Adopting the Male Protagonist Changed the Genre - Chapter 160

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 160

Penandel, who had been losing his composure and giggling, was finally able to stop laughing when Cheri’s subdued gaze turned toward him.

“Then I’ll go rest again.”

Penandel, who had slipped away from the conversation, began fanning Leo’s flushed face while rebuilding the collapsed wooden block tower. For an unmarried man, he seemed strangely accustomed to dealing with children.

I pondered Penandel’s words for a while, then leaned close to Cheri and whispered so others couldn’t hear.

“Cheri, by any chance, is there anyone in your family whose whereabouts are mysterious…?”

But then Cheri suddenly pulled back and created a barricade between us with a silver tray.

Cheri, who had hidden his face completely behind the silver tray, fumbled for words.

“When my eyes are red, it’s difficult to endure impulses and desires as usual, so please don’t come too close unexpectedly.”

I blinked.

To think that he, who had always seemed so indifferent with a face like mountains are mountains and water is water, without any greed or desire, also had impulses and desires.

‘Come to think of it, they did say that as beastification progresses, it becomes harder to suppress desires that were usually kept in check.’

I nodded, recalling the information about magical beasts I had learned at the temple.

Then I knocked on the silver tray and asked politely.

“Cheri, may I come closer now?”

After a moment of silence, Cheri lowered the silver tray with a much calmer expression.

“Yes, please come. I’m ready.”

His face was so serious, as if facing an enemy, that I didn’t even feel like teasing him.

I carefully leaned toward him and explained what had happened in the Siren Dungeon.

“Nothing is certain, and everything is just speculation, but I think Leo might be a distant branch member of the House of Baluashten. What do you think?”

Cheri, who had been listening intently to my words, answered in a heavy voice.

“The House of Baluashten has very few heirs. Therefore, to protect our abilities, it’s a rule that even the most distant branch members must reside in these Twin Castles. However, I am currently the only direct descendant of Baluashten residing in this castle.”

“Really not even a single person?”

After asking that, I realized my mistake.

The reason Cheri had no remaining family was because there were rumors that he had executed them all with his own hands six years ago.

I quickly shook my head.

“No, I’ll look into this matter separately. So you should focus on solving that magical beast problem you’re chasing and think about recovering your health quickly.”

That way we can return to the Royal Capital together with Leo.

At my leisurely added words, Cheri’s gaze turned to me.

Those red eyes, evidence of the curse, instilled a primal fear in those who met them, but I didn’t back down at all and looked into his eyes.

I believed without doubt that the day when he would solve his problems, purify the curse as usual, and return to the Royal Capital together was not far away.

* * *

Naturally, Cheri couldn’t stay by my side like he did when we were in the Royal Capital.

He was so busy that he would leave at dawn with the morning dew and barely return in time for the evening dinner.

Moreover, because of the magical beast that was said to appear in the residential areas, Leo and I couldn’t even go out easily, but fortunately Baluashten Castle was incredibly vast and enormous.

Unlike the manor, the ceiling height was also very high, and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that everything necessary for daily life was available within the castle.

In short, it meant there was plenty to explore.

Leo was the most excited about the castle’s complex structure, where new corridors appeared every time we turned a corner.

“Lady Belinda! This way! There’s a training hall for the knights over here!”

Leo ran with an excited face, skillfully stepped on the relief decorations of a pillar, and poked his head out through a high window.

Then, realizing that the windowsill wasn’t high enough to require stepping on something to climb up, he sheepishly stepped down from the pillar decorations.

I stood beside Leo and enjoyed the view he was looking at together.

Countless strong men were swinging swords while wearing only thin clothes, seemingly oblivious to the cold.

Indeed, it was a sight we couldn’t see at the Blanche Estate.

As I scanned the surroundings beyond the knights, my view caught a bridge protruding from the castle like a broken hammer handle.

Beyond the bridge, whose end was charred black and cut off, spread ruins where only the foundation of what used to be something remained.

“What is that place?”

Thankfully, I had the castle’s Maid Supervisor assigned to me as a guide.

She, who resembled her master with not a single change in expression, answered in a calm tone.

“It’s the Twin Castle that was completely destroyed by fire six years ago.”

“Twin Castle?”

“It was an auxiliary castle built with the same structure as the main castle, where relatives of the House of Baluashten traditionally resided.”

I was about to ask what kind of fire could have occurred to completely destroy such a large castle, but I closed my mouth.

‘If it was six years ago…’

That was the day.

The year when the current Duke supposedly killed all his relatives and usurped power.

With the lie detector glasses, I had discovered that Cheri hadn’t killed his siblings and parents, and now I believed he wasn’t that kind of person.

However, if there was one question…

“Did the Duke of Baluashten really kill his own family and usurp the title?”

“…It’s true.”

It was the fact that Cheri didn’t deny the malicious rumors about himself.

Instead of probing further about that, I asked something else while thinking about him.

“There’s someone I’m looking for, but they’re not nobility. I know they were residents of a northern estate, that they left the North for the Royal Capital in the winter six years ago, and I know their surname. Can you find them?”

“I will do my utmost.”

I spoke quietly to the Maid Supervisor so Leo couldn’t hear.

“They’re called the Harpers Couple. I don’t need to confirm their life or death, but I need information. For example, whether they had a child between them.”

The Maid Supervisor listened quietly to my words with an expression that still revealed nothing, then nodded.

“I’ll look into it.”

* * *

A village in the Baluashten Domain.

It was when Penandel, who had been patrolling the villages within the estate while cutting through the blade-like dawn wind, was dozing off on his horse.

“Let’s just search that village today and return.”

It was truly a statement that made him snap to attention.

Forgetting his drowsiness, Penandel looked up at the sky and gasped when he saw the sun directly overhead.

‘Early dismissal!’

It had been routine to go to work seeing the dawn moon and return home seeing the moon again.

But at some point, the time to return to the castle had gradually become earlier.

Penandel pondered when this had started and soon arrived at an answer without difficulty.

‘It’s been since Marquess Blanche arrived.’

The red-haired Marquess who had suddenly visited the castle without notice was turning all of Cesar’s daily routines upside down.

He should have realized it from the moment she called that stoic man ‘Cheri.’

A mischievous smile appeared on Penandel’s face.

Cheri, indeed. Wasn’t that the nickname Cesar was called when his life’s greatest challenge was dealing with the bell peppers that came as garnish on the dinner table?

He had introduced him as Cheri in the Royal Capital, but he never dreamed that she would continue to call him that even after knowing his true identity.

‘Come to think of it, Marquess Blanche is now the only person who calls His Grace by that name.’

All the people who could call Cesar by his nickname had become nothing but ash.

Trying to erase his smile that had turned bitter, Penandel moved closer to Cesar’s side.

According to northern customs, Cesar had begun wearing a mask since his eyes turned red, and his appearance was quite menacing, so the knights who usually found their lord intimidating didn’t even dare to lift their heads in his presence.

Only Penandel, Belinda, and Leo could confidently lift their heads in front of him with his reddened eyes.

After clearing his throat with a cough, Penandel carefully broached the subject.

“Won’t you tell the lady honestly? About that magical beast?”

“…Why do you call her ‘lady’?”

“Because she will become the lady. She was wearing the family heirloom that only the mistress of the house has traditionally worn. So naturally…”

“…I’ll get her back.”

At the immediate response, Penandel’s eyes widened in surprise.

Then he raised his voice in shock.

“Are you being serious?!”

Cesar remained silent.

Penandel shouted with a desperate face, though with a hint of resentment toward Belinda.

“Why?! What does Your Grace lack?! Sure, you’re a bit oblivious, work too much, and are so stoic that no one can read your thoughts! But what exactly are you lacking…!”

“…Am I oblivious, work too much, and so stoic that no one can read my thoughts?”

“Ah, now that’s quite a difficult question to answer.”

Penandel immediately took a step back and looked fondly at Cesar’s troubled profile. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen his lord wrestling with such human concerns.

They had been riding along, exchanging such trivial conversation for a while.

Suddenly, both Penandel and Cesar pulled their reins and stopped their horses.

The village entrance was visible in the near distance.

The village, which should have been bustling with smoke from chimneys and people moving about, was far too quiet.

As if everything had been covered by falling snow.

Penandel gestured hand signals to the elite knights who had been following them.

The knights who quietly but quickly surveyed the village and returned could not hide their somber expressions as they reported.

“They’re all dead.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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