The Baby Raising A Devil - Chapter 315
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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 315
Ten days after expressing my intention for independence, I gazed through the window at the Sacred Trees positioned in the sky above.
‘Their numbers keep increasing.’
The rate of growth is much faster than expected.
Just as I was pondering what could be happening, Seria came rushing in.
“Little One!”
“What’s wrong?”
“The Temple doors have opened.”
I stiffened, my face hardening with shock.
“Did they comply with the Imperial Palace’s investigation?”
“No. They didn’t follow the Imperial Palace’s orders and started evangelizing instead.”
“Evangelizing…”
“What could this mean? Suddenly evangelizing?”
I let out a hollow laugh and slumped down into my chair.
“It’s obvious. They’re short on humans to turn into Sacred Trees. They need to somehow lure people in and convert them into Sacred Trees to defeat us.”
“Would people really visit the Temple when it’s been branded as a corrupt religion?”
“They will.”
“Pardon?”
I tapped the window with my knuckles.
“Because they’re afraid of those things.”
“But aren’t those monsters that the Temple unleashed? Everyone should know that, so surely they wouldn’t…”
“They’ll go precisely because the Temple possesses such terrifying monsters. They’ll think that if they go to the Temple, they alone will be safe.”
Above all, the more chaotic the world becomes, the more people need something to lean on.
‘There’s a reason cults flourish during turbulent times.’
It’s precisely during chaotic times that people need something to depend on.
People who need something to lean on will close their eyes even to the most obvious truths.
The state religion that everyone has believed in for so long couldn’t possibly be wrong.
Something else must be wrong.
The poor priests must have fallen victim to the schemes of those in power.
The Temple has done nothing wrong.
Seria frowned.
“We gave them too much time. We should have suppressed them immediately without giving them time to prepare.”
“Still no word from the Imperial Palace?”
“No.”
I squeezed my eyes shut.
‘We need to strike before the Temple finishes all their preparations.’
But the Imperial Palace would need more time. Dubbled’s independence was never a matter that could be decided easily.
Dubbled was truly the center of the Empire’s commerce and politics.
The central axis of the Empire that was responsible for one-tenth of the Wigzentra Empire’s taxes through long-distance teleportation circles and the Suwon business alone.
The Empire would be greatly thrown into chaos without such a Dubbled.
‘But I can’t just wait around forever.’
I also had to make preparations before the final battle.
Isaac and Johan were in charge of organizing the Dubbled forces, while Henri and Father were taking the lead in keeping the Empire’s nobles and foreign royalty in check.
‘I need to anticipate the Shrine’s moves.’
What would I do if I were Mina and the Pope?
‘At a time when most of the Empire’s People in Power have turned their backs, and even the Imperial Palace is trying to capture them…’
As I was tapping the table with my index finger, I suddenly drew in a sharp breath.
I quickly looked at Seria.
“We need to start preparing too. Seria, bring me some parchment.”
“Pardon?”
“Hurry!”
I immediately began writing a letter on the parchment Seria brought me.
Dark clouds were gradually gathering in the sky.
* * *
Andre, who had been stealing glances at Dubbled Territory from inside the carriage, bit his nails.
‘Damn it, damn it…!’
Why should he, the First Prince, have to bow his head to some mere girl?
He had considered just going back, but the Late Empress’s sharp voice echoed in his ears.
“If you cannot receive forgiveness from Lady Dubbled, there’s no need to return to the Imperial Palace.”
His Maternal Grandfather who had sternly pressed him and Eslon Marshu who had shaken his head as if he were pathetic also flashed through his mind one after another.
Andre roughly rubbed his face with his dry hands.
‘Every single one of them is looking down on me.’
Him, who was born as the Emperor’s eldest son and would surely inherit the throne, possessing the most noble bloodline in the world.
It was when he irritably struck the inner wall of the carriage.
Knock, knock.
A small knocking sound was heard.
When he opened the window, he saw someone wearing a robe.
“It’s been a while, Your Majesty.”
Andre, startled by the familiar voice, shouted.
“You…!”
Cardinal Ridalante.
Andre let out a bitter laugh.
“You’ve gone mad. Coming to find me in front of Dubbled Territory.”
“Wouldn’t this be safer than going to the Imperial Palace? Your Majesty, please spare me a moment of your time.”
“How dare you come to see the Prince when you harbor treasonous thoughts?”
It was when Andre hurriedly tried to call for his guards.
“Your Majesty, how could I have broken through the Imperial Guards’ security network and knocked on Your Majesty’s carriage?”
“What did you do to my guards?”
“Do not worry. They are safe. The Neriad Religion has been the Empire’s foundation for over a thousand years. Could we not have planted people among Your Majesty’s guards?”
“This…!”
“However, there is a flaw in Your Majesty’s words.”
“What?”
Ridalante’s lips curved up in a smirk.
“Where in this world is there anything that belongs to Your Majesty? Every single guard, every decoration in your room – all of it is borrowed from Duke Marche, His Majesty, or the Imperial Consort.”
Andre’s expression twisted into something menacing.
“How dare a traitor like you insult me!”
Ridalante hurriedly waved both hands.
“Ah, please do not misunderstand. I am not insulting Your Majesty, but rather pointing out the situation and offering to help.”
“…Help?”
Ridalante spoke in a subtle voice.
“Don’t you want to overturn this world where nothing belongs to Your Majesty?”
“…What are you talking about?”
“Don’t you want to make those who look down on Your Majesty kneel at your feet and command the world?”
“That will naturally come to pass. I am the Emperor’s eldest son.”
“You could have the world in your grasp much sooner. If we help you.”
“How would you do that?”
As Andre’s voice lowered, Ridalante spoke in an utterly sinister voice.
“Did I not tell you? The Neriad Religion has been the Empire’s foundation for over a thousand years, and there is nowhere in the Empire our hands do not reach.”
“So what exactly is your method…!”
“We have our people in the Emperor’s Palace as well.”
Andre’s eyes widened. Ridalante smiled eerily and continued.
“They are loyal ones for whom dropping a drop or two of poison into the Emperor’s tea would be nothing.”
“…”
“Your Majesty, let me ask you. If His Imperial Majesty were to collapse, who would become regent?”
“…”
“Whose world would it be without Alexandre Luergue?”
Andre’s lips twitched.
After repeatedly opening and closing his lips for a while, he muttered.
“Me, the First Prince…”
Andre’s eyes flickered darkly with desire.
* * *
I had sent the letter in the morning, and a reply came immediately in the afternoon.
After reading the reply, I made a serious expression, so my three maids who brought my overcoat asked.
“What’s wrong?”
“Yeah, it’s nothing much. Just preparing for war.”
Then Laura, who had followed the three maids, tilted her head asking “War is nothing much?” but Yuni, the youngest of the three maids, raised her voice saying “Hey!”
“If Young Lady says it’s nothing much, then it’s nothing much.”
Linda agreed.
“That’s right, Laura.”
Dahlia also nodded with a serious expression.
“Right.”
The three maids, who had been Leblaine’s elite guard for 13 years, were so grateful and amusing that I giggled and folded the letter.
“Thanks for the overcoat.”
Dahlia put the overcoat over my shoulders and said.
“Where are you going out?”
“To the Magic Tower.”
“The Magic Tower?”
“Yeah, I’ll seek help for the war against the Shrine, so keep the mages appeased.”
“Will Lady Lea, no, Lord Shabanol and Sir Zachary go as guards?”
“No.”
The three maids were startled and tried to dissuade me.
“You’re not planning to go out without guards, are you?”
“In times like these?!”
“Young Lady…”
Linda, Yuni, and Dahlia took turns being shocked, so I raised both hands and said.
“You should listen to the end. Today my guard is─”
“Me.”
Isaac, who entered without knocking, said while slinging his scabbard over his shoulder. Johan and Henri, who came after him, simultaneously grabbed Isaac’s neck.
“Knock first.”
“Please. Where did you put your manners?”
Isaac clicked his tongue and said “I got it” then gestured to me.
“Let’s go, Little One.”
“Yeah.”
Although it was for work, it had been really long since all four siblings went out together.
‘Has it been 2 years?’
Somehow feeling like I was going on an outing, I hummed a tune and left the mansion.
We traveled by carriage without using teleportation magic.
Unless the Shrine was insane, they wouldn’t attack the four Dubbled siblings, who were like a massive military force, without proper preparation.
Above all, we decided to conserve teleportation magic as much as possible in preparation for the war against the Shrine.
As I held onto the carriage window frame grinning happily, Isaac rested his chin on top of my head.
“What are you so excited about?”
“After the war ends, we’ll be able to go out together like this often, right?”
Henri, who was flipping through the newspaper, smiled brightly.
“Right. If it ends safely.”
Johan also laughed while lightly pushing Isaac’s head.
“It will end safely.”
Though it was raining, I didn’t dislike the smell of rain. The sound of rain heard beside people I could feel at ease with always felt good.
The carriage ran quickly and arrived at the Magic Tower.
I got out with Johan and Henri’s escort, and Isaac entered the Magic Tower one step ahead of us.
It was when I hurriedly chased after him and passed through the door.
“What is this…”
Isaac muttered with a hardened face.
I hastily looked around.
The smell of blood was overwhelming.
Thick blood was soaked here and there on the floor, and the corpses of mages wearing red robes, the symbol of the Magic Tower, were scattered about.
From the opposite side came the sound of shoes clicking, click, click.
Henri hurriedly spread a barrier, Johan pulled me into his arms, and Isaac drew his sword.
“Not there.”
A sulky but familiar, oh so familiar voice.
What emerged from the darkness was Mina.
Blood splattered on her snow-white cheeks. Her hands were also covered in blood.
Mina looked at her brothers with a pouty expression.
“Not there, but here. Really… I’m hurt!”
Then she looked at the three people in turn and smiled brightly.
“I came because I thought you’d miss me. Johan, Henri, Isaac all said that if you don’t see me for even three days, thorns grow in your eyes.”
Isaac let out a hollow laugh.
“Crazy…”
“Even if you’re embarrassed, I know everything. Even if you speak coldly, the fact is you love me tremendously.”
Having said that, she smiled innocently without a care.
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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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