The Baby Raising A Devil - Chapter 175

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

Chapter 175

[I cannot say.]

Cannot say? Not that he doesn’t want to?

‘It means he’s being constrained.’

As my thoughts reached that point, a conclusion naturally emerged.

Even if you turned the world upside down, there’s only one being that could dare constrain a demon.

‘A god.’

Pur, who could read my thoughts, slightly raised his head that had been practically buried in the ground.

[You’re an interesting fellow.]

“What do you mean?”

[People who believe in gods are rare. Don’t humans only believe in what they can see?]

“If demons exist, why wouldn’t gods? And these days there are many people who believe in gods. That’s why even if they can’t afford porridge, they still donate to the temple.”

[Is that so. Many things have changed since ‘that person’s’ era. …nim.]

Screeeeech─!!!

The moment he muttered someone’s name, a sharp ringing sound cut through my head. From the shock that seemed to shake my entire brain, I collapsed while clutching my head and taking a deep breath.

“Ugh….”

[Huh? Hey hey? Hey!]

Pur jumped up in surprise. I rubbed my ringing ears and frowned.

‘What the hell was that.’

It felt like my entire body was pounding. Like a warning alarm going off.

My already struggling body became even more tormented, but one thing became clear from this.

‘That person is not God Neriad.’

There was no one who didn’t know the name of God Neriad worshipped by the temple. A name that anyone could easily call wouldn’t cause me such agony just because it came from a demon’s mouth.

So does that mean the name Pur mentioned was an evil god?

‘But why did Pur, who serves an evil god, become the familiar of Mina, a child sent down by God Neriad?’

As I pondered this, I suddenly looked up.

“Don’t tell me that with Etoile, you can make someone a familiar without needing the demon’s consent?”

Pur, who had been approaching me, flinched and stopped in his tracks.

[N-no! You’re mistaken!]

“It really doesn’t seem like it’s not.”

I grinned and pulled out the chalcedony, which was Pur’s passage, from my pouch. Then Pur, who had been shouting absolutely not, screamed [No!] and came rushing over.

But before Pur could touch my body, I jumped onto the bed and held up the chalcedony.

“If it’s not true, why are you so surprised?”

[That’s… that’s…! Anyway, it’s not. It’s not.]

“Yeah, right. So it is true.”

When I casually brought the chalcedony close to Etoile, Pur jumped up and said.

[I’ll change my wish! Not the heart… not… ah, yes. Just one strand of your hair…!]

“It’s already too late. I don’t have the power to maintain you anymore.”

Saying that, I overlapped the chalcedony with Etoile. Then, just like with Century’s Military Art, the chalcedony shrank to the perfect size to fit into Etoile’s empty socket.

[No!]

As soon as I placed the chalcedony into Etoile’s empty socket, Pur flashed with light. And not long after…

“This is ridiculous. For me to become a mere human’s familiar… This never happened even during ‘his’ time.”

“Pur?”

“I told you not to call me that!”

A beautiful boy with horns on his head whimpered. It was a completely different appearance from the human form I had seen before.

‘I guess this is his true form?’

I patted the head of Pur, who was crying loudly, with a pleased expression.

“Please take care of me from now on.”

“Go to hell!”

“Yes, yes. I’ll go to hell. But now that you’ve become human, aren’t you hungry? You must be cold being naked, so shall we get you some clothes first?”

“…Why are you being so kind? You’re originally a nasty kid.”

Pur looked at me with an anxious face. I laughed benevolently.

“I’m a cold child of the city, but I’m warm to my people.”

With so many ways I can use you, why would I treat you badly?

“So, what can you do?”

Pur glanced at me anxiously.

He didn’t look like he wanted to talk at all, but he opened his mouth saying “I am…”

‘What? Is it a structure where once you become a familiar, you have no choice but to obediently listen?’

Who would have thought it would be such a perfectly slave-like structure.

‘Wonderful.’

I looked at my new lottery ticket with ecstatic eyes.

* * *

The day after making Pur my familiar. I bounced down the stairs with a lively face for the first time in a while.

“You seem to be in good spirits today, Young Lady.”

“Yeah!”

The employees chuckled as they watched my bright demeanor.

‘Of course I’m in good spirits. My Divine Power has started recovering now.’

I hummed a tune as I headed to the reception room. When I peeked my face through the door, I saw my aunt in formal dress together with Cecilia.

My aunt looked at Cecilia with a displeased expression.

“You’re participating in the Imperial Consort selection… Living in this world, I get to see all kinds of things.”

“I am well aware of the connection between the late Her Majesty the Empress and Lady Javelin. How could someone as lowly as I dare covet Her Majesty the Empress’s position? I am merely Dubbled’s tool—”

“I’m not talking about the deceased. I’m talking about you, you.”

“…”

“Will you be able to live well?”

Cecilia’s eyes widened in an instant.

Cecilia looked dumbfounded, as if she had come prepared to be scolded by my aunt.

“Aunt may seem cold, but she’s actually incredibly kind!”

When I interjected into the conversation with a proud expression, both Cecilia and my aunt burst into laughter.

“That’s right, I am kind. Especially to my little darling.”

My aunt gently pinched my cheek.

‘We’ve become very close.’

My aunt was even more affectionate to me than my older brothers were.

Cecilia giggled and said.

“Lady Javelin’s million followers would be terribly envious if they heard this. But, is the Young Lady accompanying you to the palace today? Why are you wearing outdoor clothes…”

“Yes, I’m going with her. His Imperial Majesty requested it of Father.”

Since the Imperial Consort is the nation’s mother, not just anyone could participate in the selection.

Only exceptional women who received recommendations from great noble families could participate in the selection.

Usually relatives or guardians make the recommendation, and the matriarch of the recommending family enters the palace together to assist the lady participating in the selection.

“Why would His Majesty ask for the Young Lady…”

“Rather than me going when I’m merely substituting for the matriarch, it would be better for this child to accompany you to display your prestige, as she is the Child of Fate and currently called the symbol of Dubbled.”

“His Majesty really…”

“I also think it would be better for this child to help with your selection. Our little darling possesses the wisdom of a serpent and the courage of a lion.”

My aunt said while rubbing her cheek against mine. I smiled innocently in front of my aunt while secretly exchanging meaningful glances with Cecilia.

‘There will be interference from the Empress Dowager and Empress Yvonne, but I will definitely make Cecilia the Imperial Consort.’

* * *

However, the enemies weren’t just the Empress Dowager and Empress Yvonne.

Even before the selection began, that is, from the Palace Entry Party where the selection participants gathered, I inwardly let out a hollow laugh at the incident that erupted.

“I-I’m sorry, my lady! Please kill me!”

The attendant who spilled wine on Cecilia’s dress fell to his knees in prostration.

The gazes of the selection participants and sponsors who had been chatting in small groups focused on us.

Several approached us, chattering in sympathetic voices.

“Oh my.”

“Are you alright? His Imperial Majesty and the Empress Dowager will arrive soon, but if your dress is in this state…”

A Young Lady with red hair twisted up to the crown of her head let out a thin sigh and glanced at Cecilia’s face.

‘Oh ho. So it’s you.’

Gloria Amboise. She was the second daughter of the Marquis Amboise family.

According to the Grand Duchess, she was a Young Lady being supported by the Empress Dowager.

“The Empress Dowager personally brought her eighth cousin Yvonne into the palace. Yvonne respectfully served the Empress Dowager who helped her enter the palace at first, but after monopolizing power in the Inner Palace, she treats her like a bothersome old woman.”

“So the Empress Dowager intends to use Lady Amboise to push out Empress Yvonne?”

“How clever you are, Little One.”

The other Ladies also wore sympathetic expressions, but they couldn’t hide the hostility seeping into their eyes.

These were Ladies sent from all walks of life to create connections with the Imperial Palace.

There were those supported by the Empress Dowager like Lady Amboise, those backed by other great noble families, and those pushed by the Shrine.

This place was no different from a battlefield without swords, where those bearing their respective desires waged war.

Lady Amboise covered her crookedly raised lips with her fan and spoke.

“What shall we do? Since this is an outdoor party venue, if you go to change clothes, His Imperial Majesty and the Empress Dowager will have arrived by the time you return.”

Then the other Young Ladies also drooped their eyebrows and added their comments.

“Even so, isn’t it improper to meet Their Majesties in such a state?”

“Please stop. The Lady surely knows. Even a half-noble knows they cannot meet His Majesty in such a state.”

“Lady Amboise! How could you say ‘half-noble’ in front of Lady Dubbled!”

“Oh my, I’m so short-sighted. I apologize, Ladies. Please forgive me.”

It was a remark that mocked both me, adopted as a commoner, and Cecilia, whose only noble title came from her father’s single hereditary rank.

‘Oh, it’s been a while since I’ve experienced such indirect mockery. How nostalgic, how familiar.’

I had felt this often in my first and second lives.

As a fake Child of Fate and Mina’s replacement, I was very accustomed to such barbed words.

But Cecilia wasn’t, as her face turned pale.

“I can understand you saying such things to me, but to the young miss…!”

I quickly grasped Cecilia’s hand. She looked at me with a puzzled expression, but I smiled brightly and spoke to the Young Ladies.

“It was a mistake, wasn’t it?”

“Of course.”

“And mistakes should be forgiven, right?”

“That’s right, Young Lady. How clever you are.”

I looked around at the Ladies who surrounded me, a mere child, unable to hide their mocking expressions, then grabbed a glass of juice. And then.

“Kyaah─!”

I poured the juice on Lady Amboise.

“What do you think you’re doing…!”

“I’m sorry, it was a mistake!”

“What, what did you say?”

I set down my cup and dusted off my hands.

“You’ll forgive me, right? Since it was a mistake.”

“That’s ridiculous. There’s no way this was a mistake…!”

That’s when it happened.

“His Imperial Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress Dowager are entering.”

The attendant’s voice announcing the entrance of Their Majesties echoed throughout.

I took Cecilia’s hand and quietly withdrew from the center.

As the Emperor and Empress Dowager took their places on the platform, the young ladies and sponsors all bowed in unison.

“Glory to the Empire.”

“Glory.”

The Empress Dowager nodded with a pleased expression.

“Everyone, raise your heads.”

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