Sister-in-law of the Heroine in a Childcare Novel - Chapter 251

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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 251

“If the ruler of the surface becomes a Magic Beast and Chernobog seizes control, would that be good for mankind? You’re already using humans like livestock—the same beasts you breed.”
“Aha, so the Imperial Princess wonders why those of the ‘same humanity’ would do such a thing?”
A pale finger stroked my cheek mockingly. Each cold touch sent my fine hairs on end. The face smiling down at me was like a portrait of a beautiful corpse painted to life.
“Not the same humanity. We are superior. Chosen from long ago, serving him in secret… and he doesn’t think all humanity needs to be exterminated either.”
“………”
“Humans are too fragile.”
The tip of a fingernail pressed against my Adam’s apple. For a moment, something like a spark flickered between the woman’s eyes, then vanished.
“They mourn over trifles, they despair, they die… their limits are so clear. Why restrict ourselves to the human species? Magic Beasts may be looked down upon by name, but they are truly capable of becoming anything—any form of life.”
A hollow laugh escaped me. Right, they could become ‘anything.’ Truly.
The Magic Beasts I’d seen so far resembled chimeras or parasitic plants more than anything. Perhaps Chernobog’s direct creations in the Underground World were different. But at the very least, the Magic Beasts I’d faced couldn’t be called a properly established species capable of normal reproduction.
Watching them hollow out humans now and spread their seed… I forced down my emotion and spoke.
“In other words, you’re talking about uncontrollable unknowns—life-forms that disrupt order?”
“And what’s wrong with inferior humans becoming livestock?”
“…What?”
“You’ve already tamed wolves into dogs, improved plants and spread them, eating their fruits. You slaughter pigs and cattle and sheep, yet you think humans should somehow be different? Isn’t that strange?”
“…But you yourself are human.”
“No, we are gardeners of God, specially commissioned to refine the breed.”
The one smiling at me had a completely human form. Beautiful enough to bewitch anyone’s eyes. Yet in that moment, I felt a wave of nausea. She was like a carnivorous plant mimicking prey before devouring it.
“Humans are a species destined to have their eyes captivated by appearance, seduced by beautiful voices, and bend their knees before great power.”
“………”
“They don’t want to die, so they’ll do absolutely anything… not wanting to become ugly, not wanting to age, not wanting to die… How many people seek Chernobog for that alone? So we simply allow all their wishes to be granted, give them what they desire.”
“So you’ll turn all of humanity into Chernobog’s servants just to fulfill the desires of a handful clinging to him?”
“He is benevolent, after all.”
“…Even if countless fools have knelt before Chernobog seeking Immortality, they don’t represent all mankind.”
“But it was they who led us here.”
“……You smile about fools you don’t even value.”
“That’s because we believe the unfit should be culled. In that sense, you’re quite…”
Lilium tilted her head, looking at me with curious eyes.
“Interesting.”
“………”
“Do I have a gap in my memory? Why has the Imperial Princess changed so much? Because you’re Beloborg’s Contractor?”
“………”
“From what I hear, you have nothing left.”
“………”
“Why do such a thing?”
It was a question as innocent as a child’s. A hollow laugh rose in my throat.
“…Chernobog probably isn’t a parent who cherishes his children.”
“A great god has no need to be bound by his creations—he simply uses those who serve his purpose.”
“Because I don’t want to live shamefully.”
“What?”
Titania’s wish was not mistaken.
Let me live again.
Before good parents. Properly.
That’s why I’m here now. Even to such pointless words, I have answers aplenty.
“Well, yes. You’ve only seen the people of the Empire—especially those from the Imperial Family—the type who’d sell family and everything for what they want, with eyes rolled back in their heads. So I understand humans might seem foolish and contemptible and stupid… but…”
Saying to her ‘you yourself are human’ again wouldn’t matter. She’d just answer ‘so I’ve become perfect.’ There’s no getting through.
Flux came to mind.
The Flux who’d made a mess, kidnapped an innocent princess in the night, and threatened her.
He laughed as he beat her. Thinking back, it felt refreshing.
But I remember how his body trembled and his pupils quivered whenever I pointed out his true feelings. If I hadn’t stepped in, he would have fallen completely into the enemy’s grasp, things would have been harder… but still.
The words of the High Priest Illian, who always spoke with frank candor, came back to me. Illian’s words always seemed light yet carried weight. Those who don’t know how to scheme, who are altruistic and self-sacrificing, die early. How much more so for priests who became priests to save others.
Such people exist, and so do those who push even children aside to escape their own crisis.
“Even when foolish, contemptible, and stupid people do mad things, there are always those who endure and act. People who were foolish can change entirely.”
“…Even you resort to flattery like that.”
Lilium’s voice was low, disappointed.
“Even in the depths of hell, people don’t behave as stupidly and foolishly as you think they would.”
When the Empire became hell and had to be crossed. Survivors were rare, but not absent. Raymond and Lisianthus both silently helped those who remained. Sometimes, knowing the situation, we couldn’t help. Food was precious, and we couldn’t bear to give it to those destined to die. Some screamed for our help, cursed us. Others thanked us for not being alone. They thrust their last handful of grain into our hands, saying we’d need it more. Even when survival itself became a luxury.
It was the same when holding my parents’ hands. Some were cold, some were warm. Despair and hardship numbed people throughout their lives, countless times, but in the end, it was always people who lifted each other up.
-Still, we must live like humans. Our daughter.
To understand the meaning of that sentence, I lived again.
“Even Chernobog must think the same way.”
Rather than rage at the unreasonable circumstances set before me, I chose to find what I could accomplish.
Instead of crying ‘why me?’, I chose to think ‘I’m glad it’s me.’
“What do you mean?”
“Even Chernobog must think like you do.”
“…That makes no sense. You’re trying to judge a god’s thoughts? What, are you hoping to rely on a god of light whose power is nearly exhausted?”
Lilium didn’t grow angry at my belittling Chernobog. She maintained that charitable demeanor throughout.
Well, there’s a great mage who killed even her own disciples for the sake of Immortality and pledged herself to Chernobog.
She found it amusing that someone foolishly dragged here could only jabber with her mouth. Lilium chuckled at me as if I were ridiculous.
-Just a little longer, just bear with it a moment! ( ˊ࿁ˋ )
‘I know that much. I’ve suffered enough hardship. I’m not about to charge in recklessly now.’
“Listen, Your Highness.”
Lilium grasped the ends of my hair mockingly and tore out a few strands.
“I thought the Imperial Princess would be something different… yet you’re spouting the same hollow nonsense I’ve heard a thousand times. Really, I had such hopes for you.”
“………”
Her gaze was strange. She stared at the Hair Strands she held in her hand for a moment, then dropped them to the floor as if they were garbage. Then she shrugged.
“…Well, I suppose my judgment only goes so far. Since Castrain wanted the Imperial Princess, I’ll let you live… for now.”
“For now?”
“I wonder if you’ll be able to stay so confident in the future.”
She laughed like jade beads rolling across a silver platter.
“By the Contract, ‘we’ cannot harm you, the Imperial Princess… but.”
A pale finger slowly pressed against my throat and upper chest, as if gauging the vital points of prey soon to be slaughtered.
“…You see, Castrain’s Lord Raymond is truly, truly an excellent vessel. He’ll be able to contain our god completely. Then, once our great god descends, what then?”
“………”
“Will the Imperial Princess be left alive?”
“………”
“Will you still say then that ‘humans don’t behave as stupidly and foolishly as all that’?”
It felt as though my chest was being squeezed.
‘If, by some chance, Lord Raymond truly becomes a Servant of Chernobog and resolves to burn this continent…’
The High Priest Illian’s words surfaced again.
What was given to me. A weapon still retaining the complete power of the god of light.
‘Could you kill him?’
Kill or be killed.
As if no other choice existed.

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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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