CHGD 09

Chapter 09

Normally, he would have scoffed at it as a bluff, but now—ever since an ordinary human had unraveled his memory manipulation—he couldn’t easily dismiss anything.

It was possible that Haster had set up special defenses around her.

If so, then this really was all a trap.

‘If I die here, I won’t be able to revive.’

The thought of ending up like Valos’s original form sent a chill down Roaz’s spine.

“……That’s a lie. If that were possible, why didn’t he capture me when he came to the dining hall just now?”

By saying this, he had essentially admitted to being a fake escort knight, but Roaz’s attention was entirely focused on Haster.

Deliana, as if sensing her hypothesis was all falling into place, smiled faintly and spoke.

“Because I stopped him. There’s a certain signal between the Count and me. I told him nothing was wrong.”

Ridiculous. It was unimaginable that Haster would secretly exchange signals with a human. The same Haster who was said to be cursed just by having his name pronounced correctly—playing such childish games with a human?

‘……No, but it’s true they’re married.’

He recalled the sight of Haster bursting into the dining hall.

Clutching his chest as if the world was adorable, with eyes full of affection… That was evidence that the current situation was far from normal.

It was a bluff that couldn’t be proven, but there wasn’t enough evidence to refute it either.

Refusing to accept a truth he didn’t want to believe, Roaz glared and spoke.

“There was no such memory in your head.”

He didn’t even realize that the bizarre title of “my lady” had already disappeared from his speech.

“That in itself is a lie.”

Deliana rose from her seat. And slowly approached Roaz.

It was strange.

What stood before him was clearly an ordinary human—a mortal he could incinerate with a single gesture. And yet, it was Roaz who was stepping back.

Deliana’s shadow, deep as the cosmos, seemed to stretch out as if to devour him.

“If you saw all of my memories, then why did you ask me those questions?”

The questions about the octopus monster Valos, about what kind of knight she wanted, and so on—they were questions that could only arise because he hadn’t seen Deliana’s memories.

When he’d tried to verify Deliana’s memories, she had already noticed his opening.

“You entered my head, but you didn’t see all of my memories. Isn’t that right?”

He couldn’t answer.

If his opponent had been a human rather than Haster’s spouse, he would have.

Haster, as he existed in her memories, was part of some curse. Knowing that touching it would mean he wouldn’t come out unscathed, Roaz had only manipulated Valos’s memories.

‘She knows even that?’

Roaz began to suspect what Deliana truly was.

“There’s no need to deceive me, Roaz. I can be on your side.”

“On my side……?”

“You don’t want to be caught by the Count, do you? I’ll hide you. In return, you just need to promise me one thing.”

The deal he’d mentioned earlier.

It was what Deliana expected from her escort knight, and for Roaz, who had ended up in this situation, it was an unavoidable offer.

“If you won’t be loyal to the Count anyway, then be loyal to me.”

Deliana stopped in front of Roaz. With her arms folded, looking down at him, she had the air of a proper lady of the house.

“You can just pretend. All you have to do is protect me, no matter what.”

If you killed the real one, become the real one.

Become a knight who can protect me better than the real one (Valos).

Then I will spare you.

“If an answer is difficult, just stay silent. I’ll take it as a yes.”

……Roaz remained silent.

I glanced at Roaz, who had obediently become my escort knight. After finishing our meal, I was taking a walk in the garden with Roaz.

Perhaps intimidated by the threat in the dining hall, Roaz kept his mouth shut for a long time.

Whatever was inside, outwardly he looked exactly like a child, which made me feel an odd sense of guilt.

‘That was too easy?’

Defeating Roaz in argument had been remarkably easy. There was no physical evidence, but Roaz seemed unskilled at pretending to be human, and he showed openings every time I asked a question.

So I proposed a deal with a bit of fabrication. I’d expected some resistance, but unexpectedly, Roaz accepted easily.

It was amazing that all my predictions had been correct, but honestly, what surprised me most was my own rhetoric and power in persuading Roaz.

‘No. Can I even call that power?’

Roaz didn’t notice, but while talking to him, I felt as if I’d become someone else.

I’d experienced similar things when talking to Blacky and the Count earlier.

Whenever I began to be overwhelmed by their presence, it was as if another personality emerged and my tone of voice changed.

At first, I thought it was some kind of awakening driven by survival instinct. Like the immense power that manifests when you’re about to die.

But through this experience, I became certain.

This wasn’t a natural power.

‘My shadow…… it definitely grew longer.’

When Roaz had exerted his aura like the Count, constricting my body, my shadow on the floor had moved toward him.

The moment my shadow touched his feet, I began to anticipate what he would say next and how I should counter it.

Thanks to that, Roaz’s confusion deepened, and he easily lost his composure.

It was as if my shadow had stripped away the human wrapping that enveloped him.

Flustered and forgetting to act human, he revealed his true nature, and my shadow constricted his ankles even tighter.

‘It was just like hypnosis.’

If I had to describe the effect, it was a power that lent persuasion to my words and shattered the opponent’s reason.

This wasn’t a power I’d possessed before—an ordinary human.

Whether it had changed since coming to this castle, or it had been dormant all along, I couldn’t tell.

If I too were to transform into a monster because of this power……

‘……No, let’s not worry about that. I already have enough on my mind.’

I shook my head, brushing away the concern.

Anyway, I’d survived thanks to that unidentified power. For now, that was enough.

“Roaz.”

“……What.”

Perhaps because he’d shown his true form once, Roaz answered with a sharper attitude than before.

I actually preferred this kind of relationship, so I continued nonchalantly.

“I suggested we go to the garden, but is it really okay? There’s nowhere to hide here like in the dining hall.”

I meant—what if the Count or his close associates spotted him?

Roaz snorted and replied.

“As long as I came in riding you, others can’t see me. Even someone with good eyes would just see a tree standing there.”

I didn’t fully understand the theory, but apparently, as long as he was near me, he wouldn’t easily be detected by others. The reason he’d hidden when the Count came was because the Count had focused all his attention on me.

“That aside, what are you planning to do?”

“What do you mean?”

“Weren’t you going to fight Haster? That’s why you asked for my help, right? So why are you acting so relaxed?”

‘Ah, so he thought I was going to fight the Count.’

Half right, half wrong.

What I’d proposed to him was an alliance—to help me when I tried to escape this castle, or to protect me if the Count targeted me.

It might sound like I was treating him as a shield, so I answered somewhat evasively.

“The timing isn’t right yet. And I have no intention of confronting him head-on.”

“……I see. So you’re scheming. Planning a surprise attack?”

*That suits you well*—he added with an impertinent remark, nodding. We’d only just met, and yet he was already passing judgment on me.

‘Well, at least I have one truly loyal escort knight now, so that’s reassuring.’

I didn’t know who the knight before Roaz was, but since he was the Count’s subordinate, I couldn’t blindly trust him.

Just like this morning, he wouldn’t stop the Count when he went berserk.

“By the way, Roaz, what is your goal?”

Roaz made an arrogant expression, completely at odds with his boyish appearance, and spoke.

“Naturally, invasion. I need Haster’s position.”

“You mean you want to become the Count?”

“That’s a human title. Not that—I want his hierarchy…… Forget it. You probably wouldn’t understand anyway. Just think of it however you like.”

There must be rules in the monster world—rules of monsters. As long as he didn’t betray me and side with the Count, it was fine.