I Became A Squirrel Seeking For The Villain [EN]: Chapter 40

“Did you hear? Johan Hyrrad….”

“He’s supposed to be a huge troublemaker.”

“Well, he did end the war… That’s all that matters. We should thank him and do whatever he wants.”

The servants’ murmurs drifted in from outside.

Jayden slammed the merchant gazette he was reading shut in the carriage. He sighed softly and looked out the window.

He was on his way straight to the Medest Estate from the eastern region, where he had been staying on business.

Everything had happened so fast.

Suddenly, the temple invented and distributed a calming potion, and then Johan Hyrrad, who had been suffering from magical side effects, ended the war with incredible magic.

Duke Hyrrad was also praised as a great magician, but it was said that he was nothing compared to his eldest son, Johan Hyrrad.

It was said that the enemy soldiers who saw Johan Hyrrad’s magic shouted ‘unconditional surrender’ and ran away.

Johan Hyrrad, who had suddenly become a war hero, immediately headed to the capital.

Jayden also left for the Medest Estate immediately after the sudden end of the war.

The end of the war was certainly welcome, but it was a huge variable for the Medest family.

Now, Meryel’s fate depended on Johan Hyrrad. And there was no reason for Johan Hyrrad not to take Meryel as his wife.

Meryel was beautiful and kind, to the point where the Emperor openly offered her as a war prize.

Moreover, the Medest family was a great noble family of the empire, deeply rooted in the capital’s high society.

Five years ago, they had briefly faced decline, but now they had rebuilt their foundation and firmly established themselves, enjoying the glory of a high-ranking noble family.

And Jayden knew better than anyone where this glory came from.

‘Yurika, it’s so fortunate that she appeared.’

A young child who took charge of Meryel, who had been struggling and taken advantage of without any adults to properly guide her.

At the same time, she made the most of Meryel’s strengths and put her forward, while she stayed behind.

So, others did not know that the reconstruction of the Medest family was thanks to Yurika.

‘My sister is also much better, and her wealth is steadily accumulating again.’

The arrival of a genius doctor, sponsored by Yurika, at the estate was also close to a miracle.

She even saved his life, which he had been foolishly losing. Jayden was not forgetting that fact.

‘It’s been like five years since my brother-in-law came back to life.’

Jayden sighed softly, recalling the Duke of Medest, who had light brown hair like Yurika.

In fact, Jayden had often thought, ‘Could Yurika really be the child they lost?’

She was from an orphanage, but could she be the kidnapped child?

From the beginning, they adopted her because she looked so much like her, but from the beginning, weren’t they just the same person?

So, he cautiously asked Meryel about the possibility, but Meryel firmly said that it was not the case.

She even asked him not to say such things to Yurika and hurt her feelings.

He tried to investigate, but when he asked Meryel to tell him which orphanage Yurika was from, she kept her mouth shut.

He also asked the butler of the Medest Estate, but he also said that he knew nothing about Yurika.

Then he added, ‘There has never been a case of finding the missing children of the Medest family.’

Yurika herself did not seem to think that she was the real daughter of this place.

In the end, Jayden dismissed the thought, saying, ‘I guess she’s a child with a definite background if you know it.’

‘Anyway… both children should be happy.’

In the meantime, the carriage entered the capital, and he looked at the gazettes with an uneasy face.

The gazettes were filled with stories about ‘Johan Hyrrad’s’ unknown actions. Well, it was the biggest topic these days.

Jayden rushed to the Medest Estate to see Johan Hyrrad in person and ask him about Meryel. He was worried Johan would still try to marry Meryel.

However, as soon as Johan arrived in the capital, he refused even the triumphal ceremony and rushed to the Medest Estate to demand the annulment of the engagement. It was a story that was featured in various gazettes.

[Johan Hyrrad annuls engagement with Meryel Medest as soon as he arrives in the capital]

[But he says he’s not a man who goes back on his word]

Jayden shook his head.

Judging from the fact that the kind Meryel described him as rude, he must have been a terrible guy.

‘He’s not a man who goes back on his word’ must have been the only good thing they could find about him. Anyway, it was fortunate that he broke off the engagement with that jerk.

And the contents of the gazette that followed were as follows.

[Ascends to the Hyrrad Dukedom himself – the war hero’s filial impiety [disrespect for parents]]

[Duke Johan Hyrrad throws his stepmother and half-brother into the dungeon]

[What is the background behind Duke Johan Hyrrad dismissing all the servants?]

‘His family affairs are very complicated… I don’t know what the truth is.’

As far as he knew, Johan Hyrrad had been weak since he was a child, so his stepmother, the Duchess of Hyrrad, had assigned him a doctor.

The dismissed servants also seemed to testify that ‘they didn’t particularly abuse Johan Hyrrad, they just did what the doctor advised,’ but the truth could not be known.

It was possible that the doctor was in cahoots with the late Duchess.

However, it was certain that Johan Hyrrad was a strange man.

The subsequent reports were also about his eccentric behavior.

[Duke Johan Hyrrad holds a triumphal ceremony at the temple]

[Duke Hyrrad, who goes back on his word – demands a triumphal ceremony at the temple that he said he didn’t need]

Jayden clicked his tongue and read the gazette.

Johan Hyrrad, who had refused all triumphal ceremonies, demanded that a grand triumphal ceremony be held at the temple as soon as he ascended to the dukedom.

‘This proves that the advantage that Meryel had desperately found was also a lie. He goes back on his word very well.’

He desperately hoped that this strange man would not get involved with the Medest family.

Even though Johan had broken off the engagement with Meryel, he was very uneasy. The other contents that followed were also very strange.

[Duke Johan Hyrrad visits the Medest Estate every day… What is the reason?]

Why would he visit a family he broke off the engagement with every day?

Jayden gritted his teeth at the thought of having to resolve this issue as soon as he arrived and ordered the coachman to drive the carriage faster.

* * *

“The triumphal ceremony at the temple is scheduled for next month, Yurika,” Johan said, sitting in front of me, smiling and reporting in a soft voice.

“I asked if it could be sooner, but next month is the best they can do. Apparently, the official event hosted by His Majesty the Emperor takes precedence procedurally.”

“I see. It can’t be helped.”

I nodded coolly, sipping my tea. Then I smiled slightly and said.

“I’m sorry, Johan. I’m causing you to be a troublemaker because of me.”

Since I made the request to enter the temple, Johan has become an official ‘troublemaker’.

He immediately demanded a triumphal ceremony at the temple, which he had said he didn’t need at all.

Moreover, after finishing the annulment of the engagement at the Medest Estate and meeting me, he immediately returned to the Hyrrad Estate and dealt with Ella and Tezen.

In the process, he couldn’t help but be called ‘filial impiety’.

Not many people knew that he had been abused, and unless they were close aides, everyone knew that ‘the Lady was just listening to the doctor’s words’.

Johan didn’t seem to actively explain about it.

Anyway, he immediately inherited the Hyrrad Dukedom and then demanded a triumphal ceremony at the temple as I wished. So, it was natural that his image was ruined.

Still, it couldn’t be helped. The temple was not open to the public unless there was a special event, and it was too dangerous for me to sneak in alone in squirrel form.

Even if the drug created by Renat was not on the market and no one knew about it, I had to be careful if the temple was really my enemy.

“Everyone will misunderstand you… thinking you’re a strange person who is bothering the temple for no reason.”

“No?”

Johan replied nonchalantly. Then he smiled sweetly and said.

“If it weren’t for you, I would have wiped out the temple a long time ago.”

“……?”

“Because it’s the place that tried to kill you. It’s better to have no aftermath.”

Um, I don’t think that’s something you should say with such a pretty smile….

“Originally, it was after Ella and Tezen, but you extended their lives thanks to you. But wouldn’t I have been called an even bigger troublemaker if I had wiped out the temple? So it’s not your fault. It’s not a misunderstanding.”

I nodded awkwardly.

Somehow, Johan… he seems to be a strange person, even if he’s not a troublemaker.

As I smiled awkwardly, Johan changed the subject.

“And since I asked them to hold the triumphal ceremony at the temple, the Imperial Family said they would hold a victory banquet, as you said.”

He put down his teacup with a clink and looked straight at me. Then he asked in a kind voice.

“Have you decided on a partner, Yurika?”