The Dutiful Kid Who Saved the Villainous Family - Chapter 18

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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 18

“Gasp! Over, over there!”

Just as Airi was about to approach where the knight order and Declan had gathered.

A sharp scream rang out from near the castle walls.

“De, demon…!”

“It’s an insect-type demon!”

Had it been stealthily hiding its presence until reaching its destination?

The demon that had released its invisibility near the castle walls roared loudly.

The demon flew toward the backs of knights who were just about to remove their armor.

The demon tried to engulf the area near the castle walls while emitting a terrifying dark aura.

Numerous servants stepped back in terror.

The knights also tensed at the demon’s attack stance, each gripping their weapons.

Airi held her breath.

‘Should I save everyone if they get hurt?’

Just as she was thinking that.

Declan, who had been watching the situation with a bored expression from the castle walls, immediately appeared before the demon.

Though he looked strong, his eyes held both determination and fatigue simultaneously.

The hand holding his ego sword trembled slightly, but he stood firmly blocking the demon.

Matching the demon’s charging movement, Declan’s sword emitted a cold light as it cut through the air.

The moment the sword energy and demon collided.

Everyone around held their breath in unison.

The demon’s body was instantly split in half by Declan’s single strike.

The knights and servants who witnessed this couldn’t hide their amazement.

However, at that moment, the demonic energy that burst from the split demon tried to engulf Declan.

“Gasp!”

Someone’s short cry echoed through the castle.

Then, Declan’s ego sword glowed again.

He swung his sword with one hand, cutting down even the demonic energy rushing toward him in mid-air.

“De, demonic energy can be cut with a sword?”

Shocked whispers could be heard from various places.

Thanks to Lord Ortejo easily defeating the demon, the situation was quickly resolved.

Most of the servants let out sighs of relief and chattered away.

“With Lord Ortejo here, Ortejo Castle is safe.”

“That’s right, His Lordship has always been a strong person.”

“Even if demons come right to our doorstep, they’ll just die. It’s fortunate, isn’t it?”

The servants who had gathered to one side in admiration spotted Airi and bowed in greeting.

Airi likewise offered greetings toward them.

However, unlike the bright and relieved atmosphere around her, Airi’s expression wasn’t very good.

Airi now knows.

Everyone at Ortejo Castle relies tremendously on the Elder.

So is that why people can’t see it?

Or does Airi have good eyes because she’s a hero?

‘The Elder looks a bit tired.’

Moreover, part of the demonic energy he had cut was absorbed back into his body.

Declan’s expression remained firm and he didn’t stagger.

But after silently cutting the demonic energy, Declan took a deep breath and thrust his sword into the ground.

It was the appearance of someone struggling to endure.

Airi instinctively noticed.

That he kept clenching his fists and very occasionally, subtly furrowing his brow.

That there was some kind of discomfort contained in his face.

‘It feels really unsettling.’

Wondering if something was wrong, she wanted to follow the Elder.

But Declan walked away with large strides and disappeared.

Then Cookie quietly murmured.

“That guy has been acting pretty strange ever since he measured your immunity.”

“…”

“His condition isn’t getting worse, is it?”

Airi looked at Declan’s retreating figure.

‘Should I go check on him? I’m worried.’

Then Cookie muttered.

“Seeing him head toward his bedroom, he must be going to rest.”

At the mention of rest, Airi suddenly recalled her father from the past.

On the day she was going on a kindergarten field trip.

She had asked her father to go to the park in front of their house.

“I need to rest on weekends. Don’t bother me when I’m resting. You’re not even helpful.”

Unhelpful children shouldn’t bother adults when they’re resting. If she did that, far from becoming close with the Elder, she would end up being hated.

‘I should give my thanks and show my concern tomorrow.’

Because the Elder said he needs to rest.

Airi maturely decided to return to her room.

However, somehow her steps toward her room became slower.

* * *

Even when the next morning came, and the morning after that, and the morning after that too.

The Elder was nowhere to be seen.

In the meantime, she ate food until her stomach was about to burst. She took naps and slept soundly. She even practiced forms out of boredom. She wrote letters to Grandmother and took walks with the maids.

But…!

‘I’m so worried! Time isn’t passing!’

Airi looked around restlessly and let out a deep sigh.

Ever since she saw him defeat the demon that day, the Elder had disappeared.

Even though it was confirmed that she was immune, the Elder wouldn’t meet with Airi.

On the tightly closed door, only a sign reading [Airi Entry Prohibited] hung there.

‘I know the Elder needs to rest, but…’

In the end, her desire to give thanks won out.

And Airi Ortejo, being a child who doesn’t know how to give up, found a method.

‘I’ll knock on the door and politely ask why entry is prohibited!’

So she stealthily ran back to Declan’s bedroom.

But naturally, she was caught red-handed by the Head Maid.

“Lady Airi, you’ve come to meet Lord Ortejo, haven’t you?”

“Yes! I want to meet him!”

The Head Maid who saw Airi standing tall quietly murmured.

“I see…”

“Yes. But the Elder won’t meet with me. So I’m going to wait here like a good child!”

“Ah…”

The Head Maid’s gaze deepened considerably.

She seemed to be contemplating something.

Airi, like a child who respects adults, waited for the Head Maid’s answer.

After a moment, the Head Maid spoke in a very low voice.

“Lady Airi.”

“Yes?”

“In about 5 minutes, the rear entrance that only servants use will open very briefly.”

“Yes…”

“Really, just 5 minutes. And just in case, I’ll have you wear demonic energy blocking clothes. 5 minutes will be enough. Just take a very quick look and come back.”

“But, still. If I do that, wouldn’t the Elder dislike it?”

That’s right.

Except for that one incident, Airi was still a child very faithful to K-Confucianism.

But right at that moment.

The Head Maid chuckled softly and said.

“No, I think he’d actually like it?”

“….”

As soon as she saw her smile, Airi realized.

The fact that the Head Maid had mustered great courage.

They were strangely sincere about letting Airi and the Elder be together.

Airi bowed her head.

“Thank you!”

And so, after changing clothes with a pounding heart.

5 minutes passed, and Airi used the small passage to enter through the slightly open door crack.

She could see the Elder sleeping with his eyes closed on the sofa.

‘Gasp, was he just sleeping because meeting me was bothersome?’

A slight sense of betrayal welled up in her stomach, but Airi endured it.

And….

Feeling something strange, Airi blinked her eyes.

‘For some reason, I feel suffocated.’

Airi looked around quickly.

She had to obey what adults said. So Airi couldn’t approach the sofa very closely.

However….

Declan’s voice could be heard. It was a voice as if searching for someone. Airi flinched and rolled her eyes.

‘They said I could stay for 5 minutes, so maybe very, very sneaking around is okay?’

Airi carefully approached closer to him.

Clearly, Airi was a child who always obeyed adults’ words.

But as if bewitched, she kept getting closer to the Elder.

Then, Cookie, who was in her pocket, sent a telepathic message.

[Are you trying to purify? You can’t. The demonic energy is too strong for you to purify. You’re still a seed hero.]

Around the time Cookie’s worried words ended.

Airi glanced down at the Elder who had gotten much closer.

‘He’s frowning!’

Looking at his deeply furrowed brow, Airi thought.

Was he having a sad dream?

‘Even if he doesn’t smile, I wish he had his usual expressionless face.’

Airi was a child who never touched someone’s face without permission.

Because her instructor said she shouldn’t touch people carelessly.

But she didn’t know where this impulse came from.

Airi’s round, chubby hand momentarily brushed against the Elder’s jet-black hair.

Her fingertips tingled, and her heart swelled severely.

At that moment, she saw an illusion as if a black water barrier was being erected around Declan.

At the same time, Airi was thrown to the floor with a great shock.

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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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