The Obsessive Maniac Is Trying To Confine Me - Chapter 218

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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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Side Story Episode 8

 

Fortunately, even in this cursed estate with nothing, groundwater existed.

 

However, that water was full of toxins, and until now we had been using an artifact to purify the water for use.

 

But now, the artifact that purified the groundwater had broken down.

 

All that remained was the water in the tank that had been purified in advance.

 

“The reserves left in the water tank… would last about two weeks.”

 

Fortunately, the amount of remaining water was quite generous. However, the biggest problem was…

 

Such high-grade artifacts couldn’t be obtained in the Piete Estate. We’d probably have to go all the way to the capital…

 

We were facing a forced apocalypse.

 

“I’ll probably need to be away for about two weeks.”

 

In the end, Rihardt went back on his word.

 

“You have to go far… can you make it back within two weeks?”

 

It would take a month from here to reach the capital.

 

“I can reduce rest time.”

 

In other words, he meant he wouldn’t sleep a wink for two weeks.

 

‘A transcendent…’

 

After saying those words, Rihardt seemed to ponder something, then spoke to me again.

 

“Come with me, Rose.”

 

“Rihardt, I’m sorry, but I don’t have the body to endure that forced march…”

 

“We can set the schedule generously for a month and a half.”

 

Hmm. What should I do.

 

I crossed my arms and pondered. The journey to and from the capital would be rough. But the bigger problem was…

 

I stared at the vegetable garden beside us.

 

“I can’t leave the potatoes behind.”

 

If I went too, the potato farming would be ruined.

 

“…Are you choosing potatoes over me right now?”

 

Rihardt looked at me as if dumbfounded.

 

“No, well, it’s not exactly like that…”

 

“Don’t you think it’s too late for explanations?”

 

“…Hmm.”

 

I avoided his gaze.

 

So it was decided that Rihardt would go to the capital alone.

 

* * *

 

When the water purification artifact broke down, I had a lot more to do.

 

The reason was…

 

“Rose, if you pump like that, no water will come out.”

 

“Huff, gasp…”

 

I had to learn household chores from Rihardt as quickly as possible.

 

I had already realized that without Rihardt, my survival skills were practically zero.

 

“Just putting in a lot of firewood isn’t necessarily good. You need to create air holes.”

 

Since the temperature dropped noticeably at night in the cursed land, I also had to learn how to light the fireplace.

 

Rihardt demonstrated. When he neatly stacked the firewood in a well-shaped pattern and lit it, the smoke went straight up the chimney and only warm heat circulated.

 

On the other hand, when I did it… the room became a chemical warfare training ground.

 

“…Rose, excuse me, but how did you get hired at the Count’s manor?”

 

“That’s rude.”

 

“…”

 

I did a lot of work at Evantes too, but I had never done anything like this.

 

The work I did was just menial tasks that didn’t require any special skills.

 

I spent such grueling time.

 

But Rihardt still looked anxious.

 

“Are potatoes really more important than me?”

 

“Yes, gasp, huh…?”

 

“Rose, do we really have to do this?”

 

I was so exhausted that I couldn’t hear Rihardt’s words clearly.

 

…Three days passed both quickly and slowly. During that time, I learned a lot from Rihardt.

 

“…This much should be enough to survive without Rihardt. Don’t worry anymore.”

 

“…”

 

“Rihardt?”

 

“…Yes, Rose.”

 

For some reason, he looked complicated.

 

* * *

 

Rihardt left.

 

【I’ll be back within ten days.】

 

For some reason, he said he’d return even faster.

 

But wait, is it possible to cover that distance in that time frame?

 

Rihardt gave me a communication artifact and left.

 

During that time, I spent peaceful hours.

 

Specifically… binge-reading novels I had procured through Marta all day long.

 

It was a freedom I couldn’t enjoy when Rihardt was around.

 

[Rose, are you doing well?]

 

Of course, whether he was monitoring me or had separation anxiety, Rihardt often contacted me through the artifact.

 

[Have you eaten?]

 

“Yes, I’m eating well.”

 

I was too lazy to prepare meals and hadn’t eaten anything since dinner yesterday, but I answered well.

 

[Are you sleeping well? Your voice sounds tired…]

 

“I’m still not fully awake. Speaking of which, Rihardt, surely you’re sleeping while traveling to the capital…?”

 

I stayed up all night binge-reading forbidden novels last night, but I asked back as if nothing happened.

 

[I’m fine. However… I’m worried about you. Are there any difficulties living alone?]

 

“Hmm. Lighting the fireplace was a bit difficult, but I think I’m getting used to it now.”

 

That was really the only difficult thing. Because that’s the only thing I had been doing…

 

Making the three days of learning quite meaningless, I hadn’t done any household chores at all.

 

[Hmm… Is that so?]

 

A suspicious sound came from the artifact.

 

[…Anyway, I’m glad you seem to be doing well.]

 

Hearing his sigh of relief, I thought I should definitely clean up the messy room before Rihardt came back…

 

[I miss you, Rose.]

 

“…”

 

[I love you.]

 

It was something he added at the end every time he contacted me, but I couldn’t give him any answer.

 

After ending the call, I felt restless for some reason. I had been feeling this way a lot lately.

 

Rihardt loves me, but is it okay to continue like this, pretending not to know his feelings?

 

‘Of course not.’

 

When I first settled here, I didn’t know I’d be living with him this long. At most, a few months.

 

Because back then, I thought I would leave his side.

 

There was a time when only my emotions mattered.

 

The sense of loss from falling into this world was so great that I couldn’t see anything else.

 

But now it’s different. Now I’m beginning to see things I couldn’t see before. I can no longer ignore them.

 

When Rihardt returns… I thought we should talk again.

 

Though I can guess how he’ll react.

 

Sighing, I reached for the newspaper on the dining table.

 

Since I couldn’t know what was happening in the world while staying here, I regularly brought them back whenever I stopped by Piete Estate.

 

[Dillen Herthas Achieves Great Victory… Herthas Family Granted Marquis Title in Recognition of Merit]

 

I unconsciously swallowed at the content decorating the front page.

 

The newspaper was full of stories about Dillen. It seemed he had recently gone to war, achieved victory, and returned.

 

My heart sank at the thought that Dillen might have been in danger.

 

Suddenly, I remembered what happened two years ago.

 

【I can’t do it without you, Rose…】

 

He desperately held onto me and pleaded, but in the end, he helped me return.

 

So I too hoped that Dillen would live well.

 

As long as the curse wasn’t lifted, if I stayed by Dillen’s side, he would suffer great pain.

 

[Unidentified Relic Discovered on Capital Outskirts]

 

[The Missing Savior, Where Has She Gone…]

 

[Sablewin Trading Company Draws Attention for Wartime Supply Provision]

 

The newspaper also contained content about Michelle. During the year and six months since falling into this place, I had barely managed to hear news of her.

 

‘Thank goodness, Michelle. You’re doing well.’

 

Reading the newspaper, I felt relieved.

 

…I could only hope that everyone was living well.

 

* * *

 

A strange silence had settled in front of the castle gate of Piete Estate.

 

Under the cloudy sky, dust carried by the wind hung low, making people’s footsteps heavy.

 

The atmosphere was different from usual, enough to make even the soldiers on guard duty straighten their posture for no reason.

 

In the midst of this, a man wearing a black robe stood before the castle gate.

 

“Name.”

 

The gatekeeper of Piete Estate asked dryly.

 

“Yurta Herthas.”

 

It was a short answer.

 

Herthas… it was a name he had heard somewhere before.

 

The gatekeeper habitually received the identification token, but swallowed hard the moment he confirmed the name.

 

His fingertips trembled slightly.

 

Herthas… wasn’t that the famous family?

 

It was the name that had recently been occupying newspaper pages with consecutive victory reports.

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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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