A Strange But Effective Villainess Life - Chapter 132

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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Chapter 132
“I’m asking you, Hou.”
Scari, too, made his earnest request to Hou with a face that had forgotten even the weariness of travel.
【Then promise me, Scari.】
Hou sighed while looking at Scari before speaking.
【Once I find Hyde, I’ll retire immediately. You need to rest.】
“You’re right about that. I want to rest a bit now too.”
Scari laughed with a weary expression.
“My personality has been completely ruined from overwork.”
Julius retorted with a snort at those words.
“Your personality was already ruined from childhood. You were just as hopeless as your grandchildren. Honestly, who do you think Alex takes after? Why are you suddenly acting surprised…?”
【Anyway, if you just promise me that much, I can fly off happily, Scari. Please get some rest.】
Kiana, wrapped in a checkered scarf, interjected as if exasperated.
“If you’re going to go happily anyway, why did you act like I was working you to death?”
【It just feels like that’s exactly what I need to do to you.】
Hou grumbled as he spoke.
【It feels like I won’t suffer a loss unless I lie down and say I can’t do it.】
Piyak vigorously nodded his head from Kiana’s shoulder.
【Piyak totally gets that feeling!】
Kiana clicked her tongue in displeasure. Still, since they were heading out to rescue Hyde, she didn’t press the matter further.
“Well then, shall we really depart now?”
Julius laughed heartily and took the reins of the massive carriage in his own hands.
“To meet Hyde, who’s been communicating only through light for 17 years! Bahahaha! How did that gentleman survive in the wilderness? He’d panic just getting mud on his shoe tips when it rained. Bahahaha!”
【This is no laughing matter, you fool.】
Daram sighed as he spoke.
Ordinarily, a summoned beast wouldn’t leave its owner, but Daram had decided to stay behind and guard the castle. And upon hearing that Daram would be guarding it, the people within the castle felt reassured.
“Please bring back the sealed heart fragment.”
Kiana earnestly entreated Julius.
“It’s said to be in the Arun Region, so surely Father, who chased after Uncle Roki, must have discovered its location during these 17 years?”
“Bahahaha! Don’t worry! If I don’t know, I’ll find out and bring it back! I might as well turn the entire Arun Region upside down! Bahahaha!”
In any case, the massive carriage departed with Hou leading the way.
“Wow…”
Joshua stood on his tiptoes and gasped in admiration as he watched the carriage. It was truly a magnificent sight.
As they passed through the City Wall and entered the Forest, snow had accumulated as high as a person’s shoulders. There, Hou flew through the sky with a pouch grasped in his feet, scattering powder. Wherever the powder touched, the snow melted and a path formed. On both sides of the path, cross-sections of snow piled up like walls stretched out.
“Simple snow removal couldn’t produce an effect like that.”
Kiana spoke proudly with her arms crossed.
“To make it possible to create paths that way, I had to process an enormous amount of magical power. The price couldn’t help but be expensive.”
“How expensive?”
At Joshua’s question, Kiana fell into thought for a moment before answering slowly.
“About as much as the very old first love of a certain wealthy young man?”
“…What nonsense are you spouting?”
Joshua casually dismissed me while picking at his ear.
“Either way, it’s quite impressive.”
Hou and the Carriage were racing through the endless snowy plains as if drilling through them. Since Hou possessed human-level intelligence, he would switch out the pouches of powder once they were depleted.
We climbed to the watchtower of the City Wall and observed Julius’s party’s movements. Scari in particular was restless at the thought of finally seeing his son.
“That fellow… he was still the finest one in this household…”
Joshua, who retained some memories of his father, quietly agreed as well.
“He was a good father. Affectionate, considerate, and appropriately strict.”
It had been quite a long time since their opinions aligned.
“I thought he went to the Northern Region recklessly because he went mad over Mother… but there was another secret. Somehow, Father seems like an even better person now.”
“Wow, brother… did you just acknowledge a person from Frelia? Finally?”
“What.”
Joshua answered awkwardly to Kiana’s innocent exclamation.
“Because they say I resemble Father somewhat.”
And at those words, Scari became genuinely angry.
“‘At least’ you inherited his angelic appearance! You and Hyde are cut from different cloth!”
Watching their quarrel, Kiana became certain of one thing: Hyde seemed like a more sensible person than Scari, who was genuinely arguing with his grandson.
In any case, everyone praised Hyde, so Kiana herself felt a bit of anticipation. A normal person with Joshua’s appearance! Even though they had separated in childhood and she had few memories, the fact that he ventured north because he thought his Summoned Beast had been taken from her was touching.
They stood on the watchtower like that, gazing at the long snowy path for quite some time.
* * *
After descending from the Tower, the Head Maid guided me to my room. Of course, the only room prepared in advance was mine.
Indeed, Julius had decorated my room most splendidly. Exactly to my taste. I hugged a checkered cushion and fell into contemplation.
【Kiana.】
And Piyak, who had been lying under a checkered handkerchief, spoke to me.
【But Piyak, is it really okay to keep playing like this?】
“Why? Are you anxious?”
I laughed and asked in return. It seemed that after I had pushed him to work so hard, he was becoming uneasy without tasks.
【No, well… I’m curious how much stronger I can become. Of course, I’m training hard with the Spy Maid and the fortress training lately, but…】
Piyak expressed a “Did I say something wrong?” look while being honest.
【After all, I’m a direct-line Summoned Beast, but I’m not very strong. So I feel anxious…】
Earlier, Piyak had quietly observed Hou.
Hou possessed purification abilities strong enough to save even the Crown Prince, and was large and powerful. Compared as fellow avians, there was quite a difference between Piyak and Hou. Looking at Alex’s Gray Wolf or Joshua’s green serpent, their abilities were definitely superior to Piyak’s.
【If the summoning went wrong, then it’s right to regain my strength through effort…】
I stared at Piyak for a moment.
I had thought only I was wronged and suffering, but it seemed Piyak had his own troubles. After all, he had suddenly learned he was a direct-line Summoned Beast, so he must carry that burden. That’s why he must have followed the Spy Maid around and gone to the training grounds.
So I decided to be honest with him.
“Still… it’s okay to rest for now, Piyak.”
【Kiana?】
Piyak asked in a trembling voice.
【So it doesn’t matter if I’m not as strong as the other direct-line Summoned Beasts, does it?】
Emotion flickered across Piyak’s face.
【Does it not matter what form I take?】
And I hastily denied it.
“No, that’s not it.”
【What?】
“It’s just that I think you’ll be able to find your power soon anyway.”
【…What?】
“Everyone’s heading to the Arun Region anyway. Father must have found at least a piece of the heart by now. Everyone’s making such a fuss about how capable he is.”
【….】
“If the person involved destroys it, the curse is lifted and that distorted power returns to its owner, apparently.”
The emotion in Piyak’s eyes vanished in an instant.
“Kailon said that if you do, all the power you couldn’t use until now could come back explosively.”
I don’t remember useless things well, but I have an uncanny memory for things that might benefit me.
“Save your strength.”
【….】
“I’m curious what your maximum output is. That’s why I haven’t been giving you work lately.”
Piyak protested with an expression of shattered emotion.
【Kiana, you’re really too much! It seems like you have your own plans for everything, so you probably wouldn’t bat an eye even if something serious happened!】
I couldn’t help but respond to that.
“My eyes probably blink about twenty times a minute.”
【…I hope magical engineering collapses.】
And then Piyak left, saying he was going to train.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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