Translator: Nox

Chapter 28

Episode 28

This guy is really insane.

"I've only imagined this until now."

Then why the hell are you imagining it?

Yesterday it was Yurta, now Rihart. What karma did I rack up in my previous life...

"I searched everywhere for you, maid, only to meet like this. It must be fate."

"......Isn't it a bad connection?"

"It's fate."

Maybe because I'd met Yurta, I had no desire to keep talking to someone who wouldn't listen.

By the way, wasn't he trying to kill me?

"......Why did you come looking for me?"

To kill me?

I thought I'd treated him pretty well, all things considered.

Swapping his dog bowl for a clean white plate, sharing my dessert, even providing the fun of peeling potatoes.

Suddenly recalling those days made me feel wronged.

"Are you going to kill me?"

With the situation pushed to the edge of a cliff like this, escape seemed impossible.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

"Kill you? Do you see me as someone who would kill you, maid?"

"......Then why did you come looking for me?"

"Because it's fate."

Someone, please punch that mouth.

I glared at the blabbering mouth with resentful eyes.

"If you look at me with such a heated gaze, my blood rushes."

"......Rushes where?"

"Down below."

Ah, this insane bastard.

I'd lost count of how many times I'd thought that today.

"I've come to take you with me, maid. Let's go together."

"If I had a choice, I'd refuse......"

"Unfortunately, no choice."

Then this is kidnapping!

I was already dying of injustice from transmigrating into a BL novel, and now getting kidnapped on top of it.

Suddenly, Emily who'd left me behind came to mind.

"Save me, Emily......"

I miss you, Emily. Where the hell did you go.

"Who's Emily?"

Rihart narrowed his brow and asked as I muttered dazedly.

"The one I shared the potato you gave me with."

"So you're saying you shared me with her just now?"

"......Shared what?"

What nonsense is this?

The more we talked, the more my head spun.

"How disappointing."

"......"

He smiled seeing my crumpled expression. This guy really...

"Then shall we go, maid?"

"......"

"I'd like to depart when you want, but sadly, we can't delay."

Despite planning to kidnap me, he politely extended his hand like a knight on a white horse.

His silver hair sparkled like glass powder under the sunlight, swaying in the breeze.

If it were just this scene, he'd be a perfect prince on a white horse...

I sighed again.

"What happens if I don't take this hand?"

If I took it, Arjen would definitely kill me.

Tears wouldn't even come anymore. I held back a burst of laughter and glared at Rihart.

I considered screaming, but knew it was pointless, so I didn't.

"Why do you think I'm being so polite to you, maid?"

"......"

Come quietly while I'm asking nicely?

"You're a necessary person to me."

Useful, you mean.

Necessary and useful meant the same yet felt entirely different.

"You didn't help with my escape, but I'll still give you wealth and glory."

"......How generous."

There was no way out.

Like swallowing mustard with tears, I took Rihart's hand.

Better to escape together and find an opportunity to slip away.

But then.

A long shadow fell over Rihart and me, who faced the sunlight directly.

I looked up as if possessed and met blood-red eyes.

A man holding a silver sword gleaming in the sunlight grinned distortedly.

"Are you running off with some strange man right in front of me, sister?"

The moment I met those blood-red eyes, I stared blankly, as if being sucked in.

Why is that guy here...?

I'd heard from Emily that one of the Hertas sons was coming, but I hadn't expected to run into him like this. It felt off-putting.

And horrific.

I'd hoped for the lesser evil, Dillon Hertas, but of all things, the sub-gong.

"Looks like an interloper appeared between us, maid."

What 'us'? I remember us being meal provider and eater. Aren't we done?

"I heard Evantes's monster escaped, and here it is. Capture it now and present it to the Marquis—he'll be pleased."

Saying that, the sharp tip of Yurta's sword pointed at Rihart's throat, as if ready to slice at any moment.

"Come this way, sister."

"Sister?"

Rihart looked at me as if asking what that meant, and I avoided Yurta's gaze as I replied.

"Looks like the young master had some daytime drinks again!"

"Aha."

Rihart nodded as if understanding, but he looked somewhat sullen.

"By the way, maid, what's with 'again'?"

And you're reacting to the weird parts too.

"You two seem like old acquaintances. I'm jealous."

"Don't say nonsense."

I clutched my throbbing head. Someone take these guys away.

"Sister, you look like you're having fun with that monster. Mingling with lowly things while I was away."

This one's mouth was no slouch either.

Rihart and Yurta glared at each other like beasts facing natural enemies.

Seeing that made me desperately miss Emily.

What is this, caught in a whale fight?

Unfortunately, no one was there to protect the shrimp. Honestly, even I'd gulp down a shrimp in one bite.

Anyway, the point wasn't that—now I had to protect myself.

While they were locked in a staring contest, I scanned the surroundings.

Looking for anything that could be a weapon, I spotted a large log at the base of a tree.

I sneaked toward it.

"Sister?"

"Maid?"

Both turned to look as I picked up the log and aimed it at them.

"Don't either of you come closer."

The log was quite heavy, making my arms tremble, but I pretended to be steadfast.

"What happens if we do, maid?"

"You still haven't grasped the gravity of the situation."

I snapped back at Rihart as sharply as possible.

"If you come, I'll smash your head with this right away."

How's that, scary?

I made a fierce face to intimidate them, but unfortunately, my opponents were gongs.

Their gazes toward me turned odd. 'What is this pathetic thing?' Exactly that look.

Like looking at a ridiculous rabbit... Damn it.

"Yes, sister. Hold it properly. If that monster comes, swing it right away."

"You're no exception."

Yurta made a hurt expression. As if he was really hurt.

I had to end this situation quickly.

Otherwise, my heart wouldn't hold out.

I glared at Rihart with the fiercest expression I could muster.

"The Marquis will soon come leading knights."

Probably...?

Truth be told, I wasn't sure either.

"So if you're going to run, better not take me. Unless you want to get recaptured trying to catch one rabbit."

I drew a clear line.

Of course, since he wasn't wearing Mana Shackles now, I wondered if he could even be subdued...

"You're quite underestimating me, maid."

At the ominous words, I widened my eyes as pure white energy swirled around Rihart.

Yurta frowned and aimed his sword tip at Rihart.

'No way, they want to fight right here?'

I slowly backed away. The best might be to slip out while these two fight.

As I glanced back,

"Sister!"

Yurta shouted urgently at me.

Startled, I turned to see Rihart had approached me before I knew it.

I hurriedly retreated, but it was futile.

"Got you."

Rihart's lips curved pleasantly.

And at that moment, something unbelievable—an astonishing event—occurred.