Chapter 135
Chapter 135
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 135
Chapter Title: Entrusting Charlotte
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“ You want me to take care of that child here?”
Ariel asked. Lander set down his teacup and replied.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“That’s not hard at all. We have spare rooms. But I am curious. Whose child is she for you to leave her here? Of course, you don’t have to answer. I owe you a debt, and I intend to repay it.”
Laughter rang out from outside. It was Charlotte’s voice. She seemed to be having fun playing with Tacha.
“She’s a child under Kea’s management.”
Information sharing was necessary for smooth communication and proper response. Of course, he only brought it up because he trusted Ariel.
“You don’t mean the Think Tank I know, do you?”
“That’s exactly it.”
“…I thought it was a light request, but this is quite a heavy one. How serious is it? Is it something I can handle?”
“If the child’s guardian gets angry, it’ll be hard to bear.”
“Guardian?”
He felt wind gathering above his head. Sanka revealed itself. Ariel’s eyes widened at the sudden appearance.
“What’s that bird?”
“Insolent human child. I’ll let it slide once, but if you look at me like that again, I’ll shove you into the clouds. It’d be fun to fall from up there, wouldn’t it?”
Ariel shot him a glance. Her eyes asked how to handle it.
Lander said calmly.
“This is Sanka, Charlotte’s guardian. The speech is rough, but it’s not a cruel being, so there’s no need to worry.”
“Since when did you become my spokesperson?”
Sanka tapped his head with its wings. Lander ignored it and said to Ariel.
“It will always stay by Charlotte’s side. It’ll block most physical threats, so you don’t need to worry about that. What I’m asking of you, miss, is an environment where Charlotte can live comfortably.”
“I understand to some extent.”
Ariel’s braided hair shot up into the air. Wind swirled only around her.
Ariel groaned as she steadied her posture. Like a student of Schola, she was enduring by using mana to some degree.
Lander raised his hand to grab Sanka on his head. He brought it down in front of his face.
“If you care about Charlotte, please treat the people here with respect.”
“Lecturing me?”
“I’m asking you. You know better than anyone that Charlotte needs friends.”
“I know. I know. I like the mountain child outside. The little Rappa next to her is good too. They have a good scent. The wind around them is calm. They’ll have a good influence on Charlotte. But this child is different.”
The wind died down. Ariel smoothed her messed-up hair and stared at Sanka. Her face was blank with shock.
She must have realized it. Sanka’s power was beyond what humans could suppress.
“There’s a smell of blood. And the wind around this child is terribly rough. It’ll get swept up in the storms, and eventually, it’ll stir up storms itself. It’s hard to guess what influence this child will have on Charlotte if they’re together.”
The spirit, who had lived an immeasurably long time, evaluated Ariel. A person swept up in storms, soon to stir them up herself.
It wasn’t wrong. The young lady before him was in a complicated situation.
She knew the one who killed her father was her birth mother, and as family head, she was preparing countermeasures to hold her accountable.
The internal factional strife of a First-Class Noble wouldn’t end with words. Someone would surely shed blood, and that blood would spark further revenge.
“I know what you’re worried about, Sanka. If I had the capacity, I’d take care of Charlotte myself, but I can’t. The best option is to keep her in Kea, but that would have a bad influence on her.”
“And your carefully chosen next-best is this child?”
“There’s Tacha here.”
“How about just bringing the mountain child out separately? Setting up a house nearby wouldn’t be hard.”
Ariel cut in.
“Tacha is my guest. I can’t allow you to take her away as you please.”
“What did you just say? Allow? You’re greatly mistaken. You don’t have the right to choose. If I say so, that’s how it’ll be.”
Sanka got irritated. But Ariel didn’t back down. A biting cold wind swept through the room.
Frost quickly formed on Ariel’s hair. Lander tried to mediate, but Ariel shook her head firmly, her eyes intense.
“Don’t think of ordering my guest around as you please. Neither I nor you decide that. Tacha’s own thoughts are what matter most.”
White breath rose from Ariel’s mouth with every word. Sanka, watching her attitude, soon withdrew its power.
At the same time, Tacha leaped up to the second-floor balcony. The lizard’s wary eyes scanned the room.
“What’s going on?”
Tacha asked Sanka politely. Charlotte, riding on Tacha’s neck with arms around it, looked curious too.
“You came at the right time. Mountain child, get out of here and set up separate lodgings. Live there with Charlotte. This human child has wind that’s too rough. I don’t like keeping her around.”
“Wind Spirit, that’s a request I cannot grant.”
Tacha answered immediately without even thinking. Sanka’s head tilted crookedly. It seemed more surprised than displeased.
“Why?”
“I promised to help this human woman, Ariel. It’s a matter tied to my name and a vow a mountain warrior must keep.”
“Helping her can’t take priority over your duty, right? If you look after Charlotte to my satisfaction, I’ll train you as much as you want. This aligns with your people’s aspirations.”
“It’s a tempting offer, but for one born and raised in the mountains to break a promise would be worse than death.”
“You’re refusing my offer?”
Tacha shook its thick neck side to side.
“No.”
“You’ll stay by this human child.”
Sanka pointed at Ariel with its beak.
“Yes.”
“I don’t like her, I’m telling you.”
“I know that too.”
“What do you plan to do about it!”
Sanka got irritated. Wind blew from all directions.
“I’ll look after this little one and help Ariel too.”
Tacha’s tail swished largely. Sanka glared at Tacha with its head held high, then let out a deep sigh and lowered it.
“I forgot. The mountain offspring are stubborn fools who won’t listen to anyone, even unto death.”
“You’re much like Sanka.”
Lander said. Sanka pecked his head with its beak.
“To judge, this little human has the qualities to become a warrior.”
Tacha’s hand rose above Charlotte’s head. It patted lightly, and Charlotte winced. It seemed to hurt.
“A warrior must decide their own place to dwell. This little human isn’t a chick needing protection but an adult to be granted decision rights. The shell is still soft, but time will harden it. Spirit, you above all should know this well.”
Tacha bowed its body. Charlotte, who had been on its shoulder, stepped down to the floor.
“Sanka. I like Uncle Tacha. Brother Ethan is a bit mean, but still fun. I don’t know Sister Ariel well yet, but she doesn’t seem bad. I like it here. What about you, Sanka?”
Charlotte said as she took a step closer. Sanka’s stubborn face gradually softened.
“My child is so clever. She already knows I can’t refuse if she says it like that. Fine, if you like it here, then stay. What you want is what I want.”
“Thanks, Sanka!”
Charlotte hugged the bird tightly. If anyone else had touched it without permission, they’d have vanished, but to Charlotte, Sanka was endlessly affectionate.
“Anyway, it’s settled, right?”
Ariel, who was speaking, coughed loudly. The frost on her body had melted, leaving her looking like a drowned rat.
Sanka flapped its wings. Wind enveloped Ariel. The young lady tensed slightly but soon relaxed.
“Thank you.”
Ariel said. The moisture was all gone.
“Just one thing. Don’t hurt my child.”
“I have no intention of dragging a child into my affairs.”
“The wind is rough, but you’re not twisted, so I’ll trust you for now.”
Sanka stared at Ariel quietly, then vanished. Tacha took Charlotte and left the room.
“She won’t stay long. Once the Holy City stabilizes and the child’s family issues are somewhat resolved, we’ll settle somewhere else.”
“It’s fine if she stays longer. Willett will come here soon, and we have a nanny experienced with multiple children.”
“Hearing that puts my mind at ease.”
Ariel said as she smoothed her wrinkled pant hem.
“Even with First-Class Noble authority, it’s hard to bring a managed subject out of Kea to the surface. His Majesty holds real power there. Yet you brought the child alone, without researchers or agents.”
Lander gave Ariel time to finish speaking.
“It means you have some authority surpassing that of a First-Class Noble. It must be power permitted by His Majesty. And yet you asked me…”
Her gaze turned to the window.
“His Majesty suspects everything around him. The Holy City terror is likely an inside job. And this child appearing at such a time must be connected to it.”
“That’s correct.”
He didn’t deny it. Ariel smiled wryly, narrowing her eyes.
“The burden keeps growing. Wouldn’t it be safer for her in Kea?”
“As long as Sanka is with her, location doesn’t matter. What we need to consider is the child’s mental health. As you know, that underground isn’t a place for a child to stay long-term.”
“Well, true.”
“And only a very few know Charlotte is here. Among Kea’s researchers, only those at the executive level and above.”
“This is a screening process too. To root out enemies within Kea.”
“Inspections are necessary. And there are a few reasons I can’t tell you.”
Gilliuwood had pinpointed Charlotte’s location and carried out the terror. According to Sanuaria, this was a definite future foreseen through prophecy.
If the terror had succeeded, Sanka would have raged, and the Holy City would have suffered irreparable damage.
But the foreseen future had veered off. The Holy City had many casualties, but not to the point of functional paralysis.
It wouldn’t be the outcome Gilliuwood desired.
A prophet whose prophecy fails loses ruling power. Even among its followers, talk would arise.
Whether to follow blindly or change course.
That slight confusion.
That was what Lander wanted. Division would bring unplanned actions.
Those acting radically to correct the seer’s prophecy, those abandoning faith to inform the emperor, and those aiming to become the new seer.
“Now I’m afraid to learn your true identity.”
“If I meet your senior later, I’ll get an earful for putting his daughter in danger.”
“Senior?”
Lander gave Ariel the photo Willett had handed him.
“This photo…”
“When Mr. Willett arrives, show it to him and ask. We have a few more favors to ask ahead, so it’s better if we know each other.”
He stood up. Ariel just alternated between looking at the photo and his face with a complicated expression.
“See you next time.”
Lander bowed slightly and left the room.
(To be continued in the next installment)