I Became a Villain who Receives Obsession

70 – Homecoming (3)

“ah… .”

A woman’s sigh rose in the silence.

A boy looking up at me with bright eyes, and a woman with a worried look on her face with her hands on Kaz’s shoulders.

‘Karina.’

As written on the nameplate, she was Karina, Kaz’s mother.

It was hard to think of her as a mother with a child at all.

A beige one-piece dress that reached down to her ankles and a navy blue cardigan that hung loosely was something that would be seen anywhere in a new city.

It is a completely different outfit than before, when she was wearing old, shabby, rags.

“I-over there… .”

At Karina’s call, I regained my sanity after staring at her for a long time.

I couldn’t control my gaze at the maturity that I felt almost for the first time after coming here.

After clearing my throat, I recited the line I had in mind.

“Is this Kaz’s house?”

When the name Kazu came out of my mouth, Karina instantly flinched.

He pulls Kazu in front of him and starts to be on guard.

“No, that’s right… . Lord.”

You call me the lord here.

I’ve never had a conversation with the residents, so it feels awkward to be called a lord like this.

“I became a count. Aren’t you trying to pretend to be a lord now?”

It’s not Altain, and I don’t intend to get drunk with a sense of authority.

I quickly checked the state of Karina, who continued to look down and did not make eye contact, and Kaz, who was looking at them in confusion.

It’s not a welcome guest, and if I spend more time here, it’ll be uncomfortable there.

There is no visible trauma, and the face is also alive.

There are houses in good condition, and Mene’s system seems to be running well.

“Has there been any suspicious people on the street lately at night?”

“questionable… Person… you mean?”

“yes. Or that demons appear.”

“… Nope. There was no such thing.”

“Right.”

It seems that there is no concern about the security of the town.

My body looks good too.

What is there to do?

“… .”

“Mom, why? Who is this older brother?”

“Ka, Kaz. be quiet… I’ll tell you later… .”

‘Has Kaz never seen Altane?’

To be honest, rather than saying that they are mother and child, they look more like brother and sister.

She doesn’t take care of herself, but Karina’s appearance that stands out among most people combined with Karina’s mature beauty continued to stimulate my gaze.

I feel like my heart suddenly warms up.

When a beautiful jewel fell on the floor, what should I do?

Should I pile leaves around the jewelry to keep it from getting dirty?

Shall we build barriers to prevent people from passing by?

‘… or not.’

or not

Shall I make it my own so as not to get dirty?

match-

“permanent residence… Bae, Count?”

“It is nothing. I’m glad to hear there’s nothing wrong with it. Let’s just go.”

My cheeks are tingling.

Did you hit me too hard

I unknowingly slapped my cheek at the momentary thought of danger.

Because of the influence of the Altane lineage, there were times when I had thoughts that were different from my intentions.

I hurriedly put on my hood and got out of Karina’s house.

After taking a rough look around the outside and inside of the town, I also thought that it would not be good to show my face for a long time.

Of course, it is also to prevent unexpected actions.

Sometimes I have thoughts that are different from my own, perhaps because of the side effects of the violent and immoral Altein’s body that I, who had a sane mind, entered.

Right now I’m just thinking about it, but if this symptom doesn’t stop and leads to action… .

‘Isn’t it a fairy tale yet?’

In a way, it was like stealing Altyn’s body.

Should I think about things to prepare for the side effects in the future?

“Ah, Master!”

When I entered the mansion I hadn’t seen in a month, there was Risha cleaning the stairs.

“Did you post a notice on the bulletin board?”

“Yes! I think the results will probably come out within this week.”

“is it. You cooperate well. Even if you look at it like this, it must be a vicious lord.”

“The reaction… I couldn’t say it was that good… I hope that someday they will realize it too. Lord, the master is a good person… .”

How much do you trust?

Lisa would have reacted like this since she hadn’t had a chance to face Altein directly, but the residents weren’t.

Having faced the tyranny of Altane directly, she would not open her heart so easily like Risha.

However, it is not a situation where they can go to a better place than this place, so they must be forced to stay.

There are people who couldn’t even stand it. People like Karina who have children or who are older still remain here.

It certainly won’t be easy to change their minds. You will have to slowly build trust again by showing it through actions rather than words.

‘Nevertheless, the number of residents is increasing… It doesn’t seem like former servants are spreading rumors.’

To be honest, I was thinking that some maids would spread rumors about Mene and me while handing out gold, but it doesn’t seem like that yet.

Or maybe rumors haven’t spread yet.

After the outside practice this week, I think it will be the right time to visit Erchu Mene again.

The time wasn’t right this time, but then I’ll have to coax Jed in too.

“Send the financial report as it is by letter.”

“ah… Are you going?”

“Because I checked everything.”

“… .”

“Do you have anything to say?”

The mansion is well, the village is fine, and the face of the lord is reflected.

It was time to go back because I couldn’t see any reason to stay.

Suddenly, Lisa’s expression contorted and she began to mumble something hesitantly.

“Can I not go… ?”

Risha’s eyebrows trembled as she moved her fingers around and looked up at me.

“Why?”

“… Must there be a reason?”

‘Is it because I haven’t seen you in a while?’

Lisa’s appearance was different from usual.

At first, he was wary of me, but after getting to know him to some extent, I felt like I followed him obediently like Elaine.

I must say that I am a little bit angular today.

Of course, knowing how to voice your opinion like this is a good sign.

That’s because I’m comfortable with it.

Adaptation is hard though. The fact that Risha, who is already similar to Elaine, does that.

“Since there is an external practice in a few days, I can’t stay long. There are things to prepare for.”

“… ah.”

“But… It won’t be a problem if you stay until today.”

Lisa’s expression, which had been depressed, suddenly brightened.

You can’t go if you make a tee like that.

I was just going to go, but seeing Risha downcast, I couldn’t speak.

But after coming here, she was the first to follow me.

‘Because there’s only clothes I need to prepare anyway.’

It’s been a month since I came here, but it’s a bit like going back like this.

Even though it’s not just because of Risha, it’s because I have to deal with Elaine when I go to the academy.

Well.

That is why the corners of my lips rising while looking at Risha with such a happy face are not because of Risha.

*

“Count?”

In the early evening, the silent hallway of the male academy’s dormitory.

Elaine, a white-haired girl, was calling Lian’s name in front of a certain door.

“Are you sleeping… ?”

Lian’s dorm that I’ve heard often lately.

Elaine knew he was a lot of sleep, so she purposely came around lunchtime.

Considering the possibility of his oversleeping today, I was about to leave about an hour in advance.

However, unlike usual, the closed door did not open no matter how many times I called.

“Count?”

I called again just in case, but still no answer.

Elaine hesitated for a long time before calling for the elevator to go down.

Sometimes he would go out early, so I figured today might be the day.

It was sad that the only energizing time in her boring dormitory life was passing so futilely, but Elaine did not hesitate.

I’ll be back by evening anyway.

He has rumors that he is tyrannical and immoral, but in reality, Elaine knows that he has a more serious and upright personality than anyone else.

And even when he visited late at night, Lian never kicked her out.

The moment you play with him and a warm hand rubs your head.

For that moment, it was regrettable right now, but I was willing to endure it until evening.

The first meeting of the day ended in failure, but even as the elevator door closed, Elaine did not lose her smile.

*

The rice at the mansion that I hadn’t eaten in a long time was still delicious.

Since there were no servants, Risha took over the cooking, but somehow her skills were improving day by day.

After devouring the sumptuous side dishes, juicy meat, and various drinks and refreshments for dessert, I buried myself on the sofa in the drawing room, enjoying the lingering aftertaste.

‘I think I know why the nobles in the game are fat.’

It’s strange that I don’t gain weight because I eat more food than this every day.

“Master, were you satisfied with the meal?”

After lounging around on the sofa for a while, Risha came into the parlor after cleaning up.

I tried to help in my own way, but I couldn’t because of Risha’s extreme opposition.

What do you do or what

“Well. After eating at the mansion for the first time in a while, there’s no way I won’t be satisfied.”

“Everything, I’m glad.”

“What about Nadia?”

“ah. He said he would come from the village to eat.”

“Every day though?”

“Not every day… Since the studio is in the village, I don’t come here often.”

“So you’re living alone in the mansion every time?”

“I’m used to it now, so it’s fine.”

No matter how safe the village is, living alone in this spacious mansion is not something you can do unless you have a strong heart.

Wandering around a dark mansion with all the lights off is something I can’t do either.

By the way, Nadia, you even set up a workshop.

“Come to think of it, I think I read about the studio in the letter.”

“He said that if there is a workshop, you can make a lot of elixirs.”

“I guess. And the golden elixir I saw last time.”

A golden elixir that is slightly more effective than an elixir.

If it can be commercialized, it may be able to turn it into a specialty of Mene as well as the health of the residents.

If only the efficacy is verified, the price will be higher than those sold on the market.

As a result of living in the capital for a month, the elixir had not yet been commercialized.

If so, Nadia’s elixir now means that it’s almost like a proprietary technology.

‘… Wait, why did I forget about this?’

It seems that they have found a source of income for the village.