The Male Lead Is the Villain, and I'm the Only One Who Knows - Chapter 61

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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 Is the Mastermind, But Only I Know That — Episode 61
Just minutes have passed since he warned me not to lie anymore, told me not to test his patience, and now this mess unfolds…….
‘I’m really getting torn to shreds today.’
My jaw clenched of its own accord, the tension finally releasing. Just then, Iban, who had been watching the recording in silence, offered a brief observation in his usual measured tone.
“You do seem to have many friends.”
I’d rather he’d just lose his temper.
On the screen that followed, I was shown disappearing behind the tent alongside Dayad, following the man with the blue-black hair. The image played out with perfect clarity.
Soon after, Dayad emerged alone from the brushwood.
The moment he stepped out, his expression had hardened completely—every trace of earlier amusement wiped clean. He bolted off in some direction without hesitation.
‘That’s the moment I sent him away to investigate the Cult.’
When I still hadn’t emerged after a considerable time, the recording shook as the camera drew closer to the tent.
But behind the tent there was nothing. Only a heap of rotted, crumbling kindling collapsed on the ground and a few pathetic trees dying from exposure to the sea—that was all.
The recording ended there. It was shorter than expected, but what it contained was more than sufficient.
“Upon approaching that location, an unidentified disturbance occurred, and the Video Recording Stone lost power. Recovery took time. My apologies.”
“All other recordings were corrupted beyond recovery. Only this scene could be restored.”
Sis and Kan bowed their heads in succession. I barely managed to swallow the sigh threatening to burst forth. Of all scenes to restore, why did it have to be that one…….
“Go.”
Iban’s firmly closed mouth slowly opened a sliver. It was a short, icy command. The two who had handed over the Video Recording Stone vanished into the darkness without another word.
Now, atop the Hill where this brilliant night sky hung overhead, only Iban and I remained.
“You have something to say. I can see it on your face.”
Sensing my gaze, Iban glanced at me sidelong, then tilted his chin as if to say, go ahead and try.
“…Are you very angry?”
At my cautious question, one of Iban’s eyebrows rose smoothly. The expression was strange—whether angry or exasperated, I couldn’t quite tell.
Perhaps both.
“And if I am?”
…….
He read the meaning of my silence at once and let out a low chuckle. Iban stepped forward and smoothly swept away the Robe’s hood that had slipped down the back of my neck.
“Let me give you one piece of advice that might help you.”
The thick Robe swayed helplessly under his sharp touch. In the next moment, as Iban’s sharp fingertips came to rest on the hem of the Robe, his voice dropped even lower.
“Don’t get caught again.”
He warned me softly.
This meant his patience had reached its limit. A dry swallow slipped down my throat.
“Left to my own inclination, I’d drag you straight back to the Imperial Palace right now, unpredictable as you are—”
His green eyes, darkened by shadow, pinned me down with their gaze.
“But since I don’t know when I’ll be able to get out again, I’ll make an exception this once.”
A rather personal smile tugged at the corners of Iban’s lips, forming a slight arc.
But that remark sounded an awful lot like he planned to keep me locked in the Imperial Palace going forward…?
I’d deal with that later. What struck me as odd was that he, whom I’d expected to pepper me with questions the moment the recording played, remained quiet. I tilted my head curiously.
“Aren’t you going to ask about the recording?”
“What’s there to ask? Even at a glance, it’s a Concealment Barrier, and the Southern Region’s handiwork. As for that man—”
Iban’s calm gaze fell upon the slit of my dress, where the Short Dagger he had given me lay nestled.
“I was wondering why you suddenly asked about it. So there was a reason.”
He had figured out why I’d inquired about the dagger’s nature.
“Rene, hand me that dagger.”
As he extended his hand, I drew the Short Dagger from the slit and passed it to him. Iban examined the emerald embedded in the hilt, darkened with what looked like shadow and grime, then his eyes widened slightly.
“Did you wield this against him? There’s something filthy on it.”
“No, I only drew it. From closer range…. Ah, he said his name was Saha.”
As I recalled the moment and spoke aloud, Iban’s quiet laugh reached my ears.
“Better than the Pyramid-types, but he’s not strong enough to meet my presence head-on in front of you.”
“So Saha is a demon too?”
“Yes. Judging by appearances, I’d say he’s around upper-tier rank.”
As Iban caressed the jewel of the dagger, the light that had been dark went clear and bright with emerald luminescence in an instant. I watched silently, then opened my mouth again.
“Saha knew who I am. Something happened inside. He also said I’d be a waste to kill like the previous Filth.”
“Honest of him, talking without being asked. I’ll handle that matter myself.”
Iban laughed dryly with a bewildered expression, remarking that in just a single day I’d managed to stir up quite the variety of trouble.
“…Why aren’t you angry?”
At my tentatively posed question, Iban looked down at me with an unwavering gaze. A flicker of interest kindled in his apathetic green eyes.
“Do you want to be punished?”
“Not exactly… but I lied again and hid what happened. Your silence feels off somehow.”
“You know well. What you’ve done wrong.”
Iban brushed the strand of hair from my cheek with a gentle touch, then opened his mouth in a voice grown quite subdued.
“This is the last time, Rene. There won’t be another.”
For someone speaking of endings, his eyes remained remarkably composed—that distinctive ease of his, the kind that suggested he wouldn’t exhaust himself reacting to every trivial thing.
“I won’t say I’m sorry. You hid from me that Mana Absorption doesn’t work on my body either, after all.”
At my offhand words, Iban let out a small exclamation—a faint laugh caught in his throat.
“Speaking of which, your timing is perfect. Tomorrow we’ll proceed with that Mana Absorption properly, so look forward to it.”
“Wasn’t it already decided by holding hands…?”
“That’s the usual arrangement, but as you know, I’m quite occupied with affairs of state. I can’t be at your side throughout the Foundation Festival. If you’re to avoid danger alone, this is unavoidable.”
After delivering his words with finality, Iban reached out deliberately and tapped my lower lip once, twice—as if reminding me that he hadn’t forgotten how I’d provoked him.
“When I said to stay by my side tomorrow, I wasn’t joking. I’ll come collect you at noon, so remain properly at home.”
“You’re serious? Tomorrow is my last day of leave, though…?”
I stared at him with a look meant to convey that being with him hardly counted as a holiday. My first real outing since being confined to the Imperial Palace, and it would end today—it made no sense!
“That’s unfortunate.”
Iban replied with studied indifference, took my hand again, and descended the hill. He seated me directly in the waiting carriage.
The moment I settled into place, he rapped on the carriage door, signaling the driver to depart.
“Sleep well, my troublesome fiancée.”
“Wait, hold on. So how exactly are you going to transfer the Mana…!”
My urgent words scattered like mist, dispersed by the sharp bang of the carriage door closing.

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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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