Translator: Nox

Chapter 28

Iri muttered softly outside the door.

"I wanted to show you awound the woom. You can use that woom fow a bit!"

Ah, no wonder.

A room this amazing probably wasn't for him.

He'd probably get chased to the barn soon.

*'Know your place, Karhen.'*

How dare a mere experiment subject think of using a nice room.

Karhen quietly glared at the pure white bed.

Such a pure white, fluffy bed wasn't for him.

He curled up in the corner without even a small blanket.

Still, it was more comfortable than the Magic Tower.

 

"Does it huwt a wot......? Wanna go with me?"

 

Was it because that voice like sunlight-filled lullaby kept echoing in his ears?

Karhen slept soundly for over an hour for the first time in ages.

That felt strange.

Just a little.

 

* * *

 

The next morning.

Iri was hyping herself up with Cookie in her room.

"Uh, why the serious face? Things turned out great, didn't they?"

Iri shook her head side to side.

They were definitely washed clean.

No sunlight in the North, but she dried them crisp in the shade. Even dressed them in cool clothes.

But Karhen wouldn't look at Iri's eyes.

He said thanks, but it didn't feel sincere.

His door was always firmly shut. Just like Karhen's coldly closed heart.

*'Does he hate it cuz there's no pwoper woom and I gave him an owd one?'*

Iri pondered deeply.

If he hated the current room, she could switch with her own.

Iri looked around at the lace-laden curtains and cute bunny dolls and thought.

This room would surely make Karhen happy too, right?

*'Supew supew cute!'*

 

* * *

 

Meanwhile, Declan had neatly finished cleaning monsters around Ghost Castle outskirts.

He also had a brief meeting with the Magic Tower wizards near Ghost Village.

The wizards usually didn't eat properly and were in bad shape, coughing constantly.

But today, not only did they look healthy, their eyes sparkled.

On top of that, they welcomed him with strangely envious gazes.

"Ah, lately thanks to the Magic Tower 5 Commandments, we've become morning people."

"Ah, really? Not that curious. Report what you did in Ghost Village."

"Too bad. Would've been nice if you were curious. Anyway, we cast shield magic all around."

"Not bad. And?"

"Ah, and the Northern Magic Tower Master sent a report on misuse of research funds."

Among the empire's five Magic Towers, the Northern Magic Tower belonged to the Ortejo family.

They provided a certain level of research funds to the Northern Magic Tower.

They received reports on misuse of research funds from the Northern Magic Tower.

The wizard handed the <Magic Tower Report> to Declan with both hands.

*'Thought they didn't know manners and ate them with cereal. Weird.'*

Declan raised one eyebrow curiously and looked at the report.

"What's this."

"Pardon?"

"Why is the Northern Magic Tower budget usage report turned into a praise report for my daughter?"

He knew Iri had been going in and out of the Northern Magic Tower lately.

But......

 

[Magic Tower Interior Photo]

Footnote 12) All curses erased, extremely clean state.

No budget used; wizards did the work themselves.

(All just following cute and lovable Lady Iri's 5 Commandments! Purification Sorcerer Martin.)

 

Declan frowned checking the Magic Tower interior.

"My daughter is cute and lovable."

Raspin thought inwardly.

*'That arm-seller. Say that to Lady Iri.'*

A smile tried to bloom on Declan's lips reading the report full of Iri's praise, then stopped.

 

[Researchers Lady Iri expressed discomfort to: Molding and 3 others]

 

Declan frowned and handed the report to Raspin.

"Process the names written here. Starting with that Molding whatever."

"Ah, got it. Leave it to me! Now, shall we head back to the castle? Gotta go see cute and lovable Lady Iri!"

"Was heading there anyway."

They were returning to Ortejo Castle, chatting idly.

But right as they entered the street where the castle gates were visible.

"Eh? Isn't that Lady Iri over there?"

Declan spotted Iri who had come out to the gates to greet him.

"......Seems so. Came to greet me."

For some reason, something warm slowly spread from a corner of his heart.

But right as he stepped forward feeling touched.

Raspin doused him with cold water.

"Wow, next to Lady Iri....... Huh? What's that?"

"Weird. Am I seeing things?"

There was an unfamiliar face next to Iri.

Blue hair, blue eyes, some unknown kid.

Declan rubbed his forehead and muttered.

"What, where'd you pick this up?"

 

* * *

 

To confirm all this, seats were prepared in the dining room.

Declan heard every detail of Iri's actions.

First from Iri's mouth, then the servants', and finally the Magic Tower people's.

 

"Lady Iri chased out the guys doing weird experiments in the Magic Tower!"

"Even we at the Magic Tower didn't know!"

 

After dealing with the Erbeze family and returning, to think his young daughter had become a hero at the Magic Tower.

Declan rubbed his forehead troubled and asked Iri.

"Why not wait till I got back?"

"No time-nimida."

"......Then why not call an adult?"

"Cawwed an aduwt, Mawtin Teachaw-nimida!"

Why was she so articulate?

Declan had to caution Iri.

"Could be dangerous, so no more acting alone without saying. If you keep solo actions."

Declan sternly pressed his fork.

"I'll make you eat broccoli that kids hate."

But Iri was a formidable opponent.

Her purple eyes sparkled as she said loudly.

"Wow! Then I'ww do wots and wots of sowo actions-nimida! Bwoccomi! Hammuni awways bowwed it fow me-nimida! Supew supew best taste-nimida! Aduwts must wuv bwoccomi too-nimida!"

*Doesn't like it, absolutely.*

Declan steeled himself and said.

"Then, I'll make you eat very bitter, nasty-tasting mugwort greens too?"