Adopting the Male Protagonist Changed the Genre - Chapter 31

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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 31

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What on earth was the problem?

I glanced at Lord Penandel, who had suddenly fallen silent.

On the first day, he had coveted my necklace so much, but had he already lost interest?

I fidgeted with the ruby hanging from my choker for no reason.

Should I have answered no when he asked if it was a precious item?

What with the inscription on the back and all, since someone as extravagant as Belinda always carried it around, I naturally assumed she must have received it from someone precious to her, so I answered yes.

I must have put unnecessary pressure on Lord Penandel.

I changed the subject to lighten the awkward atmosphere.

“By the way, my lord, I know you must wear that mask, but do you really have to wear it?”

Fortunately, Lord Penandel reacted this time.

I gestured toward the people who kept glancing at Lord Penandel as they passed by, continuing mischievously.

“Everyone’s avoiding you because they’re scared. What if some coward mistakes you for a demon and attacks you?”

“That is the purpose.”

“What?”

“The Northern knights wear masks to warn people of the danger they possess.”

“…?”

What kind of bizarre talk was this?

“My explanation was insufficient.”

Lord Penandel seemed to choose his words carefully as he dropped another sugar cube into his coffee cup and stirred it with a teaspoon to dissolve it.

“If one who wears a demon mask commits murder, execute them immediately. Are you aware that such a law exists in this country?”

I had heard of it.

But I thought it was just a figurative way of describing criminals.

However, with Lord Penandel wearing a demon mask right in front of me, it sounded exactly like it was referring to him.

‘Surely not….’

“Demonic beasts leave a curse of corruption on those who kill them. Therefore, the Northern knights who hunt demonic beasts are constantly exposed to the danger of going mad at any moment.”

My hand paused as I was tilting my coffee cup.

“That poison eventually kills one’s humanity and ultimately even changes their appearance. We call this demonification.”

My mouth suddenly felt terribly bitter, so I put down my cup. I desperately craved something sweet.

“The eyes of corrupted knights turn red. Once demonification begins, there’s no way to reverse it, so eventually….”

Lord Penandel only said that much, but I could easily guess what words would have followed.

Soon he lightly tapped his mask, and the cold metallic sound pierced sharply into my ears.

“So this is a mark indicating those who stand on the boundary between beast and human. Should one wearing this mask go mad and commit murder….”

The surroundings were very noisy, but Lord Penandel’s low voice resonated strangely well, and I found myself staring at the eyes beyond his mask as if entranced.

“Think of them not as human, but as a demon.”

Quite suddenly, I thought I wanted to see those eyes under bright sunlight.

Those eyes shrouded in dark shadow would surely show a clear blue light under the sun.

“I can vouch that you haven’t gone mad. So….”

As I reached toward his face, about to tell him to take off his mask just once.

Boom—!

Brilliant fireworks embroidered the night sky that had grown dark with the setting sun. It was the signal announcing the start of the parade.

I snapped back to my senses instantly.

‘Leo!’

I quickly looked around the square, but it was already filled with dancers who had begun their procession.

People who couldn’t escape the square in time due to the parade starting earlier than scheduled were trapped under the central clock tower.

I immediately spotted Leo standing blankly among the dancing people.

“Over there! Jui-bam-tol is over there.”

From the day’s experience, he was barely managing to hold his position now, but once the parade began in earnest, there was no telling when he might get swept away by the crowd.

Lord Penandel, who had gauged the direction following my gesture, politely extended one hand to me.

“I shall escort you.”

“How?”

My gaze turned to the people dancing in a tangled mess.

It didn’t seem like ordinary strength would be enough to push through and cross them. It also seemed rather impolite.

“Your hand.”

Instead of answering my question, Lord Penandel politely extended his hand,

“…?”

I inadvertently took the hand he offered.

Soon I felt a hand firmly supporting my waist, and I stood close to Lord Penandel with barely enough space for a finger between us.

My body moved before I could understand the situation.

Following Lord Penandel’s lead, Belinda’s body naturally stepped to the rhythm.

As we elegantly advanced step by step through the chaotically entangled people, the world spun round and round.

My right hand intertwined with Lord Penandel’s tensed up completely.

The accompaniment was faster than expected, making it impossible to collect myself as if the world was moving rapidly while leaving only me behind.

“We don’t have much further to go.”

My gaze, which had been wandering frantically around Lord Penandel’s chest, traveled up his throat, past his chin and lips, finally settling on his eyes.

‘Ah.’

At that moment, fireworks burst in succession, blooming bright flowers in the night sky.

Lord Penandel’s eyes under the brilliant fireworks were a clear blue light.

Just like Leo’s.

“We have arrived.”

With those words, Lord Penandel politely stepped back, and beside him, Leo, who had somehow run over, clapped excitedly.

“Wow! You looked like a princess and a knight!”

At Leo’s innocent admiration, I belatedly felt heat rushing to my face.

Good heavens, dancing. And with a man at that!

Unlike me screaming internally, Lord Penandel seemed completely unaffected.

Thanks to that, I barely managed to calm down and bent over to check if Leo was safe.

As if he had been watching us approach, there was no trace of anxiety on Leo’s face.

I let out a sigh of relief and pointed out one fact.

“Lord Penandel is already a knight.”

“Ah.”

Leo’s gaze, which had been embarrassed, turned to the people beginning to gather in small groups.

I looked around where Leo’s gaze was directed.

A child around Leo’s age was holding each of his parents’ hands and bouncing excitedly.

“Um, Lady Belinda. Sir Knight.”

As if he had made up his mind about something, Leo hesitantly called out to us.

Though it was getting crowded with people gathering, I calmly waited for the child to speak.

Even then, Leo hesitated for a long while before carefully looking back and forth between Lord Penandel and me, then whispered softly.

“Could you put my le— leash on me again?”

Ignoring the light laughter bursting from Lord Penandel, I gladly took Leo’s hand tightly.

* * *

To conclude, we didn’t properly watch the parade.

Leo, who had been watching the parade procession with sparkling eyes, suddenly looked up at me and abruptly changed his mind, saying he didn’t need to watch the parade anymore.

He seemed to be tired from being pushed around by crowds all day.

Seeing Leo and Lord Penandel exchange glances, I soon realized the real problem was my physical condition.

Indeed, after the sun set, my body drooped and even standing was an ordeal.

Despite being tired, Belinda’s poker face remained intact, but Leo and Lord Penandel seemed to have noticed my exhaustion from our daily routine patterns.

I felt embarrassed that my stamina was weaker than a child’s and sorry to Leo, so I stubbornly insisted we must see the parade, but it was no use.

“You can see the parade next year too, and the year after that.”

At Leo’s mature words, I found myself glancing at Lord Penandel for no reason.

I wasn’t sure about next year, but the year after that, I wouldn’t be in this country.

With a guilty conscience, I cleared my throat a few times before answering.

“Let’s do that then.”

At that moment, I wished it had been my imagination that Leo’s hand holding mine seemed to tighten with strength.

Afterwards, we decided to walk to where the carriage was waiting.

The streets were quiet, perhaps because everyone had gone to see the parade in the town square.

The streets lit by magical lamps were peaceful, and people’s cheers echoed from afar.

Leo’s arms swung widely as he held hands with me and Lord Penandel, seeming to enjoy even the walk home.

I summoned the status window to check my stress levels.

[Stress: 0/100]

The stress that had skyrocketed from Vivian’s magic lessons had reached zero.

This outing seemed to have been very enjoyable for Leo as well.

‘Thank goodness.’

Just as I was relieved and gave Leo’s small hand a firm, tight squeeze.

“Sir Knight?”

Lord Penandel stopped abruptly and turned around, gazing into the distance.

I followed his gaze and looked at the quiet alley where pitch-black darkness stretched.

I felt something was off when the streetlamp that had been faintly glowing in the distance suddenly lost its light.

Like a scene from a horror movie, the streetlights were going out one by one from far away.

“To somewhere bright. Run right now.”

I didn’t ask any more questions and immediately grabbed Leo’s hand and ran.

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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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