I'll Stop Regressing and Raise a Baby Dragon - Chapter 31

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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 31
I spoke to Luke, who was absorbed in deep thought.
“The one you need to be most careful about is Edward.”
Luke nodded.
“We have to assume Edward’s been contacted from the start.”
“Kael probably blackmailed Edward.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Luke sighed as he spoke.
“The physician I hired to cultivate Edward’s magical abilities turned out to be the very person suppressing them all along.”
It was an irony.
Luke must have been shocked as well.
‘But there’s no one else besides Kael.’
If he’s from the Research Institute, it means he can use Dark Magic.
Surely he used that Dark Magic to suppress Edward’s Magical Power.
With a snap of his fingers, Luke made the bell on the wall ring.
Before even a minute had passed, a knock sounded, and Ren entered the room.
“You called for me?”
“Can you look into Edward’s movements over the past two days?”
“Edward, Young Master?”
Ren asked back, sounding puzzled.
Luke closed his eyes with a dark expression.
“Please.”
……Yes. I understand.”
Seeing this, Ren bowed without a word and quickly left the room.
“Kai, Eria.”
“Yes.”
At Luke’s call, I hurried to rise from my seat.
Until I saw Kai nodding off against my shoulder.
‘When did he fall so sound asleep?’
Bewildered, I grasped his shoulder and shook it gently.
Kai lifted his head briefly, then dropped it back down again.
He seemed to have slept heavily, with no intention of waking.
‘He’s still so young, so this can happen.’
Certainly, this was a time when many hands were needed.
But falling asleep in front of Luke, who would be taking this the hardest, wasn’t ideal.
“I’m sorry. I was rude.”
Luke shook his head as if unconcerned.
“Is it time for sleep?”
“Yes, I tend to get quite sleepy around this hour…….”
“No matter, but this is a space I use alone, so I have nothing suitable to cover him with.”
“It’s fine. I’ll lay him down on the sofa.”
I shifted Kai’s weight onto the sofa, and in that moment, I stood up.
But the instant I moved to approach Luke, a weak hand reached out.
“Eria, don’t go…….”
“Kai……?”
Kai’s expression, caught in sleep-talk, was troubled.
It seemed he was trapped in some unpleasant nightmare.
“Don’t go, not again……. I’m here. I’m here…….”
“……Kai.”
Small tears gathered in his eyes, squeezed tightly enough to furrow his brow.
It was only a dream, yet it was as if I had truly gone far away.
“It’s all right. I’m not going anywhere.”
I whispered comfort and gently rested my fingertips on his hair.
He had no fever, but cold sweat drenched him.
‘I should wake him. I’ll wake him and have him sleep somewhere more comfortable.’
The poor bedding might be causing the nightmares.
As I finished that thought and moved my hand toward his shoulder,
“Wait.”
Whoosh—
Luke swept his hand lightly through the air.
A shimmer formed around his hand and flew toward Kai, striking him.
Kai’s strained expression and labored breathing finally eased.
‘Thank goodness.’
He brushed back hair damp with sweat.
After confirming his condition one last time, he walked toward Luke.
“My apologies.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Well… I’ve given it some thought.”
Having lost some time, he hurried to get to the heart of the matter.
Luke cleared the space around the desk where they stood with magic, listening intently.
“Kael will certainly come after Kai and me.”
“You think he’d attempt a kidnapping right here at the Duke’s Mansion?”
Luke let out a bitter laugh.
Everyone in the room knew such a thing was absurd.
This was the headquarters of none other than the Archmage Luke Croyman himself.
“Reckless or not, he’ll try. If he fails, it’s just a matter of cutting off the tail.”
Of course, that severed tail would be Kael.
“So let’s turn it around and catch him instead.”
“But, Eria.”
Luke paused and took a deep breath.
His tone grew somewhat uncomfortable as he broached the subject.
“Is it… Edward you’re hoping to use in this plan?”
“Only if it becomes truly necessary.”
She couldn’t think of many options within such a tight timeframe.
Naturally, Luke wouldn’t be pleased with this plan.
“Go ahead. I’m listening.”
After heavy reluctance, he began explaining calmly.
“First, I assumed there must be another collaborator helping Kael.”
“Do you have a suspect in mind?”
“No. There’s too little information.”
She could only hope that Ren would uncover something.
“So what comes next?”
“Kael will need information about our Mansion.”
“And he’ll try to obtain it through Edward.”
“There’s also the possibility he could gather or receive information through someone else.”
The moment she finished speaking, a knock sounded at the door and Ren returned.
“My lord. The Young Master has shown no unusual behavior.”
“He’s been bedridden lately, I hear.”
“Yes. Ah, when he came out for meals, he spoke briefly with a passing knight.”
“What did they discuss?”
“Nothing much—just the usual pleasantries. How are you, anything new, that sort of thing.”
“Which knight was it?”
“Sir Rumston and Sir Goddy.”
“Good work. We’ll discuss the details later. You’re dismissed.”
After Ren left the room again, Luke rested his chin on his hand and muttered.
“Both of them work the dawn patrol shift.”
The moment his words ended, their eyes met.
“He was trying to learn the patrol routes of the knights.”
“If there’s nothing out of the ordinary, the information should remain exactly as Edward knew it.”
“Has the information already reached Kael’s ears?”
“Edward’s been confined to his room, but we can’t be certain.”
Then was there any way to control the information on their side?
‘What should we do?’
Edward had been locked in his room for days.
Like them, his situation was limited.
In such circumstances, Edward would likely…
…avoid making even trivial assumptions on his own.
He would speak only what he could affirm based on knowledge he already possessed.
But then again.
“Kael needs to know whether you’re at the Mansion or not.”
“That’s right.”
“But the Duke’s absences aren’t predictable, are they?”
Edward wasn’t a prophet, after all.
The most crucial information couldn’t possibly be known from inside a room…….
“Once a month. There’s a fixed day when he works the night shift at the Magic Tower.”
“Really? When?”
“Tomorrow, this month.”
Tomorrow?
“That’s the day Kael said he’d come back!”
Luke’s expression hardened cold.
“You’ve already gathered intelligence on this.”
“Most of the people working in the mansion know about it.”
He conceded and fell into thought.
“I should have Ren investigate the whereabouts of every servant.”
“How long will it take to find them?”
“Two hours.”
‘Isn’t that too short?’
I looked at him skeptically, but Luke remained composed.
“I’ll have it done by then, no matter what.”
“……Understood.”
I silently cheered Ren on.
“If you do find that accomplice, will you let me know whether the information was passed along?”
“What then?”
“If the information has already been delivered, it doesn’t matter. But if they haven’t managed to deliver it yet.”
I spread my hand wide toward Luke.
“A map of the mansion, the personal details of the patrol knights, shift times, and…….”
I listed each item one by one, folding my fingers down individually as I spoke.
“We could have them write a letter with all that information and pass it to that accomplice.”
“You’re planning to lure Kael here?”
Crack—
As I stretched my lips into a smile like a villain, Luke raised an eyebrow.
“With the Duke in the mansion, it’s a fight you’re guaranteed to win, isn’t it?”
He studied me for a long moment, then let out a soft, incredulous laugh.
It was the first easy, unguarded smile he’d given during our entire conversation.
“Still, Eria. You’re staying somewhere safe.”
Saying that, Luke took my hand.
He stroked it gently, almost tickling my palm.
“I’ll leave Kai by your side.”
“In the same room?”
“Yes.”
“That’s perfect!”
“……Perfect?”
“Yes. I think it would be better to have Kai move with you instead.”
There was no way I could pass up such a good opportunity to gain experience.
“Eria.”
“It’ll be good experience for Kai.”
“That’s——”
Tap.
With my two small hands, I barely managed to grip his one hand firmly.
Then I looked up at him with the most pitiable eyes I could manage.
“……Eria. No matter what——”
“The Duke will protect me. What could possibly be dangerous?”
……
“Please?”
Luke let out a sigh so deep it seemed the earth itself was caving in.
“……I can’t take you with me. But.”
He laid his other hand over both of mine.
Warm, gentle heat flowed into my fingertips.
“I’ll allow keeping you near the mansion under my guard.”

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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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