The Dutiful Kid Who Saved the Villainous Family - Chapter 224

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Side Story: Episode 24

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“There was a light curse on the music box.”
……So now they had decided to investigate exactly why Airi had become a child.
Declan settled Airi firmly on his lap and summoned the mage to the reception room.
And that was the answer they received.
Declan ground his teeth audibly.
“That Southern Souvenir Shop Owner—put out a bounty on them.”
As Declan’s expression twisted, the mage examining the music box opened his mouth cautiously.
“Yes, I understand. However, it’s not a powerful curse, so it will likely resolve itself in stages. It should take about a day.”
Then five-year-old Airi, sitting on Declan’s lap, poked her head forward and asked.
“Huh? What do you mean by ‘in stages’?”
The mage responded gravely to Airi’s innocent question.
“The curse will lift gradually, as your age increases step by step.”
“I see. So the child’s body has no issues then?”
“No, certainly none. Should I continue monitoring to be absolutely sure?”
Melissa Marquess, who had been staring blankly at the cute face of the now-childlike Airi, spoke coldly.
“How can she be so adorable. ……No, that’s not it. In any case, keep checking. We cannot allow anything to go wrong with the child.”
And, immediately after the Grandmother finished speaking…….
Airi began being shown off to literally every single person in Ortejo Castle!

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“Grandmother.”
“Yes, my granddaughter?”
……First on Declan’s lap, then on Melissa Marquess Grandmother’s lap, then on another grandmother’s lap…….
Five-year-old Airi’s body was being shuttled about constantly.
Now sitting on Berry’s lap, Airi gazed at Melissa Marquess Grandmother and murmured.
“It seems…… when the mind becomes young, the heart does too.”
The five-year-old Airi, lisping slightly, mumbled, “Mmm…”
“Still, being five years old is really…… I’m not used to this!”
Moreover, her mentality seemed to have shifted along with her childhood body. She kept having to restrain her sense of propriety, which caused constant trouble.
But separate from Airi’s struggles, the Grandmother’s eyes were lost in old memories.
The way Airi nestled into her embrace was so adorable that she recalled the Airi from long, long ago.
When that tiny five-year-old child had fit perfectly in her arms.
When she had sworn to protect this small child forever.

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When she closed and opened her eyes, she was nine-year-old Iarin.
“Huh?”
An unfamiliar face, an unfamiliar body. Waking up in this form felt strange.
‘I feel like I should be wearing a Taekwondo Uniform.’
As she found it odd, at some point she found herself perched on Grandmother’s lap.
‘Does Grandmother not know what Iarin looks like?’
……Or had her mother told her everything?
Either way, when she opened her eyes, she was already sitting on Grandmother’s lap in Iarin’s form, receiving affection.
‘Why have I even become this form?’
……She couldn’t figure out the reason at all.
“Oh my goodness, my dear!”
Airi couldn’t say a word as her cheeks were being squeezed thoroughly.
But as her body changed, so did her heart. Airi didn’t actually mind their affection.
No—it felt strangely gratifying.
Airi spoke with proper courtesy like Iarin had back then, formally and politely.
“Since I don’t know when I’ll change, please feel free to touch me all you like while you can.”
Those words made everyone’s eyes light up.
And…….
‘I’m going to break out.’
……Exactly one hour later, Airi began to regret her words.
They’d been touching her all day long.
Airi barely found peace and headed to her bedroom. Berry was beside her, but she was so exhausted she could barely speak to her.
Berry seemed to have much she wanted to say, but instead she tucked in the now-Iarin-faced Airi with a blanket and spoke gently.
“There’s really a lot I want to ask.”
“Mm.”
Berry smiled warmly.
“Just, get some rest soon. ……And.”
Berry pulled the bedridden Airi close and whispered softly.
“This form is cute, but grown-up Airi is cute too. So come back to me when you wake up.”
The tender, gentle voice eased away the tension Airi had felt all throughout the day.
Just then, Cookie appeared from nowhere and made a jab.
“Anyway, the sugar’s running out. Sheesh, how does someone without a lover even survive?”
At Cookie’s words, Berry whispered softly while still holding Airi.
“Not a lover—we’re married.”
Cookie collapsed to the floor with a shocked expression.
“That Berry really has gone all soft and buttery.”
Airi poked her head up slightly and spoke to Cookie gently.
“Still, it’s cute, so let it be.”
At those words, Cookie scrunched up her face and sighed before heading out through the window.
She had the Butter Knife Set for Cookie that Airi had prepared as a gift in her grip.
And…….
Before long, Airi lying in bed had buried her small face in Berry’s chest.
The small body fit easily within Berry’s large embrace.
That spirited child Iarin who had been reading a book called The Monster Clan of the Northern Snowy Plains.
That child had grown into a proper adult through the affection and love of countless people.
By saving this world, reviving her mother, and living peacefully with her family.
“I feel really proud of myself somehow.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, when I wake up…… I’ll make myself a new uniform and wear it.”
……Airi swallowed the words ‘I want to do Taekwondo’ and closed her eyes.
When she woke up, she’d be back to being grown up!

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……But that didn’t happen.
When she woke up, Airi was still nine-year-old Iarin.
But unlike last night, Airi was quite spirited about it.
After all, there was something she wanted to do in this body!
After tying snugly around her waist the Black Belt her father had made for her in childhood, inscribed with her name.
After putting on the Taekwondo Uniform that her skilled Grandmother had quickly made for her.
Airi began running through Ortejo Castle doing Taegeuk 1st Form eagerly, just as she had in those childhood days.
The other noble children in Ortejo Castle eagerly mimicked Airi’s movements in response to her commanding presence.
‘The babies copying me is cute, but is this okay?! It’s just temporary?!’
At that point, Airi thought all of this would end as nothing more than a small incident.
A perfectly ordinary happening—one that happened only to her.

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And the next morning.
Something truly horrific appeared before Serafin’s eyes.
Serafin stared blankly at the mirror. Normally he never looked at mirrors except while washing his face, but today there was a reason he absolutely had to look.
“My…… my face…….”
Serafin looked at his reflection in shock.
This wasn’t his adult face.
Serafin Ortejo.
Currently quite the adult, age-wise.
Had become thirteen years old!

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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