The Baby Who Regressed Refuses Childcare - Chapter 170

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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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At the same time.

“Your Grace! We found this near the valley!”

Sharon Abner, who had been staring into the depths of the forest, turned around at the knight’s report.

The knight stood holding a broken arrow.

The red feathers decorating the fletching of the arrow were not unfamiliar.

“It was embedded in a demon beast’s corpse. Perhaps….”

“Yes. It’s His Highness the Crown Prince’s arrow.”

Sharon turned around to look at the other knights.

“Resume the search starting from around the valley. The ground is wet, so pay attention to footprints.”

Soon Spencer Viscount also had his few escorts join the search party.

The area was already bustling with numerous knights.

Nobles who had lost their children and their family knights, along with imperial palace knights.

But they could hardly find any traces of the missing children.

“Duke Abner.”

At that moment, someone called out to Sharon.

Duke Longton, covered head to toe in demon beast blood, stood behind her.

“Count Julian is in critical condition.”

At those words, the people nearby stopped what they were doing and looked at them.

Duke Longton had only returned dozens of minutes ago, carrying Count Julian on his back.

He looked like he had engaged in some bloody battle with demon beasts, as anyone could tell without seeing it.

“When this situation is resolved, you’ll have to take responsibility for this matter.”

Duke Longton growled.

“Both my sons have disappeared. There are more than just one or two injured like Count Julian.”

Silence fell over the surroundings.

“Well, that’s understandable! Demon beasts at a sacred hunt – I heard the Imperial Capital was turned upside down too.”

He pointed toward the depths of the forest.

“They say demon beasts are usually products of black magic. There’s only one family in the Empire with a long history of black magic.”

Lambert’s blood-crusted face was thrust before Sharon Abner’s eyes.

“Damn Michaeliann.”

“….”

“A black mage who dares to crawl out and toy with the Empire’s people.”

Lambert Longton’s eyes glittered with hatred.

“Is it really a coincidence that this disaster happened in your territory?”

More people began glancing at Sharon.

“Perhaps you were trying to use my children as food for black magic to cut off our Longton bloodline, your long-time nemesis?”

“Your words go too far!”

Then Spencer Viscount, who had been listening, stepped forward.

“Your Grace is innocent! I know because she was with me all day today!”

Lambert Longton frowned.

“And! The talk about Michaeliann being black mages was just rumors after all, wasn’t it! Stop driving people into corners with speculation!”

Duke Longton let out a hollow laugh.

“Did you just say speculation?”

“….”

“You’re saying naive things when you don’t even know if your own son is dead or alive.”

Fear suddenly appeared on Spencer Viscount’s face.

Duke Longton patted Spencer Viscount’s shoulder and continued speaking.

“Think about it logically, Viscount. Demon beasts that we thought had disappeared were found in the front yard of someone who’s been suspected of being a black mage.”

“….”

“Who could be the culprit based on circumstances? Isn’t it only Duke Abner?”

At Spencer Viscount’s silence, Lambert Longton sneered.

“So….”

“B-but if you think that way, Your Grace could also be a culprit based on circumstances, couldn’t you?”

“What?”

“If we’re jumping to conclusions about culprits based only on speculation without evidence.”

Lambert Longton’s brow furrowed.

Spencer Viscount continued speaking resolutely despite trembling.

“Having one’s territory selected as a hunting ground for the blessing festival is a great honor. Any landed noble would want their territory chosen as a hunting ground.”

“….”

“But why would Duke Abner ruin the hunt held in her own territory? If anything, she’d want the hunt to end safely.”

Several people nodded as if in agreement.

Hostility appeared in Spencer Viscount’s eyes as he stared at Duke Longton.

“Rather, if we think that way, Longton is more likely to be the culprit. Longton would be the first family to want to ruin Abner’s celebration.”

“Viscount!”

“You were the first to mention that the two families were long-time nemeses, Your Grace!”

Spencer Viscount spat out his final words with more spirit than before.

“…I heard that both Longton princes are also missing. Do you intend to keep interfering with the search?”

Veins stood out on Lambert Longton’s forehead.

He glared at Spencer Viscount and Duke Abner as if he would kill them, then turned and walked away.

The nobles standing around awkwardly gave orders to their knights.

“Wh-what are you doing…! Resume the search!”

Spencer Viscount only let out a deep sigh after confirming that Lambert Longton had completely disappeared.

Then he spoke to Sharon with a haggard face.

“Your Grace. Please don’t worry too much. Since we’ve found traces, we should be able to find them soon.”

Sharon quietly looked at Spencer Viscount.

“…Thank you, Uranus.”

Spencer Viscount flinched at hearing his own name from her lips.

“I won’t forget today’s events. So that the situation can be resolved well….”

“The magic mirror is working again!”

At that moment, a mage nearby shouted.

“We just received contact from the duke’s castle! They say we can check the forest situation again!”

When he activated a portable magic mirror, a large screen appeared in the air.

The screen was showing footage from imaging orbs installed in the forest.

“Out of eighty-nine installed imaging orbs, currently operating are… Huh? Ah, yes!”

The mage who had been explaining enthusiastically put his ear to a communication stone, then approached Sharon.

“They’re asking to speak with Your Grace.”

Sharon stiffened for a moment but soon took the communication stone from the mage.

As soon as she brought the communication stone to her ear, familiar voices could be heard.

-Your Grace. This is Rico Roland, the academy’s chief researcher!

-Owen Dennis is here too.

Sharon Abner’s eyes widened slightly.

-We came over to Idongji as soon as we saw the situation from the Imperial Capital. We were wondering how we could help with the search….

-Ah, really… Sir Rico. Can’t you just keep it short and simple?

-I just changed the settings of all the operating imaging orbs a moment ago!

Sharon’s gaze slowly turned back to the mage.

-It still can’t transmit to the Imperial Capital, but you should be able to check the forest’s internal situation with the magic mirror there!

Just as they said, the mage was switching through the magic mirror screens, looking around the forest.

Sharon Abner’s eyes sparkled.

“Understood.”

She ended the communication stone that was starting to emit bickering sounds and approached the mage.

“How many imaging orbs are currently operating in total?”

“It seems to be a little over fifty. I don’t know why the remaining thirty-nine were damaged, but….”

“For now, use those to search for the missing people.”

The mage nodded his head.

Just as the screens were switching one after another.

“Oh!”

Spencer Viscount, who was beside him, let out a short exclamation.

“Just now on the screen…!”

At those words, the mage switched the magic mirror to the previous screen.

The magic mirror stopped at a place where a screen half-covered by leaves appeared.

“That’s my son! Billy!”

At Spencer Viscount’s words, Sharon Abner narrowed her eyes.

The viscount was right.

In one corner of the screen, someone was slowly walking downward.

His tall, slender frame and the hunting rifle in one hand caught everyone’s attention.

“But why is Billy that bastard…!”

Spencer Viscount made a despairing expression at his son’s strange gait.

He fidgeted restlessly then urgently asked the mage.

“Where is that place? I must go immediately! I must go right now and save our Billy….”

That’s when it happened.

“…Lia?”

This time, from the bottom of the screen, Annellia suddenly appeared together with Tian.

“Th-that’s Prince Marcs!”

Beside them, Armin, Dimas, and Awin, who they thought had disappeared, also revealed themselves.

Spencer Viscount’s face brightened.

“Thank goodness! Since they’re together in a group rather than alone….”

At that moment, the sound of people gasping could be heard from the surroundings.

Billy in the screen had aimed the hunting rifle he was holding toward Annellia.

As Billy’s other hand moved toward the trigger, several noble ladies let out small screams.

Spencer Viscount and Sharon Abner remained frozen, unable to take their eyes off the magic mirror.

Soon, Billy, who was swaying greatly, fully placed his index finger on the trigger.

“…No.”

The moment Sharon whispered in a desperate voice.

Annellia suddenly threw something at Billy.

That something hit Billy’s chest, then exploded the next moment.

“Billy-!!”

“…Annellia!”

Thick smoke covered the entire screen.

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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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