Otome Game Mob Villain

Chapter 752

"However, I must say I am not impressed by the act of peeping. If you were interested in the power of the Guardian Ten Wings, you could have simply said a word."

Fluttering his large wings slightly while shrugging his shoulders, Horst spoke in a chiding tone.

I gulped and held my breath.

We had been caught red-handed, flying around the skies of the Avian territory without permission and observing the battle between the Ten Wings and the monsters.

This was an extremely precarious situation, but Horst maintained his smile, making his emotions and thoughts utterly unreadable.

Was he angry with us? Suspicious? Or perhaps completely unconcerned?

Still, seeing him up close again, Horst's eyes felt not warm but very cold—or rather, more accurately described as inorganic. Every person I've faced, whether good or bad, had some emotion in their eyes. Yet, Horst's eyes held absolutely no emotion at all.

His gaze gave an impression close to how a person might look at an 'object.'

*'I want to meet someone with kind eyes.'*

Suddenly, the words Aria had cried out when I first met her resurfaced in my mind. If Horst had such a cold, inorganic gaze, it wasn't hard to imagine that the looks the other nobles directed at Aria and the others were also quite chilling.

As the cold air of the sky brushed my cheeks and tension spiked, a trembling voice came from behind me. "A-ah..."

Looking sideways, I saw Aria, her eyes wide and her mouth opening and closing silently. For her, Horst was tied to the painful memories of her days in the Avian territory, the one who reopened her heart's wounds, the person she least wanted to meet.

*Pull yourself together. Didn't I promise to protect Aria and the others?*

I gave myself a mental pep talk, then gently whispered to Aria, "It's okay, stay strong."

Then, looking straight into Horst's eyes, I bowed my head.

"...My apologies. Upon hearing that monsters had overflowed from the dungeon, I couldn't sit still. Although you stated the Guardian Ten Wings were unnecessary, I was observing the situation so that we could assist if, by any chance, it became necessary."

This wasn't a lie.

If the Ten Wings had struggled against the monsters, I planned to rush to their aid with the group waiting below.

"I see. It seems I caused you unnecessary worry, Lord Ridd."

Horst nodded as if convinced, then scratched his cheek with an awkward expression.

"Well, ultimately, it's due to shortcomings in my territory management that the monsters overflowed. I'm hardly in a position to criticize your actions, Lord Ridd."

"No, even in Baldia, the emergence and handling of dungeons pose challenges. I certainly do not think there are shortcomings in your territory management, Lord Horst."

"Haha, hearing you say that is a relief."

His expression and tone had softened somewhat from the initial encounter, but his eyes remained cold and inorganic.

"That aside..."

Saying this, Horst slowly shifted his gaze to Aria.

"It's been a while, Aria."

"Y-yes..."

"No need to be so frightened. I, and Ilia too, have been worried. Is everyone doing well?"

At his question, Aria flinched, her body trembling. I immediately interjected, "Please rest assured."

"As I informed you before, the Avian children, including Aria, who drifted to Balst, are being well-protected in Baldia."

"Lord Ridd, I was asking Aria. I wished to hear it directly from her."

Horst answered calmly, still smiling, but I felt an abnormal pressure, sending a shiver down my spine.

"Aria, what about it? Is what Lord Ridd said true?"

"I-It's true. Onii-... I mean, Lord Ridd treats me, and everyone, very kindly."

As Aria replied timidly, Horst smiled and nodded.

"I see. That's good. However, the Avian territory is Aria's birthplace. If you ever wish to return, come back anytime. Please tell everyone that I, and Ilia, will welcome them."

"Y-yes. Understood."

Just as Aria nodded, a faint, dizzying sensation washed over my mind.

*I won't fall for the same trick twice.*

Instantly, I increased the output of my Body Enhancement, making the flow of magical power circulating through my body more active.

A sudden gust of magical energy swirled around me.

It caused some physical pain, but this should block the hypnosis magic.

Horst's eyebrow twitched slightly as he looked at me.

"...Lord Ridd, is something the matter?"

"My apologies for the suddenness. Since I'm flying with Aria's assistance, I need to moderately increase my Body Enhancement output. I beg your understanding."

Honestly, I don't understand the mechanism of his hypnosis magic.

But it certainly involves influencing the target's magical energy in some way.

When I was nearly hit by hypnosis magic in the royal capital, Capella prevented it by channeling external magical energy into me.

What I'm doing now is recreating that.

By increasing my Body Enhancement output and boosting the amount of magical power circulating through my body, I intentionally caused self-injury to put a strain on myself.

'Increase the magical power circulating through the body to negate the influence of external magic flowing in.'

'Sharpen consciousness through self-injurious behavior.'

One of these two, or perhaps both, is likely the method to block hypnosis magic.

I smiled back at him. Horst chuckled softly.

"Is that so. Lord Ridd, you are truly interesting, a most intriguing individual."

For the first time since this encounter began, I felt a glimmer of emotion color his eyes.

However, that color was not friendly; rather, it was a curious, spine-chilling gaze that sent a freezing shiver down my back.

What is this unsettling, unfamiliar look?

Maintaining a calm facade, I changed the subject. "By the way..."

"Lady Ibi mentioned that you were occupied dealing with the dungeon. Despite that, why are you here?"

"Even though I left it to the Guardian Ten Wings, as you said, Lord Ridd, there is always a 'just in case.' I was also clearing out monsters nearby, so I came to check on the situation."

Saying this, he glanced in the direction from which he seemed to have come—the area behind where we were observing the Ten Wings' battle.

"I see. So that's the case."

"Now then, Lord Ridd. The monster subjugation by the Guardian Ten Wings seems to be nearing its end, so a 'just in case' situation likely won't occur. Please return to your own camp."

"...Understood. We shall do so."

As I nodded, he narrowed his eyes with a smile.

"I still have remaining monster cleanup, so I shall take my leave here. I look forward to an opportunity for a meeting with you, Lord Ridd."

"Yes, I look forward to it as well."

I returned the offered handshake.

Even through his black gloves, I felt an icy, chilling coldness.

"And, Aria."

Finishing the handshake with me, Horst looked at her.

"As I said earlier, if you ever wish to return, come back anytime."

"Y-yes..."

As Aria nodded, I cleared my throat.

"Then, we shall take our leave."

"Yes, I look forward to the next opportunity to meet."

Bowing to Horst, who narrowed his eyes, I said, "Let's go back, Aria." She nodded, and we began moving towards the location where our group was waiting.

Feeling an eerie gaze from behind and with my heart pounding, I left that place.