Imprinted with the Obsessive Male Lead - Chapter 24

“Finish assembling within five minutes. We depart immediately.”

“Yes, understood!”

Logan turned and left. If it wasn’t beneath the mountain range, then it wasn’t the location where the mana storm from the original work would occur. It was most likely mana fog, like last time.

Once mana manifests, it doesn’t disappear on its own. It hides and then reappears repeatedly. Like a living organism, it moves locations after a certain period of time and contaminates the land.

That was why, until now, Chase had focused only on evacuating people. Without the power of purification, mana couldn’t be eliminated. Since there were no mages, the best they could do was prevent people from turning into monsters. That might have been how things were handled until now, but this time was different.

I widened my eyes and stared at both Chase and Anthony.

Now. Ask me. Ask me to purify it. I’ll gladly do it! Once they receive my help, they’ll hesitate, even if only a little, about sending me back. There’s nothing I can’t do. This works in my favor. Thinking that, my eyes sparkled with anticipation.

“Don’t cause a disturbance. If you try to hide, I won’t let it slide.”

But as if he wouldn’t give me even that chance, Chase coldly spoke and immediately headed for the door.

His trust must have dropped because of what happened earlier. Still, I can’t miss this opportunity! I sprang up from the bed and ran. Then I grabbed onto Chase’s jacket as he was leaving the room.

“I-I’ll go too!”

***

It was clearly a bright, sunny day, but the moment I got off the carriage, a cold wind blew. The wind tickling the tip of my nose made me feel like coughing, but I squeezed my eyes shut and endured it, clutching my robe tightly. Then I glanced at Chase as he got down from the large black horse.

I can’t show weakness in front of that man. Coughing or anything else. Absolutely not. I have to endure it.
Starting today, even if I’m sick, I won’t be sick.

“I’m sorry. There wasn’t enough time, so I couldn’t let you change into thicker clothes.”

“It’s okay. I’m not that weak.”

I said, sniffling as my nose ran. Anthony pretended not to notice and gave an awkward smile. He’s kind, unlike his master.
Being able to come this far was also thanks to Anthony’s persuasion.

‘We need help, so how about letting her accompany us just this once? The fact that there’s a village nearby is concerning. The movement of mana has been unusual lately… She might be able to prevent any unforeseen incident.’

Chase frowned as if reluctant, but when the villagers were mentioned, he didn’t say anything further and simply turned away. I had thought that meant refusal, but Anthony acted as if permission had been granted and brought a robe to drape over me.

‘Let’s go. I don’t usually go out to the field, but I’ll accompany you today as well.’

I stared at the unfamiliar black mana spread out before me. The place where the mana had manifested was an ordinary open field. Turning my head, I looked around and saw the small village Anthony had mentioned. It was filled with bright red roofs and white brick houses, a pretty place that suited the name “Red Village,” something I hadn’t seen before in the monotonous north.

“Then, Lady Nita. I leave it to you.”

“Yes! Don’t worry.”

I nodded vigorously toward Anthony and stepped toward the fog.

Dark and still, like something that existed in the depths of the ocean. The mana was so black that not a single ray of light could pass through, even in broad daylight.

Just as I was about to begin purification, I suddenly turned my head to the side. People were watching me from the far side of the village. I couldn’t clearly see their expressions, but they seemed anxious, worried that the mana might affect them.

Even so, they hadn’t fled immediately because mana fog had never occurred in the village before. Usually, mana fog appears in places like this. open fields, mountains, areas close to nature where human presence is scarce. But it was too early to feel at ease. When this kind of land contamination repeats and mana accumulates, a storm forms, and after that, things change.

A storm doesn’t choose its location. It spreads in an instant and engulfs people.

That’s why with mana fog, it’s still acceptable to observe the situation without fleeing immediately, but one must be careful, as contact with mana is still possible.

Coming into contact with mana doesn’t immediately turn someone into a monster. However, mana first transforms the weak. the elderly, and children.