Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: I Didn't Know Acid Was Such a Great Talent
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The flustered priest's eyes bulged wide.
The priest's mouth gaped open.
The bluish light flowing from Acid's hand was even excessively massive in scale. Normally, someone said to have strong divine power would emit light that filled their own body.
Yet the light Acid was producing was so vivid and enormous that it seemed like it would fill the entire room.
‘Blue light like this, light on this scale... I've never seen anything like it....’
He had never appraised the Pope's divine power, but he wondered if even the Pope's was this immense.
The priest clenched his fists and blinked rapidly.
So.... that level of vivid blue light was what he'd heard called a healer's light.
Of course, he'd never seen a single healer in person.
Healers were rare ability users who possessed the power to heal all human suffering and even save those on the brink of death—something the priest had only read about in textbooks.
“Any problems?”
Seeing Acid blinking innocently despite wielding such overwhelming power, the priest's eyes bulged wide again.
“Pr-problems....”
Even in the midst of this, the light grew stronger, to the point where it was leaking out the door. As if this cramped testing room couldn't contain Acid's power.
The priest's face paled as he faltered mid-sentence.
This boy from the Mirmod family....
He was a healer—one of the precious few, not even ten in the entire empire.
“Um.... that's really your ability?”
A boy speaking so meekly and kindly was the empire's prized talent.
“Y-yes....”
It was then, as the stunned priest moved his lips.
An argument erupted outside the door.
It sounded like a quarrel between the priest and people from the Mirmod family.
“Some weird light's pouring out from in there! Wh-what if it's dangerous?”
“Well, it's a misunderstanding—”
“Don't worry....”
“Nothing will happen.”
“No. My daughter wants to go in, so let her.”
Thud—!
The testing room door burst open.
Matthias Mirmod, infamous as the top villain even among the Mirmod family, casually flung open the testing room door.
Naturally, entering mid-examination was illegal, but Matthias couldn't care less.
The priest spotted Sien Mirmod—a chubby-cheeked five-year-old who looked like she was clenching her fists to protect the boy.
Sien dashed straight toward Acid.
“Do you know this blue light? Is it okay?”
Acid's face, which had been slumped with hunched shoulders like he was intimidated the whole time, brightened radiantly.
“Y-yes...! They said I have ability!”
It was as sweet and radiant as if he'd found the light of his life.
And the boy set the rosary he'd been holding on the table, as if it held no value at all.
As if his own divine power didn't matter—only Sien had value.
***
Acid strode into the room and silently grasped Delphia's wrist. Feeling the divine power flowing from him, Delphia faintly furrowed her brow.
“Ugh, divine power. Feels gross.”
Well, divine power was the antithesis of Delphia, after all.
Fortunately, healers were cheat-level ability users who could easily heal even those whose bodies rejected divine power. She might feel a slight discomfort, like Delphia did now.
I shook my head at Delphia, who was grimacing like a kid hating her shot.
“No biggie. Gotta endure it.”
Delphia's eyes fixed on me. As she watched my blinking eyes, she winked one eye playfully.
“If my Master wants it, I'll endure.”
For some reason, that "Master" title made me feel like I'd be stuck with Delphia forever, and I hated it.
But looking into those curiosity-filled eyes aimed at me, she felt like a silver fox brimming with inquisitiveness.
Even then, Acid silently channeled his divine power. Bluish light flowed from his hand, and Delphia's purple lips slowly regained their color.
A few minutes later, Acid quietly declared.
“It's purified now. Looks like you were poisoned.”
Acid gazed down at his hand in wonder. It seemed miraculous that just thinking about it activated his healing ability.
I was amazed too.
I'd been shocked yesterday too, cheeks puffed like a pufferfish....
But I hadn't known Acid was one of those rare healers.
Plus, it was unexpected that he was such a prodigy—he could control divine power to some extent without much training.
And one more surprising thing.
‘Must've been seriously dangerous poison. As expected of the Mirmods, a true villain family!’
Poisoning their own bloodline—fitting for a place rife with intrigue.
But after treating Delphia, I ran into a new problem.
Just as Grandma had acted for my sake, Delphia might go scheme revenge on her too.
I chomped down on my corncob teeth and stared at Delphia.
“Earlier I tole ya good. The poison, but truth, Grandma din't put it.”
I had to protect Grandma, who was working so hard for me.
“Huh? Then who did?”
Delphia grinned like she already knew.
“Me, I put it. So Grandma din't do nuttin wrong!”
......My voice trembled a tiny bit at the start.
Delphia's expression shifted oddly at my words. Covering her mouth like she was barely holding back a laugh—or not—she said.
“You really....”
“......?”
“Yeah, so you gave the sickness and the cure. Too cute, right?”
“......Huh?”
“Pulling off such a cowardly trick—you might actually surpass me.”
"Cowardly trick" meant villainous, so it was definitely praise.
I nodded proudly.
Then, scrutinizing my face, Delphia said playfully.
“Now I've given you my power, and my heart too.”
“Huh? Din't get yer heart tho?”
Delphia burst out laughing, eyes crinkling.
“Then.... Master, wanna be friends too? Babies can't be friends with grown-ups?”
“Huh? Not that, but....”
As I rolled my eyes, Delphia spoke up.
“Then, if I give more presents, will you be friends?”
“......Huh, presents?”
“Yep.”
“Hmm.... wait.”
Delphia stood up. Her hand trembled slightly.
Seeing her hand approach my cheek, I tilted my head.
“But really, can't I just pinch your cheek once?”
I shook my head primly.
“If ya give good present.”
At my reply, Delphia clenched her fist.
“Got it. Starting tomorrow, then.”
“Huh? Starting tomorrow?”
“Whatever the present is, you can look forward to it.”
No idea what it was, but I might need to revise my view of Delphia.
From threatening person to... really weird person...!
But...!
“Yep! I'll look forward!”
......Presents are great!
“No weird stuff tho...!”
“Of course, Baby Master.”
Delphia replied with gentle eyes.
I was starting to get excited...!
***
After lightly handing her leash to Sien, Delphia headed straight for Duchess Lukella's estate.
She'd expected the door to her room to be barred, but the audacity of leaving the parlor door open as if she'd known she was coming made Delphia click her tongue in admiration.
Delphia plopped down across from the duchess, who was elegantly sipping tea with a serene expression.
“You poisoned my teacup.”
Delphia cut straight to it, ignoring etiquette entirely.
The duchess set down her cup, equally unconcerned with trivial manners.
“Yes. You two were having a tea party.”
“Hmm....”
“I couldn't stand by while you tried to kill the baby.”
“......Better that I die instead of Sien, right.”
“Yes.”
It was a straightforward admission.
As expected of a mage who'd frequently stained her own hands with blood. But Delphia just smirked.
“The day I thank you has finally come, Duchess?”
The duchess had always thought Delphia's mad thought process surpassed ordinary people. But this was truly peculiar.
Poisoning her cup, and getting thanks?
Figuring straight questions were best for getting answers from Delphia Mirmod, the duchess narrowed her eyes and asked.
“What do you mean?”
“I like that kid too much.”
Delphia chuckled and propped her chin on the table. Her gaze pierced sharply toward Duchess Lukella.
“Now she's my Master. She's got my leash.”
It was too raw a face for someone who'd been leashed.
But even so, there was no ignoring Delphia's words because....
Her usual playful, whim-driven expression was excessively serious.
“Master?”
“Yes, Baby Master. I made her a mana orb and gave it to Sien.”
She packaged it playfully, but handing over a mana orb was no small matter.
Duchess Lukella faintly furrowed her brow.
“More serious than I thought.”
“Of course.”
It seemed genuine.
As the duchess's eyes narrowed appraisingly,
Delphia stared back and said teasingly.
“And I was thinking—compared to Honey Bread, well, isn't Master a more charming nickname?”
This was Delphia's second recent visit to Duchess Lukella's estate. She'd finally pieced together who "Honey Bread" referred to.
Impossible not to notice.
Even upon entering the estate today, the maids had been whispering.
‘Miss Honey Bread, I miss you so much.’
‘Can I take leave and go to the west estate?’
‘Leave? I've prepared candy for when Miss Honey Bread comes, so hurry....’
The current situation made it clear who "Honey Bread" meant.
A faint displeasure crossed the hitherto serene face of Duchess Lukella.
“Our Honey Bread would prefer that name from this old lady.”
“Well, isn't Master cuter?”
Their gazes clashed in the center.
The grinning Delphia and the coldly analytical Duchess Lukella.
Surprisingly, it was a blaze rivaling a succession war.
Unbeknownst to Sien, the battle for Sien had heatedly begun.
***
And so the next day arrived.
After Sister Delphia left, Dad said, ‘Lucky the device I set up in the tea party room didn't explode.’......Not sure what that meant exactly.
He must've thought I was in danger and called those sucker uncles to get some cute toy bombs or whatever and install them.
After brushing my teeth all sparkly and washing my face splash-splash, I went for a walk with the maid sisters.
But....
A carriage bearing Delphia's seal in intaglio was approaching.
“It's a bomb sent by Delphia Mirmod.”
“We'll dispose of it immediately.”
There was a crack like joints popping.
“Time to loosen up a bit.”
I widened my eyes and shook my head vigorously. Because that distant figure I saw...!
I flashed a huge grin and clenched my fist tight.