The Obsessive Maniac Is Trying To Confine Me - Chapter 134

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 134

I whipped around at a voice that absolutely should not be heard.

The street was filled with many crowds of people passing by, all tangled together.

Those in shabby clothes carrying luggage and wealthy people in expensive clothing.

The buzzing sounds made my head feel dazed for a moment.

With a confused mind, I searched for one person among the crowd, but couldn’t see hide nor hair of them.

‘Was it my imagination?’

Since Rihardt’s figure wasn’t visible, it was natural that it was my imagination.

Why on earth would I have such an absurd delusion…

I thought perhaps I had been too tormented lately.

“What are you looking at?”

Arzen, who had already retrieved my hat, stood beside me.

“You’re back already?”

“Picking up a hat isn’t something that takes long.”

The hat was placed firmly on my head. He was kind enough to put the hat on for me himself.

“What were you looking at?”

“…Just people-watching.”

“Does people-watching normally make your expression so dark? Is something wrong?”

“What could have happened in that brief moment?”

I smiled brightly as if it were true and linked arms with him in a friendly manner.

At the sudden contact, Arzen’s eyes wavered once again, but soon he turned his head away from me.

Walking down the street with him, I became lost in thought.

Come to think of it, at the cafe…

【Did you hear that news? Many people have been going missing lately.】

【It’s so scary these days. More people are being branded as Demon Worshippers than before.】

【That’s why the Temple dispatched someone to the Capital…】

I had heard women gathered together chattering about such things.

“Count, I heard news that the Temple dispatched someone – do you happen to know who came?”

The moment he heard those words, Arzen’s gaze completely changed.

“Where did you hear that?”

His cold voice shattered the playful relationship we’d had and made me realize just how solid the wall between him and me truly was.

The pleasant mood from our brief moment of enjoyment sank.

“It was news I happened to overhear at the cafe, but seeing how you’re reacting, there must be something to it.”

“…”

“Who’s coming?”

The fact that Arzen was showing such a reaction was tantamount to saying the answer was predetermined. Though I could only guess one person, I asked while pretending not to know.

I wanted to hear it directly from his mouth.

“You…”

The gaze that stared right through me looked both irritated and anxious.

“If you harbor feelings for the Paladin Commander, it would be best to give them up.”

“What?”

What is this sudden nonsense?

It was a statement that subtly revealed that this Capital visitor was Rihardt, but it was completely out of context.

“If you meet that bastard again, do you think I’ll let him be again?”

“…Will you imprison him again?”

“…”

Arzen looked at me with a face that had lost words.

Why, what.

“Or will you kill him?”

“Yes.”

“…”

“If I leave a monster with malicious intent alone, there’s no telling what kind of trouble he’ll cause.”

Seeing him casually talk about killing someone made me feel even more distant from him.

My arm wrapped around his felt awkward.

He’s a completely different type from me.

Even though we had joked around and gotten along for a moment, I reminded myself again that this was merely a contractual relationship.

* * *

Arzen and I returned to the Manor.

I headed straight to Arzen’s Bedroom, and the servants blushed seeing me do so.

I heard someone mutter ‘in broad daylight…’ but I stubbornly ignored it.

Until before coming to the Capital, I had firmly believed that Arzen would ask Princess Evangeline to let me meet the Benefactor.

However, regrettably, the Princess is currently in the North.

So I was going to wait for the Princess, but…

【Let’s look into other options.】

【Without asking the Princess?】

At that time, Arzen frowned as if displeased.

【You can say such things because you don’t know Princess Evangeline. As you know, there’s no such thing as help without a price in this world.】

【I know that. That’s why I made a contract with you. So shouldn’t you be the one to ask the Princess about that price on my behalf?】

【That’s right.】

Even after hearing my shameless words, Arzen agreed without much objection.

【But it’s better not to owe Princess Evangeline if possible.】

【…】

【So let’s keep that as a last resort.】

Hopefully we won’t have to use that last resort.

Arzen added.

After that, he went around looking for ways to meet the Benefactor.

I thought it would be easily accomplished since he was from a Marquis House with high authority in the Empire, but it wasn’t. It wasn’t easy at all. The Benefactor was reluctant to reveal himself to anyone other than Princess Evangeline.

‘The Benefactor definitely has something going on.’

The more the Benefactor tried to hide his appearance, the more convinced I became.

“Now tell me. What is that information you obtained about the Benefactor?”

Finally, the time I had been waiting for had come.

Arzen, sitting across from me with the table between us, nodded.

“There’s a secret Club that’s unknown to anyone, they say.”

“…A Club?”

“Yes. A Club. The date and location where the Club meets constantly changes. The identities of who’s in that Club aren’t revealed. They’re thoroughly hidden behind a veil.”

It was content that didn’t match the term ‘Benefactor.’

This is kind of…

“There’s one way to enter the Club. You have to be ‘chosen.'”

“…Chosen? What kind of choice do you have to receive?”

“I don’t know that either.”

Really, the more I hear…

“I couldn’t get into the club, so I recently planted someone there. Do you know what happened?”

“What happened?”

“They didn’t come back.”

“…Why.”

“Well. I wonder why.”

He tapped the table as if he was curious too.

Tap, tap, tap, his fingers moved rhythmically.

The sense of unease I’d been feeling while listening to his story finally hit me viscerally.

“It sounds like a cult…”

“I agree.”

Something strange must definitely be happening inside that club.

“Do you really have to meet the Benefactor?”

Arzen looked displeased.

Actually, I’m not sure either.

Whether the Benefactor is someone special with something real, or just another common cult leader parasiting off troubled times.

Even so, it was hard to choose not to meet them.

I need to unravel the secrets surrounding me and return home.

“I’ll meet them first and then decide.”

Arzen’s expression showed no signs of softening.

He crossed his arms, leaned back in his chair, and looked at me with a sulky posture.

What am I supposed to do about that.

Even if you don’t like it, I have reasons why I need to meet them.

“…Hmm, but how should I approach that club?”

“You were making big claims about going without even knowing that?”

Arzen let out a scoff as if he found it absurd.

“Then how would I know? Is that all the information you have?”

“Of course not.”

As expected of Arzen. He didn’t disappoint me.

“When your tail is too long, you get caught. On the day they planted someone, there was one person who got their tail caught in the vicinity.”

“Who was that?”

“Countess Millard.”

My eyes widened at the appearance of a name I recognized.

Though I was complete strangers with her, Countess Millard was a famous person.

She was one of the few ‘sorcerers’ in the Empire.

Usually when people think of sorcerers, they associate them with those who cast evil curses, so the image isn’t good.

However, Countess Millard had high reputation, having shown various good deeds such as using her abilities to cure a prince who suffered from an incurable disease.

‘And she was one of the people I wanted to meet if I had the chance.’

“Then I should meet Countess Millard. It would be really nice if I could receive her ‘selection’ while I’m at it.”

“…You’ll have to meet her. But it would be good to be careful.”

“Of course.”

He didn’t look pleased with me answering so easily without hesitation.

Arzen sighed with disapproval and handed me an invitation.

“It’s an invitation to a party hosted by Countess Millard.”

I accepted the invitation in bewilderment.

“I can’t go.”

“…Why not?”

“Countess Millard is very sensitive.”

“What?”

What does that suddenly mean.

But Arzen closed his mouth as if he had no intention of explaining.

“Fine.”

That’s how our conversation ended.

Time passed, and the day of the party arrived.

I didn’t know then.

What terrible thing would happen there.

* * *

Countess Millard’s estate was very spacious. She seemed to have put considerable effort into this party, as it was held grandly.

Everyone was impressed by the grand party, but I couldn’t be.

“Let me introduce someone to everyone. I asked them to come, and a special guest has joined us today.”

I stared blankly at the man standing next to Countess Millard.

A white-haired man with fine hair like silver threads hanging down.

…Why the hell is that bastard Rihardt here?

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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