The Unfilial Heir Who Tries to Kill Me Tempts Me - Chapter 28

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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 28.

“I have a good idea.”
All eyes turned toward me at once.
“What if we tried using a Steel Golem?”
“A Steel Golem? Isn’t that a magical beast that only appears in legends?”
“Yes, but they do actually exist. They’re just so rare that they’re almost never found.”
A Steel Golem’s body is as hard as Orichalcum, and when properly worked, yields something as light as Mithril.
“I believe I’ve read of them in old texts as well. There are records of Steel Golems being sighted thousands of years ago.”
“If we could use a Steel Golem’s body, the armor problem would seem solved… but even if we found one, would it cooperate willingly?”
“Don’t worry about that. Golems have extraordinarily strong bonds within their kind. Even across different species.”
I have Golsun, after all, and a token I received from the Golem leader.
[Squeak.]
Golsun puffed out his chest proudly and stretched his body.
Kaius asked me.
“Can you find their habitat?”
“Of course.”
I’m the author, after all.
I’d naturally know where they live.
“A Steel Golem? A magical beast? I’m going. Let me come too!”
Eden, who had been listening, lit up and started bouncing excitedly.
“I’ve never actually seen a Steel Golem before, you know. Right? Contractor!”
Look at how excited he already was at the mere mention of a magical beast.
“Then should you and I go together?”
“Yes! The Contractor is the best!”
“No, I’ll go.”
Kaius interjected, grabbing Eden by the scruff of his neck as he cheered.
“…Your Grace?”
Out of nowhere?
“The Steel Golem’s habitat is quite far. Are you certain you can leave your territory for days?”
“I sent a dark mage and a demon together already. What trouble could arise? Besides, this demon still has work to finish here.”
He gestured with his chin toward the ravaged village.
Eden’s eyes widened.
“We can just restore it before we leave!”
“Denied.”
“Why! Who do you think you are!”
“I’m the final authority in this territory. Remember it from now on.”
Kaius smiled and teased Eden.
Quite the way to handle the boy.
…Wait, he’s two hundred years old, so maybe not a boy? Though his mental age seems considerably younger than his physical form.
I was standing there, pondering this strange picture in earnest, when Kaius turned back to look at me.
“We depart in five days. Have everything you’re working on finished by then.”

***

“Your lord really gets on my nerves.”
“I get it. He’s a bit self-indulgent and narcissistic, but he’s not a bad person.”
“Either praise or curse—pick one and stick with it.”
Eden grumbled as he used his Authority to repair the broken walls.
“Ugh, when does this end?”
“Maybe you shouldn’t have summoned a griffin in the first place.”
“That was to demonstrate my authority…!”
“Sure, sure. Eat your bread while you work.”
I popped a fluffy cream puff into the complaining Eden’s mouth.
As Eden obediently chewed the bread in his mouth, he asked me something.
“But seriously, what are you? Some famous person only I don’t know about?”
Thirty minutes after entering the village to begin restoration work, my arms were full—laden with various breads, fruits, and snacks. All of them had been pressed into my hands by the villagers.
“Everyone you pass regrets not bringing you a gift.”
“Yeah, they really like you.”
Even as I answered, a strange feeling washed over me.
When I first arrived in the Grand Duchy Territory, everyone called me a witch and avoided me like I was a plague. Now not only the castle staff but the people of the territory itself greeted me as “Magician” and approached me with warmth.
It struck me anew how much my situation had changed.
“What is it? Why are you suddenly getting all emotional?”
“It’s moving, isn’t it?”
“Contractor, you’re a noble, aren’t you? You must’ve received gifts far grander than this. Getting sentimental about it now is….”
“No, I haven’t. This is my first time.”
“Huh?”
“I’ve never received anything like this before.”
Charlotte’s life, just like my real life, had been far removed from a life where someone loved you.
Eden gave me a puzzled look but didn’t press further. Even if he looked young as spring grass, at two hundred years old a Demon Race would grasp what I meant well enough.
“But contractor, are you sure it’s safe for just you and that lord to go where the Steel Golem is?”
“I’m worried too, but if things go south, I can borrow your Authority, so it should be fine, right?”
Honestly, the only thing I could trust in that dungeon was my precious mana battery.
The Steel Golem hadn’t been discovered by humans for thousands of years for a reason. They slumbered deep underground in the Ancient Dungeon.
“Old dungeons hide who-knows-what. It’ll be dangerous—wouldn’t it be better if you came with me instead? You won’t even need to borrow my Authority; I’ll handle everything.”
There he goes with those bright, sparkling eyes again.
Separate from the fact that Kaius was a master swordsman of incredible skill, the Ancient Dungeon was a place teeming with outlandish traps and archaic magic.
Even I didn’t know exactly what lurked within it.
“Tell that useless human to stay behind. I’d be more help than some sword-swinger, right?”
“Why don’t you tell Kaius that yourself? I’m curious what he’d say.”
“…I still don’t like your lord.”
Even you’d have to admit words wouldn’t stand a chance against him.
I agreed.
“He’s got me doing boring grunt work while he goes off having all the fun. Petty, pathetic human.”
Oh, our teenage Demon Race was working himself into quite the temper.
I popped another cream puff bread into his mouth to placate him.
“My goodness, aren’t you the Magician?”
Just then, a tall woman carrying a basket spotted us and greeted us warmly.
“I’m Mary. My husband mentioned that you replaced the security chief for us? He’s worked in the security force and suffered no end of grief because of that previous commander.”
“It was nothing, really.”
“I’ve been wanting to thank you in person. I feel I should give you something in return….”
“That’s kind, but as you can see, I’ve already received quite a lot.”
I waved the bundles in both my hands as if to refuse. Mary nodded in understanding.
“Then please accept this, at least. It’s not much, but my family has been working metal for generations.”
She unpinned a brooch from her chest and fastened it to my coat. This time I couldn’t bring myself to refuse, so I managed an awkward smile. Truth be told, my hands were too full to push back anyway.
“And this person is…?”
“Heh, so you can finally see me, is that it?”
Mary’s gaze belatedly turned toward Eden.
Now that I thought about it, the ordinary residents had no idea this fellow was the mastermind behind the griffin incident.
“He’s my assistant, Eden, who works with me. He’s the one who restored this entire village.”
“Oh my goodness.”
Mary gasped softly in admiration.
“Could this be your younger brother, perhaps? You two seem to look rather alike.”
She gestured between my wavy silver hair and Eden’s pure white hair.
Now that she mentioned it, the hair color did bear some resemblance.
I thought nothing of it, but Eden’s pride took a blow at being called younger brother—his face scrunched up sharply.
“Listen here, human. Don’t speak carelessly….”
“You’re truly amazing! Using such high-level magic at such a young age! Is this the standard for Magicians? My goodness, you’re so impressive.”
Eden clamped his mouth shut.
But his lips kept twitching.
“What? Heh, I can fix a wall like this with my Authority anytime I please. Look!”
Burst!
Eden, shoulders flying high with pride, began bouncing about as he loudly set about reconstructing the fallen wall.
Why was he suddenly spraying multicolored rainbows into thin air? That wasn’t how his Authority normally worked at all.
Mary erupted in continuous gasps of wonder, clapping her hands like a seal.
“Ha! Now do you understand how magnificent I am?”
“You’re truly marvelous!”
“Heh!”
It’s nice that he’s so simple-minded.

***

“You’re ready, aren’t you?”
“How many times are you going to ask?”
“I told you already. We’re talking about the Ancient Dungeon. I don’t know what traps might be inside either. It’s bound to have ancient magic of some kind. So….”
“All right, I promise not to drop my guard. Now, how about we finally get going?”
Maybe I was nagging too much.
But there’s no harm in being careful.
“Squeak!”
I cradled Golsun against my chest and opened a Silent Magic circle with my other hand.
A blue magic circle blazed beneath my feet.

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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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