The Teddy Bear Sends the Insomniac Villain to Dreamland - Chapter 35

—————

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

—————

Chapter 35
“It’s quite chaotic out there.”
Lea Everett leaned her face out the carriage window, tilting her head in curiosity.
The Capital of Castonia was naturally crowded, but something about today felt particularly unsettled and restless.
Blake Leblanc, consumed with thoughts of where Vivian might be, offered no response.
She would arrive soon enough—there was no need to worry.
So why did my heart feel so uneasy?
Seated in the carriage’s passenger position, I mentally urged my subordinates onward as they traced the whereabouts of Vivian and Nix.
I recalled Vivian, who had humiliated those soldiers gossiping about me at the Hunting Grounds, only to return with bite wounds from the Hunting Dog.
The memory made my chest tighten.
It had startled me more than the time I faced a blood-soaked beast on the battlefield.
What bewildered me most was how she’d come to me wounded, yet shot me a glare warning me not to approach, as if worried about something.
Reckless witch, that’s what she was.
No matter how earnestly I urged her to stay still, she would never listen.
Honestly, I couldn’t understand her at all.
Cursed, they said. A terrible murderer. Cold-blooded and heartless.
None of those words about me had anything to do with Vivian.
Vivian merely needed to fulfill her contract by lifting my curse, then find a way to return to the witches’ realm.
I’d even provided her with Nix as a capable ally—couldn’t she simply stay at the Mansion, gather information about portals, and plan her departure?
Yet Vivian kept doing strange things instead of following the obvious path.
Whenever she saw people cursing or blaming me, she acted as though desperate to defend me.
Why?
It was a fundamental question.
What could she possibly know?
I was certain I was not a good person.
Though the world had no perfect people, even by that standard, I was far from moral.
The venom in a beast’s fangs was deadly poison.
When the venom entered through the bite wound, it would spread through the body, causing paralysis and death.
Beast warfare was always a bloodbath, and those already bitten would sometimes become bait for their comrades.
“Commander! Over here! I’ll hold it down, so please hurry—”
“Stop. Let go of it now!”
“I’m going to die anyway. Please, save the others instead of me!”
In those moments, it was I who ultimately abandoned the subordinates who became bait.
So there was truth to what those soldiers had said.
I had turned my back countless times while hearing their screams.
I had always found Ophelia’s claim—that sacrificing lives could grant the power to defeat beasts—to be abhorrent.
Yet I could not deny that she and I were fundamentally no different.
And still, Vivian spoke of trusting me with such ease, completely unaware she was defending a murderer.
“If only you knew what I’ve done…”
That unconditional trust had only tightened the grip around my heart.
I had no idea what Vivian expected of me, but I knew I couldn’t fulfill it.
‘It wouldn’t be strange if she suddenly turned her back on me in disappointment tomorrow.’
Even as I anticipated this, my heart felt oddly unsettled.
“What are you brooding about?”
Lea Everett, who had been gazing out the window, was now staring intently at Blake Leblanc.
“Nothing worth your curiosity.”
“Then what is it?”
Pestered by her relentless questioning, Blake Leblanc offered a dismissive reply.
“My doll.”
“Good heavens. You’re actually serious? Since we’re at this point, let me ask properly. Why did you suddenly become obsessed with dolls?”
The carriage, which had been rattling noisily, began to slow its pace—thankfully, we were nearly there.
“We’ve arrived. Prepare to disembark.”
“Answer me. I’m genuinely worried.”
“About what, exactly?”
“…Never mind.”
She said it was nothing, yet her continuous sighing betrayed that she had something on her mind.
But Blake Leblanc had no desire to press further.
It was obvious—she was likely concerned about rumors that I’d lost my mind or some such nonsense.
I understood Lea Everett’s worry, but the rumors themselves didn’t trouble me in the slightest.
After all, my reputation was already poor; what difference would a few more scandalous rumors make?
What mattered most was finding my runaway doll.
“We have arrived, sir.”
The carriage wheels scraped against the ground with an unpleasant screech. The door swung open immediately after.
Stepping out, Lea Everett surveyed the alley lined with Magic Supply Shops, then turned to Blake Leblanc with a question.
“You said we were going to the Doll Shop, so why are we here?”
“I have something to purchase.”
“You came here without even asking my opinion?”
This time, too, Blake Leblanc offered no proper response.
“Ugh, this is absolutely infuriating!”
Her beautiful blue eyes blazed as she glared at Blake Leblanc.
Blake Leblanc glanced down at Lea Everett and spoke with indifference.
“I have business here, so let’s part ways.”
“Have you lost your mind?”
“That’s a matter of perspective.”
“I must be the one who’s lost it. It’s been so long since I’ve seen you—I forgot you were like this!”
Left without a carriage to return in, Lea Everett ground her teeth and reluctantly followed after Blake Leblanc, who had already begun walking ahead.
This was absolutely exasperating.
Whether Blake Leblanc didn’t hear her complaints or simply chose not to listen, he offered no response.
“Ian would never have done this.”
“Then you should go to him instead.”
“I’ve been swamped lately. I took over as head of the Diplomatic Corps from Edwin Crown Prince. The Magic Tower keeps demanding higher compensation for the protective spells they’ve maintained around the Royal Palace, so I’ve been dealing with that headache.”
“I see.”
“Your disinterest is painfully obvious.”
“Mm.”
It didn’t matter what Ian did or where he went—that wasn’t what concerned me.
I needed to keep my attention on the attendants quietly guiding me toward the unseen destination.
【Come now, to the world of magic】
And when we finally arrived at the shop, he pushed open the door without hesitation.
A bell chimed softly.
“Welcome!”
The cheerful greeting was short-lived—the shop owner recognized Blake and Lea at once, unable to hide their astonishment.
The appearance of the Leblanc heir and his unrequited love interest was quite the delicious gossip even among commoners.
With the owner’s eyes fixed upon him, Blake asked curtly.
“Have you seen a short-haired girl? Black hair, black eyes.”
“Yes, yes?”
“She was carrying a bear doll.”
“Ah!”
The owner, finally snapping to attention, nodded so vigorously their head nearly detached.
“Yes, yes indeed. She was just here. She had a rather yellowish bear doll, I believe.”
“What did she buy?”
“Nothing at all.”
The owner clicked their tongue, as if pained by the memory of Nix’s sorrowful expression.
“She was searching for an Arcanum, but the price was so steep she couldn’t afford it and left.”
“An Arcanum?”
“Ah, it’s a special stone capable of containing intangible forces—souls and such things. Astrologers and superstitious mages use them frequently.”
An Arcanum.
By the time he heard this much, Blake had already grasped the situation.
‘Vivian is searching for another means to store magical power.’
Did she need a separate vessel to hold the accumulated mana?
If she’d been searching so desperately, why hadn’t she told me sooner?
As his thoughts deepened, a murderous aura emanated from Blake.
The owner’s face went pale at the sight.
Worried that perhaps they’d somehow wronged the little mage, they stood tense—when Lea, who’d been watching from behind, suddenly jabbed him in the ribs.
“Stop scowling. You’re scaring them.”
“….”
Blake stepped back from Lea and moved forward abruptly. Still expressionless, but the oppressive atmosphere had lifted.
The shop owner experienced another revelation about the power of the Leblanc heir’s unrequited love interest.
“I’ll buy the Arcanum.”
The owner’s eyes widened, their fear forgotten as their mind raced with other thoughts.
The Witch’s eyes flew open as she snapped back to reality, suddenly remembering her fear.
“Really, truly?”
“Yes. Bill the Leblanc Duchy.”
“Thank you so much. However, since it’s such a precious item, we don’t keep it in the shop. Would it be alright to have it sent to the Mansion instead?”
“Do as you see fit.”
Blake stepped outside, leaving the proprietor bowing repeatedly in gratitude.
The sky was beginning to cloud over.
“Arcanum? Why did you buy that? And who is this girl you’re looking for? That bear doll she had—it’s yours, isn’t it?”
Lea’s cheerful barrage of questions fell on deaf ears. Blake’s breath caught as a chill raced up the nape of his neck.
A strange sensation crawling across his entire body was signaling danger.
“What is it? It seems noisier than before.”
“Lea.”
“Yes?”
Sensing the gravity in his low voice, Lea’s expression grew serious as well.
“Get in the carriage now and head straight to where the Guard Unit is stationed. Don’t stop for anything.”
“…A magical beast?”
“Go and alert the Guard Unit.”
“Understood.”
Blake bolted forward the moment he finished speaking.
His instincts were drawing him toward the magical beast. The shadows lying in wait around him followed in pursuit.
“…Find Nix and the bear doll.”
“As you command.”
The shadows vanished with that brief acknowledgment.
It wasn’t long before Blake reached a place saturated with the acrid stench of blood.
“Grrrrr…”
“Aaaahhhhh!”
His violet eyes darkened with intensity.
The Capital Square had become a hellscape.

—————

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

—————