I Am the 5-Year-Old Spy Who Kidnapped the Villain - Chapter 24

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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【Chapter 24】

The situation unfolded rapidly.

Dozens of knights subdued the employees who had remained at the circus.

The ferocious monsters were quickly eliminated according to their mission, and the animals trapped in cages were humanely returned to nature.

Early the next morning.

“His Grace has arrived at the castle entrance. Everyone straighten up. Stay alert.”

The sharp sound of boot heels echoed at the entrance of the ducal palace.

Head Maid Mai stood at the front of the lined-up maids and servants, preparing to welcome the duke alongside Butler Brad.

The dedicated physician Delta was also present there.

[Have a physician on standby.]

The day before. For some unknown reason, an urgent message had arrived ordering a physician to be on standby.

“Could he have been injured during the subjugation? That’s never happened before…”

Brad asked restlessly, but Mai remained lost in thought.

She instinctively knew that Callipus wasn’t injured. Her master wasn’t such a weak person.

What she was more curious about was the young child who hadn’t been seen since yesterday.

Nox had left somewhere with an angry expression, putting Aisha in a carriage.

Watching that retreating figure, Mai had recalled a previous conversation with him.

‘Lord Nox openly dislikes Miss Aisha.’

‘Well, there’s no reason to like her, is there?’

No reason to like her. Mai felt the same way.

An orphaned child who entered the ducal palace claiming to know the princess’s whereabouts, enjoying delicious food and wearing fine clothes in luxury.

And then when her lies were exposed, she ran away.

Callipus wasn’t the only one who had searched for the lost direct heir.

Mai too, who had cared for the children since their birth, had desperately hoped.

But what had Aisha done?

Not only had she lied, but she had shamelessly gotten adopted and even taken the princess’s position.

‘Nox taking Aisha away must have been because she did something wrong.’

Her politely clasped hands clenched into fists.

Callipus’s urgent return during the subjugation and calling for a physician seemed related to that.

Just as she was wondering what exactly had happened and what trouble Aisha had caused—

“Opening the castle gate.”

With the gatekeeper’s words, the massive gates slowly opened on both sides.

And through the gap appeared three men.

‘…Three men?’

There was a boy between Nox and Callipus.

A boy who appeared to be about 8 years old, wearing a robe over his head.

The servants, momentarily puzzled, all bowed in unison, and Callipus, acknowledging them with a nod, made an announcement.

“I have found the direct heir, Lucas Crosht.”

“…!”

Shocked by those words, Mai nearly screamed.

Brad, standing beside her, let out a short gasp along with the sound of his breath catching.

“Young Master Lucas, you say?”

“My goodness. I last saw him when he was an infant.”

“Young Master… Young Master has truly returned…”

The servants who had been standing like shadows began whispering, unable to hide their voices.

“Young Master… Young Master!”

Unable to contain herself, Mai approached the young boy and knelt on both knees.

How could this be. He was so thin.

His black hair, which resembled Duke Callipus’s, was greasy and disheveled, and his robe was covered in dust.

“…Young Master, I am Mai. Do you remember—”

“Where’s the physician!”

But Mai’s concern was shattered by the boy’s shout.

As she stood awkwardly, Delta rushed to her side.

“H-here I am.”

“Save this child. Hurry! She’s not breathing!”

At those words, Mai’s gaze dropped slightly.

Now that she looked, there was a small child cradled in the boy’s arms.

‘…Aisha?’

Mai’s pupils widened as she took in the face with closed eyes as if asleep.

However, Lucas, who was resolutely holding Aisha despite seeming slightly overwhelmed, passed by and disappeared from view.

Callipus urgently followed behind him.

“Delta. Go straight to the infirmary and check Aisha’s condition. Her breathing is shallow, so examine her thoroughly.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

The two men quickly disappeared down the corridor with the physician before anyone could say a word.

“…?”

Mai’s expression was colored with bewilderment.

She hadn’t expected the reunion with the young master after five years to be like this.

‘And asking to save Aisha, of all things.’

Why did that child keep coming back with members of the Croste household?

‘Sigh.’

At least the young master had returned.

She needed to understand the situation to prepare anything.

“Lord Nox. May I ask what the situation is?”

Mai, having straightened her wrinkled apron, approached Nox who stood alone. But—

“Lady Aisha found Lord Lucas.”

“…Pardon?”

Who found whom?

“Yes. It’s true. And…”

Nox’s mood seemed somehow unpleasant.

“Lady Aisha collapsed while fighting kidnappers to save Lord Lucas.”

“…Who fought on behalf of whom…?”

Mai’s eyes widened.

Nox, who had been clenching his mouth shut, nodded as if understanding.

“Yes— well, it’s an awkward situation. I’m so sorry for misunderstanding Lady Aisha that I’m at a loss for words.”

“…I’m feeling awkward too.”

Mai quietly agreed with a dazed mind.

She recalled the past days when she had been curt with Aisha.

What on earth had happened?

How could a mere 5-year-old child fight kidnappers? Why would she do something so reckless—

‘He may have adopted you out of pity, but he probably doesn’t trust you. After all, you were the one who lied first.’

…Could it be because of my words?

It seemed like an excessive thought, but if Aisha had deliberately done something reckless, there must have been a reason.

If she had taken it as meaning she should prove herself, it was entirely possible.

Though she spoke well and walked well, she was still such a young child.

A child who had to stand on tiptoes and struggle to open the drawer just to get a tea bag.

A child much smaller than little Master Lucas, who could fit snugly in one’s arms.

“…”

Her eyes closed with guilt. She had realized it too late.

Aisha was too young to hate.

* * *

And at that moment.

“I’m truly sorry. I have no words to say…”

“…”

“…A-actually, she seemed to be in that state ever since Prince Lucas brought Lady Aisha here.”

Delta explained helplessly in front of the dazed Callipus and Lucas.

‘She has passed away.’

Ever since hearing those words, the two men had been in that state without blinking even once.

“…Aisha, please! Open your eyes!”

“…”

“The cat you asked me to save is alive too! Hurry up and open your eyes!”

Lucas called out to Aisha as if vomiting tears.

However, the girl remained quiet without any response.

In the space frozen like thin ice, Delta could barely breathe.

He could only bow his head and gauge the Duke’s condition.

The Duke didn’t cry like Lucas.

He didn’t get angry, nor did he sigh.

Among the clocks flowing at their own speeds, only his clock seemed to have stopped alone.

* * *

That night. At the hour when everyone was asleep, Aisha lay alone on her bed.

According to Callipus’s stubbornness, the room was frozen cold like a freezer with his ice ability.

He asked them to wait until he could accept the child’s death.

And quietly, someone approached the side of the child who had closed her eyes.

“You died.”

He had been alone since birth, and no one had ever set foot inside him.

Therefore, the boy’s world was pure and transparent without a blemish.

When small feet touched that space, the surrounding world rippled like waves on a calm lake.

The one who had caused such ripples for the first time in his life lay before him, having lost her vitality.

“You died.”

Eyes that didn’t seem human.

Feather-like white hair covering his straight forehead.

The boy with the mysterious appearance repeated the same words once more.

Soon, an indescribable expression appeared on his face.

If you die, you die.

While in the cage, the boy had always thought that way.

Even when frightened animals met their death inside the cage.

Even when monsters that caused disturbances were killed by people.

Perhaps because he had watched many life forms hovering between life and death, he had become detached in the face of death at some point.

But-

“I wanted to ask why you saved me.”

The boy who had been staring blankly outside the window closed his eyes.

It was the first time since he was born.

A human who looked at him with such eyes.

Humans always either found him ominous when they saw him, or looked at him with greedy eyes to appraise his value – it was always one of the two.

But this girl-

“…Hmm. Why did you have such eyes?”

She seemed shocked, and also seemed to have lost her soul.

And yet she even asked to save me.

Do you even know what I am?

Thanks to that, I lived.

“But you died.”

This makes me feel unsettled. I couldn’t even resolve my curiosity.

‘Stupid.’

The boy, feeling inexplicably sulky, sat down heavily in that spot with his arms crossed.

He was unbearably curious.

He wanted to revive the already dead child just to ask her.

If he could just satisfy his curiosity, he could give a little of his own.

“…So.”

Having finished his contemplation, he stood up and stomped his foot vigorously.

“Live a little longer.”

Zing-

Along with the wind, tremendous waves and tremors began to occur beneath his feet.

Suddenly the transparent world shook and cracks appeared in the world.

And through those cracks, a dark purple veil similar to the boy’s eyes enveloped the world.

“See you later.”

His tightly pressed lips curved slightly.

After the boy disappeared like that.

When the long night passed, morning came to Aisha’s world.

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