Thought It Was ‘The End’, Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 40

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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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Chapter 8. Find the Real Villain (2)

 

Lucian calmly opened the door and entered.

 

His attitude of being comfortable and confident anywhere, as if it were his own home, had never been as annoying as it was today.

 

“You didn’t come even when I called all this time.”

 

“There was something like an evil spirit attached to your side.”

 

“…Evil spirit is a bit much.”

 

Lucian raised his eyebrows and grinned wickedly.

 

“You’re still saying such things?”

 

He sat on the sofa, crossed his legs, and spoke while looking at her teasingly.

 

“Even after seeing the true nature of your ‘kind fiancé.'”

 

“Well, yeah, I saw it…”

 

“How ridiculous it was every time you called him kind.”

 

This bastard was like this. Edelaine sighed deeply and shook her head.

 

‘Still, he comes when I call him…’

 

Actually, she thought Lucian wouldn’t come.

 

Edelaine thought her connection with Lucian had ended that day five years ago.

 

Lucian was a man who held clear grudges.

 

Edelaine had used information from the novel to put Lucian in her debt.

 

It was information she could never have found out if it weren’t for the novel.

 

‘It was the same with picking up Lloyd.’

 

If she hadn’t known in advance when, how, where, and what would happen to Lucian, Edelaine would never have been able to meet him.

 

Edelaine had guessed that Lucian found this suspicious. But she had no words to explain, so she had been vaguely evading the topic. Lucian also didn’t dig into the parts Edelaine deliberately didn’t mention. They called each other friends, but their relationship was shallow without depth.

 

For example, they were closer to colleagues who had worked on a major project together. More precisely, they were like a client who gave orders and a subcontractor.

 

That’s why she thought there would be no reason to meet him again after five years when her business was finished. There was also that reason why she had let his complaints go in one ear and out the other after their reunion.

 

She had never thought of it as a relationship to continue for long.

 

There was no reason to contact him, and no reason for him to wait for contact, so why would she need to sincerely apologize for going silent?

 

Nevertheless, Lucian came.

 

As he said, even with the evil spirit-like Shane attached to her, if he came to meet her by finding an opportunity, it meant he was still worth expecting. Whatever he thought of her, at least he still seemed to see her as a customer worth doing business with.

 

‘Even when Shane isn’t around, I need Lucian’s help to move secretly. If I get confined every time something happens, I won’t be able to find the mage, let alone do anything. I thought about asking Jeff oppa for help, but seeing now, he’s in cahoots with Shane…’

 

Of course, asking Lucian for cooperation was scary.

 

She had no debts to him now, so she didn’t know what he would demand as payment.

 

But even assuming the worst, what more could happen than human trafficking? Anyway, selling her not-so-healthy organs would only get her pocket change.

 

“Lucian, help me.”

 

“No.”

 

“…”

 

Her hopeful thoughts were instantly shattered.

 

“Why! You came all the way here! If you weren’t going to help, why did you come!”

 

Lloyd’s gaze, looking at her like she was the most shameless person in the world, stung. Regardless, Edelaine decided to be bold. Originally, boldness and shamelessness are separated by a paper-thin difference.

 

However, Lucian didn’t bat an eye.

 

“I came to see the face of the idiot who ran away without knowing what she had raised.”

 

“You’ve seen my face before.”

 

“That was when I didn’t know anything. I was curious if you’d be more miserable after knowing everything.”

 

“Anyway, this guy and that guy all just want me to be unhappy.”

 

Should I put on a wailing show sometime, damn it.

 

“In that sense, I’m disappointed. You’re more intact than I thought.”

 

“Sorry to disappoint you.”

 

“There’s nothing to apologize for.”

 

Lucian rested his arm on the armrest and propped his chin. His light brown hair slightly covered his pale face, making his already ambiguous expression even more unreadable. When Edelaine looked at him sideways, he smirked.

 

“I don’t want to help, but I might be able to hang out with you a little.”

 

“For how much?”

 

“When you asked for help, you didn’t care about money, but now you’re worried about it?”

 

“Playing with you costs more than helping. Jeff oppa is paying for it, but what if he goes bankrupt because of me…”

 

Lucian, who looked at her as if she worried about the strangest things, burst out laughing with a “puhaha.”

 

‘Anyway, he’s like a nine-tailed fox.’

 

Eyes that bewitch people must refer to something like that. Edelaine knew what kind of ‘character’ Lucian was, so her heart wasn’t swayed, but most people, regardless of gender, would fall for it. Once you fall into that, there’s no answer. It was a swamp you shouldn’t even dip your toes into from the beginning.

 

Lucian judges people’s worth by how interesting they are. His calculations are also thorough. In his world, there are only fun and numbers.

 

That’s why Edelaine was comfortable with Lucian.

 

If you don’t expect affection, he could even give something like comfort in return for nonsense.

 

‘It’s similar to talking to an AI… Even the competent part is similar…’

 

Lucian said.

 

“Fine. For a while, on credit.”

 

“Wow, that’s scary…”

 

“From what I can see, you seem capable of letting me vent my resentment for having my face trampled by military boots. Well, just the fact that you told only me what you didn’t tell your parents or siblings would be enough to turn my stomach.”

 

“What did I tell only you. …Curses?”

 

“Did you curse?”

 

“…Only in my mind.”

 

This bastard can read minds too.

 

***

 

Lloyd took charge of seeing Lucian off. Edelaine tried to follow but was stopped.

 

“If you want to let your family know that you called me, I won’t stop you.”

 

“Ah, goodbye. I won’t go far.”

 

Lucian and Lloyd were the type who could go anywhere they wanted and couldn’t be found if they wanted to hide. No matter how thorough the surveillance, avoiding people’s eyes was easier than breathing for them.

 

“Please deliver what I asked for through Lloyd soon, I’m counting on you.”

 

Edelaine said she would go to sleep now and slipped into the bedroom. The remaining Lucian muttered.

 

“Really, how petty.”

 

“While my master does have such aspects, it’s not to the level of receiving criticism from you, Lucian.”

 

“You’ve learned to sound quite like a loyal dog.”

 

“…”

 

Lloyd frowned as if he had heard the greatest insult of his life. Lucian laughed brightly because he found it amusing. If Edelaine had seen it, it would have been a face that would make her recoil in horror again.

 

“Is Edelaine trying to run away again? That would be interesting.”

 

“Would you cooperate then?”

 

“Well… It would be fun. Just imagining it makes my neck feel chilly.”

 

Since it was said by someone who regularly risked their life for the sake of interest, it seemed quite likely.

 

“You’re quite lenient with my master. Uncharacteristically so.”

 

“What do you know about me?”

 

“I have ears and eyes, so I hear what I should hear and see what I should see.”

 

“You speak well. I should have raised you from the start.”

 

Lucian curved his fox-like eyes and looked Lloyd up and down.

 

“You were the one who abandoned me first, Lucian.”

 

“You should speak properly. I dropped you off a cliff telling you to climb up, and Edelaine quickly picked you up.”

 

“…”

 

“I won’t tell her that you were originally a child I raised, so don’t be so afraid.”

 

Lloyd didn’t answer, but the meaning behind his sharpened dark brown eyes was clear. Lucian chose to back down instead of needlessly provoking the servant Edelaine cherished.

 

Lloyd was generally docile, but showed quite sensitive reactions regarding the past.

 

He didn’t want Edelaine to find out. That he had learned how to kill people from Lucian.

 

‘She seemed to know everything though.’

 

Lucian shrugged. Whether the kid was wandering or worrying wasn’t his concern. Especially if it was something useless.

 

But regarding Edelaine, he had been curious about something for a long time.

 

How on earth could the beloved youngest daughter of the Viscountess know the affairs of ‘this side’ as clearly as if looking at the palm of her hand?

 

Without knowing something, that girl couldn’t have appeared in the alley as if she had been waiting for it.

 

She seemed to know everything, yet also seemed to know nothing at all.

 

At least the young girl who had come to the dark alley without knowing fear clearly didn’t properly understand what the man who had extended his pale, soft hand to her truly was.

 

So she would extend her hand to him again.

 

What on earth could be inside that head of hers?

 

Lucian liked things that were fun. He liked things that were interesting, and he hated things that were boring. He’d rather die than live boringly, and no life was too precious to sacrifice for satisfying his curiosity. His curiosity about Edelaine still hadn’t been satisfied.

 

Lucian hummed a tune as he melted into the darkness.

 

While recalling a certain day from 5 years ago.

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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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