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IBP 56
“Kicked out to Solar Village, cheated, and then called back to Belief, huh?”
“Yes.”
Lucrezia burst into laughter upon receiving the report from the servant.
“I heard she last went to the cabin, and her whereabouts have been unknown since then.”
“Rumor has it that Lord Belief was also furious.”
Lucrezia couldn't hide the corners of her mouth curling upward.
She wondered if she should give Mercy, who had finished the report, a raise.
With that, Lucrezia headed toward the morning brunch with Duke Ardos.
He usually ate with his adopted daughter, but today he was eating alone.
Seeing him look unexpectedly lonely brought a hollow laugh to her lips.
As Lucrezia took her seat, she spoke lightly.
“I heard some news about that child today.”
“.......”
“It seemed she wouldn't even last three days before returning.”
Duke Ardos looked at Lucrezia with an indifferent expression.
“She is not that kind of child.”
“That is what the report said.”
“Placing surveillance on the direct descendants without my permission would be an overstep of authority, wouldn't it, Madame?”
Duke Ardos's tone was fierce.
Lucrezia did not back down and stared back at him.
She had been grinding her teeth at Duke Ardos's recent actions.
'Did you think you could send my daughter to a convent while your daughters thrive?'
The rift between the couple had existed for a long time.
However, in the end, it was Lucrezia who bowed her head.
“It wasn't surveillance. As the mistress of the house, I was simply checking if the child was doing well. Please let go of your anger and eat.”
A sneer lingered on Lucrezia's lips as she bowed.
“But it would be problematic if you continue to treat me so coldly.”
“......What do you mean?”
“The buff-type priests I brought through my connections. They are all skilled practitioners of high rank or above.”
Of course, compared to a top-tier buff-type ability user like Belief, their skills were insignificant.
However, high-ranking buff-type priests would be sufficient assets for the family in place of Belief, who had no intention of returning to the estate.
Duke Ardos slammed his knife down roughly.
It was as if he had lost his appetite.
“So, what are you proposing?”
“As you know, buff-type priests are currently assisting the ability users of the family.”
“.......”
“The priests wish to contract with Ardos through me. Therefore, I believe I deserve a fitting reward....”
“You repeat the same thing every time. I am finished with my meal, Madame.”
“In the end, you will have to take my hand for the benefit of the family.”
“.......”
“And if that happens, I request that you grant me one wish, Your Grace.”
Duke Ardos quirked an eyebrow and spoke.
“Do you think that matter will go as you wish?”
“Two days. Please decide within two days.”
Watching his retreating back, Lucrezia wore a mocking smile.
No matter how powerful Duke Ardos was, resolving this matter would be a headache.
Since countless blood relatives were swarming in to increase their supernatural abilities.
'So, instead of shielding that half-baked adoptee, you should have taken my daughter's side, shouldn't you?'
* * *
Three days had passed since the adopted youngest sister left for Belief.
People predicted the child would return in tears, but Chloe didn't think so.
That foolish brat would cling to her teacher with everything she had.
'So, she'll learn something, whatever it may be.'
That was why.
She wasn't worried in the slightest.
However....
“Why do you keep coming here?”
...There was exactly one existence that had become as irritating as a splinter under her fingernail.
It was Grand Duke Rivera.
Holding a green box in his hand, he kept lingering around this area.
Yesterday, he had tossed out a casual remark as if it were nothing.
“Did you say the young lady raised a puppy?”
“Is tearing through this mansion something that was discussed with His Grace, Duke Ardos?”
“......Of course. Lady Chloe Ardos. This is a confidential operation conducted with the Duke's agreement.”
“My point is, why are you doing that at my annex.”
When she replied with a sharp tone, he had vanished instantly.
'To think he'd come again today.'
...He is the Grand Duke of the North, for heaven's sake.
'Does he have no pride?'
Grand Duke Rivera had a rather flexible expression.
As if telling her to relax, he gave her a short smile.
What he did next was somewhat beyond common sense.
“Ah, by the way, Lady Ardos.”
He pointed to the beeping magic tool in his hand.
“I gave this magic tool, which I developed myself, to Coco before she left.”
“Ah.”
“Not Coco the puppy, but Coco, the Lady's sister.”
...Come to think of it, though it felt sudden, it occurred to her that the two of them shared the same name.
“I set it so that a red light turns on near the tool when there is danger.”
“Giving such a thing to someone else's family member—”
“......That's why. In my opinion, your sister, Coco, seems to be in danger.”
Grand Duke Rivera easily ignored Chloe's words and shook the magic tool.
The tip of the magic tool was glowing with a bright red light.
“......How can I believe that? You could be lying to me, Grand Duke.”
“Ah, well. If you're not concerned, then forget it. But....”
She had no intention of falling for the words of someone so suspicious.
She tightened her lips.
However, there was something that bothered her.
Grand Duke Rivera, who had maintained a playful expression until now, looked somewhat distorted.
“I wonder if she got burned.”
The image of the child's small hand lingered in her mind.
'Burn marks appearing on top of that.'
Chloe brushed back her long, jet-black hair and let out a sigh mixed with irritation.
* * *
In front of the cabin at the Loki Mine.
After my teacher fell fast asleep!
I was endlessly awakening my light ability.
“Your ability is peculiar. It's not ordinary, is it?”
“Yes! That's right! They say it's healing power. And I have another ability, but I don't know what it is!”
“If your ability is the ultimate healing power, perhaps you can even stop a berserk state. You might be able to detoxify poisons. In the Eastern Continent's tongue, is it the power to create an 'Immune Body'?”
My sister dies because of a berserk state or poison.
'That means I can save my sister.'
I decided to keep training until I could save her.
“......Let's stop now. It's already been five hours. It's troublesome to use your ability excessively all of a sudden. Side effects will occur.”
“Hmph.”
“Hurry up and go 'ko' and sleep.”
It had only been two days since I started training under Belief.
'I've grown more than before, but I'm still in a hurry!'
I decided to sneak outside and train on my own.
'I picked up some mana crystals near the cabin, so I'll try using those!'
With a loud noise, light leaked from my fingertips.
And that light approached the mana crystals of the mine....
Soon, it took the form of a blazing fire before my eyes.
Only then did I feel the vitality within me rippling slightly.
I stared at the mana crystal that was slowly burning away with my light.
The cluster of pure white light emanating from my fingertips approached the mana crystal again.
'It might be dangerous, and I might have to stop here, but....'
I looked around the cabin, which had become quiet as if my teacher were asleep.
Then I squeezed my eyes shut and opened them again.
“Because I have to get stronger faster.”
I had to heal my sister as quickly as possible.
Only then would she survive and become happy.
If my sister could stop her berserk state, she might even be able to use the family heirloom.
...Then, she would recognize me, right?
There was no reason to hesitate further.
Like someone possessed, I poured out the light more violently, unaware that the flames were growing larger.
But at that very moment.
KABOOM!
The entire Loki Mine shook violently.
I don't know for sure, but the shock must have reached the cabin.
“Huh, wh-what! What was that sound?”
The loud roar snapped me back to my senses instantly.
Did my teacher find out I was training in secret?
Flustered, I widened my eyes and looked around.
A familiar, languid voice, as if not yet fully awake, rang in my ears.
“I can't take my eyes off you.”
Was it because I couldn't control the light properly in my panic?
Before I knew it, a large fire was spreading across the ground.
Someone roughly grabbed me just as I was about to be trapped in the flames.
“I told you not to cause trouble, didn't I, little sister?”
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