I’m the Strong Youngest Daughter Here to Save My Family from Darkness - Chapter 18

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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 18
Maybe the heroes who come later, while hanging their notes, will catch sight of the little one’s wish.
“Right, let’s go!”
Kyle beckoned to Arienna.
“Coming!”
Both of them set off toward South Island, smiles playing across their faces.
* * *
Back in the square of Wish Village.
“So that’s how it went!”
A giddy man flailed both arms about.
“At first, everyone thought they’d lost their minds. But it wasn’t like that. The two of them took down the monster…”
Even after hearing everything that had happened so far, Grand Duke Veipran’s expression didn’t change.
The man kept on chattering without a care for the Grand Duke’s reaction.
“And what came after was even better! The Wish Tree was healed so perfectly, you wouldn’t believe it!”
“I don’t care about that.”
“And that little girl, she was so sharp, she took the Hero’s Oath—”
Only then did the Grand Duke, who had been listening in silence, open his mouth.
“A girl?”
“Huh?”
“You mean she was actually a child?”
“Of course! I saw it with my own two eyes. A little girl, five or six years old, at most.”
Veipran’s eyes narrowed.
A child with the combat power to deal with a high-tier monster.
Taken at face value, the information didn’t add up.
Was she truly a young child, or something wearing a child’s form, or perhaps…
‘Well, she may not even be human.’
There wasn’t enough information to judge from one fool’s account.
But two things were certain: that the girl was strong, and that she was moving in the same direction he was.
Just two things.
‘Our paths will overlap.’
If she got in the way, he might have to remove her.
Having calmly reached that conclusion, the Grand Duke turned his gaze away.
“Ah, since you’ve told me all that, let me ask you something in return.”
“…”
“What’s your name, friend?”
After a brief silence, the Grand Duke murmured curtly.
“Well, my name is…”
He had no intention of hiding his face, but he could not use the name Veipran Grand Duke openly.
‘If word gets out that I landed on Monster Island officially, it’ll be a nuisance.’
If the news of Grand Duke Veipran’s absence became official, the Senate and the other nobles would surely go after his seat.
He was infiltrating under the Emperor’s secret decree, so he was also aware that it was better to conceal his identity for now.
When he stayed silent, the man spoke up.
“A secret, is it? You’re big-boned, and you don’t carry yourself like an ordinary man. You’re not a knight of the Empire or something, are you?”
“I haven’t settled on a name yet. I’ll have one soon enough.”
Instead of answering, he brought up something unrelated.
“Those monsters you mentioned earlier, are there still some left?”
“Oh, yes. Those little kids saved the Wish Tree a few days ago, so they won’t come into the village anymore, but the monsters we haven’t managed to wipe out yet…”
That was the moment.
Grand Duke Veipran lifted the dagger he had tucked at his waist.
The man blinked.
“What—?”
In that instant, the dagger was swung at the empty air.
Just once.
And then… Bang!
A thunderous blast burst out somewhere far off.
At the same time, the air split open, and several trees snapped and toppled.
A monster that had been approaching from near the forest lay sprawled on the ground, its body cleaved clean in two.
The faces of the man and the others around him stiffened.
“…”
Someone couldn’t close their gaping mouth.
There was a considerable distance between the monster and Grand Duke Veipran.
Yet with a single stroke of the dagger, or rather, with the aura born from that dagger, he split the monster clean in half.
“That’s my answer to your question.”
Parting the stunned crowd, Grand Duke Veipran strode off without hesitation, a dagger gripped in one hand.
As though he had no more use for this place.
It was a stubborn, unbending back.
His destination lay in the same direction the children had taken when they restored the Wish Tree a few days earlier.
The Wish Altar, that is.
* * *
Meanwhile, the atmosphere at the Rheinfeld Mansion was frigid.
“I beg your pardon, Madam. We have failed. We destroyed the mansion’s barrier without incident and let the monsters in, but apparently every one of the monsters we sent is dead. And worse…”
The moment the report from the pursuit squad reached her, Countess Rhinefeld clenched her teeth.
“That brat has vanished without a trace, too?”
“Yes, Madam. The prince disappeared along with her.”
The Countess’s expression turned icy in an instant.
“So that foolish girl coaxed the prince, the one on the verge of a Rampage, into running away with her.”
What a wretched, laughable pairing.
She tried to curl her lips into a sneer, but then she bit down hard.
Her plans had gone awry.
That monster had been dispatched with such difficulty, through a magician who could control beasts.
It was a bitter blunder.
Clenching her teeth, the Countess muttered under her breath.
“Before our Melissa is betrothed to a young master of a distinguished house, that annoying foreign element must be eliminated.”
Already, rumors were spreading that House Beiprun had ended its long seclusion and resumed socializing.
‘There’s no betrothal prospect as coveted as the Grand Duke’s heir.’
Families like hers, all angling for the Grand Duke’s house, had formed a long queue.
To reach the Grand Duke’s house, she had to move quickly, one way or another.
And to do that, she had to break the Oath bound up in the Womb Betrothal. Along with that brat, who had now become a dangerous figure.
If she wanted to cut off that brat’s throat once and for all this time, there was one suitable candidate.
“Order ‘him’ to move.”
“…”
“Bring me the sacrifice’s head. Right now.”
5. The Hero’s First Steps
Once every last slip of paper had been tied to the tree.
Kyle and Arienna, the two adventurers, were diligently walking toward South Island.
They had packed plenty of food and water and tidied themselves from head to toe, yet a certain sloppiness could not be hidden.
Even though the villagers of Wish Village had let them shower.
‘Maybe it’s because we have no guardian, but the two of us keep looking so grimy.’
The hem of Arienna’s dress was steadily turning black.
‘Even if we used a Cognition Confusion Magic Tool, two kids are just too conspicuous.’
The Rheinfeld lot must be starting to realize that Arienna and Kyle had run away.
They were certain to track Arienna down, and it would have been nice to have a guardian.
‘Is there anyone reliable, strong, and easy to fool for a guardian around here?’
But for now, there was no real way to manage it.
For the time being, the two of them simply had to keep moving.
Kyle swallowed a sigh.
“To shake off the Rheinfeld pursuit, we have to leave for Middle Island as fast as we can. Even if they’re Rheinfeld goons, they won’t be able to follow us all the way to Middle Island.”
“Why won’t they be able to follow?”
“Past Middle Island, it gets really, really dangerous. So you could say most ordinary people die there.”
“Huh.”
“Don’t worry. You’re the strongest one here, remember?”
“Am I? I don’t think so, though?”
Arienna tilted her head, wearing a puzzled expression, when—
‘For a little kid who’s strong, she sure is modest.’
Kyle unfolded a map of North Island.
“Ahead, there are only scattered villages. I think we should set up camp here for now.”
“Okay!”
“But this area is near the goblins’ habitat, so monsters should be far more numerous from around here on.”
“They’re supposed to be numerous!”
“Why is it so quiet?”

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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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