The Obsessive Maniac Is Trying To Confine Me

Chapter 209 Richard stayed here?This place… “It’s been a while since you were here, right?” “I don’t think this is the kind of place to be chatting so excitedly…” It’s a cursed land. And it’s the same pure white temple I saw long ago. Why would he stay in a place where it’s hard to even use your powers properly?Well, considering the countless enemies, there’s probably no better place to avoid people. “Hold this for a moment.” I handed Shi-eon the suitcase. “Then, I’ll be back.” “I’ll go with you.” He hurriedly grabbed my wrist. “No, I think it’s better if I go alone.” I don’t know what Richard might do when he sees Shi-eon. But I did have some confidence. I had the power to stop Richard. “Will you be okay?” “…If I don’t return within a day, come find me.” “Understood. I’ll wait, senior.” I entered the temple. The interior was far more desolate than when I last visited. The cold air made me shrink as I walked further inside. ‘Was this place always this spacious?’ Where could Richard be? Looking around as I walked, I stopped in front of a large door. Could he be inside? For some reason, I felt strongly drawn to this place. Without hesitation, I opened the door. A pale-looking man was sprawled carelessly on the floor. The eerie silence made me momentarily think Richard was dead. But then, sensing my presence, Richard sat up. “…It’s been a while, Richard.” The moment our eyes met, my breath caught. It felt like being crushed beneath the depths of a silent ocean. “…Another illusion?” Illusion? “…I’m not an illusion. I came here after hearing you were starting a war.” “…….” “Is that true?” I looked at him, hoping it was just an exaggerated rumor, hoping he would deny it. But Richard simply rested his chin on his hand and gave a crooked smile. “This illusion speaks.” “…….” Something seemed terribly off about him.Had he been using drugs while we were apart? “Maybe that’s why this is better.” Richard slowly stood up and grabbed my arm, pulling me toward him. “……!” The suddenness left me no time to resist. I was helplessly dragged forward. Pinning me down so I couldn’t move, Richard pressed his lips to mine. My mind went blank from the abruptness. “Mmph…!” I struggled to get him off, but he didn’t move. Not only that, he took all my breath away. Feeling like I might suffocate, my head spun.Only when I had gone limp did Richard finally release me. Smiling at my weakened state, he gently tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear. “You have no idea how pathetic I am, clinging to an illusion like this. But even if you’re just an illusion, you’re so sweet it’s driving me mad.” “Snap out of it, Richard. I’m not an illusion.” But Richard didn’t seem to believe me. Just how many illusions had he seen to make him like this? Kissing my forehead, his hand trailed down to caress my ankle.A strange sense of déjà vu made my skin crawl. The moment I tried to pull my foot away, his grip tightened. “Don’t be afraid. If you don’t run, I won’t do anything.” “…….” “But if you try to escape… I can’t guarantee anything.” He was even more unhinged than when I last saw him. This wasn’t going to work. I needed to weaken him first. Just like what I had done to Yurtha, the moment I was about to take his power, a black energy erupted from Richard’s body. ‘Huh?’ The pure white power that came out of my hand was eaten away. It was the same kind of power I’d seen from Rosie on the day of ceremony. “Why do you have this power…?” “Why do you think I’ve been staying in the cursed land?” “No way…” Was Richard also using the cursed land’s power, devouring his own body like Rosie had? “Argh!” The black energy coiled around my limbs like shackles.Satisfied with how easily he had overpowered me, Richard pulled me into his arms. I twisted my body to escape, but he kissed my cheek this time. “I love you.” His whisper sent chills down my spine. “Let me go, Richard.” “No. You’re mine.” His hazzy blue eyes showed no sign of listening.Or rather, he seemed incapable of reason. “I came to stop you.”“You came to stop me?” Unlike me, who talks seriously, he couldn’t hide his laughter as if he was just enjoying this moment. “What if? Everything you have heard is true.” “…….” “When the sun comes up tomorrow, I plan to destroy everything.” He spoke such chilling words so lightly,as if all this was just a child’s prank. He played with my hair and kissed me. “Why would you do such a terrible thing? Don’t do it, Richard.” What meaning could there be in such senseless destruction?It would only lead to his own ruin. “Isn’t it obvious?” Richard smiled gently at me. “Because you hid yourself from me.” “…….” “If I destroy every place you could run to, you’ll have no choice but to come back to me.” The man trying to steal my breath away smiled blissfully. “So, Rose, just wait a little longer.” I had to stop Richard.I knew that in my head… But the ecstasy and madness in his blue eyes, a chaotic mix of emotions I couldn’t even begin to understand, made it impossible to speak.This was beyond my ability to handle. My powers weren’t working—what else could I do?The resolve I’d had before entering this place was quickly fading. “I love you, Rose.”Richard whispered sweetly, biting my earlobe. ***** Crack. While Rose was with Richard,Shi-eon had reached his limit. His body was beginning to break apart, piece by piece.There was no more time. It was time to make a decision. **** -Senior. – Senior, can you hear me? It was a long time later that I came to my senses. Because Richard didn’t let me go, I had to suffer in his arms for a long time. So I fell asleep without realizing it… ‘What am I thinking? How could I fall asleep here?’ Richard was holding me comfortably in his sleep.If only we could stay like this forever. Even when morning comes… -Senior. At that moment, Shi-eon’s voice echoed in my head. How was he even doing this? “I hear you.” -Are you okay, senior? Should I come inside? “No, I’ll come out.” I glanced down at the black tendrils binding my wrists and ankles.This was insane. Concentrating all my strength, I summoned as much of my white energy as possible.Slowly, the tendrils began to weaken. I grabbed them and ripped them away with all my might. ‘I have to get out of here.’ Twisting my body, I managed to slip out of Richard’s arms as he slept,then fled the room as fast as I could. “Senior! Are you alright?” As I left the temple, Shi-eon, who was waiting for me, carefully examined my body. “I’m fine, but you…” Wait There were even more cracks on his face than before. “Your face…” “Ah. Don’t worry about it.” How could I not worry when he looked like that? “Are you sure you’re okay?” “I said I’m fine. More importantly, what about inside?” “…Richard? He’s not well. I don’t think I can stop him. When morning comes, he plans to start a war. And I don’t think I can stop him.” What do we do now? The black sky was slowly turning blue, streaked with hints of red. The sun was already rising. “… There is a way.” “A way to stop Richard? Really?”I asked, startled. “Yes. I’m sure of it.” He was smiling, but he looked so fragile, as if he might vanish at any moment.Without thinking, I grabbed the front of his shirt tightly. Shi-eon gently clasped my hand, as if to reassure me, and led me back toward the temple. He stopped in front of the door where Richard was. “How do you plan to fix this? What’s your plan?” “The plan…” Shi-eon smiled softly and ruffled my messy hair. “I will go inside. Senior, stay here. Just wait five minutes and everything will be over.” “You’re not planning to kill him, are you?” Even after everything, the thought of killing Richard didn’t sit right with me.I wanted to stop him—without taking his life. “No.” Shi-eon smiled as if not to worry, but the anxiety that remained in my chest did not go away. “Senior, I love you.” Then Shi-eon suddenly confessed his love. I was taken aback. “… I know it’s sudden, but I had to say it.” I hadn’t even had the chance to respond when he smiled again. “Just wait here for five minutes, senior.” Then, go inside.