My Life Was Taken by My Charm-Wielding Sister—But It Ends Here (The Mind-Reading Noble Lady’s Journey to Happiness After Escaping Her Toxic Family) - Episode 28

There’s a man in this square who intends to kill someone.

(What should I do? What should I do?)

I look around restlessly, but I can’t spot any man who looks suspicious. I think I need to find him and stop him, but I have no idea how.

“Otilie? Is something wrong?”

Varick calls out to me. He’s noticed that something’s off about me.

“Lord Varick, the voice…”

“Voice?”

[I won’t forgive them. Absolutely, absolutely won’t forgive them]

Even as we speak, I can hear the man’s inner voice. How can I most efficiently convey the situation to Varick? I don’t have time for explanations right now.

(That’s it!)

Otilie suddenly has an idea and vigorously grabs Varick’s hand.

“Otilie!? What in the world…”

[I’ll kill them all. I won’t forgive any of them. It’s fine, I’ve been preparing for today. I’ll definitely succeed.]

Though his cheeks briefly flush red from having his hand suddenly grabbed, Varick quickly switches to a serious expression.

(Only I can hear it, and I don’t know what to do. But Lord Varick might be able to find a solution.)

Focusing her ability into her palm while praying for it to transmit, Otilie tries to make Varick hear the same inner voice she’s hearing. She remembers the training they did together just the day after her ability first awakened.

“Otilie, I can hear it too. I understand the situation now. But this… where is the owner of this voice?”

“I don’t know. With this many people, I can’t pinpoint them at all.”

After confirming this much from Otilie, Varick calls over the knight guards who were waiting at a distance and immediately explains the situation. The knights look momentarily skeptical, but since it’s Varick himself making the request, they nod with serious expressions.

“First, contact the knights in charge of square security. Tell them to immediately deal with any suspicious men.”

“Understood.”

Leaving only the minimum necessary guards, the knights begin moving according to Varick’s instructions. Still confused by the continuing inner voice, Otilie gulps nervously.

“Otilie, roughly how far can you hear inner voices?”

“Basically, I think it’s about the same distance as normal voices can be heard. So usually, about five meters radius is the limit. But I feel like the owner of this voice isn’t very close.”

“Why is that?”

“The way it sounds is a bit different from usual. It feels muffled, yet it resonates very loudly. I think it must be that the inner voice. The emotions are so strong that even though they’re far away, I can still hear them.”

As she explains, Otilie looks around restlessly. As expected, she can’t spot anyone who seems likely.

“Then what about the content you heard before holding my hand? Was there anything about weapons, methods, things like that?”

“Nothing. Just that he’ll kill everyone in this square. I’m sorry, I can’t do anything.”

“Not at all. If you weren’t here, we wouldn’t be able to act until after the incident occurred. This is thanks to you… But I understand how you feel, Otilie. I’m also incredibly frustrated. We need to find the owner of this inner voice quickly.”

Still holding hands, the two desperately keep listening. However, all they hear are complaints and grievances. No concrete crime plans come through.

“Um, excuse me! The criminal said he would kill everyone, but is that even possible?”

“Whether it’s possible or not… it’s not impossible. However, the methods would be quite limited. For example, planting a bomb. If that hypothesis is correct and he’s setting up a bomb, I think he’d place it in the center of the square or the crowded western area. That would be more efficient for hurting many people.”

“That’s terrible! Then we need to hurry over there.

“…It’s alright. My guards should notice something like that. They’re probably prioritizing placing people in the center and western areas right now. However, we don’t know how much time we have, and it might not be a bomb. I doubt an amateur could make something like that.”

Just then, another inner voice flows into their minds.

[Alright, let’s begin]

“It’s no good, the man is making his move.”

Varick says this. Tension runs through Otilie and the others. Looking around the square everywhere, anxiety and impatience burned in Otilie’s chest.

(Isn’t there… isn’t there any clue?)

Closing her eyes, she desperately focuses her consciousness.

[Good, good girl. That’s right… come this way]

Hearing a whispering voice different from before, Otilie instinctively turns around.

“…! Lord Varick, did you hear that voice just now?”

As she speaks, Otilie pulls Varick’s hand firmly. She starts running toward the passageway.

“Otilie!?”

“I just heard someone say ‘good girl.’ It sounded like they were controlling something. The man definitely isn’t alone. Probably with an animal… maybe a large dog or horse?”

If an animal suddenly charged into the square—like a carriage, and intentionally at that—what would happen? …There would likely be many casualties. Panic would probably break out too. Just that alone would cause significant damage, but what if it didn’t end there? For example, if the criminal started swinging a blade around in the square.

(The inner voice is getting louder and louder. Probably… no. The voice’s owner is definitely over here. Just a little more, just a little more.)

“That’s it!”

A carriage accelerating toward the square comes into Otilie’s view.