The Male Lead Has Gone Mad Over the Troublesome Villainess - Chapter 70

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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 Went Crazy for a Villainess Troublemaker — Episode 70
The confined space resembled a storage room. With not a single window and a ceiling hung so low, it seemed to be underground. The only entrance was a wooden door, and no matter how hard I pushed, it wouldn’t budge—evidently barred from the outside.
Those locked inside were members of our Expedition Party and strangers who had already been held captive here.
“Did you find out how long those people have been here?”
“I don’t know. They won’t talk. I asked them several times, but they wouldn’t answer.”
Vanessa whispered. The strangers sat huddled against the wall, heads bowed as though they’d abandoned all hope. One of them lifted her gaze toward us—a young woman with an unfinished face.
“……They all arrived at different times.”
Vanessa looked startled and pressed herself against me.
“There’s no hope left.”
The woman spoke with bitter irony.
“No one who was brought here has ever left. We’re going to board a ship soon. They said the ship sets sail at dawn tomorrow.”
Judging by the current state of things, morning seemed most likely. I had no intention of boarding that ship willingly. The restraints binding the people were rope—at least they’d be simple to cut through.
I narrowed my eyes and felt along my waistband.
Fortunately, they hadn’t laid hands on my belt. I pulled my lips into a crooked smile. This would be easy enough to break.
“Vanessa, help me out, would you? Feel along my waist here—inside the belt. Yes, that’s it.”
Vanessa’s fingers trembled slightly as she extracted what was wound together with the belt.
“……What is this?”
“Oh, something you can use like a blade. Quite useful in moments like these.”
“Where did you even……? Why on earth……?”
“I got it when I bought the Dagger. Not a problem, is it?”
Vanessa blinked at me with a dazed expression.
What was that look for? How could I know what might happen? You have to be prepared for anything. See? This is exactly the moment we need it.
“Turn around. I’ll cut your bindings first.”
Vanessa shuffled her hips and turned.
* * *
I freed the hands and feet of everyone inside. From what they told me, their captors largely left this place unattended, feeding them only thin gruel—barely enough to keep them alive.
“……Where did you even come from? Even if we got out of here, there are guards outside, maybe more than a few. How on earth do you plan to……?”
The imprisoned woman murmured helplessly. Vanessa was gathering the children, while I surveyed the surroundings.
The place where they’d locked us up looked like a storage room……? Hmm, but these are stone walls.
“It looks like a Mine Passage.”
If this truly was an old Mine Passage, there might be other exits still intact. The miners might have constructed emergency passages or ventilation shafts. Perhaps there was another way out hidden somewhere in this very room.
I glanced behind me. To get everyone in here out safely, it was best to avoid confrontation with them as much as possible. Those from our Expedition Party could fight and flee now, but the others……well.
They were already terrified. I touched my forehead. The situation was unfavorable, but I had something to believe in. Kael would come to rescue us—I was certain of it.
As I examined the walls from different angles, Vanessa approached.
“What are you doing, Rosana? I thought you’d tear the door down.”
“Fighting with all these people would be too risky. I’m looking to see if there’s another way out. Those crates over there—we should move them.”
Vanessa nodded, her eyes burning with determination as she studied the crates.
In the old days, Vanessa would have been just like them. But she’s become a real person—truly grown.
“Once we escape, we’ll show those bastards a thing or two. We already hunted down a spider Monster, so what are they supposed to frighten us with!”
Vanessa gritted her teeth, her nostrils flaring. I clapped for her, burning with that beautiful resolve.
Yes, exactly that kind of spirit!
* * *
Kael left Gloria before noon.
After pouring a slurry of ground pepper and chili across the city walls, it took less than half a day for the Monsters to retreat.
Hald, standing beside Kael, gauged the moment before opening his mouth carefully.
“Your Highness, if I may ask—how many men do you intend to take with you?”
“Do you have something to say?”
“The Quarry Mine Passage where the Crow’s Nest is located has a narrow interior. Moreover, there’s only one entrance leading to the surface, so that’s the only way for them to escape. I’d suggest taking only about ten men inside and leaving the remaining twenty to guard the entrance outside.”
Hald spoke seriously. Kael fixed him with a cold stare—more candid than ever before.
At that gaze, Hald laughed awkwardly.
“What’s your reason?”
“Even a starving worm remembers the grace of being saved.”
Hald spoke with eyes bright and teeth gritted.
“Those bastards are truly vile. I pray that Lady Rosana returns safely from there. I mean it sincerely.”
Hald’s shoulders slumped.
At those words, Kael rubbed his face. Not a soul around failed to hold Rosana in their heart.
Rosana would shine even in that place. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t summon the image of her sitting quietly, waiting for rescue. Instead, the picture of her struggling by any means necessary bloomed far too vividly in his mind, and it only deepened his unease. Rosana was the kind of person who would throw herself into danger to save others.
That very fact unsettled him most of all.
Hald watched Kael’s expression before adding quietly:
“They’ll try to leave today. Dawn is the easiest time to cross the border. I suspect they have connections with the border guards who stand watch at dawn.”
“We’ll finish it tonight.”
Hald nodded. Kael issued orders to Millers.
“We can’t leave this place entirely undefended. I’ll organize a rescue party of thirty, including Seraphine. Ten will enter the Mine Passage with me; the rest will seal the entrance. You’ll remain here with the remaining forces to defend Gloria.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Kael ran his tongue across the inside of his mouth. Even his breath tasted bitter. The mere fact that Rosana was in danger did that to him. That she’d been dragged beyond his sight—the thought was unbearable. Rosana had to remain within his reach.
So that he could save her the moment danger came.
“……Are you worried about the lady?”
“Of course. I can’t fathom what they might be doing to her.”
“……Perhaps she’s already subdued them.”
Kael smiled bitterly. He knew that was nothing but foolish hope. No matter how strong Rosana was, her heart was gentle and easily swayed. There would be more than one set of hands holding her back. The faces of those captured alongside her flooded his mind.
“……Bring everyone back safely. For Lady Rosana’s sake, if nothing else.”
“I will.”
* * *
Mirel thrashed about in her cell. Her bound wrists ached too much to remain still. No matter how much she cried out, no one came to rescue her.
Why? Mirel couldn’t make sense of her situation.
“Get the Crown Prince here!!”
Mirel shrieked in a shrill voice.
“I’m not meant to be in a place like this! Let me out!”
Tears streaked Mirel’s pale cheeks. The world was desperately unfair.

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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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