The Dutiful Kid Who Saved the Villainous Family - Chapter 136

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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 136

“Huh-uh, hello there?”

But there was no response from the Dowager Empress.

Then, Raspen spoke.

“That person is Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, Lady Airi.”

“Hmm….”

But Airi wasn’t anxious.

‘Wow! The Empress Dowager is a white-haired grandmother!’

Even if her eyes weren’t visible, even if she didn’t say anything, it was fine.

Just being a grandmother made her internal sense of intimacy skyrocket!

Airi took one step closer to the Dowager Empress.

But right at that moment.

Somehow, she felt a damp and moist humidity from the Dowager Empress.

Like a person who was completely soaked by a lakeside.

No, like someone submerged somewhere in the deep ocean….

That was the atmosphere.

Though her eyes appeared closed and couldn’t be seen, what was contained within them would surely be eyes like the deep sea.

Berry quietly grabbed Airi’s arm.

“She looks dangerous. It would be better not to get close….”

However, like a child empowered by the belief that white-haired people like her, she spoke cautiously.

“She’s not dangerous. She’s not trying to hit me or find me annoying!”

Rather, she seemed a little desperate….

Her hands were trembling intermittently.

Suddenly, Serafin took a step forward as if enchanted.

Then Berry grabbed Serafin’s arm.

“Lord Serafin?”

“Huh, what?”

“Why did you suddenly move?”

“I, I wasn’t trying to move! Something was strange! The feeling was really strange!”

Serafin showed the goosebumps that had risen on his arm.

‘That grandmother definitely has something.’

A five-year-old child with chubby cheeks.

A white-haired grandmother approaching seventy.

An intense standoff between the two!

And at that moment.

Unbelievably, the Dowager Empress’s eyelids slowly lifted, revealing quiet blue eyes.

‘…Huh?’

At that moment, a book appeared in Airi’s mind.

The title of the book was….

『The Monster Clan of the Northern Snowy Plains』

Since realizing she had been reincarnated, Airi had been adapting to this world.

But gradually, occasions to apply the book’s story disappeared, and because of that, the book’s story didn’t come to mind either.

Nevertheless, as soon as she made eye contact with the Dowager Empress, memories so vivid they overwhelmed Airi.

And….

The Dowager Empress asked in a clear and powerful voice.

“Child.”

“….”

“Did you… read it all?”

Before Airi could even answer, the Dowager Empress extended her hand.

“…Huh, gasp?”

And with strength unbelievable for a frail elderly person, the Dowager Empress roughly pulled Airi toward her.

The wooden door slammed shut, leaving only Airi and the Dowager Empress alone.

Instantly, Airi’s eyes widened.

With clearly opened eyes, the Dowager Empress asked.

“You know me, don’t you?”

Airi carefully nodded her head.

Then….

She felt a sensation as if everything around her was becoming blurry.

She could clearly hear Raspen, Berry, and Serafin making noise beyond the door.

But strangely, their voices sounded faint, as if echoing from beyond consciousness.

So Airi ended up committing the rudeness of staying silent without responding to an adult’s words.

Eventually, she could hear Raspen calling for the Head Servant, saying they needed to open the wooden door.

‘The ability the Dowager Empress has was in the book!’

The Dowager Empress was someone who possessed an ability called [Page Turner].

In an instant, a book slowly unfolded in Airi’s mind.

Airi read the text written at the beginning of the book.

[The one who turns the pages, the Page Turner.]

The Dowager Empress whispered as if singing.

“…For a peaceful future, I shall remain in your present for a long time to assist you.”

Instantly, Airi looked as if she had been hit in the head with a hammer.

These were very familiar words.

There was one reason Airi could know she was a purifier.

The day she lived as a foolish five-year-old baby in the south and realized she was the ‘nine-year-old’ Airin.

In other words, the day she realized she had been reincarnated.

Airi had read the novel that Teacher Arum was ‘fangirling’ over, 『The Monster Clan of the Northern Snowy Plains』.

[This is not a simple book. It is a future that will soon come to pass. This book’s story will remain in your ‘present’ for a long time to assist you.]

It was that voice she had heard then!

‘How does the Dowager Empress know what that voice said!’

At that moment, Airi and the Dowager Empress’s hands touched.

And….

“Um….”

While holding her hand.

In Airi’s mind, the pages of 『The Monster Clan of the Northern Snowy Plains』 kept turning.

「Side Story Part 1. The Story of Those Left Behind」

A side story?

Airi opened her wavering eyes.

The content of the pages flowed into her mind in an instant.

Her head was so confused that she just held it tightly.

“Lady Airi!”

Then with the sound of the door opening….

“Someday, let’s… meet again. Then I hope I can give you… everything….”

She faced the Dowager Empress collapsing to the floor like a dry tree branch.

* * *

“Have you heard that news?”

“What news?”

The imperial palace physicians who suffered every time from power struggles over budget allocation for the medical office within the palace.

A subtle topic arose among them for the first time in a while.

“You know, right after that dining party Her Majesty the Empress Dowager attended recently….”

“That she collapsed? Of course I know.”

“They say her condition is so serious that the physicians are wondering if we should prepare for a state funeral.”

The Dowager Empress’s condition had worsened.

Since she was already on her deathbed, it wasn’t particularly strange that her condition had deteriorated.

However….

“I heard the Head Servant gave testimony, did you hear about that?”

“I didn’t hear about that. What happened?”

“They say she rapidly worsened after having a conversation with the five-year-old Grand Duchess of the Ortejo Family.”

“They called the physician to treat her, but she doesn’t seem to be getting better.”

“It could be because of a curse, or maybe because of magi… So they separately called for Cardinal’s Office.”

Then, a man in a fairly high position among the physicians scolded them.

“That’s confidential news, don’t go around talking about it. It was even in the newspaper.”

[After a private audience with Grand Duchess Airi Ortejo, a cardinal stepped forward to treat the Empress Dowager who fell into agony.

They are making various efforts including mobilizing divine power….]

“People are in an uproar. The Ortejo Ducal Family is kind of scary, isn’t it?”

“….”

“There are also rumors going around that it’s because of that family’s magi….”

“Oh come on, didn’t they say she’s friends with Purification Mages?”

“Besides, no matter what, how could a young child harm the Dowager Empress?”

The moment a reproachful voice was heard, someone spouted conspiracy theories in a low voice.

“You never know. It’s the Ortejo Family, after all.”

People’s voices secretly lowered.

As the truth was obscured, the Ortejo Ducal Family’s infamy was being endlessly inflated.

* * *

“Did you see the Sacred Times article? Cardinal Ibenna really pulled something off, didn’t he?”

In front of the Ortejo Family’s breakfast table.

As Declan roughly crumpled and folded the morning newspaper with a chuckle, Airi nodded her head.

“Yes! I met a vewy bad person! Cardinal Ibenna is a vewy mean mister!”

Airi, who was clenching her fists tightly and fuming, recalled the book she had seen again after facing the Dowager Empress, 『The Monster Clan of the Northern Snowy Plains』.

Strangely, her memories had been vivid and clear since meeting the Dowager Empress.

‘But when I try to tell Papa or Cookie about it, something gets weally weally strange!’

It felt like space and time were twisting!

So she couldn’t open her mouth to them….

Fortunately, the book also contained ways to take down Cardinal Ibenna.

Airi decided to confidently go meet the investigator.

Since she was a minor, Declan, her legal guardian, would accompany her.

However….

That morning.

Inside the carriage heading to the Imperial Palace’s investigation office.

Airi tilted her head.

‘Why are they fighting?’

Declan and Cookie were sitting on either side of Airi.

“What are you?”

“Me? I’m Kuken Kirkugi.”

“So why are you stuck next to my daughter?”

“I have to protect my child! And besides, you never know. The Imperial Palace might be full of dangers!”

“What do you mean you never know. We’re just going for a witness interview.”

“No, but still. Those gossipmongers are saying our Airi is strange!”

“Oh, it’s fine. Anyone who says that about my daughter will be dead tomorrow.”

Cookie added a word to Declan’s statement.

“Anyway! My child, I’ll protect her myself.”

Kuken, no, Cookie clenched his fist dramatically.

Declan’s brow furrowed.

…No, that Cookie is crossing the line.

Who’s your child?

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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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