Chapter 103

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 103

Chapter Title: Exhaustion and the Auction

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As I rejoiced greatly, the eyes of the century's master strategist curved sharply.

"Hey. So how do we expose it... Ugh!"

Mid-sentence, my head suddenly spun. My vision narrowed, and my chest felt tight, like a rock was pressing down on it. My eyes seemed to whirl around, and breathing grew difficult.

It was agony incomparable to the motion sickness from the long-distance teleportation circle.

As I staggered, Seria and the adjutant rushed to support me in alarm.

"Little One!"

"Are you all right?"

The master strategist frowned with a soft "Oh dear."

"I should take my leave."

The moment I severed the power flowing to my familiar, he vanished, and the vise-like grip on my lungs eased.

Controlling a familiar is harder than summoning a demon.

When summoning demons, I just shared my holy power with them, and they regulated their own strength.

From forming their shape to anchoring them to the mortal plane, it was all demon craft.

But directing a familiar required me to wield every bit of power myself.

I didn't know how to sustain one without wasting holy power like a demon would—like leaving the faucet fully open while washing my face, power just gushing out.

I need a demon or familiar who can teach me precise holy power control.

As I groaned in thought, Seria brought me another cup of water.

It took a good while after drinking before I came back to my senses.

"How are you feeling now, Little One?"

"I wanna go home..."

I mumbled, then gasped sharply. Seria and the adjutant widened their eyes.

Oh no. Even adult thoughts are hard to control.

Why?

In my past life, I could manage adult thinking just fine by age nine.

Ah, right. When I push myself to the brink, even if I usually control adult thoughts well, my mind reverts to my body's age.

I'd never used this much power in my past life as a holy power pauper, so I hadn't known.

"We should head home for now."

I muttered glumly, and the adjutant nodded.

"Yes. I'll escort you."

Seria watched us, clearly full of questions since I'd never told her about my true nature or the demons.

I weakly took her hand.

"I'll explain everything soon. I meant to today, but right now—"

"I'll be waiting."

Seria smiled gently, and I managed a faint smile in return.

Seria always believes in me.

"I believe in you too, Seria."

"That's an honor."

As we smiled at each other, the adjutant said, "Save the camaraderie for later. We should return to the mansion at once," and scooped me up.

I waved to Seria from his arms as we departed.

Back in my room at the mansion, he laid me gently on the bed and tucked me in.

"Honestly, Little One... You summoned your familiar so confidently, I thought you knew how to handle it properly."

"No, I just didn't realize it'd drain me this much..."

"You truly had no idea?"

He widened his eyes, and I averted my gaze.

"...I had a bit of a hunch."

"You never worry about your own body!"

"..."

"Hand over the amethyst. I'll keep it for you."

He referred to the amethyst from the portrait frame of the Duvered founding duke, and I flinched, glancing at the bedside table.

"It's here, then."

Oh no!

Without adult thought control, everything was getting exposed.

"N-No! That's suspected to be a new demon conduit."

"Exactly."

"But...!"

"You've never heard a demon's voice without using holy power—not with Bune, not with Paimon. Yet this 'conduit' spoke to you first. We don't know how powerful the demon inside is, and if something like this is in your reckless hands..."

"..."

"You'd use it without a second thought for your body if you felt the need. Isn't that right?"

"That's not—!"

No, it's not! I wanted to shout, but child Leblain couldn't lie well.

"—You're right."

"I'll hold on to it. Tell me when you need it, and I'll assess the situation before sending it via teleportation circle."

"..."

"No wandering off. Rest for the time being. I'll watch the Balluas with Seria."

"..."

"Sleep. Rest!"

"...Yes."

With that, he even took all the documents I'd hidden under the bed and left.

The next day, my condition hadn't improved.

I slept past morning, dragging myself out of bed in a daze only after the sun was high.

Stumbling out of my room, I ran into my three brothers coming down the hall, chatting. They spotted me and approached.

"Slept in, squirt."

"Sleep well, Leblain?"

"...Hello."

Ishak, Henri, and Yohan spoke in turn, and I nodded.

"Good morning..."

With half-closed eyes, I just bobbed my head, and Ishak's eyes went wide.

"Whoa, what's wrong with you?"

"Tired from the tea party?"

Henri stroked my cheek as he spoke, and I closed my eyes with a mumble. "Mmm..."

Yawns kept coming.

Then, from the bottom of the stairs: "Little One!" It was the maid Lora's voice.

"Lunch is ready."

Food!

My eyes snapped open, and I bolted down the stairs.

"Hey, you'll fall, squirt!"

"Leblain!"

Ishak and Henri chased after me in a panic, with Yohan following.

I didn't look back, dashing straight to the dining room.

Even after a midnight snack, I was ravenous.

I plopped into my chair, grabbed a fork with glee, and out came a huge steak topped with a fried egg, salad, and rye bread slathered in butter and honey.

"Shall I prepare meals for the young masters too?"

"Yes."

The three sat at the table, watching me chow down heartily as their food was prepared.

Ishak grinned and poked my chipmunk cheeks.

"You're eating even more than usual today."

"Don't touch her while she's eating."

Henri swatted Ishak's hand away.

Meanwhile, their meals arrived: steak for Ishak, pasta for Henri, grilled seafood for Yohan.

"Want some of this?"

Henri offered, and I nodded eagerly.

"Mine too, squirt?"

"Yeah!"

Yohan pushed his plate forward too. My brothers chuckled at my appetite.

"She eats well."

"Sure does."

"...She's eating too well."

"..."

"Whoa, hey!"

I'd cleaned their plates too, and Ishak and Henri's eyes bulged.

"Enough, Leblain."

"Squirt, your stomach'll burst!"

In my head, my inner child screamed, More! I can eat more! Overeating is my fate!

They grabbed my hands from both sides.

"I want more."

"No, no human can eat any more!"

"Hold on. Let's digest first, okay?"

Someone hoisted me up by the sides. Yohan.

"Clear the food."

As I kicked my legs in midair, Henri and Ishak whisked the plates away to the servants.

"Eeeh!"

A childish whine escaped me, and I gasped inwardly.

What was that? Have I lost my mind?!

Only then did I snap to, taking in the devastated table.

Footsteps approached from the dining room door.

"Why are you tormenting your sister?"

Dad's voice.

He frowned at me dangling in Yohan's arms, legs swinging.

"We're not tormenting her."

"Yeah."

Ishak and Henri looked indignant.

Dad strode over and took me carefully into his arms.

"What happened?"

He asked the butler attending the meal. The butler looked troubled.

"Well... the young masters were trying to stop Little One from eating more."

"Why hold back if she wants more?"

Ishak piped up.

"She ate all that?"

The maids held countless empty plates—not a single garnish herb left.

Dad surveyed the empties, then me—belly bulging like a frog, breathing labored from overeating.

Then.

"Burp..."

A belch slipped out unbidden. Dad said quietly.

"Bring digestive medicine."

A few days later, at the spring social season's charity auction, Duchess Ballua pressed her lips tight.

No one had spoken to her since arriving at the venue.

The mid-range teleportation circles, crafted with utmost care by House Ballua, went up for sale—but not a single ant showed at the shop.

Given the high price, buyers were waiting to see Duke Duvered's long-range circle pricing exactly.

With House Ballua in dire financial straits, and the duchess and her son Nils grilled by the Security Bureau for smuggling scripture decipherings, no nobles wanted to associate.

I didn't even want to come to this stupid party!

She wouldn't have if her husband hadn't nagged her to meet the matriarch of the house that loaned funds for the circle development.

"Lady Rain has purchased the Yuliaden vase for 500,000 francs!"

The auctioneer shouted, gasps erupting throughout the hall.

500,000 francs? For one vase?

Startled, Duchess Ballua eyed the woman in red trousers suit.

The woman, who spent what could fund a modest house for one or two years on a single vase, smiled as she handed a pouch to the auctioneer.

Confirming the diamonds inside, the auctioneer gasped, and thunderous applause followed.

Rain... Lady Rain.

The one running an art gallery, they said.

From some obscure barony, she'd set up in the capital a few years back.

But rumor has it she runs a loan sharking outfit on the side.

Her striking beauty and indefinable aura drew young admirers, despite her lowly origins.

Lady Rain, receiving the vase, stood near Duchess Ballua and said,

"Pleased to meet you. Noah Rain."

"...I've heard a lot about you."

"An honor to be recognized by such a distinguished lady. I've long wanted to meet you."

Duchess Ballua fanned herself rapidly, glancing sideways.

"Me?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"We're comrades."

Comrades?

Duchess Ballua glanced at her.

"What do you mean?"

"The enemy of my enemy is my comrade, no? I feel it deeply."

"...Are you referring to the Duvereds?"

"More precisely, the lucky little Duvered adoptee."

Duchess Ballua's eyes flashed.

"Tell me more. What do you mean?"

"I am one who awaits the true Child of Destiny. Not that fake."