Chapter 48

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 48

Chapter Title: The Chairman's Pledge

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When the story ended, he was clutching his forehead.

"So all the strokes of luck in Duvered were orchestrated by you, Little One?"

"Yeah."

"Hah... Even for a regressor, to think that those in power were swayed so completely by a four-year-old child—one who hadn't studied The Prince before and was hampered by the limitations of a child's thinking..."

He looked utterly dumbfounded.

"Anyway, that's why I need the Chairman's help. Buy the spinel polymorph land for me."

With that, I pulled out the bounty pouch for Ceria that I'd left at my feet.

"This should be enough to buy it."

He pressed his forehead hard, as if sorting through his thoughts, then finally opened his eyes.

'Is he gonna refuse my request?'

Even if I'd blackmailed him with Louis's soul, he wasn't the type to fall for it easily.

As I watched him anxiously, the Chairman asked,

"If I stay by your side, Little One, will I be able to see Louis again?"

"I can't do it whenever I want..."

"Why not?"

"I only summoned the grim reaper by accident, so I can't promise I can do it twice."

"So there's at least some possibility?"

Yeah, there had to be.

I hadn't understood everything Bune said at the end, but I caught "let's meet again."

So there had to be a way to meet again.

Plus, there were probably other demons who could summon spirits besides Bune.

If I summoned one of them, they might grant a wish and call Louis for me.

I nodded, and a glint appeared in the Chairman's eyes.

He rose from the gazebo and prostrated himself low at my feet. When he tried to touch his forehead to the top of my foot, I jumped back in alarm.

This was it—the loyalty oath Nos had given me!

I had no desire to be the master served by Duvered's number two.

"Janmark Nuanoch pledges himself to his new liege—"

"No! Don't do that!"

"To greet his new liege—"

"It's fine!"

"I greet—"

I fled the gazebo before he could finish his pledge.

No, all I wanted was some spinel polymorph land. Why did Duvered's number two have to come attached to it?

"Janmark Nuanoch greets his new liege."

"Can you please just stop?"

For days now, I'd been glaring at the Chairman, who kept chasing me around swearing his loyalty.

With the Senate Chairman constantly tailing me like a remora on a goldfish, everyone was staring.

I glanced tiredly at the servants peeking at us curiously from afar.

They were too far to hear our conversation, but they looked intensely puzzled about why the Senate Chairman was following me around like a lost puppy.

"Janmark Nuanoch..."

As I stared at him with a weary face, I spotted some elders approaching from behind and flinched.

The servants were one thing, but if the elders caught on to our relationship, it'd be a hassle.

I lowered my voice to a whisper.

"Make a grumpy face, quick."

The Chairman scowled on cue, and just then, the elders reached us.

"What is it, Chairman?"

Viscount Roman asked, furrowing his brow aggressively at the Chairman.

"Nothing much."

"You look upset. Did the Little One do something?"

"Of course not."

The Chairman turned and walked away, and Roman smirked before following. Even as he hurried along, Roman didn't give up on picking fights with me.

"What did the Child of Destiny do to anger you so?"

"..."

"That kid's got a sneaky side to her, heh!"

Right then—

"What did that bastard just say?"

Ishak, who had just arrived, muttered coldly. Fresh from training, he still held a wooden sword in his hand.

I quickly grabbed Ishak, who looked ready to lunge at any second.

Then I changed the subject.

"Did Ishak train alone again today? Where's brother?"

"Big bro's digging through the late Duke's ledgers."

"Why?"

"Pressuring nobles around the temple to screw them over. But forget that—what the hell does that jerk think he's doing to a kid...!"

"Don't."

I looked up at him with droopy eyebrows, and Ishak let out a deep sigh.

"You're too nice."

As if.

Viscount Roman still needed to stay alive. Because—

'The spinel polymorph land belongs to Viscount Roman.'

I smirked inwardly.

To deal with that land, nothing could happen to Viscount Roman yet.

And once I dug up the spinel from there, he'd be rolling on the floor in agony.

It'd hurt him way more than a few snide remarks.

'And honestly, he's too stupid to bother dealing with.'

The reason Viscount Roman hated me—the "possible real Child of Destiny"—so much was because he blamed me for getting strung up on the city walls recently.

A moron whose pride was hurt, parading around with his neck out.

Ishak looked deeply frustrated that he couldn't give Roman a thorough beating.

"Ishak, wanna get ice cream with me?"

"...Can I feed it to you?"

"Yeah."

I soothed him gently, and the boy's face lit up. But when I stared blankly at him, he flinched and put on a dignified expression.

"Let's go. Hurry up, quick, faster."

I chased after Ishak, who was walking almost at a run.

Viscount Roman stamped the sales document with glee.

He'd managed to sell a headache of a plot—inside an active volcano, tangled with thick Elza tree roots—for a premium price.

Grinning slyly, he eyed the Chairman who'd bought the land.

"But why are you buying this land, sir?"

"Since when did you start prying into my affairs?"

His low tone made Roman flinch.

"N-no, I didn't mean...!"

"The paperwork's done. You may go."

At the polite dismissal, Viscount Roman glanced around awkwardly and left the Chairman's mansion.

His adjutant, waiting by the carriage, came rushing up breathless.

"Did the Chairman really buy that land? What's the reason? Even if you uproot all the Elza trees, the volcanic ash makes it useless for farming."

"He didn't say. But..."

Viscount Roman curled his lip smugly.

"Isn't it obvious why he'd buy worthless land at a good price?"

"Pardon?"

"It's a hint. A sign he'll recognize my talents and promote me."

He must have been worried I'd mess up in my excitement, but there was no other reason.

"Doesn't the Chairman keep his distance from you more than other vassals?"

"He liked my scheme for him."

The plan to kidnap the Child of Destiny, sell her to the slave traders, tip off the temple so they could grab her.

It would tighten ties with the temple and let him get spinel from them to build a mighty army—a brilliant scheme.

'Once the Chairman restores the Senate's prestige and hands me the chairmanship...'

He'd have Duvered under his thumb and command the world.

"Go fetch the castle's mages who took my bribes."

"Why do you need the mages?"

"To help the Chairman."

His adjutant eyed him curiously as he chuckled slyly.

A letter arrived for me. The maids happily handed it over, saying it was from an acquaintance Little One met near the nursery.

The content was a mundane greeting, but reading the first letters vertically revealed a different message.

[I'm safe.]

Ceria.

She must have successfully dealt with the temple and gotten out of prison.

'Good. Now I've secured someone in the capital to act as my hands and feet.'

Once the Chairman bought the spinel polymorph land, Ceria could handle distribution.

'Money's rolling in.'

As I calculated in my head, visions of endless zeros made me dizzy with delight.

'Time to go into exile and buy a huge mansion.'

Hire a cook who makes great food and have French toast every day.

I asked the maids to write a reply for me.

I wanted to do it myself, but to them, I was still learning letters.

[Tankoo so much.

I pick pretty blue stones in garden with kids. Gonna sell them make money. So Lulu buy lots eat yummy. You stay safe.]

I wrote it childish on purpose, and the maids clutched their cheeks, moaning "Aww..."

"Our Little One is so cute~"

"She picked up pretty blue stones~?"

"Yes, yes. Buy lots of tasty treats~"

I felt a bit awkward but hid it smoothly.

"Send the letter. Quick!"

Smart Ceria would figure it out easily.

Lea, who wrote the letter, chuckled and sealed the envelope neatly.

"I'll take it to the post office."

"I'll bring a picture book to read when Lady Lea returns."

"Time for Little One's snack."

"It's getting chilly; I should fetch some firewood."

The maids got up one by one to tend to their tasks.

"We'll be right back, so wait just a moment."

I waved bye-bye to the departing maids.

Then I sneaked over to the elephant bag and pulled out my sketchbook.

I pointed to the drawings I'd prepared in advance.

A yellow circle with gold coins drawn in it—slash.

'Money's secured.'

A peach-colored curve with a person drawn in it—slash.

'People secured too.'

So now, all that was left was...

That was when I tried to turn the page.

Rumble.

My chest churned, dizziness hit me. Something was surging toward me intensely.

As I clutched my spinning head, black tentacles sprouted at my feet.

'Mana!'

I leaped to the side to dodge it. I dashed for the door, but just as I reached for the handle, rotten wood-like vines burst from a pit and wrapped around my body tightly.

"Someone... help...!"

When black tentacles blocked my view, my mind grew hazy.

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