Damn! Damn! Chapter 23

At the unexpected words, Achim instantly failed to control his expression and scowled fiercely. Then, realizing his blunder, he quickly smoothened his face.

Dropping the hand that had been rubbing the back of his head, he raised his eyes to see that flawless face of his. Achim stared into those eyes, which narrowed slightly at the outer corners, and asked.

“What do you mean by that?”

How could every single word that spilled from this guy’s mouth deviate so wildly from expectations? Besides, he would have preferred being told he smelled bad. Last time, the man had asked about his well-being so affectionately that it made onlookers misunderstand, and now, for reasons Achim couldn’t fathom at all, he was saying something so creepy.

“I told you.”

Michael stared intently into Achim’s wary eyes as if finding them amusing.

“Looking at you reminds me of a certain guy.”

“…”

“And I also told you I’m looking for him.”

He lightly caught Achim’s chin and lifted it slightly.

His head forced up against his will, Achim stared right back into those eyes, whose true intentions were impossible to read.

“I’ve been spending quite a long time on it, you see.”

“…”

“I’d like to find him soon…”

Those eyes of an enigmatic color thoroughly scanned Achim’s dark pupils, straight bridge of the nose, and thick eyebrows.

“And looking at you, who looks so much like him, seems like it will keep me motivated.”

Michael smirked.

The moment he let go of his chin, Achim stepped back as if he had been waiting for it. However, with nowhere left to retreat, Achim pressed his heels against the doorframe and rubbed his captured chin a couple of times.

Could it be… because of that? Is that why he didn’t discipline me at all even though I left the warehouse manager in that state?

If, just as he said, he was trying to use him so he could find the guy he was looking for quicker, then his handling of the situation so far became somewhat understandable.

Just who on earth was it that made the Michael Bernhard waste his own time desperately searching for them? Whoever it was, they must be something else…

— Because I wanted to see you?

…No way?

Achim, who had been lost in thought for a moment, asked.

“Is it someone you love?”

Michael Bernhard genuinely loving someone? He couldn’t help but wonder if that was even possible, given that awful personality of his.

Around the time Achim blinked while waiting for an answer, Michael seemed to let out a breathy chuckle, which soon erupted into a hearty laugh.

Haha. His laughing face was truly nothing short of a living sculpture, but Achim couldn’t hide his unease. He couldn’t grasp at all what kind of words would leak out of those lips next.

“Hmm…”

Michael barely managed to stop laughing and tilted his head slightly.

“I certainly consider him special.”

He spoke as he ran his hand through his hair, which had fallen loose from laughing, slicking it back.

“I’m still contemplating what kind of pain to inflict on him, you see.”

“…”

“Torture isn’t really my taste, but…”

Those beautiful lips didn’t stop, continuing to spit out cruel words.

“Even so, what would be the most painful? He makes me contemplate it endlessly.”

“A very special opponent indeed,” Michael said, his eyes crinkling softly.

— Should I kill him for you?

It felt as though that low voice had just brushed past his ears for a split second.

Achim was certain. This guy had harmed someone before.

It was an intuition born of instinct. This guy wasn’t the type to fabricate things that hadn’t happened just to act tough. Rather, he was closer to the type who would layer on a mask to appear virtuous while hiding, erasing, and covering up the stains.

Even if everyone else was being deceived, Achim could be confident of this.

“So, you help me.”

“…”

“That way, I’ll find him, and you’ll find your freedom.”

He had no idea why another guy held the reins to his freedom. It was a sophism, but even so, Achim couldn’t bring himself to argue.

The man’s words weren’t an invitation or a proposal. They were definitely not a favor. Knowing it was a ‘compulsion’ handed down from an absolute vertical relationship, Achim had no choice but to accept.

Thinking about it, it wasn’t a terribly difficult task either. Facing him was, of course, an uncomfortable affair, but conversely, it was also an excellent opportunity.

Whether it was the office or the bedroom, it was clear these were places an ordinary servant wouldn’t even be able to approach. Although it deviated slightly from the intention the man had stated, anyway, it meant they were both getting something out of it.

The part where it still wasn’t certain that Dora had no connection to him was a bit concerning, but…

“Yes, well… it’s not a difficult task, but.”

“…”

“I have one favor to ask.”

When Michael tilted his head as if telling him to speak, Achim stroked the back of his neck with a bashful look.

“Please ensure that rumors contrary to the facts do not spread.”

“…”

“There’s already a rumor going around right now anyway. That we’re in a relationship.”

At that, Michael let out a careless ‘Ah,’ as if he had naturally forgotten about it.

He asked, his eyes crinkling slightly at the corners.

“What’s the reason you’re so averse to rumors?”

Is it that Alpha guy? At the words he muttered, one of Achim’s eyebrows twitched upward before settling back down. It was because he couldn’t understand what the man was talking about at all.

What did he mean by Alpha, and on top of that, asking why he was averse to rumors? Resisting the urge to ask if he was seriously asking because he didn’t know, Achim gathered all his patience.

“It ruins my marriage prospects.”

It might sound like a joke, but Achim was dead serious. In fact, it was the part of his life he took most seriously.

Marriage, a spouse, and children.

While it might be easy and natural for some, to Achim, it was merely like a distant dream that was hard to achieve. The biggest reason, of course, was his background as an orphan, and he didn’t want to pass down his poverty to his children.

It was safe to say there was no way to escape poverty under the current social system. So all of that was closer to a romantic fantasy for Achim. Something unachievable, and precisely because it was unachievable, something he desired above all else.

But just because it was impossible didn’t mean he wanted to give up. Furthermore, just because there was no hope didn’t mean he wanted to sit idly by and listen to unpleasant rumors involving this guy.

It was right when Achim reluctantly opened up and spoke honestly. Michael’s eyes seemed to widen slightly in a rare display of surprise, but he soon burst into a loud laugh.

This piece of shit…

Around the time Achim’s face began to sour, the man stopped laughing, wiped his mouth with his straight fingertips, and spoke.

“Those are truly pathetic words.”

“To a surprising degree.” At the man’s added words, Achim was left speechless, his parted mouth merely hanging open.

“Relationships bound by law or blood are like a curse. Besides, relationships entangled by blood aren’t easily severed.”

“…”

“Ah, it’s not entirely impossible. There is one way.”

Michael nodded lightly as if it had just occurred to him.

Then, his reddish lips curved smoothly as if about to spit out the words, before parting subtly.

After uttering the words, Michael flashed a brilliantly refreshing smile. Truly, if one couldn’t hear his voice, it would create the illusion that he was telling the most beautiful story in the world.

“Keep that in mind.” Michael spoke like someone charitably doling out good advice.

But the reality was quite different.

— You just have to kill them.

For a good while afterward, the man’s voice kept ringing in his ears, prompting Achim to slap his own ear hard enough to make a loud thwack.

🖤🥀

Sitting on the sofa by Michael’s command, Achim narrowed his blankly staring eyes slightly.

By the way, can’t he put some clothes on? Don’t tell me he sleeps in just a robe.

Sitting opposite him with a low table between them, Achim roughly rubbed his eyes with the back of his forearm to block out the sight he had no particular desire to see. Even when he tried not to look, the man’s lower body kept slipping into his line of sight.

Moreover, the flaps of the robe were parted so loosely that, if he wasn’t careful, he might end up seeing the man’s private parts. For the sake of his own eyes, Achim felt like going over and wrapping the robe tight for him.

Dammit. If it hadn’t been for that dream, I wouldn’t be going through this dog-like ordeal.

Achim cursed inwardly and raised his bloodshot eyes. Then, as luck would have it, his eyes met Michael’s, who was turning a page of the book resting on his lap. Achim quickly looked down, pretending to rub his eyes again.

Just then, Michael suddenly rose from his seat.

Achim thought it was actually for the best. Whether the man headed to the bed or disappeared through that passage from earlier, as long as he got out of his sight, anything would be fine.