Surviving As An Obsessive Servant Chapter 156

“What the…? Where did everyone go, leaving only a baby behind? And what the hell happened to this house??”

Lazlith burst out in frustration, as if it were her own home that had been wrecked.

She quickly approached the crying infant nestled in the blankets.

By some stroke of luck, the child’s delicate skin bore no wounds.

At least they don’t seem hurt… First, let’s calm them down.

But Lazlith had no experience with children—especially not ones this young.

…What do I do?

After hesitating for a long moment, she awkwardly forced a smile at the baby.

“Hi there.”

To her surprise, the child immediately broke into a bright grin.

…Smiling?

After enduring days of tiptoeing around Darden’s every reaction, Lazlith felt an unexpected wave of emotion.

She had almost forgotten—children were such precious, innocent beings.

As if sensing her tension, the baby kept smiling at her.

“You… You’re really sweet, huh?”

The child let out a delighted giggle, as if understanding her words.

For a while, Lazlith just sat there, grinning foolishly back at the baby.

Then, she shook herself from the moment.

…I can’t leave them here alone. I’ll carry them out for now.

Carefully, she wrapped the baby snugly in the blanket and lifted them into her arms.

She paid extra attention, shielding the child in case it rained again.

Fortunately, the dark clouds had already passed.

The now-clear sky let sunlight flood the village, revealing details she hadn’t noticed before.

“…The trees are dying.”

Even the massive tree at the village’s center—the World Tree—was blackened as if it had been scorched.

Lazlith cautiously stepped closer, eyeing it with suspicion before reaching out.

The moment her fingers brushed the bark—

“Ugh!”

It crumbled away like charcoal dust.

She lifted her gaze. The withered leaves above looked brittle, ready to fall at any moment.

A chill ran down her spine.

It was as if the tree had burned to death.

…Maybe I can get a better look from the other side.

The tree was so enormous that she’d have to walk quite a distance to see its far side.

But as she tried to step forward, she hit an invisible barrier—an impenetrable magical force.

Lazlith scowled in frustration.

Breaking through something like this might be possible for the elite mages of the Magic Kingdom…

But for a mere explorer like her, it was impossible.

I’ll just go back to the hut and wait for the baby’s parents.

Yet, one day passed.

Then two.

Three.

Four.

When a week had gone by, her thoughts changed.

…I have to leave.

The skies had finally cleared, and the sea was calm.

She didn’t know when the weather would turn again, so she had to seize the chance.

And, more than anything—

She didn’t want to be involved with Darden anymore.

But there was one problem.

…I can’t just leave the baby here.

Lazlith hesitated.

Then, making up her mind, she cradled the child in her arms and boarded the boat.

She left behind a letter for Darden, somewhere he’d be sure to find it.

After that, as if the weeks of raging storms had been nothing but a lie, the voyage was smooth.

Lazlith took the child to a merchant city and raised them as her own.

It was around that time that the emperor—who had once sought immortality—drew his final breath.

She also heard news from the Magic Kingdom’s envoys, the only humans who had ever interacted with the Difs.

They had confirmed the complete extinction of the Dif race.

But strangely, no one could provide details on how it had happened.

Lazlith, sipping milk, stared down at the baby, who was grinning up at her.

“…If I sent you to the Mage Tower, they’d probably make you a test subject, huh?”

She couldn’t do that.

This child—

This child was all that remained for Lazlith, who had lost her dream of exploring to be with a lover who ultimately left her behind.

This child was already a part of her.

She would rather stay silent forever than send them somewhere dangerous.

From that day on, Lazlith began writing in a journal, recording the child’s growth.

And when the child came of age—she finally told them the truth.

“…I’m a Dif?”

“Yeah. Though, more accurately, a half-blood.”

The child’s green eyes had always seemed different from Darden’s.

They didn’t glow with that same mystical brilliance.

But Lazlith never mentioned her lingering doubts about the Difs’ extinction.

She feared the pain it would bring them.

Instead, she made them swear never to reveal their heritage to anyone.

She was terrified of what might happen if the wrong people found out.

One day, the now-grown child presented her with a gift.

Lazlith realized they had discovered her journal—the one she kept hidden beneath her pillow, calling it her greatest treasure.

They ran their fingers over its worn leather cover—

And suddenly, the entire book glowed.

“As long as I remember you… your treasure will never fade, and your story will remain untouched.”

Upon learning their origins, the child decided to leave.

They didn’t want their existence to bring trouble to Lazlith.

And now that she had a new family, they no longer wanted to burden her.

“Forever.”

Lazlith understood.

So she didn’t stop them.

But as they lingered, hesitating even at the doorstep—

She spoke from the depths of her heart.

“This will always be your home.”

“……”

“Make sure you come back.”

The child’s green eyes glistened with unshed tears as they embraced her.

That was how they parted.

Lazlith never spoke a word about the child’s identity again.

But on her deathbed, she passed down their story to her own children.

And she made one final request:

If my child… If Harold ever returns to our home, welcome them as family.

From the first entry of the long expedition journal—

To the very last page she had written before her death—

Edric closed his eyes after reading it all.

And finally, he spoke a name that was not unfamiliar to him.

“…Harold.”

A name he had once heard from his drunken mother—

The name of an ancestor.

 

 

 

****

 

 

 

Let’s do this.

I focused my gaze.

The glass cup on the table trembled slightly.

Next, I shifted my eyes toward the bookshelf, and a faint vibration rippled through the room.

Success.

Before, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t do it.

But ever since the young master stayed at our home, I had been able to control my powers freely.

…Was it because of my contact with him?

He had told me about the Dif’s power before, so I had been practicing on my own.

Reviving withered plants, harnessing the wind, lighting the fireplace—small things, but fascinating nonetheless.

More than anything, I was happy knowing that I could be of some help to the young master.

Just as I was lost in thought, a letter arrived from Evo, so I left for the estate.

But when I finally saw him after a long time, I was startled.

…His entire aura has changed.

His once-soft jawline had sharpened, making him look thinner. The exhaustion in his eyes was undeniable.

I sat down in the seat prepared for me, watching him with concern.

“You must have been really busy.”

“You’re the eighth person to say that to me today. If even you’re saying it, then I must really look like a mess.”

He removed his glasses and ran a gloved hand over his face, chuckling.

“Yeah, I’ve been busy. I only just got back here.”

“……”

“Lobel, you don’t have to make that face. It’s all taken care of now. I’m fine.”

“…I ended up adding more work to your plate. I’m sorry.”

“I didn’t say that to make you apologize. What about you? Are you okay?”

I gave a slow, heavy nod.

Then, my eyes flickered toward the closed door before returning to him.

I had already made up my mind before coming here.

…I need to tell Evo the truth first.

There was a time when I had let my judgment be clouded by the original story.

But there were few people who had helped me as much as Evo had.

Now, he was important to me.

So it was only right that he heard it from me.

I had been scared the entire way here, wondering how he would react.

But I couldn’t put it off any longer.

It was time to tell him the truth—that I was a woman.

“I… I have something to tell you.”

But just as I spoke, a knock echoed through the room.

Both of us turned our heads toward the door.

The knocking came again, louder this time.

…Was he expecting someone?

Before Evo could respond, the door suddenly swung open.

“You have a guest, I see.”

The voice sent a shiver down my spine, and I instinctively lowered my head, trying to hide my face.

The delicate, almost fragile-sounding voice belonged to none other than Heaz Rezendar.

…Why is he here?

Was this about the conflict between Hornet and the Rezendar merchant guild?

No—more importantly, I shouldn’t be seen by him.

I held my breath, tense, but his voice, slow and unyielding, filled the room.

“There were still things left unsaid from our last conversation, so I came to discuss them. Oh dear, it seems I’m intruding.”

“Lord Rezendar. My apologies, but I already have an appointment. I will visit you myself another time.”

“A precious guest, then?”

“Yes. I ask for your understanding.”

I froze.

What had happened between them while I wasn’t aware?

Evo wasn’t the type to tell someone to leave so bluntly.

And even when Heaz apologized, Evo showed no reaction.

He wasn’t someone who wore his emotions on his sleeve—but I could sense his discomfort.

“Oh dear, I seem to have caused trouble. My presence has made your guest anxious.”

Heaz Rezendar was not someone who could be reasoned with, just as he was in the original story.

“Ah, but…”

The sound of his shoes tapping against the floor echoed sharply.

Before I knew it, his footsteps had brought him right beside the sofa where I sat.

I stared at his brown leather shoes, my shoulders tensing even further.

“The guest whom the merchant lord holds in such high regard…”

His voice was as smooth as ever.

“…seems to be someone I already know.”

A chill ran down my spine.