Translator and Editor: Skye and Einna

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Chapter 21

✦

Lucian tied up his horse and jumped into the maze forest.

It was hard to see in this labyrinth of darkness, but it wasn’t hard for him to navigate.

—Not that way. Go left.

It was because there was an existence guiding him. Of course, he wasn’t naive enough to let him know he needed him that much.

—What do you do when you train? Your training can’t be used in practice… tsk tsk.

—…

—You’re not answering again. Anyway, a guy who can’t do anything without me is being stubborn. I don’t know why you are my descendant, but you are being obvious.

Shortly after Enzo’s words ended, flames were created around Lucian.

His magic flame was black, not red like a normal flame.

Due to the wizard’s influence, he could also use a variety of stronger magics, but they all contained black magic, and so it emitted an ominous feeling.

The side effect was that Lucian could not taste his food properly for a long time, and the average person could not easily come near him.

The only exception was Rachel.

Anyway, with Enzo’s help, Lucian was able to safely enter the maze forest.

“Rachel…”

Lucian let Enzo do as he pleased this time.

Normally, Enzo couldn’t interfere without Lucian’s permission.

He doesn’t know what others similar to him would be like, but Lucian was able to prevent his ancestors’ interference by his own volition.

However, sometimes a strong feeling was conveyed to him, so he also became well aware of Rachel’s existence.

Enzo was a little excited by the fresh air he hadn’t breathed in for a while.

This frustrating descendant has usually refused to allow any interference from him because of his obsessive tendencies.

Sometimes he could wiggle his way into his mind and say a word or two, but it didn’t ever last long.

He also had a strange feeling. Enzo was the first black wizard in the Empire and he could basically do whatever he wanted, and yet he couldn’t control one little kid.

Even if he had the power of the dead.

Lucian moved as Enzo instructed.

He found Rachel’s energy by easily tapping into the intricately woven wavelengths of mana.

—From here, go to the right.

Lucian seemed weighed down by the maze forest’s energy, for the first time since he came in.

He can’t believe his sister was in a place like this. His mouth dried up because he felt like he had to find her as soon as possible.

His stomach was bursting in frustration, but he suppressed it silently.

Sensibly aware of his feelings, Enzo grinned and recited.

—You’re so nervous. You really seem like you like that kid huh?

—…Shut up.

—You shouldn’t talk to me like that now… should I just stop here?

Lucian’s face crumpled by his threatening words.

Normally, he would have pushed him out, but now he’s the one who’s making him frustrated.

—Please… find her quickly.

Enzo replied cheerfully as if he was elated to speak with him who had an unusually morose voice.

—That’s right.

Lucian, depending on him, took a step forward, worrying about Rachel who was beyond this dark expanse.

✦

“Gasp!”

I couldn’t even run away from him while I slept. The madman followed me into my dreams and harassed me.

“Argh! This is so annoying, really!”

I felt annoyed for no reason.

I didn’t worry about dying because I firmly believed that I would definitely survive because I knew how the original narrative went.

Instead, I was worried about how to deal with that lunatic in the future.

There was a reason why the original novel said that human trash was equivalent to the submale lead. Among those trash, he was definitely the booger king.

He had a lot of power.

He was no match for the Duke of Leon’s power, but he reigned over the underworld with comparable power.

And the world behind him was lawless.

It was a place that did a lot of things against the laws of the Empire, so it is ambiguous how they would approach and harass people.

There were also various ways he used to approach Noah in the original plot.

He had used various methods to suit his title of madman, including threats, pleas, coaxing and resentment tactics.

“But I guess the reason it wasn’t that big of a story component is because he’s the trashiest of all the trash submale leads.”

I spoke to myself and nodded. Then, I heard a sighing sound that seemed to sympathize with me.

“Hmm… Yep, it’s really you.”

Huh? Wait, who are you?

Having just woken up, I had completely forgotten about the man who was holding me until just before I collapsed.

“Master, you really have forgotten me.”

“Why have you been calling me master since…”

I was so stressed out that I tried to argue by turning my head around.

When I saw the person reflected in my eyes, I couldn’t help but open my mouth wide.

Did I just open my mouth agape? I covered my eyes with my hands.

Because it was so blinding. This was like my bias.

It’s like the feeling I get with my favorite, and he was so…

Wait, how come he looked so familiar?

“No way…”

“Now you recognize me?”

The man lying who squatted by my bedside had a familiar color and appearance.

He had white hair, as if it was born from the snow reflecting sunlight, and it almost looked translucent.

Not to mention, he had a white face and clear red eyes, and an elegant black beauty mark was stamped under his thick lips.

There was a mole right under his lips. He must be a blessing to watch while he ate.(e/n: basically that she thinks watching him eat would be attractive because he has a mole by his lips)

It was such an unrealistic beautiful appearance that I was lost in thought.

“What else are you thinking about? There are a lot of times when you look kind of dazed.”

But I quickly came to my senses, shouting out with a booming voice because I was surprised.

“Doggy!”

“Hey! Don’t call me by that name!”

Yes, he was a sub-male lead, a man with a beautiful appearance that is completely different from most of the boogers!

It was a rare weirdo, that white fox shapeshifter.

“Ah, really! Please change my name!”

While looking at him irritatingly, I found a familiar choker around his neck.

As expected, it must not have been solved yet. No, more than that…

“Are you staying here alone?”

I let you live freely, but you’re hanging out in such a dangerous place.

Wasn’t it hard? But, well, since he was a fox, was there any other place for him other than this? Since no one is coming here to search for him. Well, there are some people who can’t come anyway, but…

“It would have been hard for me to adapt all by myself.”

“What, have you already made a family?”

“What are you talking about!”

Why are you so angry? A fox shapeshifter can live with another pretty fox.

Or probably not, so I asked him with a nonchalant look.

“Then who are you with… Damien?”

“Why is he the only one with a nice name? I’d like to change my name, mung, mung!”

Squatting down, he jumped up and down.

As expected of a shapeshifter, this fox.

He jumped up so high.

“Master, please change my name!”

But why does he still call me his master?

“I’m not your master anymore.”

I said calmly and hopped up.

Why do you think a fox might run around like a rabbit?

I thought he became an adult at night, but now he’s not. He still looked like a lanky and super thin teenager.

Well, it’s been a little over two years since we split up, right?

“I feel so wronged.”

Then he began to munch on something and ramble about his thoughts.

“I didn’t mean to take the boar with me. I was being chased, too! How am I supposed to stop a huge mad beast running at me? You also saw his size then too! Was I big enough to stop him? So what am I supposed to do? Of course, I had to trust my master and run back to you. But you misunderstood and thought that I brought it over on purpose? Isn’t that too much, huh? Once a master, they must be a master forever! You’re making me look like an idiot, huh? Easy, huh?”

Hey, was he supposed to be this talkative?

He’s way too talkative.

“…Why is it that it’s easy for you to throw things away?”

Huh. Huh?

No, don’t cry!

I’m really weak at crying handsome people. I can’t look at you!

As Doggy was talking, he began to tear up as he remembered the events of that time.

Soon, he was in tears.

“How can a master’s l-love change so fast, to t-turn me away like that…”

He must have been really sad.

Doggy’s shaking legs that were gathered altogether as he crouched looked more pitiful, he looked more sad and felt even more insignificant than I had ever imagined.

Oh, he is so silly. He’s so cute. Isn’t that crazy?

And every time he spoke, his fangs I saw reminded me that he really is a fox.

Tak, tak.

Every time the upset fox shed large tears that rolled down, a strange sound was heard.

I looked at the floor for some reason, and some beads were falling off of him. I picked up a bead.

It looked like a pearl, but it was the first time I saw a jewel that was more transparent and milky white.

I went around with the Duke and saw some jewels from time to time but I’ve never seen anything like this before. What kind of jewel was this?

I looked away from the beads, and Doggy lifted his eyes up and stared at me.

“Take responsibility, master!”

“Eh?”

“Take responsibility for me till the end!”

“…It’s not up to me.”

“You have to take responsibility for this collar and help me get it off! How am I supposed to solve this?”

“No, that’s true, but once the Duke allows…”

That necklace wasn’t the point. If you come back to the Duchy, you might die.

The Duke was a man who would do that in a heartbeat.

Holding a bead, Doggy said triumphantly to me while blinking innocently.

“That’s a very rare gem. You can get more if you keep me. What do you think?”

“Huh?”

“It’s hard to sell because it’s not something that can be seen by the normal public, and it’s rare for a fox shapeshifter to produce such a transparent, and milky color.”

The way he raised his chin with a triumphant expression was just like when he brought a wild boar to me.

“Are you sure you were chased by that wild boar? You looked so proud of yourself.”

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