Sister-in-law of the Heroine in a Childcare Novel - Chapter 82

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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 82

Kronan’s original target had likely been the sword I’d falsely spread rumors about.
But the moment Kronan laid eyes on the “Holy Relic” we’d submitted, he threw himself into the bidding without hesitation.
Well, it wasn’t as if the lost sword mattered anymore anyway.
Someone had targeted the Imperial Princess, and what was done was done. But the fact that the Temple had caught fire and the fake Holy Relic had been destroyed was still unknown to the public.
So to carry out the Dedication Ceremony without incident, we had to obtain a Holy Relic, at least in appearance.
Yet a Priest couldn’t openly search for one, and there was no clear way to acquire it. Then suddenly, something like this appeared at the Auction House—so it was obvious he’d bid on it no matter how reluctant he seemed. Watching Kronan’s sour, irritated expression as he announced his bid, I couldn’t help but let out a quiet laugh.
“Send someone at once to collect it. Since I’ve bid on it, don’t you dare let it go to anyone else!”
“Yes, yes. Of course, honored guest. Then shall we proceed to the next lot?”
Kronan murmured something, and the man standing beside him darted away. Likely he’d been sent to bring money.
The auctioneer cleared his throat with a distinct “Ahem, ahem.”
“Thrilling times indeed, ladies and gentlemen. This next item is truly the highlight of tonight’s auction. I’m certain many of you came hoping for this very piece.”
Nabira disappeared backstage at the auctioneer’s signal, then emerged cradling a large, elongated wooden box in her arms.
The sort of narrow, shallow box perfectly suited for a sword or staff. The moment everyone saw it, excited murmurs erupted from all directions.
“Ooh.”
“Ooh, surely not.”
“Really?”
“Our establishment does not concern itself with an item’s past! We merely deliver goods to those capable of recognizing their present value!”
Ha. What a way to say “it’s stolen merchandise, so don’t ask where it came from.”
Nabira set the wooden box down beside the auctioneer, then disappeared offstage again. This time, she returned pulling a metal cart. Screech, screeeech—the sound of the wheels dragging was deafening. It was less a cart and more a wheeled cage made of iron bars.
—Kiiiiieeeee!
And inside that cage was a living, breathing Magic Beast. It resembled a vampire bat. Its eyes were blood-red, and its glossy wings looked like black membranes. The way it thrashed against the iron bars with gleaming eyes and spittle flying everywhere looked genuinely dangerous. Yet the spectators watching from the Auction House showed no fear or disgust—if anything, their eyes gleamed with anticipation.
“The premium item we’ve acquired this evening! A sacred blade that vanquishes Magic Beasts! Should we call it the Sacred Sword? Ha ha, is this truly a blessed night? Holy Relic followed by Sacred Sword—I confess my humble heart trembles at the thought that perhaps some divine revelation has descended upon us!”
A divine revelation, indeed. It was just me, actually.
—Really, how shameless of you, Contractor! This is my precious, one-of-a-kind blade, and here you are unabashedly coveting a cheap imitation (｡•́︿•̀｡)
‘Yeah, yeah.’
“Now then, allow me to demonstrate this magnificent sword’s power to you all! Have no fear! With this blade alone, no one need tremble before a Magic Beast! There were some rather speculative rumors that using this sword would shorten one’s lifespan, but I assure you—our own assessment found no such curse whatsoever attached to this blade!”
That’s because it’s a fake.
It’s a counterfeit I’d hastily assembled using a glowing Mana Stone borrowed from the Castrain Family.
The number of people at the Imperial Palace who’d actually seen the real Emoticon Sword in person was surprisingly small.
Besides, when everything had gone down, I’d kept swinging the blade while radiating light, so the image of “a glowing sword” had overshadowed the sword’s actual appearance.
The more the rumors spread and warped, the stronger that impression became.
And truthfully, the Emoticon Sword’s shape didn’t differ much from other Legendary Blades. So I’d simply found a similar-looking sword, embedded it with a glowing Mana Stone (courtesy of the Castrain Family), and created the forgery.
The auctioneer opened the wooden box’s lid himself. A sword casting faint light was revealed to all.
“Ooh, that is indeed!”
“The Legendary Blade that slays Magic Beasts!”
“The Imperial Family’s treasure, I’ve heard…”
“They say the sword speaks to people…”
“Bah, that’s just the young princess’s claim.”
“Right. Afraid someone might steal it and shorten her life—she made up the part about the sword talking back.”
“There’s also a rumor that anyone not chosen suffers punishment if they touch it…”
Wow, the rumors really had gotten out of hand. I clicked my tongue.
—Hm, what’s so impressive about that? （´＿｀） Are human eyes broken? How do you look at something so plain, ordinary, and pitiful and actually believe it’s me?
‘Don’t get jealous of a replica.’
—Jealous, I am not! (⊙︿⊙)!! I merely lament the stupidity of humans who fail to recognize my nobility! Hmph. Though you’ve created this pathetic counterfeit that doesn’t capture even a tenth of my magnificence, I’ll forgive you since it keeps me from being separated from your side!
‘Thank… you so much…’
—Why do you sound so utterly drained when you say that?!
While the Emoticon Sword and I bickered internally, Nabira first slowly unlocked the lock on the iron cage box she’d brought. With a click, the lock came undone. The Magic Beast growled.
Then she drew the sword from the box the auctioneer was holding. When her gloved hand grasped the blade without incident, murmurs rippled through the crowd.
They were saying the rumors must be lies, there’s no rejection phenomenon at all, the idea that the sword picks its wielder is pure nonsense, that the young princess had simply lied, and so on. Tiresome chatter.
“Behold! Fix your eyes upon this!”
When Nabira raised the sword proudly, all eyes fixed on the blade’s point. Everyone was waiting. Would light truly burst forth from this sword? Would it turn the Magic Beast to ash in an instant?
But at that moment—
—Rumble.
A tremor sounded.
—Rrrrumble.
It was no mere tremor. The ground was shaking. Flux, who had been quietly observing the situation, suddenly rose to his feet, his face contorted.
Debbi also got to his feet silently and gazed at empty air. Lisianthus gripped his sword with an expression sharp as a blade.
—Contractor! ( ◎_◎) Magic Beast response, forward! It’s real!
The Emoticon Sword whispered urgently.
—I sense it from below! Magic Beasts, at least twenty of them!
“What, what is this?”
“What’s happening?”
“This is dangerous, isn’t it?”
“Someone get the auctioneer! What’s going on here!”
The auctioneer’s face went pale as he opened his mouth.
“Um… um… Dear, dear valued guests? Please, remain calm for a moment—it’s nothing serious. Our staff will assess the situation at once…”
That was when the stage collapsed. More precisely, something erupted from below, burst through the floor, and mauled the auctioneer. His scream tore from his throat.
“Aaaaahhhhh! Help me!”
“Kyaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!”
“What is this!”
Fortunately, Nabira wasn’t seized like the auctioneer. The instant the sound turned ominous, she’d quickly extracted the “Magic Beast”—the vampire bat she’d been pretending was contained—scooped the fake sword into her arms, and bolted away at an incredible speed. There was no need to worry about her. I turned my attention to the broader situation.
It was chaos incarnate.
Magic Beasts poured relentlessly through the broken floor. Their forms were varied.
Birds with grotesquely developed beaks, rats with tusks swollen like an elephant’s, serpents with talon-like scales—they let out eerie cries as they hunted.
In the first place, this space had been constructed in seclusion for the sake of secrecy. There would be no proper exit. People rushed toward the exits in a panic, trampling one another. Through their chaos, the swarm of Magic Beasts struck.
Debbi, Flux, and I stood back-to-back, assessing the situation. Lisianthus took position on the outside, sword flashing, shielding us all. The Magic Beasts seemed more interested in pursuing the fleeing crowd than attacking us directly. For now, we were safe enough—but there was no room for complacency.
“We must evacuate at once, Your Highness!”
Flux shouted at me. I tightened my grip on the Emoticon Sword.
“To where?”
Debbi hesitated briefly, then cried out:
“Up!”
Crack-crack, bang-crash! The sound of breaking floor and shattering tables was deafening. I surveyed the situation.

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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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