I Am the 5-Year-Old Spy Who Kidnapped the Villain - Chapter 98
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
【Chapter 98】
As Callipus left the study, Nox, who had been waiting nearby, followed him in confusion.
“Where are you going?”
“Aisha’s ice cave. It’s been an hour, so I need to check.”
“There’s still about 5 minutes left until it’s been an hour since she went in, though?”
When the increasingly puzzled Nox asked, Callipus pointed his finger at the floor beneath his feet.
“From here.”
And then his finger pointed toward the end of the corridor.
“It’ll take about 5 minutes to get to basement level 1 over there. So I’m going early.”
At those words, Nox followed Callipus’s finger with his gaze and nodded his head.
“How meticulous of you.”
“That’s what parenting is.”
Having finished their conversation, Callipus and Nox quickly headed toward the ice cave.
Though they didn’t speak to each other, both of them were worried about Aisha.
The ice cave was a space created with ice abilities. Even northerners accustomed to low temperatures would run out within 30 minutes of entering that cave, more often than not.
But what about Aisha?
‘She was born in the relatively warm Kingdom of Odtia and hasn’t been in the north for long, so she’d be even more vulnerable to the cold.’
The stairs leading underground.
Callipus’s lips, which had been pressed together as heavy as lead, slowly opened.
“There’s a high chance she failed, so tell Mai to heat up some warm water. If Aisha says she’s giving up, I’ll need to give her a bath right away.”
“Yes, understood.”
After receiving the order, Nox left, and Callipus, who had descended all the stairs alone, opened the door to the ice cave.
“Ais…”
Callipus’s eyes slowly widened as he was about to call out “ha.”
“…?”
There was a huge mass in a corner of the cave.
Looking closely, it wasn’t just a simple mass. It was children huddled together around Aisha.
They were sleeping while lending each other their body heat.
Moreover, they seemed quite comfortable, as not a single child was shivering.
“…What on earth is… Ha!”
Callipus, whose complexion had been dark with worry, let out a deflated laugh.
“Your Highness. The warm water is ready—”
“Shh.”
Nox, who entered shortly after, spoke, but Callipus raised his finger and signaled for quiet.
“You’ll wake the kids.”
“…The kids?”
Nox, who unconsciously lowered his voice, spotted the children visible over Callipus’s shoulder and opened his eyes wide.
And then.
“…We won’t need the bath water.”
Nox, having grasped the situation, also smiled faintly like Callipus.
“Guide, go bring some blankets to cover them.”
As Nox nodded and left the cave again, Callipus adjusted the internal temperature with his ability.
Then, feeling a bit cold from the lowered temperature, Aisha burrowed deeper into the embrace of the children around her.
At that adorable sight, Callipus let out a chuckle.
Knowing she couldn’t endure it, did she bring people to help her? Whatever her intention was, she was certainly no ordinary child.
Perhaps, truly.
Watching the child who accomplished everything in ways that exceeded his expectations, Callipus began to nurture his faint sense of anticipation.
* * *
After that, my ability training proceeded smoothly.
While Lucas and Kail attended morning classes, Guide and Bibi stuck close to me.
‘L-Lady. B-Bibi has been st-sticking only to me since then. D-do you think she’s s-satisfied after taking that w-walk to her heart’s content?’
‘Kyu? Kyukyu! (A walk, what are you talking about? From now on, this grandma will only protect my baby!)’
Though the two couldn’t communicate directly, it seemed they would get along well even without me translating for them.
By the way, I wondered why I could understand Bibi’s words. This seemed like something I’d need to look into later.
And then.
‘Dandelion, big brother is here… Hey, Guide! Won’t you get away from Dandelion?!’
‘Guide. Get lost from Aisha’s side.’
When Lucas, who had finished morning class, and Kail, who had learned the new word “get lost,” glared at Guide with triangular eyes, the frightened Guide would scurry away and the human heater would be replaced.
Also, other guests often accompanied Father when he came to check on my condition once every hour.
‘Lady. You must be having a hard time being confined in the cave. I made a strawberry parfait, so please try it.’
Like the chef who made lots of desserts for me.
‘Lady Aisha. You must maintain your dignity even while in the cave. The right side of your pigtails seems to have come down a bit, so I’ll fix it for you.’
Like Mai, who always maintained my hairstyle.
They say it takes a whole village to raise one child.
With the help of the Croste people, I was able to spend a warm week in the ice cave.
‘Lady Aisha. Is the cave comfortable?’
‘No?’
‘Yes. I thought so, which is why I asked.’
‘?’
Except for Nox, who wasn’t much help.
He even always appeared together with Callipus when he came to visit once every hour, teasing me.
‘I’ll hit you. After training ends. Nox.’
I glared at the departing Nox with fierce eyes.
If I left the cave, Nox would be the first opponent I’d test my abilities on.
In any case.
And so, on the long-awaited 8th day.
“Good job. Ah, Aisha!”
“Don’t stop me!”
Pushing away Father who was greeting me warmly, I rushed out of the cave and fell to my knees before the warm sunlight shining down on the ducal palace.
Ah. Sunlight.
Sweet vitamin D that embraces me.
“Hiyaaaaat-!”
The roar of a young hamster facing sunlight for the first time in 8 days echoed through the sky of the ducal palace.
And so, my ice cave training ended successfully.
* * *
The next day. At the training ground of Croste Ducal Palace.
Father, holding my hand with a tense expression, nodded toward me.
Today was the long-awaited test day.
In other words, the day to confirm the effects of the ice cave training.
As we entered the training ground, the people who had arrived early welcomed me.
“Lady. You endured that cold ice cave for a whole week, so your abilities must have manifested well.”
“Lady Aisha! Fighting! Abilities are all about momentum!”
They were all people who had visited me in the ice cave for a week.
‘I’ll definitely succeed.’
“Thank you!”
After enthusiastically waving to the people, I was led by Father to stand in the middle of the training ground.
Lucas was also with us, having come along as a young master.
‘Huff, huff.’
Many people were watching only me.
Though they were all positive gazes, I was nervously taking deep breaths when.
“Aisha.”
Before I knew it, red eyes identical to mine appeared before me. It was Callipus, who had knelt down to meet my gaze.
“You don’t need to be nervous. You were born with Croste blood, so abilities are natural.”
“Yes, yes!”
“Spread your palm and imagine ice crystals blooming above it.”
I nodded at Father’s trustworthy advice.
And after spreading my palm in the air.
“Hiyah-!”
I put all my strength into it, even using the force I’d use to fart, and let out a battle cry.
“Ooh!”
“Finally! Another ability user in the Croste Duke family!”
People’s eyes sparkled with anticipation at my appearance.
Flurry.
“…?”
Instead of ice shooting up sharply, it fell from the sky.
In other words, snow fell. And heavily at that.
So… it meant I couldn’t use ice abilities.
“Hmm. Was there snow in the forecast today?”
“I’m not sure. The weather in the North is quite unpredictable.”
As the corners of my mouth drooped at the obvious failure, people quickly changed the subject.
“Hmm.”
Lucas, who had been making grunting sounds beside me, grabbed my shoulder and gave me advice.
“Dandelion. Don’t just tense your butt, imagine ice crystals rising in your hand. You don’t need to use force.”
Ah. So it’s not about tensing my butt, but imagination that’s important.
I nodded and tried again.
“Hiyat!”
But.
“Yaat-!”
Why on earth! Won’t the ice ability come out!
“…Strange. It was easy for me. Dandelion, why isn’t it working for you?”
Did he read my thoughts?
Lucas, who muttered the same thought as me, scratched the back of his neck and tilted his head.
“I manifested right after birth, and from age 2 I could just use my ability.”
“…”
“And when I thought Dad’s ice looked cool and I wanted to make some too, pop! It sprouted. Why won’t yours work? Strange.”
At those words, I finally realized.
Ice abilities bloom through talent and early education, not effort.
It meant you couldn’t gain them by camping in an ice cave for a few days.
‘I suffered so much in that ice cave for a whole week!’
Thud-
In the end, I slumped down on the spot.
“…It’s unfair…”
“Aisha…”
“It’s unfair!”
Whether Lucas and Callipus looked at me pitifully or not, I was screaming and taking the cold snow on my whole body.
“…Lady Aisha?”
At the voice that suddenly rang out, everyone’s heads turned toward the training ground entrance.
It was Mai, who had come late after finishing her work.
“Congratulations, Lady Aisha! You’ve successfully manifested your ability! I knew you would.”
…What?
I looked puzzled at her words spoken with a moved expression.
“What are you talking about. I failed and was despairing like this!”
Lucas, also flustered, was about to retort immediately-
“But… isn’t this snow that Lady Aisha made fall? The snow is only falling inside the training ground.”
“Huh?”
Inside the training ground? What’s falling?
Having fallen into despair, I finally raised my head to look up at the sky.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————