Chapter 106

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 106

Chapter Title: The Noga Gem

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After rummaging through gems and minerals all day long, I wearily placed the final gem into the box with care.

'How can not a single one be here?'

Not a single mineral that could serve as a passage among all these!

I hadn't expected to find one easily from the start. Ceria had purchased these gems and minerals, which were exceptionally rare anyway, so there was no real loss. Still, the disappointment was unavoidable.

The one consolation was that my young body felt no pain, even after squatting and bending over for hours.

I patted Etwal lightly.

'Should I summon the Century's General and brainstorm ways to find the devil together?'

He might come up with a good idea...

But as I thought that, I shook my head vigorously.

I had already expended quite a bit of holy power just searching for a passage mineral. Calling the Century's General now would leave me flat on my back.

As I stared at the gems and minerals with a gloomy expression, the steward spoke up.

"We'll continue purchasing any gems that seem suspicious as potential passages. We have quite a few more minerals and gems on the procurement list as well. What you see in the warehouse is just a portion of the catalog."

Ceria, who was with us, handed me a document that looked like the list.

"If anything catches your eye, we'll prioritize buying it."

"Yeah..."

I checked the list with a dejected look.

A few were gems that had become famous in my previous life.

As I marked the minerals and gems to purchase, I spotted a certain name and blinked.

"You've excluded a few from the list?"

Several gems and minerals had strike-through marks.

Next to the marks were reasons: some were fakes upon inspection, others had unclear ownership.

"But this noga gem has no reason listed?"

"That's because it belongs to the imperial family. It was discovered in Viscount Austen's territory and classified as a holy relic, then presented to the Emperor."

Come to think of it, I had heard of it before.

'Where was it... noga... noga...'

As I pondered deeply, my eyes flew open, and I jumped up.

"It's the mock battle prize!"

I shouted, and the steward furrowed his brow.

"Mock battle, you say?"

The mock battle—a grand event second only to the imperial hunt hosted by the palace.

Held every four years, it was a tournament for noble children from the capital aged eight to fifteen.

They controlled a district as the battlefield and waged a simulated war inside to determine the victor.

The ultimate winner received a spot in the imperial knights and a prize from the Emperor.

"Yes! The Emperor set it as the prize for this year's mock battle."

"I see. But it doesn't seem particularly special compared to the others. There are many gems classified as holy relics besides this one."

"Hayton, the eldest son of Duke Ballua's house, is participating in this year's mock battle."

"The Balluas have never participated before. They're not known for military prowess."

Though called a mock battle, the noble children rarely fought directly.

The participants only commanded as generals.

In other words, the house with the superior strategist won.

But as the steward said, Duke Ballua's house wasn't renowned for strong military strategists. And Duke Ballua, who would never let his sons lose, wouldn't enter them lightly.

"Hayton's participating because the temple asked him to."

"What?"

I had seen it clearly.

In my second life, the cardinal personally requested Hayton Ballua's participation.

The temple even secretly provided knights they had trained.

Since the temple had a good relationship with the Balluas, I thought they wanted to plant Hayton in the imperial knights for future help.

With the duke's heir and the temple's backing, he had a high chance of becoming knight commander.

But now that I knew Etwal's secret, another suspicion arose.

'What if the goal was the noga gem?'

Unlike Nils, Hayton was genuinely talented beyond his peers—but only in academics. He was hopeless in physical combat.

If they needed someone in the imperial knights, Hayton wasn't necessary.

It would be easier and faster to persuade a family whose child was guaranteed to win.

'They knew long before I did. That gems or minerals could be the devil's passage.'

I shared my speculation with the steward, who nodded.

"That seems highly likely."

"We need to get it first."

"Allying with other houses is risky."

"I know. That's why I was going to ask my brothers... Ah, aura users can't participate..."

If a knight who could use aura was deployed, victory was assured. Since the mock battle tested children's leadership, aura users were banned.

'And all three brothers are aura users...'

If my brothers participated, winning would be a given.

'Being too capable is a problem too!'

I groaned and muttered.

"Guess I'll have to enter myself."

"The age limit starts at eight, but almost no one over thirteen participates, right?"

"No other way."

The steward then glanced at the Duvered crest embroidered on my cloak—the lion.

"How do you plan to convince His Grace and the young masters? They would never let you near anything involving blades."

I swallowed hard.

The lion on my cloak seemed to roar fiercely, "Leblain's fingernail lint!" in hallucinated fury.

When I returned to the mansion, the maids and family welcomed me.

"Did you enjoy sightseeing in the capital?"

My aunt smiled warmly.

I had gone out under the excuse of touring the capital with the steward for studies.

"It was fun."

The maids beamed, "We're so glad~!"

"Where are Dad and the brothers?"

"Probably in the meeting room. Hmm, they should be finishing up now."

Lately, my brothers had been formally attending meetings as part of their education.

"I'll go see them!"

"Alright."

I greeted my aunt, let the maids take my coat, and hurried to the meeting room.

As she said, officials and retainers were just exiting.

Peeking inside, I saw Dad and my brothers talking.

"Then for this issue, Yohan, you... Leblain."

Dad sensed me and turned. I greeted, "I'm back," and scampered to him.

"Where's Viscount Nuanoque?"

"He'll be here soon."

He's talking with Ceria.

Ishak propped his chin, looking displeased.

"I was going to take the little one sightseeing myself."

"Like when you first toured the capital and blew up a building on the way back?"

Henri teased in a gentle tone, and I flinched, staring at him.

'Blew up a building? How?'

Ishak quickly defended himself at my scared expression.

"That Edgar guy bragged his second house was a fortress that could withstand even a meteor, so I just tested if it was true!"

His excuse only made it scarier, so I slipped behind Henri.

Ishak protested, "No, little one! I wouldn't blow you up!" but Henri smiled sweetly.

"Want to go get ice cream?"

"The chocolate one from last time?"

I widened my eyes, and Henri nodded.

I almost nodded too. But remembering my goal, I squeezed my eyes shut.

"No... I don't want any."

"We have jelly too? Leblain, your favorite orange jelly."

'Ice cream... jelly...'

Those are really tasty.

My child self screamed, 'Eat it! Devour it all!' but I held back and shook my head.

"I'm staying here."

Their faces stiffened instantly.

"...The little one refused chocolate ice cream?"

"Leblain, are you feeling sick? A cold?"

"Could be a fever. She's been tired lately."

Ishak, Henri, and Yohan said in turn.

I looked at them with teary eyes, inwardly shaking my head.

I do love food a tiny bit, but not enough to forget my purpose.

At least Dad stayed calm. As I nodded, thinking 'adult composure,' he spoke.

"Doctor!!"

...Dad was the most shocked.

Soon after, I wore a sullen expression.

Dad, brothers, even Aunt and Nos clung on, forcing me to see the doctor.

The doctor, under intense glares from the four and my maids, tremblingly lifted my eyelid to check my pupil.

"Uh, well, there doesn't seem to be any major issue..."

Before he finished, Ishak bellowed.

"Then why refuse ice cream! You know how much she loves snacks? She eats them even mid-tantrum!"

The maids chimed in, eyes wide.

"Exactly!"

"Yes! Little One adores snacks so much!"

"She bolts awake from naps for snack time. Turn your back a moment, and she devours a whole box of chocolates!"

Were they secretly annoyed I eat so much?

The doctor, nearly in tears, said.

"B-but the diagnosis shows nothing wrong. Her throat's a bit swollen and temperature slightly elevated, but according to the records from the estate..."

"Elevated temperature?"

Dad's icy voice made the maids jump.

"Cold!"

"Fever!"

"Pneumonia!"

No, that's not it.

I naturally run a bit hot. Sure, throat's scratchy in this season, but it's normal.

The maids rushed in with blankets, warm water, portable heaters.

Ishak anxiously fed me water gulps, Henri lit a heater nearby, Yohan gently draped a blanket over my shoulders.

Dad declared.

"If Leblain doesn't recover, wipe out the capital's doctors."

"Yes!"

Seeing Nos and the knights roar, my face paled.

No, I just came to beg to join the mock battle—why are the capital doctors' lives on the line!

A bad premonition hit. Just mentioning 'mock' might halve the capital.

'What do I do...'