Goodness is Good in Itself (2)
I slowly opened my eyes, which had been closed. And now, finally, I could see something. In my blurry vision, there were the shapes of countless people. A chill ran down my spine for a moment, but I soon realized who they were.
I rubbed my eyes with my small hands and looked around. My mana, now feeling denser and darker—deep black-red. After rubbing my eyes, my vision cleared, and the shapes of the children were gone. I felt around me, and it hit me. That was just a dream.
But it hadn't felt like a dream at all. In fact, dismissing it as one felt almost disrespectful.
Maybe my power is...?
I began to seriously ponder this sudden awakening of my strength. A body incapable of awakening magic had awakened. Thinking about it, it was absurd. But if those children who died before me had helped, like in that moment... then maybe something had changed, even if just a little.
A new goal.
I set another goal, one as big as my revenge against the Collodics. It stemmed from that dream I'd just had.
I need to find the source of my power—or at least why it appeared.
And on top of that, a smaller but necessary goal emerged.
I need to find out how many children died here.
In the dream, though it was hazy, so many children had gathered above me, cupping their hands together, covering my eyes and brushing them clean. There were tons of footprints too. So many it was pointless to count... My heart ached at the thought.
"Hoo... I've got a mountain of things to do ahead."
I gathered my resolve and properly checked my surroundings. In this utterly empty room, there was just a bed and a candle standing alone. Without that candle, the bare room would surely plunge into pitch blackness in no time.
I cautiously swung my feet down from the bed, wiggling my toes. Then I slowly headed toward the door.
As I approached, I heard footsteps from outside.
What the—?!
I dashed back to the bed at the sound waiting by the door. I walked super quietly, and since I was so light, there was no noise. Once back in bed, I hurriedly pulled the blanket over me and pretended to sleep.
Soon, the door creaked open, and bright light poured in from beyond. Then came the sound of very careful footsteps.
"Is she asleep?"
"Looks like it..."
Monte and... um, a maid. Why were they here all of a sudden? I carefully kept up the sleeping act. Their footsteps continued right up to the bedside, and as I calmed my pounding heart, I felt them draw close enough to hear their breathing.
"She's so young."
"Yeah. I don't remember if she told us her age..."
"About the same as my second kid."
"Oh! That's good then."
I could feel their gazes on my cheek. And then came a hushed conversation, so quiet I had to strain to hear.
Second kid? Age?
I felt puzzled by these people suddenly asking about my age. With that, Monte took the maid and left. Once the door closed, I waited a bit longer, then kicked off the blanket and sat up.
"What was that?"
My instincts tingled for a moment. It felt like Monte was up to something. I got off the bed and checked outside the door. Pressing my ear against it yielded nothing. I cracked it open—outside was cold and empty. A bad feeling crept in.
I shut the door to shake it off and dove back onto the bed.
I'm hungry, though...
I decided to wait for someone to come. Staring blankly at the ceiling, old thoughts started creeping in. I knew the Cardias weren't bad people like the Collodics, but my body still trembled. This small-windowed room was scary after all. But I'd overcome it. Those kids had given me strength. For their sake, I'd live happily. I made that slightly cringey vow, then embarrassingly burrowed under the blanket. Static in my hair felt weird, but it was warm and cozy. Nice.
Gurgle... My stomach was hungry, though.
"So, kids that age like dolls or sweet stuff."
Monte was in rare full scholar mode. Words flowed nonstop onto his notebook. At peak concentration, he tossed out another question.
"Anything they shouldn't do?"
The target of his questions was a family maid—and a veteran of raising three kids.
"Hmm... Varies by kid, but they usually hate bitter things and skip brushing their teeth."
"Kids are tricky..."
Monte had been a kid once, but he had no clue how to handle a little girl. His big sis didn't count—she was too massive to call a "girl."
A woman tougher than me isn't a good reference.
Rudmila had lived in the training grounds since childhood. She was a whole different species from soft, bean-sized Riru.
"Skipping brushing is a problem..."
Monte jotted notes furiously, then bowed his head in worry, recalling Riru's appetite.
She eats more than I did back then...
He'd heard she'd devoured everything in the kitchen. If a kid like that skipped brushing, her pretty face would end up all bucktoothed for sure.
"How do you get them to brush?"
"Better not force it..."
During this back-and-forth, the maid seized a pause to ask what she'd been wondering.
"But why are you asking all this?"
"Huh? Oh, well..."
Monte opened his mouth, then paused. How to explain?
Can't just say I'm adopting her outright... "Winning her over," "winning her... damn, why's my vocab trash!?
He despaired at his own poor word choice. The gist: While Rudmila was off preparing to greet their approaching mother from afar, Monte had taken it upon himself to help Riru settle into the mansion first.
Reasons: two.
1. Adopting her outright needed the family head—Mom's—approval.
2. If Riru ended up hating the Cardias, Mom's personality meant she'd send her somewhere she'd be happy. Guaranteed.
Monte wanted Riru as a little sister. So his mission: Make her fall for the mansion.
Know thy enemy, win every battle. He'd make sure Riru stayed here forever. And go further: Make her want to stay.
That's how adoption happens.
Prioritize the kid's choice. Mom would value that, and sticking to it was key to succeeding. While not crossing that line, he'd give it his all.
An abused kid. But her talent was too brilliant to pass up. Riru, who seemed to have thawed cold Rudmila's heart. The Cardias had no intention of letting her go. Talent scouting was their specialty.
And living with a genius would help Monte too. He was dying to see how his stoic parents reacted to her. Dying to know!
Alright.
Monte stood.
"Gotta meet the head chefs."
And in his head, the "Riru攻略 plan" was taking shape. Starting with her presumed favorite foods.
His determined steps led to the kitchen. There, arriving after a short walk, some weird standoff was unfolding.
Monte peeked through the door, eyes narrowing.
"Yours is better, huh?"
"Yeah? Prove yours is!"
The two head chefs were in a staring contest. Their sous-chefs split into factions, on the verge of a brawl.
Monte listened longer. And figured out why.
"Others told me? That little lady enjoyed my food more than yours."
"My pancakes weren't even for that kid!"
Sparks flew. The chefs looked ready to grab pans and utensils for war.
"Honestly, she liked the pancakes... but she enjoyed the food here more."
Emotions flickered in the eyes of the Cardia kitchen duo. Rage in the pancake guy's. Smugness in the one who'd cooked for Riru directly.
Witnesses to Riru's meal clearly sided with the smug one. Hence more sparks.
"Damn, if I'd known we had a guest...!"
"Umhahaha. The world doesn't bend to your whims."
As bloodshed loomed, Monte finally stepped in.
"Didn't know our head chefs were this passionate."
Everyone startled at his entrance. The mood hushed; all bowed their heads in silence.
Is the vibe gap between me and Riru this huge...?
Monte felt a pang but shook his head, recalling how he'd once turned every kitchen sauce mint-chocolate as his first 5th-circle prank. Anyway, he remembered his request.
Was gonna ask for kid-friendly foods...
But seeing this, a better idea sparked. Maybe not the best, but definitely fun.
"Oh, by the way, the kid's name is Riru."
And Monte's tongue rolled smoothly toward the two chefs.
Monte lived for fun. He couldn't just watch a good rivalry.
So after a little prodding...
"In short... Riru decides. Who's the best chef in Cardia. Got it?"
The two exchanged glances and nodded.
"I ain't inferior to this punk! Fight to the death, and the winner's clear."
"I've already captured the little lady's taste buds... but total devotion's a chef's fate."
Flames ignited between them. As Monte turned with a "good luck," they bolted.
"Sugar, whipped cream, cake—a huge cake!"
"Time for my secret special. Heh heh."
Monte had just poked their pride a bit, but the blaze was hilarious. Inner glee mixed with exasperation.
But thanks to it, Riru would get top-tier food galore. Who steals her taste buds more? The kitchen was heating up over that contest.
Food: cleared.
Normally, she'd just eat and done. But a few words elevated her to food judge. Fun. Why hadn't he thought of this sooner?
But not the time.
Monte mulled next moves, hustling onward. When to broach adoption? Move her room? Rudmila's gone, so maybe give her that one?
He had about a week till Mom arrived. Had to make Riru never want to leave.
A villainous plot, but he shelved the thought. If her talent leaked and some house snatched her? Unhealable scars for sure.
Goodness is good in itself. Don't call it hypocrisy.
Recalling a book line, he dove back into planning. Find a decent room by scouring the house—hers was too stuffy.
Surveying the layout after ages, a strong urge hit him, halting his steps.
Ah, that magic... wanna see it again.
Suppressing the itch to witness Riru's magic right now was torture. High-level folks would feel it worse.
Mom would freak.
And her magic outclassed him utterly. What would Mom think? Curiosity burned; Monte grinned and kept moving.
"M-monster..."
An orc waddled, then split in half. Two massive chunks splattered guts across the ground.
Wiping blood from her blade with cold eyes: the towering woman who shone brightest on the battlefield.
Everyone sharing the field knew: Few in the Empire could face her head-on.
"As expected."
"No room to even step in."
"Wonder what someone like her worries about..."
The woman all acknowledged. Empire's strongest. Empire's Eye, Cardia family head. Dragon Slayer.
With all those titles, her narrowed eyes fixed on... her reliably dumb son.
"Mother, this area's cleared."
Polite, serious talk only. The Empire's noblest woman felt a pang of loneliness. Age catching up? She craved cute, lovable grandkids, but her kids showed zero marriage interest.
At least Monte's sharp.
Troublemaker, not always adorable. Who knew the spoiled brat would turn hobby-obsessed...
"Sigh."
Thus, Cardia family head Yurshil Cardia's face bore a worry none knew. She just wanted cute grandkids.