Hiding the Fact That We Are Dating From the Amnesiac Villain - Chapter 38

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 38
* * *
Early morning.
Today was the day I had to pay rent—twenty percent higher than before.
‘A Magi Storm, of all things.’
As I made my way to the Landlord’s Mansion, I recalled Ronan’s report from last night.
Wasn’t that something that only happened in the Forbidden Zone?
The Forbidden Zone was a place where magi concentration reached such staggering levels that people could barely breathe.
Perhaps because of that, strange occurrences happened there with unusual frequency.
‘Decklin’s Knights went to such a dangerous place….’
Was it because of the Emperor’s command?
Or was it Decklin’s own deliberate choice?
‘In the original story, Decklin brainwashed all his Knights to achieve his goals.’
It was utterly grotesque.
They all became tainted by magi, existing in a state neither alive nor dead.
A zombie legion that obeyed only Decklin’s commands, moving even with their heads severed.
‘Decklin Caesar really… isn’t in his right mind.’
Recalling the original story sent chills down my spine once more.
As I walked, I soon found myself standing before the Landlord’s Mansion.
‘Is this built from the blood and sweat of us slum dwellers…?’
It was a magnificent building every time I saw it. It seemed to have been recently constructed, with all the latest architectural trends reflected in its design.
How much of my blood went into building that place?
‘Still, now that I’m receiving a salary from Caesar, paying rent has become much easier.’
At first, I’d planned to move as soon as I had money. But I decided against it.
I wouldn’t be able to work here for long anyway. So I needed to save as much as possible.
“Oh, Freena. You came? How do you manage to look uglier every time I see you?”
That voice….
Someone emerged leisurely from the Landlord’s Mansion.
None other than the Landlord’s son, Mallock. He and I had never gotten along.
“You’re here to pay rent, I assume? But what can you do? You know how busy our father is—people keep asking him to come here and there.”
“Is that so?”
‘Busy, my foot.’
Rumors were rife in the Slums that the Landlord frequented gambling dens as casually as eating meals.
He was probably off indulging himself somewhere.
“Then I’ll wait until he arrives.”
“Why bother? Just give it to me, and I’ll pass it on to Father.”
As if.
‘What reason would I have to trust you?’
It was a famous anecdote—a tenant once gave him money as a substitute, and Mallock spent it all.
Of course, the Landlord claimed he’d never received such money and sternly demanded the rent be paid immediately.
“It’s fine. I’ll just wait until you arrive.”
If I trusted him carelessly, I’d end up paying double rent.
“Well, suit yourself.”
Surprisingly, Mallock accepted it without argument.
‘Please just leave without being a nuisance.’
Mallock had been pestering me since the old days.
For instance….
“And Freena, have you given it any thought?”
What was he talking about?
“Ahem. Don’t you remember when I said I’d meet with you out of pity?”
Yes. This was exactly how he was.
“…I already told you I’m seeing someone, Mallock.”
“Listen, Freena. Get your head straight. Who would genuinely want to be with a pathetic woman like you?”
“…”
“Don’t you think about your siblings?”
“…What?”
“Your siblings who went to the Academy.”
Mallock’s lips twisted upward.
“If you think about their futures, shouldn’t you be clinging to me instead?”
This madman had been spouting nonsense at me since morning.
‘Sigh.’
Every time I came to pay rent, I ran into Mallock, and he persistently bothered me each time.
“…Do you have any conscience? You reported that the medicinal herbs I gathered were strange.”
I finally spoke up, unable to hold back any longer.
It had been half a year ago. Because I rejected his confession, Mallock falsely reported that he’d eaten my herbs and broken out in a rash.
The Guard Corps, having been paid off, sided with Mallock, and my supplementary income from selling herbs dried up completely.
“That’s because you sold strange herbs in the first place.”
The audacity.
I wasn’t even surprised, knowing he’d respond like this.
“Hey, that’s right! You secretly fed me herbs that cause rashes afterward out of spite, didn’t you?!”
Mallock suddenly remembered something and erupted at me in anger.
‘Stupid yet sharp-eyed.’
After being dragged away by the Guard Corps, I had secretly mixed toxic plants into the drink he consumed as revenge.
He must have suffered from the rash for about three days.
“Mallock, I have no idea what you’re talking about….”
“Now that I think about it, it had to be you. Who else would do something like that out of spite toward me…!”
“Listen, Mallock!”
That was when it happened.
A group appeared in front of the mansion.
“What are you doing there! Everyone gather ‘over there’! We’re betting big this time, so you’d better be prepared. Haha!”
Was he really going gambling again? It was pathetic.
But Mallock didn’t realize how foolish he was.
He simply took pride in having money to spare and squandering it on gambling.
“Ha, yeah, Freena. I’m giving you special treatment. That’s right. A woman needs to play hard to get.”
“….”
“I’m heading out now. See you next time. Then you can be a bit more cooperative.”
It was remarkable how he could spew such contemptuous words as naturally as breathing.
“Ah, Freena. Speaking of which… what are your siblings up to these days?”
Mallock approached his group of friends, then turned back to me as if remembering something.
Why would he ask that?
“You said it yourself. ‘My siblings who went to the Academy.’ So isn’t it obvious what they’re doing?”
“Hmm. Is that so? I’m sure I…”
“Mallock! Aren’t you coming?!”
“Yeah! I’m coming, you bastards!”
Mallock scratched his head and merged into his group of friends.
In any case, I never wanted to see him again.
* * *
Fortunately, the Landlord returned home early.
He’d been drinking all night and only came back in the early morning.
Like father, like son.
The apple didn’t fall far from the tree.
‘But….’
“Hurry! We must cross the boundary before the sun fully rises!”
“Have we gathered all the purification stone supplies? Load every remaining high-grade purification agent onto the carriages and depart immediately!”
Caesar was bustling with activity from dawn.
‘What’s happening?’
Servants, attendants, and knights alike—everyone was moving frantically.
“Miss Freena, please come this way…!”
Narien?
Narien gestured to me carefully, but her gesture carried an unmistakable urgency.
“Narien, what’s going on?”
“Last night, Caesar’s elite knights disappeared in the Forbidden Zone of Morteba Territory. So we’re rushing to mount a rescue operation right now.”
Could it be…?
“Seven elite knights lost contact five days after deployment when they were caught in a Magi Storm and failed to send their scheduled signal report.”
Ronan’s urgent report came to mind. That had to be it.
‘A sudden dispatch?’
It wasn’t unusual for Purifiers to go on dispatch missions—that was the job. But I’d only been at Caesar for two days….
What made me most uneasy, though.
“Help me, help me….”
Was the future I had seen.
The sky above was dreary, and an ominous aura seemed to ripple through the air.
The land of Morteba that they were heading toward would surely be just as gloomy.
The Forbidden Zone was saturated with magi, a desolate realm steeped in murky light.
‘…This doesn’t feel right.’
The future was uncertain—I couldn’t predict exactly when it would happen. All I knew was that it would unfold within a month.
It could be as soon as tomorrow.
‘…Could it be that this event will occur in Morteba?’

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