Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Fluffy and Clean!
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I had acquired a tiny puppy—no, a boy—that I needed to raise well, and as a bonus, I'd even won the heart of a holy knight.
It felt like we could establish an effective stronghold capable of defending against threats from Axel Mirmod, and even launching attacks if necessary.
Everything seemed to be going smoothly.
It was something I really should be thrilled about, so why did my heart feel so heavy?
I glanced sideways at the boy sitting next to me in the carriage and quietly said,
"Take good care of me, Baby!"
The boy, who had been staring at me blankly, cautiously opened his mouth.
"......I'm not a baby, but...... Yes. Looking forward to working with you. Thank you."
Meeting his gaze, which seemed to trust me completely, made my heart sting a little.
I'd hated my family in my previous life too, after all.
"Yeah, Baby! I'll help you out."
So that you can live happily on a flower path from now on.
I looked at Asid with sparkling eyes. Tears shimmered in Asid's bright, eager gaze.
It was right then, as a warm atmosphere formed between us,
*Sniff!*
The maids across from us sniffled, clearly moved.
'Can't even set the mood with these around.'
These muscle-bound but soft-hearted big sis maids!
I gave them a sly little smirk of reproach, then patted the boy's shoulder encouragingly.
The carriage raced on without stopping, crossing the threshold of the Mirmod estate, and finally arrived at the western mansion where we all lived together.
"Let's get you washed up first."
"......Alright, let's go!"
"Yeah! Everyone wash up and eat yummy food!"
As I listened to the maids' spirited cheers, Asid and I got out of the carriage together.
I entered the mansion with a bright smile.
Thinking that warm, melted chocolate was the best way to thaw a heart frozen by old wounds.
***
When Sien brought Ted's younger brother to the western mansion, Matthias had just finished having Sien's maids perfectly deal with the spies, right up to the brink of execution.
He was thoroughly pissed off at the mere fact that people dared to target his daughter's life.
'That demon did this to us,' they had said, so insolently.
And above all, they had referred to his daughter as 'that demon.'
To his precious child, who was so tender-hearted she couldn't even step on weeds carelessly.
'Delphia sent them, huh.'
Objectively speaking, Matthias was overwhelmingly powerful within the Mirmod family, but power dynamics weren't decided solely by strength.
Delphia Mirmod, Axel Mirmod, and the elders.
And beyond them, the imperial family and even the Pope allied with the empire's power.
He had to eliminate them all without a whisper, but one misstep could spell disaster.
'I have to deal with the Pope to avenge Yuella's death.'
She had vanished like morning dew on the execution ground in the demon trial incident at the cathedral.
Yuella had confessed to summoning a demon and begged them to kill her. But he believed there had been a different meaning behind her words.
'......A trap from the temple, huh.'
With his resolve hardened, Matthias boldly decided to start with Delphia. She wouldn't be an easy opponent.
Delphia Mirmod.
A true mad sorceress, one of those who had held the advantage in the succession struggle before his return.
She openly crushed anyone who opposed her, with a blunt speaking style to match.
In the family, she was seen as a deranged troublemaker, but her magic and abilities were so outstanding that no one questioned her qualifications for heir.
And Delphia's abilities had a weakness. She mainly used body-transformation magic, which came with massive side effects.
'After dealing with Delphia Mirmod, the next phase begins.'
Axel wielded dark powers, and rumors swirled that he was a necromancer. There were almost no ways to defeat a necromancer.
'I still haven't found a perfect way to destroy Axel Mirmod yet.'
Matthias lowered his eyes.
Over the past five years, he had devoured every opportunity for growth around him.
He had grown stronger at a level beyond compare to before.
So he had returned to the western mansion with some optimism for the future......
"Daddy!"
Sien was waiting in front of the mansion.
Matthias smiled brightly, not hiding the grin spreading across his face.
"Sien, I missed you."
Coming home from a grueling day to his daughter's welcome warmed his heart in so many ways.
"Daddy, I made a fwiend! He's here right now!"
He looked at his daughter with a bright smile, then hardened his expression.
It hadn't even been long since dealing with the spies, and now an intruder in the mansion?
Sien, still innocent and unaware of humanity's wickedness—could another spy have slipped in to harm the child?
He scanned the surroundings with narrowed eyes.
"That one, no, that friend?"
Behind Sien hid a child even larger than she was.
He didn't particularly like children to begin with. And one staring at his daughter so fervently? Even less.
That gaze was a subtle mix of admiration, awe, and worship. Blind trust toward his savior.
"Yeah! I found him on the way and bwinged him. He's all fluffy and clean!"
Sien grinned, flashing her white teeth. She stroked the boy's fluffy black hair and said,
"I'm gonna make him my baby minion!"
Hearing Sien's bright voice, Matthias nodded.
He couldn't show outright suspicion when Sien liked him so much.
"Alright. Not a bother......"
......Mistake.
Matthias forced a simple smile and said,
"......No, what a cute friend. We'll give him his own room to stay in."
But he needed to leave some room for doubt.
Besides, the odd masked little one with the strange gaze was plenty for Sien's attachment doll.
"Yeah! Thanks, Daddy! Now let's play!"
Sien swung the boy's hand up and down excitedly.
The boy murmured softly through his teeth.
"Yes, I'll be useful."
At the word "useful," Sien's expression softened for a moment before returning to normal.
Every time Matthias saw that occasional lonely look on Sien's face, his heart ached. So he asked cheerfully on purpose.
"Let's go inside. Nothing else happen?"
It was just to change the subject.
As she followed Matthias into the mansion, Sien said energetically,
"Oh yeah, I saved a gwown-up knight too!"
"Eh, Daddy? But Daddy's my knight."
Matthias smiled brightly and replied.
Sien often said, "Daddy's like a knight on a white horse!"
But this time, Sien shook her head seriously.
"Nuh-uh, a weal knight!"
......A real knight?
'So Daddy's a fake knight?'
A bit hurt, Matthias relaxed his clenched fist and calmly asked again.
"Who...... is it? Daddy's hurt."
The line "Daddy's hurt" usually worked pretty well on Sien.
But not today.
Sien just tossed her hair and grinned mischievously, saying nothing more.
Somehow anxious, Matthias bit his lip repeatedly before asking,
"Hm? Sien."
"Yeah, I'll tell you later!"
Matthias thought quietly.
Come to think of it, back in the countryside village, she used to say Daddy was her favorite, but lately, no such words. She just wandered around with her soft, glossy face scrunched up, saying, "Aigoo, so tired!"
Sien had secrets now.
Strength surged into Matthias's fist.
Gazing at Sien's round little head, Matthias pondered.
He needed to find out what Sien had been up to lately.
'I'll check the knight's identity.'
First, properly identify this knight Sien saved.
If he taught his pure, fragile daughter anything bad, he wouldn't let it slide, he thought......
Perhaps lost too deep in thought, Sien had already toddled ahead on her round feet.
Before Matthias could catch up, Sien's loud voice rang out from afar.
"Let's play hunting later!"
"Yes?"
At the innocent boy's voice following his daughter, Sien shouted playfully.
"Goblin whacking!"
Hearing Sien's voice, Matthias thought.
No.
Our daughter is fine.
This is all just the family's problem.
But feeling a chill creep up his neck, he resolved to dig into Sien's recent activities completely.
***
Daddy was lost in thought, silent.
I don't know what Daddy's thinking. Probably something sweet like, 'That tiny, kind child Asid needs to eat and dress well.'
'My Daddy's super kind and gentle!'
Lightly guessing at Daddy's feelings, I turned straight to Asid.
Asid asked me cautiously.
"So, after dinner, we hunt goblins?"
"Yeah! We'll smash 'em!"
I grinned wickedly.
'Dinner, then goblin whacking to show off to Daddy! Brag about my power!'
Two birds with one stone.
Tonight, during "Goblin Whacking" playtime, I planned to bond with Ted's brother, Asid.
But......
Maybe from exhaustion, after finishing our cozy meal with Daddy—who looked a whole year older, face stiff as a board—I grabbed Asid's hand tight and headed to the outdoor garden......
'Where are the goblins? They were definitely here.'
I remembered a scary-looking uncle, probably Daddy's right-hand man, releasing goblins around here.
I turned sharply to the big sis maids behind me and asked pointedly.
"Sisses, where'd all the cute goblins go?"
"Uh, well......"
"We prepared the goblins, but......"
I could see sweat trickling down the big sisses' shiny foreheads.
"Master Matthias ordered them all disposed of. Said we can't have anything that sca...... scary in our mansion."
The big sisses' voices cracked a little.
Hearing them, I nodded involuntarily.
'Daddy must've felt sorry for the captured goblins again.'
Of course a kind person like Daddy would pity even goblins.
'As expected, my Daddy's an angel.'
Then the big sisses winked, pointing at my feet.
"Instead, he gave us this cute kitty."
"Kitty......?"
I looked down.
They were right.
On the frost-kissed lawn, a fluffy, all-white, adorable cat approached me meekly!
Its tail swished low and happy—it seemed pleased.
'Kitties are cute, but not helpful for building strength!'
Of course, the kitty was so adorable it tugged at my heart.
I crossed my arms and shook my head firmly several times.
"Someone like me doesn't match with kitty-cutes."
"Yes?"
"I like goblins. Goblins, lions, tigers!"
"Oh......"
I glanced at the dejected big sisses, then whipped my head right to look at Asid. I was about to say, 'Let's go see lions!'
"Baby, let's go see li—"
But I clamped my mouth shut with a gasp.
Asid stood with his mouth slightly agape, staring fixedly at the cat grooming its jelly-specked paws.
No matter what sounds came from around him, he seemed mesmerized by the cat.
"Um...... Are cats supposed to have white fur?"
"Hm?"
I was about to lightly reply, 'There are white cats and black cats,' but paused when I saw the boy hide his burn-scarred hand behind his back.
'The slums of Pellod Street only have dirty cats, so he wouldn't know.'
Somehow the air felt heavier.
To lighten the mood, I clapped once.
*Clap!*
"Let's tell fun stories!"
Asid must have only seen dirty, bad things until now.
Like me in my previous life, scarred from being shunned by family, Asid's heart must be prickly now too.
'I couldn't ignore someone like me.'
So I wanted to show him lots of good things, make him as happy as I am now.