บท 30: Ch 30: Familiar and Similar - part 2
The female lead's shout was enough to get the male lead to rethink what he did and freeze.
Layla chose that time to make a swift exit so that she wouldn't be caught up in this drama. The original story had already been twisted enough because of her actions. It won't be a good idea for the Villainess and the Male Lead to meet too early.
'Well, it's good that I knew when to run from a difficult situation.'
Layla reached the praying room quickly and called for the priest as soon as she caught her breath.
She had seen the original portraits of the characters in her past life and noticed that the Male lead and the villainess had similar color schemes. But Layla had not thought they looked that familiar in their gown-up portraits.
'Ugh, but we did look familiar. Somehow, I don't have a good feeling about it. I should head back now.'
There was no point in staying back here to prey anyway. This goddess was not Layla's end goal after all. Their powers were not even compatible.
...
"You ended your praying much quicker compared to all the other times. Did something happen?"
Mary's eyes sparkled in a way that said she knew that Layla did. However, as long as the butler was unwilling to speak up about it, Layla did not intend to reveal what she was doing in the temple.
"Did you gather all the information about Professor Ragnarock I requested? Can you show it to me?"
Layla asked, quickly changing the subject as she held her hand out. Mary made a disappointed face, but she gave Layla what she requested.
The small file she handed over had only two pages. The text on those pages was generous, meaning there was little information to provide.
This much information felt like a joke for a man who was almost 300 years old.
Mary's expression did not give anything away, but Layla was sure that the older female had omitted much information from this package.
"Don't give me that look! I did want to get more information, but most of it was in the restricted section of the Imperial Library. It would have taken me years to gather it all. I can try that if you want me to-"
Mary offered, and Layla just sighed before running her forehead.
"No, there is no need to do that. I don't need all this information anyway. I just wanted to get it to make a better first impression on Professor Ragnarock. But I guess I will settle with this much for now."
Layla sat back down and gathered her material. She read it quickly, but it was just basic information that would not be useful.
Still, she finished reading it before their carriage reached the forest where Professor Ragnarock lived.
"Mary, we are getting off here. You delivered my letter to the professor already, right? Then he should be expecting us by now."
Layla asked, and Mary nodded.
"Of course, I delivered your message. Miss, please keep close to me. This forest is dangerous since it has a lot of unregulated beasts running around. I don't want you to get hurt again."
Mary pushed Layla behind her, and the pair continued to walk.
The forest looked dark and gloomy, with only a few spots of light descending through the thick canopy above.
Layla could see many beasts keeping their distance from her and looking at her with hungry eyes. But Mary's presence kept them at bay, causing them to shiver as the older female glared at them.
The pair reached the end of the path, where the small cottage finally greeted them.
The first thing Layla noticed was the vast field of herbs surrounding the house, and the next was the revolting smell from too many potions.
"My lady, it is not too late to turn back and go home. I don't feel like leaving you in a smelly field that could make you fall sick. How about we go and find-"
Mary offered, but Layla had other ideas. She headed toward the door in front of her before taking a deep breath and almost dying coughing.
Smelling the air was not a good idea for her.
"I came here for a purpose, so I can't return before achieving it. You can head back if you want to know."
Layla offered, but Mary made a face between annoyed and pleased.
"I am afraid that I cannot do that. I am duty to my young miss and will see it through."
Layla knocked at the door before her with Mary's support behind her.
The door did not open, but Layla heard a muffled voice inside the house.
"Go back! I am not taking any visitors. Come back when I open reservations."
The male voice sounded old and on the verge of collapsing, but Layla had seen the illustration of the elf in the original work. He had been described as middle-aged, so around a 40-year-old human.
There should be no reason for him to sound this old.
Layla could only think of one reason the older man acted this way: dismissing Layla as important and disregarding her effort to choose him.
"Oh my! It looks like we are being dismissed, young miss! Would you mind stepping aside? It feels like this door is jammed and needs my help. Ah, it has been some time since I helped like this. This brings back memories."
Mary spoke in an easy-going voice before raising her hand, and an axe appeared.
The axe looked the same size as Mary's body, but she swung it like it weighed nothing.
As soon as the axe touched the door, it went flying, and Mary watched it with a smile. She had broken down the door as if it were made of paper.
"My apologies for knocking down your door. But you will let us in since I helped you, right?"
Mary asked with a smile on her face.
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