Obsession… What’s That? I Just Wish Someone Would Help Me Escape - Chapter 103

I was sure my uncle, Marquis Claude Farsene, was dead.

The theory that a soul could be swapped into someone else’s body—that theory had just been proven right before my eyes.

The being now inhabiting Saintess Justina’s body… was none other than the god El.

‘You can’t stay home just because you’re frail. Go out, see the world, meet people. That’s when you’ll feel truly alive.’

‘Kido, I’d do anything for my beloved niece. I’ll make all your wishes come true.’

I’d always known my uncle treated me differently.

Whether he had a demon lurking behind that kind smile, or whatever his true self was—it didn’t matter.

He was the only person who had ever been kind to me.

People say love is all the same, but the affection my parents and uncle showed—wanting to use me to secure the inheritance—was a completely different thing.

He never wanted anything more from me. He was content with what I already had.

Affection without expectation. Transparent kindness.

It was irrational. Ambiguous, even.

Some people would call it familial love.

…Is this what it feels like to be alone in the world?

I’d been alone in my past life too, but I never felt like this.

Maybe… it’s only once you’ve been loved that you realize what loneliness truly is.

“Move, move, move it! I don’t care if you’re hurt, quit dragging your feet!”

The guard’s harsh shout snapped me out of my thoughts.

The prisoners—now much fewer—were being loaded into military trucks to head back to Gavakse Prison.

No number group had been completely wiped out thanks to the early suppression of the rampage event, but the 10s still suffered heavy losses.

Leah, Deneb, and Clara had thankfully survived.

Inside the rattling military truck, Johann kept glancing sideways at me, his brows twitching every time.

Enrique was staring at me with his usual chilly smile.

After a long silence, Johann finally spoke.

“Hey. What’d you do with Justina?”

“Nothing. We just ate cookies.”

“Then why—”

His words cut off as he pressed his face to the side of my neck.

I could hear the slow exhale of a breath taken deep into his lungs.

His breath tickled my skin, and I flinched.

Then, in a low, sighing voice—

“Why do you smell like some random man?”

Johann, the man with beast-like instincts, was glaring at me like he was about to rip someone apart.

Well, duh. I was with a god who just happens to look like a man.

Now I had to decide whether to tell him that the Saintess had already been devoured by a god who was now cosplaying as a normal person.

“This is a secret, but… Justina’s actually a crossdressing guy. He told me he’s pretending to be a woman for… reasons.”

I had no idea what I was saying anymore, but I explained it like it was gospel truth.

He hadn’t been properly indoctrinated yet, so he wouldn’t know.

I was cutting off any budding feelings ahead of time—no need for a yandere arc with a fake saint.

Enrique, who was listening quietly, tilted his head.

“…Really?”

I needed to sell it harder.

I racked my brain for a novel where the male lead crossdresses… and came up blank.

Failing to find one, I just gave a hollow smile.

“I don’t know the full story either. He wouldn’t tell me. I’m just using it as blackmail material.”

Johann stayed quiet, then slowly muttered.

“There’s something off about them.”

“About what? I didn’t think anything was off.”

“They’ve seemed… dead. Ever since they arrived at the prison.”

What is with this guy’s intuition? It’s terrifying.

Beneath his black hair, Johann’s green eyes burned sharply.

“You went to edify that guy?”

“I didn’t.”

Enrique tilted his head again.

“Then how’d you know he was a guy?”

Why are their questions so pointed?! What is this, an interrogation?!

“His clothes slipped off by accident. I saw, okay?”

Johann looked like his brain had short-circuited.

“…That doesn’t just… happen. No, wait. Sometimes my shirts rip too. Still—if you weren’t going to edify him, what was the point of going?”

“I told you. To dig up dirt. And so what if I smell like another guy? What’s it to you?”

“It just… pisses me off.”

“Why?”

You use me like a campfire and a pillow. So why?

And why are you already complaining the moment you agree to be my loyal dog?

“…I don’t know.”

I was hoping for a well-trained shepherd, but I got a sassy little shiba instead.

Maybe it was because the person in question was Justina?

“Could it be… you’ve fallen for me? You see me every day, catch feelings without realizing, and now I’m always on your mind?”

If he’s really the prison’s top dog, I might consider dating him.

I mean, he’d probably take care of anyone who annoyed me just by hearing, “Babe, listen to what happened today…” And all the flavorless potatoes and Choco Pies offered up by lower ranks? All mine.