ARML 19

Chapter 19 …

A long time ago, when Carlisle was still a child…

[Carlisle. I’m glad you’re the strongest in our family.]

At first, he didn’t understand what his father—the Duke of Lupesk—meant by that.

Carlisle had been skilled in all kinds of martial arts since he was young.

By the time he was ten, he had already sparred with the captain of the family knights.

At twelve, there was no one in the household who could beat him.

There was nothing physical he couldn’t do.

So, of course, he thought being strong was a good thing.

[Isn’t being strong always a good thing?]

[It’s good because it means I probably won’t lose you, you idiot.]

He didn’t really understand what those words meant—until he turned eighteen.

It all started with a small argument.

His cousins had a little fight, and that triggered something horrible.

In a flash, they all turned into wolf monsters.

His mother, some other family members who hadn’t been cursed yet, the servants, the knights…

They all died.

Even the residents of their land.

[Lord Carlisle! Please help us!]

[Aaaahh!]

[S-Save me…!]

Carlisle believed he could save them.

He was the strongest in the entire territory, after all.

Of course, he thought he could beat the “monsters.”

[But how could I…?]

They had just been his family, eating at the same table the day before.

Still, he somehow managed to save the commoners.

And eventually, the cursed family members did turn back into humans…

…Only to die from exhaustion shortly after.

Carlisle never wanted to remember that night again.

So many new graves in just one night.

For the first time, Carlisle truly felt despair.

[Why do we have to go through something like this?]

[…]

Carlisle couldn’t hold it in and questioned his father.

But the Duke had only one answer:

[Because we’re cursed.]

It was a curse that began 300 years ago.

Anyone in the family who couldn’t control their anger… turned into a black wolf.

[We were cursed by a dark sorcerer who used the black crescent moon as a symbol.]

[Then what was the reason? Why would someone do this to us?]

There had to be a reason for such a terrible curse.

But there were no records.

Even his father didn’t know the exact cause.

Still, Carlisle was sure of one thing:

‘Someone with deep hatred did this to us.’

Otherwise, who would put a curse that lasted 300 years?

He couldn’t stand it any longer.

Carlisle left his hometown and came to the capital.

[I’m making a special unit to hunt those guys. Will you join, heir of the Lupesk family?]

When Edgar Crow, someone like him, asked, Carlisle accepted without hesitation.

‘A lot has happened since then…’

But even after everything, nothing had ever annoyed him this much.

Carlisle took a deep breath, trying to calm his anger.

“Phew…”

But judging by how the people walking home flinched, it probably didn’t work.

He walked into the magical herb research lab.

Luckily—or maybe not—Theodore Wordsworth was inside watering the plants.

Theodore looked up and smiled politely when he saw Carlisle.

“Good evening, Lord Lupesk.”

“Call me by my rank during work hours.”

“Haha, but work hours are over.”

Theodore studied Carlisle’s stiff expression.

“And it doesn’t seem like you’re here to talk about work.”

“You’re right.”

“Ah… you’re angry with me. But why?”

Carlisle frowned as he remembered the private meeting.

He found out Layla had gone to see Theodore because…

‘Edgar told me.’

With his annoying mind-reading ability.

[Wow, anyone would think Marquis Wordsworth is her mentor, not Lupesk.]

That teasing had made him incredibly irritated.

But it had hit a nerve too.

He had been trying to help her… but did Lowell not want that?

[I want to do well, but there’s so much to memorize… I got impatient.]

Her hesitant response made his heart sink.

‘Was I already pressuring her too much?’

He had thrown her into a major case—the kidnapping—on her first official day.

She might’ve been too scared to ask him for help…

‘Still…’

Carlisle wanted to at least say something to Theodore.

“I heard you gave Layla Lowell a special herb.”

“Oh, yes. I did.”

“She’s passionate, but don’t give her dangerous things.”

“Hmm…”

“And if anything might affect her health or performance, tell our team in advance.”

As he kept speaking, it started to feel right.

‘Yes. That’s why I’m so annoyed.’

If Lowell collapsed, it would cause serious problems for the whole team.

But Theodore calmly continued watering and shook his head.

“Lord Lupesk.”

“If you have something to say, go ahead.”

“Jealous men usually end up getting dumped.”

“…? What does that mean?”

“…”

Theodore just stared at him.

Instead of a clear answer, he gave a little smile.

“Let’s say that was advice from experience. Take it to heart.”

Meanwhile…

“Hmm. I think I’m ready now.”

I checked the herb guide again while holding the blanched Mandrake root.

‘If you eat Mandrake root, you only get part of your memory back.’

Also, the effect is very strong, so you can only use it once in a while.

‘The cooldown is one year. That’s a bit wasteful…’

Still, it would be great if I could destroy the Black Spoon Department and quit before that.

And I was also worried about the orphanage.

‘What Henry said really bothered me.’

Somehow, the youngest kid I cared most about managed to contact me!

In the world of Beyond the Golden Gate, voice magic tools were common.

Even the orphanage and dormitories had them.

[Big sis! When are you coming? I miss you!]

[I’ll come on the weekend. But how did you contact me at this time?]

[The director’s been going out late to have fun!]

[What?!]

Wait a second. That makes me angry again.

‘She made me work night shifts while she was out partying?’

She left the kids behind to go out and have fun. Unbelievable.

Thankfully, the new teachers were watching the place.

‘Once I quit, I’ll use my savings and take the kids somewhere safe.’

With that determination in mind, I chewed the Mandrake.

“Ugh…”

It was like chewing on a three-year-old dirty sock.

I wanted to throw up, but what I saw next made me forget the nausea.

“Whoa!”

It was like the pages of a book flipping through my mind.

Everything I had read appeared in my head like a video.

From the heroine’s first day at work up to the final case—all of it came flooding in!

Unfortunately, I must’ve died before reading the ending…

Because I only remembered up to the last thing I had read.

‘That’s okay! I got all the info I need!’

Where and when the next events would happen, who to talk to for information—even small side events were clear in my mind.

“Yes! I did i—huh?!”

But then something unexpected appeared.

‘What was that scene just now?’

In the darkening corners of my vision, I saw the male lead.

【“…I…”】

He sounded overwhelmed with emotion.

His quiet voice was definitely his.

【“…No matter what, I’ll find you again…”】

From his glowing red eyes in the darkness, a clear teardrop fell.

‘Wait… what?’

Why… is the male lead crying?