The Male Leads Were Stolen By The Extra [EN]: Chapter 44

Ian clenched his fist so hard his knuckles turned white, grinding his teeth.

Ironically, Ian, who had been the main pillar of the saviors, was forgotten by everyone.

He couldn’t have felt more pathetic.

Never, at any moment, had he been overshadowed, alienated, ignored, or gone unnoticed.

He had always been the center of attention, making any place his stage, because he had always excelled from birth.

He was always the protagonist, no matter when or where.

But what was this…?

Before he could even use his outstanding skills, that bastard had instantly slain the monster.

That nobody, who came from who-knows-where, defeated the monster, surpassing the Imperial Knight Commander.

His pride as a knight lay shattered on the ground.

There would surely be an article about today’s events. A sense of humiliation surged within him.

Moreover, Celonia standing next to that bastard, as if it were natural, further irritated him.

Originally, she had always been by his side.

He had reluctantly chosen Grace, but from the start, that woman was his.

Ian glared at Tan with sinister eyes filled with unknown jealousy and possessiveness before finally moving his feet.

He wouldn’t let that bastard get away with it. He would dig up his true identity and bury him completely.

And he would take back everything. Everything that was his.

“Hmph.”

Meanwhile, Grace, standing in the hallway of the Marquis’s mansion, watched this whole scene with a smirk.

Grace saw it clearly.

When even the knights and Ian couldn’t do anything, that man named Tan instantly slashed the monster.

She had recognized him when they met at the boutique, but he was no ordinary man.

He was extraordinary.

Not only did he easily break McRyan’s power, but he even defeated the monster before Ian could.

Today’s events would be talked about for a long time.

Then surely people’s attention would turn to that man.

A man who captivated everyone’s attention. He was perfect for her.

Above all, his height, body, and face were all to her liking.

She didn’t know where such a man had fallen from, but she had to have him. Again.

Everything was hers, after all.

* * *

After the incident was settled, the knights of the Denroha Marquis family worked together to move the monster’s corpse to burn it.

“Celonia! Are you hurt? Are you injured?”

Galloway, who had heard the news late, rushed over in a flurry.

“Father, I’m fine.”

Celonia nodded, telling Galloway, who had rushed over with a bloodless face, that she was okay.

“Are you really okay? Are you not hurt at all?”

Galloway examined Celonia’s body from corner to corner, as if determined to find any scratches.

Celonia felt a lump in her throat, sensing his self-reproach for exposing his daughter to such danger and his deep concern for her.

“I’m okay, really.”

“Haa… What is going on? I was talking with the club members in the annex when I heard the news, and you have no idea how surprised I was.”

“Still, I’m glad it ended without anyone getting hurt.”

“I didn’t know either. If I had known, I wouldn’t have asked you to come with me.”

He held Celonia’s hands tightly, as if he meant it. She could feel his hands trembling slightly, as if he was truly surprised.

“Of course. No one would have known.”

Who would have expected it?

That Marquis Denroha’s surprise event would be an exhibition of captured monsters.

“Anyway, there’s going to be a big commotion. His Majesty will never let this go.”

Galloway clicked his tongue, watching Marquis Denroha, who was busy trying to clean up the mess.

It was a major incident that could have resulted in casualties, so the Emperor would hold Marquis Denroha accountable.

“Oh, esteemed guest. You saved my daughter again.”

Galloway greeted Tan, who was coming out of the crowd toward Celonia.

“Your skills are amazing the more I know them. If you’re interested in becoming a knight, tell me anytime. If it’s you, I’ll use my influence to push you hard.”

Galloway said, laughing heartily as if he meant it, and Tan simply nodded without answering.

“Yes, yes. Selly, go back to the mansion first. I think I should help the Marquis with the cleanup.”

Galloway patted Tan’s arm affectionately and spoke to Celonia.

“Yes. I’ll see you later.”

Celonia said goodbye to her father, who was hurrying away.

“You were really amazing!”

Ella, who had been holding back her excited emotions, opened her mouth again as Galloway disappeared.

Ella was still unable to calm down, as if her constantly chattering mouth didn’t hurt.

“You disappeared at an invisible speed! And you saved the young lady! Kkheuueueue!”

Ella waved her hands and applauded as if there was no greater epic than this.

“Haa…”

Unlike the fussing Ella, Celonia sighed deeply.

It was because all eyes were focused on Tan because of today’s events.

There would definitely be an article about it tomorrow. There was no way there wouldn’t be.

The fact that they had captured a monster that couldn’t be seen in the capital was already a sensational story, but the monster had escaped.

At the moment when a big deal could have happened, Tan had defeated the monster in one fell swoop.

Already, the nobles who attended today’s party were all talking about it.

Although there was a crisis, they had seen a monster that they might never see in their lifetime, so they would be talking about it everywhere.

Then, Tan’s story would naturally come out, so it was almost a foregone conclusion that an article would be published tomorrow.

‘Damn it.’

She had planned to keep him quiet and send him home, but it was ruined. He had caused a huge accident.

Celonia tore at her hair with a haggard face.

The Demon King who had lost his memory suddenly became a hero among the nobles. What was going on in the world?

“Oh, right! Did you see that, young lady?”

“See what?”

Celonia asked in an exhausted voice to Ella’s tireless question.

“Duke Cherbil. After Tan-nim [term of respect] slashed the monster, people flocked to him, and he was trembling alone in the distance before leaving! They said he was scared of Tan-nim, so it’s a good thing!”

Ella giggled, saying it was well-deserved.

“Ah, right.”

Celonia had forgotten about Ian’s existence.

Whatever. It was none of her business.

“Then I’ll go get the carriage!”

Ella left to call the parked carriage.

Celonia stood blankly in place, staring up at the sky.

But what was that from before?

When the monster rushed towards her, she braced herself, thinking it was attacking, but something was strange.

She knew the murderous intent and aggression well because she had encountered countless monsters rushing to attack during the subjugation.

In particular, Garum always rushed in with his ears pulled back and sharp teeth exposed.

But when Garum rushed at her today, his ears were perked up and he was even panting.

It was an unbelievable sight.

Or was she seeing things wrong?

“Hmm?”

Celonia, who was waiting for the carriage while thinking about that, realized something was wrong and turned her head.

Tan next to her was still quiet. His red eyes, staring into the void, were more sunken than usual.

“Are you tired?”

Celonia asked him.

It was understandable since people had rushed at him all at once and he had received attention.

Tan mostly didn’t answer people’s questions. He even seemed annoyed.

He said he would think about Marquis Denroha’s offer of reward and didn’t say anything more.

He had seemed a little dazed since then, as if he was lost in thought.

Ah, could it be… Did he remember something after seeing the monster?

“This ability.”

“Yes, yes?”

Celonia’s voice cracked, surprised that he might have really remembered something at the words that came out of Tan’s mouth.

“It seems like no one else has it, so why do only I have it?”

Tan realized for sure that he was the only one who had read the monster’s thoughts as people chattered beside him.

Everyone was wondering how the monster broke through the bars.

But Tan knew because he had read Garum’s thoughts.

When he was trapped in the cage and covered with a black cloth, he had been conserving his strength to take revenge as soon as his vision cleared. Cleverly.

When he thought about it, there were more than one or two strange things.

While living in the Duke’s residence, Tan learned this and that.

People ride carriages when they move. Because they can’t teleport like him.

They couldn’t create fire in their hands, so they used matches or magical tools to light fires. Not everyone could use special powers like him.

Besides, he didn’t sleep and could live without eating.

When he realized the difference, he was very bothered. It made him feel like he and Celonia were very different people.

Why, only me?

“Well…”

Celonia mumbled, watching Tan’s expression. Had he not remembered anything?

“You know me. Why is it different?”

Tan demanded an answer with more persistent eyes than usual. What on earth was he that he was different from her?

“I really don’t know.”

Celonia read the confusion and anxiety in his red eyes, but she had no choice but to pretend not to know.

She couldn’t tell him that the power that no one else could use was because he was the Demon King.

Tan lowered his gaze, which had become even darker.

Seeing that, Celonia opened her mouth in case he delved deeply into the source of that power.

Of course, she also felt uneasy at his slightly sad expression.

“It’s not different, it’s special.”

Tan raised his head at the soft voice that pierced through the surroundings.

Then he saw clear blue eyes containing himself.

“Having something that others don’t have is called special. Not different.”

“…”

“It means you’re special, so don’t worry too much.”

Thinking that this would be enough, Celonia scratched her cheek with an awkward face and turned her head.

Tan couldn’t take his eyes off Celonia.

Once again, his heart began to beat violently.

The clouds, the passing people, were moving in time with the flowing time, but Celonia and himself in front of him seemed to be trapped in this time, as if forever.

She clearly told him not to worry, but he could no longer help but worry.

That one word that erased his worries in an instant, every moment he was with her who said those words, had become special to him.

A cool breeze blew.

Celonia looked into the distance and tucked her fluttering hair behind her ear. Her dress fluttered with it.

Tan slowly closed his eyes as he watched the scene.

He realized that day.

That the wind that brushed past her had a scent.

That she was special to him.