Sister-in-law of the Heroine in a Childcare Novel - Chapter 59

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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 59

“That very day, the Holy Artifact split in half. As it turned out later, all the power contained within it had been exhausted, rendering it completely useless. So, we hastily procured a counterfeit as a temporary replacement.”
“…And how long ago was that?”
Flux paused to count the days in response to my question.
“Roughly two weeks past, I believe.”
“What if the barrier had collapsed in the meantime?”
The more I heard, the more absurd it all became.
So, there was a clandestine Underground Market operating quietly in this city. Something extraordinarily dangerous appeared one day at the Auction House there, heard about it, went to see for myself, the thing in question exploded, it left irreversible damage, and to treat it they secretly stole the Holy Artifact, and when that got destroyed they stuffed in a counterfeit instead?
“And if you couldn’t receive help from the Temple for a curse infection like that, didn’t it occur to you to seek aid from the Castrain Ducal House instead?”
“Your Highness.”
Flux gave a slight shrug.
“Your innocent Highness may not know this, but in the Northern Region there’s a saying. Slay Magic Beasts, then slay again—when a soldier becomes a monster, the Castrain Ducal House personally beheads them.”
“……”
“There are plenty of people like me, I’m sure, but if they pronounce the sentence ‘it’s become irreversible—die,’ must we simply obey?”
I pushed myself upright from the bed. Seeing me loom close, Flux’s eyes widened in bewilderment. I brought my palm down hard across his cheek with all the force I could muster.
Crack! The sound echoed. My hand stung.
“…What on—”
“So you’ve been looking the other way while you commit acts like this because you don’t want to die, not caring whether the city citizens you’ve loved and tended all this time live or perish? That’s completely monstrous, isn’t it?”
Flux’s cheek twitched faintly.
“…There was no other way. The Southern Region barrier is unlike the Northern Region—Magic Beasts were already…”
“Then why would I be in danger if you performed the Dedication Ceremony with that counterfeit?”
“We procured a counterfeit in haste, one fashioned after the appearance of the Holy Artifact alone, but… there was a problem with it.”
“What problem?”
Flux answered in a voice barely above a whisper.
“…I learned of it only later, but it was a similar type to the articles circulating in the Auction House. Upon belated investigation, we discovered that rather than a genuine Holy Artifact, if handled carelessly it would serve as bait to draw Magic Beasts together.”
Listening to this, my insides churned. I couldn’t contain the surge of emotion and cried out.
“Brilliant! Just brilliant! You couldn’t even procure a proper counterfeit! You should have recovered that fake at least at that point!”
As though offering justification, Flux rushed to speak.
“The timeframe was too tight, and with the Dedication Ceremony approaching, security became extraordinarily stringent. And given how matters had unfolded, I couldn’t trust even the Temple’s inner circles.”
“So you resort to kidnapping? Had you any sense, you’d have found some way to make contact before I ever arrived in this place.”
“The Temple’s residential quarters have the weakest security. If my current appearance were to leak to enemies, what vulnerabilities might they—”
“I thought the Empress Consort was playing tyrant and ignoring me, but it would’ve been better if she had.”
I clenched my teeth and thought.
This wasn’t in the original work.
The Holy Artifact in the Dedication Ceremony was never supposed to be such a crucial element.
What truly mattered most in the Dedication Ceremony was that ‘a person with divine power’ demonstrate their strength directly.
Perhaps that’s why the Southern Region barrier is holding up adequately for now…
But what if it’s not? Do Magic Beasts come pouring in this instant?
“Moreover, you go so far as to kidnap me and call it a solution—that I just destroy the Holy Artifact? After coming all the way down here determined to perform the Dedication Ceremony, if I smash the artifact and sabotage the ceremony, do you think I don’t know what kind of treatment I’ll receive?”
“I heard you are under the protection of the Castrain Family.”
“You really have no sense of responsibility and it’s infuriating.”
I ground my teeth. Closing my eyes shut, I spoke toward a shadow that lingered near the canopy in the distance.
“Hey. Come out.”
“Yes!”
Debbie burst forth from the corner with a cheerful voice. Seeing her tumble gracefully, Flux recoiled in shock.
“W-what? I was told there was no one else here…!”
“Why didn’t you wake me?”
“He didn’t seem to be directly trying to harm Your Highness, and you wouldn’t wake up no matter what! Since we could handle these incompetent guards and that young lord with one hand if needed, I thought I’d observe the situation first!”
“…Right, well, I did order you not to act proactively anyway.”
I let out a long sigh.
Debbie was in the room right next to mine. However lax the Temple’s security might be, there’s no way she wouldn’t notice if I were being kidnapped. I’d thought as much, and sure enough.
“So yes, as you can see, I’m under the protection of the Castrain Family. And not just her either—the Second Prince himself came along as my escort knight. So if I perform the ceremony and smash the artifact, every consequence lands on me, everything gets handled by others, and you lose nothing and come out just fine, don’t you?”
“I have resolved to accept death.”
“You don’t just accept responsibility and leave! You have no idea who might be behind all this?”
“I’ve managed to learn that certain mages are smuggling the problematic item in question. The merchant houses that primarily dealt in it as well. But all the identities of those affiliated with the houses are false, and… when I sent an inquiry to Hecate’s Tavern to investigate further, I was refused on grounds of danger…”
“What does the Holy Artifact even look like that we’re having this much trouble finding a counterfeit?”
Debbie answered in her bright voice.
“Oh, that! Strictly speaking, it’s not really what you’d call a Holy Artifact—it’s more like an absolutely massive, oversized Mana Stone with special properties capable of supporting the core structure of a barrier! I picked up the details when I was helping with the Northern Region barrier renovation project!”
“Doesn’t the Castrain Family have plenty of those?”
“Plenty…? Well, there might be some…?”
Debbie wore an uncharacteristic look of contemplation. But then again, if the Castrain Family’s storehouse doesn’t have one either, there’s no way to obtain one! Which means the work can’t be solved by my hand!
I asked about the situation with a resigned attitude.
“Is Lisianthus still at the Temple?”
“Yes, and even though he’s an escort knight, being male, the Temple gave him quarters far from Your Highness’s chambers. The Second Prince would look like he’d crack the intruder’s skull open and smash the Temple pillars to pieces the moment he saw Your Highness being kidnapped! So we didn’t tell him!”
Debbie grinned and approached me, pressing something into my hand. A familiar emoticon sword.
“You always take it with you wherever you go, so I thought to bring it just in case!”
“Really… thank you…”
I gripped the sword with mixed feelings. From now on, I should probably just go to sleep with the scabbard tied to my wrist. That would be better. The sword in my hand whined pitifully.
-Wahhh, wahhhhh, ContractorMeeeee! Why is our relationship like this?! Why do hardships and trials keep tearing us apart day after day?!
‘Can I fix their condition?’
-Fix who?
‘That one who didn’t want to die so destroyed the Holy Artifact and kidnapped an innocent person and is now whining about responsibility.’
-Umm……
The sword’s voice grew hesitant.
-Well, you see, Master basically wields the Power of Light, right?
I had suspected as much, but it was true…
There was the matter of my Power expanding when I wore Gloriana’s Mantle. There was all that muttering about higher Master rank. And when she went on about gods and such, it was ultimately the god of light.
If the Power of Light became strong enough, it supposedly could overwhelm all other forces and accomplish anything. I was uncertain whether I’d ever reach that stage.
‘So?’
-Strictly speaking, what you use is different from anything else… even the Temple can’t use it! The High Priest or Grand High Priest at most, they’re only permitted by the god of light to use Healing Power! But well, you’re the rightful Successor who inherited everything, so your base performance is different!
‘So what’s the conclusion?’
-It’s possible, but at your current level… juuuust barely?
I tried to ignore the ominous foreboding that welled up.
‘What does “barely” mean?’
-…You’d have to keep holding my hand for it to work? All day? Nearly a month?
‘……’
-……’
I tried to remain composed as I asked silently. At my sudden quietness, Flux and Debbie stared at me with odd expressions. I drew a deep breath.
‘…Why?’
-Well, you can still only use the Power of Light through me, Master. You can’t transmit it directly! So there’d have to be physical contact for the Purification to… somehow…
‘I don’t even like that person, and I already have a betrothed anyway?! What excuse would I use to hold hands?!’
-Well, if you’re asking me that….(；
‘There’s no other method?!’
-Or as they say, strike while the iron’s hot—why not just do it hard and fast and be done with it all at once?
Bang! The sword clattered unexpectedly to the floor, and Flux jumped in alarm. I picked the sword back up and hurled it against the ground several more times. Watching me stamp the blade’s tip with my foot, Debbie tilted her head.
“Um, Your Highness? Is something wrong with the sword?”
“Dust got on it.”
-Y-you asked if there was a method, so I just answered….(8ㅅ8)
Listening to the sword’s whimpering voice, I thought of one approach. The world is always better when kept simple.

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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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