The Villain Wants to Change Genres

Chapter 52

He had shown arrogance in front of Fei. He had promised to protect him no matter what. He thought he could do it if he stayed by his side, if only he didn’t lose Fei like last time.

He had been arrogant because Fei always called him a genius, and even his mentor Dedric always praised him. But he was just a weak, insignificant human after all.

That’s why, even though the target point was clearly visible, he couldn’t properly reach it. He could only graze it, unable to land an effective hit.

Luwen was angry at himself. He was furious at his own weakness that couldn’t protect Fei. He clenched his teeth so hard that blood flowed between them.

“Kid! Step back!”

It was when he was swinging his sword as if in a trance. The Kans boss appeared.

Luwen felt relieved at the thought that the young master’s safety was secured. Although he was angry that he couldn’t do it himself, Fei was a valuable hostage to the Kans, so they would take him safely and stabilize him.

‘Then what I need to do is…’

He couldn’t lose to this monster like this. If he was weak, he had to use this as a sacrifice to grow. He had to kill the Honey Grive and digest that experience as his own.

“Don’t come close. I’ll handle this one.”

“This is not the time to be stubborn.”

Before he knew it, the Kans boss had come right next to him. Yet Luwen hadn’t noticed. For his senses, sharpened in the midst of battle, to miss such a large figure approaching was impossible. It meant there was that much of a difference in their levels.

Moreover, the Honey Grive started to back away hesitantly, dragging its legs that wouldn’t move well.

The boss took out a huge axe, blocked Luwen’s way, and said,

“The young master’s condition is not good.”

Like being doused with cold water, Luwen’s mind suddenly cleared.

“How bad? Is he alright?”

“He’s asking for you. If it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t have interfered. It feels bad to take away what you’ve almost caught, but isn’t he more important to you?”

Of course. The reason he wanted to become stronger was all for Fei. If Fei disappeared, Luwen’s purpose would disappear too.

Luwen hurriedly moved. Behind him, he heard the heavy sound of something falling, boom. And the cheers shouting vulgarly about having a meat party today.

The Kans boss had taken off the Honey Grive’s head with a single strike. The fact that he could handle it in one blow, even if it had been weakened, meant that the boss’s level was higher than expected. Luwen clenched his fists.

‘The fact that I was able to enter this place, and that the young master is safe, it’s all because this boss allowed it.’

He couldn’t help but realize. If that man had invaded the mansion with the intention to kill, there would have been no survivors that night.

Fei’s figure appeared before his eyes. A Kans member whose face he didn’t even know was holding the limp Fei. Seeing the stupid Taran just stamping his feet beside them, Luwen immediately approached the Kans and took Fei into his arms.

Luwen softened his attitude at their willingness to hand him over. At the same time, his face contorted at the strong smell of blood.

“Young master. Young master, please come to your senses.”

“…Lu, Luw, wen.”

“Yes. I’m here beside you. I’ve come.”

Afraid that pressing too hard might break him, Luwen gently bumped his forehead against Fei’s as he spoke. He felt like tears would pour out if he didn’t hold them back.

Fei’s clothes were torn in various places and stained with blood. His long eyelashes, the same color as his hair, trembled and slowly lifted. The revealed purple eyes moved slowly, as if confirming Luwen’s face.

“Are you, hurt?”

“No. You’re the one who… What is this? You’re covered in wounds.”

The tears he had been holding back, not wanting to show weakness, kept forcing their way out. His eyes stung and his nose tingled. It was because Fei smiled despite being in such a battered state. The smile that Luwen loved so much.

“As long as you’re safe, it’s fine…”

A trembling hand slowly rose and touched his cheek. The palm was all torn up too. It must have been scraped while using tree branches to pierce through that thick muscle. But Fei didn’t seem to realize he was injured. Normally, he wouldn’t have tried to touch his face with blood-covered hands.

Luwen rubbed his cheek against Fei’s hand as if being affectionate. Fei smiled at him again, and his hand fell with a thud. His body went limp, becoming heavier.

“Young master? Young master!”

“Qu-quickly, to the tent!”

Taran shouted urgently.

* * *

As it was inconvenient to treat him in a hammock, the boss gave up his own bed. Although it was just a wooden bed with thick animal hide spread over it and was hard, there was nothing better to be found here.

When they removed his clothes, there were more wounds than what was visible on the outside. Fortunately, there were no fatal injuries, but strangely, Fei remained in a deep sleep.

Two days passed like that.

Fei occasionally opened his eyes, but he spent more time sleeping. Luwen felt like he was going crazy with worry. Why did he keep sleeping, why wouldn’t he wake up? He felt like he would die from anxiety.

Taran also seemed unsure of what the problem was. Luwen was overwhelmed with anxiety, wondering if they should find a proper doctor for treatment.

Then, finally, a fever started to rise. The sound of Fei’s labored breathing felt like it was choking Luwen.

Although Fei often fell ill in winter, it wasn’t this scary then. Luwen had no doubt that Fei would receive the highest quality treatment, and even if he had a fever, he didn’t fall into such a death-like sleep as now.

“Are you sure you’re doing this right?”

Luwen growled as he changed the wet cloth on Fei’s forehead.

“There are no fever-reducing herbs. I’m using folk remedies for now…”

It was so poor that they didn’t even have herbs to reduce fever.

“Where’s the nearest village? We can go buy some, can’t we?”

“We can’t go out right now. There weren’t supposed to be any large monsters in this area. We have to wait until the boss confirms it’s safe.”

“I don’t care about that. I just want the young master to be safe. Tell me. I’ll go.”

“Hey. Don’t be stubborn. I’m trying too, you know. I’m doing my best!”

“Don’t just try hard, do it well. Do it well, I said.”

“Is all you can do just complain when you’re not even helping?”

Taran shouted, slamming a book on the table. Luwen closed his mouth, unable to say anything.

After standing still for a moment, glaring at Taran, Luwen turned around abruptly.

“I’ll find it myself.”

“Huh? Hey! Hey! Ah, that crazy bastard, really.”

Taran sighed deeply. Such a stubborn and reckless person. He couldn’t understand what the young master found so precious about him to cherish him so much.

“Lucky bastard…”

It was a murmur that came out unconsciously.

That’s right. He was envious and jealous of Luwen. Because he knew how kind this person was. He disliked Luwen, who had grown up receiving plenty of love from this person since childhood.

‘I’m stupid. Studying is useless for me, so the boss will surely be disappointed in me…’

‘I don’t think so. From what I see, Taran has talent.’

‘Me?’

‘You studied every day without fail, right? Not everyone can do that. Effort is also a talent, you know? In fact, it’s the most excellent talent. Because it means you can accomplish anything.’

He had just looked and looked again, thinking he was ignorant. He believed that a person’s ability was only what was visible. Being in a group with exceptional physical abilities, he had struggled because he hated being the only one lagging behind.

But to be told he had talent, that he could accomplish anything. Fei was the first to say such things to him. He explained new facts one by one in a gentle voice. It was happiness to feel knowledge accumulating in his mind. When he was praised for doing well, his heart swelled.

It was different from the boss. The boss was like a father figure, but Fei, this person…

‘I don’t know how to describe it.’

It was certainly a deeper emotion than towards a teacher, but it was hard to name. Sometimes he felt like a younger brother he needed to take care of, sometimes like a reliable older brother, and then…

Taran placed the back of his hand on Fei’s cheek, which was red from the fever. This was his limit for now. The back of his hand felt hot.

“You crazy bastard, open your eyes before that idiot runs off. If I had known you’d get hurt like this, I wouldn’t have left…”

Bragging about being good with a sword, talking about protecting him and whatnot, and now look at this. Feeling choked up, Taran made a large walnut under his chin and kept sighing deeply.

Meanwhile, Luwen, who had run out of the tent, immediately headed towards the boss. He wanted to quickly visit the village before the young master woke up.

When he stood in front of the boss’s temporary tent, voices of conversation flowed out from inside. Unintentionally hearing it, Luwen stood rooted to the spot.

“So you’re saying they’re following the kid’s trail?”

“Yes, he did a good job of erasing his traces, but there’s a Thieves’ Guild Master with them. To fool that person, you’d need to be at least that good.”