Help, I'm in Another World and All the Men Are So Hot! [BL]-Chapter 187: A New Boss

"I don’t need friends," Caius said, his tone as cold and heavy as a snowstorm in midwinter.

Damien froze.

That... is looked like someone with a deep wound, he thought. Whatever had happened to Caius had left him wary of such connections.

This was something he couldn’t rush. Caius would need time and patience—someone to show him care without expecting anything in return.

Still, Damien frowned, unsure of what else he could offer. "I can’t become your vassal... but maybe there’s something else I can do?"

As Damien mulled over the situation, the inner child within him suddenly made an appearance, offering a bold idea.

You’re showing up a lot today, aren’t you? Damien thought to himself. But hey, good call.

"How about this?" Damien suggested. "I’ll be your underling, Caius."

"Underling?" Caius asked, his expression puzzled.

"Yeah, I’ll be your underling, and you’ll be my boss. It’s not like being a vassal with all the formalities like salaries, loyalty, or duties. And if you told people, they’d probably just give you a look like you’ve lost your mind."

Damien could already imagine the reaction—exactly the baffled face Caius was making now.

"But an underling will do anything their boss says and will never betray them. In return, the boss promises never to do anything their underling doesn’t like. It’s a bond sealed with trust."

"What on earth are you talking about?" Caius said, voicing the very sentiment his face had been expressing.

Ah, he actually said it out loud, Damien thought, feeling his inner child slump in defeat.

"Alright, then bark like a dog," Caius said, clearly testing him.

Didn’t they just agree the boss wouldn’t make the underling do anything they hated?

"Woof!" Damien barked without hesitation. It didn’t bother him at all.

"Hah!" Caius snorted.

"Fine, now spin around three times and bark again."

Oh, they have that saying here too, huh? Damien thought before obliging.

He spun around in a circle three times.

"Woof!"

It was clear he was having fun with it.

"Haha! Okay, then hand over your Dragonewts!"

"Boss, do you think that’s something I wouldn’t mind?" Damien said with a teasing grin.

"Hmm... fine, forget that one. Let’s see..."

Caius’s expression turned thoughtful before his face lit up with an idea. A moment later, however, he hesitated, looking slightly embarrassed as he spoke.

"Come with me to my next meeting with my brother."

"Sure thing, boss."

"Wait, really!?" Caius exclaimed, his face brightening in surprise.

Damien nodded. "I mean, you just want me to play the part of a vassal, right? I’ll explain things to Theo, and I’m sure he’ll understand. It’s no problem."

"A-also, lend me your Dragonewts next time!"

"Beep! Wrong answer! Ithnan and the others aren’t objects, so I can’t lend them out."

Looks like I’ll have to train my boss to be more considerate, little by little, Damien thought with an amused smile.

"Ugh... fine! Then let them come visit!"

"They’ll come with me as part of the deal," Damien offered.

"Of course!" Caius said, nodding vigorously, a grin spreading across his face.

Watching him, Damien thought, At moments like this, he’s just a cheeky, normal kid.

In comparison to Theo’s brilliant and refined demeanor, Caius was like a typical, straightforward child. And that makes me want to spoil him even more, Damien mused.

"When they visit, you better help me sneak out!" Caius added with an impish grin.

"Your wish is my command, boss."

"What even is that!?"

Damien couldn’t help but smile at the sight of Caius laughing. Yeah, kids are at their best when they’re smiling.

Let’s take it slow. Start as friends, and see where it goes from there.

...

In front of a door on the mansion’s second floor.

Since getting caught would mean trouble, Caius had instructed Ithnan and the others to guide them stealthily.

Following their directions carefully, Damien managed to reach Caius’s room without being seen by anyone.

It felt like a stealth mission, and Damien found it thrilling.

"They’re amazing, really," Caius whispered, his voice low but full of admiration.

It seemed Caius had enjoyed the adventure as well, and Ithnan and his team were basking in the praise.

Damien couldn’t have been more pleased with the outcome.

Standing in front of the door, Caius straightened his posture and attempted to tidy himself up—a difficult task given the dust clinging to his clothes—before pushing the door open and stepping inside.

Damien followed close behind, maintaining the casual, confident demeanor they had agreed upon.

"Y-young master?! You’re back early... And what of your entourage? There was no notice of your return," said a flustered maid, who had been sitting on a sofa.

As she quickly stood, she attempted to hide some tea snacks under the folds of her skirt.

Was it her break time? Damien wondered.

"They got separated. I returned ahead of them," Caius replied curtly.

"I-I see. I’ll arrange for a search party immediately." The maid looked startled at the news, as though she had just learned of it.

Didn’t anyone inform her? It’s been a while since the group got separated, Damien thought.

He and Caius had been so engrossed in playing around afterward that they barely made it back in time for Caius’s meeting with Theo.

"Forget that. I’m taking a bath first," Caius declared. "Prepare a change of clothes for me and a knight’s uniform for him," he added, motioning toward Damien.

"Th-that person... who is he?"

Only now did the maid seem to register Damien standing beside Caius.

The situation was chaotic, to say the least.

"This guy... is my vassal," Caius said, glancing apologetically at Damien as he uttered the word "vassal."

"Never mind that—just hurry up and prepare everything! If I’m late for my meeting with my brother and Mother gets angry, it won’t be my fault!"

Damien caught Caius’s quick, apologetic look and gave him a small, understanding nod.

He didn’t mind.

While he couldn’t actually become a real vassal, he didn’t mind playing the part for Caius’s sake.