The Male Lead Has Gone Mad Over the Troublesome Villainess - Chapter 62

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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 62
Even after we retraced the path that Tenedi had come by, we pressed deeper into the Cave.
We passed two more traps along the way. One swallowed the ground beneath our feet whole; the other rained stones from above. Since I’d seen these in the Original Story, I could navigate them with ease.
Beyond those, we dodged Monsters scattered throughout, sometimes fleeing, sometimes fighting. Each time, I had to fall back a step and rely on Seraphine’s protection. I committed every Monster’s position carefully to memory.
Before long, the passage widened into a circular opening, and we found ourselves in a dead-end chamber. In its center stood a low altar, and upon it lay a single Golden Censer.
“Ah, it seems we’ve arrived.”
Callad murmured. Greed glistened across his shiny face. Was he really letting his desire show so plainly?
“It appears this is the only treasure in this place.”
Callad masked his expression and laughed. He affected an air of modesty as he spoke.
“Thanks to you all, I’ve had the privilege of seeing the Holy Relic itself.”
Only the rhythmic sound of water dripping echoed through the chamber; not a single Monster was visible. It was as though the Holy Relic protected this very room.
Kael approached the Holy Relic slowly and picked up the Golden Censer. After examining it briefly, he turned to us and nodded. There seemed to be nothing amiss. So far, everything proceeded as expected.
Kael smiled coldly and stepped toward us. The moment Callad’s eyes fell upon the Golden Censer in his hands, something flickered in them.
“Your Highness.”
Callad spoke with exaggerated courtesy.
“I must congratulate you on obtaining what you sought.”
“Your assistance has been invaluable.”
Kael replied with a chill in his voice. His eyes held not a trace of warmth. Callad grinned regardless, unbothered.
“Now all that remains is to leave safely.”
Callad led the way. As we walked beyond the chamber, light began to appear. It was the way out. If we followed that path, we’d likely return to where we’d entered. That’s how it went in the Original Story, after all.
Callad stopped just before that light and turned around.
“Now I’m afraid I must ask for your assistance.”
“With what?”
Callad stretched his lips into a smile.
‘They’ll betray us for certain, Your Highness.’
Callad spun and drove his Dagger into his subordinate’s thigh.
“Aaaagh! What—what are you doing!”
Callad laughed cruelly and shoved the screaming mercenary toward us. The man was truly respectable in his utter lack of conscience. And the moment Callad gestured—
“Ugh!”
I noticed the ambush and twisted my body, but I was a heartbeat too late. The man who rushed from behind seized my arm and dragged me forward; before I could counterattack, cold metal pressed against my throat.
Seraphine immediately drew her sword and leveled it at him.
“I trust no one here wishes to see the lady harmed.”
At those words, neither Seraphine nor anyone else could move.
The man dragged me toward Callad. There was no need to ask what he was doing. They meant to use me as a hostage.
Callad laughed viciously, and the faces of my companions had gone ashen. I blinked slowly.
Soon enough, Callad herded us all forward and stood beneath the light, spreading both arms wide.
“Now then, will you surrender the Holy Relic?”
Callad laid bare his avarice entirely. I flicked my finger toward Kael—a signal that I was fine, that he should hand it over.
The reason I’d become the hostage was plain enough. Because I appeared the weakest. Because I was the vulnerability.
Kael slowly tossed the Holy Relic, and Callad caught it. The cold metal still pressed against my throat. I felt warm blood trickling down my neck. Callad’s laughter echoed low through the Cave.
Callad dragged his hand slowly across the stone wall.
“Equivalent Exchange. To leave, you must offer what you possess. The moment a path opens before you, the door will close once more. That is what is written here. Do you understand what it means?”
Kael’s eyes froze with terrible coldness as he stared at him.
“For nine to leave whole, nine must remain whole.”
Light began to pour down upon us. We were being summoned outward. Kael never took his eyes off us for an instant. I raised both hands so he could see clearly, and thrust my thumb upward.
It was our established Hand Signal.
‘Trust me.’
Then I opened my palm.
‘Get out.’
And finally, I clenched my fist tight. Before we’d entered the Sanctuary, we’d devised this signal in case of unforeseen circumstances.
What it meant was simple.
‘Monster.’
At the sight of this, Kael’s lips twitched almost imperceptibly. I met his gaze and smiled.
* * *
Callad, Rosana, and his subordinates vanished. The knights tried to follow them into the light, but an invisible barrier held them back—they could not advance.
Kael slowly bent down and hauled the abandoned mercenary up by his collar.
“Ugh.”
The mercenary trembled, his face drained of all color.
“You.”
Kael spoke with glacial precision.
“Tell me everything you know.”
Knights filed in behind Kael. The mercenary squeezed his eyes shut against their piercing stares — especially the venomous glint in Seraphine’s gaze.
“If you want to keep your hide, I’d suggest you open your mouth willingly.”
Seraphine drew her blade and pressed it to the mercenary’s throat. The sword point held steady, utterly merciless, and a chill emanated from its edge. At last, the mercenary spoke.
“How should I know, blast it! I never thought it’d come to this! That bastard Callad!!! He said—he said we’d need Offerings! And he said he’d use all of you to get out—that it was the only way to take the Holy Relic beyond this place. Nine lives need nine, and ten need ten!!”
The man shrieked and babbled, his grip on his bleeding thigh bone-white with tension.
Kael steadied his breathing, then closed his hands around the man’s throat. A red-hot rage surged through him, consuming his vision. Even his breath burned.
“My lord.”
Seraphine stayed Kael’s hand.
“We have one Offering now. Secure nine more, and we can all escape safely. The princess should be waiting with Tenedi by now.”
Kael slowly released his grip. The freed mercenary collapsed to the floor, curling into himself, and coughed violently. Kael ignored him entirely as he spoke quietly.
“Go. Bring back the Trolls—only those still breathing. Nine of them, to match our numbers.”
Kael glanced at the mercenary sprawled on the ground. The man was trembling like a leaf, cold sweat streaming down his face, and shook his head. He was begging not to be left behind.
Kael slowly turned the situation over in his mind. What would Rosana have done? Rosana—the woman who had even saved Hald’s life, despite his vile harassment.
‘It’s still a human life. I don’t want them to be devoured by Monsters. If I’m to have revenge on him, I’ll take it with my own hands.’
‘What meaning is there in that?’
‘We came here to save people from Monsters. At the very least, I won’t let them die as prey—without dignity, without humanity.’
Rosana had spoken those words. Kael murmured quietly.
“No. It’s ten.”
It was not only Kael who read the Hand Signal—all the knights bowed their heads in unison.
A frigid aura rolled out from Kael, and they held their breath. His anger was genuine. The killing intent honed to a razor’s edge seemed poised to cut through flesh and bone.
“Yes, my lord!”

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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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