Hiding the Fact That We Are Dating From the Amnesiac Villain - Chapter 5

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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 5
This was Daisy Hall.
Today, like every other day, the place was in complete upheaval.
And it was all thanks to the fresh, piping-hot gossip about Freena that had everyone buzzing.
“This isn’t ghosting—it’s dementia dumping.”
“Right? So her ex ghosted her, made her wait over a week, then showed up at the meeting place and pretended not to know her, and on top of that, he accused her of being drunk and disorderly?”
“That’s insane.”
“This might be the wildest relationship story I’ve ever heard.”
My colleagues fumed on my behalf. And rightfully so—it really was an absurd situation.
“Hey, I’m fine now, really.”
“Well, we’re not!”
“Oh… is that so?”
I was grateful to my colleagues for being angry for me.
Grateful, yes, but I had more pressing concerns.
‘A twenty percent rent increase.’
I’d considered going back to selling herbs as a side job like I used to, but that door had been closed for a long time.
The Landlord’s son, bitter after I rejected his confession, had reported me for unlicensed herb sales out of spite.
‘Bastard.’
Since the Landlord’s family had this entire district in their pocket, even the Guard Corps wasn’t on my side.
‘Damn it. So where am I supposed to get the money?’
I couldn’t do herb work anymore, so I’d need to find something else…
“You incompetent fools!”
Just then, the Head Chef, a towel draped over his shoulder, bellowed across the room.
His face flushed crimson, he glared at the men standing at the entrance of Daisy Hall.
‘Those are Imperial Transport Department officials, aren’t they?’
“Can’t you handle a simple food delivery? Isn’t delivery your entire job? Then you should be bringing it on time!”
“We’re sorry, but there’s nothing we can do about it!”
All provisions for the Imperial Palace were handled by the Transport Department. Had something gone wrong with the food shipment?
“Where am I supposed to find food for those ravenous beasts to eat!”
The Knights blinked nervously at the tense atmosphere.
Having eaten the Head Chef’s cooking, they were utterly obedient to him.
“How were we supposed to know those bastards would get lost in the Black Forest!”
Daisy Hall erupted in chaos.
The Transport Department people had gone into the Black Forest?
The Black Forest was already notorious—whispers of malevolent spirits dwelling there, of cursed land, filled the air.
‘In the original story, it’s marked as a restricted zone, but maybe that time hasn’t come yet?’
But I could enter that place safely.
‘That’s it. That’s the answer.’
…A way to make money had just occurred to me.
“Why would anyone go into such a dangerous place!”
“There was no choice. The main roads are completely closed off for the upcoming triumphal procession, so we took a shortcut… and now we’re going mad! Do you think those workers wanted to go in there? They knew that failing to deliver would cause serious problems, so they were forced to enter!”
“….”
“I’ve requested a search from the Imperial Palace, but they said they’re busy with the procession preparations and we should discuss it after the ceremony ends!”
The Imperial Official’s voice trembled. The Head Chef could not press further and closed his mouth.
“Um….”
Then a small voice emerged.
“…I, I have a way.”
“You do?”
The Imperial Official furrowed his brow.
“Listen. I appreciate your concern, but this isn’t something a young lady should involve herself in. Just go wash the dishes…”
“The Imperial Transport Department workers are probably at the entrance of the Gorge.”
“What?”
The gazes of the Head Chef and the Imperial Official, who had been fighting as if to kill each other, turned toward Freena.
“They disappeared early this morning, didn’t they?”
“Did I mention that? How could you possibly know….”
“The reason the workers vanished in the Black Forest is because of miasma rising from the earth. It mainly rises during the early morning hours.”
At that moment, Daisy Hall fell silent.
The arguing Imperial Official and Head Chef suddenly focused on Freena.
“M, miasma? Such a dangerous thing is rising? That’s impossible. I’ve never heard of such news!”
Of course not. An investigation hasn’t been conducted yet.
“But it’s true. I heard rumors that a closure order will soon be issued because of the miasma.”
“…Such rumors existed?”
According to the original story, the closure order would be issued within a short time.
“The workers likely lost consciousness because of the miasma. But if they don’t consume medicinal herbs before sunset, the poison will spread throughout their bodies.”
“Is that really true?”
At Freena’s words, the Imperial Official’s face went deathly pale.
He shifted his weight anxiously, worried about what had happened to his workers.
“It’s alright. There are medicinal herbs in the Black Forest. If we find them and give them to the workers, it will be fine.”
“…Medicinal herbs in that cursed land? How could you possibly…?”
“Well… my mother was an herbalist. So I learned various things about herbs when I was young.”
At that, the Imperial Transport Department official’s eyes gleamed with hope.
“Miss, do you have knowledge of medicinal herbs? Please! Then come with me into the Black Forest…!”
“No! Absolutely not! Freena, that place is dangerous!”
At that moment, the Head Chef raised his voice in protest. He huffed and pushed Freena behind his back.
“But Head Chef… if I don’t go, those people will…before sunset….”
“What could a small child like you possibly do…!”
“That’s only because you’re two meters tall, Head Chef….”
The Head Chef’s expression darkened into a scowl. He was conflicted too.
If things continued this way, those poor workers would breathe their last in the Black Forest.
Finally, the Head Chef released a heavy sigh.
“Damn it all. If someone won’t go just because you tell them not to, they wouldn’t have gone in the first place. They’ll sneak in anyway, won’t they?”
The Head Chef turned his back without hearing the rest of what Freena had to say.
Toward the Knights who had been nervously eating, unsure whether the rice was going up their noses or into their mouths.
“You lot! It’s time to earn your keep!”
The Head Chef declared loudly.
“Follow Freena as a group! Anyone who doesn’t go gets no meals from now on!”
The Knights, who had already been eating nervously, could only blink.
From their perspective, they’d been suddenly conscripted.
* * *
The Black Forest.
The name wasn’t arbitrary—the interior visible from the entrance was pitch black.
Swaying branches thrashed about like whips, buffeted by the wind.
The moment the Knights following Freena reached the forest’s edge, their faces went pale.
‘If I bring these people inside, I’ll just end up with more casualties.’
“I’ll go in alone from here. I’ll keep it secret from the Head Chef.”
“R-really?”
They truly didn’t want to go in.
The Imperial Official asked with an anxious face.
“Are you really planning to go in alone?”
“It’s safe at this hour. More importantly, you absolutely must pay the transport fee as promised.”
“O-of course! Please, just come back safely, miss!”
Freena stepped into the forest, leaving the Official’s concerns behind.
‘Phew. That settles my immediate financial troubles.’
To feel relieved about a matter involving someone else’s life and death.
She felt guilty, but Freena herself was in dire straits with no choice in the matter.
‘Let’s see.’
After confirming no one was nearby, Freena purified the miasma swirling around her.
She was actually a purifier possessing holy power, so she had volunteered with confidence that she wouldn’t die even in the Black Forest.
This was a secret known only to her siblings.
Freena wandered through the forest searching for the missing workers. Since they’d come and gone at dawn, there would surely be wheel tracks remaining.
“Aaaahhhhh!”
Then a horrific scream echoed through the forest.
‘What—what is that?’
Freena blinked in shock.
Since the Black Forest’s notorious rumors had spread, ordinary people never entered it anymore.
‘Could it be the Imperial Transport Department people?’
But something was odd. When miasma consumed someone, their throat constricts—they couldn’t scream so sharply like that.
Freena hurried toward the source of the sound.
If she hesitated due to doubt, the workers would die.
“Ugh, gah—!”
As I drew closer, a scream tore through the air—raw and desperate, as though someone were clawing at their own throat.
‘…Has their airway been blocked?’
I ran faster.
Before they stopped breathing entirely…!
“P-please…save me….”
When I finally arrived, the scene before me was nothing like I’d imagined.
It wasn’t an airway obstruction causing the screams.
A blade was buried deep in their chest—so deep they could barely draw breath.
The victim’s eyes trembled as they fixed on me, then the trembling ceased entirely.
I turned my head slowly, my mind blank.
My gaze met that of the murderer.
Eyes of the most vivid crimson.
And beneath them, like the final brushstroke of a masterpiece, a single tear mole.
‘H-Hugho…?’
It felt as though I’d been struck on the back of the head—my thoughts scattered into confusion.
‘Am I seeing a phantom?’
Because what Hugho did to me was so absurd?
Or because I never returned the ring?
Otherwise….
There was no way the Hugho before my eyes could be calmly withdrawing the blade from the man’s chest, holding my gaze with such intensity.
Then he smiled—a gentle, knowing smile.
“We meet again?”
The phantom speaks.
Cold sweat streamed down my back.
It has to be a phantom. Please….
“But why do we keep running into each other like this?”
His soft voice pierced my ears.
‘Why is Hugho killing someone here?!’

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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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