The Obsessive Male Leads Want to Eat Me Alive - Chapter 17

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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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Chapter 17
“It’s a secret, sister.”
…Heinrich keeping secrets from me? That had never happened before.
Heinrich winked playfully.
Then he placed both hands behind his head, leaned back, and offered a mysterious smile.
‘Sometimes, Heinrich, I have no idea what you’re thinking.’
Even when I believed I knew him completely, the moment that boy chose to hide his heart, there was nothing I could see.
“I’m hurt.”
I spoke with a note of petulance.
“Even I’m entitled to secrets I can’t share with you, sister.”
Heinrich spoke with composure, but my thoughts grew more complicated.
‘Heinrich, is it really you?’
If it were you, then I absolutely had to find out.
For your future’s sake.
…
I quietly clenched my fists against my knees.
This situation of merely suspecting Heinrich would end soon enough. The true culprit’s identity would be revealed. As long as the little devil committed a ‘second’ theft.
I waited quietly like a fisherman with a line cast into the water, and soon the opportunity came.
* * *
It was the afternoon of the next day when Robert cried out that his toy had gone missing.
The item was, as expected, discovered in Sisrain’s locker.
I wondered if Sisrain would hold up under the suspicion again, but the boy accepted the situation calmly, as though he’d already anticipated it.
Sisrain was more steadfast than I’d expected.
“That’s unfortunate, Anette.”
Julius seemed to be enjoying this situation.
“What did I tell you? Problem children continue to cause problems. You spoke so confidently about exposing the real culprit, and now you’ve just made a fool of yourself.”
What, this man is actually rather childish. …He’s genuinely wary of a twelve-year-old.
I smiled faintly and spoke.
“I still believe in Sisrain, teacher. And I believe that ‘ring’ will become mine.”
Which was as good as saying: I believe you’ll become my slave.
―
Julius clenched his teeth with a “Tch,” then turned away with a cold expression.
“Do as you wish. I’ll have to inform Mimosa about this. …She’s not one to show mercy twice.”
With that, Julius left.
In the slightly chilled atmosphere that followed, Robert opened his mouth.
“Did Sisrain really take my toy…?”
“No. I didn’t.”
Sisrain opened his crimson eyes beneath his black hair, answering calmly.
But Robert whispered with a trembling voice, lowering his head deeply.
…But…
I knew what would come next. ‘My belongings were found in your locker.’
Robert was the child who had defended Sisrain during the first teddy bear theft, insisting he couldn’t possibly be guilty.
But after losing his own precious possession and watching the incidents repeat, he couldn’t easily shield Sisrain this time.
‘That’s the normal reaction.’
After all, that toy was Robert’s most treasured possession.
The little demon was deliberately stealing only the children’s ‘most precious’ belongings to frame Sisrain.
To isolate him from the other children.
“….”
Once could be dismissed as a prank, but twice was a habit—a compulsion to steal.
The classroom atmosphere had grown unusually heavy, as no one felt comfortable defending Sisrain anymore.
“Sisrain said he didn’t do it. Let’s trust him, everyone.”
I spoke up.
Just then, a cheerful voice cut through the tension, reversing the mood entirely.
“Hmm, so Anette is taking that child’s side again? Aren’t you protecting him a bit too much?”
It was Vivian.
A pretty little lady in a pink dress with platinum blonde hair and cyan eyes. But now her eyes were narrowed in an ugly way.
“You never know, right? Isn’t he from a slave background?”
Her long lashes lowered delicately.
“They say slave children’s eyes light up at the sight of anything valuable.”
“…Vivian!”
“What? I’m just repeating what I heard.”
Vivian glared at Sisrain with her arms crossed.
“It’s shameful for the Forest Children to have someone like that. How are we supposed to live in the forest together with a child who steals?”
‘She really does hate Sisrain.’
Intensely, at that.
It could simply be that as a model student she disapproved of theft, but there was something deeper—a vivid, palpable hostility.
It was probably because of Heinrich. Ever since the swimming incident last time, she’d been openly showing her displeasure.
I tried my best to hold back.
“Vivian, nothing’s been confirmed yet. Please watch what you say?”
“Everyone!”
Vivian spoke to the children who were looking down.
“From now on, keep your precious things in a locked box under your bed. …He might steal again.”
“…!”
I slammed my hand on the desk with a bang!
Tremendous force erupted from me, nearly creating a thunderous sound.
Vivian flinched, her expression startled.
“Apologize.”
As I glared and spoke, the little lady stammered in confusion.
“W-what?”
“Apologize right now for calling him a slave and treating him like a thief.”
“I have nothing to apologize for!”
Just as Vivian shot back with that sharp retort, her teal eyes trembling with indignation, the teacher happened to walk in.
Even seated at my desk, I maintained an unwavering glare fixed upon Vivian, while she flinched each time our eyes met and pretended to study her textbook.
I continued firing laser-sharp glares at Vivian while my thoughts churned.
‘She’s done the exact same thing again.’
Yes, you’ve dug your own grave.
Thanks to that, I can use this method now. I’m actually grateful.
Reporting the Secret Hideout could be dismissed as mere civic duty, but contacting the Slave Trade Business and framing someone as a thief revealed genuine malice.
By pinning the label of ‘thief’ on Sisrain, the little demon’s intentions were crystal clear.
To isolate Sisrain from the Forest.
Even Robert, who had initially defended him, could no longer shield Sisrain once his own belongings went missing.
So then, who would be the little demon’s most coveted target in this situation?
‘Me, obviously.’
If I turned my back on him too, Sisrain would become a complete outcast.
Should an opportunity arise to separate me from Sisrain, I was certain the little demon would never let it slip away.
* * *
I sought out Mimosa before she could come looking for me in the Classroom.
The moment Mimosa saw me, she spoke.
“I cannot overlook this a second time. Sisrain must face punishment according to the School Rules. He must go to the Forest Cathedral.”
The Forest Cathedral.
It was a place only the most wickedly inclined children were sent to, and the ‘Reformation Instructors’ stationed there were notorious for their cruelty.
Even the most troublesome children emerged as angels after a visit there.
Children could be heard weeping day and night, or so the stories went.
“But the culprit isn’t Sisrain, ma’am.”
“How can you be certain?”
Her golden eyes, cold and piercing, fixed upon me. I felt the tension but answered as calmly as I could manage.
“The stolen items were found once in the locker, and yet they were placed in the locker again.”
Mimosa’s eyes narrowed.
“If I were the thief, I wouldn’t hide things in the locker a second time—I’d conceal them beneath a mattress or somewhere truly secret. Yet they were deliberately placed in the locker. As if hoping to be discovered. As if wanting everyone to find them.”
“…Hmm.”
Mimosa seemed to listen to my explanation with quiet attention.
‘Thank goodness I’m a model student.’
She’s actually listening to the words of a mere twelve-year-old child.
Though my reputation had taken a hit from the Secret Hideout incident, my image as a dependable student remained intact.
Moreover, I had regained some trust by resolving the ‘water trauma’ incident previously.
“You make a fair point, Anette.”
My face brightened considerably.
“However.”
…However?
“Overlooking Sisrain’s involvement twice would be inequitable. In such cases, severe punishment is typically warranted.”
“This is my last chance. Just give me one more opportunity, and I’ll catch that wicked child red-handed!”
Mimosa studied my earnest gaze in silence for a moment.
Then she furrowed her brow slightly and let out a soft sigh before asking.
“…Do you have a plan?”
“Yes, ma’am!”
I clenched both fists tightly and nodded vigorously. My eyes sparkled with determination.
“To catch the culprit, I need ‘two items.’ But they must be things the children have never seen before.”
“Things the children have never seen?”
Mimosa’s expression grew quite intrigued.
* * *
I obtained Mimosa’s permission and went to the Storage Room.
There, I borrowed two items.
A fountain pen and a compass, respectively.
“Both items are old enough that the current Forest Children have never seen them before,” Mimosa explained.
She assured me they were objects never exposed to the children.
I gazed down at the two items and murmured.
“…These will become your fatal trap. You wicked creature.”
I had discussed the plan with Sisrain beforehand, and he absented himself at the appropriate moment.
Finally, after all classes that day had ended.
I approached Sisrain’s locker with mounting tension.
I took a shallow breath.
The culprit’s identity would be determined by what lay inside.
I closed my eyes, counted to three in my mind, then yanked the door open.
‘It’s the compass.’
Though I’d anticipated it, the shock still struck me like a blow to the head.
…So it was you, you little devil.
* * *
I dragged Vivian without hesitation toward the Assembly Hall.
There, summoned by Mimosa, all the Forest Children and teachers had already gathered.
Heinrich, Reina, and Robert among them, along with the other Forest Children. Of course, Sisrain was there as well.
Vivian thrashed and cried out.
“Let go! Why are you saying I’m the culprit? Sisrain stole it!”
I released my grip on Vivian, and she tumbled ungracefully to the ground.
Vivian, her breathing ragged with fury that burned to the tips of her hair, glared at me intensely.
“Confess, Vivian. Even now.”
I spoke to her calmly. Vivian scoffed as if it were absurd.
“Sisrain stole your compass. Wasn’t it in Sisrain’s locker?”
Then, with her characteristic irritable expression, she crossed her arms and glared at me.
“You can’t believe Sisrain stole your precious possession, so you’re taking it out on me? Anette, you’re the worst.”
I leaned forward toward the furious Vivian, bringing my face close to hers.
And one more thing…
Vivian’s face contorted grotesquely, as though struck by a sudden blow.
“…?!”

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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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