The Obsessive Male Leads Want to Eat Me Alive - Chapter 47

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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 47
* * *
I explained the entire situation to Sordi and Um, and they listened with utmost seriousness.
“―Given all this, does Prince Gerard know about my abilities?”
“…Hmm. That’s troubling.”
Um, who had been listening intently with his thick arms crossed, extended one massive hand and began kneading my cheeks like mochi.
He fell into deep thought as he did so.
‘…Why? Why does he think better while touching my cheeks?’
“Oh, sorry. Soft things help me think better. Haha!”
“I see…”
Only after I stumbled over my words did Um release my cheeks, his hand twitching reluctantly before he answered.
“If the aide said that, then Gerard definitely submitted the adoption request targeting your talent.”
Ah, just as I thought!
“Perhaps… Gerard must be someone who can see your soul. What do you think, Sordi?”
“I agree.”
Someone who can see my soul.
‘Then does he have the same eyes as Mimosa?’
The fact that Mimosa could see the colors of souls was information from the original work.
It appeared when the protagonists’ childhood and the lore of the Forest were explained.
‘There was nothing about Gerard in the original.’
“Please explain a bit more.”
At my request, the lily-like handsome man smiled gracefully and began his explanation with warmth.
“After Exordium, the first sorcerer, other sorcerers emerged in this land. But not all of them were virtuous.”
“That’s right. Evil sorcerers delighted in deceiving others, living for personal gain, or corrupting humans—purely for their own amusement!”
‘So not all sorcerers were good people.’
I swallowed hard.
Um raised his thick eyebrows as he spoke.
“Those who lived like absolute scum―oh, wait, I shouldn’t use such crude language in front of a child.”
When Sordi poked Um in the ribs at the word “scum” (he was smiling gracefully, but the jab had quite a bit of force behind it), Um flinched and quickly slapped his own lips shut, correcting himself.
“Most evil sorcerers have their souls dissipate when they die, but some of them desperately cling to existence and parasitize humans.”
The lily-like handsome man continued where the wolf left off.
“Just as Exordium inherited his soul to someone as virtuous and warm as our little one here―”
“Those wicked ones also make contracts with humans similar to me. Then they gain the ‘Sorcerer’s Eyes’… and with those eyes, they can see souls.”
“I see.”
As I nodded, Sordi continued.
“Then the contractor can use the power held by that sorcerer’s spirit. Furthermore, with the ‘Sorcerer’s Eyes,’ they can identify talented people and claim them for themselves.”
I raised my index finger as I listened intently.
“So to summarize―”
I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
“Gerard, who made a contract with a sorcerer’s spirit, discovered my talent and is targeting me to suck me dry!”
Um burst into hearty laughter.
“Hahahaha. That’s right, spot on! Glutinous rice, you’re sharp as ever!”
Please, stop laughing so boisterously at random moments, I thought miserably.
I let my eyebrows droop in dejection.
‘It’s like I’ve become a golden goblin laden with items in a game….’
Catch me, and legendary items would tumble out. I’d target myself too.
‘Wait, then could Mimosa also be a contractor?’
She didn’t seem to possess the power of a sorcerer, though.
Except for those eyes of hers.
I, lost in contemplation, asked again.
“Is it possible to share a sorcerer’s eyes with someone else?”
“Indeed it is, child.”
The lily-white beauty explained.
“A sorcerer’s eyes are completed by embedding a ‘fetish’—an object imbued with sorcerous power—into the eyeballs. Therefore, one of those fetishes can be given to another person.”
So it made more sense to think that Mimosa had received only the ‘eyes.’
‘Did she receive those eyes from Gerard?’
It was then, as I pondered this.
“But why do you ask?”
“Oh, no, it’s nothing….”
At the crimson wolf’s question, I hastily deflected, shaking my head.
“I was simply curious.”
I couldn’t very well tell them I’d seen it in the original work.
That’s when Sordi spoke.
“Mimosa has been famous for possessing ‘a sorcerer’s eyes’ since long ago.”
“…Ah, is that so?”
“Yes, when she established herself in a place of powerful sorcerous influence and began gathering talented children, the sorcerers took notice as well.”
Um crossed his arms, his golden eyes gleaming as he nodded.
“It was quite a famous incident.”
‘True enough.’
She operated the Forest upon the very land where the first sorcerer had sacrificed their life to place a powerful curse.
No matter how secret it was kept from ordinary people, every sorcerer would have taken interest.
“In any case, even if she possesses ‘a sorcerer’s eyes,’ she wouldn’t know of your succession, glutinous rice.”
Sordi supplemented Um’s words.
“One who has ‘inherited’ Exordium’s soul doesn’t change the color of their soul like an awakened one does. This is something no one knows—only we do.”
‘As I thought… my suspicion was correct.’
When Mimosa failed to notice my changes after the ‘Level Test,’ I had already guessed it was for this reason.
“Then, Gerard’s plan was to adopt me and awaken me.”
“Likely so.”
Sordi enveloped both my hands with his pale, slender fingers.
Then he met my gaze.
“My dear, anyone who has made a deal with a sorcerer of such peculiar nature is dangerous. We have not yet resonated sufficiently with you to muster the strength needed to stop that person.”
The crimson wolf spoke, golden eyes gleaming.
“If I could command my flames freely, I could incinerate that bastard….”
Sordi and Um exchanged glances before turning to me with expressions of regret and concern.
“What if that wretch threatens you, Glutinous?”
“Don’t worry!”
I smiled brightly.
Then, with my small hands, I patted my chest firmly—thump, thump!—and declared.
“When that time comes, I’ll do my very best to protect myself!”
My heart swelled.
The pure-hearted beautiful man’s expression crumpled, and he covered his mouth with his hand.
“How can someone so young be so brave and kind-hearted? Our little one truly has a beautiful soul.”
Uh, um? Is this that timing again?
The doting moment of a gay couple toward their youngest?
“To say such things out of concern for us…. Truly, you are the successor. Your consideration is flawless. Well done, Glutinous!”
That’s not what I meant. I really did mean I’d protect myself, teachers.
Because I am precious to myself…?
“Let me embrace you, our little one.”
“Me too! Me too, let me hold Glutinous! Come here!”
I found myself wedged between the pure-hearted beautiful man and the wolf’s wild, muscular frame, thoroughly squeezed.
“I can’t breathe.”
It was at that very moment that I heard a commotion from outside.
“Sister! Siiister~? Where are you?”
Oh no, that’s Heinrich’s voice?!
I quickly signaled them with my eyes—shoo, shoo!—telling them to leave. And then,
“…!”
Sordi and Um smiled at me, gave a brief nod, and vanished in an instant.
* * *
“Heinrich!”
“What? Why are you coming out of the Warehouse?”
Heinrich’s violet eyes gleamed with deep suspicion.
I smiled softly and turned the question back on him.
“And why aren’t you asleep at this late hour?”
“…How could I sleep when you’re not here?”
Oh, my dear boy.
I went over and embraced Heinrich warmly.
“Our Heinrich can’t sleep alone and still has much growing to do~”
‘Heinrich is truly consistent. …That’s what makes him so endearing. My precious one.’
While there were boys like Sisrain who grew steadily, there were also boys who remained dependent.
The ears of the spoiled little chihuahua flushed a brilliant crimson.
“It’s not that I can’t sleep alone—I’m just worried about you, big sister. Very mature of me!”
“Sure, sure~”
“I’m serious.”
Even as he kept insisting, Heinrich seemed perfectly content to hold me close, nuzzling his head against mine.
Then, like a devoted puppy fretting over his master, he rolled his eyes and asked.
“Big sister, nothing’s wrong, right?”
“Nope. Nothing at all.”
Truly, it wasn’t a lie.
Something had happened, yes—but I’d already resolved it perfectly!
And this was something Heinrich was never meant to know about in the first place.
When I’d asked him what he’d do if I were adopted, that dramatic little chihuahua had answered with complete sincerity (dramatic sincerity).
“If some bastard tries to adopt you, I’ll tear him to shreds!”
—Ah, yes. I need to be careful with Heinrich.
He’s a child who charges headlong at anyone—Imperial Family or Nobility alike. If Heinrich ever found out, the Empire’s First Prince would undoubtedly engage in “gleefully shredding playtime!”
Besides.
‘Gerard is far too dangerous.’
I still hadn’t identified which sorcerer’s soul he’d contracted with, so I couldn’t determine what abilities he possessed.
It meant I couldn’t counter him.
‘Though he did seem to be cursed, didn’t he?’
He’d said something like that.
On the day I killed Arthur High Priest.
“What I suffer from is not an illness, but something closer to a ‘curse,’ wouldn’t you say?”
It was clearly a vicious curse.
Seeing how it drove even the Grand Temple’s priests to desperation trying to break it.
Perhaps even the sorcerer he’d contracted with couldn’t undo it?
‘…What kind of curse could it possibly be?’
“Big sister, what are you thinking about?”
Huh.
Startled from my thoughts, I looked at Heinrich. But I quickly released the boy from my embrace and smiled softly.
“Oh, nothing much. I just zoned out for a moment. It’s so comfortable being held by you, Heinrich!”
“…What.”
Even as he said that, Heinrich’s cheeks flushed a subtle crimson.
Anyone could see he was pleased.
But soon enough, Heinrich scratched his cheek, his expression wavering as if he were hesitating over something.
“Big sister,”
“Hmm?”
“…I actually have something I want to tell you.”
“Go ahead.”
“Promise you won’t be surprised when you hear it!”
…The way he said that makes me think I’m already going to be surprised.
I blinked, my gaze settling on Heinrich.

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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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