The Villain Wants to Change Genres

Chapter 53

“The Honey Grive was their doing too.”

“We lured the Honey Grive with honey when we passed through its territory. If that damn smart horse of the kid followed the path we came, it’s obvious, isn’t it? Right, kid?”

Flap- The tent entrance opened, revealing a man with a crooked smile. Luwen, who had been standing there pale as a sheet, stared at the man in front of him.

“If it weren’t for you, we could have bought more time.”

The man clicked his tongue.

“Don’t take out your frustration on the child unnecessarily.”

“But boss, they must have detected us because of the Grive. An attack is just a matter of time. It’ll be sooner than we anticipated.”

“It’s our fault too for not noticing until the Grive got close. More importantly, how’s the young master, kid?”

The Kans who had shaken his head disapprovingly patted Luwen’s shoulder as he left.

“Getting tangled up with those damn nobles for nothing.”

Normally, Luwen would have sharply retorted to the Kans for lumping the young master in with other nobles, but right now, other people’s words weren’t registering well with him. All he could think of was Fei luring the Honey Grive without regard for his own safety to save him, and as a result, lying there limp and covered in wounds.

‘Did I… push him into danger with my own hands…?’

Yet he had childishly fought and been stubborn because he disliked having someone else around.

It was the same when he was thirteen, in winter. He liked sword training so much that he went out in bad weather and caused trouble. And now, again.

Why hasn’t anything changed? Why has the same result occurred again?

‘Maybe I shouldn’t be by the young master’s side? What if I end up hurting him someday? Because of me… if he pushes himself too hard…’

Is this what it feels like when the ground crumbles beneath your feet? The air pressed down on his shoulders. He hadn’t understood what it meant for the body to feel heavy, but now his entire body sagged like water-logged cotton.

“Well, if you’ve heard the story, there’s no need for separate explanations. You need to take the young master and return to the mansion right now.”

Luwen raised his head at the boss’s calm voice.

“…His fever is too high. He won’t be able to endure.”

“He’ll die if he stays here.”

“That can’t be-!”

“The people tracking us, you see, they’re carrying secrets that would be troublesome if discovered. Do you think your young master would be safe? They’d dispose of him too and announce that those Kans bastards dared to kill the Duke’s young master. End of story. There’s no evidence.”

“The young lady…”

“Who do you think will be faster? The ones who’ve been closely following you, or the young lady who doesn’t even know where we are now? Are you going to gamble with the young master’s life?”

“I can’t do that.”

“Then go immediately. And take Taran with you. It’d be a pity for him to die here.”

“We need fever-reducing medicine. He won’t make it like this. If there’s time, I’ll go to the village and buy medicine.”

“Stop by on your way. Follow me.”

The boss took the lead with large strides.

His large build and sturdy shoulders. A man who swings a huge axe like it’s his own arm. The man who killed the Honey Grive in one blow when he couldn’t. Feeling powerless in comparison, Luwen asked weakly:

“Are there people stronger than you?”

“Many. I’m just a reject cast out from the world, you know.”

The boss said with a small laugh.

Luwen finally realized how weak he was. His inflated confidence shattered. If he wanted to be greedy, he needed the strength and knowledge to match.

“Can you… protect everyone you want to protect?”

“Isn’t this what I’m doing now because I couldn’t? Protecting precious people is harder than you think. The results might differ from my intentions. Like you right now.”

“…Should I not be by the young master’s side?”

It was an impulsive question. Even he didn’t understand why he asked such a question. And to the boss of a criminal group, no less.

‘What kind of answer am I hoping for?’

Is it that it’s okay to stay by the young master’s side? Or a rebuke that he should disappear? If it’s a rebuke, shouldn’t he hear it from the young master, not this person? Just as Luwen, coming to his senses belatedly, was about to say there was no need to answer, the boss replied in a leisurely tone:

“Well, I can’t say one way or the other, but did your young master say it’s okay to be separated from you?”

It was an answer from a different perspective than expected.

‘Not my feelings, but the young master’s.’

How could he not know his feelings? Luwen thought there were no masters who would sacrifice themselves for a servant. Except for the one and only person in his life, Fei. And he knows why Fei does it. Because he looks at him with so much affection that it’s impossible not to notice.

Luwen clenched his fist as his chest tingled deeply.

‘But I’m too inexperienced to protect the young master now. This won’t do.’

He had to learn a lot. Not just swordsmanship, but various skills. So that in any situation, Fei could trust him and hide in a safe place. If it had been the boss with him when they encountered the Honey Grive, then…

‘The young master would have trusted that person and fled. With Taran.’

The boss, who had been glancing at Luwen lost in thought, scratched the back of his neck and spoke as if to comfort him:

“Kid. You didn’t do anything wrong. You did well too. It’s just that he’s too exceptional. That can’t be helped.”

“It won’t happen again. I won’t put the young master in a dangerous situation because of me ever again.”

“If this hadn’t happened, you wouldn’t have had this realization now, right?”

A large hand landed on Luwen’s head. Strangely… his heart felt a little more at ease. Was it because it felt similar to Dedric’s thick and firm touch? Luwen wanted hands like these.

“Don’t treat me like a child.”

“Hahaha. Alright, alright, we’re here. You’re coming in together, right?”

The boss gestured with his chin towards the tent.

Of course. Because Fei was in there. Luwen quietly followed the boss without any response.

“Oh! Boss! Luwen! Why are you together? More importantly, the young master’s fever has gone down a bit.”

“Really?”

Luwen’s steps quickened. His expression did seem a bit more relaxed. When he placed his hand on his forehead, it seemed his condition had improved from before. Still, it was hot enough to make his heart flutter.

After checking Fei’s condition, the boss immediately rummaged through a box. The map his subordinates had made was here. He didn’t expect the map drawn for newcomers would be used like this.

“Here, kid. Take this with you.”

Luwen immediately unfolded the map given by the boss. Although the markings were messy, there was no problem understanding it.

“Taran. You go with them too.”

“Where are we going?”

Taran blinked, not understanding the situation.

“Didn’t you say you were going to learn medicine from the young master? Learn well and come back.”

“Ah! Yes! I’ll be back. But the young master’s condition isn’t good… Isn’t it a bit much to leave now?”

“That’s why I gave you the map. There’s a village on the way, it would be better to buy medicine there. Pack some food and leave right away.”

Believing the boss’s words without any doubt, Taran thought his suggestion made sense.

“Uh… But is the scouting of the surroundings finished? Is it okay to leave now?”

“Yes. I’ve told the kid the details, so just follow him.”

Luwen was designated as the leader of the group. Taran pouted dissatisfied, but he would have to watch over the young master’s condition anyway, so it would be too much to also act as a guide. The boss must have entrusted it to Luwen for this reason.

“Alright. Then I’ll go pack some food.”

“Okay.”

After Taran left, the boss told Luwen where the horses were hidden.

“By the way, there’s no carriage. Even if you encounter those guys, they won’t kill you if it’s just you. Pretend you don’t know anything. Say you’re escaping after rescuing the young master from our hands.”

“If their goal is to wipe us out, I don’t think they’ll spare us just because we say that.”

“You need to make them believe you’re on their side.”

“Will they believe us?”

“If you tell them where our hideout is, they will.”

“But then you’ll…”

The boss laughed heartily and patted Luwen’s shoulder.

“Think only about what’s most important. If you fuss over everything, you’ll lose it all. Kid, what’s the most important thing to you?”

“The young master.”

It was an answer without a moment’s hesitation.

“Then think only of the young master. We’ll take care of ourselves. The timing has just been moved up a bit, but we’ve been prepared for a while, so there’s no problem.”