The Obsessive Maniac Is Trying To Confine Me - Chapter 187

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

Episode 187

The House of Ascent had few people despite the manor being spacious.

This was because the two masters didn’t like bringing people into the manor. They hated having others invade their personal space.

Because of this, even when something happened here, there were few eyes watching, or sometimes none at all.

“It’s been a while, Anri. Have you been well?”

It didn’t take long for Roji to enter the manor with Emily.

Anri greeted Roji in unusually disheveled attire.

As if he had rushed out in a hurry.

“Anri! Roji was definitely next to us earlier! But they say no. You came here with Roji… What on earth is going on?”

Emily poured out questions before Anri could even catch his breath.

“I don’t know what’s happening either, Emily.”

He continued with a confused expression.

“We met by chance while coming up to Ruad Estate, but she disappeared. But why…”

Anri looked at Roji with incomprehensible eyes. As if asking why she was here.

“What do you mean, Anri! Then who did we see?”

“…Probably a fake.”

The atmosphere became heavy as they realized the situation.

“So you lost her?”

Roji asked in a calm voice as if this situation didn’t bother her at all.

“…It seems like a fake approached with some purpose, but they probably discovered your arrival beforehand and fled. I’ll organize a search party right away.”

Anri turned as if to move urgently. At that moment, Roji grabbed his arm.

“Anri.”

“Do you have something to say?”

Her gaze toward Anri was meaningful.

“Nothing.”

She smiled and relaxed her grip on his arm.

What was she thinking? It was hard to read the woman’s mind.

“I think organizing a search party as you said would be good.”

Anri nodded and subtly pulled his arm away.

Why had the woman suddenly come down here?

It was fortunate that he had hastily sent Rose and the Paladin Commander away from the manor.

* * *

【It can’t be helped now. We’ll have to change the plan.】

Upon confirming Roji’s arrival, Anri pushed Rihardt and me toward the manor’s back door.

【Escape through the back door. Well, the Paladin Commander will handle what comes next.】

【…】

【Hide for a while, then go to Yuren Caravan after a week. Yuren Caravan will help you get to the Cursed Land.】

Anri said this while handing me a map along with a ring.

【Just say you came on my introduction. This is the proof.】

Thus, Rihardt and I swiftly escaped the manor.

For quick movement, Rihardt carried me as he ran.

“But Rihardt, isn’t it the opposite direction, not this way?”

When Rihardt went in a different direction midway, I suspected he might have strange intentions.

“I know a place where we can avoid pursuit for a week. Going there will help us get to Yuren Caravan.”

“Where is that place?”

Rihardt, who was holding my hand tightly while climbing the mountain, remained silent as if pondering his answer.

What could be so difficult about it?

“Rose, why do you want to go to the Cursed Land?”

I asked the question first, but he turned it back on me.

“Well, to meet the real Benefactor.”

“What do you want to do after meeting the Benefactor?”

“Well… I need to learn the truth and stop the fake Benefactor.”

“Why do you need to stop the fake?”

What is he trying to do now?

It’s funny that I’m obediently answering his questions, but I don’t understand why the questions keep trailing on endlessly.

“What are you trying to say?”

“I’m curious why you’re doing something so unlike yourself.”

“…”

“Until now, you’ve hated getting involved in complicated matters. That’s why you tried so hard to escape, so why are you trying to stop the fake Benefactor now?”

If it were me when I had lost my memory, I wouldn’t have tried to step forward.

【There’s an unsolvable problem between us, Yurta.】

I recalled the words I had said to Yurta a few hours ago.

Actually, there was one more thing I hadn’t told Yurta.

Even if he hadn’t killed Mother, there was a reason I had no choice but to hate him.

“Mind your own business. It’s not your concern anyway.”

“…”

Whether it’s behavior unlike me or whatever, do I need to explain my reasons to this man?

Rihardt fell silent.

Though the situation was urgent, we stopped and stared at each other for a while.

“It’s your matter, so how is it not my concern?”

“It’s my business, so of course. Who are you to worry about my affairs?”

“…Do you really think that way?”

I actually know what answer he wants to hear.

“We’ve spent time together.”

“Then go back now, Rihardt.”

I coldly pushed him away. The smile completely disappeared from Rihardt’s lips.

Being human, he seems to feel displeasure too.

“I never asked you to follow me. You came because you wanted to.”

“…Don’t you feel anything for me at all?”

“Feel something? What would be necessary?”

Without smiling at all, he grabbed my hand. Warm warmth overlapped between us.

“I feel so good being with you like this…”

Though they were hands dried by the cold wind, somehow they felt sticky. It seemed like there was a sweet smell as if fruit juice had been spilled.

I lost my words for a moment and looked at him.

“I like it so much, Rose.”

He brought my hand to his cheek.

Startled, I shook off his hand, and he sent me a regretful look.

His wavering blue eyes seemed to contain faint sadness as well.

“Don’t cross the line, Rihardt.”

“…”

“Feel? Yes. There is one thing. You’re quite a useful existence. So if you want anything more than that, just go back.”

I left him behind and turned away.

I was planning to climb the mountain alone like that, but Rihardt grabbed my arm.

“Rose.”

So he’s going to follow me after all. How tiresome.

“If you want to follow me, just do what I ask you to do.”

I deliberately said things to get on his nerves, but he had no pride and wouldn’t leave.

I know what kind of feelings this man harbors for me.

Even after seeing each other in such terrible states, I have no idea why he developed such feelings.

Rather than finding the man horrible or disgusting like before, I felt sorry for him.

As each word I spoke seemed to grow heavier, Rihardt’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

“Haven’t I always listened to you well?”

The man curved his eyes slyly.

Ah, now I think I understand.

That man smiles even when he’s trying to hide his emotions.

“But even if you treat me like that, it’s impossible for me to stop caring about you.”

He raised his hand and caressed my cheek.

“I haven’t cleaned up the cabin.”

The cabin? Is he talking about that place where I stayed when I lost my memory?

“…I haven’t cleaned it up, Rose.”

He repeated the same words.

I know why he’s saying that.

“Don’t tell me the reason you followed me was because you thought we’d go back there together?”

“…”

“That’s it, isn’t it.”

What a foolish human.

It was both ridiculous and pitiful.

“Wake up from your dream. I’ll never go back there.”

I shook him off and walked away.

For several steps ahead, I didn’t hear the sound of him following.

Is he going back now?

Well, of course. I hurt him that much.

Since I couldn’t give him the feelings he wanted from me, I hoped he would go back after this.

I didn’t want to torture him with false hope anymore.

However, after walking a few more steps, I heard rustling sounds following behind me.

I tried to ignore it, but the man’s thick arm pulled my waist toward him.

The man shamelessly pulled me into his arms as he pleased and whispered.

“I love you.”

“…”

“I love you, Rose.”

* * *

Only after walking all day were we able to get out of the mountains.

We took a brief rest to sleep in the mountains to conserve our strength, and Rihardt held me tightly while sleeping, saying he was cold.

His expression when he said that didn’t look particularly cold.

However, since I felt like I was going to freeze to death, I couldn’t refuse him.

After walking a bit more while avoiding pursuit, we arrived in front of a crumbling manor.

On the tilted wooden sign was written ‘Amalberga’.

“Amalberga…?”

It seems like the manor of a family called Amalberga. Where is this place?

Click, Rihardt forced open the rusted iron gate.

Creak, the unpleasant sound irritated my eardrums. My brow furrowed involuntarily.

“Come inside, Rose.”

…Where exactly is this place?

The manor emanating a desolate aura made me want to turn away.

I was reluctantly following Rihardt inside when a black silhouette emerged from within the manor and approached us.

“Who dares to enter the manor without permission…!”

The woman who was about to shout at us froze when she saw Rihardt.

Rihardt looked at the woman and smiled broadly.

“It’s been a long time, Mother.”

…What did he say?

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