The Obsessive Maniac Is Trying To Confine Me - Chapter 159

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

Episode 159

I first met Sian shortly after settling in the Ruad Estate.

Things were fine when Rihardt and I found a cabin in the forest, but the problem came after that.

This forest was too vast.

So I got lost, and it was Sian who saved me.

He was a woodcutter, so this forest was his workplace, and he safely escorted me back to the cabin.

We met frequently after that, and becoming friends with Sian was only natural.

Perhaps I felt familiarity with Sian because of his name.

Sian had strikingly handsome features, but there was something exotic about him.

His appearance, like a mix of East and West, was actually because his mother was from some eastern land.

That’s why they gave him an eastern name.

“I’m going down to the village to look for work. Are you here to chop wood again today?”

I glanced at the axe Sian was holding.

“Well, yes, but I’m not going to. I just want to play with you, sister.”

“What? I told you I’m going to look for work.”

“I’ll come with you.”

Sian stuck his axe into any random tree and approached me, leaving me bewildered.

“You’re going to lose your axe doing that?”

“It doesn’t matter. I have plenty of those. And sister, you still don’t know the village layout or situation well.”

“….”

“I’ll definitely be helpful.”

At first I tried to dissuade Sian from following, but hearing his point, my easily swayed ears fluttered readily.

“Come to think of it, you were trying to find work before, right? If you’re okay with it, I’ll recommend you.”

“Shall we go together then?”

The change of stance was quick.

Sian smiled brightly and followed after me.

Sometimes his cunning smile gave me an impression similar to Rihardt’s.

But what was this feeling of being hooked?

* * *

Rihardt had come down to the Ruad Estate, far from the capital, with Rose, but that didn’t mean he had completely lost interest in the capital’s affairs.

“The Benefactor is currently on a pilgrimage. He seems to be visiting various places and capturing those suspected of being demon worshippers.”

Just like now, he received reports about what was happening in the capital.

“Perhaps due to this pilgrimage, demon worshipper activities have significantly decreased since the Benefactor appeared.”

Rihardt quietly listened to the report.

The world had changed since the Benefactor appeared.

The Benefactor, another key figure in the war victory, had recently appeared before everyone and defeated demon worshippers.

Now the Benefactor was like a messiah to all people.

With one gesture from the Benefactor, countless people turned their heads in that direction, and everyone listened intently to every word the Benefactor spoke.

The Benefactor didn’t wield power but devoted himself solely to catching demon worshippers.

Who could not praise such a Benefactor?

“I see. How is Michel Sablain’s situation?”

“Count Seiblain has paid off all his debts to the Ascent Family and recently started a new business.”

“That’s fortunate. Keep a close watch to ensure the Ascent Family or their associates don’t interfere with that business.”

“Understood.”

After hearing the report, Rihardt fell into thought for a moment.

‘Rose has lost her memory, so by now she must have forgotten about Seiblain’s situation….’

Rihardt looked after Count Seiblain on Rose’s behalf, remembering how she once cherished Michel.

He had paid off the debt for him.

At that time, instead of being grateful, Michel glared at him irritably.

【Why are you helping me?】

【I’m not helping you. I’m delivering this on behalf of Miss Shabrina.】

Mentioning Rose’s old name, Rihardt briefly lost himself in memories.

Then Michel showed a flustered expression.

【You, did you meet Rina?】

Michel bombarded him with many questions as if he had much to ask, but Rihardt had no obligation to answer them.

‘The Ascent Family is one of the main forces supporting the Benefactor.’

The blonde siblings targeting Michel Seiblain was surely because they were aiming for Rose.

Since this happened when the Temple and Royal Court suddenly cut off dealings with Seiblain, those two must have helped the Benefactor behind the scenes as well.

He knew Princess Evangeline was part of Benefactor Roji’s faction, but he wondered why the Temple was involved.

Was the Pope trying to help the Benefactor?

The Benefactor’s intentions were crystal clear.

The plan was to cut off anyone around Rose who could become her ally.

He would never let that happen.

Of course, it would be nice if only he remained by Rose’s side….

Over the past three months, he had learned thoroughly.

【Rihardt.】

【Do your best today too.】

【You worked hard. How was today?】

The blissful daily life obtained by deceiving her into thinking they were married.

However, as if pointing to their false relationship, an unbridgeable distance formed between her and him.

A sensation close to guilt brought him small discomfort.

But Rose’s smile with her unknowing face was so sweet that he trampled on the small discomfort and approached her as if bewitched.

The more he did so, the greater the price of sin he had created became.

Rihardt rested his chin on his hand and thought.

Why did he want to stay by her side even through such lies in the first place?

Why did he want to have her?

“…There’s one last thing to report.”

Only then did Rihardt look up at his subordinate who was continuing the report.

The estate where Rihardt was currently staying was Ruad.

…At the same time, the Lord of Ruad was a member of the club that served the Benefactor closely.

“The Master of the Ascent Family has come down to Ruad.”

* * *

“The world is turbulent these days. Since the Benefactor appeared, clubs that existed in secret have revealed themselves and are suddenly running rampant.”

While coming down to the village with Sian, he told me about how the world was flowing these days.

As someone living far from worldly affairs, I needed to listen carefully to his stories.

“Club?”

“From what I hear, they helped the Benefactor even before the Benefactor appeared. It’s a club of only high nobles, but anyway, nobles stick together, you know?”

Sian didn’t find it strange that I didn’t know obvious things and kindly informed me, which made me feel comfortable.

“Those club nobles’ influence is sky-high right now. It’s completely their era unfolding.”

Sian mocked me while walking ahead, yet he was considerate enough to prevent me from getting scratched by tree branches.

“Be careful coming through. You might fall if you’re not careful here.”

“Yeah. Thanks. So what is that club doing now?”

“Well, they’re probably helping the Savior eliminate the Demon Worshippers, right?”

Is this really the same novel I knew?

Right after possessing this body, the novel 【Raised by the Mist】 kept circling in my head, and since the worldview was similar, I thought it was that novel…

‘Maybe I was mistaken.’

“Roji, do you know what the Demon Worshippers’ goal is?”

“Huh? What is it?”

“This is just a rumor, but there’s talk that they’re trying to resurrect a demon.”

There’s such a rumor? As expected, Sian seems to have good information networks when it comes to rumors and such things.

“According to rumors, they need a transcendent for the demon’s resurrection?”

According to the novel, Demon Worshippers feel hostility toward transcendents who have divine blood flowing through them.

And the Savior.

Even though he’s supposedly someone unrelated to me, for some reason he keeps lingering in my mind.

Even when I tried to shake it off, like gum that had stuck once, it wouldn’t come off and remained messily in my head.

“But Sian, you said you’d introduce me to a job. What kind of work is it?”

I deliberately changed the subject. It was also the original purpose anyway.

“Do you have any particular work in mind, Roji?”

“Something that doesn’t require physical labor and involves moderate movement? I’m not hoping for easy work, but…”

Then Sian’s eyes curved as if he had been waiting for this.

“As it happens, someone I know said they’re looking for people, and if I introduce you, it would be perfect.”

What kind of work could it be?

A little later, the place Sian brought me to was in front of a large castle.

“…Sian, where is this?”

“A job that’s perfect for you, Roji. How about being a maid?”

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