Imprinted with the Obsessive Male Lead - Chapter 33

He had conducted a forbidden experiment, forcing mana into the human body. At the time, Michael was only fifteen years old, yet more than ten people had died from that horrific, self-indulgent experiment. Even that number was only because it had been discovered not long after it began. If the discovery had been delayed even a little, far more victims would have been made.

Although he was caught at the scene, Michael escaped with ease, and those who heard the rumors of him trembled in fear for a while. But as time passed and nothing happened, people gradually forgot about him. However, Michael had not been caught. He had simply continued his experiments on the outskirts. Experiments to create monsters that, even when contaminated by mana, could still understand speech and be controlled at his will.

No one could understand why he carried out such experiments, but like all mad villains, Michael had no particular reason beyond his own interest.

Though his methods were extremely cruel.

Starting with his own parents and relatives, Michael brought people in and forcibly injected mana into them. If they contracted mana poisoning, he would deem them failures and slit their throats without hesitation. If they turned into monsters and lost their reason, he would burn them to death as experimental subjects as well. As his experiments continued to fail, Michael began to think of Nita.

In the past, in the Mage Tower’s archives, when the original Nita had manifested her purification ability for the first and last time in front of the Duke and Duchess, he had fallen for her.

Of course, “fallen for her” was nothing more than the delusion of a madman. In the original story, it was described that Michael had fallen for Nita and harbored unrequited love for a long time, but from my perspective, that wasn’t love.

‘I love you, Nita. You’re truly beautiful. So stay by my side.’

Those words might sound sweet at first glance, but he had said them while cutting the muscles in Nita’s legs with a scalpel so she couldn’t walk. What kind of lunatic does that to the woman he loves? He had simply mistaken her for the perfect test subject he needed and confused that with love.

Michael, who had been secretly observing Nita, approached her as soon as she was cast away to the north. Smiling, he told her that he had fallen for her at first sight and asked her to live with him in his castle for the rest of her life, draping his jacket over her shoulders.

It was a childish act, like coaxing a child with sweet words. A situation no ordinary person would ever fall for.

But Michael knew better than anyone how his beautiful appearance affected others, and he had long since learned how to use it.

The original Nita, stained by harsh words, abuse, and wounds, couldn’t help but fall for the kindness of a man as beautiful as an angel. Her heart melted away like cotton candy dissolving in water.

Just once. From that one gentle smile he gave her.

After taking Nita into his domain, Michael showered her with soft kisses, and Nita willingly gave him her purity. He had taken advantage of the fact that it was her first time.

That was why he was even more vile. A man who would use anything without hesitation for his own benefit.

In the original story, there was only one true villain, Michael. Perhaps because of that, his narrative was extensive. Yet despite that, he died emptily at the climax, and the story moved straight into the ending. Though she had lost her younger sister, it ended with Vivian’s resolve to devote herself to purifying the Empire’s mana from then on.

‘Chase, you’ll help as well, right?’

‘Of course.’

An open ending that hinted at their happy future with such words.

Recalling the original story and organizing my thoughts, I looked at Chase.

Where should I start, and how much should I tell him? Honestly, it would be best to tell him everything truthfully, but I couldn’t reveal all the information I knew. If I did, I would be the mad one, not Michael.

Fortunately, Chase was waiting for me to speak, and I carefully chose my words. That Michael had been there when I first manifested my power, that he had seen me, and that I had been watched ever since.

“…He was expelled after conducting those kinds of strange experiments before, and seeing how he’s stalking me, it seems like he intends to use my power.”

That was all I could explain for now, but after hearing it, Chase remained completely still, as if he had turned to stone. I pressed my lips together and waited for his response. As if lost in thought, Chase slowly closed and opened his eyes, then tilted his head back and spoke as though muttering to himself.