The Baby Raising A Devil - Chapter 74

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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 74

* * *

I sat sprawled alone on the gazebo bench, staring at the hand mirror with a dejected expression.

No matter how I looked at it, there were two gaping holes on either side of my upper front teeth.

‘I’m doomed, absolutely doomed.’

Children my age start their external activities around this time. Even if it’s not full-fledged tea parties, they begin showing their faces at family external events alongside their parents.

That’s because by this time, all the teeth that had fallen out would have grown back completely.

‘But mine just fell out right now…’

On top of that, the two teeth on either side of my lower teeth were also loose.

‘Hold on, you guys. If you fall out too, it’ll really look hideous. At least wait until after the spring social season ends before falling out.’

As I was praying earnestly while clutching the hand mirror, I heard footsteps. It was the aide.

“I’ve brought a letter.”

Looking at the envelope, it was from Seria. I reached out my hand.

“…”

“…?”

But the aide had no intention of handing over the letter and just stared at my face for a while.

“You came to see my teeth.”

“Would you show me? Seria specifically asked me to take a picture and send it to her—”

He then pulled out a large recording stone.

“—so I brought something like this.”

“Really! I’m worried about what to do.”

When I spoke with a sulky expression, the aide shrugged his shoulders.

“Why?”

“Because it’s weird. I have to be extremely careful to pronounce things properly. Even now I’m trying hard to speak clearly, you know?”

“Then why don’t you ask the Family Head of House Dubois to make your teeth grow?”

I opened my eyes wide.

“Human growth manipulation is possible? I’ve never heard of such a thing… Ah.”

Veronica Dubois, the Family Head of House Dubois, is a mage who failed in her research and hasn’t aged despite being over eighty. In other words, she had inhibited human growth.

The aide nodded.

“She would be the foremost expert in that field.”

“I want to go.”

As I grinned broadly, my missing teeth were exposed. The aide chuckled saying “How cute,” but I didn’t care anymore.

‘If Veronica can make my teeth grow!’

Since Father had said I could go anywhere freely as long as I brought a guard unit that included the Three Wolves, I immediately summoned the knights.

* * *

But why did it turn out this way?

Sitting in the carriage chair, I kept glancing at Johan who sat across from me.

‘This is uncomfortable…’

I had only intended to ask the knights to take me to the Dubois Mansion, but I ended up traveling with Johan.

The Wolves were largely absent as they had gone out for training ahead of spring. So the only Wolves who could escort me to the mansion were those assigned as Johan’s guards (written as escort but read as surveillance for talking back to Father).

“What should we do, Young Lady… Ah, that’s right. Lord Johan also happens to have business at the Dubois Mansion. How about going together?”

I naturally expected Johan to refuse, but for some reason he took me along.

“Um, thank you…”

When I spoke, Johan’s gaze turned toward me.

“For what.”

“For taking me along.”

“I have matters to discuss with House Dubois, and taking you along will distract the surveillance and make conversation easier. What exactly is there to be grateful for here?”

Johan spoke with emotionless eyes, so I rolled my eyes around.

“Well… Ah, I see. It’s not something to be grateful for.”

When I cheerfully nodded my head, Johan’s expression became strange.

“As Aunt said, you’re a strange one.”

“Me?”

“Peculiar.”

“Why?”

“In such cases, most people would mumble ‘I’m still grateful’ while trying to keep the conversation going persistently.”

“Should I say I’m still grateful…?”

When I asked with drooping eyebrows, Johan tilted his head slightly.

“I do like that you don’t act bothersome.”

“Then I definitely won’t apologize!”

When I laughed cheerfully, Johan glanced at me briefly before turning his gaze away.

‘I must never bother Johan.’

He doesn’t show his claws as long as others don’t irritate him.

Like at yesterday’s dinner, when Henri and Isaac weren’t being sharp first, he was indifferent to his brothers too.

‘As for Father, from Johan’s perspective, he’s the source of all his troubles, so he would naturally clash with him.’

While I was thinking this, the carriage stopped.

Johan and I entered the mansion, welcomed by the Dubois Clan.

“Nice to meet you, Young Lady. I’m Melanie Dubois. I’m Furry Dubois’s wife.”

A middle-aged lady with an unusually pale face greeted me.

‘She’s a person with a good feeling.’

Her smile is warm, and she speaks amusingly to ease the tension.

“Hello. Beautiful Dubois.”

“Oh my, how can your words be so lovely. I’ve heard many stories about you from my husband. He always speaks of you with such joy.”

“It wouldn’t be a fake, would it?”

When I said this while looking at Viscount Dubois, the Viscount jumped, and the Baroness chuckled softly.

“If he were such a disloyal person, I would certainly report it. Now, shall we go? The Family Head is waiting—”

Just as she was saying that, a loud crash came from the stairs.

“Young Lady!”

It was the sound of Veronica tumbling down with a flushed face.

As soon as she came down, she grabbed both my hands.

“I’m so happy you came to visit! I was so excited after receiving your letter and have been waiting eagerly. And I prepared lots of snacks too…! Oh, that’s right. Melanie, where are the chocolate biscuits I asked for?”

“A servant rushed out to buy them. But more importantly, Family Head, how about going upstairs to talk?”

When Melanie asked gently, Veronica said “Yes! That’s right!” and led me along.

“I’ll show you the research laboratory. There are lots of interesting things.”

The people of House Dubois seemed somewhat flustered, but I calmly went up the stairs with her.

As soon as we entered the research laboratory, Veronica explained this and that.

“This is a lightning-struck Elsa tree root, this is an ironclad dragon fossil, and, and…”

“Excuse me!”

When I spoke, Veronica’s eyes widened.

“Hello?”

I greeted her with a bright smile. Only then did Veronica blush and mumble “Ah, greetings…”

“Nice to meet you, Young Lady. Welcome to House Dubois.”

“Yes. Thank you for showing me your wonderful research laboratory.”

She fidgeted with her hands and mumbled.

“Everyone says it’s a disgusting place… Oh my! Let’s sit here and talk.”

The table Veronica pointed to was piled high with snacks.

As soon as we sat down, she frantically transferred donuts and cake to my plate and asked.

“So what brings you here today?”

“I have a favor to ask.”

“Please tell me anything.”

“My tooth fell out. So I want to make it grow back quickly!”

“Why? It’s so cute like this. It’s so adorable that I’ve been stealing glances at it.”

I drooped my eyebrows and covered my mouth with both hands.

“A dignified Young Lady doesn’t lose her teeth…”

“Hmm, I think being cute is better than being dignified, but anyway, solving Young Lady’s problem isn’t difficult.”

My face brightened as I asked.

“Of course, I can’t make teeth grow quickly. Everything that’s made to grow artificially is fragile. Young Lady’s tooth might break again with a snap.”

The new tooth that will grow is a permanent tooth. If that breaks, I’ll have to live my whole life in this current state.

‘I might be called the gap-toothed Young Lady!’

At this terrible thought, my face turned pale.

“Then what should I do?”

“Create illusory teeth until your real tooth grows. Since it’s an illusion, your pronunciation will sound the same, but others won’t know your tooth is missing.”

“Please do it!”

When I said this with delight, thinking this was it, Veronica smiled brightly.

“If it’s Young Lady’s request, anything. Um, then, could you give me compensation?”

Of course. I held out the handbag I had brought when leaving the Imperial Palace.

“I brought lots of money!”

“Well… not money…”

She fidgeted around, glancing about nervously, then shyly covered both cheeks and twisted her body bashfully.

“I want to try braiding Young Lady’s hair. Haaaaah…!”

…Veronica really isn’t normal.

‘But that much is fine.’

I nodded my head greatly.

“Alright.”

“Wow─! Then let’s start right away!”

“Is making Illusory Teeth difficult? Does it take a long time?”

“No. You just pour information into a medium and refine it. You just need to make it into an accessory and wear it around, so it’s not that difficult. Hmm, though other mages and priests don’t seem able to do it.”

Veronica spoke while tossing objects on the desk around, swish, swish, as if looking for something to use as a medium.

“I don’t understand why that’s so difficult. All the young kids these days are idiots. Well, since they’ve never suffered hardship, they lack desperation.”

A glimpse of an eighty-year-old’s aspect showed through her teenage face.

And I recalled the adjutant’s words.

“You feel sorry that Veronica Dubois is called the Witch of the West? I think there’s some misunderstanding…”

“Isn’t it because Veronica’s appearance doesn’t age that people think of her as frightening for no reason?”

“Not at all. There’s probably no one who rejoices in research failures as much as Veronica Dubois. She’s someone who fanatically loves cute things. The reason Veronica Dubois came to be called the Witch of the West is because she turned the entire Northeast Region into a wasteland after no one would talk to her at a party.”

“…And the center just stayed quiet about that?”

“Of course she was arrested and spent a long time in prison. But no one dared say they should kill such a dangerous person. Because Veronica is an exceptionally skilled mage. Even now, there’s probably no mage who can match her knowledge and skills.”

I clasped my hands together, thinking I must definitely get along well with Veronica.

Veronica was still diligently searching through the desk.

“Nothing here. Then there’s no choice. Young Lady, let’s use that.”

I was stunned looking at the stone she pointed to.

Isn’t that the Ironclad Dragon Fossil she was bragging about earlier?

“But that’s something very precious…”

“It’s not more important than braiding Young Lady’s hair.”

She spoke resolutely and placed the Ironclad Dragon Fossil on the desk.

“I need a few drops of blood, but since Young Lady has Divine Power, shall we substitute with that? I don’t want your cute hands to get hurt.”

I nodded and infused a little Divine Power into the fossil.

Then.

Grooooong─!

Heaven and earth vibrated faintly and a ringing sound crossed through my ears.

Veronica said ‘What’s that?’ and opened the window to check outside.

“It doesn’t seem like an earthquake.”

Meanwhile, I was blankly staring into empty space. Seeing me like that, Veronica tilted her head curiously.

“Young Lady?”

“I… I need to use the bathroom for a moment!”

“It’s the second room on the right down the corridor.”

I hurriedly rushed out into the corridor and entered the room Veronica had indicated, slamming the door shut with a bang!

Then I looked into empty space again. To be precise, at the beautiful person—no, something—floating in the air with long hair that reached down to their waist.

“I am the ninth pillar, Paimon. Are you the one who summoned me?”

I had just wanted my teeth to grow back quickly after losing them, but I ended up summoning a new demon instead.

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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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