<Chapter 146>
#16. Hidden Purpose (10)
Only after Johaim had completely disappeared could Melty finally release the tension that had built up in his body. Remembering the madness that had flickered in Johaim’s eyes made his body tremble involuntarily.
“Ugh.”
As if to prove that he wasn’t the only one who had been startled, he felt pain from his abdomen. Groaning, Melty collapsed onto the blanket and gently rubbed his stomach with his hand. He also didn’t forget to take deep breaths in and out.
Fortunately, the abdominal pain slowly subsided, but Melty, with his back soaked in cold sweat, couldn’t muster the strength to move. Staring blankly at the ceiling, he repeatedly creased and smoothed the bridge of his nose.
“I guess the baby takes after me and is a coward.”
Recalling that if the baby had taken after Calix, it would have snorted derisively no matter what Johaim said, laughter spontaneously erupted from his lips. Still rubbing his belly in circular motions, Melty was deep in thought when he turned his head toward the door.
“I need to escape.”
Although Melty had already succeeded in escaping once, he had no idea where this place was. Just beyond this warehouse where he was sitting, trees grew thickly. The densely grown trees showed no distinguishing features, making it impossible to even determine cardinal directions.
‘Even if I get out, if I end up in the same situation as before where I can’t find my way, it won’t mean much.’
Above all, Johaim’s glance at his swollen belly didn’t look good. By now, Melty had no trust left in Johaim Kun Sarvie.
‘His words about not harming me were strange too…’
His words sounded like a warning that the child in his womb wouldn’t be safe. Having watched how much Johaim despised Calix and the Padrian family all along, Melty’s anxiety grew. As if sensing Melty’s unsettled feelings, his stomach felt like it was starting to hurt again with a subtle twinge.
“Tsk. No.”
Melty tapped his belly lightly to prevent pain and spoke sternly. At Melty’s resolute tone, the abdominal pain subsided again. Rubbing his stomach with his hand, Melty smiled brightly.
‘I guess our baby is a genius. Well, Calix-ssi is intelligent, and I’m not bad either…’
Diagnosing the brain of an unborn child, the corners of Melty’s mouth twitched upward. He remembered that he hadn’t told Calix about the baby.
‘He would probably be happy if he knew…’
Perhaps he would even shed tears uncharacteristically. Come to think of it, he had never seen Calix cry like that. Imagining what he might look like, Melty giggled and slowly moved his head to look around.
He missed Calix.
Even after confirming that the abdominal pain had completely subsided, Melty didn’t move carelessly. Though his belly was just big enough to look like a small potbelly, it was understandable that the baby would be startled. After meeting Johaim, the meals handed to him had improved considerably from the small, hard bread that had been tossed to him.
Not that the quantity or quality was comparable to the food he had eaten to his heart’s content at the Padrian mansion. The little one who had always eaten whatever he wanted was now consuming only fist-sized portions of food, which was enough to cause dissatisfaction.
‘And even that can’t be trusted.’
Among all the things Johaim had said, the only part Melty could empathize with was that Calix would come here directly to save him. Waiting quietly for Calix here to avoid any potential threats could also be an option. After all, they hadn’t harmed Melty, and Johaim had explicitly stated that such concerns were unnecessary.
‘But now Johaim-ssi might be targeting the baby.’
Protecting himself wasn’t the end of it. Melty had to protect the baby too. And he also needed to save Naru, who was still missing.
‘If I could just hide somewhere, it would be easier to wait for Calix-ssi…’
He shouldn’t have been captured that day. Furrowing his brow, Melty steadied his breathing to calm himself down. He was confident that he could survive in the forest for days. The Crosel family had always lived in mountains or forests, and Melty had basic survival knowledge.
The knowledge his family had forcibly instilled in him before he first went outside after safely passing his coming-of-age ceremony also bolstered his confidence.
Just as Melty was racking his brain for a plan, the door opened with a loud bang. Startled by the sudden noise, Melty’s eyes turned toward the door.
“Shit.”
A man with a fierce expression entered, spitting out a curse. Surprised by the appearance of the stranger, Melty inched back again and pressed himself against the wall opposite the iron bars.
The man spat on the floor and rubbed it with his shoe. The fierce-looking man glared at Melty and muttered.
“Leave that alone? For whose benefit?”
It was almost like talking to himself, but Melty’s hearing, which had been on high alert since the man’s appearance, easily caught what he was saying. At the ominous look in his eyes, Melty quietly swallowed.
The term “equal relationship” that Johaim had mentioned came to his mind belatedly. That meant there was no hierarchy, implying that there could be people who disagreed with Johaim’s words.
As the man walked toward him, Melty closed his eyes tightly, his face turning pale.
***
Calix half-raised his right hand. At his gesture, those following him all stopped in their tracks. The path rarely traveled by people was, naturally, overgrown with vegetation. Even with careful movement, the rustling sound of the undergrowth left traces of their passage.
“Calix-nim. Are you sure this is the right place?”
He nodded slightly at Angel’s cautious question.
“Probably. I never would have thought they’d be in a place like this.”
They had come to a mountain situated a short distance from the Padrian mansion. It was famous as a place people avoided due to the “Illusion Flowers” that bloomed from the middle of the mountain. The Illusion Flowers, which showed hallucinations to people and ultimately devoured them, were dangerous plants in many ways. Even if one was lucky enough not to die, some people with weak immunity could become insane.
‘Well, those who fearlessly entered a space filled with epidemic patients wouldn’t hesitate to come to a dangerous area like this.’
When investigating after Melty’s abduction, they hadn’t overlooked this place. But he had forgotten that there weren’t many people who could properly examine the interior without being affected by the hallucinations of the Illusion Flowers.
At that time, Calix had been focused on creating a cure based on the notes Melty had left and couldn’t give proper instructions. In terms of priority, securing Melty’s safety was far higher. But if he hadn’t proceeded with making the cure right then, Malek would have inevitably died. His condition was that serious at the time.
He had handled the situation to prevent Melty from being sad, and now all that remained was for him to safely return to his arms. From the moment he learned that Melty wasn’t alone, Calix’s worries had doubled.
After confirming that the movement of the vegetation from inside was from a small animal, Calix resumed moving.
“There’s still no response from Naru?”
“…None at all.”
Exhaling a low sigh, Calix pressed his fatigued eyes with his hands and took a deep breath. All Olluas formed contracts with the Padrian family at birth. Naru, given to Melty under the pretext of a gift, was one of the Olluas Calix had raised directly since it hatched from its egg.
“Naru must be alive too. I hope it’s with Melty.”
The special trait of Olluas wasn’t their venom. If Naru were to die, Calix would immediately receive information about its location, condition, and situation. Although not widely known, those who carried out this kidnapping seemed to know this, as they hadn’t killed Naru.
“Calix-nim.”
“Found it.”
Nodding at the title used to address him, Calix’s field of vision captured a clearing beyond the undergrowth. In the center were old tents set up here and there. And there were also the figures of people, easily numbering over fifty.
“Should we enter right away?”
“…And what if my fiancé is endangered by that?”
Calix, speaking as if mocking, regulated his breathing. There was no need to act hastily, but he didn’t want to waste more time here either. He took out a dagger from inside his clothes and cut the tips of several of his fingers. Then he inserted his hand into a pouch attached to his waist.
Hiss! Hisss!
With threatening sounds, the gray pouch wriggled and moved around. Twisting the corners of his mouth into a smirk, Calix only released the pouch onto the ground when they had consumed enough of his blood.
“Go and quietly eliminate them. Don’t forget to find Melty.”
The Olluas, responding with hisses, dispersed all at once. Observing their movements, Calix glanced at Angel who wore a blank expression.
“They’ve consumed my blood, so they won’t fall prey to the hallucinations.”
“Yes… I don’t particularly want to imitate that.”
“You couldn’t even if you wanted to.”
Smiling briefly as he finished speaking, Calix turned to look at those behind him and opened his mouth.
“When the Olluas start moving in earnest, we’ll begin our entry as well.”
