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IBP 33
“......That we can make it out alive.”
“Yes! There must be a way.”
“If possible, I would like that too.”
Caligo looked at Coco with sorrowful eyes.
“But I no longer have the strength to maintain this space.”
Just then.
Boom, crash!
A massive roar erupted, incomparable to the ones from before.
* * *
At the same time.
The conference room of the Ardos Duchy was filled with an unusual heat.
Because.......
“Do you know what this is?”
“I’m not sure. I don’t quite know.”
The vassals fell silent, staring blankly at the sweet-potato-shaped pin decorating one side of his chest.
“How dull of you!”
One vassal, who was quick-witted and had recently gained a granddaughter, quickly flattered him.
“Could it be a pin used by the baby?”
“You’re half right.”
“Then...”
“It is a pin that brat gifted me. Not that I particularly like it.”
“You don’t particularly like it, yet you are wearing it on your shirt?”
“I am simply the type of person who must use a gift once I receive it.”
The vassals recalled how the bribes from the elders had gone straight to the trash heap not long ago.......
Then, a quick-witted sycophant spoke up.
“Haha, I see. It must be wonderful to have gained a new daughter in your later years.”
“Ahem, ahem. Ahem-hem.”
The other vassals looked at Duke Ardos all at once.
It was strange.
They expected him to bark, ‘You lot are trash, so just die.’
Another sycophant hurriedly added, “Oh my, I am truly envious. The baby is quite adorable.”
“That brat is deliberately flattering me to get on my good side,” Duke Ardos added with a crooked gaze.
“However, the flattery of one with actual skill is sweet.”
“.......”
“Unlike you sycophants! Do you understand?”
The vassals shrank back and repeatedly chanted, “Yes!”
However, the vassals were not the only ones in the conference room.
There was also the former Duke Berlan, who had long ago passed the family headship to his son and was currently wandering.
As a close friend of Duke Ardos, he stroked his chin.
“Come to think of it, Duke Ardos, I believe this is the first time I’ve seen you smile like that.”
“Ahem. When did I ever smile! I have never smiled except when I attracted the magic tower, created the artificial island, and established the academy that produced outstanding ability users in my territory.”
“The corners of your mouth were precisely torn sideways.”
“My lips merely curved up because I found the child’s efforts commendable.”
Duke Ardos let out a cough and flicked his finger.
“By the way, do you have nothing to do? You may leave now.”
“My goodness. What are you saying? How do you expect the southern wall restoration to proceed without me?”
Duke Berlan’s supernatural ability was ‘Architecture.’
He specialized in clearing ruined annexes and building new castles. Currently, Duke Berlan was staying at the ducal residence to lend his strength to the restoration of the southern wall.
“......Hmm.”
Duke Berlan stroked the beard on his chin and spoke abruptly.
“Regardless, don’t give your heart away too much. After all, the child is of commoner birth. It’s not even certain whether they are a blessed child or not.”
The atmosphere turned cold in an instant.
Only Duke Berlan remained, spitefully teasing his friend.
“In a way, it’s almost pitiful. The way you brag so much just because that baby showed a bit of activity.”
“What?!”
“Well, it’s understandable. Your family only has that one Black Tiger you obtained recently as a spirit beast.”
“.......”
At Duke Berlan’s annoying offensive, Duke Ardos’s lips clamped shut.
Duke Ardos had been a hard worker since childhood.
In other words, there was a reason why he had no choice but to be a hard worker.
On the other hand, what of the Berlan family?
They were settled on land blessed by the gods, overflowing with natural resources.
Duke Berlan poked fun once more.
“For your information, my family has as many as two spirit beasts. I truly hope the blessed child is ‘real.’”
Duke Ardos’s lips clamped shut once again.
He thought of Coco’s real family, who hadn’t cared a bit about Coco’s well-being.
Irritated, Duke Ardos shouted loudly.
“Duke Berlan, be quiet. For starters, you are ugly.”
Duke Berlan’s face distorted.
Duke Berlan had everything. The only thing he lacked was a likable appearance.
He had a scruffy beard, unkempt bushy gray hair, and gray eyes.
Having taken a hit, Duke Berlan gnashed his teeth.
They were arch-enemies who had fought since their academy days.
Just as their approximately 191,890th argument was about to ignite again.
The door burst open, and a knight rushed in, dropping to one knee.
“Du-Duke Ardos. Something terrible has happened. Lady Coco and Grand Duke Caligo are.......”
“What. Are they playing house or something?”
Just as a frivolous laugh broke out at Duke Berlan’s joke.
The knight’s face turned pale.
“I believe we must hear the details from Lady Theresia, but it is presumed that Lady Coco touched Grand Duke Caligo incorrectly, causing his supernatural ability to go berserk.”
“......What?”
“The two of them are trapped in a subspace.......”
“Is Theresia in the annex?”
Duke Ardos bolted upright, still wearing the sweet-potato-shaped pin on his chest.
“What are you all doing! Follow me this instant!”
A swarm of vassals rushed out behind him.
The moment everyone followed in Duke Ardos’s wake.
Duke Berlan, the only one remaining, stroked his chin.
Though Duke Ardos had been acting like a total doting father lately.
“It’s been a while since that fellow bolted out like that.”
It was a story from over a decade ago.
“L-Lady Chloe’s teacher locked Lady Chloe in the basement for over a w-week and abused her......!”
“What? Why are you telling me that now?”
“W-well, he just returned from the battlefield.......”
“That cursed man, I shall go and kill him myself!”
The memory of the chaos back then, with Ardos shouting about whether to kill or spare that teacher, was vivid.
Since then, there had been no history of that man leaping up like that.......
‘He really is acting as if he’s gained a youngest daughter.’
Now, isn’t this a truly interesting story?
His eyes glinted.
* * *
Duke Ardos appeared at the annex, which had become a complete mess.
Amidst the busily moving maids, one wall of the annex room had completely collapsed.
“Did I hear correctly?”
Chloe’s face was terribly distorted.
“Yes. After an explosion was heard, Grand Duke Caligo and the child.......”
“......Are trapped. Since the subspace could explode, everyone leave the annex for now.”
Despite the sweet-potato-shaped pin on his chest, his voice was incredibly solemn.
Theresia wore a pitiful expression.
“The subspace exploding means that the two of them will die, doesn’t it?”
“.......”
“Oh, this is truly shocking. As the other elders know, the Grand Duke’s condition was improving because of me. And yet....... Sadly, a child who suddenly rushed in has negatively affected the Grand Duke’s well-being....... It is a grave sin that deserves the extermination of three generations.”
“.......”
“I must inform the Grand Duke Rivera’s house immediately. Perhaps sending the corpse of the blessed child would provide some comfort?”
Duke Ardos, who had been silently staring at the soot, let out a roar.
“Theresia Ardos, restrain yourself!”
Theresia’s complexion turned pale.
Duke Ardos looked around and shouted again.
“The subspace will explode. We must get the children out. Contact the magic tower and summon a mage.”
“Y-Your Grace! Even if we contact the magic tower now, it will take time for them to arrive. More importantly, there is a risk of explosion, so it would be best if Your Grace also evacuated.......”
“.......”
“I apologize for saying this, but everyone swept away by a berserk state thus far has died within the subspace. The survival probability is 0%, Your Grace!”
Duke Ardos closed his eyes and opened them again. Just as everyone predicted the death of the two.
Chloe, who had been standing still, stepped forward.
“Head of House.”
“Chloe.......”
“......The child might be alive. I would like to try using dark magic.”
Chloe’s dark magic included the ability to ‘detect’ shadows or darkness. This meant she could confirm life buried within the dark.
However.......
Duke Ardos’s eyes darkened.
“If you use that ability, you too could go berserk.”
“......Lately, there have been almost no minor berserk states.”
“Still, you are in danger. Will you still risk your life to do it?”
Chloe did not answer.
Instead, she fixed her gaze on the soot remaining on the floor.
She raised her hand and let a deep darkness flow out.
The darkness scattered in the air, crackling like flames.......
Unlike usual, Chloe’s complexion turned a pale, sickly blue.
Just as everyone let out a deep sigh, predicting that Chloe might even enter a mana berserk state.
With a crashing sound of rupture, the sound of the subspace door opening was heard.
And through that gap.......
Two children and a tiger appeared, eyes closed and hands tightly clasped.
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