Chapter 133
Chapter 133
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 133
Chapter Title: Sanka's Entrustment
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“Kalang tribe tomb keepers dress up like that when offering sacrifices. Very stylish and flashy.”
Lander said in a soft voice. Belluna let out a sigh.
“My taste doesn’t run that way, so don’t get the wrong idea. This is Charlotte’s handiwork.”
She stepped slightly aside to give Lander and Sanka room to talk.
“Do you remember what I said last time?”
Sanka asked.
“Yes.”
“Did you look into it?”
“I’ve found the right person. You’ll be pleased.”
“Is there anyone who’d suit my fancy? Humans all have their dirty sides. The ones here are tolerable, but the rest are thorns in my side.”
“You might worry less once you meet them.”
“You don’t know how to lie, so I’ll trust you for now. Prepare as quickly as possible. I don’t like waiting long. And you two—wherever you go, visit Charlotte regularly. It’ll help her emotionally.”
Sanka was pointing at Guchi and Inebil.
“When will Charlotte’s memories return?”
Belluna asked. Sanka fell silent—an unusual sight.
The bird circling above Charlotte’s head landed on Lander’s.
“I can’t pin down an exact date. I don’t peer into every human’s Imaginary Realm. It’s just that she’s my child, so I understand her to some extent. At latest, a year; at soonest, two months. My child will regain her memories.”
“That gives us some time to prepare.”
“Is this considered a long time by human standards? I wouldn’t know. When the wind brushes by once, my child grows swiftly, and when the winds die down, twilight comes. Sometimes I think humans live such pitiably short lives.”
“Maybe so.”
Sanka, perched on Lander’s head like a nest, melted into the air. A spark of awareness entered Charlotte’s previously dazed eyes.
“Uncle Lander, when did you get here?”
“Just now.”
“What did Sanka say this time?”
“She said to take good care of you.”
“I’d be fine left alone. Sanka worries too much. It’s becoming a problem.”
Looking around, Charlotte spread her arms toward Inebil, signaling for a hug.
Inebile scooped Charlotte up and slowly paced the room.
She gave Lander and Guchi a look, then stepped out for a breather.
“When did Sanka ask you to do that?”
Belluna asked Lander.
“She mentioned it last time she came. Said she had to get out of here. Right away. I talked her into waiting to buy some time.”
“You should have told us if something like that happened.”
Lander glanced toward the glass wall inside as he replied.
“Sanka said not to tell. Said she still couldn’t trust you yet.”
“I thought we’d earned her trust, but we’re not there yet. Still, it’s worrying. Letting Charlotte leave here isn’t a simple matter.”
Guchi, who had been listening, spoke up.
“Is it that dangerous?”
“Dangerously so, beyond words. This place has all variables under control. It’s equipped with every device imaginable for the subject’s safety. We can’t even predict what changes Charlotte might undergo outside.”
What if Charlotte regained her memories sooner than Sanka predicted? What if, in her confusion, she made destructive demands of Sanka?
What if she asked for revenge against those who killed her father?
It was entirely plausible.
Human morality meant nothing to Sanka. If Charlotte wanted it, she’d make it happen, ethics be damned.
“Lander, who’s this person you asked? Someone willing to take her on knowing the situation can’t be ordinary.”
Guchi said. Belluna was curious too.
Before debating if a special management subject could leave the research institute at will, they needed to know who would take Charlotte in.
“To be precise, not a human. Someone’s with them, but the one I entrusted Charlotte to is of the Tarin tribe.”
“Tarin tribe? You don’t mean… that giant lizard friend we know? Tacha, was it?”
“Correct.”
“Seems risky to leave a child with him.”
“Nothing’s set in stone yet. We’ll have to meet first. Sanka and Tacha both need to agree.”
She had been listening quietly but gaped at the mention of ‘Tarin tribe.’
“You don’t mean the Tarin I know—the one who’s lived his whole life undefeated….”
Lander nodded.
A Tarin tribe member in this world.
Entrusting a child to a rough mountain warrior without a shred of delicacy?
“Even setting aside upper management’s approval, leaving a child with a Tarin seems off. Dangerous, like Guchi said?”
She’d heard Tarin took up arms as soon as they could stand, wandering battlefields as their trade.
She already worried what words a battle-mad warrior might say to Charlotte.
“He knows manners. No need to worry about that.”
“Fine, let’s say so for now. But the real issue is bigger. Charlotte’s a special management subject. She can roam the rooms and facilities without restraints as an exception, but we can’t let her out. The chief researcher won’t allow it.”
“I’ll handle that.”
“How? The chief researcher is a stickler for principles. Incredibly strict. Looks like a total softie, but no one’s tougher on the job.”
She pictured the chief researcher, who smiled and chatted amiably. Unlike his friendly face, he was terrifyingly meticulous.
“I’ll speak to His Majesty the Emperor directly.”
“No, who are you even—wait. Who?”
“If His Majesty approves, won’t the chief researcher grant permission too?”
“You’re going to report directly to His Majesty? Directly?”
“Yes.”
“…Then there’d be no issue at all. If that works.”
“It will. Even if not, we have to get Charlotte out of here. We can’t ignore Sanka’s warning.”
“True, but….”
Her head spun. The emperor reigned supreme over principles, yet even he bowed to greater powers. And Lander coordinated at that center.
She had to admit it—this was out of her hands. In truth, only Lander could rein in Sanka.
Perhaps sending Charlotte up with Lander was safer than keeping her confined here.
“What’s the plan?”
Inebile poked her head out and asked. Charlotte in her arms had fallen asleep again.
“Wake Charlotte. I’ll explain.”
Inebile softly called Charlotte’s name. Charlotte rubbed her eyes and woke.
“Charlotte.”
Lander approached.
“Yes, Uncle?”
“Do you want to go outside?”
“Don’t I have to stay here?”
Charlotte looked at her.
Belluna’s heart ached. Young as she was, the girl understood everything. She knew what the adults’ gazes meant, why she was confined here.
Belluna smiled reassuringly.
Charlotte was a child who’d lost her family before being a dangerous power under management. She needed care and consideration more than anyone.
Don’t get emotional with subjects. That was the researcher’s creed. But today, feelings overrode rules.
“I want to go out.”
Charlotte said. Lander extended his hand. Charlotte, feet on the ground, grabbed it.
“I’ll come too.”
Inebile said. Belluna waved her hand no. Lander could bend rules, but not Inebil or Guchi.
They’d chosen to stay in Kea—they couldn’t leave at will.
“You’ll have to part from Inebil sis for a bit. Is that okay?”
Lander asked Charlotte. She didn’t reply, just stared at Inebil.
“Go on. Sis will wait here. Uncle will handle any trouble, so don’t worry.”
“Will you be okay without me?”
“A little lonely, but we’ll see each other soon. So go with Uncle without worrying. Sir Lander, take care of Charlotte.”
Charlotte hesitated, then nodded.
“Be back soon!”
Lander led Charlotte out into the hallway.
“I’ll have to write a report. Whatever, I’ll take the heat for it.”
A sigh escaped, but what could she do? Mid-level positions got squeezed from both sides.
She turned to the remaining two.
“Wash your faces first. Then both of you write outing request forms right away. Submit them early so they’re ready when needed. I’ll set a generous deadline.”
“Seeing Lander come and go freely, I forgot for a moment what this place is.”
Guchi said.
“Lander’s an exception. Even in the empire, the people who can visit here on a whim can be counted on one hand.”
The two left to wash up. Belluna peered into the now-empty isolation room, suddenly recalling Sanka’s words.
“She definitely said it was unpleasant. This situation? Or us? Or….”
She’d let it slide amid Charlotte’s outing issue, but this needed checking. It could decide Kea’s fate.
The emperor, the special inspectorate leader, and now the administration director. Heavyweights kept visiting.
This won’t turn into real trouble, will it? She exhaled slowly to shake off the unease.
* * *
Ariel checked the clock. 3 p.m. The time Lander was due.
“Uncle Lander said he’d come at?”
“3.”
“Almost time.”
“Shouldn’t you be the one remembering this stuff?”
“If one person knows properly, that’s enough. Haha.”
Ethan laughed good-naturedly.
Ariel bit back a retort.
Not even lord and vassal anymore—he was striving to help her. An equal partner, not a subordinate.
Still, sometimes she wished for first-class noble treatment. Being casual was fine, but acting on her level?
The thought made her head and right leg throb. Full recovery would take more time.
Still, lucky to get off with this. Caught in that explosion, she wouldn’t have even felt the pain before dying.
The moment Lander had carried her still felt vivid. Experiencing it firsthand made him even more astonishing.
Moving at that speed without strain—what kind of body was that?
“At least today I can greet him sitting up. Last time I was bedridden.”
“You think I wanted that? Body wouldn’t listen. Anyway, where’s Tacha?”
“He’s excited about Uncle Lander coming and standing in the yard. That lizard uncle’s like a kid sometimes.”
“Better than a kid. Kids just whine. Tacha….”
Thumping sounds reached inside the house.
She looked out. A lizard stamping the ground with his tail and snorting.
“What to do with that guy.”
Ariel let out a hollow laugh.
Resting her chin on the windowsill, gazing toward the central square. A welcome face approached the mansion.
A little girl clung to his side. Probably the child he’d mentioned.
“Hope the kids get along.”
She murmured softly, glancing between Tacha and the tiny girl.
(To be continued next time)