The Villain Wants to Change Genres

Chapter 37

‘This atmosphere is troublesome. I need to break it quickly.’

To shatter the tense silence as everyone warily eyed each other, I shouted in a loud voice:

“Everyone, stop!”

I yelled believing it would certainly be effective. The Kans were part of my planned scenario, and Irene and Luwen wouldn’t ignore me.

As expected. Though the murderous glares remained, the atmosphere that seemed ready to erupt into chaos moments ago subsided slightly.

“Luwen. Go to Sister’s side.”

I spoke in the most firm and calm voice I could muster. Then, after confirming Luwen was looking at me, I added gently with a smile. It was the same tone I always used with him.

“Please.”

Luwen, looking extremely frustrated and upset, made a tearful face before slumping his shoulders and returning to Irene’s side.

I naturally shifted my gaze towards my sister.

“Sister, I was with Father in his final moments. I think he mistook me for you. He mentioned a promise he made with you, but I couldn’t hear the details.”

Irene’s eyes noticeably wavered. Probably recalling some promise she had made with Father.

I’ve relayed Father’s last words, so I’ve done my duty. Now, even if I use his death a little, it shouldn’t be considered unfilial. In the end, it will help clear Father’s resentment too.

“And he said something else, but I didn’t understand it then…”

I deliberately paused and closed my mouth. Then, after taking a breath, I continued.

“Never mind. I’ll tell you when I’m sure. More importantly, please take care of Luwen and Merin.”

“Fei? What are you suddenly talking about?”

“I’m going with these people.”

Irene, eyes wide, shook her head.

“No! Why are you thinking that!”

“They won’t kill me. If that was their intention, they wouldn’t have taken me hostage. They probably want something. The reason they killed Father must be for that purpose too. Or maybe I’m really misunderstanding.”

Father’s last words that I didn’t convey clearly and the possibility of misunderstanding. And the Kans who still won’t kill me despite my blatant words.

Moreover, Irene must have felt it on her way here. That the intruders had no intention of killing anyone. That’s why she came up here, beating them with her scabbard.

Combining everything, the answer is that these people didn’t kill Father. Then who could it be? Someone who would kill Father. There’s only one suspect that comes to mind.

“Even so, I can’t let you go like this.”

“Then can you two take down all these people?”

Irene, pointing her sword at the Kans with perfect posture, declared:

“We can.”

“Of course! We’ll win. Young master, don’t worry about anything. We’ll definitely save you.”

Luwen’s voice, answering right after, sounded quite desperate, making my heart ache. It’s worth raising him with love. He’s grown well.

“Without getting hurt?”

“Yes.”

“Yes!”

Separately, they’re lying so confidently. That doesn’t work on me, you two.

“You’re lying. Do you think I wouldn’t know?”

I calmly smiled at them.

“Fei, don’t worry about anything. I told you I’d protect you, didn’t I?”

“I’ve grown up too. I’m stronger than you think, young master!”

The two still seemed not to have lost their fighting spirit. Seeing their steadfast attitude, I gave a bitter smile and grabbed the sword blade pointing at my neck with my bare hand. And because I dislike pain, I only pulled it slightly, not enough to cut deep. Still, it stung.

“Young master! Don’t do that! Why are you doing this!”

“Fei!!”

Luwen and Irene cried out in shock.

“I don’t want to see Sister and Luwen getting hurt because of me. Rather than that, I’d rather, with my own hands…”

Hmm. Is this a bit cringeworthy? As a drastic measure for these two whose will won’t easily break, this method is the best, but…

While I was slightly nervous that it might be too much and backfire, surprisingly, it worked very well. Irene hastily sheathed her sword, and Luwen dropped his arms. Clang – the wooden sword the child dropped rolled on the corridor floor.

Luwen looked like he might burst into tears at any moment, but he held back his sobs and stared at me intently. His contorted face made me want to comfort him.

‘But I have to do this.’

The Kans were essential to bring down the First Prince faster than in the original story. I turned my gaze away from Luwen and looked at the Kans leader, saying:

“You take me with you. In exchange, don’t harm anyone. If you hurt anyone in this mansion, I’ll kill myself. You know what will happen if you lose your hostage, I don’t need to explain.”

Now it’s the leader’s turn to answer. I told him to answer in short responses, so the only answer that should come now is an acknowledgment. Having to spoon-feed him like this, I don’t understand why he boasted about being good at acting.

“Alright.”

Well, at least he’s good at following instructions.

“Let’s go!”

As I released the blade, the leader shouted loudly as if he had been waiting. The Kans immediately moved in unison. While keeping an eye on Irene and Luwen, they gathered around their leader.

“Young master…”

Luwen’s voice, filled with tears, pierced my ears particularly clearly.

“Don’t worry, Luwen. I’ll be back soon. I promise.”

“…ugh.”

In the end, thick tears rolled down Luwen’s cheeks. In contrast, Irene remained calm and composed, closely watching our side. Glaring at the leader, Irene looked as cold as if she had turned to the dark side.

Did she… figure it out? I’m feeling a bit uneasy.

Fortunately, my worry seemed unfounded as her eyes soon swirled with emotions like anxiety, concern, and sadness as she looked at me. My sister took a long breath, closed and opened her eyes, then warned the leader, staring at him with eyes so dark they looked almost black:

“I’ve memorized all your faces clearly. If you harm my brother, I’ll put everything on the line to hunt you down and tear you to pieces. Remember that. I’m not joking.”

The leader stood still, looking at Irene, then lowered the sword that had been pointing at my neck. Then, escorted by his subordinates, he started to leave the mansion. Irene, Luwen, and Merin followed us to the end, maintaining a certain distance.

I was pulled along by the leader, looking back. It was to restrain the two in case they might rush in. If there were any signs of that, I’d have to stop them.

But it seemed I could be at ease on this side. Though the Kans’ acting was terrible, they moved in groups usually, so even though they seemed to be clustered without order, there were no visible gaps.

Even if they forcibly broke through the rear, it would take time to reach me. The clumsy Kans would finish me off in an instant, so they wouldn’t be able to move.

‘Then now all I need to worry about is the pursuit team.’

I guess I’ll have to take all the horses-

“Huh?”

Lost in thought while looking back and going down the stairs recklessly, I misstepped. As my body tilted, my arm was sharply pulled. It was thanks to the leader firmly grasping me.

“Fei!”

“Dangerous-!”

Wow… That was close. I almost rolled down ungracefully. The emotion and atmosphere I’d carefully built up would have been shattered, ending in a mess.

I regained my composure and looked back. Irene was tightly holding Luwen’s arm. Did Luwen almost fall too?

“I won’t follow any further. Be careful, Fei.”

“I don’t want to!”

“Stop it, Luwen! Fei is worrying about us… What if he gets hurt like that? They might not catch him next time.”

The restraining effect was tremendous. It seems that thanks to the leader catching me, Irene was convinced of the answer I had induced.

That there’s a real culprit elsewhere. In other words, these people didn’t kill Father. She seems to have realized that although the reason for attacking the mansion is unknown, they have no intention of harming me for now. So she seems to have judged that there’s no need to chase right away.

Ah, really. She’s so reliable.

* * *

Irene had no time to mourn Father’s death. She had to take care of the Duke’s body and organize the mansion. Most of the servants she was most concerned about were tied up and locked in the basement. There were minor and major injuries, but no one was severely wounded.

Just for that, Irene breathed a sigh of relief. It was confirmed that the intruders’ goal was not murder. Though she had expected it, with Fei being taken away, the bit of anxiety that had been gnawing at her was somewhat relieved.

‘From now on, there’s a lot to think about and do. I don’t have time to cry.’

However, when Irene entered Father’s office to process documents that had come up from the territory, the moment she discovered Father’s letter left for her, she burst into tears that she had been suppressing.