The Dutiful Kid Who Saved the Villainous Family - Chapter 174

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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 174

“We keep hitting the Pope.”

“Huh…?”

“We keep hitting him to make him come out!”

Airi said while bending her hands.

“Like catching a terrifying mole that looks like this!”

In other words, whack-a-mole!

Everyone barely held back their laughter at the innocent, childlike words.

Berry said with a serious expression.

“So you mean… we should provoke the Pope to make him come out?”

“Yes! That’s right! Berry is super smart!”

When Airi clapped like a seal, Berry’s earlobes turned red.

Declan sighed inwardly as he watched them.

It seemed like Airi was mysteriously slipping out of his control…

‘It must be my imagination.’

Declan, who dismissed all ominous feelings as mere imagination, opened his mouth.

“That’s easy.”

“What?!”

While Airi was active, the Pope had disappeared without a trace.

He was like a coiled snake, only waiting for a chance to attack Airi.

How could they draw out the Pope who was hiding so tightly in his hideout?

Then, Declan said mischievously.

“I happen to have some expertise in annoying behavior.”

“Annoying behavior?!”

When Airi’s eyes became sharp as if looking at a bad child, Declan added a word.

“Good and annoying behavior.”

* * *

…Declan was right.

Declan was a genius at annoying provocation!

A few days later, during mealtime at the Ortejo Mansion.

Held in Grandfather’s arms, having abandoned all the courtesy befitting a ‘master,’ Airi had her nose buried in a newspaper.

“Oh my, Grandfather Master! Look at this!”

“Oh my, our baby. You speak so well now.”

“I always spoke well! But look at this! Father appeared here!”

“Huh? Father appeared, my child?”

Whether Grandfather showed an attitude of not being particularly interested in newspapers, touching Airi’s plump cheeks like making rice cakes like a maternal grandmother or not.

Airi’s fingertip vigorously pointed to one spot in the newspaper.

The newspaper was filled with mockery and provocation toward the Pope.

Many contents that diminished his authority were plastered across numerous newspapers and crystal orbs.

Especially…

“Here, Father said the Pope is nothing special, and it’s plastered all over every newspaper! A toothless tiger!”

Below Declan’s interview, there was also a caricature drawn with content that ridiculed the Pope.

That wasn’t all.

Throughout the capital city, satirical murals were posted with the main theme that the Pope persecuted nine-year-old children and bullied kids.

When writings and drawings containing mockery of the Pope were distributed simultaneously and randomly, opposing currents also emerged.

Some people tried to dissuade others, saying they would receive divine punishment for mocking God, but…

“The Pope isn’t God. He should be seen as possessed by an evil god. And I’ve already received divine punishment, so what am I supposed to do.”

…Thanks to dismissing it with such nonsensical words, discussions related to it didn’t drag on.

The plays and jesters performed under the Emperor’s orders all began to drive the Pope into a corner.

In a reign dark as night, mockery functioned quite effectively.

“Declan really did a good job.”

“Wow. But will the Pope come out because of this?”

After swallowing the words that whack-a-mole originally involves punishing with a hammer.

Airi looked up at Grandfather.

Then Grandfather chuckled and said.

“Of course he’ll come out. Because the Pope would have tried to collapse the world through distrust and anxiety, so if people unite and don’t fear him…”

Grandfather’s wrinkled fingertip took away the newspaper Airi was holding.

Then he pointed to one part of the newspaper.

“Look here. A commoner child was interviewed saying ‘The Pope isn’t scary anymore!'”

“Yes.”

“Someone who wants to have absolute power like the Pope won’t be able to stand this kind of pure disregard the most.”

And his prophecy was accurate.

That day, when Declan, Serafin, and Berry returned after finishing their territory inspection.

Declan said with a grin.

“The Pope moved, and his hideout was discovered.”

“Gasp! Now let’s give him a thorough beating!”

At Airi’s exclamation, Cookie, who had been dozing in her arms and had been particularly sleepy lately, muttered.

“Yeah. Let’s go kill him!”

“But the situation isn’t good, so we can’t send a large army.”

At Declan’s serious words, Airi added.

“Then just a few super strong people! Me and…”

“…You’re weak.”

Airi stuck out her soft lips like a duck. Declan flicked Airi’s duck lips and said.

“First, we’ll select well-trained martial artists and knights to send as an advance team. Then I’ll provide support.”

“What about after that?”

“Then, when everything is judged to be safe and there’s a role for you to play, the child can come as part of the follow-up team.”

“Hmm…”

Seeing Airi’s thoughtful expression, Declan slightly furrowed his brow.

Declan tried to share as much as possible with the children.

He thought the children fighting against the Pope also had the right to know the current situation.

However, he never expected that Serafin, who had been thinking deeply, would raise his hand high and volunteer.

“I’ll lead the advance team. The rest of you should position yourselves in the follow-up team.”

“Serafin? You’re still young.”

“I’m seventeen now. All my Academy friends have also enlisted in the Imperial Army preparing for the demon war.”

“…”

“I can do it. Please let me. I want to personally punish those guys who bully little kids.”

While Declan was contemplating whether to entrust Serafin with the mission.

Suddenly, Airi thought that Serafin’s voice had become much deeper.

It seemed like it was definitely a boy’s voice before…

Airi looked at Serafin with fresh eyes.

‘Seraphine looks just like an adult.’

Before, he seemed even more immature than Airi, like a really, really childish kid…

Receiving Airi’s gaze, Serafin grinned and said.

“Well then, Airi. This big brother shall become a great dark lord who conquers darkness and return…”

After hearing those words, Airi suddenly became confused again.

Serafin might still be a child after all.

* * *

The advance team, Serafin led the elite troops toward the place where the Pope was said to be staying.

Declan decided to protect Serafin from below the mountain ridge.

The follow-up team of Berry and Airi, along with Grandmother and Grandfather, were staying in a nearby cabin.

Airi waited for Serafin’s transmission while holding the crystal orb in her hand.

In case a situation arose where she needed to absorb magi, she also gripped a teleport scroll with coordinates set so she could move faster than anyone else.

As she tensed up considerably, Serafin’s voice came from inside the crystal orb.

“Entering the mountainside. The hideout should appear soon.”

Serafin, acting like an adult again… she thought, but only briefly.

Holding the crystal orb in one hand and waving around his surroundings with the other, Serafin narrowed his eyes and said.

“Airi, can you see this? This acorn looks just like you.”

Serafin and the elite martial knights inside the crystal orb looked very peaceful.

Airi made an annoyed expression at Serafin’s characteristic mischievous teasing.

“I am not an acorn.”

“You’re as small as an acorn.”

“I’m going to get really big soon!”

Airi swung both fists threateningly.

Serafin, I won’t forgive you.

He had touched upon Airi’s sore spot – her small stature that was unbefitting of a hero.

Nevertheless, Serafin chuckled and nodded his head.

“Right, little shorty. Just watch carefully for now.”

“Ugh…”

The search continued for quite a while like that.

It was when Serafin and the elite forces had passed the mountainside and climbed toward the peak.

Serafin’s expression, which had been grinning while gripping the crystal orb, suddenly became serious.

“It got dark.”

“…?”

“Just like someone turned off the lights.”

The puzzled expression of Serafin, who was part of the ‘advance assault team,’ was visible.

At that moment, Airi held her breath tightly.

Serafin didn’t seem to notice yet, but behind him…

Roughly more than five expressionless people appeared and surrounded the mountain.

They looked as if they were drawing a magic circle.

They looked exactly like dark mages.

“Seraphine! Look behind you!”

“Brother, there are dangerous people behind you…”

Berry and Airi shouted loudly at the same time.

Grandmother and Grandfather also immediately reached for their teleport scrolls.

“Should we move?”

Airi gripped the crystal orb tightly with her sweaty hands.

But Serafin, that is, this young boy who had the Black Flame Dragon sealed within his body…

“Oh my.”

Was still carefree.

“Airi, watch carefully.”

With those words, he grinned and turned around.

“Your big brother will take care of these small fries.”

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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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