The Dutiful Kid Who Saved the Villainous Family - Chapter 104

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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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Episode 104

“…Berry.”

Karhen’s expression twisted upon hearing those words.

Jackvell Marquess quietly murmured.

“So, you said your name was Berry. It was a nickname I gave you because when my wife was carrying you, she would only eat berries.”

“….”

“I’ve always dreamed of meeting you…. For over 7 years, you see.”

His expression was one of cherishing, as if even looking might wear away something precious.

In all his seven years of life, he had never received such a gaze.

But he had been told his name was Karhen, meaning ‘karma’.

Before meeting Airi, everyone had pointed fingers at him.

So Karhen defensively asked abruptly.

“Even if it’s good now, if you keep staying with me, you’ll find out.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“You’ll discover what a bad child I am. I’m actually a Hybrid Monster. So I’m different from noble people. I, I did bring the kit, but there might be some problem.”

He could speak politely, having learned from Airi.

But the bad heart he possessed would surely be a problem.

Jackvell Marquess barely managed to look over Karhen’s face.

At Karhen’s sincere and calm expression, Jackvell Marquess’s face half-crumbled.

“No. My child. You are…. You are indeed my son. Whether you’re a Hybrid Monster or a monster, that’s not a problem at all.”

His gaze touched Karhen’s hand.

His wife, Isadel, had a sharp jeweled ring with quite a unique pattern engraved on it.

Because it wasn’t properly refined, Isadel’s hand often had peculiar patterned scratches.

On Karhen’s hand too, old scars remained.

Jackvell Marquess barely managed to breathe.

“Even if you’re a Hybrid Monster, even if you’re a bad child, it’s okay. I’m just grateful that you’re alive.”

“Why is my being alive something to be grateful for?”

A faint curiosity flickered in eyes filled with self-loathing.

Jackvell Marquess, meeting his gaze, smiled faintly.

“Because you are the most precious child to me.”

Karhen looked at the adult man who seemed to have inherited his pain and recalled Airi’s words.

“…When you wake up, you can hold hands.”

Soon after, Karhen slightly raised his hand.

Like a very young baby taking their first awkward, initial steps.

Karhen’s hand overlapped on top of Jackvell Marquess’s hand.

It wasn’t as difficult as he thought.

It was just….

He found it fascinating that this person, even with a completely distorted expression, tried to keep him in his sight.

The two felt the warm temperature of each other’s hands transmitted through their own.

For Jackvell Marquess, what felt like an eternity passed.

The bedroom door slowly opened.

Standing at the door was Choiren Jakvel, the Previous Duke, with snow-white hair.

Two people became three, and they quietly looked at each other like that.

Choiren, the Previous Duke, quietly murmured.

“…You’re Berry.”

Finally, Choiren, the Previous Duke, slowly sank to the floor.

But his eyes alone shone brightly.

Karhen, no, the Young Boy who had now become Berry, thought.

Having a family.

Receiving a warm welcome in a warm world where everyone welcomed him.

And, and, and.

Being called by a name filled with love.

‘My name was Berry.’

Just recognizing that fact and nodding his head very slightly.

Somehow, his earlobes grew warm with fever.

As if everything in this world had changed.

It was a day when it seemed impossible to return to yesterday instead of today.

* * *

Meanwhile, at that very moment of the long-awaited family reunion, Airi was also extremely serious.

Right after Elder left with stern warnings to “don’t cause trouble,” going to check on Berry in place of Jackvell Marquess and to interrogate Belarusian Count.

Airi and Cookie, left alone in a Room in the East Wing, immediately began ‘checking the status window.’

Cookie glanced around furtively, then showed Airi the status window.

“Airi! Look at this!”

Thump thump.

Airi and Cookie clasped their hands together as if praying.

[‘World’s Strongest Hero’ Airi’s Purification Power Status Window!]

3-Star: Light ‘Shield’

▣□□□□

(…)

3-Star: Light ‘Shield’

▣▣▣▣▣ (Well done! Airi! But what is this?)

Airi asked Cookie.

“Cookie, what’s this? You don’t know either?”

“…W-well? I do create it…. Actually, I just check the status from your body and bring that. So I bring the database, but I don’t know the exact principle of how your abilities are patterned and grow within your body.”

“Wh-what does that mean…!”

It was too difficult for Airi to understand.

As she just rolled her eyes around, Cookie solemnly raised his brown hand.

“Now, Airi. It would be hard to understand. You’re a Child after all. So I, being more adult than you, will step forward and find out.”

“Huh?”

“Like that time, I’ll observe Elder’s movements this time too. Elder might know the identity of this ‘Magi’!”

“Huk, huk. Wouldn’t that be dangerous? Can’t we just ask directly?”

“Well. Would Elder tell us?”

True, Elder was extremely overprotective of Airi.

So he would often block information saying ‘children shouldn’t know.’

‘Elder doesn’t know, but I’m originally 9 years old, almost in the older sister class.’

Elder thinks of her as a 5-year-old kid, so it can’t be helped.

Then, as if driving a nail into Airi’s disgruntled thoughts, Cookie shouted.

“And danger, what danger! Do you remember when we first met? I checked your Elder’s status then too.”

As expected, Cookie!

Thump.

Airi’s round hand and Cookie’s hard, crispy hand touched.

Airi’s secret weapon.

Cookie set out for the Interrogation Room in the East Wing.

Carrying in his arms the long cylindrical snack Airi had given him.

* * *

Declan interrogated Belarusian Count. He was in a miserable, broken state.

“Where did you get the monster’s corpse from?”

“That Person….”

“Enough. What is Heaven, and what are the test subjects?”

“If you bring beggar brats, feed them, let them sleep, then make them lose their memories….”

In the end, the ‘fake’ Berry was also a victim.

Declan let out a sigh.

He decided to focus on the ‘heaven’ that Belarusian Count had been talking about.

“There’s only one way to preserve monster corpses of this size without any stench.”

“I’m going to heaven….”

“Using divine power, which is the antithesis of magi, to block the spread of magi.”

At that moment, his mad eyes that had been rambling about ‘heaven’ regained focus and wavered.

But it was established theory that those with divine power couldn’t come into contact with magi.

Countless questions remained.

Declan, who had been retracing the contradictory points, reached a certain hypothesis.

“How did you create artificial magi? It seemed like you made it by adding some special substance.”

“Well, there’s no way I’d tell you what it is, right?”

Belarusian Count’s eyes flashed. Then Declan grinned wickedly.

“It would be the substance most opposite to magi.”

He hadn’t noticed when he felt the artificial magi faintly.

But as soon as he entered the forest made of magi, he felt a faint pain that churned his stomach.

“Thanks to ‘that substance’ that remained faintly in the monster corpses, it was quite painful with every step I took. But other people said it felt refreshing.”

Jackvell Marquess felt refreshed, while Declan, consumed by 5-star magi, sensed pain.

Then the substance that went into the ‘artificial magi’ was.

“Divine power was mixed into the magi.”

At that moment, Belorus gritted his teeth and shouted.

“For our paradise.”

Correct.

And Declan immediately struck his jaw roughly.

“Ugh, aaaaah!”

“You can’t die.”

It seemed he had tried to bite the poison hidden inside his molars.

But even his suicide attempt ended in failure.

“Ugh, uuuurgh….”

Belorus vomited blood and poison together outside his mouth.

Though he acted quickly, a minute amount would have been consumed.

His breath remained, but he would be in a near-death state for a while.

“Don’t die. Live and atone to your family, to the people you discarded.”

Looking down at Belorus who had rolled onto the floor, Declan thought cynically.

‘Divine power, paradise, heaven.’

The coordinates that all of this pointed to.

‘…The Southern Papacy?’

But why on earth were they creating artificial magi?

Why on earth were they trying to scatter it in the Northern Region and East?

Approaching high nobles, even creating ‘fake’ test subjects?

Even after deducing the mastermind, countless questions still remained.

Declan rubbed the back of his neck and left the place.

Everything was questionable, but one thing was clear.

That ‘artificial magi’ was based on ‘divine power’.

So he needed to track those who possessed divine power.

At that moment, Declan’s eyes narrowed as he opened the door to the interrogation room.

“Wait.”

In the bleak air and uncomfortable atmosphere.

Declan finally discovered it.

Scattered carelessly on the floor, holding a cylindrical cookie in its arms….

“…Cookie?”

A small gingerbread cookie.

He picked up Cookie with his thumb and index finger.

“What is this, I definitely saw this before at the castle too.”

* * *

Meanwhile, Cookie, the secret agent dispatched by Airi!

Cookie was in a state of glee knowing that ‘artificial magi possessed divine power’.

That was because it meant Airi would also gain a new cheat key called divine power!

‘Stupid Dark Forces! Hahaha! My summoner will finally obtain the strongest power!’

…The only problem was that he had been caught by Declan.

And he couldn’t be sure if his voice would be properly heard by humans other than his summoner Airi.

‘Humans who aren’t summoners sometimes heard my words strangely. As if the frequency was off!’

Cookie thought while pursing his mouth drawn with white pen.

‘Will I be able to return to Airi alive?’

Cookie blinked his chocolate chip eyes, trying to appear as harmless as possible.

“Seeing that it even blinks, it’s not an ordinary cookie.”

Airi, we’re in big trouble!

Declan stared at Cookie with an indifferent expression and whispered.

“Is it a spy sent by the Pope? Should I try breaking it?”

What? Breaking Cookie!

How could there be such a vicious guy!

‘Don’t be scared! I once manifested as a dragon, and once as a phoenix!’

The moment beads of ice cream formed on Cookie’s forehead, making his inner resolve not to be scared seem futile.

Cookie thought of an incredible brilliant move.

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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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