I Raised A Black Dragon

Kyle flicked the papers irritably, and Paul, who had been observing him, slipped a few words. “Come on, Captain, I’m asking just in case-”

“If you’re going to ask useless questions, don’t open your mouth.”

Unfazed by his sharp retort, Paul asked firmly.  “You’re not really on that terms with Lady Asil, are you?”

“If so, then what will you do?” Kyle spat out thoughtlessly, but then saw the dismay of his subordinate and realized he had made a mistake.

“Oh, my god, again, the Minister had a vision…”

“Don’t return to the capital and talk nonsense, Paul.”

“You didn’t even deny it!” Paul’s voice grew louder. Instead of soothing his subordinate’s shock, Kyle turned his head out of the window. He felt uncomfortable in an instant. 

Although the words fell out of his mouth undeliberately, Kyle wasn’t sure exactly what the relationship was with him and Noah, too. It was difficult to find the most appropriate term for them. Were they colleagues? Or were they a butler and the master, as Noah always insisted?

“For now, butler’s dismissed.”

Well, the caregiver is the servant… Kyle pondered. There was still no change in Noah’s hierarchy. Besides, Kyle didn’t seem to be in a position of power, given that he cared too much about Noah and was swayed by a mere word from her.

Was it natural to be anxious when she was away from him? Even if she was right next to him, everything simply made Kyle anxious. 

“Did you sleep well? Did you eat well? Did you have all three meals? Did you meet a tough guy? Or did you trip over a rug?” These were the worries that strained Kyle’s mind. It even seemed he had no time to fret over himself.

While Kyle was lost in thought, Paul’s voice, in shock, rang unceasingly. “What on earth did you like about her? You seem to have been a bit calm lately, but until two years ago, you were the first son of a b*tch in Laurent!”

“It’s not Eleonora Asil.” Eventually Kyle had to interrupt Paul’s words and correct them. Paul asked suspiciously back, “No?”

“Yes. Although somehow I got tangled up with Lady Asil, what you’re talking about ‘in that relationship’ I’m talking about somebody else…”

“Who is she?”

“There is… a lethargic, sloth-like woman.” A woman who was far from diligence and cleanliness, who never listened to a word once she spoke, and who could win a trophy if there were a contest for laziness.

It’s far from my taste, but why am I pouring my heart out? But at this point, I guess I just have to accept it…

“Now stop asking useless questions. Your attitude toward work is harmful.” Kyle straightened himself, putting an end to their conversation lest numerous questions would follow. The train was gradually slowing down. After a brief stop at Tezeba’s last station, the train would not stop for hours.

“What do you mean useless? This is a very important problem. So you’re telling me there’s someone else you’ve been hiding… Uh, Captain. What are you doing?” Paul, who was muttering to himself, opened his eyes wide at his superior’s behavior. “Why are you taking off your badge? Uh…”

Kyle removed the badge, which symbolized the head of the Bureau of Investigation and Security, off his uniform and threw it at Paul. Then, he took off his uniform jacket completely.

Paul stared at his boss who wore a black coat instead of his usual uniform, blinking blankly. After Kyle had fixed the fedora on his head and the glasses, which Noah had given him before, on the bridge of his nose, he stood up. 

At that point, Paul was skeptical. “Captain…? You’re not going to do what I’m thinking, are you?”

“What are you thinking?”

“I have a hunch that you’re not going to Central Edman, but you’re going somewhere else in the middle along the way…”

“Excellent.”

Just in time, the train entered the station. Kyle calmly ordered, unloading his suitcase from the overhead rack. “It’s a secret to the Minister and Vice Minister. If I get caught, I’ll strip you too, so behave yourself.”

“Will this work?”

“It depends on you.”

“Where are you going?!”

Instead of answering, Kyle shook the incident log. “Noviscosha Mine Mass Disappearance. I’ll handle this.”

From the time he was advised a demotion by the Minister, Kyle had no intention of going down to Central Edman. Adrian was a fool to dispatch him under the guise of a false scandal, to take Noah and Muell with him. 

“Captain!”

Kyle left the room, turning his back against his subordinate’s mournful cry. Having already checked the timetable, the train for Noviscosha would be two hours later.

If they find out that I disobeyed the Minister’s orders, I’m on the verge of being fired this time. Well, someone from somewhere said they’d give me a new job. Was it a life-long contract for the butler?

Kyle got off the train with a giggle.