I Captured the Enemy Who Tried to Kill Me - Chapter 4

Though I suddenly became a terminally ill villain in a novel, I was determined to survive until the end without dying.

Fortunately, the place where I ended up was the world of a novel I had read obsessively before my death.

In that sense, the one I needed to be most wary of was the Emperor, the male protagonist Kaisis.

‘I have a quest to protect.’

Even in the original story, that guy had beast-like intuition.

If I showed even one weakness, he would be the first to notice I was an impostor.

Plus, he was a Triple S!

Even S-class people were crazy enough, so what would he be like to someone who wasn’t the female lead?

Fortunately, I had learned some things during my terrifying week here.

“First, Hillaria.”

The Duke I was possessing didn’t appear that frequently in the original story, which was told from the female lead’s perspective.

There were other villainesses who tormented and shook the B-class Guide female protagonist.

She just appeared occasionally in dramatic scenes, either opposing the Emperor or putting the female protagonist in difficult situations.

‘Fortunately, Hillaria is rather taciturn, so if I just keep my mouth shut, people will misunderstand on their own.’

My face in the mirror was cold and icy enough to make my heart drop, even when I looked at myself.

I couldn’t deny she was beautiful, but if I just closed my mouth and glared, it was scary enough to give someone nightmares.

But that didn’t make things easy.

Because Hillaria…

“Ugh, this is insane.”

I couldn’t help cursing.

“Should I just tear it all up?”

Those mountains of documents, endless tasks!

“I’m going to shrivel up and die from all this work.”

I sat down in the office chair with a gloomy face, picking up a quill pen.

Yes, this woman was a serious workaholic and perfectionist.

“When you’re a Duke, you should delegate minor tasks to lower departments, why take everything on yourself?”

Afraid of causing suspicion by suddenly delegating work, I reluctantly handled the tasks Hillaria would normally do, making my neck stiff to the point of death.

“I can’t keep living like this. Fortunately, the original story content will start soon, so things should change.”

The early events I knew so well definitely involved the appearance of the female protagonist who calmed the Emperor during his rampage and then mysteriously disappeared.

Due to the aftermath of the rampage, the Emperor’s memories of that night would be fragmented, and he would search desperately for the female lead with only a few clues.

And finally, he would find her.

The Guide, who, despite being only B-class, perfectly saved him.

Ah, here Guides were called “Indoja” and Espers were called “Awakened Ones.”

Anyway…

“I need to figure out what this qualification for the quest is.”

This part of the quest was problematic.

[Don’t let anyone find out that you’re not the real Duke Ariel until you earn the qualification of ????.]

Was the important thing to escape the role of a terminally ill villain?

Should I minimize my influence by deviating from the original story, or…

‘Conversely, should I actively break the original story?’

But wait.

I suddenly realized something I had been reflexively forgetting.

‘Hold on. Something’s strange.’

In the original story, Hillaria was… a perfectly pure magician.

That means she was neither an Esper nor a Guide.

But why could I…

‘Feel the Emperor’s energy every time? Just like a Guide.’

Just like when I was an A-class Guide in South Korea.

A chill ran up my spine.

Right at that moment.

The status window appeared before my eyes with fireworks, as if it were mocking me.

[Hillaria, the official successor born into a family of magicians who hate Awakened Ones, sealed her Indoja abilities in her eyes until death.

But you are a new soul who can use that power more profoundly.

Congratulations!

You are becoming aware of a hidden trait.

With the perfect body and soul meeting, the sealed qualification is unlocked.

You obtain the S-class Guide trait!]

What is this now…

“S-class?”

My mouth fell open.

Espers recognize Guides.

No matter how well hidden, if they touch your skin, they can’t help but know.

But what? This body is an S-class Guide? Is this telling me to do the quest or not? This place is full of Espers!

“Hey! This doesn’t make any sense!”

I couldn’t escape from the original story while the status window was mocking me.

So I had planned to complete the quest well, become a villain free from the original story, and then retire with plenty of money to live well, but it hadn’t even been a few days since I made that decision. Are you teasing me?

While I kept muttering like I was rapping, the status window changed like it was trying to comfort me.

[You were an A-class Guide but possessed perfect control ability comparable to S-class.

Don’t worry.

To hide your identity, you can perfectly control your Guide abilities.

No one will recognize you as an Indoja unless you wish it.]

Yes, Mom. Thanks for comforting me. Haha, should I be happy about this or not?

I sat down with bitterness.

“How disappointing. Being an S-class Guide was this easy?”

When I subtly relaxed my power, somehow I could feel my eyes warming and guiding energy spreading that I hadn’t even been aware of.

‘Yikes, I might be discovered.’

Although my surroundings were full of magicians, so I should be safe, I quickly pulled down my power like closing a faucet.

Then the traces disappeared completely.

It was definitely different from when I was A-class.

Amazing power and vessel.

It felt like I could calm any Esper.

If only they didn’t reject me.

‘If I had this power in my previous life.’

I briefly remembered those vicious Esper bastards who worshipped S-class Guides in my previous life.

But I shook it off.

What mattered was here and now.

Not those damn S-class who abandoned me!

So there was nothing to be happy about becoming an S-class Guide.

If people found out I was an Indoja, the surrounding magicians might try to bury their leader.

Ah, that’s right. Damn it.

“Being a Grand Magician but not knowing the first thing about magic. What is magic, something you chew and eat?”

My shoulders trembled.

I couldn’t even cast fire magic that even five-year-old magicians could use, so everyone around me was an enemy.

Knock knock.

“Eek!”

Just then, with perfect timing, there was suddenly a knock.

What a shock!

It was truly fortunate that no one saw my undignified jump.

─Master, a guest has arrived.

This was the voice of my assistant who helped with my work.

But a guest?

I half-rose from my seat with wide eyes.

All blood drained from my face.

Hillaria was someone obsessed with work who had no friends.

That’s why I had been somewhat relieved, thinking I wouldn’t have to worry about being discovered…

The assistant, used to serving a naturally taciturn master, seemed to think I had heard and acknowledged the announcement with my silence.

Before I could collect myself, the door opened. Ah, just a moment!

“……”

“……”

But the guest was someone I never imagined.

In other words…

Where did you come from, baby?

‘It’s a child.’

My eyes met directly with those of a tiny boy who peeked his head through the cracked door.

He looked about eight years old. Judging by his thin frame, he might even appear younger than his peers.

At most, um, ten years old?

‘But he’s really pretty.’

I was puzzled. Was there a character this age in the original story?

If this child wasn’t a character from the original story, his appearance was remarkably distinctive.

Brilliant green eyes and sparkling silver hair that were adorably cute enough to make me want to pinch his cheeks.

I could feel myself melting.

Oh my, I’ve always had a soft spot for children!

‘No. Control your expression, control your expression.’

If I showed a goofy smile when I didn’t even know who this kid was, I might fail the quest immediately and say goodbye to this world.

In these situations, it usually works to just keep your mouth shut. Then the other person will act accordingly.

“……”

“……”

But this time, that trick didn’t work.

This isn’t right, this shouldn’t happen.

Cold sweat ran down my back internally. I could clearly see, like a live broadcast, how the child was becoming intimidated under my watchful gaze.

Yes, I know, Auntie’s eyes are a bit scary, right?

I straightened my awkward posture and came out from behind my office desk.

The child, who had barely emerged from the doorway, also took one step closer to me.

“……”

I could see the child taking a breath.

His hunched shoulders looked pitiful.

The way he looked up at me, rolling his large eyes, was just like Puss in Boots…

Ugh, I couldn’t take it anymore.

I slowly approached the child and knelt on one knee to meet his eyes.

I could see his eyes widening in surprise.

Yes, I understand that we weren’t originally on close terms.

But what should I call him?

Recalling the tone of Duke Ariel, who was always gruff whenever she appeared in the original story, I opened my mouth.

“It’s okay. I’m not angry.”

“…!”

“Don’t be surprised.”

I didn’t forget to pat his round head, which looked so small that it might fall over if I tapped it.

Then the child, with his cheeks turning bright red, bit his lip like he had made some decision.

Ah, like a duck’s bill.

His cheeks, which protruded while he concentrated with his head lowered, were so cute that I almost let out a chuckle.

After rustling around for a while, his small white hand pulled out a small pen and paper.

The child began to write, scribbling.

‘Ah.’

I understood.

Who this child was.