The Baby Who Regressed Refuses Childcare - Chapter 81

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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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I nodded my head.

“Yes! I’m really smart, you know. I also like magic studies. I want to visit the Magic Tower someday!”

“The Magic Tower, you say?”

“Yes! I heard it’s really difficult to enter the Magic Tower. Even if you win many awards at academic conferences, you can’t get in unless you pass scouting or interviews…”

Theo was silent for a moment, then surprisingly agreed readily.

“Debokio does have that aspect to some extent.”

Then he asked.

“So that’s why you want to purchase the artifact?”

“Huh?”

“Artifacts are products of ancient magic that no longer exists. The Debokio Magic Tower protects and researches them. I’m asking if you’re interested in that aspect.”

I blinked blankly, then quickly answered.

“No? I’m not really interested.”

“…”

“I just came because His Highness said he’d buy it for me, but it’s not like I really want it or anything?”

“…”

“If it’s too expensive, I won’t buy it.”

I absolutely must not forget that this was a place for haggling over artifact prices.

“This is an artifact. It’s a treasure that makes discussing price itself ridiculous.”

But as expected, Theo immediately countered.

I quickly shook my head.

“No. If you remove the modifier ‘artifact,’ it’s just an ordinary necklace.”

“No. It’s an ancient artifact made by ancient people and protected by their descendants until now.”

“No! For that to be true, its effects have never been proven.”

I showed a victorious smile toward Theo, who had closed his mouth.

‘But everything I said is right, isn’t it? Mage Tower Lord uncle.’

There were a total of four ancient artifacts in this world.

However, only three of them had been confirmed to exist, and this obsidian necklace I was wearing was the first one.

Next were the two artifacts displayed in the Magic Tower…

‘They said even the Magic Tower doesn’t know where the remaining one is.’

However, the Magic Tower claimed that all artifacts had their own unique effects.

Even so, when you heard about those effects, they were only very abstract things.

For example, the ‘Dragon Hunter’s Sword’ displayed in the Magic Tower had the effect of purifying monsters and saving corrupted souls.

It was an effect that was difficult to verify in this era when monsters had virtually disappeared.

The other displayed artifact, the ‘Incense Burner of Magic Power,’ was the same.

It was said that pure magic power would spring forth endlessly when certain conditions were met, but it had never been activated even once.

Moreover, no one knew what those ‘certain conditions’ were.

Finally, the effect of this obsidian necklace I currently possessed was ‘luck.’

‘Luck? How can you believe something so abstract? Unless you’re a fool.’

Then I was startled.

‘It’s said to contain the power to bring luck, and it doesn’t seem to be a lie. It had an effect on me.’

‘They say luck comes to the owner when worn.’

My goodness, thinking about it, the fool who believed that was Tian.

Back then, I just said thank you to protect Tian’s innocence…

While I was blinking in confusion, Theo sharply interjected.

“If the artifact is an ordinary necklace, why is Princess wearing the artifact?”

I flinched and looked at Tian for no reason.

Right, I didn’t believe in the artifact’s effects.

But I couldn’t readily say so.

This necklace was not only a gift Tian gave me, but also a relic of the previous Empress.

“I, I don’t believe in the effects, but it’s a precious necklace.”

“An ordinary yet precious necklace.”

My eyes narrowed at his strangely pointed tone.

‘What’s this?’

Of course, I had been talking back to the Mage Tower Lord first.

But Theo was no pushover either.

He could have just let a kid win, but wasn’t he countering every word I said?

‘What’s with this competitive spirit? And against five-year-old me at that.’

The problem was that my competitive spirit was also gradually igniting.

“Something can be ordinary yet precious. Mage Tower Lord, I think you’re thinking too much in black and white logic.”

“I was merely pointing out an inconsistency.”

“Aiming for neutrality isn’t an inconsistency, though? Gasp, by any chance, do they teach you to only think in one-sided ways at the Magic Tower?”

“…Are you being sarcastic right now?”

At his words, I was startled and waved my hands.

“Gasp! I’m five years old, how could I be sarcastic to the great Mage Tower Lord?”

I heard a “pfft” sound from the side.

Tian was covering his mouth with one hand, desperately trying to hold back laughter.

Then he barely managed his expression and spoke as if it was fine.

“Annellia. I’m okay, even if you don’t believe in artifacts.”

I made a wronged expression and drooped my eyebrows.

“B, but I like this necklace the most and it’s precious to me? I don’t believe in the luck effect, but it’s really my most precious treasure?”

“Yeah, I know.”

Tian’s gaze became affectionate.

“That’s enough for me. Just because I believe in luck doesn’t mean you have to believe too.”

“Your Highness…”

“And your words seem to make sense too. No one has directly witnessed the effects of artifacts, come to think of it.”

I became spirited and puffed out my chest.

And I looked at Theo as if daring him to explain.

“You heard that, right? So if you’re thinking of selling it expensively to His Highness…”

“If the displayed artifacts’ effects were remarkable, that would be problematic in its own way. The Magic Tower would easily become a target.”

Theo cut off my words in one stroke.

His expression had become much more serious than before.

“We are a research institution, not a guild that trades artifacts. That’s why we have no choice but to hide the more precious items.”

Then he added in an even lower voice.

“Actually, the artifact I brought today is the same. For similar reasons, it has never been made public.”

My eyes widened.

‘An artifact that’s never been made public?’

“There have been three artifacts made public so far. The obsidian necklace Princess is wearing. And the Incense Burner of Magic Power and Dragon Hunter’s Sword that were displayed in the Magic Tower.”

I couldn’t take my eyes off Theo.

“Actually, the remaining artifact that has never been made public is also being kept in the Magic Tower. More precisely, I have been guarding it, following in the footsteps of the Previous Archmage.”

So, to summarize.

Theo had brought the last artifact, which was still known to be missing, today.

While Tian and I exchanged glances, Theo stood up from his seat.

Then he brought over a sturdy box that had been placed a few steps away.

“Only my assistant and I know of this artifact’s existence. Even the scholars belonging to the Magic Tower don’t know.”

The box was tightly wrapped with iron chains, and the lock was covered with blue seals.

It seemed to be sealed with complex magical formulas.

“Things like teleportation and barrier effects are actually rumors that came from this artifact.”

Theo began to unlock the complex cipher magic formulas one by one without batting an eye.

Every time he moved his hands, the strange magical device on his wrist emitted a blue light.

Even I, who was familiar with most magical devices, was seeing this for the first time.

Finally, the encryption that had confirmed the owner faded away hazily.

Theo skillfully unwound the iron chains that had been wrapped around the box.

Then he looked at me and said.

“It’s also the only relic whose effects can be directly confirmed with your own two eyes.”

The last lock clicked open in his hands.

Then something slowly revealed itself from inside the box.

“This is…”

I found myself half-rising from my chair without realizing it.

The relic was a pair of rings made from something emerald-colored.

“These are Lasandra’s Twin Rings.”

Theo picked up one of the rings from the deeply carved wooden groove.

Then he gently pulled my wrist toward him and placed it on my palm.

The ring’s smooth surface rippled as it reflected the surrounding light.

In the center, something was engraved horizontally.

It was a third, unknown script that was neither ancient language nor Imperial language.

“As the name suggests, two people can each take one, and the effect is bestowed on both people simultaneously.”

I touched the ring as if entranced.

Though it was clearly made of a cold material, it seemed to emanate something warm and comforting.

“The real reason I came to the Empire today is.”

Theo’s calm voice echoed through the Audience Chamber.

I looked at Theo, taking my gaze off the ring.

“To find a partner to research this relic’s effects together.”

“Partner?”

Tian asked back.

His expression was somehow strange.

“Weren’t you here to sell the relic?”

“On the surface, yes. But I intend to simply give this relic away.”

Theo paused for a moment, then looked at me again.

“Here, to Lady Abner.”

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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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