The Obsessive Male Leads Want to Eat Me Alive - Chapter 70

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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 70
* * *
“Hurry up and clean!”
“Not a single speck of dust can remain. Everything must be immaculate!”
“Hey, shake that ostrich feather duster with more passion, will you? Do you want Anette to think of Larva as a dusty dump?!”
The Larva members were in the midst of a thorough cleaning.
The fierce-looking thugs, each wielding a small ostrich feather duster and a cute rag embroidered with strawberries, along with brooms, were pouring their hearts into sweeping, scrubbing, and wiping with meticulous dedication.
Just then, one of the Larva members who had been cleaning the floor for the eighteenth time cursed and collapsed.
“Is there even a point to doing this?”
A muscular brute grabbed his shoulder firmly and spoke with solemn determination.
“Listen carefully. Anette apparently called the Master a ‘murderer.'”
“…!”
The collapsed Larva member’s pupils trembled with a start.
―A man whose very nickname was “murderer.”
And to work in a place dark and filthy enough to be called the “murderer’s lair”?
Ah, what would become of that man’s fate?
‘He’ll be rejected. Cleanly and decisively rejected!’
“―I’ll keep scrubbing this floor until it smells like flowers.”
He rose with a grim expression and began cleaning the floor for the nineteenth time.
The image that had once resembled a “somewhat run-down pub” now gleamed like a hotel reception hall.
It had the atmosphere of an upscale lounge.
In particular, the ‘L’ initial of Larva subtly radiated light from the center of the Guild Headquarters, exuding an air of professional management.
Regardless of the “brutal” work they actually did.
The Larva members were all sincere.
They hoped that the Master, who had harbored an unrequited love his entire life (for only one woman), would finally achieve his love today…!
Just then, Kyle opened the door and entered.
“Welcome, Master!”
“We’ve just finished cleaning. Hehehehe, take a look!”
The fierce-looking brutes, wearing cleaning aprons and head scarves, snapped to attention and greeted him with perfect alignment.
Kyle looked around suspiciously.
At that very moment.
A fly attempted to land on a table but suddenly slid right off (the fly itself looked bewildered).
“…Perfect.”
He hadn’t expected it to be this immaculate.
He simply wanted to make a clean impression on Anette.
His purpose in inviting her today was clear.
He wanted to confess the foolish lie he’d told about being a “research assistant” and reveal that he was Kyle.
The boy who had once proposed to her—Kyle Winston.
And he planned to explain that Larva was different from the rumors.
The rumors had been quite exaggerated, after all.
I wanted to show her the truth, at least.
So I called her here.
To this place.
“The battle isn’t over yet. …I have a trump card, you see. Keke.”
The one-eyed man’s single eye gleamed with meaningful intent.
Then came a sharp clap—clap!
He applauded crisply.
At that, the brutish thugs brought in armfuls of red roses and arranged them throughout the space. Their decorating technique lacked any aesthetic finesse, but flowers in abundance possess their own natural beauty.
―It was an overwhelming display of sheer quantity.
“….”
Kyle’s face flushed with embarrassment. He covered his face with one massive hand as if to say “good heavens,” and spoke.
“Was all this really necessary?”
Roses in a Guild Headquarters crawling with men.
“I heard the Master is called a ‘murderer’?”
“The leader of Larva said you were ‘terrifying and dreadful,’ didn’t he?”
“What are you all doing?”
Between fingers clad in finger cots, mad green eyes gleamed and flickered.
“Fill the entrance with roses immediately.”
“…Yes, sir!”
A short while later.
Alone in the Guild Headquarters, Kyle wiped his face with tension.
Would she really come today?
“I hope you haven’t been waiting too long.”
How could I not wait?
Except for a very brief period in my life, I have always wanted and yearned for her.
But Anette knew nothing of such feelings.
Waiting was always both aching and sweet.
…Even now, in this moment.
Kyle glanced around, then suddenly let out a soft laugh and spoke.
“The Larva members spent the whole day cleaning.”
This morning, they cleaned out the dark guild Delphi.
Simply because the thug who targeted the Little Bakery was from Delphi.
It took exactly three hours to eliminate those insolent bastards who dared demand 20%, no 10%, no… 5% of the Little Bakery’s revenue (thanks to the valiant pot’s efforts, there was a cascading reduction), those contemptible vermin.
‘If I’d left them alone, they would have demanded again.’
With even more vicious methods.
They were scum of the worst kind—the sort who kidnapped women and sold them into slavery.
Of course, that wasn’t why they were ‘cleaned up.’
There was only one reason.
They dared to lay a hand on the Little Bakery. That alone.
“―How dare you touch her. They should all be dead.”
“…!”
“I’ll annihilate your entire clan.”
A pristine, handsome man emerged from among the crimson roses, his smile unsettling and cold.
Behind him, one of Delphi’s remaining operatives—a figure in a black mask—grimaced in despair.
The masked figure’s eyes spoke volumes.
‘This looks like we’ve been completely set up…?’
At that moment, the deranged leader of Larva turned to face the masked operative directly and spoke.
“You deserve to die anyway. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“…!!!”
The masked figure squeezed their eyes shut, then with a curse drew their blade and charged forward.
At the same instant.
Kyle’s fist, having lowered his magic gun, drove forward.
Thud!
* * *
“This cookie smell is absolutely maddening. Nobody could resist it. Not a chance.”
The aroma made saliva flow unbidden.
From the Little Bakery, the rich, sweet fragrance of cookies baking to golden perfection wafted through the air.
‘Hehe, tomorrow’s sales are looking promising.’
I, the revenue-obsessed proprietor, smiled wickedly as I envisioned the legendary windfall of profits that cookies would bring.
‘I’ll draw in the money.’
Oh no!
I opened my eyes wide and glanced at the clock.
Had it really gotten this late?
As expected, preparing for tomorrow’s opening alone had consumed far more time than I’d anticipated.
Outside the window, darkness had already begun to settle.
“Hmm. It looks like I won’t be able to visit Kine after all―”
A bit disappointing, though.
Now that I thought about it, I’d been so busy I’d left the bouquet sitting as it was.
It would wilt soon enough.
‘I should arrange the flowers.’
It was just as I picked up the bouquet.
―Thunk.
A small box fell at my feet.
“Huh?”
It was a box that had been tucked inside the bouquet along with a business card, but I’d failed to notice it because the flowers were so full and lush.
I opened the small mint-colored box.
“…!”
My eyes widened in astonishment.
Inside lay a glimmering small bracelet. It was made of topaz.
My favorite gemstone—topaz.
Why topaz, of all things?
“….”
I picked up the bracelet with a somewhat puzzled expression and pondered.
‘Isn’t this suspicious?’
Once or twice could be coincidence, but a third time? That’s no accident.
This fair-faced, dimple-cheeked beauty had seen right through my tastes—as if he’d conducted a thorough background investigation on me.
‘Who exactly are you?’
I couldn’t sit idle with such curiosity gnawing at me.
Time to revise my plans.
―I needed answers immediately.
In the end, I left the house with a basket of cookies in hand.
* * *
Diber Street.
By day or by night, a place ruled by lawlessness.
The only street on the peaceful Bayonere Island that earned the name ‘the Underside’.
And yet.
Contrary to my expectations, it was remarkably clean.
‘Reality differs from imagination.’
I encountered menacing-looking figures at every turn, but most of them were picking up trash. When their eyes met mine, they smiled at me with surprising warmth (which was a bit awkward, to be honest).
“…Is this the place?”
I soon arrived at a building. It bore a black sheep emblem.
The door had the initial ‘L’ carved into it.
Hmm, L? What could that stand for?
Knock knock―
“Kine, I’m here.”
I called out to him a bit loudly and knocked on the door, clutching the cookie basket to my chest.
This was a gift. For Kine.
Since I’d heard he’d prepared a ‘gift’ for me, I couldn’t arrive empty-handed.
Once more, knock knock―
I knocked on the door.
“Kine! It’s Anette!”
But there was no answer from inside—only silence, as there had been from the start.
I tilted my head in confusion and carefully pushed the door open.
Creeeeak―
The hinges groaned as the door swung slightly ajar.
“Kine…?”
I called out to him as I cautiously opened the door and stepped inside.
And in that moment.
“…!!!”
I encountered a sight beyond belief.
An innocent-looking deer of a man was gleefully pummeling some poor fellow with his leather-gloved fists.
Thwack, crack!
With each punch, blood sprayed cheerfully in all directions, and the crimson droplets were eagerly absorbed by the red roses, deepening their hue even further.
‘Could these have originally been white roses that turned red from all this?’
Why would anyone lay roses in a place meant for beating someone senseless?
―To make the beating more romantic, perhaps?!
“…Master.”
That was when Kine, who had been turning the man into a pulp, finally noticed me.
Thud.
The moment he released his grip, the man collapsed to the floor like a slab of meat.
“Haha. Hello there?”
I felt cold sweat trickling down my back as I forced out a laugh.
The innocent-looking handsome man looked unmistakably like a blood-starved carnivorous deer.
“Who is that person?”
“―A friend. We were just playing around.”
Your friend looks completely beaten to a pulp, though?
Kine smiled at me. It was clear he had no idea that half of his beautiful, innocent face was drenched in blood.
Right then, a thought struck me like lightning.
‘The initial L was Larva’s L?!’
It had to be.
A headquarters with an ‘L’ sign on Lawless Street, no less.
And now that I think about it, he has the same brown hair and green eyes as Larva’s leader.
“….”
Fear gripped me, and I began backing away hesitantly.
He caught my retreat with sharp perception. His deep, swamp-like green eyes followed me persistently.
He removed his gloves and extended his hand.
Then he whispered.
―In a voice that was terribly affectionate and sweet.
“Come here.”
“….”
It felt like the honeyed words of a hunter luring a rabbit into a trap.
His eyes, which held those deep green irises, curved into a smile.
“I have a gift you might enjoy.”
“…A gift?”
‘Maybe I’m overthinking this.’
Let me calmly recall what Kine has been like all this time.
He was kind and affectionate.
And seeing that he’s even prepared a gift now, he’s clearly a man with a warm heart, isn’t he?
Perhaps the rumors about him as Larva’s leader are exaggerated?
At the very least, he’s probably not a madman.
Thud—
At that moment, as he pulled the cord, a teal silk curtain slid away from one wall, revealing a “prison” packed with brutish enslaved men (each of them gagged with collars marked “Delphi”).
“A gift for you. You did want to raise an intelligent pet, didn’t you?”
The beautiful face, stained with blood, broke into a radiant smile.
‘This madman.’

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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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