The Seven-Year-Old Village Chief in Exile - Chapter 86

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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 86
I asked Ian a few more questions about the Crown Prince.
“Do you know what the Crown Prince dislikes? It doesn’t matter the category. Just tell me everything you know he doesn’t like.”
“Does that matter? Shouldn’t we know what he likes so we can treat him properly when he—”
“What use is it to me knowing what that bastard likes?”
Perhaps because my memories of childhood were so faint, asking about the Crown Prince like this felt unbearably exhausting.
It was like forced emotional labor.
In the meantime, Flora—tired of the adults’ conversation—had wandered off to the pavilion outside the Training Ground with Verity.
I seized the opportunity to ask Ian about the Stria Household as well.
The information he gave me wasn’t much different from what Frelia had told me.
Except for one thing.
He possessed a valuable piece of information.
“And apparently, the Crown Prince doesn’t think much of them either.”
“You’re quite the information broker, aren’t you?”
Every question I asked, he delivered solid answers.
“But why doesn’t she like him?”
He’s the grandson that her precious daughter gave birth to at the cost of her own life—wouldn’t he be the apple of her eye?
From what I knew of the world, most grandmothers felt that way. The woman I’d believed was my grandmother in Korea certainly did.
‘Or did she recognize something in him from the start?’
Unfortunately, Ian didn’t know much beyond that either.
But he offered his own theory.
“Maybe seeing him reminds her of her dead daughter, and that’s painful for her.”
“That sounds plausible.”
Just then, Verity—I’m not sure when she’d returned—suddenly interjected.
“Or perhaps she hates him because he devoured her daughter?”
“Wow, being a Demon really does change your perspective…”
Her way of thinking was just different.
Ian and I exchanged a troubled glance, but Verity only grumbled as if she’d been wronged.
“Really, such wickedness is humanity’s exclusive domain, isn’t it? How many human parents commit terrible acts against their own children with all manner of excuses—’He looks like his father,’ ‘She takes after her mother’—there are so many.”
“Well… I suppose you have a point.”
“I apologize on behalf of humanity.”
There were certainly plenty of terrible parents in the world.
“Never mind.”
I moved on from my curiosity quickly.
“Should we even be worrying about someone else’s family troubles? Especially the family of the people who put us in this situation?”
My heart wasn’t generous enough for that.
“Anyway, thank you for telling me all this.”
“Did it help?”
“More than enough.”
So now it was my turn to repay Ian.
“How about we have dinner with Dalis today?”
“Wh-what?”
“Let’s eat together! Come on!”
Flora, acting as my assistant for the day, seized Ian’s hand and pulled him along.
“Mom said she’d make something delicious! It’s that thing where you cut vegetables into rounds and slice the tomatoes like this—”
“Ratatouille?”
“Yes!”
Ratatouille was a dish Popina had prepared to make the most of this season’s fresh vegetables that we’d just harvested.
“But ratatouille alone won’t provide enough protein.”
I spoke to Ian without a trace of hesitation.
“You’re good at cooking meat dishes. Make something for us. Flora and I are both growing, so we need plenty of meat.”
…
Ian, who’d been hesitant to answer, let out a helpless laugh and gave me a light look.
As if to say: ‘I’ll let this one slide.’
‘There—look how eager you are.’
See how the corners of his mouth turned up?
“If Dalis thinks it’s alright.”
But true to form, his consideration in not wanting his affection to become a burden on Dalis was truly admirable.
In the end, that evening our household shared dinner with the neighbors, and afterward Dalis and Ian stood side by side washing the dishes together.
* * *
A few days later.
Word came from Deste Temple.
Well, to be precise, I went to pry out that word myself.
“I’m not trying to rush you, but the High Priest has returned to himself, so, um, the First Aid Kit certification…?”
A sample First Aid Kit had just been completed, and I’d stopped by to promote it to the priests as well.
But what in the world was this about?
The moment Saker saw me, he teared up as if overwhelmed with emotion.
“Ah, so the young lady truly is….”
“Yes?”
“No, it’s nothing. Welcome, please.”
“Say, why are you making the sign of the cross the moment you see me? Have you sensed some demonic aura from me?”
I remembered that morning when I’d tried to sneak an extra strip of bacon and got caught in a petty argument with Verity.
Surely he hadn’t noticed that?
“I’m simply delighted to see you, young lady.”
“Why would you be happy to see me?”
“You have given us countless kindnesses, and in witnessing you who has performed miracles for us, how could we not rejoice?”
“…I’m not a saint.”
What’s gotten into this man, I wondered!
Unnerved by the suddenly lavish treatment, I sighed deeply despite myself.
‘Good grief, even Olive mistook me for a saint and it’s been driving me to distraction.’
I never thought I’d be caught in such a misunderstanding here too.
‘No, I didn’t do anything to cause this. I helped because we had mutual exchanges, so why are they suddenly falling into this delusion?’
Frustrated, I clicked my tongue.
This would put Dalis in an awkward position when she returned from her maternity leave later.
‘She’s the actual saint.’
Would these fools react this way if they knew the saint was a demon’s daughter?
I regarded Saker with a suspicious gaze.
I should test this once.
“So you’re going to let the baby saint touch the ground? Hurry and carry her. And hand over the treasury. Net me the amount after taxes. Clean calculation.”
“Ha ha, you’re quite the jester.”
“I’m not joking….”
Saker chuckled and showed me the way.
‘This fool, he won’t even carry me?’
And yet he dares treat me as a saint.
His faith is as solid as straw.
Annoyed, I revealed the truth.
“I made a contract with a demon. I’ve summoned demons four times now, and lord-class demons fawn all over me.”
“Ha ha ha, you’re truly hilarious.”
“I’m telling you—I’ve already said it, so don’t change your tune later.”
In the end, I walked on my own two feet, pitter-patter.
“This is the place.”
It was an elegant reception room—the kind used when receiving distinguished guests.
Until now, we’d always met hidden away inside or outside the temple depending on circumstances, so this was the first time I’d been shown into a proper room like this.
People who had arrived earlier were already in the reception room.
“Young lady.”
Cherdo the priest.
And.
“Allow me to introduce him. This is the High Priest who oversees Deste Temple.”
“Our noble benefactor.”
An elderly man with both temples cleanly shaved rose from his seat and bowed respectfully to me.
“It is an honor to meet you.”
“Oh no! The honor is mine!”
I hastily returned the bow, flustered.
Twenty-five years studying in Korea had soaked Confucian values into my very bones, so when an elder bowed this low to me, it made me deeply uncomfortable.
After exchanging greetings like that.
I declared the moment I sat down.
“I’m not a saint. Really, I’m not.”
“Yes, we shall keep this matter confidential.”
“Fine, go ahead and misunderstand as you like….”
Even after I explained, they insisted they would believe me, so what could I do?
‘I’ve done what I can.’
Having resigned myself to the outcome, Cherdo set a cup of tea before me.
I savored the bitter-sweet aroma and grumbled inwardly at what a handful this all was.
“I’ve heard from the two priests about what has transpired recently.”
The High Priest spoke with measured care.
Regret flickered across the old man’s lined face. I could only hope his remorse was genuine.
“Thank you most sincerely for your aid to Deste Temple and for helping so many people.”
“My good deeds are hardly spotless enough to deserve such gratitude.”
I spoke only the truth.
“I helped Deste Temple purely for my own gain, and I’ve merely assisted others when it suited my convenience.”
“Ah, so that is the manner of lady you are.”
……
How strange.
I’d laid bare my worldly motives so plainly, yet the High Priest gazed at me with unmistakable admiration.
The two priests beside him even glistened with unshed tears.
‘I truly haven’t the faintest idea what’s happening anymore…….’
Fine then. Misunderstand away.
I’ll simply look after my own interests.
“Let’s begin discussing the First Aid Kit.”
I’d decided to capitalize fully on the goodwill I’d cultivated.
“The First Aid Kit is medical supplies used when sudden injuries or emergencies occur.”
Swift initial treatment prevents secondary infection and eases pain, providing psychological reassurance.
Above all, when a physician cannot be summoned immediately, it offers the significant advantage of improving survival rates.”
“We’ll differentiate between household and field versions. For instance, household kits address minor ailments like fever or upset stomach, while field kits handle major emergencies like fractures or severe bleeding…….”
I showed them the business proposal I’d brought along.
The High Priest produced spectacles and studied the proposal in meticulous detail.
Saker and Cherdo examined the sample products I’d brought with equal care.
‘This reminds me of my office days.’
The feeling of submitting a proposal, awaiting review.
I knew they wouldn’t reject it outright, but there’s nothing quite as frightening as “what if.” I remained tense.
And then, after a brief moment.
“Excellent.”
The High Priest, still wearing his spectacles, smiled broadly.
“You asked for our assistance, yet we should be the ones thanking you for granting us the opportunity to participate. Your proposal is truly outstanding.”
Lavishing praise upon me, the High Priest explained in detail why he found my proposal so compelling.
“To be frank, something similar to this First Aid Kit already exists. But commercializing it is an entirely different matter.”
It comes down to who captures the market first.
The High Priest praised how I’d established the concept of the First Aid Kit and commercialized it before anyone else, thereby creating an entirely new market.
“Furthermore, if the first mover receives the Temple’s official endorsement, it becomes exceedingly difficult for competitors to catch up.”
……
“If the launch goes smoothly, you will monopolize the First Aid Kit market for the long term.”
……
“And Deste Temple’s endorsement can provide the foundation for that beginning.”
“Y-yes, of course…….”
I nodded slowly.
‘Has he studied business administration?’
The High Priest suddenly reminded me of a business professor.
‘In any case, how fortunate.’
The High Priest assured me he would present the First Aid Kit endorsement to the other priests at the next regular council meeting.
‘Everyone!’
We did it!
‘Goodness, tears are blurring my vision.’
I gently brushed my dry eyes with my fingers.
Thinking of all the effort the adults had poured into producing the goods, preparing the business proposal, and establishing the company, my heart swelled with emotion.
Next, the High Priest informed me of the documents I would need to bring by the following week, when the next council meeting would take place.
“I actually brought them just in case.”
“Ah, your preparation is truly as remarkable as I’d heard…….”
“Here they are.”
I opened a pocket dimension and produced the documents.
……
But the High Priest didn’t even glance at the papers I offered. He simply stared at me with eyes wide open in shock.

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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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