I’m The Brave Puppy That Will Save The Villainess - Chapter 21
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Episode 21
Originally, Chloe never forgets a grudge.
Until now, she had endured it because it was bothersome.
Strangely, in place of her usual annoyance and lethargy that had disappeared, a crude anger remained.
“…I’ll first deal with those loose-tongued fools and follow right after.”
The soldiers who had carelessly run their mouths about Chloe and Coco showed terrified expressions.
Duke Ardos moved his steps and muttered.
“Do as you please. Rather, seeing you act wickedly is more pleasing to watch.”
* * *
The interrogation room at Duke Ardos Estate.
A small number of people sat in the space arranged like a small courtroom.
Lady Lea Amond, who first witnessed the spirit beast’s death. Ruth and Chloe who were at Bastille Annex. Even Theresia who was in charge of managing and supervising the annex.
The court recorder documenting the interrogation also held a quill pen.
Duke Ardos, who had looked around the interrogation room, gazed at Coco.
He had wanted to point this out for a while now.
“…What is that blanket?”
Coco was tightly wrapped in a pink cotton blanket.
Despite having soot smeared on both cheeks.
“It’s warm, and soft, and cozy!”
“…”
That’s not what he was asking about.
‘There seems to be nothing more to say.’
She’s just an ordinary young child.
He turned away from Coco’s innocent gaze and looked at the veterinarian.
“Is the tiger dead?”
The veterinarians who had been checking the tiger’s pulse answered in unison.
“Yes, it is undoubtedly dead.”
“It has stopped breathing, Your Grace.”
He pointed to the breathless tiger spirit beast on the floor of the interrogation room.
“Now, look at this. This is the tiger you killed.”
“But it’s not dead…”
Her protruding lips were exactly like a petulant little kid.
Turning away from the child, he stared at Lea.
“As a witness, what do you have to say.”
“The tiger is definitely dead. I stake my ‘Empathy’ special ability on it.”
Lea paused for a beat and whispered as if making some tremendous accusation.
“Your Grace, that child has even confessed to killing the tiger spirit beast. Moreover, there is evidence.”
The recording device that would serve as evidence made a clicking sound in her hand.
“How amusing. Were you the last one to lay hands on the tiger?”
“That’s true, but….”
“The criminal has confessed to their crime, so I suppose that’s how we should view it.”
She nervously wiped her palms on the hem of her dress.
“Ah, and. Though I’m humble to report this, there is also evidence that she killed the spirit beast with Lady Chloe’s help.”
The Court Recorder’s quill pen moved rapidly.
“Yes! Lady Chloe helped me!”
“Hmm…. So, Lady Chloe helped you, that’s what should be reported.”
Duke Ardos spoke with a displeased expression.
“Rumors have already spread throughout the Family Estate.”
“My apologies, it seems those with loose tongues have spread the word.”
“Then, you should also keep your mouth shut from now on.”
“I, I’m sorry.”
Lea immediately tucked her tail between her legs at just one cold glance.
Yes, that attitude was normal.
“Duke, it’s not true that Tiger died! Tiger is still alive!”
…That little one who committed a crime yet still stared at him so boldly was definitely not normal.
“You certainly say everything you want to say.”
“Yes! I absolutely won’t hold back!”
Perhaps she wasn’t just an ordinary child after all.
He gazed at Coco with a look containing mild interest.
“I heard the spirit beast isn’t breathing, so do you have proof that it’s alive?”
“The spirit beast told me. That if it eats Blue Rose Thorns, its body will heal.”
“You’re saying you communicated with the spirit beast?”
“Yes!”
“I’ll need to examine this more closely…. You might possess an Animal Affinity Ability.”
Even if that were true, it wasn’t particularly impressive.
‘It would be praised as amazing among non-ability users, I suppose.’
But animal affinity abilities were tricky to manifest and had annoying conditions.
There were many cases of misinterpreting animal signals as well.
Unless one could communicate directly through conversation with spirit beasts or animals.
If that child was truly the Blessed Child, she wouldn’t possess such a trivial ability.
Gazing at the little one who stood with her shoulders squared confidently, he asked.
“Then, let’s test your Special Ability first.”
“Yes! That sounds good!”
“You won’t be able to lie to me.”
Duke Ardos’s special ability is ‘Detection’.
It’s a tremendous ability that distinguishes truth from lies and discerns an opponent’s power.
A translucent blade appeared from his fingertips and immediately struck the area around Coco’s chest.
Coco proudly straightened her back.
“If you truly have abilities, the light flowing from this blade will envelop your body, and if not, it will disappear without a single point of light.”
Shadows fell around them, and a magic circle was drawn beneath their feet.
Everyone tensely watched Coco.
Ruth was squeezing his eyes shut and even praying.
“Please, please…!”
…The way he was troublesomely and noisily muttering was truly like dealing with his youngest sibling.
And what about Chloe?
Her eyes held expectation while pretending otherwise.
The magic circle slowly moved and enveloped Coco’s entire body, then…
“Gasp.”
It was soon sucked down into the floor.
Lady Lea burst out with a sneer.
“A typical appearance of someone without abilities.”
Theresia laughed mockingly.
“…Ah, that’s how children originally are. They often tell lies.”
“Shut up.”
“Brother Ruth too… To be deceived by a child’s lies, that’s not like you, Brother.”
The situation concluded with Coco having lied.
However, Duke Ardos’s piercing gaze was still directed toward Coco.
If the child truly possessed ‘affinity’ as she said, light should have spread throughout her entire body.
But the thing is.
Just before the magic circle disappeared, what enveloped Coco’s surroundings was a vivid rainbow-colored beam of light.
No one except him, who had cast the 【Status Check】 ability that could confirm an opponent’s condition, would have seen it.
‘That child was definitely an ordinary child, wasn’t she?’
In all his time using the 【Detection】 ability, he had never seen rainbow-colored light beams before.
Coco proudly stuck out her belly and declared.
“If it shows that I’m incompetent, then the detection ability is wrong!”
“How dare you speak to Father like that!”
Even at Theresia’s scolding, Coco didn’t back down.
“I am extremely capable!”
Duke Ardos asked Coco with interest.
“…Do you dare say before me that my special ability is wrong?”
“Yes! It’s wrong, so I’m just saying it’s wrong. Is that wrong?”
…Surprisingly logical.
“Hmm… If the spirit beast doesn’t awaken, what will you do?”
“There’s no way a spirit beast won’t wake up.”
The child smiled confidently, her eyes sparkling.
A blush rose on her round, ivory-colored cheeks.
What remarkable boldness, wasn’t it?
‘I’m also curious about what that beam of light is.’
Even most adults couldn’t look him straight in the eye.
‘But swindlers also have their share of boldness.’
‘But even swindlers have their own sense of boldness.’
It was still too early for admiration.
It was too early to be amazed yet.
“Then, when do you think this tiger will wake up?”
“What time is it now?”
“So, when do you think this tiger will wake up?”
But faced with those innocent, puppy-like eyes looking straight at him, he answered lightly.
It was a random comment.
Coco’s sparkling gaze was focused entirely on the tiger.
“Then yes, I think it’s about time for him to wake up!”
“It’s almost dinner time.”
Just then, Theresia, who had been silent, spoke up.
“Of course, it seems like it’s about time to wake up!”
“I heard she’s not even the Blessed Child.”
Lea also chimed in, and the situation was going from bad to worse.
Then, Therezia, who had been silent, continued speaking.
She just continued to stare at the tiger with an indifferent expression.
“From what I heard, it wasn’t even a blessed child.”
When Duke Ardos’s expression also hardened, as if he could wait no longer.
“Um…”
Ruth poked Chloe in the side, but she didn’t budge.
“Y-Your Grace…”
He simply continued to stare at the tiger with an indifferent expression.
Time ticks away.
It was when Duke Ardos’s lips had also hardened into a rigid line, as if he could wait no longer.
“I…”
One of the veterinarians, who had been frozen like a dead mouse, cautiously opened his mouth to speak.
“Y-Your Excellency….”
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
