The Baby Raising A Devil - Chapter 295

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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 295

I didn’t know what a physical confrontation meant, but I had a feeling it was a very wicked and terrible word.

If that weren’t the case, Duke Grimoire’s aura wouldn’t be this chillingly cold.

He pulled out a bundle of parchment from his coat. Judging by the familiar emblem stamped on the corners of the parchment, these were the letters I had sent.

“Quite audacious, weren’t they.”

I bowed my head nonchalantly.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you for the first time, Your Grace.”

“…Am I someone who doesn’t even know basic manners like greetings upon first meeting?”

“Of course not. I’ve long heard of Your Grace’s renowned reputation. It’s an honor to meet someone I’ve admired.”

“…What a petty greeting, different from what I’ve heard?”

“That’s not true. I know Your Grace is a benevolent person who would overlook the mistakes of an immature person like me.”

“…Where did your age go when you came chasing after me so eagerly?”

Outwardly, I laughed saying “How amusing,” but inside I was tremendously flustered.

‘We’re not communicating!’

It seemed I had been too sarcastic in my letters and communications. Now he thinks whatever I say is sarcastic.

Duke Grimoire, holding his waist, lightly bowed his head and let out a hollow laugh.

“Truly an audacious brat.”

He was indeed a predator who had occupied the pinnacle of the Empire’s wilderness for over a decade. Even his brief words carried a chilling sense of intimidation.

It was enough to make Seria, who had infiltrated Dubbled alone to catch the human traffickers of the orphanage siblings, hastily call for guards.

But who was I?

I was someone who had not one, but four family members whose mere breathing could make others’ legs go weak.

“So what’s the reason you came looking for me? You wouldn’t have come to catch me just because someone much younger made a few sarcastic remarks.”

“So you admit to being sarcastic?”

“I think I was somewhat excessive toward an adult. I’m sorry—”

“I can clearly see how your father has been raising you.”

I groaned “Huh” and licked my upper molars.

Universally, the number one thing that makes children see red is exactly that.

“Just how did your parents raise you.”

I heard a click sound in my head. It was the signal to switch to attack mode.

I clapped my hands together and smiled brightly.

“Yes, my father’s philosophy is ‘give back as much as you receive’ and I’m a good daughter who faithfully follows my father’s teachings! If I had been a Grimoire bloodline, I would have maintained youthful innocence even with white hair!”

How well does Grimoire raise his bloodline that he sends childish letters that basically say ‘you’re lying’?

“That would be right. I would give a child who shares my blood a garden called peace and water called affection.”

Having lived in a wilderness like Dubbled is why you turned out with such a temperament.

“What a wonderful assumption! Even just being a child, no, even a niece would be truly happy.”

Do you have any bloodline? Just fantasizing won’t help, heh.

Such exchanges continued.

The adjutant accompanying Duke Grimoire stammered “Y-Your Excellency,” not knowing what to do, while Seria and the butler also tried to stop me, saying “Miss…”

Duke Grimoire, who had been making a seething expression, gritted his teeth.

“You know nothing yet your mouth runs wild.”

“Oh my, I apologize.”

“I have no intention of engaging in more of this war of attrition with someone who hasn’t lived half my years.”

“That’s wonderful news. So what business do you have?”

“Follow me.”

“Isn’t the first thing mothers teach their children ‘don’t follow strangers’?”

“Tell your mother that I am no stranger to her.”

Suddenly, the surroundings fell silent.

The people who had been watching with rabbit eyes glanced at me nervously. In this Empire, there was no one who didn’t know I was an orphan.

In truth, I had found my birth parents, but my mother had passed away. That’s why Seria and the butler’s expressions also hardened.

Unable to bear it any longer, Seria stepped forward.

“What are you saying to—!”

“Stop.”

“But, Miss.”

“Stop it.”

I stared at Duke Grimoire with an emotionless expression. The Duke was now frowning, as if he had just remembered my circumstances.

“When I meet my mother in the afterlife, I’ll be sure to deliver that message, Duke.”

“…”

“This isn’t the atmosphere for further conversation, is it? I’ll take my leave.”

I immediately turned my back. Seria, who had been glaring at Duke Grimoire, quickly followed after me, while the butler stared intently at the Duke for a while before bowing his head.

* * *

After returning to the mansion, I fumed for quite a while. I glared at the parchment Duke Grimoire had sent me, then muttered “Damn…” and roughly shoved it into the drawer.

“He’s truly a terrible person. No matter how unaware he might be of the details, to say such things to a Miss known publicly as an orphan.”

Seria was also excited and badmouthing Duke Grimoire.

The butler, who had been quietly watching me, spoke up.

“It didn’t seem like he did it on purpose.”

“Huh?”

“I think he misspoke in his excitement.”

“Is he the type to misspeak when excited?”

Even all his sarcasm wasn’t just empty words. When I crossed my arms and spoke, the butler narrowed his eyes.

“Perhaps something happened that would make him excited.”

“Something that would make him excited…?”

Come to think of it, it was strange from the beginning that Duke Grimoire came looking for me.

He seemed somewhat displeased because of the letters we exchanged, but he hadn’t come in a rage to grab me by the collar.

“He has business with me, and that business is a matter that would excite Duke Grimoire?”

“I suppose that’s not the case?”

“I should have listened to more of the story… I got overly excited, which isn’t like me.”

“If people knew what the Duchess means to you, they would say that just coming back quietly was remarkable.”

My brave mother who died behind my back to protect me was both my pride and my reverse scale.

I said, pressing my temples.

“Where is Duke Grimoire? The Imperial Capital mansion?”

“Going there in person wouldn’t be a good choice.”

“I suppose so… The relationship between the Shrine and Dubbled is already like thin ice, so if I went to see Duke Grimoire, whom I usually show no interest in, they’d think we’re preparing for war.”

“In a way, having that big fight in the Shopping District might have been good. Since you fought that much with the Family Head who owns the Magic Tower, they won’t think we’re preparing for war.”

“In a way, it might have been good that you had that big fight in the shopping district. Since you quarreled so intensely with the head of a family that owns a mage tower, they won’t suspect that you’re preparing for war.”

I let out a deep sigh.

I let out a deep sigh.

Viscount Dubois, who was in charge of the Dark Bird, came rushing to the mansion without any prior contact.

“Karim Grimoire has disappeared!”

Count Dubois, the head of the Dark Division, came rushing to the mansion without any prior notice.

The Former Duke Grimoire had vanished.

Karim Grimoire.

* * *

The butler told me what he had received from the Dark Bird.

“Karim Grimoire disappeared a week ago.”

I looked out the window at the streets where Grimoire soldiers were wandering around.

“Karim Grimoire often left for a day or two. But he had never failed to report his location for more than two days, so Grimoire felt something was suspicious and came to see you.”

“He thought I might know something because of the letter I sent.”

“The Karim Grimoire disappeared a week ago.”

I tapped the window frame and turned to look at the butler.

“Karim Grimoire would often be away for a day or two. However, since he had never failed to report his whereabouts for more than two days, it seems the Grimoires found it suspicious and came looking for you, miss.”

“I wonder.”

“Should we check with Mina?”

After more than two days had passed and it was the third day with not even a glimpse of clothing to be seen, a search order was issued.

“Right, that’s true…”

“A temple?”

Since he was a precious hostage, we were supplementing his divine power through mana stones just enough to keep him alive.

“How about waking him up?”

“Why don’t you check with Mina?”

That was something I had learned firsthand through frequent fainting spells.

“That’s right, indeed…”

Even now, we’re spending astronomical amounts on mana stones just to keep Mina alive.

After summoning Ami, Mina was unable to close the ‘passage.’ Without Etwal, she lacked the divine power needed to maintain the demon, and two days ago she finally lost consciousness.

Since she was a precious hostage, they were only supplementing her divine power through mana stones just enough to keep her alive.

“How about waking them up?”

“You know this too, miss. A unconscious ‘Child of Destiny’ only awakens when they’ve recovered more than 30% of their divine power.”

That was something I had learned firsthand through frequent fainting spells.

‘There aren’t enough mana stones to restore more than 30% of Mina’s divine power.’

Even now, they’re spending astronomical amounts of mana stones to keep Mina alive.

Otherwise, Adrian or I would need to replenish the divine power, but Adrian gave me an enormous amount of divine power before, and I exhausted most of my divine power during Mina’s kidnapping incident.

“I’m still lacking in power myself, so I can’t share my strength either.”

“Hmm….”

“Since I need to maintain Ami, any divine power I share would immediately go straight to Ami.”

Cheolsu used to call this kind of situation a ‘bottomless jar.’

The chairman poured tea into his teacup as he spoke.

“What if we return Etoile?”

“Well, it would make maintaining Ami easier, so I could wake him up, but─”

“Absolutely not.”

“Absolutely not.”

We looked at each other and laughed as if the idea was ridiculous.

‘Then what do we do.’

If we find the Grimoire Elder, we might be able to discover what he was trying to discuss with Mina.

If we’re lucky, we might even be able to get Grimoar’s help in this war.

It was just as I was pondering this.

The communication stone sparkled and Seria’s voice came through.

[There are those who have expressed interest in trading Blue Spinel.]

“That’s a relief! Given the conditions and the enormous amount, I wondered if it would actually sell.”

[They want to verify the Blue Spinel’s effectiveness before the trade. We need to charge an empty spinel with divine power – what should we do?]

“Yes, I’ll come.”

I quickly grabbed my overcoat.

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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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