The Dutiful Kid Who Saved the Villainous Family - Chapter 145

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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 145

* * *

Atop the Northern Castle Wall.

Yelshanad and Milligan glared down at the horde of demons that had swarmed beneath the castle wall.

“Close the castle gates!”

“Soldiers, get up on the castle walls!”

Below, they could see demon soldiers that looked like modified humans with pointed ears.

“It’s been quiet for a while… I never thought they’d invade so close to the castle.”

“Truly without any warning whatsoever.”

Yelshanad quietly nocked her bowstring. Seeing her, Milligan stepped forward and prepared his magical tools.

“I’ll take the lead, so my lady should…”

“Move aside.”

Yelshanad fired poisoned arrows in rapid succession toward the bottom of the castle wall.

Her arrow struck precisely the demon soldier who was trying to break down the gates of Ortejo Castle.

“Oh…!”

“As expected of Lord Yelshanad!”

The atmosphere was heightened until the demon soldier hit by the arrow collapsed to the ground.

However…

Despite falling, the demon soldier rose to its feet again.

Then it thrust its sword and severed the neck of a soldier guarding the castle gate.

Yelshanad gritted her teeth at the futile death.

“…I was foolish. I should have aimed for the core.”

“You mean the heart?”

“The innermost part of the heart. I need to cut out the source that makes that demon what it is.”

But no matter how many arrows she shot, it was difficult to hit their hearts.

After several failed attempts, Yelshanad decided to accept the reality.

There was no one currently in the North who could perfectly destroy that demon soldier’s core.

Moreover…

“Damn it! The soldiers guarding the castle gate are falling again…!”

While they were holding out defending the castle gate, the frontline soldiers who had been struck down by the demon soldiers were dying one by one and collapsing to the ground.

Yelshanad, grinding her teeth, stood up.

“This won’t do. I can’t leave the castle gate to the soldiers alone, so I’ll…”

He’s at the Ortejo Family Mansion in the Capital.

Yelshanad and Milligan looked at each other.

“We need to buy time until we can call Declan.”

“No, my lady.”

“…?”

“He just arrived over there. Declan Ortejo.”

As if he had used a teleport scroll nearby, he was riding a black horse toward them. He was holding a small, round child in his arms.

Even though he could barely use one hand because he was carefully protecting the child, demons were being cut down effortlessly by the tip of his sword.

‘That’s reassuring.’

Yelshanad and Milligan simultaneously breathed sighs of relief.

But there were already dead soldiers.

Since mourning those who died from demons was part of daily life, they didn’t know.

They didn’t know that Airi, seeing the corpses of those killed by demons for the first time, had fallen into great shock.

* * *

The demon uprising that occurred in the North was handled by Declan.

Declan and Airi, Serafin, Berry, plus Yelshanad and Milligan sat facing each other.

“I’m glad you’re safe.”

“Well, yeah. If those demon ears were still attached, I would have been dead for sure, but now I’m fine.”

“Mother, there are children present. Please watch your language.”

“Ah, right. There are cute little ones here.”

Yelshanad’s gaze fell upon Airi, Serafin, and Berry.

Serafin and Berry were composed.

The two children had been riding horses beside Declan.

Though clumsy, they had demonstrated their abilities and dealt damage to the demons.

However…

‘Surely Airi had also demonstrated her purification power.’

Airi had been clinging to Declan’s side, tightly gripping his hand since earlier.

She looked as if she had received a great shock.

‘Maybe I shouldn’t have brought her. But I was more anxious with her not by my side.’

In any case, the demon uprising had been quelled.

Thanks to Declan’s urgent return to the North, the situation would be resolved with just a little more effort.

The problem was…

The demon uprising might not be the end.

“You said someone in white robes was leading demons from the wasteland?”

“Yes. Looked like a priest.”

“It seems they no longer intend to hide that they’re spreading magi themselves.”

“Right, but it was really strange.”

“What was?”

Yelshanad whispered quietly.

“Among the soldiers, there was an ability user with mind control powers. That kid captured the priest. But he kept muttering that he had to find a child with silver hair and purple eyes. Then he died.”

It was clear that the Pope was targeting Airi.

And it seemed he had no intention of hiding that fact.

‘Did he notice that Airi has purification abilities?’

Then, Airi murmured.

“Father.”

“Yes, daughter.”

“I have something to tell you.”

Airi made an expression as if she had resolved something.

She had seen the entire scene of demons being slaughtered.

And she had also watched with her own eyes as several knights suffered.

‘Now the happiness is over.’

She thought she would never have the chance to call someone father in her life.

But she had gotten to call someone father, even if just a little, so now it was enough.

* * *

…After firmly grasping Declan’s hand, Airi began to speak.

The contents of 『The Monster Clan of the Northern Snowy Plains』 vividly came to mind in Airi’s head.

[The Pope’s test subjects each have one ability. They are in a state completely consumed by magi. When the Papal States’ blockade ends and the ability users harboring magi follow the Pope’s ‘mission’ along the world line, the world will face destruction.]

Olivia was as composed as someone who had seen countless people die and face destruction.

Airi, who was conveying those words, was also as firm as if she had ‘read’ the future and returned.

Only his and the others’ eyes were trembling.

[We must prevent them from manifesting their abilities. To do that…]

“To do that, I need to achieve 5-star Salvation Light! The condition for achieving Salvation Light is to save many people!”

“Right, then Father will do many good deeds. Save everyone…”

“It said I have to enter the Papal States and save the test subjects so they won’t be in pain!”

“…Huh?”

Declan’s expression twisted.

Once the Papal States are sealed, they cannot be opened without divine power.

“Living people can’t enter the Papal States. Not without the Pope’s permission…”

“No, I can go in.”

At that moment, Airi carefully picked up Cookie.

Then she opened the status window and clicked [Go to Item Storage].

1. Crimson Potion

What Mother’s letter had transformed into.

Drinking the potion puts you in an astral projection state.

“If I drink this! I’ll become a super duper cool spirit and sneak into the Papal States to save people!”

“….”

“Then I can avoid the Pope’s eyes too! Super safe!”

Declan gritted his teeth.

“So I have to leave!”

Declan’s eyes wavered.

Saving the test subjects in spirit form….

He didn’t even know if it was possible, and it was dangerous.

“No.”

“B-but.”

He muttered while holding the chubby Airi tightly in his arms.

“I said no.”

“But… if I don’t do it, the world will be destroyed, and good people will die to demons like before….”

“I’ll figure something out somehow. Okay?”

But Airi had to do it….

‘I can’t convince him at all!’

Fortunately, Airi had a secret weapon.

“Then! If I save the world, I’ll also save Mother who wrote us that super duper cool letter!”

“…What?”

“If I become a 5-star Purification Mage and save the world, the world will move and grant one wish! It was written in the book!”

“So.”

“I thought about it, and if I make that wish, maybe Mother can be brought back to life too! It said it would grant any wish!”

“….”

Airi proudly lifted her chin up.

“This way, Father can’t object either!”

But even seeing Airi’s spirited expression, Declan remained firm.

“…It’s not necessary.”

Airi’s expression turned to confusion, not expecting this response.

“But!”

“I said it’s not necessary.”

“Father loves Mother so so much. I saw everything!”

Declan was silent for a moment. But his thoughts didn’t change at all.

“Olivia was my wife and your mother. But rather than someone who’s already dead….”

He hugged the warm and soft Airi tightly.

So firmly that it was almost suffocating.

“You, who are here right now, are the most precious to me.”

“B-but if I don’t go, the world will be destroyed and….”

Declan gritted his teeth. Then he looked into Airi’s eyes and said firmly.

“I said no.”

“….”

“Why on earth.”

“….”

“Why on earth do you only think about saving others.”

Such a tiny little baby who’s only a handful when held tight.

Pointlessly spirited and brave.

“Why don’t you think about your own body.”

Airi’s purple eyes wavered greatly for a moment.

The world and whatever, he didn’t care about any of that.

He wasn’t interested.

Just.

“Father can’t lose you too.”

So….

Declan got up.

“I’ll go kill them all. That’ll work, right?”

Airi quietly watched Declan, who seemed to be denying reality.

Without nodding or shaking her head.

* * *

With one word from Declan, Airi was confined to her room in the North Wing.

“You, Airi. Don’t you dare think any strange thoughts. Cookie, you absolutely must not give that potion to Airi.”

“Yes….”

“But I have to save the world….”

“Please, please, can’t you just play for even a little while?”

Declan’s expression as he begged her to just play comfortably looked so very sad.

Airi rolled around on the bed for just a brief moment.

The three letters ‘Airi’ embroidered in bright yellow on the black belt she had worked hard to knit sparkled.

Only two people could visit Airi, who was confined to her room under semi-house arrest: Berry and Serafin.

Today too, both came running to Airi.

Serafin, who brought a cube, said spiritedly.

“I heard Father went to beat up all the demons! Hmm, should I do something too?”

“That’s right. I want to protect Lady Airi too.”

Airi recalled the contents of the book that Olivia had written.

Now it was time to call upon the ‘Guardians’.

Airi took Cookie out of her pocket.

Then Cookie opened the status window as if it was familiar.

The title of the status window had changed.

[Status Window of the Strongest Hero Airi and the ‘Guardians’!]

4-Star: ‘Sacred’ Light

■■■■■

(…)

5-Star: ‘Salvation’ Light

(※ Achievement Condition:

Save the test subjects! Save the suffering ones of the world!)

[List of ‘Guardians’ of the World (0/10)]

If that happened, she could save Father.

She could also bring back Mother, whom Father loved.

Airi tried her best to shout spiritedly.

“My hero friends!”

“Uh, uhm?”

“Just in case, just in case! I might disappear! So as the leader, I want to give you a mission!”

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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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