"Just as I thought. He's already back!"
Han Su's heart tightened. Good thing he hadn't recklessly summoned a door and rushed through it. Otherwise, he might have ended up right in the man's arms along with Pot Lid Head.
His last trip to the Ancient Castle had taught him that the Old Butler returned around midnight, about ten minutes after the Black Cat appeared. This time, the key was with Ghost Princess, so the only chance to steal it was during that window.
No matter what he did, there was no way he could get the key before the Old Butler returned. In other words, he couldn't avoid him.
Besides, back then, he hadn't known that the Black Cat's help would make rescuing Pot Lid Head go so smoothly.
So he'd never expected to avoid the old bastard completely and escape before he came back.
That was also why he'd arranged for the children on the first floor to help draw attention away from him, or warn him if necessary. But although there had been no sign of a commotion downstairs, footsteps had started echoing on the staircase to the right.
Had the scheming old bastard returned to the Ancient Castle, noticed what had happened on the first floor, then quietly come upstairs to look for him?
In that case, I'll find you something to do.
As the thought crossed his mind, he picked up a candle stub and quietly tugged Pot Lid Head into the room he'd passed through on his way upstairs. When he listened again, he could already hear heavy footsteps coming from the staircase on the right.
Clearly, using the Spell to hear the man's footsteps had also helped him pinpoint Han Su's location in the ninth-floor area.
Just then, someone lightly poked him in the