The Baby Raising A Devil - Chapter 264

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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 264

One hour ago.

I frowned as I watched the mock battle through the magic mirror installed in Empress Cecilia’s room. Cecilia, who was setting down a teacup in front of me, asked.

“Young Lady, is there something bothering you?”

“Aunt, you can’t call me ‘Young Lady.’ I’ll get scolded again.”

In the Imperial Capital, the only places where magic mirrors for viewing mock battles are installed are the Imperial Palace and the plaza.

Having become a child, I couldn’t go to the palace hall where the nobles were gathered. So I asked Tree to help me disguise as her maid and enter Cecilia’s palace.

When Tree said “Right?” triumphantly, Cecilia covered her cheek with one hand and muttered with a troubled expression.

“Even though quite some time has passed, it still doesn’t come naturally.”

“You said you started as a servant of Dubbled, didn’t you, Aunt?”

“Yes. Triloni, you need to use proper titles in the palace too.”

“Oh right, that’s true. Aunt, Aunt…”

Tree muttered as if memorizing, and seeing me focus only on the magic mirror during all this, Cecilia asked once more.

“Young Lady?”

“…Elder Brother looks strange.”

“Hmm?”

“His expression and complexion both look strange. Why is that?”

“Well, from what I can see, he doesn’t look particularly bad.”

Johan never showed when he was in pain, so I usually had to observe him more carefully than my other brothers. Because of this, I could be certain.

‘That expression. It’s definitely the expression he makes when enduring pain.’

But why?

There’s no way someone as meticulous as him wouldn’t have managed his condition before such an important stage.

Wasn’t he fine just before the mock battle started? Even when he gathered with the commanders of each family house and pledged loyalty before the Emperor, he showed no signs of illness.

Sudden intense pain.

And at such an important event, no less.

“…Forbidden arts.”

“Pardon?”

Cecilia’s eyes widened in surprise, and I hurriedly took out my communication stone.

[Yes, this is Nuanok.]

“I might need to step in. Send what we prepared to the battlefield.”

[I’ll hurry.]

After ending the communication, I gripped its ‘core’ tightly.

What I had prepared for any unforeseen circumstances was the ball-jointed doll Rain. Having passed through Veronica and Trigon’s hands, it had been perfectly transformed to look like Leblaine Lisette Dubbled and was now heading to the battlefield.

And now, back to the present.

After activating Rain, when I grasped the core, I could see the battlefield through the doll’s vision.

Dubbled’s soldiers were surrounded on all sides, and Johan, standing before them, coughed up blood.

“Johan!”

Mina, who had been beside Paladin Jonathan, screamed as if letting out a shriek. Jonathan held back Mina, who looked like she was about to rush out at any moment.

“Please calm down, Young Lady.”

“Johan, Johan…!”

That’s when it happened.

[Replacing soldiers. Announcing again. Replacing soldiers.]

The sound announcing Dubbled’s soldier replacement echoed repeatedly from the magic tool floating in the sky.

People’s gazes focused on me standing on the mountain top—no, on Rain who had taken my appearance.

Meanwhile, Mina, who had shaken off Jonathan, reached her hand toward Johan. At the same time, I teleported through the teleportation formation.

I grabbed Mina’s wrist. That girl muttered “…Leblaine” in a trembling voice. Our gazes met in mid-air.

“You, how—”

Just as Mina was about to say something, Jonathan shouted.

“Release the Young Lady!”

“Who?”

“Pardon?”

“I mean, which Young Lady are you talking about? Your words make it sound like there’s only one Young Lady here.”

A strange atmosphere settled around us. The commanders of the families that had allied with Mina glanced at Jonathan.

Jonathan cleared his throat and said.

“…Please release the Second Young Lady.”

And I said flatly.

“No.”

“What…!”

“Where is there a fool who would release a stupid commander who rushed into enemy lines?”

“Young Lady!”

I destroyed the enemies’ barrier that had prevented our soldiers from using teleportation formations.

Bang—! Bang, bang, crash crash crash bang!

The barrier exploded in the sky like fireworks and crumbled to powder, and in the moment the enemies panicked, I jerked up Mina’s wrist and said.

“You’re it. Try to catch me~!”

And I giggled annoyingly and teleported away with a pop.

* * *

Imperial Palace.

[Try to catch me~!]

Leblaine’s voice flowed through the magic mirror, and the hall was enveloped in silence. Some people had their mouths hanging open, while others were gaping like fish.

As soon as Leblaine destroyed the barrier and teleported away with Mina, Dubbled’s soldiers who had been supporting Johan quickly tore open teleportation formations.

The Amitie allied forces, who had let Dubbled’s soldiers escape right before their eyes after nearly cornering them completely, were furious and shouted.

“What should I call this? Well, the First Young Lady is truly… I mean…”

The Noble Lady trailed off, but there was no one who didn’t understand her words.

Cunning.

On the battlefield, and at such a grand stage as the mock war of the seven families, to pull such a stunt.

‘If I were part of the Amitie allied forces, I would have been devastated.’

A noble who had swallowed dry saliva muttered.

“But truly an incredible ability. To single-handedly break through such a barrier that even Dubbled’s Wolves couldn’t breach and use teleportation magic.”

“Without the ability to back it up, it would be difficult to be so bold.”

As soon as she appeared, she rescued the cornered Dubbled forces.

Though it was a somewhat ridiculous sight, it left an even more powerful impression because of that. That skill of turning the Amitie allied forces upside down while grinning. That wickedness you wouldn’t want as an enemy.

Isaac laughed helplessly.

“She could have appeared a bit earlier if she was going to.”

Henri, who had been tense the whole time, also let out quiet chuckles.

“It must be a ball-jointed doll. Did she prepare it in advance?”

“She was holed up in the warehouse with Veronica for days. Really, that little one makes people worry sick.”

Isaac, who said that, glanced at Theodore who was frantically staring at the magic mirror.

“Shall we replace eldest brother at this opportunity? Stop looking at the magic mirror. Honey is dripping from your eyes.”

Theodore cleared his throat with a cough, and the people gathered in the hall focused on the magic mirror again.

The place where the Dubbled forces had moved was Mount Redgus. Mina, who was captured and tied with rope, frowned.

[Leblaine, this is cowardly.]

[You, who joined hands with most of the participating families and stirred up the battlefield, aren’t cowardly?]

[This is a mock war. Jonathan said that countries joining hands in war is common.]

[I guess Jonathan didn’t teach you that taking hostages in war is also common?]

When Leblaine shrugged her shoulders, Mina, who bit her lips as if she had nothing to say, spoke.

[Just cut my shoulder straps instead.]

[Why should I?]

[…Huh?]

[If I hold onto you, they won’t be able to attack, so why would I cut your shoulder straps.]

Having said that, I looked at our soldiers and shouted.

[From now on, if the Amitie allied forces seem like they’ll attack, use Mina as a shield!]

[Yes!]

[Yes!]

The Dubbled forces answered loudly, and Leblaine giggled.

[Go ahead and try attacking.]

[Leblaine!]

[You won’t have the strength to shout like that from now on. Stay quiet. That’s how you’ll endure the torture.]

[T-torture? You’re going to torture me?]

[Why did Jonathan only teach you that cooperation in war is common? He should have taught you that torture is common too.]

Having said that, Leblaine crouched in front of Mina and pulled out a feather. Then the Dubbled forces surrounded Mina and pulled out feathers.

Tickle tickle.

When Leblaine tickled her nose, Mina screamed [Demons!] and cried out.

Laughter erupted in the Imperial Palace hall. The Grand Duchess, who had been quietly chuckling, said to Theodore.

“She’s always such a delightful child.”

“She’s a child who doesn’t lose her humor even in the worst situations.”

“Of course you’re proud. How could someone without a daughter not feel envious?”

Theodore and the Grand Duchess laughed heartily, and people burst into laughter, shouting “Of course!”

But there were those who didn’t share in the laughter.

Duke Marche whispered to Duke Amitie.

“Did you prepare for this kind of situation?”

“All the strategies were devised by Jonathan. I’m not sure if that man had any ‘humor’ in him.”

“…The Second is going to make things difficult.”

The family heads allied with Amitie all had darkened expressions. In their minds, they could picture Leblaine with demon wings approaching close, carrying the Nadan Plains and scurrying away to escape.

* * *

Bang!

Eslon, Duke Marche’s eldest son and Empress Yvonne’s much younger brother, slammed the table.

“What kind of mess is this because of one girl! If you have a mouth, why don’t you say something, Jonathan!”

Jonathan became speechless and swallowed his dry saliva.

The atmosphere among the allied forces was not good. Even with the announcement that Johan Dubbled had been replaced and new military forces had been deployed, the tense atmosphere showed no signs of easing.

“We still have a chance. All the other families have fallen behind, and only the Dubbled and Amitie alliance remains. Dubbled can’t even attack recklessly in their current situation.”

“So can we attack?”

“That’s…”

“That wicked Lady Dubbled might use The Second as a shield wherever we attack. Would you be able to attack properly then?”

“…”

“Replace The Second. We can’t keep wavering like this.”

“That’s impossible.”

The Pope had commanded it. Through this mock battle, Mina’s name must spread far and wide. Using Mina to corner Leblaine was the shrine’s goal.

‘But what can we accomplish with that foolish Second?’

Just then, Bang─!!! An explosive sound echoed. It was Dubbled’s first strike of the mock battle.

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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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