The Teddy Bear Sends the Insomniac Villain to Dreamland - Chapter 74
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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 74
A teddy bear that could speak.
Ren and Mystic shuddered violently.
“What is this?!”
“A ghost in the treasure?!”
But they quickly regained their composure.
“No, wait. If it’s a talking teddy bear, could it be magic?”
Like any ordinary person, they assumed the Mages had enchanted a doll to speak.
However, Nix shook her head with an oddly satisfied expression.
“No, that’s not it. I am a magical teddy bear, but I wasn’t created through magic. It’s on a different level entirely.”
I glanced at Nix, who appeared delighted. She seemed to take immense pride in their shock at learning this about me.
Then I should give them an even greater surprise.
I called out to these Mages from the Human World, whom I was properly conversing with for the first time in ages.
“I am far more than a mere doll. I am…”
“I am…?”
“….”
I heard them swallow hard, their throats audibly constricting.
A palpable tension filled the Reception Room. I had been about to shout loud enough to make this hushed space ring with my declaration, but I hesitated.
‘Wait. I can’t reveal my identity here, can I?’
According to the contract I had made with Blake, I couldn’t directly reveal myself as a witch unless the situation was unavoidable.
…Hmm.
I couldn’t break the contract.
What should I say to surprise them? I paused to collect myself and let my mind work.
If I couldn’t reveal my identity directly, then I would have to make those Mages figure it out themselves.
Soon, a lie that would capture their interest came to mind.
“I am a magical teddy bear with extremely close ties to a dragon!”
Boom.
The Reception Room table swayed precariously as the two Mages leaped from their seats.
Their reaction was far more intense than I had anticipated, and I was thoroughly satisfied.
It wasn’t really a lie at all. My butler at Halloway Castle, the dragon Max, and I were family.
Ren, who had shot up from the sofa, leaned his upper body forward and thrust his face toward me.
“Did you just say dragon?”
“Yes. Dragon. The kind of dragon you Mages know well.”
And our Max is a terrifying dragon when he gets angry.
I didn’t mention that part. Even without it, a wild gleam was already dancing in both Mages’ eyes.
“Who, who exactly are you?”
Mystic couldn’t tear his gaze away from me.
His expression showed he had never dreamed that the teddy bear they had come seeking as treasure could speak.
“I told you—it’s Vivian. Please speak respectfully.”
I signaled to Nix, who was frowning and growing angry, that it was fine.
“It’s Vivian. Nice to meet you.”
Ren turned to Mystic and asked.
“There were stories that the treasure could speak?”
“No.”
“Then this bear doll isn’t the treasure we were looking for?”
“That’s not it either. It’s a bit strange, but it’s definitely correct. It’s the Magic Tower’s treasure. The treasure Alfredo was searching for.”
This time, Ren’s gaze turned toward me.
He examined me curiously from every angle before asking.
“Treasure. What’s your real identity?”
“Want to hear it? Then tell me first. You know who I am, don’t you? No—do you know what this ‘bear doll’ is?”
The answer to the question I’d been searching for since falling into the Human World trapped in this bear doll was finally within reach.
I couldn’t let this opportunity slip away.
“Tell me. Ever since that banquet, you’ve been calling me ‘ours.’ Explain why I’m the Magic Tower’s treasure.”
My eyes gleamed with the intensity of someone ready to threaten if they didn’t comply.
“…Uh, ahem.”
At that, Ren awkwardly stepped back and sat down.
His black eyes blinked, alternating between appearing and disappearing.
He looked slightly frightened yet unable to hide his curiosity—the very picture of a typical mage.
Since there was no need to rush, I sprawled out lazily to the side.
Mystic, who had been listening quietly, stepped forward.
“Because you are truly the Magic Tower’s treasure. A precious doll that the Archmage Alfredo received from his grandfather when he was young and cherished dearly.”
“So I’m the Archmage’s attachment doll?”
“That’s correct. Though it’s difficult to call it merely an ‘attachment doll,’ Alfredo did treasure you. He lost you a little over fifty years ago.”
Do people usually call such things treasures?
Is everything an Archmage cares for considered a treasure?
Noticing me muttering inwardly that the Magic Tower seemed more authoritarian and closed-minded than it appeared, Mystic quickly made excuses.
“Anything belonging to an Archmage is recorded in history. Even a tissue he used to blow his nose!”
“Ugh.”
“…How disrespectful!”
Mystic was apparently a huge fan of the Archmage.
I shrugged apologetically, though honestly, a used tissue was rather gross.
Nix’s face was equally scrunched up in agreement with my sentiment.
“Ahem! In any case, you are our Magic Tower’s treasure. Since you originally belonged to Alfredo, you naturally must return to the Magic Tower. If you come with us, we’ll ensure you live in wealth and glory!”
“Ah, so that’s why you came looking. And you brought all that money?”
“Money alone? We brought jewels as well.”
Mystic picked up the money pouch and jewelry box he’d set on the floor and placed them with a thud on the chair beside the table.
Then he opened both the pouch and the jewelry box wide. Gold coins glinted inside the money pouch, and jewels gleamed with brilliant light.
Before I knew it, I sprang from my seat and thrust my face into the pouch.
“Lady Vivian?”
“Oh. Ahaha. Hahaha!”
I awkwardly rubbed the back of my head and leaned back, but it seemed my excessive interest had already been noticed.
Mystic’s face brightened slightly.
Catching a glimmer of hope, he spoke with renewed vigor.
“I can give you all of this money! With this amount, you could even purchase a fine mansion in the Capital!”
“Me? But you said you need to take me with you? Then I wouldn’t be able to keep that money anyway.”
As I pointed to myself, Mystic stammered in confusion.
“Ah, well… wouldn’t it still benefit the Leblanc Family?”
“Sure, I suppose. But what’s the point? It’s not my money.”
My interest evaporated instantly.
It wasn’t my money anyway, and truthfully, that amount wasn’t substantial enough to tempt me.
I leaned back and shook my head.
“Forget the money. I’m curious about something else.”
“What might that be?”
“The historical records in the Magic Tower.”
“…Pardon?”
Nix’s eyes widened as well.
She seemed to recall the conversation we’d had days ago.
“You said the historical records in the Magic Tower contain everything related to magic? I want to see them.”
“Those are treasures as well. They contain records of hidden mages and even classified operations of the Magic Tower!”
“That’s exactly why I want to see them.”
“Oh dear…”
Faced with this difficult conversation, Mystic pressed his forehead and leaned back.
“I don’t have the authority for that. I would need to ask Alfredo.”
“And if you ask, will he permit it? Of course he’ll refuse.”
Ren set down his teacup with a sharp clink, speaking sarcastically.
“I’ll show you in secret. In exchange, let me examine you. A talking bear doll without any magic cast on it—that’s a research subject worth studying.”
Mystic was taken aback.
“Absolutely not, Ren. Don’t talk nonsense.”
“Vivian, that won’t work.”
Nix also objected.
Ren wiggled his feet and muttered in frustration.
“Mystic, you know you’re curious too—we can’t just brush past this. A bear doll acquainted with a dragon? And it was our treasure? I want to know right now.”
His expression was one of barely contained greed, as if he might reach for me at any moment.
Facing that blatant desire, I smiled wickedly.
I’d sensed it since the banquet hall last time—he was an amusing mage.
An eccentric mage with unbridled curiosity and reckless impulses.
Even compared to the mages I’d met two hundred years ago when I descended into the Human World, he was peculiar and fascinating.
Meanwhile, Mystic beside me seemed more rational for a mage.
He tried to placate Ren.
“Regardless, you can’t just do as you please. You can’t act so carelessly outside the Magic Tower.”
“Ugh, tsk. No wonder the Magic Tower says you’re no fun.”
The two of us bickered back and forth as time slipped away. Soon, a knock sounded from outside.
Knock, knock.
Ronald opened the door and entered, offering a polite announcement.
“Mage. I apologize for the intrusion, but might your conversation extend further? We are preparing dinner.”
“No, no. Ha. We were just leaving.”
Mystic waved his hand dismissively and grabbed at Ren’s sleeve, pulling him to his feet.
“Hey, why are you doing this? Let go. I need to figure something out.”
“Shh! Be quiet and let’s go.”
Mystic gestured toward the money pouch and jewelry box spread wide open before him, addressing me.
“Please take all of this. It is a gesture of goodwill from our Magic Tower. And I would be most grateful if you would reconsider our proposal.”
With that, he hurried out of the Reception Room.
My eyes met Ren’s only briefly as Mystic dragged him away.
He mouthed something to me.
‘Two days from now, 2 o’clock. Central Plaza. I’m abducting you.’
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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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