sean was so protective of Eleanor, when she put herself in his shoes, she could understand. A Maid wasn't a slave, much less a suicide soldier. Sean's relationship with Eleanor was like her own with Elise—they were friends as well as superior and subordinate. If it were her, she wouldn't let Elise go on a dangerous adventure either.

'More importantly, Sean was the man she had her sights set on.'

'If she went along with what Elise was saying, wouldn't that be the same as admitting her own taste in men was terrible? She'd just be making a fool of herself.'