The Dutiful Kid Who Saved the Villainous Family - Chapter 134
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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 134
Cookie, no, Kuken secretly winked at Airi.
Then he smiled brightly and extended his hand toward Princess Rashe.
“I came to check because I sensed demonic energy from this place.”
“Demonic energy, you say?”
“Yes. I can see demonic energy in this kitchen. I’ll perform a light purification…”
“Ah! Could it be because of the demon’s corpse?”
“Yes. It seems the wicked priest who buried that corpse planted demonic energy even in this kitchen.”
The wicked one who buried that corpse was Declan, but Cookie cursed him without batting an eye.
“Then please perform the purification, Kuken.”
Kuken closed his eyes and pretended to purify.
At the same time, Airi clenched her hands into small fists and concentrated.
Then she began purifying the cream-colored mist that surrounded the area like fluffy clouds.
The demonic energy soon settled snugly into Airi’s belly, into the ring of purification.
‘Another quick purification complete today!’
Has the demonic energy in the [Demonic Energy Map] dropped to 0% now?
Today’s purification would appear as if Kuken had done it.
‘I don’t care about that!’
What matters is that healthy people are created!
* * *
That day, after the purification was finished.
Airi and Kuken met the noble grandmothers who had visited the Imperial Palace on behalf of Melissa Marquess.
They tightly held both of Airi’s hands.
“These grandmothers came to pick up our little puppy.”
“Gasp! It’s the grandmothers!”
“Oh my, look at these chubby cheeks. How pretty and adorable!”
Child Airi, accustomed to being adored, tightly held the grandmothers’ wrinkled hands and giggled.
“Of course, Your Highness! Farewell! I’ll come again!”
It seems I’ve absorbed all of Princess Rashe’s demonic energy, so I need to hurry home!
‘Now I can go find Father!’
If all the demonic energy in the 【Demonic Energy Map】 drops and I can obtain the potion with a whoosh…
“Hehehe!”
The first thing to do when I get the potion is to go to Father and declare:
“Fath… Father! I brought a delicious potion friend! Please drink it right away!”
‘Gasp, Father!’
Even though it was just imagination, Airi was already stamping her feet.
Just thinking about saying those words made her face turn red like a persimmon and her chest swell tightly.
‘So strange! So very strange…’
Her heartbeat seemed to be racing at about 48x speed!
Airi stepped forward with her round feet, her heart pounding.
And that day, when Airi returned home, she saw:
[Demonic Energy Map]
Capital City’s demonic energy contamination level: 10/100
“Why did it only drop by 5!”
Ugh, tremendous disappointment!
Her expectation of being able to give the potion to Father + Elder crumbled with a thud.
Cookie, who had returned to being Cookie, scratched his chin as if something was strange.
“And, Airi. There’s something even stranger here.”
“Huh? What is it?”
“See this number 10 written here? It’s quite blurred.”
“…Gasp, why?”
But…!
Airi spoke like a determined hero.
“Whatever it is, I’ll deal with the demonic energy! Let’s inspect the Imperial Palace on the party day!”
Like 【Regent, the Hero of Justice】 who punishes bad villains, I’ll thoroughly find and punish the bad demonic energy!
Even if it’s to make the imagination of saving Father a reality!
When she imagined handing the potion to Declan again, the tips of Airi’s ears turned bright red.
‘But calling him Father is really, really a little embarrassing!’
* * *
Meanwhile, Cardinal Ibenna, who had been virtually deprived of even the opportunity to meet with Princess Rashe, chose an alternative.
He would return to the Holy Papal Dominion and seek the Pope’s advice.
Even after reporting everything that had happened, the Pope’s expression remained unchanged.
“Your Holiness, I am deeply sorry that the great plan has gone awry.”
“The demonic energy we painstakingly spread within the Imperial Palace is being cleansed, so naturally you should be sorry.”
“Yes, Your Holiness. So, that Lord Ortejo bastard and that so-called Purification Mage…”
“My, Cardinal. Your language is like that of a beggar from the vulgar streets.”
“…Again, I am deeply sorry. I have done something that would prevent me from entering Heaven.”
But Cardinal Ibenna had strong faith.
‘The Pope knows everything.’
God said that the Pope, who is the source of divine power, has three eyes.
So he knows everything that happens on earth, and can also know some of what will happen on earth.
This was said to be like the appearance of a prophet, so the Pope would surely know a way to overcome this situation.
“What should I do, Your Holiness?”
“Ah, after hearing everything that has happened…”
The Pope’s face remained gentle and emotionless.
He quietly murmured.
“This is Cardinal Ibenna’s last chance.”
The Pope stroked a chess piece on the table.
“I hear the Dowager Empress is quite elderly. It wouldn’t be strange if a state funeral were held soon.”
“Are you saying to deal with the Dowager Empress instead of the Princess?”
“That’s right. Ah, and.”
The Pope’s tone became slightly richer.
“The Ortejo Family.”
“Yes? Ortejo? Not the Purification Mage?”
The Pope’s lips softened gently.
Cardinal Ibenna and the Pope were different.
Cardinal Ibenna didn’t accurately understand the underlying relationships.
But just by listening to Cardinal Ibenna’s words, the Pope approached quite close to the truth.
“Didn’t you think the Ortejo Family, who suddenly brought a Purification Mage, was quite suspicious?”
“Yes?”
“Didn’t you wonder why the Ortejo Family’s child always hovers around whenever the 4-star Purification Mage moves?”
“I humbly report, but what do you mean…”
The Pope smiled gently.
The moment their gazes clashed sharply, Cardinal Ibenna exhaled.
“The best option is the Dowager Empress, the second best is one of Ortejo’s children. Ah, Jackbel’s son wouldn’t be bad either.”
“You mean to eliminate them?”
“That’s right. But it mustn’t be late. About a week should be sufficient, don’t you think?”
“One week…”
“The blockade of the Holy Papal Dominion, and the Demonic Carnival are approaching. Resolve everything before then.”
At the mention of 【Demonic Carnival】, Cardinal Ibenna showed an ecstatic expression.
Then she crouched down on the floor and looked up at the Pope.
“For the perfect heaven that Your Holiness will create… I will dedicate my entire being completely.”
Cardinal Ibenna made his decision.
He would return to the Imperial Palace.
And…
Before the 【Demon Carnival】, he would deal a fatal blow to the Dowager Empress and Ortezo.
That was his sole objective.
With a face filled with madness completely different from when he had entered the Papal States, he headed back to the capital city.
* * *
Meanwhile, right after the meeting with Airi ended.
Princess Rashe began preparing for the dining party with satisfaction.
‘Now I need to select the people who will participate in the party.’
First, she presented an invitation to the Emperor and received his cheerful permission.
‘Father always responds generously to my affairs.’
Mother is at the summer villa, so this party would be difficult for her…
Aunt Elle, the former princess, hasn’t entered the palace for five years due to some incident.
Princess Rashe recalled the reason why Aunt Elle no longer entered the Imperial Palace.
Princess Rashe’s footsteps gradually grew heavier as she reached the deepest part of the Imperial Palace.
A place where even the maids and servants made no footsteps at all.
A separate palace that seemed dead.
This was the Dowager Empress’s Palace.
The only visitor to this place, whose doors were always locked, was Princess Rashe.
‘Until five years ago’
Opening the door to the Dowager Empress’s Palace and entering, she looked at her grandmother, the Dowager Empress, sitting in the garden of the separate palace.
Feeling somewhat choked up, she carefully murmured.
“Grandmother.”
Grandmother’s gaze was hazy and distant. She looked like someone staring at a very distant place, not here.
Even so, Princess Rashe didn’t give up and took a step closer.
“Grandmother, it’s almost winter, so why are you here?”
“…”
“It’s cold, so at least put on a shawl.”
Even when she spoke cheerfully, no answer came back.
Princess Rashe sat beside her and spoke with forced brightness.
“Ah! Grandmother, do you know? I’m going to hold a dining party. I’m planning to hold it in the garden near the Dowager Empress’s Palace, would Your Majesty like to come?”
“…”
“You won’t come? Still, please accept the invitation.”
It was when she reached out her hand to give the invitation to the Dowager Empress.
The Dowager Empress’s hand, which had been staring only at distant places, kept stroking the ring on the girl’s finger.
“Yes, Grandmother. I’m wearing this ring well. You put it on me yourself five years ago. Do you remember?”
The Dowager Empress’s eyes remained hazy like someone looking beyond the other shore.
‘Could it be a side effect of her ability?’
The name attached to her ability, known only to people in the Imperial Palace, was 【Page Turner】.
But what exactly 【Page Turner】 was, no one knew except the Dowager Empress herself.
Now that she had lost her reason and become confused, even more so.
“…You know, Grandmother. When I come next time, please tell me you love me.”
“…”
“I love you, Grandmother.”
“…”
No answer came back from the current Dowager Empress, but…
Princess Rashe recalled when she was ten years old.
“Grandmother, I love you!”
“My child, this grandmother loves our granddaughter most in the world too. Our puppy.”
…A cotton candy-like memory from very, very long ago.
“Grandmother.”
“…”
“I was someone who had nothing to envy in the world, but now I’m so envious of someone.”
That child who left holding her grandmother’s hand.
Like those grandmothers, I wish my grandmother would get healthy too.
If only once, if I could have the chance to warmly embrace my grandmother.
If such an opportunity came even for just a moment, then.
I want to cry loudly and laugh heartily while being held in my grandmother’s arms as she smiles at me.
Swallowing those words inside, Princess Rashe slowly sank to the floor.
Because she remembered the back of Airi, who had smiled brightly while holding her grandmother’s hand.
But because it seemed like such a day would never come for her.
* * *
Leaving Princess Rashe’s complicated feelings behind, time flowed on.
And finally, the day of the Imperial Palace dining party arrived.
Airi stared at the item window in her status screen and clenched both fists tightly.
‘I’m taking it, my secret weapon!’
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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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