Ruger had already risen to leave.
The Abyssal language teacher beside him cast him a pleading look.
He remembered her saying that she had been trapped in that room, unable to leave. In other words, she owed her presence here today to him. Yet he had noticed something wrong with her expression as soon as he approached earlier. That meant that even though she had never been here before, her knowledge of the Ancient Castle had already told her what dishes to expect.
"I have a few questions I'd like to ask my teacher."
Ruger tried saying this only after he had walked some distance away.
"I will bring her to see you shortly. Please return to your room and rest first," the old butler said.
Ruger glanced back at her, indicating that he had done his best.
Then he followed the old butler back to his room.
The moment the door closed, he began examining the room anew. Since this Ancient Castle might still hold a few worthwhile things, he had no choice but to pay a little attention and do a bit of rummaging.
He also wanted to find a portrait or something of that mysterious young master. He was curious about what the fellow actually looked like.
He searched around the room, starting with a few inconspicuous corners.
Some things fell apart at a touch, and he felt that this was not merely due to the passage of time, or to weathering and deterioration.
His strategy of finding an unexpected prize in the corners proved a failure. He brought his search back to more conventional places and approached the cabinet beside the bed.
Knock, knock, knock!
"Young master, I have brought your Abyssal language teacher," came the old butler's voice from outside.
Ruger went over and opened