Obsession... What's That? I Just Wish Someone Would Help Me Escape - Chapter 55
The next morning, I asked Leah where the 20s prisoners had gone after being driven out.
“They said they were heading somewhere around here. Why?”
“Because of what happened yesterday. I want to find Number 27 and ask him what really happened. Can you come with me?”
Leah glanced at Johann, gauging his reaction, then nodded.
“Of course, we’re close friends, aren’t we? I could even carry you there.”
Smiling, I leaned closer to Leah and whispered quietly.
“Don’t overdo it.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means take it easy. You’re making me cringe.”
Leah, with a smile as sweet as mine, placed a hand on my shoulder and whispered only loud enough for me to hear.
“I can never bring myself to like you, you wretched thing.”
“It’s been that way since the start, hasn’t it? Now, lead the way.”
“Fine. Just make sure to tell Prince Enrique later—tell him what a kind friend I am for helping those in need.”
Following Leah, I found the prisoners from the 20s camped out across the river.
“There they are.”
Once we arrived at their modest camp, I coughed and glanced at Leah.
“Do you think you could ask them to brew some tea? This cough is killing me.”
I showed her the dandelions I had picked along the way, and she snorted, turning her head.
“Why didn’t you ask Johann to do it?”
“The coughing got worse on the way here, so I picked these as we went. Wouldn’t it be a waste of time to go back just for tea?”
“Oh, fine.”
Luckily, there was someone in 20s with the ability to control fire, so brewing tea wasn’t a difficult task.
At Leah’s request, one of the prisoners carved a wooden cup and brewed the dandelion tea for me.
I took the cup and glanced around before spotting Number 27 cleaning fish.
“Number 27. Can we talk somewhere private?”
He lifted his head and looked at me.
His calm expression felt disgustingly brazen.
“What’s this about?”
He lowered his gaze again and absently asked the question while scraping fish scales with a sharp stone knife.
“I wanted to ask what happened yesterday.”
“Alright. I need to wash my hands.”
Standing up, Number 27 tilted his head slightly, gesturing for me to follow.
He walked to the riverbank, washed his hands, and then entered a hut made from branches and large leaves.
Sitting inside, he shook the water from his hands and asked,
“How much do you remember?”
“You asked me if I knew why we’re trapped here. That’s when my memory cuts off.”
Number 27 smiled in relief.
“So you remember up to that point.”
“What’s the reason we’re trapped? Finish the story.”
I pretended not to know and asked again. He nodded, stroking his chin.
“I was about to tell you about the Five Great Families and the five demons, the origins of all ability users.”
“Oh, that? I’ve heard it before. Those priests from the Order always show up spouting nonsense about how we’re sinners or something. Who are they to judge and punish us as sinners? If exterminating people is the will of Eloastre, then doesn’t that make their god pretty messed up? Their teachings preach about the sanctity of life and peace, and yet…”
As I prattled on nonchalantly, Number 27’s eyebrow twitched slightly.
I didn’t stop provoking him.
“The more I think about it, the more hypocritical that god seems.”
“Ahem.”
Number 27 cleared his throat harshly as if to shut me up.
“Tell me what happened next.”
“Alright.”
I rested my chin in my hand and faced him.
Number 27 began to speak in earnest.
“While we were looking for traps, I suddenly heard you scream. There were traces of someone pushing through the bushes towards the cliffside. That’s how I realized you must’ve fallen over the edge.”
“Was it an accident? But you didn’t find me at the bottom of the cliff?”
He nodded.
“It certainly seemed like you fell, but no matter how hard I searched, I couldn’t find you. So I returned to the base, announced your disappearance, and was about to organize a search party when you suddenly came back.”
That fabricated story at least had one truth—he genuinely couldn’t see me.
