I Will Become the Villain’s Childhood Friend - Chapter 39

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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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39

 

Watching Kail struggle to eat the peaches was torture for me too.

 

In my past life during elementary school, there was a teacher who absolutely wouldn’t let us leave any food on our lunch trays.

 

Remembering how I had to plug my nose and force down bitter greens in one gulp, I could understand Kail’s current feelings.

 

However, the Countess, who confirmed that Kail had cleanly finished a whole plate of peaches, seemed to think differently than I did.

 

“You should have done that from the start.”

 

“…Yes.”

 

She raised her eyebrows, urging Kail to say more.

 

“…Thank you. Thank you, Count. It’s very delicious.”

 

Kail bowed once to me and once to Father, expressing his gratitude in a suppressed voice.

 

“Oh, no. Thank you for enjoying it.”

 

Only after hearing Father’s somewhat flustered response did the Countess seem to calm down, letting out a long breath.

 

It was strict child-rearing at best, an ambiguous situation for an outsider to interfere with.

 

‘I should have left it alone. I shouldn’t have suggested the peaches…’

 

Now I understood why the rumor about Kail being an illegitimate child was accepted as clear fact.

 

Even if he was the child of a mistress and had been the catalyst for her difficulties, to treat him so blatantly coldly…

 

The Countess’s attitude toward Kail, so markedly different from how she treated Darius, made even observers feel heartbroken.

 

Just as the heavy atmosphere began to feel suffocating.

 

“Now I understand why Simon and Miss Rieze were so proud. I’ll have to monopolize all the remaining peaches.”

 

Darius, as if accustomed to such situations, pulled the remaining plate of peaches toward himself with a casual tone.

 

“It would have been nice to tour the Brante Family Orchard too. What a shame.”

 

“We can stop by briefly on the way back to the Count’s Castle today. I’ll pack plenty for you to take when you return to the capital tomorrow.”

 

Father said to the Diern family.

 

“That’s a gift I can hardly refuse. Thank you. I’ll have to prepare a proper return gift when we get back.”

 

The Countess also responded with a smile.

 

Before I could feel relieved at the successfully resuscitated atmosphere, raindrops began to fall one by one.

 

“Oh my, the sky was overcast and now it’s finally raining.”

 

As if responding to Father’s sigh, the raindrops quickly grew heavier.

 

When it became too difficult to sit outdoors, everyone moved inside to the chalet.

 

While moving in a line with clothes covering our heads, I looked back, worried about Kail.

 

Kail was dawdling at the very back of the group, walking slowly and falling behind.

 

‘He doesn’t look well…’

 

The image of Kail forcing peaches into his mouth like he was being punished lingered like an afterimage.

 

“Let’s hurry inside, Rieze.”

 

Just as I was thinking of going to Kail’s side, Father covered my head with his coat and led me forward, forcing me to turn my gaze ahead.

 

We shook off the water on the chalet porch and went inside.

 

The caretaker had lit warm fires in each room, preparing to receive guests.

 

After that, we waited inside the chalet for the rain to stop.

 

“This weather looks serious. We won’t be able to return anytime soon.”

 

Darius muttered gloomily while looking at the windows shaking in the wind and rain.

 

He dried his wet hair and sat facing the Countess in front of the fireplace.

 

While warming my cold body with hot milk tea, I suddenly looked around.

 

‘Where is Kail?’

 

I wanted to dispel the ominous feeling I’d had earlier.

 

When I checked the next room, Father and Brother were resting, and in the room beside that, the servants had gathered.

 

After searching the chalet once more, I returned to the original room.

 

“Have you seen Kail?”

 

“Isn’t he in another room?”

 

“No. I don’t see him anywhere.”

 

Darius followed me out and helped search the chalet together.

 

Since it was a cozy cabin with only four rooms in total, we reached a conclusion quickly.

 

Kail had disappeared.

 

Darius immediately informed Father and Brother of his disappearance.

 

Father summoned several knights who were waiting nearby to order a search for Kail.

 

“You absolutely must not move from here. Stay put with the Countess.”

 

Brother gave me strict instructions and closed the door.

 

The silhouettes of knights scattering and running were dimly visible through the window.

 

Watching the drizzling raindrops gradually grow heavier made me anxious.

 

Father seemed to be having the area around the chalet searched, assuming kidnapping or an accident, but I thought differently.

 

‘Kail… he disappeared voluntarily.’

 

Recalling Kail’s expression when I last saw him, I was convinced this was a runaway situation.

 

I lied to the Countess, saying I’d be in the next room, then threw on a cloak and rushed out.

 

‘I can’t just sit still.’

 

After climbing over the chalet fence, I looked toward the fir tree forest with its winding trail.

 

While examining the ground and walking along the muddy trail, I discovered a clue.

 

There were long traces of broken small grass and trees leading toward an area without a path.

 

There were also indented marks that looked like human footprints.

 

‘Should I call the knights or my brothers?’

 

However, I worried that these traces might disappear while I went back to the chalet.

 

In the end, I made up my mind and tore off a piece of my skirt hem to tie to a tree branch.

 

If I left markers like this, someone would discover them and understand my intention.

 

After that, I left the path and followed the uncertain traces, pushing through bushes and trees deeper into the forest.

 

Diagonal gusts of wind brought fierce rain.

 

To avoid getting lost, I tied torn pieces of cloth to tree trunks along the way, but I wasn’t confident they’d remain intact without being swept away by the gale.

 

When I lost my balance and fell on my bottom, the cloak’s hood came off, and raindrops struck my cheeks fiercely like flying arrows.

 

My wet clothes weighed heavily on my body, but I got up and took one step at a time.

 

Cruelly, the increasingly violent wind and rain were erasing the traces and footprints Kail had left behind.

 

“Kail!! Where are you?!”

 

I shouted loudly toward the roaring forest.

 

Lightning drew lines across the gray-darkened sky. Soon after, angry thunder shook the mountain ridge.

 

The lush and beautiful fir forest that had seemed like a place where elves lived had somehow transformed into an eerie dark forest.

 

When night fell, the forest would become even more dangerous. I had to find Kail quickly before then.

 

“Kail! Please answer!!”

 

My desperate cry was swept away and devoured by the storm.

 

Hearing the sound of gushing water, I turned my head to see the swollen stream flowing with the violent force of a waterfall.

 

The sight of broken trees floating downstream made my heart sink.

 

‘He didn’t throw himself off a cliff or anything, did he?’

 

Terrible imaginings made my whole body tremble like an aspen tree.

 

If only I hadn’t said something unnecessary earlier.

 

No, I shouldn’t have brought Kail here in the first place.

 

I felt ashamed of my past boasting about creating the perfect vacation for Darius and Kail.

 

For Kail, who had looked forward to a trip to bond with his mother, had all of this become psychological torture?

 

‘I made such a big deal about rescuing Kail, but instead I’ve only accelerated his corruption.’

 

My chest tightened wondering what butterfly effect this event, which hadn’t existed in the original story, might cause.

 

At that moment, my foot caught on a protruding tree root and I tumbled forward. Blood spread from my scraped palm.

 

The self-reproach welling up inside hurt more than the freezing rain piercing through me.

 

I couldn’t tell if the water flowing down my face was tears or rain.

 

Had everything I’d done claiming it was for Kail’s sake been presumptuous meddling?

 

‘Good intentions don’t always bring good results.’

 

My thoughts flowed in a negative direction, and everything went dark before my eyes.

 

I remained crouched like that for a while, continuously wiping my wet cheeks.

 

‘No, no.’

 

I chased away the bad thoughts that kept rushing in. This wasn’t the time to despair by speculating about things that hadn’t happened yet.

 

Let’s set aside worries about what might happen later.

 

What’s important right now is the fact that Kail is wandering alone in this storm.

 

‘First, let’s find Kail.’

 

I slapped my cheeks hard to pull myself together and stood up.

 

Assuming that Kail hadn’t done something so dizzying just to imagine.

 

If he was just holed up somewhere crying, where would he be?

 

Judging from when I first discovered Kail in the maze after my possession.

 

He has a habit of shutting himself away in narrow spaces out of others’ sight when he’s dejected.

 

If there was a space in this vast Fir Tree Forest where he could take shelter from the rain and burrow in.

 

I cast my gaze upward and saw towering cliffs.

 

After leaving another mark on a tree trunk, I steadied my breathing.

 

I moved forward step by step toward the cliff. The storm that had been pouring down with the force to wash away everything in the world gradually began to weaken.

 

I examined every crevice in the rocks and finally reached the base of the cliff.

 

Thanks to the inward-carved cliff blocking like an umbrella, my vision, which had been hazy with water mist, gradually became clear.

 

“Kail!”

 

Upon spotting the child’s silhouette, I cried out and ran toward him.

 

Thank goodness. I found him before it was too late.

 

Kail was curled up inside a small cave formed by a hollow in the cliff.

 

Upon confirming his safety, strength completely left my legs. I collapsed to my knees in front of him.

 

“Kail, Kail!”

 

I frantically shook the shoulders of Kail, who had his head buried in his knees.

 

Kail’s back curled up even more upon hearing my shouts.

 

“You fool, do you know how worried I was!? Are you okay? You’re not hurt anywhere, are you?”

 

“…Go away.”

 

Through the gap as he brushed away my touch, I caught a glimpse of Kail’s face.

 

“Hey, you…!”

 

His lips and cheeks were swollen red, with blotchy hives that had risen up.

 

I had hoped against hope. My ominous premonition had come true.

 

“…You have a peach allergy.”

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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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