The Obsessive Male Leads Want to Eat Me Alive - Chapter 49

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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 49
「 Forest Special Level 1,
I request the adoption of Heinrich.
―Gerard von Axilpherion― 」
‘He’s trying to use Heinrich as a hostage.’
It was something I’d anticipated to some degree.
So, my mind and heart actually grew calmer instead.
He must have already learned about my friendships through Mimosa, and he’d certainly grasped that I cherished Heinrich.
And Gerard had said this to me before.
[ It has to be you. I have no interest in other children. ]
Gerard would know that I’d remember those words.
In this situation, the reason he ordered me to show him Heinrich’s adoption papers first was crystal clear.
‘Essentially blackmail or a trade request.’
[ I will probably become the worst father who abuses children. ]
He was asking if I really wanted to send my cherished friend to the worst kind of father.
And the Forest’s regulations contained this clause:
[ If an adoptee withdraws their adoption intent, re-adoption is impossible.
(However, this exception does not apply if the Tree side requests re-adoption.)
]
Voluntarily request adoption again.
Otherwise, your friend will suffer the consequences.
―That was it.
‘Did I dump all my stat points into depravity when creating this character?’
I’d thought Gerard had the personality of rotting cabbage leaves, but at this point, a downward reassessment was necessary.
“Anette, you don’t seem as flustered as I expected.”
At Mimosa’s words, I snapped my head up.
Then I blinked and answered calmly as usual.
“I thought something like this might happen.”
“…Hmm, I see.”
My answer seemed to intrigue her, as Mimosa’s golden eyes gleamed.
She spoke to me in that characteristically stern voice of hers.
“Anette, I know you care for Heinrich. But nothing is more important than your own future. You understand that, don’t you?”
“….”
“If you don’t wish to be adopted, send Heinrich instead.”
From Mimosa’s perspective, it seemed like genuine advice.
“You can stay here and look after Sisrain.”
“….”
“In any case, you must make a choice.”
Yes, I suppose I do have to make a choice eventually.
‘But my options aren’t limited to the ones that bastard set up for me.’
There was no damned choice between pushing Heinrich or myself into the abyss of misfortune.
“Should I decide on Heinrich’s adoption?”
“No, madam.”
I opened my eyes wide and answered.
I would save Heinrich, and I would save myself as well.
“I’ll be the one adopted. Please request a ‘re-adoption’ from the Prince immediately.”
“…!”
Now it was time to activate ‘Plan B’.
* * *
Thunk, thunk, thunk. Thunk, thunk.
I was digging at the earth with a small spade, like a baby mole’s tiny paws.
Then I glanced around me, this way and that.
‘Good. Just as I thought—no one’s here.’
And then I kept digging: thunk, thunk, thunk!
‘Come out, come out. My treasure!’
Is this how a corrupt tycoon feels when they’ve buried billions of won in a Garlic Field?
With each handful of earth I excavate, I feel one step closer to a hopeful future, my heart racing with anticipation… Isn’t that too capitalist a mindset for a twelve-year-old?
Digging in a corner of the Forest Hall in the dead of night with a spade made me look exactly like a villain secretly burying a corpse—
But I had no choice.
‘Time is running out.’
The moment I asked Mimosa to request my re-adoption, she contacted Gerard through the communication device.
And Heinrich’s adoption was withdrawn while mine was decided on the spot.
“The Prince said he’ll come pick you up himself tomorrow morning. Congratulations on your adoption, Anette.”
“….”
“Hmm, is this not something to celebrate? I suppose you’re reluctant.”
Mimosa seemed to pity me, just a little.
“You know from experience, but the Prince is a very frightening person, Anette.”
“…Yes.”
“Never go against him. I wish you luck.”
I’m going to go against him.
In my view, the moment you’re forced to choose between two options presented by your opponent, you’ve already lost.
Because it means things will go according to the opponent’s intention.
I had no intention of acting according to Gerard’s intentions.
If my plan succeeds, tomorrow morning Gerard will probably look like a wet raccoon that’s been through a cotton candy machine.
Thunk, thunk, thunk, thunk!
“Ah, there it is!”
With a grunt of effort, I yanked out the leather pouch that had been buried in the ground.
The pouch, which had been buried like a well-ripened radish, slipped free with a soft pop.
“Wow, it’s heavy.”
My heart pounding, I opened the pouch.
Inside was brimming with treasures that belonged to the Dwarf Clan who had made this Forest their home.
Ancient gold coins (their craftsmanship made them worth more than modern currency) for starters―
A sword forged from dragon bone (the material itself was precious, but thanks to the Dwarf Clan’s specialized crafting techniques, heroes would go mad for it)―
All manner of gems and jewelry were scattered about carelessly, as if they were mere seasoning.
“Hehehehe.”
Just looking at it filled me with such satisfaction that I couldn’t suppress my capitalist grin.
‘Well hidden, my bakery fund!’
The moment I arrived in this Forest, my task was to locate the treasure hoard accumulated by the Dwarf Clan who dwelled here.
‘In the original story, Sisrain finds it.’
It did feel somewhat like I was intercepting his discovery, but then again, I didn’t even like Sisrain back then.
Besides, in the original story, Sisrain discovers this and gets beaten to a pulp.
The destructive little chihuahua, desperate for a chance to torment Sisrain, framed him with a yelp of “Woof!”
‘These treasures I could never touch anyway―why not use them to fund my future?’
I hugged the treasure pouch and smiled contentedly.
My Plan B had always been buried here.
From the start, I was an unawakened one.
If someday I had to leave the Forest without adoption, shouldn’t I prepare for such a future?
I was quite pragmatic by nature, so I hadn’t merely spoken of becoming a bakery owner―I meant it.
I had devised concrete future plans as thoroughly as possible.
Among them was ‘funding acquisition.’
“Some treasures I won’t be able to liquidate until I’m older… but the rest should be enough.”
High-value treasures like the dragon sword would be difficult for a twelve-year-old to convert to cash, but ordinary gems were manageable.
I could certainly open a modest bakery.
My heart raced anew.
“… I’m finally moving toward the future I’ve planned for so long.”
One step toward fulfilling the small, precious dream I’ve cherished since my previous life.
My life, which was cut short by a motorcycle in my past existence before it could ever blossom, was finally mine to live properly.
I would open a bakery that always smelled warm, and share bread with hungry people.
In the village where my bakery stood, there would be no one left hungry.
―I’d hang a cute, modest sign too.
When regular customers came, I’d always treat them kindly.
While indulging in such sweet fantasies, my heart grew as sweet as castella cake.
‘The boys will surely find happiness too.’
Once I disappear, Gerard’s interest in the children will fade, and Sisrain and Heinrich will achieve their happy ending just as I’ve orchestrated.
“Of course, parting with Sisrain and Heinrich will be a little melancholic….”
I took a deep breath and exhaled.
“It was bound to happen eventually.”
It’s simply arriving a little sooner than planned.
Even if we parted a year later, it wouldn’t hurt any less than now. Farewells are always bittersweet, after all.
With only a flower-strewn path ahead for the children, now is the perfect time to leave.
‘And shouldn’t I walk my own path of flowers as well?’
What remained was―
figuring out how to make Gerard eat dirt while I escaped.
“….”
‘Let me think about this.’
There was still time until morning.
* * *
Drip, drip―
Water fell into the sink. The boy’s face was wet.
But no matter how much cold water Heinrich splashed on his face, he couldn’t regain his senses.
Because he had overheard some fatal secret.
This morning.
Heinrich had finally completed his invention.
‘An invisibility cloak’.
Though it was a simple cloak in form, it concealed the wearer as perfectly as a ghost.
It was a Grade 1 magical artifact.
The higher the difficulty of crafting a magical artifact, the higher its grade. For a boy who had only just begun making magical artifacts to create a Grade 1 artifact meant―
he was a ‘genius’.
Just as Anette had believed, the boy had become a genius.
“This is the final test. Once I do this, it’s complete!”
Until he put on the invisibility cloak and wandered the Corridor for the test, Heinrich’s mood had been at its peak.
But at that pinnacle moment, voices came to shatter him.
Voices that had leaked from the room where Mimosa and Anette were, overheard by chance.
“The Crown Prince said he’ll come pick you up himself tomorrow morning. Congratulations on your adoption, Anette.”
Crack―
The pale hand gripping the sink trembled with force.
“Sister.”
A low voice echoing in the Bathroom.
That voice carried a heartbreaking sorrow and rage. He couldn’t even breathe properly.
In the mirror, the boy’s wet eyes burned with brilliant tears.
“You’re abandoning me… where are you going.”

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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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