The Obsessive Maniac Is Trying To Confine Me - Chapter 177
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Episode 177
The weather had grown quite cold, and winter winds were already blowing.
Lord Ruad, who had returned from hunting at the end of autumn, was shocked to hear the news his servant brought.
“What? Those bastards were caught by the Holy Knights offering ‘sacrifices’?”
Secret experiments had been taking place in the Ruad Estate.
It was the act of using ancient black magic to sacrifice people and extract magical power.
All of this was the Savior’s will.
【Don’t you want to live forever?】
That sweet whisper.
【If you just do as I say, your dream will come true, Lord.】
If he could just abandon his old and diseased body, the lives of a few hundred estate residents were a cheap price.
But…
Far from eternal life, it looked like the Paladin Commander would take his head right now.
‘Damn it! What should I do! If I’m caught, I’m finished!’
Just as the Lord’s mind went blank with fear, the servant came running urgently.
“M-My Lord! You need to come out and see this right away!”
“What is it this time!”
“T-The Paladin Commander has come to visit!”
What?
He came this quickly?
The Lord realized that his safety was now in jeopardy.
‘Those bastards wouldn’t have readily confessed that I was involved in this matter.’
Those he had tasked with capturing sacrifices had their weaknesses held by the Lord.
Such as their families.
The Lord tried to calm his anxious heart and followed the servant to the castle gate to receive the Paladin Commander.
In front of the castle gate stood a man with a tall stature and solid build.
The man with cold-looking silver hair and blue eyes was indeed as handsome as rumored.
Rihardt approached with his hand on his sword.
“M-My Lord…!”
The servants screamed and backed away. Just as the Lord sensed death and squeezed his eyes shut.
“Stop, Rihardt. You’re frightening the Lord.”
When she tapped Rihardt’s arm, that fierce Paladin Commander stopped as if by magic.
The Lord doubted his own eyes.
‘That woman… is controlling the Commander?’
“How rude.”
“That man dared to see the Savior and didn’t even kneel.”
Meeting that murderous gaze, the Lord’s legs trembled.
‘…But did he say Savior?’
The Lord wondered why he had only now noticed such a magnificently dressed presence.
The woman dressed entirely in black like a widow, with her face covered by a veil, had a distinctive presence.
Most importantly…
The woman gracefully lifted the veil covering her face slightly upward.
“…S-Savior?!”
“It’s been a while, Lord.”
The black veil fluttered, and he caught a glimpse below her philtrum.
Her snow-white skin and lips curved upward with unknowable thoughts.
* * *
The Lord was bewildered.
The Savior and Paladin Commander who had suddenly appeared.
It was a completely mismatched combination.
“…Prepare the finest tea we have to serve them properly.”
The Lord commanded his servant while looking at the Savior with questioning eyes.
Because of the veil covering her face, he couldn’t see the Savior’s expression or know what kind of face she was making.
“Ahem! May I ask how you came to be traveling with the Paladin Commander?”
Having thought just moments ago that his head might fall to the Paladin Commander’s hand, the Lord found this situation extremely confusing.
“Of course, you should know, Lord. He has now decided to join our ‘work.'”
That Paladin Commander is joining ‘this work’?
When exactly did she persuade the Paladin Commander?
Seeing how he had raided the secret location, she must have persuaded him in the short time today…
“Do my words sound like lies?”
Perhaps noticing the Lord’s half-suspicious gaze, the Savior tilted her head.
“N-No, not at all.”
If that were true…
Not only would he escape this crisis, but future ‘activities’ would become much easier.
The Lord looked at the Savior who had accomplished this tremendous feat with respect and admiration.
“So, I’d like you to inform the Commander about the work we’re trying to do.”
“Why don’t you tell him yourself, Savior…”
“Because I trust you.”
Saying this, the Savior personally picked up the teapot in front of her and poured tea directly into the Lord’s half-empty cup.
“Lord, I trust you more than you think.”
The Savior placed her hand over the Lord’s.
At that moment, the Lord felt a chilling sensation as murderous intent spread throughout his body.
Startled, he turned his head to see the Paladin Commander’s cold blue eyes staring this way.
When their eyes met, he naturally curved the corners of his eyes in a smile.
Strangely, was it his imagination that the smile seemed full of murderous intent?
‘The Savior trusts me…’
An irrepressible smile appeared at the corners of his mouth.
The Lord excitedly began telling the Paladin Commander everything.
About how they came to offer sacrifices for the ‘new world.’
“A new world?”
The Paladin Commander showed interest in that.
He began a long speech.
The Paladin Commander listened to his plan with apparent interest.
When the story finally ended…
“You explained it wonderfully, Lord.”
The Savior spoke with pure admiration.
The Lord was a member of the Club that Worships the Savior, but there were ranks even among members.
The Lord was among the lower ranks and had never properly received the Savior’s attention before.
That’s why this moment felt so rewarding and glorious.
As this meaningful meeting was about to conclude, the Savior spoke up.
“Let’s end today’s meeting here. Before that, there’s a child I’d like to meet. Could you call her?”
“A child the Savior wants to meet… who might that be?”
“Hmm. I saw her on the way here, and she looked quite useful. Was her name Hanna?”
If it’s Hanna… she’s a child who often helped the Lord with his work.
A child who helped him scout for sacrifices.
“Do you know that child?”
The Benefactor didn’t answer. Just smiled faintly.
“You must have taken a liking to Hanna. I understand. I’ll bring that child right away.”
* * *
It wasn’t difficult to extract information from the Lord.
He believed I was the Benefactor, after all.
【The Royal Court is war-mad, turning the Empire into a battlefield! And the Benefactor has promised to pioneer a new world in place of the Royal Court.】
He had packaged his talk of committing treason quite eloquently.
‘What on earth is Roji thinking?’
I couldn’t understand her thoughts at all.
Roji, who had taken my place, was using that position to offer other people as sacrifices.
I needed to put everything back in its proper place, even now.
That’s why I entered this estate pretending to be the Benefactor.
“Do we really look that similar?”
After the Lord left, I muttered while looking at my face reflected in the tea water.
Roji was pretending to be me, and I was pretending to be Roji.
It was truly an absurd situation.
At that moment, cold fingers brushed past the back of my neck.
“To my eyes, you’re completely different.”
Rihardt played with my hair as if toying with it, then respectfully kissed it.
“I would be able to recognize you anywhere, anytime.”
…As if.
Everyone else is fooled, so what makes you special.
Even if he says he loves me, if Roji seriously tried to imitate me, he would fall for it too.
“I’m serious.”
Rihardt reached out and gently pulled my chin toward him. As if making a mischievous face.
“What are you doing?”
When I asked irritably, he squinted one eye.
“But you do seem a little different now.”
“…”
“What made you change?”
I had regained my memories, but strangely, I felt like I had become a different person.
“How trivial.”
I swatted his hand away because he was annoying. The man who kept expecting something from me was bothersome.
Just then, I sensed someone’s presence outside the door.
“Benefactor, it’s Hanna.”
Rihardt saw her lips curve beneath the veil.
“Come in, Hanna.”
Creak, the door opened.
At the same time, Hanna’s face immediately contorted when she spotted me.
“Oh my. You recognize me right away even though I covered my face?”
“You, you, how are you…!”
“Hello, Hanna. Have you been well?”
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————