Sister-in-law of the Heroine in a Childcare Novel - Chapter 16

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

Chapter 16

Wait. Could that odd dream I had yesterday—where some unidentifiable glutinous rice cake asked if I’d make a contract with it—actually mean something?
Had some crucial memory scattered to the winds while I was unconscious? I struggled to stay calm as I asked.
“…When did I make a contract with this Veloborg?”
-Since you haven’t completed your Master Consciousness yet, your security clearance is too low for me to disclose that information (,Ծ_Ծ,)!
“What exactly is this Master Consciousness?”
-It’s a Boundary Seal Designated Virtual Experience that Veloborg arranged! If you succeed, you’ll achieve Security Level 1 and become my true master. Then, once you complete the Master Consciousness through Gloriana’s Banner, boom! Your final security clearance jumps to Level 0, and you’ll receive full authority over all the power Veloborg has granted!
“…And what is this Boundary Seal Designated Virtual Experience exactly?”
The sword answered in a cheerful voice.
-It recreates the situation in your consciousness when Alkarianos, Veloborg’s first contractor, established what’s known as the Northern Boundary! You just have to set the Barrier and successfully seal it!
Forget it.
This is ancient emperor and legendary hero stuff—fifth or maybe fourth generation. I must be out of my mind!
Back then, heroes who could fly and fight and run barely managed to come together, and they summoned gods themselves while fumbling around to create that Barrier. So what on earth is it asking me to do, even if it’s just virtual?
I’d made my decision quickly.
I’d just hand the Magical Sword over to the Castrain Ducal House like it was no big deal.
I’d simply tell them never to use it and store it in a warehouse.
Let them be confused. Let them misunderstand. Anything’s better than me dying!
“It was nice meeting you for a moment. Let’s never see each other again. Goodbye!”
-No, no, don’t give up, contractor! I-I don’t mean you have to challenge it alone! You can attempt it together with companions of the Five Prime Attributes and other supporters!〣(ºΔº)〣
I narrowed my eyes at those words. This thing was just making my blood boil more.
“Your contractor has no friends! No comrades! No family—or might as well not!”
As I hurled words filled with anger at the sword, it seemed to recognize just how I’d ended up this way, and the sword at least conveyed its sympathy through emoticons.
-Ah, ah, ahhhhh…. (இ﹏இ`｡)
“What happens if I fail the Master Consciousness? Do I die?”
-Well, it’s not… that… but… um…. (;´・`)>
The sword hesitated, perspiring visibly as it searched for words. I demanded an answer in a glacial tone.
“It’s not that?”
-…Y-you get trapped in an unconscious space and can’t escape until you succeed…(;•͈́༚•͈̀)….
“That’s worse than death! What kind of sword are you, pulling a scam like this! And you didn’t even explain any of this! The moment I grabbed the hilt, you just said ‘let’s do the Master Consciousness’?! You’re a complete fraud!”
At my furious outburst, the sword whined in protest, vibrating miserably.
Louder than a coffee shop buzzer.
-B-but your body enters a state of suspended animation, so technically speaking, it’s not actually death….
“Have you heard of brain death?! You’re not even letting me die cleanly—why would you turn me into a vegetable?!”
This sword had been spouting nothing but self-defeating excuses since the start.
Sensing my gaze growing steadily colder, the sword began to wail desperately.
-C-contractor, that’s too cruel!｡ﾟ( ﾟஇωஇﾟ)ﾟ｡! B-but great power demands great responsibility! That’s why this trial is absolutely necessary…!
“Too cruel? What’s too cruel is suddenly being saddled with something like you! I’m returning this great power—take it back! We’re done!”
-I-I’m a versatile and magnificent sword! Contractor, if you don’t keep me by your side, you’ll regret it! ˚‧º·(˚ ˃̣̣̥᷄⌓˂̣̣̥᷅ )‧º·˚
Regret? All this sword does is spam emoticons. It’s a bigger con artist than a loan shark raking in compound interest!
I was about to snort derisively when I paused. What if I tried something different?
“Then prove your usefulness while you have the chance. Otherwise….”
Right—it had a sense of self.
A sword capable of sending emoticons directly into the mind of whoever holds its hilt was practically human.
And even though it claimed to be a Magical Sword, this blade was known as a famous weapon—valuable enough that the Imperial Consort herself had secured it.
It had probably never suffered rust on its blade or even a speck of dust. It must have been handled with care by dedicated attendants.
Which meant this threat would definitely work!
I opened my eyes wide and pointed at the sword.
“…It’s summer! I’ll bury you in a laundry pit with unwashed socks from servants who haven’t done laundry in over a week!”
-Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
The sword let out a piercing shriek directly into my mind.
It was so terrified that when it wailed, it forgot to attach its usual emoticons.
And with good reason.
Most of the servants who live and work in the Imperial Palace wear uniforms. The visible garments always have to be kept pristine for the nobility, but minor items like socks are just cycled through a communal laundry service on a ten-day rotation.
That means socks pile up into mountains before each washing. And it’s not winter—it’s summer now!
Even a day or two of tossed socks start to reek!
“If you won’t accept even that, the next will be the food waste pit, and after that….”
The terrified sword answered rapidly, like machine-gun fire.
-No, no, you’re so merciful and beautiful, contractor! I’ll do as you say!
Right. I myself wasn’t cruel enough to want to reach the final stage—the toilet pit.
With the sword submitting and pleading pitifully, I nodded in acknowledgment.
“And since you’re so fidgety when I’m being nice, turn off those emoticons.”
-Y-yes…….
The sword whimpered.
-H-hic, hicchup, that’s so mean…. I learned all this stuff to impress you, studying it in this other world….
“Sock pit deployment.”
-You did want to know my functions, right?! I have the ability to sense the simple feelings and emotions of others, a Navigation function that lets me know the geography of this area and the locations of people, and a Demon Encyclopedia function that contains all the weaknesses, core positions, and characteristics of Magic Beasts! Once you become my complete master and I can unleash my full power, many more functions will be granted!
“Oh…. Those are actually useful, damn it…. Unfortunately….”
The sword bristled at my response.
-Why unfortunately?!
It really is a shame!
These are abilities I could’ve used perfectly well at the Castrain Ducal House! Especially something like the Demon Encyclopedia!
But the original story made it to a happy ending just fine without any weird scammer emoticon sword like this, so it should be fine.
I set the sword down without regret. The voice that had been murmuring in my head became as tiny as an ant’s.
-C-contractor? C-contract….
Click-click-click. The moment I lowered the sword, there came a sound like a mechanism powering down, and the voice vanished completely.
I wrapped it properly in the cloth that had originally bound it together with the scabbard.
No matter how much the servants disrespected Titania, they wouldn’t dare touch a gift from Consort Cleo herself, destined for the Young Duke of Castrain.
The instant I placed the sword back in its ornate box, someone knocked gently at my door.
From the politeness of that knock….
“Come in.”
“Your Highness, the esteemed Imperial Princess Titania. His Imperial Majesty the Emperor has invited you to dine this evening.”
“Please tell him I shall attend with great pleasure.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
An attendant sent by the Emperor, then.
I glanced out the window. The weather was as fine today as it had been yesterday. The season was one where the sun lingered long, so it was still bright, but it was already past three in the afternoon.
Breakfast at eight, lunch at noon, dinner at six—that was the official schedule for meals at the Imperial Palace.
Summoning a noblewoman with three hours’ notice, who needed time to dress and prepare, was practically an insult.
In reality, if such an invitation flew at the Consort or the Empress, it would be taken as a declaration of war.
But this was the Emperor.
Was he trying to humble the princess of that mad Castrain family who’d fought and destroyed part of the palace?
“…How considerate.”
If he’d shown even this much attention and concern toward the princess earlier, her character wouldn’t have deteriorated so badly.
I forced my expression to soften before it could freeze into something icy, and I pulled the bell with a look of pure delight.
The Emperor’s attendant would surely have been spotted, and my servants would arrive faster than light.
As expected, Mary and Sara arrived breathless in less than ten minutes—far sooner than usual—and I beamed at them brightly.
“This evening, I’m going to see Father! Get my most beautiful dress, quickly!”
“Of course, Your Highness.”
“You’ll be the most beautiful princess in the entire empire!”
I let their busy hands dress me and slowly closed my eyes, taking a deep breath.
For the first time since waking, I was about to see this body’s family.

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