Sister-in-law of the Heroine in a Childcare Novel - Chapter 42

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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 42

I know what Bibi is doing. That deliberate, lisping speech pattern—it’s a sophisticated form of psychological pressure.
A Returner on her second life speaking like a toddler! ‘Look, I’m just a little child. How could you, the mean one, betray such an innocent girl’s expectations?’ It’s pure coercion wrapped in cuteness.
Anyway, Bibi snuck back into the Labyrinth Garden with guards while I wasn’t looking. When I scolded her for how dangerous it was, she boasted that she’d brought an escort equipped with a full set of Mana Stones and the capability to suppress Magic Beasts.
The result, however, was that the central entrance leading underground did not open.
Of course, one could reasonably assume it was because Raymond destroyed much of it when he came to rescue us—it’s only been temporarily repaired since then.
But regardless of how much people avoid that area for safety, the Imperial Family’s history stretches back very far.
If something has suddenly become a problem now, after all this time, it must mean some special condition has aligned.
Me + Bibi = Labyrinth Garden center opens
Bibi alone = Labyrinth Garden center doesn’t open
Therefore, the problem factor must be me.
Back then, I was on the outer edge of the Labyrinth Garden, and yet the entrance at the very center opened.
I suspected the cause was one of two things: my status as an Imperial Direct Bloodline, or the Emoticon Sword, which called me a Contract Holder.
So I simply watched Brian dash toward the Labyrinth Garden.
“Gah, gah, gaaaaahhhhh!”
And the moment I stepped within the effective range with perfect timing, I watched Brian plummet into the depths as the entrance opened—confirming it was the latter.
There’s no way the Imperial Direct Bloodline has never visited the exact center of the Labyrinth Garden before. Why now, only in this generation, would such a thing happen…?
“…I really do need to rehabilitate that sword’s image……”
It seems to be because of me, probably…?
What exactly is this so-called Contract Holder status that it’s turned the Imperial Palace upside down? If I’d actually been holding the sword, I’d have asked it directly.
“All preparations are complete, my lady.”
I gave a shallow nod to the man greeting me—a temporary escort provided by the Castrain Ducal House.
I needed the help of the Castrain Ducal House for this task. I’d only just incurred the debt, and here I was, already about to use one of the favors.
But I wasn’t about to hesitate. You use the debts you have—save them and they rot away. So I borrowed Gloria’s Flag for a brief time and asked them to participate in this matter.
Now, from here on out, the presentation mattered most.
Brian should be fleeing through the Underground Labyrinth, pursued by a golden Magic Beast. Other trapped beasts would be stirring and restless as well.
The temporary escort’s Mana Stone flickered in his hand.
A signal.
I took a deep breath and charged forward. I threw myself down through the hole that had opened in the center of the Labyrinth. This marks only my second time falling here of my own volition.
Gloria’s Flag, slung across my shoulder, fluttered gently, and I felt a faint warmth radiating from it.
“S-save me! Gaaahhhhh!”
Prince Brian’s screams echoed out. That human waste of space—I wouldn’t even give him the courtesy of a familial title.
I did consider whether it might be better to kill him while I had the chance.
He was incompetent yet greedy—a perfect miniature of the current Emperor. The source of confidence for Empress Cleo.
He wasn’t clever enough that his antics in the original story would make sense; if he’d caused problems, they’d have been more prominent in the early parts, but they weren’t.
Right—he’d pursued Bibi relentlessly despite the age difference, only to be soundly rejected. And this was after he’d already been betrothed to someone else.
“D-don’t… don’t do this… huff… Mother… K-knights… Is anyone there? Is anyone…?”
Yet the Emperor still doted on this fool immensely. This situation had been orchestrated through my manipulations of both the Castrain Ducal House and the Empress, and considering all the aftershocks that might follow his death—
It was better to simply scare him, destroy his image, and call it done. Brian, trembling with fear and urinating down his legs as he scrambled against the walls, watched as a Magic Beast approached with a growl.
This was the moment.
I gripped the Emoticon Sword that Raymond had arranged to be brought to this exact spot. The blade thrummed in response—ring, ring-ring, ring-ring! It quivered with excitement.
-Contract Holder!!! ༼㊜ɷ㊜༽/ !!!!! Contract Holder! I missed you so much, Contract Holder!!! Those unrelated people dared to touch me, dared to covet me…! W-wait? Contract Holder! I’ve confirmed the connection with Gloria’s Flag! With Temporary Owner Consciousness established, Grade 2.5 Functions are now available! Shall we proceed with formal Owner Consciousness~?
‘You have no sense of timing whatsoever—no.’
-Understood, skipping that! (̵̵́╹ᴥ╹)̵̵̀!
Trembling, I gripped the blade and asked silently.
‘Can you adjust the weight?’
-Oh, I thought it wasn’t possible at this grade…but it works?!(๏_๏) I’ll reduce the weight to one-tenth for you alone, Contract Holder! There are also other additional functions available!
‘List the usable Grade 2.5 additional functions—quickly!’
-Yes! Holy Light function has been added! Duration 30 seconds, cooldown 10 minutes, effective range 5 meters left and right! It channels sacred light to drive away all nocturnal creatures, flying insects, and Magic Beasts within the space!✧٩(ˊωˋ*)و✧ The command word is ‘Shine forth’!
Perfect. I’d originally planned to use Mana Stones for special effects, but if I have something useful, I’ll use it.
While I was processing this, the Magic Beast opened its maw wide and lunged at Brian.
Brian had apparently given up entirely, terrified, his eyes shut as he curled his body against the ground.
Ah, I was running short on time. The moment I gripped the sword and signaled, the people standing by activated magic through the Mana Stones. The suppressed beast cried out, unable to touch Brian.
Someone waved a hastily scrawled note through the air, showing it to me urgently.
[His Majesty approaching—2 meters ahead! The Empress moving with him!]
Good. This is it.
Cue’s dropped.
“Haaaah!”
I charged forward with the blade. The beast writhed in agony as the pressure from the Mana Stones intensified.
Of course—it was a temporary Barrier against large Magic Beasts, generously provided by the Castrain family!
If he’d opened his eyes, he might have noticed something was off. Instead, Brian remained eerily quiet.
Had he passed out with his eyes closed…?
All the better, frankly.
Rumbling voices grew closer.
“Brian, Brian! My boy, are you safe?!”
“What are the Royal Guards doing? Enter at once! My son, my son is down there!”
Perfect.
I threw myself at the Magic Beast.
“Shine forth!”
Gleam!
Gleam!
Radiance!
“Owwwwwwww!”
The golden wolf Magic Beast grimaced in pain, its eyes shutting as it flinched back. Good—now I just needed to suppress it convincingly and then—!
That’s when something strange happened. A voice emerged.
[Contract Holder ‘Titania’ confirmed.]
My grip on the sword tightened involuntarily.
[Gloria’s Flag—direct contact confirmed. Horus’s Power may be opened.]
Whatever this was, if it was available, I’d use it.
“Open!”
[Approval granted.]
The moment I spoke, tremendous light poured out, engulfing all the Magic Beasts that had filled the Underground Labyrinth.
“Eeek!”
“Gaaahhh!”
“W-what is this?!”
It seemed the expected audience had all arrived by then, because pandemonium erupted all around. The light was so blindingly brilliant that even I was forced to close my eyes for a moment.
Whoooosh…
Wind swept through.
When I opened my eyes, the Magic Beasts were crumbling to ash from their extremities outward, as if burned by sunlight—rustling, rustling as they scattered.
And there stood the Emperor staring with a vacant expression, and the Empress with her face drained of color as she gazed at Brian.
Behind them, the Royal Guards, knights, soldiers, and what appeared to be a High Priest—all wearing expressions of absolute shock.
My accomplices—helped by the Castrain Ducal House—were dressed as Imperial knights and soldiers who’d come to hunt the beasts, so they blended seamlessly into the crowd without standing out.
Raymond stood quietly in the background behind the Emperor’s group.
Our eyes met for a moment.
I forgot the situation entirely and froze.
I’d always thought of him as possessing eyes as cold as ice—eyes of frozen gold.
But those eyes, quietly fixed on me now, seemed to flow with warmth so close to worry that it was almost melting.
Why? Why did he look at me with such turmoil? Using strength I couldn’t identify?
I tore my gaze from Raymond and forced myself back to focus.
The golden wolf Magic Beast continued to crumble away very slowly, rustling, rustling as the other beasts had already turned to ash and vanished.
Even after everyone’s vision cleared, it crumbled like sand right in front of the blade I’d thrust forward.
The Emperor, watching this sight, spoke with a trembling voice.
“T-Titania, were you not still slumbering? What is the meaning of this…?”
“Your Majesty!”
I raised the blade with a reverent expression and spoke.
“This sword has called me forth from the sleep that had held me all this time!”
It was the beginning of brazen manipulation and fabrication.

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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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