Chapter 120
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 119
Chapter Title: Hitchhiker Traveling Through Timelines (3)
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'Why didn't I think of that?'
The morning after Kairen had been scolded for peeking into his mother's diary.
'If I meet Mom from the past, it will naturally affect the Mom in the present too...'
Kairen, who had slipped out of his room quite early in the morning and was walking down the hallway, frowned inwardly with such thoughts.
'No, wait. For the Mom in reality, aren't these things that have already happened?'
The side effects of the regression skill were still in full effect, so it was practically a given that he would experience a few more time travels ahead.
That meant Astridje already knew everything Kairen would do in future regressions.
'Then maybe...'
From another perspective, if he successfully obtained her diary, he could preemptively grasp how to act to survive in the future.
And not only that, but reading the diary written from Astridje's viewpoint might allow him to uncover her secrets more quickly and reliably.
- Looking around...
With that in mind, Kairen glanced around cautiously for a moment before darting swiftly into the family head's office.
"Ahem."
Of course, the Belverk family head's office wasn't a place just anyone could enter casually, but Kairen was one of the few with unrestricted access, making it possible.
"Time to check out Mom's desk...!"
And naturally, no one could stop Kairen, who had become the mascot of Belverk.
- Roooar...
Of course, the family head's office was staffed not just by servants but also by escort maids with authority even over the Belverk clansmen.
"...Should we stop him?"
"Nah, he's family."
"No such orders anyway."
But even these maids, who hid their bodies in black smoke and were more like magical beasts than humans, couldn't dare touch the vicious and violent Kairen.
Thus, the escort maids who should have intervened could only watch wide-eyed as Kairen rummaged through the family head's desk.
"...Huh?"
However, there was exactly one person who could control Kairen, whom even the terrifying Belverk escort maids feared.
"It seems your education is lacking."
"Ack."
"But this is all my fault as your mother."
It was Astridje, who had quietly opened the office door and entered.
"Time for discipline, Kairen."
"Eek."
Her eyes dyed red, she levitated her beloved son—whom she hadn't disciplined in ages—with her unique ability.
"Eheheh!? M-Mom!"
"......"
"S-Sorry! Kyahahahaha!"
The next moment, Astridje's merciless punishment began without restraint.
"I-I'm sorry!"
"...You don't seem sorry enough."
"Ehehehe! Help, I'm dying!"
This punishment, officially named 'Midair Tickling Frenzy,' was one of the few that could rank even among Belverk's brutal history stained with blood.
"Family Head."
Around then, a maid entered the office clutching a stack of documents approved by Astridje.
"A report on the family meeting preparations..."
She alternated glances between Kairen, panting with a flushed face, and Astridje's icy expression before immediately bowing and retreating.
"...Pardon the intrusion."
The office door closed naturally behind her words.
"Go back to your room, Kairen."
In the ensuing silence, Astridje, who had been staring blankly for a moment, lowered Kairen to the floor and spoke with her usual cold expression.
"...I'll call you when preparations are ready."
But for some reason, her slightly flushed cheeks reminded him of his mother from childhood, leaving Kairen nodding dazedly.
'In the end, I couldn't get the diary...'
After being thoroughly disciplined by Mom and returning to my room, I lay on the bed with a sulky expression, lost in thought.
'It was a chance to know what would happen ahead...'
If only I could get that diary, the future would be so much easier. Is there no way to sneak it out?
"Peep!"
"Hm?"
But as I racked my brain with no ideas for infiltrating the family head's office secretly, a familiar sound came from the window.
"Peep!"
"Peep!"
It was none other than Peep, the Imperial Princess Lia's pet bird, who had grown quite a bit over the past two years.
"Long time no see. Hehe..."
"Peeep..."
"How've you been?"
Its feathers were fluffier now, even its hairstyle somewhat resembling Princess Lia's, and it hopped familiarly onto my hand, tilting its head.
"You've gotten cuter?"
"Peep?"
"Your chirps are adorable now, and..."
Recalling when I first met it, I teased Peep, who now truly chirped like a chick, with a playful expression.
'Huh, wait a sec.'
Suddenly struck by an idea, I quietly lit up.
'Couldn't Peep sneak the diary out?'
Princess Lia had mentioned in a letter that Peep, being akin to a spirit beast or divine creature, could bypass most security.
It made sense; it casually ignored even Belverk's defenses.
If true, it might infiltrate the family head's office and retrieve the diary...
"...Zzzip!"
"Ow!"
But lost in thought, I ducked as Peep suddenly pecked me furiously with a fierce expression.
"Are you doing this 'cause I said you're cute?"
"Chirp!"
"You delinquent bird! Thug bird!"
Even if it'd mellowed lately, how was this nasty temper unfixable?
"Hard to believe a violent thing like you is Princess Lia's pet."
"Peep?"
"Well, Princess Lia is... um..."
Rubbing my stinging cheek, I glared at Peep and scowled.
"...Gentle and charismatic."
"......"
"Th-that cool aloofness is sometimes chilling."
Why was the mood freezing?
Peep seemed frozen in place. Did I badmouth its owner?
"But I like Princess Lia."
"...Peep."
"I-I mean it! Because..."
Desperately trying to switch to praise for Princess Lia, I trailed off in cold sweat.
"...Princess Lia is."
It was too embarrassing to say I fell for her beauty at first sight!
A bird as smart as Peep might relay everything to her, so I had to watch my words.
"N-Never mind."
"Peep!?"
"It's nothing..."
Avoiding my gaze, I mumbled, but Peep, who had been glaring coldly, suddenly flew at me again.
"Peeeep!"
"Wh-whoa! What's wrong?"
"Peep! Peeep!!!"
It burrowed into my chest, pecking wildly. Trying to swat it away, I lost balance and fell onto the bed.
"Eek, that tickles! St-stop..."
Just then, as Peep tormented the spots Mom had tickled earlier, making me tear up.
Regression begins in 10 seconds!
"...Huh?"
By the time I realized what it meant, it was already too late.
"Urgh..."
Clutching my mouth against the familiar nausea, I focused on deep breaths to suppress the vomiting.
"Cough, cough..."
I barely avoided puking on the past Mom's bedroom floor, but the real problem started now.
"Why now of all times..."
"Peep?"
"...Gasp."
The foreign pressure on my chest from moments ago persisted even after traveling back in time.
"P-Peep."
"...?"
"D-Did you come with me too?"
Sweating coldly, I looked down at my chest and anxiously addressed the baffled Peep.
"S-So, like."
"......"
"What happened is..."
But before I could explain, a cold voice came from ahead.
"...You again."
Hearing Mom's voice laced with deep hostility, I hurriedly shoved Peep from my chest into my pocket.
"G-Go inside for now!"
"Peep!"
"H-Hi!"
But that action only fueled the young Mom's hostility further.
"Don't come closer."
She drew the knife Lilien Big Sis now used, aiming it at me with a chilling expression.
"You're untrustworthy as ever."
"Uh..."
"A guardian angel? No snot-nosed kid would buy that excuse..."
It felt like a kitten we'd bonded with yesterday, but today it bristled and hissed warily.
Just feeding her wouldn't win over the past Mom...
- Crash!
Just as I scrambled for ideas again.
"......"
A sudden noise from the window drew all eyes—me, young Mom, and Peep peeking from my pocket.
"...Meow."
It was a golden cat that passed through the sealed window effortlessly, landing and yawning with utter boredom.
"What, it's just a cat."
"......"
"Wait, but it looks familiar..."
Relieved briefly at the intruder, I frowned, sensing I'd seen that cat before.
- Poof...!
Suddenly, golden smoke filled the room.
"Ahem..."
And before us appeared...
"What's this? A cute little kid."
A androgynous girl with a bob like His Highness Alberion's, radiating dazzling charisma and beauty.
"Astridje."
"......"
"Acting all aloof and lonely alone..."
Staring blankly at the familiar girl—who eyed me slyly—she grinned suddenly.
"You secretly got a boyfriend?"
"Shut up."
"Haha, why not say so sooner? I came 'cause I worried you'd be bored..."
As familiar banter flew, Mom's knife shot forward.
"I said shut up."
"Joking, joking."
The girl dodged effortlessly. With a hopeful expression, I asked,
"Um, excuse me..."
"Yes?"
"Who are you?"
She pointed at herself with mock exasperation, then smiled warmly.
"I'm the empire's top troublemaker, top blockhead, second strongest woman in the empire..."
"......"
"...And the First Imperial Princess, Justina Lumen Shinehardt."
The past First Princess—young Emperor His Majesty—slowly approached me after her greeting.
"And..."
Sensing an eerie chill from the young Emperor, I backed away slowly, then froze at her next words.
"...I'm also the assassin ordered by the current Emperor His Majesty—my father—to kill Astridje."
What? No way!
"So, who are you?"
"......"
"Maybe her allied brother?"
I knew Mom and His Majesty had a complicated past, but killers?
"Hmm..."
Hesitating on using Crimson Eyes, the young Emperor tilted her head right before me.
"...Aside from being too young, you're kinda my type?"
Her suggestive remark slipped out.
"Hey, wanna date your big sis?"
Accepting in current situation may damage the timeline!
Time traveling is way too dangerous.
"...Hic."