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----------------------------------------------------------------- Translator: Harry Potta Chapter: 18 Chapter Title: The Old Duke's Test ----------------------------------------------------------------- “Eek!” “That’s why I keep telling you, what are you feeding this kid that she keeps popping up out of nowhere...!” U...
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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: The Old Duke's Test
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“Eek!”
“That’s why I keep telling you, what are you feeding this kid that she keeps popping up out of nowhere...!”
Uncle leaped to his feet, his face twisted in genuine irritation.
No, could that door really get punched through like a sheet of paper?
It had been incredibly thick and heavy!
“Where is she!”
A roar like a beast bellowing.
An angry lion!
Stepping over the shattered door was a white-haired old man. Eyes gleaming with a fierce blue light. A massive mouth gaping wide.
A predator had appeared!
The Old Duke of House Jebert!
A colossal frame. Towering height. Leathery, thick skin and white hair swept back haphazardly. An oppressive aura like standing before a mountain.
Ah, wasn’t he supposed to be recuperating from an illness?!
What kind of patient exuded such an overwhelming presence?
“Bring the new brat here!”
“She’s right in front of you.”
“......”
The Old Duke, who had been scanning the room, suddenly dropped his head to peer downward.
Reflected in those purple eyes was me, somehow plastered right next to Uncle.
Wow, that gaze. No kidding around.
If Uncle Leviathan had the sharp edge of a honed blade, the Old Duke felt like a massive, heavy axe.
Either way, both were deadly weapons...
“......”
“......Uh, hello?”
I offered a cautious greeting.
The Old Duke’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
His eye twitched. His lips parted slowly.
“What is this snot-wad...?”
“I’m not snot...”
“A talking snot!”
“My name is Rubian... But did you just smash the door with your fist?”
I couldn’t hold back and asked. Steam was rising faintly from the Old Duke’s fist.
So that massive crash earlier was him breaking down the front door on the first floor?
“Hmph.”
In that instant, the Old Duke crouched down to meet my eyes. He stared at me intently for a long moment before reaching back.
“Bring it!”
“Oh dear, Lord Ballock.”
Arriving belatedly was a scrawny man. He looked like the Old Duke’s butler. In his hands was a large measuring board.
“Take it slow...”
“Hand it over!”
The board was covered in height markings of unknown origin.
The Old Duke snatched it and pressed it right up against me.
“What are you doing?”
“Hmm. Barely surpasses a low-grade magic beast.”
Did he just measure a kid’s height using magic beast standards?
I stood there, utterly dumbfounded.
As I opened my mouth to retort, the Old Duke crossed his arms firmly and bellowed.
“Unqualified!”
“Pardon?”
“Snot, head back to the capital right now!”
“F-Father, who are you to decide...”
Unable to bear it any longer, Uncle Leviathan intervened. But the barrage turned right back on him.
“You wastrel. I knew you were heartless and tearless, but I never imagined your character had rotted away too!”
The Old Duke shot to his feet and jabbed a finger at his son.
“How’s a puny little snot like this supposed to wield a sword?”
“I-I can fight too...”
“I told you to bring decent knights or soldiers, and you drag in a child? Have you forgotten the magic beast subjugation is coming up?”
His bellow rang sharply through the air.
Without thinking, I quietly clutched Uncle’s sleeve.
“Lower your voice. You’re scaring her.”
Then, as if by magic, the Old Duke froze in place.
Aside from his lips, which kept moving nonstop.
“......, ......”
“And don’t mumble so I can’t understand you.”
......What an extreme and peculiar grandpa.
“Anyway, she’s not staying!”
His stern gaze fixed back on me. Under that prickly stare, a wave of crisis washed over me.
Am I really getting kicked out?
My worst fear had come true.
Honestly, since he didn’t have much presence in the original story, I’d let my guard down...... Only to run into this unexpected foe!
The eldest and second son accepted her without issue, so I figured he would too!
Way too optimistic!
“No matter how you glare, it’s a no! She looks like she’d crumple flat if she bumped into anything!”
Uncle, shielding me behind him, spoke in a chilling tone.
“Ruby’s future isn’t for Father to decide. Nor is her place in the knight order.”
“Such insolence?”
“And ‘decent knights or soldiers,’ my foot.”
A cold scoff followed.
“I won’t forgive you treating this child that way, not even you, Father.”
“When did I ever call that fluff a soldier? That’s why I said bring someone useful!”
“It’s barely the postwar period. Unless they’re battle-crazed lunatics, who’d volunteer for the North?”
“Doesn’t mean you scoop up a doll-like kid!”
“That’s why Ruby is...”
“Ruby? Suits her!”
“......Do you like her or hate her?”
Half in a panic, I could barely follow their exchange. I was too focused on the atmosphere growing ever more hostile.
“Don’t fight!”
I mustered my courage and wedged myself between them. I craned my neck to look up at the Old Duke’s face towering above.
“Don’t kick me out...... I have nowhere to go.”
Truth be told, I did—but I didn’t want to! I didn’t want to die!
“You...”
“If being small is the issue, I’ll eat lots and grow big. I won’t crumple if I bump into anything. I’m not really that weak. You’d be shocked if you saw for yourself...”
At that moment, my view shot upward.
“Tch, why scare the kid needlessly? So annoying.”
Uncle had scooped me up entirely, blocking the Old Duke from view. He clicked his tongue in displeasure and patted my back.
“What kind of manners are those toward your father?”
The Old Duke aimed a kick at Uncle’s shin. Of course, the hero didn’t go down easy.
“You were sick for days, but your strength isn’t what it used to be.”
“What? Who’s spreading rumors I’m sick!”
“Morris, it seems the Old Duke needs more rest in the northern annex. Escort him.”
“You little shit, ignoring your old man?”
I sneaked a glance over.
The one mediating the dysfunctional father-son duo was the skinny butler.
“Haha...... Understood, so both of you calm down. The castle’s about to crumble.”
Morris, the Old Duke’s butler, dabbed his forehead with a handkerchief. Soaked in cold sweat.
He looks like the one who needs rest...
No, this isn’t the time!
I set my plan.
Regardless, the current head of House Jebert was Uncle Leviathan. He was my only lifeline.
“I’ll send her packing soon...”
“No!”
Squeeze. I wrapped my arms tightly around Uncle’s neck. His sturdy frame stiffened in surprise.
“N-No matter what the Old Duke says, I’m staying here!”
I shouted with my eyes squeezed shut.
All or nothing!
“I’m living here! I don’t want to be apart from Uncle!”
“......”
Silence blanketed the room.
A low rumble vibrated from the body I clung to.
Peeking my eyes open, Uncle’s lips were twitching madly.
“Hmph.”
Meanwhile, the Old Duke tilted his head with an oddly intrigued expression.
“......Son.”
“Yes.”
“You’ve got snot on you.”
A heavy hand pressed firmly on the back of my head.
“I know.”
“Ever seen such a sly little snot.”
“I’m not snot......”
Since I was already fired up, I vented fully—but got brushed off lightly.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Wow. What is this?
I awkwardly rolled my eyes around.
It was because of the uninvited guest who had crashed the cute, delightful snack time.
“You.”
The Old Duke plopped down, claiming half the sofa, and beckoned me.
“Yes.”
I sat across from him, back ramrod straight.
“You want to stay here that badly?”
“Yes......”
“Then show me your abilities.”
“Abilities?”
“Yeah. Stamina, brute strength, whatever! To become a tough Northern man, you’ve got to prove your power.”
The Old Duke drawled, sprawled out like a sated beast after a feast.
“Tell me what abilities you have!”
Abilities? Obviously...
Mana!
I barely held back from blurting it out.
“My mental strength!”
Somewhere, I swear I heard a stifled pfft.
“Hmph. Mental strength.”
The Old Duke gravely stroked his fluffy, bearded chin.
“That’s useful too. Fine. Then right now!”
Gulp. Tension rose.
“Finish your snacks.”
“......Pardon?”
“You think I’m some unreasonable old coot?”
The Old Duke seemed to finally notice the snack table.
He slammed his veiny fist on the table. Bang bang!
“Finish what’s left!”
Bang!
“Eat it all!”
Bang!
“Then we’ll test you—and kick you out!”
Ah, so you’re kicking me out after all!
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