I Helped The Imprisoned Male Lead And He Became Obsessed - Chapter 86

Finn searched the forest thoroughly, more diligently than he ever had during treasure hunts with his friends.

But no matter how hard he looked, Carentilia was nowhere to be found.

Unlike when he had confidently left home, his steps now dragged, and his small shoulders drooped. He had walked so much that his legs ached. His throat was dry, and his stomach growled loudly.

Finn trudged forward and finally plopped down onto a tree stump. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out some raspberries and popped them into his mouth. They didn’t completely stave off his hunger, but he felt a little better.

I wanted to find Carentilia and surprise Anise…

If he returned empty-handed, he’d feel like he hadn’t helped her at all.

But if he didn’t make it back by evening, Anise would surely worry.

She’s our savior. Rio always says we shouldn’t cause trouble and should behave.

Sitting on the tree stump, Finn swung his legs back and forth, thinking hard. After a while, he made up his mind.

I can look for Carentilia another day. I should head home before it gets dark.

Jumping off the stump, Finn started walking with determination.

But then…

Wait… this is the same path I came down earlier.

Despite walking for quite a while, he couldn’t find the forest’s exit.

He had marked his way earlier: take twenty steps east from the lightning-scorched tree, and he’d be home. But now the tree was nowhere to be seen, and he couldn’t find the path back.

Clutching his small hands together, Finn looked around nervously. The tall fir trees seemed to loom over him like giants, their dense branches casting shadows that made the woods feel darker. A crow perched on a branch cawed sharply, its cry cutting through the silence and sending a chill down his spine.

For the first time, Finn felt a pang of real fear.

What if I can never find my way back home?

Panicked, he quickened his pace. Wet leaves clung to the soles of his shoes, making each step heavier. The realization that he was lost frightened him so much that he felt tears welling up.

Don’t cry. You can’t cry…

Swallowing the tears threatening to spill, Finn pressed on, walking faster.

How long had he been walking?

Between the dense trees, something came into view. In the middle of the forest stood a gray building.

What is that place…?

It was a structure he’d never seen before. He couldn’t tell if it was someone’s home or not.

It felt strange for such a building to be in the depths of the forest, but Finn was lost. If there were someone inside, perhaps they could help.

But what if bad people were there?

What should I do?

Finn hesitated, unable to bring himself to approach.

Just then, he heard the sound of rustling bushes close by.

Hearing the sound, Finn whipped his head around.

From the bushes, something burst out, and the boy’s wide eyes grew even larger, filled with terror.

“!!”

***

“Anise, have you seen Finn? He’s been missing since lunch. Do you know where he went?”

Rio suddenly poked his head into the dispensary, where I was grinding dried herbs in a mortar. His question made me pause. Come to think of it, after Finn helped sort the herbs…

“I saw him head upstairs. Rio, did you check the second floor?”

“Yeah, I already looked there, but he’s not there.”

“Really? Then where could he have gone…?”

After lunch, the clinic had been so busy with patients that I hadn’t had a chance to leave the examination room. Rio had been tied up assisting me and managing the reception desk, so neither of us had kept an eye on Finn.

Scratching his cheek in frustration, Rio frowned. “That kid, where did he go without saying anything?”

I glanced at the clock. It was nearly closing time for the apothecary. Finn usually came home before sunset, even if he went out to play with the other village kids. But today, with no sign of him, worry began to creep in.

Rio seemed to share my concerns as he grabbed his coat from the chair. “I’ll go look for Finn.”

He reassured me he’d be back soon and left the apothecary. I watched his retreating figure, unable to shake my unease.

That evening, as I waited for Rio and Finn to return, I prepared dinner with the other children.

Through the kitchen window, I saw the sun had set, and the sky had grown dark. It had been quite some time since Rio had gone out to look for Finn, but he hadn’t returned yet.

At first, I convinced myself that everything would be fine. But as the minutes stretched on, a growing sense of dread began gnawing at me.

What if something really happened?

Unable to sit idly any longer, I finished preparing the ingredients and left the kitchen. Just as I was about to head out to join the search myself, the wind chime jingled softly, and the front door swung open.

Rio stepped in, breathing heavily, as though he had run all the way back.

But…

“Rio, where’s Finn? Why isn’t he with you?”

I asked anxiously, noticing that he had returned alone. Rio lifted his head, his eyes stormy and unsettled, like a tempestuous sea. The sight sent a wave of foreboding through me.

“Anise… something’s wrong.”

Rio’s voice trembled as he shouted, his face pale.

“Finn is gone!”

“!”

My heart sank instantly. Gripping Rio’s shoulders firmly, I demanded, “Gone? What do you mean? Explain, Rio.”

“I’ve searched everywhere! The entire village, every alley, every corner… but he’s nowhere to be found!”

Rio’s voice cracked as he clenched his lips tightly, his expression twisted with guilt.

“I should have been watching him… No matter how busy we were, I shouldn’t have taken my eyes off him…”

His self-reproach was painful to witness. Rio had taken on the responsibility of looking after the younger children long before he met me, and now, he seemed to be blaming himself entirely for Finn’s disappearance.

“Don’t say that, Rio. This isn’t your fault,” I said firmly, trying to calm him.

I assured him that Finn would be okay, though my own heart was racing with worry. I had to remain composed—now more than ever. As the adult here, I needed to take charge and keep everyone grounded.

“Finn will be fine. It could just be that we missed each other,” I said, trying to reassure Rio.

“But none of the villagers have seen him either,” Rio replied, his voice tinged with frustration.

“Then… is there anywhere we haven’t searched yet?”

Rio shook his head, then froze mid-motion. His eyes widened as if something had suddenly dawned on him.

“There is one place,” he said.

“Where?”

“We haven’t checked the forest.”

The forest. Could Finn have wandered there and gotten lost? Or, worse, could someone have taken him?

I shook my head, pushing away the dark thoughts.

I needed to focus on finding Finn, not dwelling on fears.

“Let’s get ready and search the forest,” I said firmly.

I hurried to the second-floor study to retrieve my enchanted bag. Digging deep inside, I pulled out a sturdy cloak and protective items powered by mana stones. Just as I was about to leave the room, something on the desk caught my eye—a large encyclopedia of herbs left open.

I’m sure I shelved this earlier… why is it here?

Curious, I glanced at the open page and saw a detailed drawing of Carentilia, the herb with deer-antler-shaped leaves.

My conversation with Finn earlier that day replayed in my mind.

“What’s Carentilia?”

“It’s an herb. It’s essential for Madam Pamila’s medicine.”

“And we don’t have any?”

“Does that mean Madam Pamila will get sick?”

‘Could Finn have gone to search for Carentilia?’

If that were the case, I needed to move quickly.

Descending the stairs, I grabbed the lantern hanging by the door. Rio, already waiting, moved to follow me.

“Anise, I’ll go too. It’s too dangerous to go into the forest alone at this hour,” he said.

He wasn’t wrong, but I shook my head. Behind Rio, the younger children were visibly uneasy, overhearing our conversation.

“Stay here and watch over the others,” I said firmly.

“But—!”

“It’s fine, Rio. Don’t worry about me,” I interrupted, offering him a reassuring smile. “I’ll bring weapons to protect myself.”

Though reluctant, Rio eventually nodded. I instructed him to keep everyone calm and safe, then stepped out into the night.

The dark, heavy air of the forest seemed to press in on me as I began my search, the faint light from the lantern barely illuminating the dense woods.

The glow of the lantern fought against the thick shadows of the forest. I carefully navigated the uneven ground, wary of the tangled roots that threatened to trip me. After a while, I spotted something—a faint trace that made my breath catch.

‘This is…’

Small footprints pressed into the damp soil, made visible by the soft drizzle that had fallen earlier. Where the sun hadn’t reached to dry the ground, the prints remained intact.

Following the trail with the lantern’s dim light, I moved quickly but cautiously.

Then, I came to an abrupt stop.

Tied to a tree branch ahead was a red ribbon—a marker warning of the boundary to the Mirage Forest.

The Mirage Forest.

It was more than just a boundary marker; it was a symbol of danger. Beyond this point was forbidden territory—a forest known for the people who had vanished or died within its depths.

The footprints continued past the ribbon, deeper into the forbidden woods.

I hesitated. Beyond the boundary lay untold dangers. If I entered, I couldn’t guarantee Finn’s safety—or my own.

But if I didn’t go, Finn might…

I clenched my fists, torn between fear and resolve. At that moment, a chilling sound pierced the air from beyond the boundary: the howl of a wolf.

The Mirage Forest was untouched by humans, a wild domain ruled by beasts.

The wolf’s howls echoed again and again, sending chills down my spine. My hands clutched my cloak tightly as I took a deep breath.

In the end, my hesitation didn’t last long.

I stepped over the forest’s boundary and into the Mirage Forest.

Following Finn’s small footprints, I soon noticed a flicker of gray through the dense trees. Hidden among the thick foliage stood a gray building, looming ominously in the clearing.

Near the footprints that seemed to belong to Finn were unmistakable pawprints—wolves. The tracks of the beast and the child mingled chaotically before leading toward the gray structure.

Finn, please… please be safe.

I approached the massive iron door at the entrance. It wasn’t locked, creaking open with a groan when I pushed against it.

The interior of the building was steeped in darkness, save for faint moonlight trickling through cracks in the windows. I raised the lantern, its flickering light casting long, eerie shadows as I stepped inside.

“Finn! Where are you? Finn!”

My voice, tinged with desperation, echoed through the empty halls, bouncing off the cold stone walls.

I moved quickly, scanning every corner as I called for him. The floor was littered with shattered machinery and shards of broken glass, crunching beneath my boots.

In the center of a vast, square space, the remains of massive devices were scattered—twisted metal and dislodged components. Chains hung ominously from the walls, swaying slightly in the draft.

A strange sense of déjà vu crept over me, but I pushed it aside. There was no time to linger on uneasy feelings.

Suddenly, a piercing scream ripped through the air.

“Ahhhh!”

The voice was high-pitched and desperate—it was Finn’s.

The sound came from the second floor. My heart pounded as I spun around and sprinted toward the source of the scream.