The Obsessive Male Lead Is Obsessed With Me! - Chapter 76

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Episode 76

 

* * *

 

After climbing steep cliffs and passing through treacherous gorges, they finally arrived at the high peak of Heitensan.

 

“Chirp, tweet! Chirp!”

 

Ruda, who had climbed to this high place with his small body, flapped his tiny wings and earnestly called for someone who should be nearby.

 

“Woof! Woof!”

 

Fortunately, it wasn’t long before barking sounds calling out to Ruda could be heard.

 

Ruda, hovering in mid-air, recognized that the beast below was the wolf cub that Lionel had treated.

 

“Chirp!”

 

Ruda excitedly flew down quickly. The wolf cub also seemed happy to see Ruda, spinning around in place and even jumping up and down.

 

“Tweet, chirp!”

 

“Woof, bark, woof!”

 

Despite being completely different species, they seemed to understand each other as they chirped and barked for quite a while, then the wolf cub offered its head to Ruda.

 

“Woof!”

 

Ruda immediately landed on the wolf cub’s head, gripping the cub’s fur with one wing while stretching the other wing straight forward.

 

“Chirp!”

 

Let’s go!

 

Following that signal, the wolf cub returned to the den with Ruda riding on its head. To the place where dozens of giant wolves lived.

 

“Woof!”

 

“…Growl?”

 

Even though a kidnapping incident had just occurred recently, a moment of silence fell among the giant wolves who had been in a menacing mood because the wolf cub had run out of the cave alone again.

 

“Chirp!”

 

However, when Ruda flew up high and showed off his presence, the tense atmosphere relaxed.

 

“Grrrr…”

 

The wolf cub’s mother approached first, grabbed the cub by the scruff of its neck and took it inside, while the pack leader came forward and bowed his head to Ruda in respect. It was courtesy toward a strong one.

 

“Tweet, chirp!”

 

Ruda, indicating there was no need for such formality, tapped the alpha wolf’s head and spun around while examining the inside of the cave.

 

The pack leader carefully approached Ruda.

 

“Grrrrowl…?”

 

“Chirp!”

 

To the alpha wolf tilting its head, Ruda let out a long cry to draw all the wolves’ attention to himself.

 

Then he began explaining the reason he had flown all the way here.

 

“Chirp, tweet. Chirp chirp. Tweet!”

 

The wolves watched intently as Ruda floated in mid-air, mixing wing flaps and gestures to tell a long story.

 

Though it seemed like they wouldn’t understand each other at all, surprisingly, they communicated well.

 

“Growl!”

 

“Grrrrowl!”

 

“Woof!”

 

As several battle wolves stepped forward, the wolf cub who had successfully escaped once again came forward, barking to assert its presence.

 

Naturally, it was dragged away by its mother wolf again, and Ruda carefully examined the battle wolves who had volunteered.

 

“Tweet!”

 

Each time Ruda made a chirping sound, the battle wolves showed off their sharp fangs and sturdy claws.

 

After thoroughly examining all the wolves, Ruda selected one battle wolf.

 

“Tweet!”

 

“Awoo!”

 

The finally chosen battle wolf howled proudly.

 

As if praising the warrior chosen by the strong one, the other wolves also howled long and loud, and Ruda joined their howling with his own chirping sounds.

 

“Growl?”

 

And then, the pack leader once again expressed some question to Ruda.

 

Ruda jumped up as if saying ‘Oh right, I almost forgot!’

 

After spinning around the giant wolf he had chosen while pondering, Ruda landed on that wolf’s head and brought both wings to either side of his own head.

 

“Tweet, chirp, chiiirp…!”

 

The other wolves tilted their heads in confusion, not understanding. They couldn’t possibly know. Right now, Ruda was sending telepathy to Cecilia.

 

* * *

 

“…Huh!”

 

“What’s wrong, Lady?”

 

Right. Why am I suddenly acting like this?

 

I scratched my cheek and asked Uni.

 

“Say, do we have any transformation magic books at home?”

 

“Huh? Transformation magic? Well, I’m not sure.”

 

“Look for one, and if we don’t have any, get me one.”

 

Actually, it would be faster to ask Master about this, but he had recently returned to the Magic Tower due to a cooperation request from the Imperial Family, so I couldn’t ask for help right away.

 

“Yes, understood. But why transformation magic all of a sudden?”

 

“Hmm, I suddenly got the feeling I need to learn that magic.”

 

“Suddenly?”

 

“Suddenly.”

 

This answer didn’t seem to satisfy her curiosity, as Uni’s face still showed bewilderment.

 

But since I had nothing else to say besides ‘suddenly,’ I waved my hands at Uni.

 

“Then I’ll leave it to you. Oh, and make sure we never run out of chocolate from now on.”

 

“Yes, understood.”

 

After Uni went outside to fulfill my request, I wondered why I suddenly had this impulse, and my thoughts turned to Ruda.

 

‘Did something happen that requires transformation magic…?’

 

What on earth is he doing out there that would require transformation magic?

 

I earnestly sent telepathy to Ruda, telling him that when he returns home later, he must tell me about what exciting adventures he’s been enjoying outside.

 

* * *

 

The day of departure for the north.

 

To avoid drawing unnecessary attention, the support troops departing for the north gathered at the north gate of the capital rather than at the Imperial Palace to organize their formation.

 

The people who had gathered to see them off were each holding onto their family, lovers, and friends, shedding tears.

 

“You must take care of yourself. Understood?”

 

“I’ll pray at the temple every day…! Sob!”

 

“Brother, don’t go! Waaaah!”

 

Among all the people who were crying as if they had made a promise to do so.

 

There was one person who stood apart as if all of this was someone else’s business.

 

It was Lionel, who was checking the supplies to be dispatched to the north.

 

“Your Highness, all preparations for departure are complete. We can leave right now.”

 

Beric, the captain of the Third Knight Order, approached Lionel, who had just finished checking all the wagons, and reported.

 

Lionel nodded and looked at the soldiers having tearful farewells with their families. His face was simply calm.

 

Knowing that no one had come to personally see Lionel off, Beric felt awkward and cleared his throat unnecessarily.

 

“I’ll have the horn blown right now to signal departure.”

 

“No need. Postpone departure by 30 minutes.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“We’ll have to camp along the way today anyway, so it won’t matter if departure is delayed a little.”

 

At those words, Beric was surprised and just blinked. It was honestly unexpected to hear such words from Lionel’s mouth.

 

‘Is he… showing consideration?’

 

While Beric stood frozen in bewilderment, the people who heard that departure was postponed were very pleased.

 

While people exchanged words they hadn’t finished saying, Lionel leaned against a supply wagon and began reading a book he had taken out from somewhere, as if all of this had nothing to do with him.

 

Glancing over, I could see the word “siege” in the title. He seemed to be reading a military strategy book.

 

‘Reading even in a place like this…’

 

While thinking it was impressive, Beric felt somewhat sorry for Lionel, who seemed thoroughly isolated as if he had drawn a perfect line between himself and everyone else.

 

‘How could there not be even one person who came to see him off?’

 

Feeling uneasy, Beric hesitated before approaching Lionel.

 

“Ahem, Your Highness.”

 

“What is it?”

 

Lionel turned only his head to look at Beric without changing his position of leaning against the carriage wall.

 

Beric pondered what to say before carefully opening his mouth.

 

“The Duchess will be fine.”

 

“…?”

 

Perhaps finding Beric’s words sudden, Lionel cast a puzzled look at him.

 

Beric thought his explanation might have been insufficient and spoke in more detail.

 

“I mean Cecilia Roheim. I heard she collapsed from shock upon hearing news of Your Highness’s departure.”

 

It was his way of consoling that if Cecilia had been healthy, she would have come to see you off, but it was truly regrettable that she couldn’t.

 

“Ah.”

 

As if understanding what story it was about, Lionel nodded his head lightly.

 

His reaction ended there. So Beric couldn’t tell if he had understood his consolation.

 

Or perhaps he had no interest at all whether the Duchess was sick or not?

 

‘Still, looking at those earrings… Huh?’

 

For a moment, Beric doubted his own eyes.

 

[How the Duchess Can Capture That Prince]

 

He hadn’t seen it wrong. The title of the book he belatedly discovered was definitely written that way. The title of the book Lionel was holding, that is.

 

‘W-wasn’t he reading a military strategy book?’

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————