How to Run Away from Obsessed Men

Episode 42

“I know that much. You’re right…” Crain muttered, lost in thought. The imperial family had started to keep an eye on him.

‘It makes sense.’

His close ally, Mikhail, was one of the most powerful transcendents in existence.

‘I know why they sent Lindsey to the lawless territories, too.’

As he reflected on the recent developments in the imperial palace, he realized that the royal family had started to care less and less about their valuable clerics.

‘The emperor is serious. Sending her to the lawless territories…’

Crain knew what awaited Lindsey in that place and was fully aware of the dangers she would face. And yet, he chose to do nothing. Lindsey’s usefulness and the emperor’s oversight had forced his hand.

In the face of these circumstances, he had chosen to avoid the emperor’s scrutiny.

After all, he still had Sylvia as a valuable alternative.

Even though Lindsey possessed far greater divine power than Sylvia, sometimes sacrifices had to be made for larger goals.

Above all, Crain didn’t want to get on the bad side of Prince Flute.

‘I’d better not mention this to Raysis.’

Judging from Raysis’s reaction earlier, he wasn’t in a state to make a rational judgment.

With that thought, Crain furrowed his brow.

⋆★⋆

Lindsey had arrived at the lawless territories.

The journey had been long, but she didn’t feel particularly tired. Bianca stayed by her side the entire time, and so did Kenyan.

There were monsters along the way, but Bianca and Kenyan quickly dealt with them with their swords.

“Count Rewan.”

Lindsey frowned.

The count who ruled over the lawless territories stood before her.

“Greetings, Lord Kenyan, Lady Bianca! It is an honor to meet you!”

Count Rewan bowed deeply, perhaps too much, to Kenyan and Bianca.

But his expression changed when his eyes fell on Lindsey.

A greedy look flashed in his eyes as he looked at Lindsey—not as a person, but as an object.

And it wasn’t just him.

“Is that her?”

“I heard she healed Sir Mikhail.”

The transcendentals who had come to greet them were whispering among themselves.

“I heard Sir Mikhail was healed without pain.”

“Is that even possible?”

“So it wasn’t just a rumor?”

Several of them started looking at Lindsey with avaricious eyes.

“Eyes off her,” Kenyan growled.

At his fierce words, the stares directed at Lindsey disappeared, but Count Rewan didn’t avert his gaze.

He was the ruler of these lawless territories.

Even though Kenyan was powerful, the count was certain that in this far-off place, no one could treat him as carelessly as they would in the capital.

“I’ve heard you possess extraordinary divine power.”

Lindsey couldn’t hide her discomfort.

The count’s gaze slithered over her like a snake.

‘Transcendents in this world…’

There had been rude espers in her previous life, but nothing compared to this world. The transcendents here often treated clerics as possessions.

Especially in a place so far from the capital, where laws weakened and power became absolute.

But…

‘This feels strange.’

In Korea, espers had no choice but to be kind to their guides. But Count Rewan showed none of that deference.

He stepped closer to Lindsey.

“Why don’t you try healing me?”

The moment those words left his mouth, Kenyan’s sword was at the count’s throat.

The count stumbled back, shocked. The blood trickling from his neck made it clear that Kenyan was not joking.

“Lord Kenyan, what is the meaning of this?!”

“I thought you were asking for death.”

That was Kenyan, after all.

All of a sudden, Lindsey realized that Kenyan’s sharp tongue hadn’t dulled at all.

‘He’s always been like this, huh?’

She had almost forgotten, given how obedient and reserved he had been around her lately. But this was the true nature of Kenyan—blunt and brash.

Still, watching him lash out at someone like Count Rewan gave her a strange sense of satisfaction.

“Even if you are a knight, this is my county! You can’t treat me like this!” the count shouted, his voice trembling with indignation.

“Quiet down. Do you think any of us wanted to come here?” Kenyan shot back.

“You insolent—”

“The insolence is all yours.”

Count Rewan trembled in fury, unable to control his emotions. But before long, he let out a scream.

“Argh!”

Lindsey felt a cold sweat run down her back. The transcendents guarding Count Rewan drew their swords after Kenyan deepened the wound on the count’s neck.

Was Kenyan out of his mind?

Lindsey glanced at him, unable to understand why he was so enraged.

No matter how pathetic Count Rewan was, he was still the lord of this land.

Attempting to kill him here, in his own territory, was madness.

“Are you insane?” she hissed.

“What?”

“Are you planning to kill him?”

Lindsey didn’t like Count Rewan either.

But their mission, dictated by the emperor, had to be completed. If Kenyan killed the count, it wouldn’t just be the mission that failed—they could both end up dragged back to the capital to face punishment.

“Think about why you’re here.”

At Lindsey’s words, Kenyan slowly removed his sword from the count’s throat.

Count Rewan stumbled back, his face pale as a ghost.

“Everyone, lower your swords!” he barked to his men.

His knights sheathed their weapons, but Count Rewan had already realized it.

His knights stood no chance against a monster-like transcendent such as Kenyan.

For now, retreating was the best option.

‘Once we’re back at my estate, he won’t dare act so recklessly,’ the count thought, biting his lip as he glared at Kenyan, unable to say a word.

⋆★⋆

Count Rewan’s mansion had a strange, eerie atmosphere. Lindsey, Bianca, and even Kenyan could all feel the unsettling energy.

“This place gives me bad vibes,” Bianca muttered.

“I feel the same,” Kenyan replied.

The other transcendents who had accompanied them seemed to share the sentiment.

Lindsey turned to Count Rewan and asked, “Has anything unusual happened here?”

At her question, the count’s lips curled into a sinister smile.

“Do you know why this place is called the lawless territories?”

“……”

“You wouldn’t, would you? You’ve lived your life comfortably in the capital.”

Before Lindsey could respond, Bianca shot him a scathing look.

“If you don’t want to lose your head, just answer the question.”

“Fine, fine,” Count Rewan said, casting a malevolent glance at Lindsey before clamping his mouth shut when Bianca’s glare intensified.

‘Something’s off,’ Lindsey thought.

His behavior was entirely inappropriate for someone dealing with a cleric. It was as if he was acting this way *because* she was a cleric.

“This place was created shortly after the great war that engulfed the entire continent,” the count explained.

“……”

“Unwanted people started to gather here. Criminals, deserters, the disabled, the weak and old, orphans who had lost their parents…”

“……”

“What do you think happens when a place like this, without laws, fills up with people society deems worthless?”

A chill ran down Lindsey’s spine. Count Rewan’s eyes had taken on a cold, menacing gleam.

“Does this place feel cursed to you? There’s a reason for that.”

He laughed darkly.

Bianca stepped in front of Lindsey protectively and whispered in her ear, “Now I understand why Kenyan Radian lost his temper. If that man keeps acting like this, just let me know anytime.”

As she spoke, Bianca made a gesture as if slitting her throat.

Lindsey could tell Bianca was joking to put her at ease, so she played along.

“I’ll seriously consider it.”

Lindsey stared at the count’s mansion. The darkened corners seemed ominous.

The lawless territories, a place where clerics were mysteriously killed.

The emperor had tasked Lindsey with uncovering the truth behind those deaths.

‘This is worse than I expected.’

Her eyes narrowed. There was no way the emperor had sent her here without reason.

Something was being hidden.

⋆★⋆

Lindsey glared at Kenyan in frustration. He had just returned from subjugating monsters around Count Rewan’s estate.

As the only cleric in the group, she had no choice but to handle Kenyan’s healing.

Sensing her irritation, Kenyan spoke curtly.

“You hate this as much as I do, so let’s just get it over with.”

Without a word, Lindsey grabbed his hand to begin the healing. Kenyan’s face visibly stiffened as soon as their skin touched.

“It’ll take about 20 minutes.”

There was no need to rush the guiding process. The faster they tried to finish it, the deeper the physical contact would have to be.

Unlike when she had healed Mikhail, Lindsey had no intention of getting close to Kenyan.

Even the act of holding his hand now felt unpleasant.

‘Still, I have to do my job.’

As a cleric, she maintained a minimal sense of responsibility, healing him in silence.

During the entire process, Kenyan didn’t look at her or speak. He kept his eyes shut tight, as if he was trying to endure something.

‘He probably hates touching me too.’

Oddly enough, Lindsey found herself more at ease with Kenyan acting as if she didn’t exist.

‘This is actually better.’

Just as the healing was almost finished, Kenyan suddenly looked at her, causing Lindsey to glance at him in discomfort.

“What are you staring at?”

“Your divine power is… never mind.”

Halfway through his sentence, Kenyan turned his gaze to the window with a dissatisfied look.

Then, as if tossing out a casual remark, he said, “When Bianca and I head out for the next subjugation, just stay locked up in your room.”

He didn’t need to say it—Lindsey already planned on doing that.

‘There’s something seriously off about this place.’

The transcendents under Count Rewan were strange, and the absence of any other clerics only deepened Lindsey’s suspicions.