Male Lead, Don’t Follow Me! - Chapter 9

***

“This is driving me crazy!”

I jumped out of bed without having slept a wink and pulled at my hair.

How is it possible that the more I try to solve the situation, the more tangled it becomes?

After rolling around in agony on the bed, I finally stopped when I fell to the floor.

A sigh escaped involuntarily.

“Ah, what should I do!”

Think hard.

I tapped the floor with my fingers and rolled my eyes.

“First of all, there’s nothing I can do in this situation.”

If he says he saw me in the forbidden forest, everything would be over.

But it was also impossible to tell Serhin the truth.

No matter how many hypotheses I set up and simulated, I couldn’t find an answer.

Tomorrow, they’ll start the full-scale investigation.

Given the circumstances…… I have no choice but to stay by her side and prevent contact with Duke Bishwaltz.

‘The day my parents find out, it won’t end with just confinement.’

I took out the magic potion I had been saving and whimpered. This is so expensive…….

I, who had created traces of magical beasts, had also prepared a repellent potion to eliminate them.

I made it using expensive ingredients as written in the Magical Beast encyclopedia, and it turned out exactly like the one in the book, so it was successful.

‘If I do this, I should be able to participate.’

Although my magical power is weak and I can’t summon spirits, I might be able to join the investigation if I can be of help.

I had to stick by Ephelia’s side no matter what.

***

On the day of the investigation, as expected, the spirit summoners gathered. Everyone looked at me with pitying eyes when I showed up after saying I couldn’t attend.

‘Yes, I know. You didn’t even bother looking for me.’

Since everyone knew my abilities, I had to endure the glances that seemed to say, ‘Why did she even come?’

It would be easier on my heart to just say I’m sick and not go, but I need to live on.

I saw Ephelia, who was exuding a colder aura than anyone else.

“Ephelia!”

“You came? Will you be alright?”

“Of course, I brought plenty of potions.”

Ephelia smiled with a gentle gaze. Feeling at ease with her presence, I started looking around for Duke Bishwaltz.

‘He’ll surely be at the front, so we can take the rear.’

“Ephelia, let’s search from this side.”

I hurriedly tugged at Ephelia’s sleeve.

There were no traces of me from that day. No one would know I had been there since I went unnoticed. But I knew where I had marked the magical beasts.

“Shall we? It would be safer to stick together.”

She moved with me, considering that I couldn’t handle spirits.

Good, everything’s going according to plan so far.

There were fewer encounters with Bishwaltz than expected, and everyone was focused on finding traces of magical beasts.

‘But why is he strangely sticking to people?’

Bishwaltz’s behavior was somewhat odd.

If he came to investigate, shouldn’t he be searching the forest, examining the ground and trees?

But he seemed lost in thought, gazing at people one by one around him.

“Oh, haven’t you heard the rumor?”

Aileen, who was participating in the investigation together, lowered her voice and said.

“They say in the forbidden forest, if you speak the truth, it can be heard, but if it’s a lie, it can’t be heard.”

“……That’s the first I’ve heard of it?”

This is how terrifying rumors are. Even things that aren’t true get inflated and grow uncontrollably as if they were facts.

‘What am I going to do?’

I dug at the innocent ground with a tearful expression.

“You know that rumor that’s been going around. Actually, I was too embarrassed to tell you guys.”

Ephelia whispered to me, who had slumped shoulders and a gloomy expression.

“What’s wrong?”

“Ah, I can’t find any traces of magical beasts……”

I brushed it off, but she seemed to believe my words at face value.

They said they’d give a reward if we made achievements in today’s investigation.

‘What’s the use? I won’t be able to receive that reward anyway.’

I knew where the traces of magical beasts were, but I couldn’t step forward.

It was obvious that everyone would be suspicious if I, with barely any spirit power, claimed to have found traces.

“That’s not what’s important. Did you understand what I said?”

I immediately caught on to Aileen’s words.

I just didn’t want to confirm it.

‘This is absolutely unsalvageable.’

Aileen didn’t seem to notice me digging the ground as if I was going to bore through to the bottom.

She leaned in and continued in a small voice.

“So, about Duke Bishwaltz……”

“Right, you mean it’s true.”

I slumped down on the ground. Aileen’s tone was truly convinced.

She quickly put her index finger to her lips.

The bewilderment and confusion evident in Ephelia’s expression mirrored my own.

But I couldn’t say anything.

If I were to refute it, it would raise suspicion, and even if I tried to change the subject, it seemed everyone had already accepted it as fact.

“Well, I guess it’s fortunate. There must be others who think like me, right?”

Aileen said, clasping her hands together as if regretful.

If I can’t have him, no one should. Is that the kind of sentiment?

“D-Does His Grace know about this?”

“I don’t think he knows yet. They say some people went to hint at it, but he didn’t show any reaction.”

“I see……”

I’m sorry, Your Grace.

I apologized inwardly while watching Bishwaltz examining the forest from afar.

‘But it’s really strange, isn’t it?’

Bishwaltz still seemed more interested in people than in the forest.

His behavior, which showed no concern for the forest from the start, made me uneasy.

“Wait here for a moment. I’ll go over there for a bit.”

I told Ephelia and quickly approached Bishwaltz.

He was seriously conversing with the residents.

“Um, Duke Bishwaltz?”

The Duke ignored my words and focused on what the people were saying.

As there was no need to go against his mood, I stood quietly beside him.

“Recently, I haven’t heard the sound.”

“Was the voice thin? How was it?”

I thought it might be about magical beasts, but the questions seemed somewhat odd.

“Hmm….. I don’t think it was deep. It might have been quite clear?”

“I see. How often did you hear it before?”

“In the past, I think I heard it faintly about twice a week.”

“Thank you.”

The Duke listened to them and began taking notes diligently.

Glancing at his notebook, I saw characteristics of the voice, such as pitch and tone, written down.

‘Is this really about finding magical beasts?’

Something’s off. Things are definitely going wrong.

“Um, Your Grace, are you looking for someone? The notes seem like… you’re searching for a person.”

I asked him discreetly.

But at this moment, my heart was pounding as if it would burst.

If the Duke found me suspicious if he harbored any doubts……

“I’ve found someone I really want to find.”

“Is it a personal matter?”

“……You seem to have a lot of curiosity about me.”

I do.

Because it would be troublesome if I’m the one you’re looking for!

Why are you doing something else when you’re in charge of the magical beast investigation?

“You don’t seem interested in the magical beast investigation.”

“Your name is….. Kiara Lowell.”

He glanced at the name tag on my chest.

I gulped at Bishwaltz’s sharp voice.

If I probe any further, he’ll really find me suspicious.

I took a step back and shrugged.

“Well, maybe I could be of help?”

“It seems better for you to go help the spirit summoners.”

The Duke was quite prickly.

It’s an unavoidable tactical retreat. I nodded and was about to turn around.

“I suppose it’s because of the rumors going around these days.”

But who am I? I didn’t miss the chance to throw out a comment that might intrigue him slightly.

“……You know about it too?”

“Well, it’s a famous story in social circles these days.”

Got it! He took the bait!

I composed my expression as much as possible and turned to face the Duke.

His brow furrowed slightly, and he let out a sigh.

“It seems someone is very interested in me. That’s why I’m trying to find them.”

Uh…… Did I ask unnecessarily?

I scratched my head and smiled awkwardly.

Bishwaltz spoke with eyes full of determination to catch them no matter what.

Seeing the paper in his hand crumple slightly, my mouth went dry.

I think I shouldn’t have brought this up.

“They seem to know very well about things even I don’t know.”

It can’t be that much.

I slightly averted my gaze from Bishwaltz’s piercing eyes.

I think it’s better to go back now.

“I-I think I should go back now.”

Glancing behind, I saw the spirit summoners busily searching for traces.

I awkwardly pointed at them and turned to leave.

“Didn’t you come because you were curious about what I was doing?”

He seemed suspicious of my approach and didn’t seem willing to let me go easily.

‘Damn it, that’s why I’m asking why you’re not searching for magical beasts and doing something else!’

Now that I knew who he was looking for, staying with him would only be disadvantageous for me.

“Ah… um. I was, but now my curiosity has completely disappeared. How dare I question what Your Grace is doing. Hahaha.”