The Seven-Year-Old Village Chief in Exile - Chapter 114

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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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Chapter 114
To Comer, the Octo Trading Company must have been a precious treasure beyond measure.
‘I heard it from Popina.’
The Octo Trading Company had begun as a small shop built together with his wife.
There he had saved money, built a home, experienced every joy and sorrow, and lived meeting countless people.
The Octo Trading Company was his very life.
But if he continued to hold onto it, when all these secrets came to light, he would face ruin.
‘And the Emperor will pretend ignorance and sever ties.’
Just as he burned down the Antemma Research Institute to cover it up.
Just as he transformed the servants of the Deste Estate into undead.
‘That monster is capable of anything!’
Though his sons were the ones who committed the crimes, Comer would die alongside them in the end.
Of course, his second son Kevilius as well.
“I am Clavis. Like your son, I was falsely accused and sent into exile.”
I laid bare the truth to persuade him—only as much truth as he could bear, of course.
“Not only me, but all twelve prisoners, including Popina, were falsely accused by the Imperial Court.”
“All of you?”
“To a monster of an Emperor who kidnaps orphans for human experimentation, everything in the world is merely material and chess pieces.”
“……”
Comer glanced toward the secret passage laid bare before us.
‘Edul was right.’
Kevilius and Comer had rescued the remaining orphans and Edul to prevent their family’s crimes.
“The village where we live is nestled inside the Primordial Forest.”
“But there are monsters there……!”
“Father, Izelium Village is the safest place in the world.”
Popina spoke up to support him.
“It is a place Clavis protects.”
“My youngest……”
“And it is the only place beyond the Emperor’s reach.”
“I know this sounds cruel.”
Comer had said firmly that he no longer saw Arun and Kanna as his children, but I knew that wasn’t truly his heart—for hadn’t he secretly watched over Popina even when he ran away insisting he would become a cook?
Yet this situation was entirely different from that time.
He needed to steel his resolve.
And I decided to help him make that cruel resolve.
“If you stand with me, I will promise you this one thing.”
The lives of Arun and Kanna.
At my promise, Comer’s eyes widened.
Popina rushed to interject.
“Hebenia! No! These two have committed grave sins! For you to shield them that far……!”
“I’m not granting them absolution.”
All I could protect was their ‘lives’ alone.
“Arun and Kanna must face the price of their crimes. I will see to it, and for that very reason, they must live.”
I would ensure they never tasted true freedom again, locked away forever from the sun and moon that illuminate day and night.
At my words, Popina’s mouth eased into a slight smile of relief, and he turned to look at the merchant beside him.
“Father.”
“……”
“Hebenia—no, the Elder—has never once broken a promise. You respect her as much as I do.”
The sudden praise made me deeply embarrassed.
Seeing Verity grinning at my side only deepened my shame.
But thanks to that, the merchant seemed to have made his decision.
“I understand.”
Comer spoke with a hardened face.
“I will stand with Miss Clavis as well.”
“Th-thank you so much!”
I quickly extended my hand before him. Comer hesitated for a moment, then smiled quietly and took my hand.
‘Yes! The Izel Trading Company has earned a red arrow!’
Now there’s nothing left but to climb!
To have successfully recruited the very founder of the Southern Region’s greatest trading company!
The outcome exceeded my every expectation, and my heart swelled with a joy that threatened to burst.

With this, the trading company issue was as good as settled.
“We can work out the details before we head to that village inside the Primordial Forest.”
“Sounds good.”
“And…….”
This time, the trading company chairman made a request of me.
“Would you be willing to hear out an old man’s request?”
“Of course I can listen.”
If I don’t like what I hear, I can always sedate him and take him along anyway.
That’s how casually I thought about it then.
“It’s possible this matter may be somewhat dangerous for you, Miss Clavis.”
So when the trading company chairman continued with his actual request, I found myself genuinely taken aback.
* * *
The trading company chairman Comer left, saying he’d return tomorrow. Until the moment he departed, he kept hold of Popina’s hand.
“Father…….”
Popina wiped at his glistening eyes again and made a vow.
“I’ll show you a performance you won’t be ashamed of.”
…….
Performing in praise of a seven-year-old village chief right in front of his father?
‘Wouldn’t it be more dutiful not to show him?’
For the first time, I found myself wrestling with whether I should cancel the whole farce.
That evening.
When Ian, Modi, and Pex returned after wrapping up the factory preliminary contract, I told them the moving story from earlier in the day.
“That’s wonderful!”
“It’s fortunate we could clear up the misunderstanding between father and son.”
“I hope tomorrow will bring conversation between you two as well!”
All three of them rejoiced for him as if it were their own affair.
But the moment I told them about the request the trading company chairman had made of me, their expressions darkened.
“You’re going?”
At Ian’s question, I nodded.
“Getting the trading company chairman on board for just one tea party attendance? Of course I’m going.”
“But that tea party is…….”
Ian muttered in obvious displeasure.
“Being hosted by the Empress’s natal family, of all places.”
Hold on a moment.
The Empress was of commoner stock, and had even been a married woman before her husband.
Wasn’t it strange that such an Empress’s family possessed both the wealth and connections and social refinement to host a tea party?
In truth, when the Emperor was desperate to quell even some of the fierce resistance that had erupted like the sky splitting, he had the Empress adopted into a certain noble house.
That house became the Empress’s new natal family—none other than House Leten.
One of the most openly Imperial Faction supporters, they were originally mere provincial nobility, but have been climbing rapidly since becoming the Empress’s patrons.
“According to the trading company chairman, they’re holding a children’s tea party there.”
“A children’s tea party?”
Ian’s expression grew even more bewildered.
“The Countess Leten came down to Temari Territory, and she’s hosting a children’s tea party to gather the local gentry.”
“Using children as a shield while scheming something behind the scenes.”
“Even the trading company chairman doesn’t know what her real purpose is.”
The Southern Region was already suffering from poor public sentiment toward the Emperor due to the Bauhinnia Tree Epidemic.
A tea party gathering all the local gentry at once in such circumstances seems suspect.
“An invitation did arrive, but I had no child to bring, so I was in a bind…….”
“So you’re taking me along?”
“I’ll attend as the granddaughter of one of the staff members.”
Naturally, I’ll alter my appearance with a Magic Tool. Safety comes first.
‘Honestly, I’m rather looking forward to it.’
I’m finally getting to enjoy the kind of refinement befitting my birth.
‘Beautiful dresses, fine tea, and sweet pastries……!’
How befitting a noble young lady!
‘Hehe, I’ll hand off all the headaches to the trading company chairman, and just enjoy myself like a clueless, mischievous seven-year-old!’
* * *
The next day.
“Kevilius……!”
“Popina!”
“Brother!”
“What happened to your hair? You’re completely bald!”
The two brothers, reunited with genuine emotion, embraced each other tightly.
In the midst of it all, Kevilius reached out and touched the youngest’s bare scalp in disbelief.
“Brother, I shaved it myself on purpose. I’m a cook, after all.”
“Ah, that’s right.”
Even so, seemingly pleased by the sensation, Kevilius rubbed Modi’s head several times over.
“Right—the children…!”
“The children have been evacuated to a safe location,” I said, seizing the opening to slip in a word.
I spoke up quickly, seeing my chance.
“And I apologize for yesterday.”
I offered a full apology—both for suspecting him of being a kidnapper and for administering the anesthetic without hesitation.
Fortunately, Kevilius was truly a good person.
Not only did he forgive our mistakes, but he bowed his head in gratitude, insisting that he was thankful we’d safely evacuated the orphans and Edul.
“Besides, after such deep sleep, my body feels unusually light. I feel far more healthy than before.”
That was because I’d fed him Dultvebia Nutrient while he was unconscious, as a way of making amends for knocking him out.
‘For now, let’s keep it a secret.’
Giving medicine to an unconscious person wasn’t exactly the right thing to do, after all.
Kevilius exchanged greetings with everyone in the room.
“Brother, I met Father yesterday.”
Modi told him directly about what had happened the previous day.
Kevilius was genuinely delighted at the fact that the youngest and his father had finally cleared up their misunderstanding and reconciled.
“By the way, about the young lady…”
“My name is Hebenia. Hebenia Clavis.”
“……….”
The moment I said the name Clavis, Kevilius froze for just an instant.
But he quickly composed himself and continued what he’d been saying.
“So, the young lady will be attending the tea party with your father, then?”
He stroked his chin and tilted his head.
“Is that truly all right?”
“Yes. If there’s danger, we can simply flee.”
“No, that’s not what I mean…”
“Is there a problem?”
“I’ve seen the invitation to that tea party as well. Do you happen to know where the venue is?”
“No. I was planning to ask when the Trading Company chairman arrives today.”
“The venue for the tea party is the Sacred Shrine of the Divine.”
Olive, who had been leaning against the wall in silence, suddenly opened his eyes wide.
“What did you just say?”
Then he glared at Kevilius as if ready to devour him.
The interrogator’s expression, twisted so menacingly, should have been quite terrifying, yet Kevilius remained utterly unmoved.
“They have chosen the Sacred Shrine of the Divine as the venue for the tea party.”
“That’s a historical site under the management of the State Religion…!”
“Yet the tea party shall be held there.”
The most sacred of places had been reduced to mere entertainment.
It was also the Imperial Court’s way of demonstrating their dominance over the State Religion itself.
After all, House of Leten, who was hosting the tea party, was the most prominent faction of the Imperial Faction.
‘They’re retaliating for what happened on Deste Territory.’
And there was one more thing.
“Currently, both the Crown Prince and a royal prince are staying at the Sacred Shrine of the Divine.”
“Jesus.”
A breath escaped me before I could stop it.
‘If this goes wrong…!’
The machinations of adults seemed far less vicious than what the children had set in motion.

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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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