The Obsessive Male Leads Want to Eat Me Alive - Chapter 71
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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 71
* * *
“Master, hang in there.”
A muscular brute patted Kyle on the shoulder, offering words of encouragement.
All the scarred thugs were throwing in their own words of comfort for the Master.
―It couldn’t be helped.
This was the first time.
The Master had ever looked so dejected.
“….”
Kyle sat in frustration, pressing his forehead with one hand.
When Anette saw the gift I’d prepared, she spoke in a rather clipped tone and posture―
“N-no thanks. I’ll be going now.”
And fled from Headquarters (leaving behind only an adorable basket of cookies).
Kyle spoke with regret.
“I didn’t even realize I had blood on my face. …No wonder she was startled.”
The one-eyed man nodded repeatedly. Even for our innocent Master who’d never courted a lady, he could infer why the woman had run away.
Remarkable progress.
“Sigh, I should have wiped the blood from my face before giving her the ‘pet gift.'”
―was the one-eyed man’s wish.
His single pupil trembled intensely.
‘…Do you really think that’s the only problem, Master?’
Did he not realize the gift itself was the issue?!
The one-eyed man came to understand the importance of environment in raising a ‘growing boy.’
This man had spent half his life on the Battlefield, seeing only brutal sights, so occasionally he failed to grasp ‘ordinary human sensibilities’ entirely.
Therefore, he had a duty to enlighten this pitifully dejected man with the truth.
The one-eyed man spoke gravely.
“Master, you gave a human as a ‘pet’ gift…? Normally, people would think you’re insane.”
Kyle stroked his chin, rolling his green eyes.
“But Louis was delighted when I gave him a human as a gift.”
“That furry beast from the Slave Trade Business and the Lady who runs the modest Bakery have different sensibilities.”
“Different?”
“Yes.”
At the one-eyed man’s firm answer, the muscular brute beside him flinched.
His expression asked, ‘What’s different?’
But soon he nodded vigorously as if he understood, raising the corners of his mouth (he still hadn’t understood).
“Sigh.”
Kyle felt as though he’d been struck on the head.
“I made a mistake.”
I’d been too fixated on one thing.
“Hmm, I’d like to try raising an intelligent pet. That’s what I want to do most right now.”
My only desire was to focus on that ‘clever pet’ and give it the greatest gift.
The cleverest animal?
―That would be humans.
I thought raising the people of Delphi as pets would be quite useful.
They could serve as guard dogs for the house, or be assigned to labor.
I wouldn’t even need to clean up after them.
Moreover, I trained them to bark, so they wouldn’t bother me with unnecessary chatter (though Anette did drop the cookie basket when she witnessed humans barking).
Kyle rubbed his lips and cast his eyes downward.
“I must terrify and disgust her. She’ll only think of me as the madman from the rumors.”
“….”
“There won’t be a second chance.”
He dug a hole.
A very deep one.
The Larva watching this thought, ‘Tsk tsk, our Master is truly pitiful.’
They had witnessed all of Kyle’s lifetime of devotion.
The Master was a man who had gained only severe headaches in exchange for remembering her.
And that wasn’t all.
He had spent his entire formative years on the Battlefield to protect a girl he’d fallen for since childhood.
Whenever he spoke of ‘Anette’, his handsome face would shine with light.
A man who had carefully circled her side for six long months, buying her a flower and chocolate every single day.
Yet now, because of a momentary mistake, there was no chance left?
How could one not pity him?
“It’s all my fault.”
“….”
“I don’t understand why I can only act foolishly in front of her.”
Just then, someone placed a hand on his shoulder with a tap.
It was the one-eyed Larva.
He met Kyle’s gaze and spoke.
“That’s what we were taught love is, Master.”
Becoming foolish in front of the person you love so much.
The one-eyed Larva continued.
“Why not simply tell her everything honestly and without pretense? Don’t prepare anything. You’ve already ruined your image by unnecessarily cleaning, preparing roses, and getting gifts ready.”
The Larva nodded. It wasn’t just ruined—it was completely destroyed.
Two of the Larva stepped forward in succession to encourage him.
“You mustn’t give up, Master!”
“That’s right. You’ve spent half your life harboring unrequited love while hiding your identity, haven’t you?”
The muscular one, who had been listening silently, also spoke up.
“Just tell Anette everything, straight up!”
“Hear, hear!”
Cheers erupted from among the Larva.
On the battlefield, I had saved their lives a combined hundred times over.
Kyle was the bravest and most excellent man they knew (though admittedly, the most terrifying as well).
There was an earnest wish that Anette would acknowledge Kyle, who received such great recognition from the men.
“I’m not sure if she’ll give him a chance to speak.”
At Kyle’s words, the muscular man (who had by now begun happily munching on Anette’s cookies) spoke carelessly with a vacant expression.
“What if she does give him a chance?”
“Why wouldn’t she?”
“Well, the ‘Anette’ that the Master spoke of was thoughtful, kind, and warm-hearted.”
The burly man grinned.
“Someone like that would surely give him a chance. At least once, without fail.”
* * *
The next day.
I was tense from morning.
I was anxious that this ‘carnivorous deer’ who threw punches even more romantically while laying down red roses might visit my small bakery.
‘Please don’t come, please don’t come.’
My heart fluttered at the mere sight of brown hair.
But fortunately, he didn’t come.
He always visited the bakery during quiet hours when there were no customers, but today there was complete silence until closing time.
“Phew…”
I sighed with relief, changed the bakery’s sign to ‘Closed,’ and muttered to myself.
“Well, I made it clear how much I disliked it when I left.”
As I fled hastily, he called out my name from behind. His voice sounded truly desperate, but I pretended not to hear and ran away.
―If he had any sense, he would understand.
That I despised him.
Yesterday had been quite a shock.
That such a pure and kind handsome man was the madman from the rumors.
No, he was even more terrifying than the rumors suggested.
When I recalled the enslaved men trapped in cages barking ‘woof woof! arf arf! bow wow!’ I felt dizzy again.
And they all seemed to feel self-loathing at the fact that they were barking…
I shook my head vigorously.
‘A madman in his prime, indeed.’
I must not get entangled with him any further.
“But wait.”
I muttered as I picked up the newspaper in front of the door.
“Then everything he showed me so far… was all a lie?”
How well could he act?
I unconsciously frowned and brought the folded World Daily News inside.
This was the last newspaper.
On the front page of the newspaper, a large sheet of paper that looked handwritten was pasted.
“Huh?”
“If you extend your subscription to the World Daily News, we’ll give you a bicycle, a pot set, and… another bicycle!
That’s two bicycles♥”
“….”
The offers just kept multiplying.
I shook my head firmly from side to side.
What a relentless salesman, eating and living off commissions. Like a tenacious small business owner who confirms the existence of a deranged carnivorous deer, yet stubbornly opens shop the next day regardless.
I’m sorry, but my defenses are equally formidable.
The heartless entrepreneur clicked her tongue with a “tsk,” about to tear off another sheet without mercy, when it happened.
Tap, tap-tap―
“…?”
A knock sounded that drew my attention.
It came from the window.
The sound of something small, like a pea, striking the glass. My visitor was something very small….
A Squirrel with its tiny paws held neatly together.
‘Oh, oh my. My heart. It’s too cute.’
Sob sob, you knocked, didn’t you, Squirrel? With those little front paws?
I hurried to the window and opened it.
Then I smiled warmly and greeted it.
“Hello?”
The Squirrel with its fluffy tail scampered inside and held out a letter.
“So you were a messenger Squirrel?”
I smiled and accepted the letter.
Then I took out some nuts from the cupboard and offered them to the Squirrel.
The well-mannered Squirrel bowed its tiny head politely, then grasped a walnut with its front paws and munched away.
Its cheeks puffed out round.
‘Oh my goodness, how adorable.’
Someone else who uses a Squirrel as a messenger. Suddenly, old memories came to mind.
The first adult who cherished me with gratitude, warmly invited me to their home, and made me feel genuine warmth.
―Marquis Bijé Winston.
I wondered what he was doing now.
But unlike back then, this was just an ordinary letter, bearing no seal.
Rustle—I opened the letter.
“…!”
I recognized this handwriting.
A letter had come from the deranged carnivorous deer!
The contents were as follows.
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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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