Munchkin Disciple Wants to Stop Being Obsessed Over

Finding out the Count’s vile plan wasn’t particularly difficult.

Having received various skills from my Master, I could eavesdrop on the conversations between Count Cayden and his subordinates just by secretly watching from a distance.

On the other hand, they seemed to lack any caution, revealing their disgusting desires whenever they thought no one was around.

-“Hey, did you see that chick who just passed by? Tsk, she looked so delicious.”

-“I saw her. Really, I wanted to grab her by the hair and drag her to our quarters. If this was our domain, I would have followed her right away.”

-“Hah, by the way, why hasn’t the Count been holding parties lately? Is it possible he can’t get it up even from voyeurism anymore?”

-“That can’t be the case? Even at the place we stopped by before coming here, he got it up just fine.”

-“Come on, you idiots. What would you know about the Count’s grand plan? The Count is preparing such a big party for us right now.”

Sounds so disgusting that just hearing them made my blood boil backwards and made me want to tear my ears off.

Every time I overheard this, I felt a strong urge to draw my sword and cut off their heads, but I didn’t want to ruin everything, so I had to endure, biting my lips.
I sincerely wanted to prevent it.

At least the sight of Rose and her family being ruined by such men.

‘Disgusting bastards.’

What I learned while eavesdropping on the conversations of these vile men.

They were irredeemable human waste.

They said they had enjoyed “parties” with the Count even before coming here, and the parties they referred to were ones that completely ruined a woman’s life.

The question I had when I first learned this.

Why would someone of a Count’s stature do such things with his subordinates?

The answer to that question could be heard from the subordinates.

‘Because he was a voyeur.’

Count Cayden, who could only get aroused by witnessing women being violated by others.

These human wastes with entangled interests with such a Count.

The more I think about it, the more disgusting it is. How can someone born as a human become so vile?

‘Fuck.’

My teeth grind as I recall the plan I discovered yesterday when I secretly followed them to the Lake of Mana.

-“Haha, they call it the Lake of Mana for a reason, truly worthy of its name. I haven’t even dipped my body yet, but I already feel excited all over!”

-“Hehe, Count. Such a gracious barony, shouldn’t we return the favor?”

-“Dunkel, you’re right. Yes, of course we should. I’m so grateful, I’ll give the young lady of the baron’s family an unforgettable birthday present!”

-“Gentlemen, did you hear? The Count is inviting the young lady of the baron’s family to the party!”

-“Yahoo!”

I had expected it to some extent.

But there was a world of difference between just imagining it in my head and actually witnessing such a vile scene.

It was that shocking. Not just one, but nearly ten men trying to harm a child who had just turned twelve.

‘Now I understand.’

The reason why Rose in the game appeared as a villainess.
The reason she chose death for herself.

It was because she was broken beyond repair.
Body and mind, everything was so messed up that she couldn’t even hope for salvation.

That’s why.

After arriving at the room, Rose silently stared at the window.

Was it because I had discovered Count Cayden’s plan?
Or was it because I felt sympathy for the villainess in the game?

Today, Rose’s shoulders seemed particularly pitiful, and her expression looked darker than usual.

“Lady Rose.”

Unable to bear the sight, I opened my lips and asked.

“Are you alright?”

Are you alright? At that, the tiny face looks at me.

“…Yes.”

Looking closely, tears had pooled in her eyes. Her lips had been bitten so hard that bright red blood had formed on them.

‘She’s been holding it in…’

From what I’ve seen, Rose is a smart and bright child. So there’s no way she doesn’t know.

The fact that Count Cayden has lewd intentions towards her.

“Kamel…”

Was I the one who failed to manage my expression? Rose stared at my face for a moment, then called my name with a forced smile.

Is this what it feels like to have your heart torn? My stomach turned with an unspeakable frustration.

“Can you hug me for a moment?”

“That’s…”

“There’s no one around. If not, I’ll…”

A trembling voice, soaked with tears.

Rose looked like she was about to burst into tears at any moment.

“Just for a moment.”

-Embrace.

So I couldn’t resist and hugged her. It was something I would never have done normally, but I had no choice.

Because I felt that if I didn’t hug her like this, Rose would collapse at any moment.

I carefully stroked the tiny head buried in my chest.

“H-hic.”

Then my shirt gradually became damp, and soon I began to feel trembling in my chest area.

‘What should I do now?’

While I felt sorry for the crying Rose, I was also at a loss.

It felt like I should comfort her somehow.

‘If only I had experience with this.’

The most I could do was awkwardly stroke her head.

How long had we been in that awkward posture?

Perhaps it provided some comfort, as Rose, whose trembling had subsided, separated from my embrace and called out to me.

“Kamel.”

“Yes, Lady Rose.”

“Let’s stop this.”

Suddenly stop what? Actually, did we ever start anything?

“Pardon?”

“Pfft, look at your face. Anyone would think I just asked for a broken engagement.”

“Wouldn’t anyone make such a face if you suddenly said that? Anyway, what do you want to stop?”

“Playing knight. It’s been fun until now, right? So let’s stop. I think it’s better to stop when it’s still fun.”

“Lady Rose, I was quite serious about…”

I was about to add “about this role,” but seeing Rose’s expression, I couldn’t continue.

“I’m serious too.”

Rose was smiling on the outside, but she looked very resolute, as if she had made some big decision.

“…”

Why is she suddenly acting like this?

I had a rough idea.

A high noble with lewd intentions towards her,
Her powerless self,
A knight who wants to protect her.

Right now, Rose is worried about me.

Worried that I, a commoner, might get caught up in something bad.

‘How can a twelve-year-old have such depth?’

Well, I’m also twelve on the outside.

Thinking that this tiny child was genuinely worried about me made me feel a lump in my throat.

On the other hand, I was also a bit annoyed with Rose.

This kid who’s barely out of diapers.

Daring to worry about an adult like me?

“Lady Rose.”

So I called Rose with a somewhat angry voice.

“U-Yes?”

Rose answered with round eyes, seeming a bit flustered.

“You’re disrespecting me right now, aren’t you?”

“Ah, no?”

“Then why are you worried about me? I’m good at fighting, you know? To be honest, I could even beat your father.”

Sensing this undercurrent, I began to press Rose.

“S-Suddenly, what are you saying? I wasn’t saying that…”

“Hah, let’s just be honest. Lady Rose. You were anxious because that Count was acting like a pervert earlier, right?”

“That’s…”

“And during that, you realized it, didn’t you? That maybe it’s not me, but Kamel who could get hurt.”

“…”

Was my rapid-fire speaking shocking to her?

Rose was gaping and stuttering, and after catching my breath, I continued.

“Actually, I know too. That Lady Rose is someone with a depth beyond her years. I almost fell for it too. That you were just a pure, cute, and silly person.”

“I never deceived you!”

Rose flaring up at a strange point.

I was a bit taken aback by her reaction, but.

No matter how much Rose screeched, to me she was just like a chirping chick, so I could continue speaking.

“Alright. Then let’s put it this way. Lady Rose is cute and has depth. Is that better?”

Upon saying it, it sounded similar to what I said earlier, but Rose pouted her lips and nodded.

“Well, anyway. Lady Rose’s depth is too much. But Lady Rose, do you know?”

“What?”

“We’re only twelve years old.”

Hah, a deep sigh escapes.

It was understandable. The conversation and worries we were having weren’t meant for twelve-year-old children.

“So it’s okay to act spoiled, if you have someone to lean on, don’t hesitate, it’s okay to rely on others.”

“What I’m saying is, Lady Rose, because you’re young, you don’t have to act like an old soul who forcibly pushes others away because you’re worried about them. Why?”

“Because Lady Rose is still young. Lady Rose doesn’t know, but in this world, being young is the greatest advantage.”

When I spoke seriously, Rose answered me with her eyes wide open like a rabbit.

“…But you’re also twelve, Kamel.”

“…”

For a moment, I almost answered “Oh, that’s right?”, but since it wasn’t the mood for joking, I continued moving my lips.

“Yes. That’s why I’m acting spoiled right now, aren’t I?”

“What spoiled behavior are you showing, Kamel?”

“A twelve-year-old commoner saying he’ll protect the daughter of a baron. If this isn’t acting spoiled, what is?”

“You’re right, but I thought you might get hurt… so…”

Rose trailed off, beginning to sob slightly.

As expected.

Even though she had shown many mature behaviors lately, a child was still a child, and Rose was still Rose.

“Lady Rose. Listen carefully.”

Having clearly gained the upper hand over the young child, I grabbed Rose’s shoulders with a serious expression.

“I will absolutely not get hurt. I promise. If I think I’m going to get hurt, I’ll stop this knight play.”

“…”

“I told you earlier, didn’t I? Lean on someone if you have someone to lean on. I’m also planning to lean on my Master I mentioned before if such a situation arises. So.”

“So?”

“It’s okay for Lady Rose to lean on someone without holding back when things are difficult.”

“On whom? You have someone like a Master, but I…”

Rose bowed her head and asked, holding the hem of her skirt with trembling fingers.

“On your knight. I’ll continue to act spoiled like this, so Lady Rose, just lean on me.”

“Kamel. What are you becoming?”

“Yes, I am. Or what does it matter? With people like the Baron or Sir Jeti around to help. So.”

“…”

“Just be ‘protected’ quietly. Don’t act like an old soul. Understand?”

Did I speak too harshly to a child?

I asked as if admonishing her, but Rose’s eyes were already welling up with tears.

Feeling a slight guilt for making a young child cry, I continued speaking.

“Oh, and there’s something I forgot to tell you a few days ago.”

“…?”

“Do you remember when I told you something about the greatest dishonor for a knight?”

“…The tears shed by the one they serve.”

“Yes. But it turns out, that only applies to adults. So.”

I smiled awkwardly at Rose and said.

“It’s okay to cry.”

Rose, who had been looking at me, burst into the tears she had been holding back.

Jeti’s office.

Jeti, scratching his navy-blue hair vigorously, sighed deeply and asked me.

“Kamel. The things you just told me, are they really true?”

“Yes. I heard it. That Dunkel fellow is going to deploy a large-scale illusion magic at the party tomorrow.”

“…They intend to leave no witnesses.”

“They’re probably trying to create an alibi with the illusion.”

“These crazy bastards!”

Jeti, seemingly truly enraged, shouted and slammed his fist on the desk.

Bang, with a loud noise, bundles of documents scatter into the air.

“T-This is not the time. We must tell the Baron immediately and cancel the party.”

Jeti, unable to contain his anger, immediately gathered his coat and tried to rise from his seat.

“No. We should inform the Baron, but the birthday party should proceed as planned.”

“What? Kamel. Do you understand how serious this situation is? At this rate, Lady Rose will…”

“Those bastards. We need to catch them for sure.”

I restrained Jeti while showing him a pendant with a red gem that I took out from my bosom.

“That’s…”

“An artifact. It dispels all mental-type magic.”

“Is it r-real? Well, let’s say it is. Such a precious artifact, where on earth did you…”

I didn’t bother to mention that I had secretly stolen it from Master’s spatial storage.