The Obsessive Maniac Is Trying To Confine Me - Chapter 26

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

Episode 26

As if an earthquake had struck, the building shook violently and powder crumbled down from the ceiling.

Due to the falling powder, hazy smoke drifted throughout the manor.

The chandelier hanging from the ceiling also swayed precariously as if it might fall, and fear flashed in everyone’s eyes.

“Wh-what was that sound just now?”

Everyone was stirring at the sudden thunderous noise.

The Marquis House was noisy when it was noisy and quiet when it was quiet. If only they didn’t have to be reminded of Rihardt, whom everyone avoided.

In such a place, the sudden explosive sound brought unease to everyone.

While everyone was trying to find the source of the sound, once again ‘Bang! Bang! Bang!’ loud thunderous noises shook the entire manor.

“Roji!”

At that moment, Emily urgently grabbed my wrist.

“Let’s get out.”

“What?”

“I have a bad feeling right now. Let’s leave the manor for a while.”

It was a time when everyone was in confusion, not knowing what was happening in the manor.

Only Emily made a quick decision with calm eyes.

She didn’t give me time to answer and dragged me out of the manor, and I followed her.

Something was exploding in the manor, but what on earth could it be?

“Roji, stay here.”

Emily took me to a secluded place away from the manor.

‘This place is…’

Isn’t this the Maze Garden?

I knew it from the original story. The place Arzen cherishes.

Walls made of evergreen trees taller than my height formed a maze with angular shapes.

I heard that if anyone other than Arzen entered, they would wander for days because the internal structure was so complex.

“Wait here, Roji.”

“Emily?”

“I’ll go check the situation briefly and come back.”

Emily’s expression didn’t look good, so I’ll follow her words, but I still don’t understand why all this commotion is happening.

Is it really such a serious matter?

Like the servants who were in the manor, I still had no awareness of the situation.

“But Emily, why are you going to dangerously check the situation yourself?”

“I’m strong, you know.”

“Ah.”

I immediately agreed with Emily’s single statement.

“I’ll wait, Emily. Come back quickly.”

“Roji will wait for me?”

Emily, her face flushed as if pleased, pulled out a kitchen knife from her embrace and left this place.

…It was an action that didn’t match her shy expression.

Watching that sight, I thought quietly.

…I should seriously ask her sometime why she carries around such things.

* * *

“An explosion in the basement…!”

“Look over there! It’s a monster!”

“The monster is behind this!”

It would have been better if he had attempted to escape at night when no one was around, but Rihardt didn’t have much time.

The burning pain in his body grew stronger as time passed after meeting Roji, so he had to hurry with his plans.

He escaped from the musty-smelling basement.

“The monster…! The monster has come out!”

“Gasp! Someone tell the Count about this…!”

“Run away!”

How noisy.

The rumors Arzen had created were effective in this regard.

Because of the unnecessarily inflated rumors calling him a monster, the servants fled in panic to avoid him.

Now, there was no one to interfere with him.

So he must hurry to find that maid.

How surprised would she be when she found out he had come out?

The image of her startled expression fueled his excitement.

Strangely, whenever he saw that maid, sadistic tendencies he never knew existed would suddenly emerge.

How troublesome.

Despite thinking that, he was smiling.

Rihardt set out to find Roji without delay.

There isn’t much time left…

Rihardt felt an impatience unlike himself, and then.

He faintly caught Roji’s scent.

However, that scent grew distant again.

Rihardt felt regret that he could no longer smell the sweet fragrance.

Roji is somewhere around here.

At that fact, he smiled with satisfaction.

* * *

Not recognizing the seriousness of the situation, I was sitting leaning against a tree.

I fell into solitary contemplation while looking at the colorful roses at the entrance of the Maze Garden.

Besides beautiful things, Arzen loved one other thing, and that was ‘complex things.’

That’s what piques his interest?

That’s why he seemed to be interested in Rihardt, who was utterly untamable.

I got up from my spot and wandered around the Maze Garden with nothing to do.

When will Emily come back…

“Aaaaah!”

At that moment of leisurely thinking, a terrible scream echoed from the surroundings.

My relaxed expression also stiffened along with it.

What is it? What’s happening…?

I hid behind a tree and observed the situation.

In my actions, there was no option to save the person who screamed. I was ready to run away at any moment.

While watching the situation like that, unfortunately, it was obscured by the lush branches of the trees lined up in a row, so I couldn’t see the situation properly.

I should just run away after all.

I was about to turn away, thinking it would be better not to do anything more reckless. If only I hadn’t heard a familiar voice.

“I have one question.”

…A voice as smooth and sweet as flowing melody.

It was Rihardt.

At that moment, the blood drained from my face.

Why is someone who shouldn’t be here…?

Could that thunderous noise from earlier be…?

As I somewhat grasped the circumstances of the incident, my heart sank down as if it had fallen off a cliff.

Rihardt has escaped.

I was so shocked that I might scream, so I hastily covered my mouth.

If it was discovered that I was in the direction Rihardt had escaped to, it seemed like there would be serious trouble.

There were two methods here.

One, catch Rihardt and hand him over to Arzen.

A method I’d recommend if you want to die.

Two, pretend I wasn’t here and run away.

The second was the best method.

I slowly lifted my foot without making a sound so Rihardt wouldn’t notice me.

“Have you perhaps seen a pink-haired maid?”

“Hik, hiik! P-please spare me! Just my life, please…!”

“That’s not the answer I want.”

“Heu, hik!”

…Would there be another pink-haired person in this manor?

Rihardt was looking for me.

At that fact, my fingertips grew cold. I clenched my fists tightly to control my trembling fingertips.

Why on earth is he looking for me?

Could it be…?

Is he trying to kill me? To get revenge before leaving this place?

【Please help me escape.】

What did I answer to Rihardt’s words back then?

【I’ll pretend I didn’t hear it. I won’t tell the Count, so don’t bring up such talk again. To anyone.】

…I think I rejected him quite coldly.

Was I too harsh?

Wasn’t that something anyone could normally say? I had to hope so.

“Opportunities don’t come twice. If you don’t answer quickly…”

“I-I think I saw him heading toward the stables…!”

Saw what?

He must have said anything out of fear that Rihardt would kill him.

Thanks to that, I thought I was saved.

Rihardt would head to the stables now, so if I just quietly hide here…

“Are you certain you saw him at the stables?”

“Y-yes…! I’m certain…!”

“You’re lying.”

“Hiik…! Keu, keuhek!”

…Is he dead?

I could see a collapsed body through the tree branches. Since there was no blood, it seemed he only knocked him unconscious.

That was fortunate at least.

‘But how did he know that was a lie?’

I was anxiously watching over there when fortunately Rihardt turned his body in the opposite direction.

This is my chance!

I need to hurry and escape the maze garden.

Rihardt said I had a certain ‘scent.’

The distance is far so he hasn’t caught my scent yet, but if the distance closes even a little, he might notice my presence.

Carefully so Rihardt won’t notice me…

But at that moment.

Crack!

I stepped on a tree branch I didn’t know was there.

I stared blankly at the tree branch that had broken under my foot.

Hahaha…

Why do I suddenly feel like laughing…?

An ominous premonition swept down my spine.

“Who’s there?”

“…”

“It would be better if you came out obediently.”

Unless you want to be caught by me and suffer a terrible fate.

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