I Became A Squirrel Seeking For The Villain [EN]: Chapter 107

Libena smiled and continued,

“Just drop a drop of the Duke’s blood into warm food. Princess Yurika trusts the Duke, so it will be very easy.”

She shook the vial slightly in front of Johan.

“You know, you can’t possess someone in a lover-like relationship anyway.”

Johan quietly stared at the vial Libena offered, then slowly reached out.

Then, he asked in a sharp voice,

“Why are you giving this to me instead of Theodore?”

“If the original purpose is the same, we’re on the same side.”

Libena replied casually.

“And with a little change of perspective, I thought the Duke’s purpose and mine might align.”

Johan would be happy to possess Yurika, and Libena would be happy to be rid of Yurika’s interference.

It was a proposal she could make because she had no intention of honoring her agreement with Theodore anyway.

“This is a drug that I’ve been saving, waiting for the perfect moment, as there’s only one vial left.”

“……”

“The Duke doesn’t care about Medest’s secrets, does he? Stop backing such a disgraced family.”

Libena slowly offered the vial to Johan. Then she smiled and continued.

“Today’s hunting competition winner will be Crown Prince Roymond. And the Emperor will start a public opinion campaign as if to show off his son’s achievement. That way, the war hero will be forgotten, and may even be sacrificed to consolidate imperial power.”

“Hmm.”

“All this has been happening behind the scenes while the Duke has been distracted by Princess Yurika. Don’t you feel slighted?”

Libena smiled, holding out the vial to Johan.

“Turn Yurika into a squirrel and keep her by your side, and focus on what’s more important.”

Johan stared at the vial with indifferent eyes.

A confident smile appeared on Libena’s face.

It was an offer that no magician could ever refuse.

Being able to possess a sacred creature forever would naturally be tempting.

Johan narrowed his eyes and muttered.

“The last vial……”

“Yes. It’s the last chance.”

It was when Libena said emphatically that Johan reacted.

“I see.”

Johan grinned and opened the vial.

Then he poured it straight onto the dirt floor of the tent.

Libena’s eyes widened as she thought everything was going according to plan.

“What, what is this!”

She shouted in surprise.

“Now, get out.”

As if he had never wavered from his initial stance, Johan said in a cold voice.

“Just being alone in a tent with a young woman for this long is already bothering me. I’m worried Yurika might get the wrong idea.”

There was no way to recover the spilled drug.

As Libena was flustered, Johan confidently got up and opened the tent door himself.

“I’ve heard enough nonsense. You can’t kill me as you said, so get out.”

Libena took a deep breath for a moment, her face blank.

She never thought that one of her trump cards would be wasted so futilely.

She thought it would definitely work, but why……

Libena stared at the ground for a moment, then slowly opened her mouth.

“Surely you’re not really having a normal love affair with Princess Yurika.”

A sneer appeared on her face.

“Magicians can’t do that. You know that.”

It was virtually the same sentiment as what Ella had said.

“A love affair between a magician and a sacred creature, no less… It’s interesting.”

However, the difference was that it was a calm and composed analysis, rather than a mixture of anger and resentment.

“But I’ll see how long it lasts. Love and possessiveness are somewhat different concepts. I’m starting to feel sorry for Princess Yurika, who now believes it’s love.”

Libena’s cold words continued.

“I have experimental equipment that I’ve been familiar with since I was young. I hated it when someone touched that equipment. It was so precious that I brought it to Count Sevs’ mansion.”

“What……”

“That doesn’t mean I love that experimental equipment. Think carefully about this encounter.”

She walked towards the entrance of the tent and said coldly.

“I’m sure there will come a day when you regret today’s choice. These situations will keep happening. Goodbye.”

Johan stared at Libena’s back for a moment, then got up.

He wanted to see Yurika.

Even though she said she would be back soon, he felt like he had to see her right now.

* * *

“Well, you don’t have to work too hard.”

I stroked the tiger’s head and smiled slightly.

“Crown Prince Roymond will win anyway.”

That was already decided when they prevented Johan from participating due to the regulations.

“I guess they’re afraid Johan will be a threat to the imperial family.”

I shrugged and muttered with a heavy heart.

‘Does power corrupt people?’ The Emperor was being overly political.

In comparison, how innocent is Roymond, who is blinded by love.

“Anyway, it’s a pointless precaution.”

I stroked the tiger’s back and continued.

“I know what Johan wants.”

I quietly thought about Johan’s childhood for a moment.

A small boy trapped in a tower, crouching, enduring pain, and groaning.

In the original story, and even now, Johan never really coveted power.

In fact, he continued to have a fake love affair with me, which didn’t seem to help his reputation much.

And after we became lovers, I could definitely understand what he wanted even better.

“Johan just wants to live a normal life. Like us, he wants to have a happy family. He doesn’t show it, but I think he wants to create a family himself.”

What he really wanted was to have pretty children with me and live happily together.

That’s why he must have reacted so strongly to the word ‘curse.’

It was the first time I had seen him so enthusiastic about anything he had been so indifferent to.

It could be seen as what he truly wanted, as he had always been suffering from pain and consciously rejected the idea of a normal family.

So, things like power or influence couldn’t be important to him.

And in order to grant his wish, I had no choice but to diligently delve into the hidden secrets.

“So, Father.”

I gently stroked the tiger’s back and said affectionately.

“Please take good care of Johan. Don’t be so wary of him.”

The tiger narrowed its eyes and growled unhappily, as if that was the final word.

I cheerfully looked around and hummed softly.

I found some purple wildflowers that resembled Johan’s eyes and picked a few to make a flower bracelet.

Even if I couldn’t put a winner’s wreath on him, I could at least make him a bracelet.

I was planning to just kill time like this and go back quickly.

‘The real work will happen at headquarters anyway. I’m not going to win the hunting competition, so there’s no reason to be here.’

As I was making it, I was enjoying myself, so I was looking around to mix in some pink wildflowers that resembled my eye color.

“Krrr……”

The tiger was the first to notice the presence.

The tiger lowered its body slightly and showed aggression.

It was when I hurriedly turned around.

“Long time no see, Princess.”

It was a voice I hadn’t heard in a really long time. I got goosebumps all over.

“I missed you.”

The owner of the voice was Theodore.

‘Why is he here……? He should definitely be staying at headquarters.’

As I took a step back and didn’t give a specific answer, he grinned and continued.

“I came out saying I had something to tell my brother for a moment. But I ran into you by chance?”

Did he think I would believe that?

I glared at him and put my hand on the tiger’s back.

“I don’t want to talk to kidnappers. I’ll be going first.”

“Ah, good.”

Theodore smiled and shrugged.

“I can’t leave my spot for too long either. Let’s go back together.”

What was he talking about again?

“……Together? Where are you going together with a kidnapper?”

I glared and said with a very sharp voice.

“For your information, you know who’s by my side, right?”

The tiger next to me made a scratching sound and lowered its body threateningly.

But Theodore asked calmly.

“Aren’t you going back?”

“What……”

“I’m going to keep chasing you.”

He said triumphantly.

“So wouldn’t it be better to go back to headquarters quickly? Rather than wandering around the forest like this alone with me.”

It was really crazy talk, but in the meantime, it made sense in its own way.

If this guy decided to be a stalker, it was more dangerous to spend a long time alone.

To be honest, I wanted to order the tiger to destroy that human, but it was obvious that the tiger would be executed for killing a member of the imperial family.

I didn’t want to talk anymore, so I turned around abruptly.

And I started to hurry back to headquarters with the tiger.

It hadn’t been long since I came out anyway, so the distance wasn’t far.

Theodore followed me, humming.

‘As soon as I get to headquarters, I have to lock myself in Johan’s tent.’

I was running like that and heading to the field of headquarters.

I suddenly stopped when I found a man with a terrifying aura.

“……Johan?”

Johan, who should have been in the tent, was already at the entrance of the forest.