The Male Lead Is the Villain, and I'm the Only One Who Knows - Chapter 97

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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 Hidden Mastermind, and Only I Know — Episode 97
“Oh, Chahil?”
It had been ages since I’d seen his face—not since he’d tried to lure me to the Book Exhibition with lies and gotten caught by Iban, then chased away.
I’d already been planning to crack down on him hard, and here he was, practically gift-wrapped. Perfect timing, you bastard.
I was going to shake him down thoroughly. First, let’s sort out whatever’s rattling around in that head of his.
“Oh, Master…!”
The moment Chahil saw me, he hurried forward with an expression mixing tension, surprise, and delight.
The pale, elongated slip-dress he wore hung loosely enough that glimpses of smooth, taut muscle showed through the thin fabric, catching my eye.
I was admiring the view in silence for a moment when I met his pale, pupilless eyes drifting through the air.
A belated question followed.
“How did you get in here?”
Chahil, who was supposed to be a servant by rank, shouldn’t have been able to enter Marin Palace on his own. Was it because he’d been going around with Iban lately? But even so, was security supposed to be this lax?
“Ah… well, that’s… everyone opened the doors for me….”
At my pointed question, Chahil’s eyes drooped like a dejected puppy’s. Hmm. As I expected.
‘It would be hard for people to see Chahil as just a servant when he’s always with the Crown Prince and his consort.’
This meant his presence had grown among the palace staff to the point where the attendants were careful not to offend him—fearful of being marked unfavorably by me or Iban.
“…Right. I helped open doors that weren’t supposed to open, and in return you stabbed me in the back?”
I gave him a cold look that said ‘Let’s hear your excuse’ and breezed past him into the bedroom.
The fact that he’d stayed quiet for days and only now showed up meant he’d gauged how long my anger needed to cool, or so he thought.
‘Does he really think he’s clever waiting me out? Fat chance.’
Sis followed silently behind me, arranged flowers in a vase, then began tidying the bedding, while Chahil wavered uncertainly as he carefully trailed after me.
“According to Iban, a Hybrid can’t even approach the Book Exhibition, let alone enter it. What were you planning to do, dragging me to the Demon Realm?”
Chahil’s long, sleek white hair trembled anxiously as he hung his head behind me, following close. The pale strands fell across his dark skin like a physical manifestation of his unease, wavering precariously.
‘Hmm. Going by appearances alone, he seems… remorseful? But who can trust what’s going on inside a black-hearted demon’s head?’
This latest betrayal had shaken me deeply enough that real caution had taken root down to my bones. Now I wasn’t trusting demons or humans easily—not anymore.
“I… I’m sorry, Master…!”
Suddenly Chahil dropped to his knees in front of me. With one hand clutching the hem of my Riding Outfit, he rubbed his soft cheeks frantically against my leg, tears streaming down like transparent beads.
“You’re always with His Highness, never with me… and it made me sad…! If we go to the Demon Realm, you’d only look at me, so….”
Transparent droplets fell from his translucent white eyes down his dark skin, dampening my pant leg with clear tears.
‘Ugh, look at that expression. He’s really trying his hardest to bewitch someone.’
A beautiful white-haired man collapsed at my feet, clinging to my trouser leg, pitfully pleading for his master’s affection with tears streaming down. This was definitely dangerous.
“So you lied to me? You used my desperation? That’s rich. No wonder you’re a demon. What’s your real objective?”
“Nngh… No, it’s not like that. That’s truly all there is, Master….”
Right. If he cries this prettily and pleads so obediently, I’m supposed to just give in? As if.
“Not a chance. I don’t fall for your tricks anymore. Thanks to you, I’ve finally woken up.”
I kicked my leg to brush him away coldly, then moved to the dressing room and changed into a light Blue Dress for indoors, throwing a Fur Cloak over it before heading to Ruby Palace.
I came back to stand before Chahil, who was still kneeling in the middle of the bedroom, and let out a sigh.
“…Chahil, I’m going to ask you one last time. Is there really nothing you can do to help me with my Dimensional Magic?”
If there was nothing, then I had no further use for him. To be more blunt—
‘There’s no reason for me to keep stopping Iban from killing Chahil like the original story dictates.’
So far I’d prevented Iban’s hand from reaching him because Chahil was my only servant, but if that single utility vanished, there was no reason to go to such trouble.
Whether Chahil sensed the ominous undertone in my words or not, he lifted his head to meet my gaze. Our eyes tangled in midair, mixing silently for an instant.
“Are you saying you’ll abandon me if I’m not useful?”
His voice came at me suddenly, as though he’d whispered it directly into my ear—so close it sent a jolt through me. I stepped back in alarm as Chahil slowly rose to his feet.
Then his clear voice rang softly through the space.
“Whatever wish you have, I can fulfill it for you, Master. So what will you give me in return?”
“…!”
A familiar yet strange sensation brushed down my spine, and my eyes narrowed involuntarily.
‘Chahil cast a Concealment Barrier. When did he…?’
The space around us had darkened in an instant, like blackout curtains had been drawn, subtle enough that I wouldn’t have noticed without focusing every ounce of my attention.
‘Now that I think about it, I haven’t seen Sis in a moment!’
A different quality of silence hung in the air from Iban’s Demon Discrimination Barrier. Being from the Tarant Kingdom, Chahil was a southern mage and seemed to have considerable skill with barriers. Remarkably considerable, in fact.
“You said you couldn’t even take me to the Book Exhibition, but now you’re saying you can grant me whatever I want?”
“That was only a problem with access to the Demon Realm. If we sign a ‘formal’ contract, I can grant anything, Master. As a Hybrid, I have more freedom from demon regulations. If you wish to return home, for instance, or—”
When I pointed out the contradiction with a suspicious expression, Chahil leaned in toward my ear with a smooth voice and answered softly.
“—to kill anyone inconvenient. Whether it’s a demon or anything else. If that’s what you want, it’s entirely possible.”
The way he whispered made it clear he was gunning for Iban. A half-breed assassinating a Grand Demon?
I gave him a skeptical look, and Chahil smiled slowly.
“You don’t seem to realize what kind of ‘weapon’ you possess, Master. His Highness apparently never told you.”
“What are you talking about?”
What do I have? Filth’s power, Dust, the magical power Iban gave me… oh, that one I don’t have yet, so I’ll need to go get it. Anyway, I’ve got the Short Sword too….
“This secret—or rather, this not-quite-secret—can’t be spoken of carelessly by any demon but him. It’s a matter of survival, you see.”
Having delivered this cryptic answer, Chahil merely shrugged, as though he’d said all he intended to say.
“Chahil, first—undo this barrier.”
“This is one of the things I do best. I’m merely trying to prove my usefulness so I won’t be abandoned—please don’t take offense. What you’ve seen before with those amateur Concealment Barriers won’t even compare.”
When I shot him a wary glance, Chahil responded with a gentle smile, his tone leisurely.
His arrogant boast about amateurs, unfortunately, was true. At least until now, I’d always noticed the Concealment Barriers the moment I entered them—but this one, I’d only sensed at the last moment.
‘Damn. He’s even blocked me from using magical power. Thorough work.’
Since it was neither a Demonic Beast nor Demonic Aura, even Filth’s power proved useless. I was frowning, wondering how I could possibly break through, when it happened.
Crack—slash!
Suddenly, a sharp, piercing sound—like something was being torn apart by force—struck my eardrums violently.
Caught off guard, I stumbled as the surging wave of magical power overwhelmed me, but a familiar hand pierced through the pitch-black darkness and lightly caught my arm.
“Come.”

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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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