Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: It Was an Innocent Yet Satisfied Smile
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“But what does our baby plan to do with this gold?”
I glanced at Delphia and flashed a bright smile.
Then I pressed my index finger firmly against my lips and said,
“......Shh! Beeecret.”
Staring straight at Delphia, I made a flower bud gesture with my hands.
“It’s in the magazine!”
Delphia’s expression changed to one of someone beholding the most beautiful thing in the world.
Her hands kept fidgeting, as if she was dying to pinch my cheeks.
But I ignored her expression and gestures as best I could, just beaming innocently.
Delphia then sent me a dreamy gaze and whispered,
“Is this what they call... push and pull?”
“Mm!”
“Oh my god... my heart’s pounding.”
I nodded. Leonhardt, standing beside Delphia, nodded as well and murmured softly to himself.
“Making gold and all... she’s so cool.”
I didn’t remember making gold, that was something alchemists did.... But I decided not to correct him.
“Thank you! Gold for you too!”
Handing out these little carrots to my close aides one by one was part of my roadmap to becoming a cool leader.
***
The next day, high society was buzzing with an unexpected issue. It was big enough to startle those lounging in the salons.
“Did you all hear about it?”
“Hear what?”
“They say the Mirmod family has launched a new trading company.”
The Mirmod family.
No one was unaware of the infamy they carried. In high society, few dared utter their name carelessly.
But...
“......They say it’s that daughter of Matthias Mirmod.”
“Ah......”
People sighed softly.
Matthias Mirmod and his daughter occupied an ambiguous position in high society.
He had been exiled for unforgivable, heinous acts even by his family’s standards.
Yet he had returned as heir.
She hadn’t shown any particular abilities, but who knew what might happen.
To put it precisely, no one knew how to treat them.
“Opening a trading company at just five years old.”
“Even for that precocious Mirmod family, isn’t that fast?”
No one bearing the Mirmod name was present in this salon.
Knowing there were no ears to hear, people still whispered with lowered voices out of habit when it came to the Mirmods.
“Take a look.”
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[Front Page] Mirmod Family Opens New Magical Tool Trading Company
Word is that little Lady Sien Mirmod (age 5), daughter of Mirmod heir Matthias Mirmod, has established a magical tool trading company.
The new company is seeking collaborating mages.
Compensation to be negotiated.
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It was a simple announcement, but its placement on the front page was notable, and the magazine itself was unusual. It had appeared in a gossip rag reporting high society news.
“Is this for real?”
“Why would it be in a gossip sheet?”
News of a new trading company usually merited only a brief mention at the bottom of the [Economic Gazette].
Yet this magical tool company had been splashed across the front page of a gossip magazine.
Of course, for the Mirmods, nothing was impossible, but it was still an odd move.
And there was another peculiar detail.
“They say Lady Sien Mirmod herself submitted it directly to the gossip rag.”
“So it’s real......?”
“What kind of lady is she, exactly?”
Everyone murmured.
There were positive reactions, and negative ones too.
Either way, Sien Mirmod had firmly imprinted her presence on people’s minds.
“What kind of magical tools are they planning to sell?”
“Weren’t magical tools handled by other companies, or by Lord Axel?”
“Yeah.”
Lady Bonnet, Delphia’s spy nestled among the salon crowd, smiled softly and chimed in.
“Still, I’m really looking forward to it? Their first magical tool model.”
Of course...
“I hear that young lady is super cute and lovable.”
“Have you seen her?”
“No, but that’s the rumor. They say she’s the Mirmod family’s precious treasure.”
......Lady Delphia had instructed her to say it exactly like that, not missing a single word.
It made her cringe a bit, but Bonnet had to carry out her orders.
***
That night, inside the Mirmod estate.
Delphia, Leonhardt, and I listened to the salon reports from Lady Bonnet and smiled in satisfaction.
“They’re really all talking about me?”
“Yes. They’re curious about the magical tool company. And I mentioned about a hundred times how cute Lady Sien is, as you instructed, Lady Sien, Lady Delphia.”
“Cute......?”
“I told her to say that. Everyone needs to know how adorable our baby is.”
My cheeks flushed red, and I pressed my hands to them, shaking my head vigorously.
Originally, the magical tool company should have gone to Melodya.
Thinking about it, it felt a bit uneasy, like I was snatching things from her one by one.
But Melodya was the future saintess who’d become a huge threat, while I was just a powerless kid.
Taking a couple things made for a fair fight.
I shook off the unease and nodded.
“No good reactions at all?”
“Ah......”
Lady Bonnet’s eyes darted around, making it obvious there were negative ones. Reactions like “She’s a Mirmod,” “Daddy’s little fool,” or “She’s only five,” no doubt.
But still.
“It’s fine.”
“Really?”
Delphia asked, puzzled. I nodded at her emphatically.
“Mm. Expected it.”
Of course.
The young daughter of the Mirmod family announces a magical tool company. There would be those already in the business, those harboring grudges against the Mirmods, and those uncomfortable with a child running a business.
Flaws would naturally be found in such a situation.
‘Maybe Axel or Melodya will step in and take action.’
They might try to check me.
Leonhardt clenched his fist, perhaps thinking the same.
“If that happens, I’ll handle it.”
“No, it’s fine. I’ll do it.”
Friedrich Nietzsche once said,
“What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger.”
I delivered the line coolly, then nodded as if agreeing with myself.
That’s weird. It suddenly got quiet.
I glanced around.
Delphia and Leonhardt mumbled in turn, lips twitching.
“......Where did you learn that?”
“Book!”
Leonhardt’s eyes widened hugely.
“Just how much of a genius are you?”
As I tugged my lips awkwardly, Delphia couldn’t hold back anymore and pulled me into a tight hug.
“You’re too smart!”
“Air......!”
“You’re too pretty and cute and lovable, and you can do anything our baby wants!”
Leonhardt, watching us, soon shook his head.
But even he was twitching his hands.
***
At the same time, news of Sien’s magical tool company spread everywhere.
Naturally, Melodya, Gabriele, and Axel Mirmod all heard about it.
Of course, Axel Mirmod was too busy quelling a sudden riot to care about some kid’s antics. He had forgotten all about it, focused entirely on swinging his sword.
But things were different for Melodya and Gabriele.
Having returned to the empire in splendor from the eastern continent with her shamans, Melodya headed to the Sinoa Temple where Gabriele resided.
She first inspected the items Gabriele had procured.
Looking at the cheap, unremarkable goods, Melodya narrowed her eyes. She addressed Gabriele in a gentle tone.
“Nothing special.”
“I’m sorry......”
“I heard the botanical garden was bid on at the auction too.”
“......Yesss.”
Gabriele mumbled in a shrinking voice.
Watching her, Melodya hummed.
“Yes. That Sien kid bought it, and people went wild. They’re calling her the golden hand that mined gold from that worthless botanical garden.”
Gabriele bit her lip.
Yes, that was right.
Sien Mirmod had bought the botanical garden with gold buried in it. Lucky little bitch.
But...!
“I-I tried to bid too! But my budget was too low......”
Melodya stared piercingly at Gabriele. Her face was smeared with petulance and jealousy—hardly saintly.
She whispered softly, as if pointing out Gabriele’s failing.
“But you lost it to Sien Mirmod.”
“I-I would have won if I had more money....... And that kid, she had some weird shaman with her! She must have used strange magic to get in! Losing to someone like that makes me so mad.”
Gabriele, thoroughly beaten by Sien, huffed repeatedly.
Melodya smiled faintly and said,
“Yes. Remember that anger.”
Stroking Gabriele’s hair, she murmured lowly to herself.
“It’d be better if the Mirmod heir was Axel Mirmod, to completely wipe out the Mirmods.”
Even Gabriele looked shocked at that.
Suddenly wiping out the Mirmod family? For Saintess Melodya to think that......
But Melodya paid little heed to Gabriele’s stunned expression. Her gentle murmur continued.
“Matthias Mirmod is hard to control, and his daughter Sien Mirmod seems pretty clever too. If they become family head, it’ll be impossible to handle the Mirmods.”
Gabriele bit her lip, watching Melodya’s expression.
“S-Sien Mirmod isn’t clever, she’s sly......!”
“Who knows. She does seem sharp. At least more than you, Gabriele.”
Gabriele glanced at Melodya’s eyes.
“B-But Lady Melodya, if this keeps up, what if she outshines me at my debutante ball too?”
“That could happen. So what should you do to prevent that, Gabriele?”
“I’ll definitely...... get stronger than her. I’ll take Ted back, and that Acid kid too. I swear.”
Melodya smiled brightly and stroked Gabriele’s hair.
“Such a good idea. Oh, and about that magical tool company Sien Mirmod set up......”
“......W-What if that company gets famous? What if she gains fame?”
“Don’t worry about that.”
As Gabriele’s complexion didn’t improve, Melodya whispered lowly.
“Whether that child is the Mirmod daughter or whatever. Right now, Matthias Mirmod isn’t by her side.”
“......”
“And soon, I’ll have my saintess inauguration.”
Melodya’s pale white hand gently stroked Gabriele’s hair.
“Don’t worry, Gabriele. I’ll test that child.”
“A test?”
“Yes. I’ll see if she’s the type to fail over something this trivial. If she’s stronger, I’ll give her a harsher trial.”
Gabriele bit her lip hard.
As expected of Lady Melodya.
A villain like Sien Mirmod was bound to drop dead soon.
“Oh dear, no blood on my child.”
Word was that Matthias Mirmod had cornered Axel Mirmod.
He might thwart her goals.
In that case......
“If I’m going to crush the Mirmod family’s buds from now on, should I waste energy this early?”
Melodya smiled softly and stroked Gabriele’s head.
“Baby, we’re destined to win.”
It was destined that way.
The Mirmods would lose, and Gabriele and Melodya would win laurels.
That was the fate set by the world.
Gabriele’s expression softened a bit at Melodya’s words, and she grinned.
It was an innocent yet satisfied smile.