Chapter 05
After leaving the kitchen, I walked up the stairs and along the corridor leading to my master’s room.
Step. Step.
Only my footsteps echoed through the empty hallway. I had thought this before, but there was something eerily unsettling about this mansion.
It couldn’t be helped—it resembled its owner perfectly.
I arrived at the door, but I couldn’t bring myself to enter right away.
I had no idea how he would react today.
Quietly, I knocked.
“Master, your dinner is here.”
……
No response. Should I just go in?
The moment I ignored it and opened the door—
A hot, red liquid splattered across my face.
Before I could even register that it was blood, a body collapsed right in front of me.
“Oh my god!”
I screamed, raising my hands instinctively. I could feel the warm blood splashing onto my face.
“Waaahhh!”
Realizing what it was only made my scream more bizarre. I wanted to wipe it off immediately, but I couldn’t because of the tray in my hands.
“……”
Leaning against the wall, frozen, I stared down at the corpse lying at my feet. The tray of food was still held high in my hands.
The identity of the fallen man was Eden Croiden.
He was already dead. I could feel the last breath leaving his body.
Trying to calm my pounding heart, I set the tray down on the table.
Once I confirmed who the dead person was, I felt a bit relieved. Because I knew he would come back to life on his own.
“Not even surprised anymore?”
As expected, a calm voice came from behind me.
It had only been the brief moment while I placed the tray on the table and turned around.
Eden Croiden’s body had already completely restored itself. If not for the faint traces of blood that hadn’t yet disappeared, no one would believe he had just died moments ago. He looked perfectly fine.
He took out a handkerchief and wiped the blood off his cheek as he approached.
“You’re acting like this is completely normal.”
“I was plenty surprised.”
Didn’t he hear me scream?
‘Oh right, he was already dead then.’
I muttered while pouring water into a cup from the kettle.
“Honestly… what if someone else had walked in? What were you thinking?”
“That’s why I called you.”
Eden Croiden, whom I hadn’t seen in a week, looked somehow… refreshed.
No.
Let me correct that.
His eyes looked completely unhinged.
‘There’s no way he’d look that normal otherwise.’
And what was that bloody scene just now?
Did he stab himself to test his resurrection ability?
Blood splashing everywhere—
And that’s when I walked in.
Just imagining how many times he must have repeated that over the past week made me sick.
“Um… how many times have you tested it?”
“Not sure. I stopped counting after fifty.”
‘He’s insane!’
Who stabs themselves that many times?! He’s completely out of his mind!
My mom always told me to stay far away from people like this!!
Imagining him repeatedly dying and coming back to life alone in a pool of blood made my stomach churn.
As I cautiously stepped back, he closed the distance just as quickly.
Eden Croiden leaned forward, gripping the table tightly with both hands.
Before I knew it, I was trapped between his body and the table. Our eyes met.
“So, have you thought about my proposal?”
“Haha… I’m not quite sure what proposal you mean…”
“I mean the one about destroying the world together.”
‘Like I’d think about that!’
“Isn’t a week too short to decide whether to destroy the world or not?”
“Does something that simple really need a whole week?”
He asked.
“You said you needed time to think, but the answer could’ve come in a second.”
“……”
“Well, it doesn’t matter even if you don’t want to.”
Eden spoke casually.
“I’m going to destroy the world anyway. It’s what God wants.”
“…I don’t think so.”
I muttered timidly.
He clearly heard me but blatantly ignored it.
“Don’t you want to accomplish something great with me?”
“Can’t you accomplish that on your own?”
“Think carefully. An opportunity like this doesn’t come to just anyone.”
“This is the kind of opportunity that shouldn’t come to anyone.”
I replied firmly, but he didn’t seem to care.
Why am I even stuck in this situation?
I truly, deeply regretted it.
Killing him.
If he hadn’t died, he wouldn’t have awakened this ridiculous resurrection ability. He wouldn’t be reaffirming his goal to destroy the world either.
Carefully slipping out from under his arm, I spoke again.
“I think… maybe you’ve misunderstood God’s intentions.”
“Misunderstood?”
“Maybe God just wanted to give you another chance. Because it would be a waste for you to die like that.”
“What kind of chance?”
“……A chance to… save people?”
Even as I said it, I wasn’t convinced.
A chance to save people? Yeah, right.
‘If that were the case, Arthur Camelon would’ve gotten that power.’
Noticing my wavering gaze, Eden Croiden said,
“Even you don’t believe that, do you?”
“……”
“If God wanted to save people, He would’ve given this power to Arthur Camelon. Why would He give it to me?”
Wow, I was literally thinking the same thing just now.
I couldn’t answer and avoided his gaze.
“What if I go to Arthur Camelon and tell him about your plans?”
“Do you have any proof?”
“……”
Eden straightened up and clasped his hands behind his back.
“He knows me too. But do you know why he can’t report me?”
“……”
“Because there’s no proof. Who would believe that Marquis Croiden is trying to destroy the world? Even if he’s a hero, do you think he’d trust a commoner’s words?”
“Then why are you telling me all of this?”
At my question, he smiled.
Once again, I’ll say it—his face is ridiculously handsome. The problem is that he’s planning to use it to destroy the world.
“Because you belong to me.”
I mean, I am his maid, but the phrasing feels a bit…
“And because I want your cooperation. I can’t let go of God’s messenger so easily.”
‘Oh, damn it.’
No matter how sour my expression became, his confidence didn’t waver.
“Perfect timing. There’s a charity party next week—I’ll take you with me.”
“Why me?”
“Why else? To introduce you to Arthur Camelon.”
Introduce me to Arthur Camelon?
“Why?”
The corners of Eden Croiden’s lips curled up.
“To get on his nerves.”
Hearing that, I made a firm decision.
‘I need to run away.’
Within a week. Before next week arrives.
That was the moment I started planning my escape.
Surprisingly, Eden Croiden treated me quite favorably.
He didn’t punish me for trying to steal from his vault, didn’t hang me upside down from a tree and beat me, and even went as far as to invite me into his “business.”
Ah, by “business,” I mean “Eden Croiden’s plan to destroy the world,” phrased more politely.
Because of the message that appeared when he first died, he seemed firmly convinced that I was “a helper sent by God to assist in destroying the world.”
What a tragedy.
All I want is to live a peaceful and comfortable life here, yet somehow I’ve ended up being recruited by the villain.
He even said he would take me to a charity party—and introduce me to the protagonist, Arthur Camelon.
There’s no way someone like Eden Croiden would simply introduce me as his maid.
He’ll definitely say something like this just to provoke Arthur Camelon:
“God sent this woman to help me destroy the world. I will carry out His will with her. As expected, God is on my side.^^”
“……”
Should I just die?
No. No.
‘I should run away.’
I muttered the same resolution for the 121st time today.
