The Obsessive Maniac Is Trying To Confine Me - Chapter 76
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Episode 76
It was when I was leaving the annex and passing by the banquet hall area to return to the main manor. That’s when I spotted Lucas working nearby.
He gave me a look. I quietly nodded my head.
That was Lucas’s signal to me.
That day. Lucas and I had agreed to cooperate with each other.
【So who are the remaining two people you suspect?】
【Anri and Hayden.】
I was surprised to hear that. Because people I hadn’t suspected were on the list of demon worshipper candidates.
And I soon responded calmly.
【Are you certain?】
【It has to be one of those two. Their auras were particularly suspicious… there were many strange things about them.】
【Now that I think about it, those two are indeed suspicious. If we assume there was a demon worshipper here from before, they wouldn’t have given Mari the fruit and told her to put it in Rihardt’s meal.】
Lucas quietly listened to my story.
【They would have done such a dangerous thing themselves. But the fact that they didn’t means they probably weren’t here at the time, right?】
【…】
【So as you said, it’s likely that one of the two newcomers is the demon worshipper.】
After entering the manor, they would have seen me.
The monster’s dedicated maid who wasn’t there when they had Mari do the job.
The most convenient position to approach Rihardt.
So they approached me.
【Lucas, if the demon worshipper is one of those two as you say, it would be Hayden.】
【…Hayden?】
It was a question asking why.
【…Before, when I was with the demon worshipper, Anri appeared. Anri chased after me saying he saw me from outside.】
【…】
【Still, just in case, you watch Hayden that day. I’ll watch Anri.】
【…】
Lucas nodded as if he understood.
‘…That was the original plan.’
I thought about the demon worshipper who would be somewhere in this manor.
Anyway, I was going to run away today without looking back.
So was there any reason this plan needed to be maintained?
“Excuse me, what time is it now?”
I asked a passing maid.
“It’s about six o’clock now…?”
The maid who answered my question passed by as if she had things to do.
…So there was one hour left from the time the demon worshipper told me to give Rihardt the drug.
‘Since I’m running away tonight anyway, should I cooperate?’
It would be wiser not to get more entangled here.
As I was thinking deeply, a long shadow fell in front of me.
“What are you doing standing there blankly, sister?”
I quickly turned my head.
Perhaps because he was attending today’s banquet, Yurta was also dressed up splendidly.
He had swept his hair to one side, revealing his neat forehead, and the jewel on his tightly fastened cravat was the same color as Yurta’s red eyes.
“…Nothing.”
Today would be the last time I’d clash with this guy here.
“But are you going to the banquet now?”
“I plan to briefly attend only the banquet held at night.”
I thought banquets were all the same, but apparently there are separate banquets held in the late afternoon and late at night.
“…It would be so nice if sister came along too.”
Saying that, Yurta quickly looked over my maid outfit. It felt strangely unpleasant.
“Sister danced so well.”
…Hearing that, I thought. I must never dance in front of Yurta.
Unlike Rose, I’m clumsy, so if I danced, I’d be caught immediately.
‘Though I wouldn’t have occasion to dance anyway.’
“When will I be able to dance with sister again?”
“Stop saying strange things and go on your way.”
“I should go, but… strangely, I feel like if I let sister go now, I’ll never see you again.”
His intuition is annoyingly sharp for no reason.
“I keep hesitating.”
“Fine. Then I’ll go first.”
I ignored Yurta and walked away. Then Yurta called out to me from behind.
“Sister.”
“…”
“The reason I’ve been staying quietly here is because sister is in this place.”
Quietly, after causing all that commotion until now. What a ridiculous thing to say.
“However, if sister leaves this place, I won’t hold back anymore either.”
I didn’t feel the need to respond to his words. So I decided to just ignore him. Like always.
It was when I had left Yurta behind and came near the main manor.
“This is terrible!”
A knight came running urgently from somewhere.
I could see him running toward Arzen, who happened to be outside.
“What’s wrong?”
“Well… they say a big fire has spread at the festival grounds.”
“What?”
I could see Arzen and the knight having a serious conversation.
It seems quite a big fire broke out at the festival grounds.
If attention is focused there, they won’t notice right away even if I disappear.
Even in this situation, my mind was thoroughly calculating benefits.
I could hear Arzen, frowning as if troubled, telling the knight to send people.
The situation had been created favorably for escape, but this situation didn’t feel particularly welcome.
When fires break out, there are injuries and casualties. Especially if it’s a big fire.
‘Emily also said she was going to the festival today…’
I was worried. Still, if it’s Emily… wouldn’t she be safe?
‘Let me hurry and pack.’
I had to run away now.
It was when I was walking quickly toward the main manor like that.
“Sister Roji!”
Before escaping, there were unusually many people I encountered.
“Anri.”
…If things had gone according to the original plan, I should be monitoring Anri right now.
But now it was a plan that no longer concerned me.
“Sister Roji, where are you going?”
“It’s time to deliver the monster’s meal, so I’m going to the Head Chef.”
“Is that so?”
Anri looked at me with a bright smile.
Whenever I saw him, Anri was always kind and gentle.
Given the circumstances, there was absolutely no way someone like Anri could be a demon worshipper.
“Sister Roji, did you know? There’s a huge fire spreading at the festival grounds right now, causing chaos.”
“Yeah. I heard.”
“What a disaster on such a wonderful festival day.”
“I know.”
Does Anri know that Emily went to the festival?
They don’t seem to get along well, but they’re still family, so he’d probably worry if he knew she went to the festival.
‘It might be better not to bring it up.’
I was worrying about Emily and Anri when suddenly Anri spoke up.
“But Sister Roji, did you know?”
“Know what?”
“Actually, the fire at the festival was deliberately set by someone.”
“What?”
I hadn’t heard anything like that.
“The people who set that fire are really evil people. And soon those people are going to cause something much bigger!”
“…Something bigger? Who are these people?”
“Devil Worshippers. They’re going to attack this place.”
“….”
“To come get the monster.”
My footsteps stopped abruptly.
I couldn’t even breathe as I turned to look at Anri.
Anri continued speaking with the same bright smile.
“They might kill everyone in this place.”
“….”
“Sister Roji, would it really be okay to keep staying here?”
…What on earth is going on here?
A shadow fell across Anri’s smiling face. The man standing with the setting sun behind him looked dark.
Everything I had felt about him being kind and gentle until now seemed like a lie.
I stepped backward, trying to shake off the chilling sensation.
“…What are you.”
* * *
Rihardt looked at the iron bars that were densely packed in the rectangular space where he was, with slight gaps between them.
He recalled the expression on Roji’s face when she looked at him.
Those pink eyes that smiled kindly at him, but seemed to be hiding something.
He looked at the restraints that bound him.
…Should he have broken the restraints even if it meant overexerting himself.
Actually, it wasn’t that there was no way at all. It was just that there was the risk of his life being in danger.
But when he recalled the expression on Roji’s face when she looked at him, he wanted to take that risk.
Because it seemed like he had become an unnecessary existence to her.
Rihardt pondered and then grabbed the restraints as if to tear them apart.
He had to resolve this thirst and inexplicable fear.
More than the fact that he didn’t know what would happen to his life, he was afraid that maid would abandon the plan.
Just as he was about to break the restraints.
“I’m here.”
Roji approached the carriage where Rihardt was imprisoned.
Carrying food.
“Aren’t you hungry?”
“…Miss Maid.”
“Go ahead and eat.”
With a kind smile that reassured him, Roji gently offered him the food.
Rihardt felt reassured by that smile as he looked at Roji.
But when Roji’s eyes met Rihardt’s, she immediately turned her head away to avoid his gaze.
And something dropped from her grasp.
It was a small blade. A sharp object capable of stabbing a person.
Rihardt picked up the object. Just as he was about to hand it back to her, Roji pulled her body away from Rihardt.
“…Roji.”
When Rihardt, sensing something ominous, called her name, she suddenly shouted.
“The monster has a weapon!”
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————