An Extra Who Wants To Escape The Obsessive Male Lead - Chapter 33

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Chapter 33

Nira was the sole surviving descendant of an assassin family that had faithfully served Alors for generations. As a professional assassin, he took pride in his profession, and even amid the loss of his relatives and close kin, who had perished in battle or in the shadows, he harbored no resentment.

“Nira, we can survive because of the clear water of Alors. We must protect it.”

His father had taught him.

“Though you cannot just follow anyone. We must constantly doubt whether the lord is worthy of service and whether they are someone who deserves the loyalty of the Shadow Blade Family.”

He firmly believed that as a loyal vassal, it was his duty to always question the actions of his lord.

However, tragedy struck when his father’s lifeless body returned. The incident was attributed to an attack by Argenta, and it occurred not long after the previous Duke and Duchess of Argenta were killed.

“Something is strange. Stay at home, and I’ll investigate.”

Those were the words his father had spoken before succumbing to a lifeless state right before his eyes.

While everyone around him was consumed with anger, Nira held a different belief. He couldn’t shake the thought that his father had employed the Shadow Blade Family’s unique disguising technique, even as he returned in a state almost devoid of his disguise after death.

Nevertheless, he could still recognize him.

Argenta killed his father while he was in disguise as a commoner? The head of Argenta, the young and feeble Diello Argenta, who couldn’t even scorch a single insect with his flames?

Following his father’s demise, the Alors family fell into corruption, indulging in various atrocities and losing its integrity. Quietly, Nira started nurturing suspicions about Alors. During this time, news of Krua’s marriage reached his ears.

‘…I’m sure I didn’t see any signs of her awakening as a Ferro.’

With the Shadow Blade Family’s technique of concealing magic, Nira could detect even the faintest traces of magic coming from Ferro. Still, until the day Krua Alors left, she didn’t emit such magic.

While harboring these doubts, he eventually discovered the truth not long ago.

“Huff, huff…!”

And now he was being chased relentlessly. It was already the third time he narrowly avoided being caught.

Now, even his endurance was reaching its limit.

“Stop right there!”

If he stopped, would they really stop chasing him? Nira forced his legs to run as the Alors’ assassins were relentless. He knew that better than anyone since he was a part of it.

Was this how he would die?

“Just give up now!”

When he closed and opened his eyes for just a moment, he was already surrounded by Alors’ assassins.

Swoosh!

The sound of swords being drawn echoed from all directions.

Swoooosh—!

At that moment, he thought the sound of flowing water around him was unusually loud. Alors’ assassins formed a wolf-shaped figure from water out of thin air.

“Ugh…!”

Even though he also attempted to manipulate the water, it was futile. While he could utilize Alors’ ability, the powers of the other assassins nearby restrained him.

“Leave no trace and devour him.”

The assassins gestured, and the water-formed wolves slowly approached Nira. He tightly gripped his sword as the water-formed wolves drew nearer.

Then, all of a sudden…

Owooo!

The wolves let out a high-pitched howl and turned around.

“Wha-what’s happening?”

The startled assassins were met with the sight of the wolves exposing their fangs. In a split second, sharp teeth struck, and seven out of the ten assassins who were about to attack him were immediately dealt with.

However, there were still ten wolves remaining.

If the water manipulator was dead, shouldn’t the wolves revert to water? This meant that the wolves were being controlled by someone else.

“…Such a powerful water manipulation ability exists in Tilah Heights?”

Nira murmured in surprise.

Owoo!

The assassins, who were supposed to be the hunters, became prey to the wolves in an instant, leaving no traces behind, just as they themselves had ordered. In addition, the ten wolves, like obedient puppies, gazed towards a figure that appeared there—a woman with purple hair.

“…Lady Krua?”

Could it be that she possessed such powerful water manipulation abilities, capable of controlling all ten wolves at once?

That seemed unlikely.

Nira’s eyes widened in disbelief.

* * *

As expected, Nira was being relentlessly chased.

“This way.”

Following the guidance of Argenta’s intelligence, the timing of their rescue of Nira was impeccable.

Owoo!

As the water-formed wolves rushed toward Nira, I hesitated briefly before steadying my heart and raising my trembling hand.

‘…This is something I must do, even if it threatens my life.’

I clenched my hand firmly when I thought about it. The next moment, my hand sparkled with a bluish light. The ten assassins surrounding Nira seemed to believe that the wolves would tear him apart, as they didn’t seem to doubt for a moment.

However…

Owoo!

The wolves they controlled were ultimately made of water. So for me, with much stronger water manipulation abilities, taking control of their water was an easy task. If I could move the sea, surely handling this amount of water would be nothing.

“….!”

As a surprised look filled Nira’s eyes, I appeared in front of him with the wolves arranged neatly behind.

“…Lady Krua?”

His expression was full of disbelief.

Seeing that expression, I was convinced that my current water manipulation abilities far exceeded anything that the original Krua Alors possessed. If that weren’t the case, Nira wouldn’t look at me and the wolves with such an incredulous expression.

Now was the time to give him a choice.

“Are you Nira of the Shadow Blade Family?”

He paused at my question before lowering his head.

“…Yes, I am Nira.”

The Shadow Blade Family might not have possessed elemental abilities passed down through three generations like the three main families, but they had a unique ability in ‘disguise.’ That was why they were sought after by many, and they had to conceal their true identities.

However, Nira seemed to have no intention of hiding anything. I liked that.

“I believe you know who I am.”

I casually extended my hand.

In truth, we were the ones in a hurry since we needed the Shadow Blade Family’s disguise technique, but it wouldn’t be good to reveal our intentions so easily. Therefore, Nira should be given the opportunity to choose.

Above all, there was Diello, with his eyes sparkling, eager to witness my ‘persuasion technique’ up close. Somehow, I felt like I needed to do better.

“You’re Lady Krua Alors”

Despite the fact that Nira bowed his head slightly upon saying it, I could sense his wariness towards me. It was natural for him to be on guard, considering that ‘the wicked woman’ Krua Alors had appeared before him.

Moreover, he felt betrayed by Duke Alors since he believed that I was in a cooperative relationship with him.

I looked at him and spoke.

“You’re mistaken.”

When Nira raised his head at my words, I continued.

“I am Krua Argenta.”

My words seemed to make him pause. It was evident that he understood the meaning behind my words. By correcting the name ‘Alors’ to ‘Argenta,’ I indirectly conveyed that I no longer identified myself with Alors.

“Let me be straightforward. According to Argenta’s intelligence, you know my secret, right?”

As he clenched his lips tightly, conflicting emotions were visible in his eyes. It was understandable. No one could have anticipated that Krua herself would suddenly appear on the scene and inquire about her own secrets.

“As you know, it’s a dangerous secret if it gets exposed.”

Nira’s eyes flashed for a moment, and I immediately felt a surge of strong energy from him. As the Argenta’s intelligence nearby noticed his aura and were about to react, I raised one hand to stop them.

“Hold on.”

With just one hand, I halted their response. Nira then asked.

“Do you really follow that plan, Lady Krua?”

I had been waiting for this question—the plan of the fake Ferro.

“No.”

I replied casually, shaking my head.

“As I said, I am Krua Argenta. I have joined hands with Argenta, and I will use the plan you don’t know to take down Alors.”

A soft breeze made my purple hair sway gently as my words persisted.

“I have no intention of being used as a tool and dying.”

Nira’s eyes sparkled, and they held a different expression than before. I knew what he wanted to ask.

“The power of Alors should be used to protect Alors. However, even if I am their bloodline, there’s no way I can willingly become a tool for the plan that uses my own bloodline.”

This would likely match his thoughts.

“I don’t trust the current Duke Alors.”

My words hit home, and as expected, Nira’s eyes widened.

“I heard that the Shadow Blade Family is deeply loyal to Alors. However, since Duke Alors is trying to kill you, is it okay for other Alors like me to use your abilities?”

I slightly lifted my head.

“You just need to pledge loyalty to me, and I will protect you from the Duke.”

Nira’s throat tightened with a swallow. If I was merely the original Krua Alors, he might have hesitated. After all, her ability to manipulate water was rather feeble, and he wouldn’t want to risk a futile battle.

“….”

His eyes soon shifted to the water-formed wolves under my control. I allowed them to frolic playfully for a brief moment before sending them back to the river.

Splash!

In the distance, the sound of wolves leaping into the water reverberated. The closer I remained to the water, the more my confidence in my water manipulation abilities grew.

Then, I spread out my hand.

Whoosh!

At that moment, I felt like I could grasp the flow of the river with my hand before a water-formed dragon leaped up from the river.

“….!”

Seeing his eyes widen, I was sure he had understood the fact that my water manipulation ability was growing stronger.

Nira, who must have felt it too, finally lowered his head.

“…If my humble abilities are needed, I will gladly serve you.”

“Good.”

Success. I glanced at Argenta’s intelligence.

“Bring Nira with you.”

I finally tightly clenched the hand that still retained the sensation of water manipulation. The immense power that once controlled the river flowing through Tilah Heights felt overwhelming, reducing even the great river that traversed through the gorge to a mere stream in comparison.