The Male Leads Are Trapped in My House-Chapter 148

Noble, human.

Hearing Nox’s words made me lose my train of thought. I had been seriously considering abandoning everyone else to escape with just Nox and Kellyan. But now, I began to understand why Aurora sought stability in Nox and why he was the second most important male lead in the original story, right after Theodore.

Still, no. Nox is more important to me than these strangers I just met today. That’s only natural.

So I told Nox firmly, “That’s never going to happen.”

When I gripped his hand tightly, I felt his body tense up, as if even this brief contact made him nervous.

But Nox quickly composed himself. He smiled softly, as if nothing had happened, and said, “I’m hoping for the same.”

There wasn’t time for us to talk further.

Whip!

Out of nowhere, a tentacle-like appendage lashed out and wrapped around my wrist.

“Kyaaa!”

“Miss!”

The force yanked me sideways. The group rushed toward me, grabbing my waist and arms to hold me in place.

A woman from Hondorf clung to my waist, sobbing loudly.

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“No! Miss, please don’t go!”

Everyone was desperately trying to keep me from being dragged away.

Their efforts left me momentarily confused. Just a short while ago, I had been planning to abandon them, but now, they were fighting tooth and nail to save me.

“...Miss Cherry! Snap out of it!”

Nox’s shout cut through my haze. He’d realized I was distracted, even in this dire situation. His hand gripped mine as if he would never let go.

Half of my body was being held by the group, while my right arm was being pulled by the tentacle. Some had dropped their torches in their scramble to grab me, allowing nearby monsters to creep closer.

It was utter chaos.

I quickly regained my focus and shouted at the group, “Pick up your torches! Monsters are approaching from behind! Protect yourselves!”

“But—”

“I’m not getting dragged away! Just do as I say, now!”

At my command, everyone except Nox let go of me and scrambled to grab their weapons and torches, turning their attention to defending against the monsters.

I dug my heels into the ground, bracing myself against the pull of the tentacle.

Kellyan, watching, looked utterly dumbfounded. “What kind of strength is that...?”

I stood rooted to the spot, pulling against the tentacle with sheer brute force. It was all me—no tricks, no help.

Tears pricked my eyes. Since when had I become this caricature of superhuman strength? I wanted to wear dresses and attend parties again, not have a tug-of-war with a giant octopus.

I missed the days when people in high society whispered behind my back, calling me a spoiled gossip girl.

“Hrgh!”

I gritted my teeth and pulled harder. Slowly, the octopus was dragged closer.

“Incredible... I can’t believe my eyes,” Kellyan muttered as he swung his dagger to fend off nearby monsters while staying close to Nox and me.

This is exhausting.

The veins in my arms bulged as I strained.

Why is this damn octopus in the forest? Shouldn’t it be in the sea? Isn’t this ecological disruption?!

After what felt like an eternity, the massive octopus finally revealed its face, pushing through the bushes.

I released Nox’s hand and reached for my axe. If I could pull it just a little closer, I’d split its head open.

Its long tentacles writhed grotesquely in the air. A bad feeling welled up inside me.

And, as always, those bad feelings were never wrong.

Eight tentacles. Six people. Multiple tentacles shot out at once.

No! Nox!

I sheathed my axe and grabbed Nox’s hand, pulling him into my arms.

His startled face came into view, but I didn’t care. I held him tightly, pressing my cheek against his firm chest.

“Aaah!”

“Kyah!”

One by one, people were snatched up by the tentacles, dangling helplessly in the air. Some were wrapped around their waists, others by their ankles, hanging upside down.

Nox and I were entwined in the same tentacle, pressed together as we were lifted off the ground.

Next to us, Kellyan dangled upside down, his expression disturbingly calm.

Why is he so unbothered?

Kellyan hadn’t even flinched. He had marveled at my strength but didn’t seem fazed by the octopus.

What’s his deal?

My thoughts churned as my cheek remained pressed against Nox’s chest.

The tentacle tightened around us, pulling me so close to Nox that it became hard to breathe.

I tilted my head to glance downward. Below us, the ground teemed with monsters, their jaws snapping in anticipation.

A crocodile-like creature waited with its mouth agape, sharp teeth gleaming.

Crocodiles? Why are you here? Go back to the swamp!

“Miss Cherry,” Nox murmured, his face buried in my shoulder. His warm breath tickled my skin, sending shivers down my spine.

"Don't move too much; you'll only provoke it. Let's focus on figuring out a way to escape," Nox said, his voice steady despite the chaos.

“Uuugh!”

The octopus monster lifted a screaming man high into the air. Damn it.

Nox was right. We needed a plan. I quickly assessed the situation.

My axe was still holstered on my back, but the tentacle wrapped around us was so tight that I couldn’t reach for it. I could probably break free using brute strength, but if the tentacle suddenly let go, we’d fall straight into the waiting jaws of those crocodile-like monsters below.

Meanwhile, the man held aloft was dragged toward the direction of the octopus’s head.

Crunch!

“Aaaaah!”

The sound of crushing bones echoed, followed by his agonized scream. Damn it. The octopus had just eaten him.

Brute strength seemed like the only solution.

If I can break free, I’ll climb up and... but how do I even get up there?

As I struggled to come up with a plan, Nox spoke up beside me.

“Miss Cherry, I’m good at holding on.”

He pulled my hands free from where they had been pinned to his chest. Despite the difficulty caused by the tight grip of the tentacle, Nox managed to loosen the space enough for my arms to move freely.

“I’ll hold on first, and then I’ll help you climb up. You want to attack the octopus’s head, don’t you?”

It was as if he’d read my mind.

Nox’s quick thinking and resourcefulness were invaluable. I couldn’t lie to him; he was too perceptive. While I relied on brute strength, Nox’s intelligence complemented my abilities perfectly.

Yes, Nox is indispensable.

I hesitated briefly, worried about whether he could handle my weight, but there wasn’t a better option.

“Alright. I’ll climb up and smash that bastard’s head,” I said.

“Miss Cherry, you make it sound like you’re going on a picnic to crack watermelons. But fine, I expected no less.”

“I’ve got good balance and strength. I can do it. I’ll loosen the grip of the tentacle, and you grab onto its sucker. Got it?”

Without waiting for a response, I braced myself and used all my strength to push against the tentacle constricting us.

As I created a small gap, Nox slipped down, gripping one of the octopus’s large suckers just as I had instructed.

The octopus, sensing our attempt to escape, tightened its grip. I gritted my teeth, using my hands to keep pushing against the tentacle to maintain the space.

I need to grab Nox’s hand...!

Nox, noticing my struggle, extended his hand toward me.

“Miss Cherry, take my hand. Now!”

Timing it perfectly, I released my grip. The tentacle constricted again, but I managed to grab Nox’s hand and swing myself to the outer side of the tentacle.

As expected, the octopus began thrashing violently to shake us off.

“Ugh,” Nox groaned, struggling to hold onto the sucker with one hand while gripping my hand with the other.

I briefly considered letting go of Nox’s hand.

Looking down, I saw the crocodile-like monsters still waiting below, their jaws open wide, eyes gleaming with anticipation. They seemed almost eager for us to fall.

Sweat dripped down my face. Damn it.

“S-save me, please...”

A trembling voice came from nearby. It was the girl from Hondorf, crying as she clung desperately to the tentacle. Only she, one villager from Brunel, Nox, Kellyan, and I were left.

“Lady Sinclair!”

Kellyan’s voice called out to me.

Dangling upside down, his face flushed from the blood pooling in his head, he extended his hand toward me with all his strength.

“Jump to me! I’ll catch you!”

Kellyan was closer than I expected. If I timed it right and used the momentum, I could leap and grab his hand.

Nox was struggling to hold on. If I let go and moved to Kellyan, it might make things easier for him.

Should I grab Kellyan’s hand and move over?