HPL 14

chapter 14

Instead of the fake smile he had shown until now, Wayne wore a raw, sharp grin.

“Your threatening skills could work even in a back alley.”

“Threatening? I just showed you the proper way to curse.”

“Oh? That wasn’t a threat? Then really threaten me. I want to see how it’s done.”

If he wanted to see, I’d show him.

I narrowed my eyes and spoke in a menacing, dry tone.

“Do you think someone who would go down after a single hit should be flapping their mouth like that? Did you want to let me know that your brain has holes since your mouth does? Foolish as it is, maybe your innocent head will improve if it faces a little punishment, so let’s see.”

Wayne flopped onto the table, his shoulders trembling.

Jack and Tom, who were a little farther away, jumped up and clapped loudly. Even Roy let out a low chuckle.

After this went on for a while, I spoke in the same tone I had used while threatening him.

“Enough.”

The moment I said this, Wayne sat up. The others, as if nothing had happened, also got up and approached the table we were at.

“Since you showed something interesting, I suppose I should tell you an interesting fact as well? About the person who targeted you, the one who bought Roy, and someone I truly dislike.”

Wayne removed the smile from his face and spoke seriously. I leaned forward, and Roy also watched Wayne with narrowed eyes.

Seeing our serious expressions, Wayne exhaled deeply before speaking.

“Who could it be? Try to guess.”

I snapped my fingers, and the bouquet in the vase floated into the air.

“Think getting hit with flowers won’t hurt?”

As soon as I finished speaking, the bouquet swung diagonally. The air pressure from the swinging flowers made our bangs flutter.

As the bouquet approached, Wayne leaned back and asked,

“Can I use a god-given power to slap someone?”

“Then should I hit your solar plexus? A vase is better than flowers for that…”

“Alright! I’ll tell you! You don’t understand the thrill of a suspenseful mystery.”

Wayne pouted and muttered, so I returned the bouquet to the vase.

I should have done that earlier.

I gave him a look urging him to speak, and Wayne looked toward the seat where Countess McCullin had been sitting.

“Countess McCullin.”

Wayne called the person he had just referred to as his mother “Countess McCullin.” The eyes that had been filled with affection moments ago had turned cold.

“I heard you and the Countess get along well.”

I said, and Wayne let out a sarcastic laugh.

“Get along? Of course. To the point where we almost tried to kill each other.”

Not just ‘want to kill’—he said ‘tried to kill’? Diana’s family is complicated, but this is worse. A complete mess.

“The slave traders said that woman was a regular customer. If she bought that many slaves, there would have been rumors. And besides, the voice I heard from her just now didn’t match my memory of her voice.”

As Roy tried to recall, Wayne shrugged lightly.

“She’s not someone who leaves traces easily. The slaves she buys seem to be taken somewhere only she and her henchmen know. And she probably used a voice-altering magical tool when buying them.”

Hearing this unexpected explanation, I recalled Countess McCullin.

Was her kind and considerate appearance just a mask?

Roy also became quiet, comparing the woman he remembered to Countess McCullin.

Meanwhile, Wayne revealed another fact.

“The maids you saw earlier seem ordinary, right? I don’t know how she trained them, but they’ll kill if she orders it. The only easy target in this house is the foolish Count.”

It seemed that Wayne held no good feelings toward the Count, not just the Countess.

Wayne extended his right hand, inviting someone to shake it. A question arose in my mind.

“Before answering, I want to ask—why are you giving us such detailed information about the Countess?”

“If you wanted to recruit us, it would’ve been better not to mention the Countess is in danger.”

Roy, sharing similar doubts, also questioned.

Wayne looked at us with a meaningful expression.

“To catch a lion, you need to bring in another lion. If it were someone else, you could lure in a rabbit as bait. But that woman isn’t someone who would fall for a shallow trick.”

So knowing what kind of person the Countess is, being scared of her would just be a hindrance.

Once the doubt was cleared, I glanced at Roy.

We couldn’t just stand by if Countess McCullin tried to kill Diana again. Before saving the world, we had to save ourselves first. But what about Roy?

Roy’s gaze was calm, with no trace of fear. Seeing this, I felt I knew his answer.

As expected, Roy neither fled nor hesitated.

“I won’t be bound to that woman for my whole life.”

“Hm, I can’t leave someone who might try to kill me alive. This body is precious.”

I tapped my right shoulder with my left hand as I spoke.

This isn’t just about Diana. If her body dies, we won’t be able to prevent the world’s destruction.

Wayne didn’t look surprised or happy at our answer. Instead, he smiled as if he had expected it.

But Tom and Jack were overjoyed.

“It’s good that you two are allies. Keep teaching Wayne a lesson from now on too.”

“No one treats Wayne like you two do. Keep it up.”

When Wayne started humming, the two quickly changed their words.

“Please take care of Wayne!”

“Wayne isn’t so bad once you get to know him. Please take care of him!”

Roy and I hid in the bushes, watching ahead sharply. Through the small leaves, we could see Judy.

After Judy laced the food with rat poison, we were looking for a connection between her and Countess McCullin.

However, Judy didn’t mention the Countess’s name, even by accident. Instead, she was busy following a man.

Even now, Judy hid behind a pillar, watching the man brush her hair.

“Marc, right?”

Roy whispered, and I nodded.

“Yeah. The new coachman who arrived recently.”

Unaware that we were spying from the bushes, Judy cupped her cheeks with both hands.

“When Grandpa Marc suddenly fell ill and said his grandson was coming, I didn’t think much. But he turned out to be this handsome…”

She was smitten. Of course, Judy wasn’t the only one taken with Marc.

As Judy followed Marc, we naturally got more chances to observe him. Over several days, we saw that the other maids were also enchanted by his neat appearance and kind personality.

Marc finished brushing the horse and lightly patted its neck.

“Shall we go now?”

Marc spoke to the horse, but Judy, enchanted, followed him.

We, crouching behind the bushes, quickly got up. Judy chased Marc, and we chased Judy—a strange relay of pursuit.

But just as we tried to leave the bushes, Roy suddenly spun his body. With his left hand, he grabbed something and swung his right leg.

Then we heard a dull thud. Turning quickly, we saw Tom on the grass, his mouth covered, lying face down.

Huh? Why is Tom here? After shaking hands with Wayne, Tom and Jack had left the mansion.

Roy frowned as he looked at Tom’s face.

“What are you doing here? Why are you sneaking up on us?”

Roy’s red eyes glowed coldly, and Tom frantically flailed his hands. Was he signaling he couldn’t speak because his mouth was covered?

Roy was impressive. In that short time, he had covered the person’s mouth and knocked them down.

No wonder Jack, a few steps away, raised his arms as if claiming he hadn’t done anything.

Roy removed his hand from Tom’s mouth but still held him down as if warning not to act rashly.

Once free, Tom sheepishly said,

“I came to get some lunch.”

“Lunch?”

I blinked in disbelief, and Roy murmured, narrowing his eyes.

“You snuck into a noble house just for lunch?”

“Noble food is surprisingly good, even if ordinary. I thought I might get some, and when I came, you two were hiding behind the bushes. I wanted to surprise you…”

Tom scratched his head and smiled awkwardly. There was no hidden motive.

{And yet you still work in the underworld. Sneaking in just for lunch…}

Tommy echoed my thoughts.

Seems the underworld is really desperate for talent these days.

I glanced beyond the bushes. Judy and Marc were already gone.

Our stomachs twisted with hunger as mealtime approached.

“Alright. Humans will die if they don’t eat, so let’s start with a meal.”

“You don’t have to agree so dramatically.”

Jack, perhaps fearing Roy would snap at him too, kept his arms raised. Tom pouted and protested.

“What are you saying? Like the lady said, humans die if they don’t eat!”

Roy found it amusing and let Tom go. Tom jumped up, and I gave a bitter smile.

“I’ll get the food. Roy, take them to the annex first.”

“Got it.”

Roy led the way, with Tom and Jack following, chatting casually.

But Roy answered them curtly and kept a distance.

Seeing Roy show no leniency, Tommy shrugged.

{Roy still doesn’t give anyone an opening. Yet strangely, he listens well to Lady Naida.}

Hmm? Really?

I tilted my head in curiosity as my stomach twisted again, heading to the kitchen.

Upon entering, the maids immediately began preparing food like well-trained soldiers.

Their movements and glances conveyed the message: “They’re really eating well. Did a glutton possess them?”

They probably thought they hid their emotions well. Still, since they provided plenty of food, I let it slide.

Carrying the food back to the room, Tom and Jack greeted me.

“After eating here for a few days, eating mom’s food feels unbearable.”

“My mother cooks quite creatively.”

The two eyed the piles of food on the tray, salivating.

I noticed they both said “mother.”

“Mother?”

“The woman who raised Wayne. Since we were eleven, she cared for us, so we call her mother. Though independent now, she sometimes brings us food.”

Jack spoke gently, and Tom smiled faintly. Though they complained about almost dying from eating her food, it was clear they liked her a lot.

I became curious about the person who raised Wayne, Jack, and Tom. Would I have a chance to meet her someday?

I quietly ate with the others. After finishing, Tom and Jack played around for a while before leaving, promising to return tomorrow at lunchtime.

Roy looked toward the window they left through and murmured,

“They’re coming again tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow? I think they’ll come every day for a while.”

I smiled.

Though we had just met Tom and Jack under unusual circumstances, their casual manner made it feel like we had known them for a long time.

“It’s going to be lively.”

Roy frowned but didn’t emit the cold aura he had when we first met the two.

Their noisy yet cheerful energy seemed to loosen Roy’s guard slightly. But when a knock sounded, his vigilance returned.

As Roy hid behind the curtain, I quickly approached the door.

Who could it be? Almost no one comes to the annex after the evil spirit orb is set.