The Male Lead Has Gone Mad Over the Troublesome Villainess - Chapter 33

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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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The Male Lead Has Gone Mad Over the Villainess — Episode 033
Soon enough, he withdrew his gaze. A low, commanding voice rang out across the riverbank.
“Archers, fall back toward the stream! Target the eggs!”
The effect was immediate.
As arrows flew toward the water’s edge, the scattered creatures suddenly wheeled around in unison and surged toward that position, turning their backs on the enemy. And their backs were exposed.
One small opening had always been enough to overturn the tide of battle.
“Now! Strike them down!”
A full assault crashed down upon them. It did not take long for the Toad Clan, now vulnerable with their backs exposed to the enemy, to meet their end.
* * *
By the time the fighting ended, water had already risen to our ankles.
The southern channel had been blocked by the creatures’ corpses and shattered trees. The rainwater, with nowhere to drain, pooled directly on the basin floor. If this continued, the village would be submerged.
I wiped away the rainwater streaming down my face. Even after defeating the Toad Clan, the problem remained unsolved.
We retreated uphill to escape the rising water. Standing there, watching the flood rise, I exhaled heavily.
“One mountain after another.”
Vanessa murmured the words softly.
“Still, we’re all alive. That means we can do something about it.”
I felt Vanessa’s glance flick toward me. I laughed and swept my hair back. Soon, as the rain let up, orders came down to break through the water channel, and people began wading through the mud, dragging out corpses.
Dark eggs still clung thickly to the water’s edge. Despite the violent current sweeping past several times, they remained firmly stuck to rocks and aquatic plants—not a single one had been carried away.
What happens if those hatch?
A chill ran down my spine.
Breaking through the southern channel took half a day alone, and a full day for the water to drain. With corpses tangled together and the ground churned to mud, pulling them out with rope was grueling work.
When the water finally receded, the state of the village was grim.
Still, no one had died. Moreover, the City Center, sitting on higher ground, had suffered less damage.
The real problem came next.
“What do you intend to do about that?”
Millers gestured toward the stream, asking. Something gelatinous glinted in the sunlight, and the black specks embedded within seemed to be growing slightly larger.
Please let that be my imagination. Ugh.
“We’ll have to burn them.”
It was the obvious conclusion. It was remarkable that these things remained piled there, having survived even that chaos without flowing away. Up above, preparations for burning them were well underway. Down by the water’s edge, I pressed my gloved hand against the egg mass. The eggs weren’t simply slippery. They stuck fast to my fingers, and when I pulled away, they stretched thin and viscous like thread.
Hmm?
I tried to peel off a single egg, but the mass itself was enormous and clung stubbornly because of its particular stickiness. I tried slapping the egg mass again.
“Oh?”
What clung to my hand was viscous.
“Adhesive?”
Just to be sure, I examined the outermost eggs. The ones already beginning to dry had set firm as adhesive and wouldn’t separate easily.
“Incredible!”
At this level of strength, this could be used when crafting weapons or armor. That’s why you have to look backward too! People always say that even dung can have medicinal uses. It seemed these eggs could be put to good use as well.
* * *
It didn’t take long to find Millers.
“Sir Millers!”
“Yes, my lady.”
It seemed that between Millers and me, a certain camaraderie and fellowship had begun to take root. I grinned at him.
“I’ve discovered something quite interesting. I’d like to tell His Highness about it.”
“…I shall inform His Highness. Please follow me.”
After nodding, I trailed after Millers.
“But why do you always go through me?”
The sudden question made me tilt my head. What do you mean?
“Isn’t it obvious? I’m merely a lady-in-waiting and a noble. His Highness is of the royal blood and the Supreme Commander of the Expedition Force.”
“…And so?”
“…By rights, unless His Highness summons me, I’m someone who shouldn’t be seen in his presence, am I? I’m simply observing the courtesy that must be observed.”
Millers let out a sigh.
“Ah.”
“I want to respect the boundaries.”
Honestly, I’d become quite close to Kael, but if I wasn’t careful, I could become an obstacle to whatever romance might develop between Seraphine and him.
“I’ll count on you going forward, Sir Millers.”
“Ah, yes.”
Millers nodded. His head seemed somehow heavier as he did.
In the distance, I could see Kael discussing something with Register. When Millers went ahead to relay my message, Kael turned to look at me. I grinned warmly, and he beckoned me over. I approached him and explained what I’d discovered—the potential uses of the eggs.
“Therefore, I believe they possess sufficient research value and utility, Your Highness.”
Kael laughed softly and wiped his face.
“You really are…….”
“What?”
“Yes, good. I’ll leave this matter in your hands to proceed as you see fit. How you use the eggs—that’s your choice. And we’ll stay here for a week.”
He was giving me a week’s time.
“The Toad Clan takes only a week to hatch. Today is the second day, so in five days’ time I’ll incinerate them all. Any objections?”
“None at all, sir!”
I smiled brightly and offered a crisp salute. Perfect—that’s more than enough time!
* * *
Vanessa, Seraphine, and I scraped away the sticky liquid coating the egg’s surface.
“This seems waterproof too, doesn’t it?”
If I spread it on shoes and let it dry, it could work as a waterproofing agent. Definitely worth experimenting with.
“My lady.”
“Yes?”
“Why do you work so hard, if I may ask?”
Me?
Work hard?
“Me, you mean?”
“Yes. You don’t seem to stop for a moment—you’re always doing something.”
At Seraphine’s question, Vanessa, who’d been working a little further off, turned to look at me as well.
“……Isn’t everyone working hard? We’re all doing our best just to survive.”
I believe in the victory of this Expedition Force. That victory will surely be worth the cost, but if we can hasten it by even a day—if we can lose fewer lives, fewer wounds—there is nothing more meaningful than that. People who were once strangers have become comrades, become brothers and sisters in arms. If I can protect them, then everything I do becomes worthwhile.
People who were once strangers have become comrades, become brothers and sisters in arms. If I can protect them, then everything I do becomes worthwhile.
“I just hope we can all come back together.”
“…….”
“After this expedition is over, I’d love it if we could all gather and share a drink.”
At my words, Seraphine’s face twisted. She looked as though she might cry.
“……Will that day truly come?”
“Of course it will. That’s why we’re all working so hard to stay alive, isn’t it, Seraphine?”
I believe in you, my leading lady.
Seraphine was destined to awaken as a Sword Master—a key talent for our cause. I support every single step of her quiet journey forward. For our brilliant victory.
Seraphine smiled faintly. I could see her eyes glistening with moisture as they caught the light. She turned her head to gaze up at the sky.
“Everything you say seems destined to come true.”
It was destined to happen. Because I had seen that future with my own eyes.
I carefully took Seraphine’s hand. That hand, callused from training, seemed to prove our victory all by itself.
This strong hand, Kael’s will—it will lead us to victory.
“It will absolutely come true.”
Seraphine gripped my hand tightly. I gave it a gentle shake.
For my leading lady, who keeps moving forward without pause.

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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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