The Baby Raising A Devil - Chapter 177

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 177

[On a winter day when snow fell endlessly, a basket containing a child wrapped in a blanket was placed in front of the orphanage.

Based on the child’s birth time and name, along with several silver coins inside the basket, we speculate this might be an illegitimate child from some noble house.]

An illegitimate child of a noble house? Me?

My heart began pounding at this unexpected story.

I swallowed dryly and turned the page.

[The child does not cry. Thinking the child might be ill, as abandoned children often are, we called for a doctor’s medical examination. No particular problems were found.]

[The child disappeared. When the caregiver returned after tending to other children, the child’s cradle was empty.

The caregivers and guards thoroughly searched the surroundings, but the child was nowhere to be seen.]

[The child returned after three days.]

[Half a day after being kidnapped and returned, the child began to cry. Everyone was surprised by this different reaction from before, but on the other hand, they couldn’t shake their concern.

We had recently heard rumors of terrible people who kidnap children to use as materials for alchemy. Just in case, Mother Superior requested a mage from the support organization.

According to the mage’s diagnosis, the child was unharmed.]

[The child normally fusses, cries, and laughs. This is joyful news.]

‘Being kidnapped and then returned doesn’t make sense.’

What would anyone do with kidnapping an orphaned newborn? They couldn’t demand money from parents.

Rather, it would be more credible to say the child was used as material for alchemy, as the recorder mentioned.

‘But why did they bring me back?’

There was no reason to risk getting caught by returning the child.

It became increasingly incomprehensible.

Just as I was about to turn to the next page with furrowed brows.

I heard sounds of people from far outside the door.

“They say lightning strikes from a clear sky. How does it make sense for rain to fall only around the library area? I just looked foolish going to borrow an umbrella.”

“So my theory about dozing off and being mistaken was right… What? There really are traces of rain.”

It was the voice of the guard who was watching the library.

It seemed he had come with someone else too.

I hugged the journal and hid behind the bookshelf to spy on the situation.

“Some bastard definitely played a prank. You punk, just wait until I catch you.”

“…A prank?”

“Yeah. If not, why would I alone get drenched while I was in the library?”

“You stupid fool! What bold bastard would dare play pranks in the Empress Dowager’s Library! Someone was trying to break into the library!”

‘Oh no, I’ve been found out.’

I need to get out of here!

I quickly put the journal back on the bookshelf. Even while doing so, the guard’s footsteps were getting closer.

Just as I leaped over the window, clank! The library door opened.

“The window is open! There’s an intruder!”

I hid below the window and ran quickly.

I desperately turned the corner, but it seemed my hem of clothes caught the soldiers’ eyes. One of the soldiers shouted, “Over there!”

‘Oh no!’

I was blocked by a wall.

I was flustered and didn’t know what to do.

In front was a high wall I couldn’t possibly climb over, and behind me the soldiers were chasing closely.

‘What should I do. What should I─’

That’s when it happened.

“Mmph…!”

Someone covered my mouth from behind and pulled me away swiftly.

Just as I stiffened, the soldiers finally turned the corner chasing after me.

The soldiers’ gazes turned toward me with my mouth covered by someone.

‘This is bad. They saw my face.’

The soldiers gradually approached me.

But then.

“Damn it. Where the hell did that mouse-like bastard disappear to.”

…What?

* * *

The soldiers walked past me. Those who had been looking around with serious expressions muttered with twisted faces.

“This doesn’t make sense. Did he fly up to the sky or sink into the ground? I definitely saw the hem of clothes heading this way…. Is he a mage?”

“That can’t be. The Palace Barrier didn’t react!”

“But if not that, how else could he disappear so completely in an instant?”

A guard who groaned said.

“You go call the Court Mages. I’ll check if anything is missing.”

The guards hurriedly retraced their steps.

Only when they were out of sight did the hands holding me loosen their grip.

I turned my head slightly to look at the person who had been holding me.

“…Adrian?”

“Yeah.”

“How did you…. Did you cast a barrier?”

Adrian stepped back a little from me and nodded.

I couldn’t hide my shock.

‘He can use such high-level magic that completely blocks people’s vision without triggering the Palace Barrier?’

I had also cast a barrier when entering the library, but that was just chameleon-level camouflage.

Even then, I could confidently use magic because I had heard very detailed specifications from Trigon beforehand about what level wouldn’t trigger the Palace Barrier.

‘There’s no way Adrian would know the specifications that are only disclosed to the Chief Court Mage.’

That means it has perfectly blended into the Palace Barrier.

“You, how did you….”

Adrian had not learned magic. No, it would be more accurate to say he couldn’t learn it.

Because Empress Yvonne wouldn’t allow anything that might interfere with her son’s ascension to the throne.

“You seemed to be in trouble.”

“…Don’t tell me it was you? Did you invade the library?”

I patted Adrian’s jacket lightly. I couldn’t feel any vibrations from the Demon Passage at all.

Instead, there was only a strong floral scent wafting from him.

‘Ugh, it’s the smell of Haro Flowers.’

“Did you come from the herb garden?”

“Yeah.”

I’m allergic to Haro Flowers. My throat is already starting to feel itchy.

‘If Adrian were the intruder, the library would have smelled of Haro Flowers from the start.’

I’m so sensitive to the scent of Haro Flowers that there’s no way I wouldn’t have noticed.

Besides, the herb garden where the Haro Flowers are is in the completely opposite direction.

‘Adrian isn’t the intruder.’

“How did you know I was here?”

“Because this little one was happy.”

When Adrian held out his palm, a small white fish that looked like condensed water appeared with a small flash of light.

The white fish approached me and gently brushed my cheek with its fin.

“I know this little one! It’s Amand!”

“That’s right.”

His familiar that I saw when I first met Adrian.

To think he still maintains such a powerful familiar. It’s amazing every time I see it.

Truly the future youngest Cardinal.

They said he was a genius of the century who surpassed even the Pope in Divine Power, and it was true.

When I widened my eyes, Amand swished its tail fin and circled around in front of my nose.

“Yes, yes. You’re cute. But how did you recognize me and get so happy? That’s strange.”

“Amand is sensitive to mana.”

I quickly turned my head to look at Adrian.

“Mana, not Divine Power?”

“Yeah.”

Everyone in this world possesses mana. And while living their lives, they unknowingly emit very, very small amounts of mana. Like ants leaving pheromone trails.

I swallowed dryly and clasped my hands together.

“Then could Lord Amand also find people using mana traces?”

When I naturally adopted a respectful attitude, Adrian’s eyes widened for a moment. But then he curved his eyes lightly.

“If it’s mana from within half a day.”

That meant that with Amand, we could find whoever had invaded the library before me.

‘This lucky charm! Where did such a lucky charm come from!’

He gives me Divine Power and helps find intruders too. Adrian is nothing short of a living lottery ticket.

I clasped my hands tightly together and spoke earnestly.

“Are you busy by any chance?”

“….”

“Are you busy?”

Adrian, who had been looking at me intently, shook his head lightly.

“I’m free.”

“Could you come somewhere with me?”

“Sure.”

“Then right now…! Oh wait, Cecilia told me to come back before dinner.”

Besides, since the guards saw the hem of my clothes, I need to change. I don’t know when my divine power might be depleted again with just the mana stones I have, so I should bring more mana stones from my bag.

“Wait for me a moment. I’ll be back within thirty minutes.”

“Okay.”

Even if I asked the Empress Dowager about the journal, she could just brush it off. If she said, ‘You came from the state-run orphanage, but you were too young to know,’ I’d have nothing to say.

‘So I need to find the intruder. I need to ask why they’re digging into my past, and how they knew the Empress Dowager was secretly keeping my journal.’

Then the threads of the incomprehensible events surrounding me would unravel.

* * *

Leblaine said “Let’s meet in the garden. I’ll be right back,” and ran off.

After that child had completely disappeared, someone who had been hiding in the direction opposite to the library revealed themselves.

Adrian muttered without taking his eyes off the place where Leblaine had passed.

“Handle the guards of the Empress Dowager’s library on your end.”

“Yes.”

The knight’s face hardened.

“I simply cannot understand why Your Majesty is only soft toward that child.”

“You don’t need to understand.”

As the knight bowed his head, Adrian turned his gaze toward him. It was a cold expression that Leblaine had never seen.

Only he alone was permitted to understand that.

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