Lord Baby Runs A Romance Fantasy With Cash [EN]: Chapter 42

Riding the Romance Fantasy with Baby-nim’s Cash – Episode 42 (42/353)

☆ Chapter 42 ☆

“Novel Summon!”

[Please state the 〈Novel〉 to summon.]

“〈I Ended Up Serving the True Tyrant〉.”

[Using Cash to summon the novel 〈I Ended Up Serving the True Tyrant〉.]

[Using the trait 〈Rush and Cash〉 to extract the abilities of the female protagonist from the 〈Novel〉.]

Whir—.

The book glowed, its pages turning, the existing text disappearing and new text being inscribed.

And four heart-cut crystals floated up.

There were five abilities that could be extracted, but since one was already in use, it seemed only four appeared.

“I have to choose well.”

If I get something like 〈Cough, Cough, Gush!〉 again, I’m doomed.

I only have one chance left!

I swallowed hard and chose the crystal on the far right.

Please……!

[You have selected the ability 〈Face the Tax Bomb!〉.]

‘T-Tax Bomb?!’

It was an ability that made the heart of a commoner tremble just hearing about it.

But paying taxes is the duty of a law-abiding citizen!

Just looking at the name of the ability, I was unsure whether this was what I wanted or not.

[Equipping the ability.]

The jewel I was holding fluttered up and permeated into the transparent crystal on the book cover.

Now both crystals were dyed red.

[Ability 〈Face the Tax Bomb!〉]

– Empathy Quote:

Ah, damn it.

Other transmigrators meet emperors who are only tyrants in name but are actually competent rulers loved by the people, and they end up in sweet romances.

Why did I transmigrate as the aide to this true tyrant?

And into a role where I die if the country falls.

‘Still, there’s no need for the national treasury to be this empty!’

You need money to run a country!

There were so many corrupt officials exploiting the people.

I’ll take care of these bastards first.

This is a passage where the female protagonist of 〈I Ended Up Serving the True Tyrant〉 trembled with anger.

As the emperor’s right-hand woman, cursed with magic that linked her life to the country, she had no choice but to diligently assist the tyrant to survive.

The first thing she did to refill the empty national treasury was to investigate tax evasion.

How to use this ability is entirely up to the reader.

– Ability Effect: Tracks the income of the confronted earner, taxes it, and collects it.

– Uses Available: 0/5

Ah, just looking at that short passage, the fun from that time is revived.

Author, why did you only write 80 chapters? You should have written 500.

My female lead only worked until the end, making me cry.

But I want you to work for 500 chapters.

“Hehe!”

As long as it’s not my job, as long as it’s not my job!

Come to think of it, the female lead of 〈True. Tyrant. Aide〉 really worked like a cow, so she had many good abilities.

Of course, it also included many abilities that I think I can use well in the future.

As expected, the ultimate cost-effectiveness!

‘Plus, I got the ability I wanted!’

That is, the female lead’s ability to track funds.

“Good, good!”

Receiving bribes is also income!

Illegal income is also income, so of course, it can be tracked!

Not only that, but you can also tax and collect it.

‘Of course, I don’t know what the laws here are like when it comes to taxes.’

The country and the world are different, so of course, the tax laws will be different.

‘And how do you collect taxes?’

If you tell an illegal earner to pay taxes, they won’t just say, ‘Yes, I understand,’ and pay.

‘Well, since it’s an ability, it’ll work out somehow.’

I’ll know when I use it.

‘The only problem is that I have to see the earner’s face.’

The female lead of 〈True. Tyrant. Aide〉 could only track the income of ‘confronted earners,’ as written in the ability window.

‘Will I have a chance to meet someone big enough to have a vassal of a certain rank offer them a bribe?’

At least an elder-level figure.

It seems possible if I attend the grand conference like last time, but I have to wait too long.

Ah, it would be convenient if I also had an aide group installed and participated in family matters.

‘Should I just camp out in my dad’s office?’

But I don’t know when that will be either.

What should I do?

* * *

“If you want to meet all the key figures of the family, you should aim for the upcoming New Year’s Grand Banquet.”

Ares said with a bright smile.

My eyes sparkled at once.

“Oh, it’s almost the New Year, so they’re having a New Year’s banquet!”

The New Year’s Grand Banquet in a romance fantasy world!

I’m really excited and thrilled!

‘When I was at the Tarenka Marquis estate, I couldn’t even attend the New Year’s banquet.’

At that time, I was helping out in the busy kitchen, running errands. They didn’t even give me proper meals, so I hurriedly shoved the leftovers from the guests into my mouth.

‘But it’s different now!’

“They’ll decorate the banquet hall so beautifully, right? How will they decorate it! And people will dress up so 멋있게 [meosissge – stylishly]! And greet each other so elegantly! And fan themselves 살랑살랑 [sallangsallang – gently]!”

I grabbed the hem of my skirt, twirled around, greeted, and then fanned myself with an imaginary fan.

Just imagining it is eye candy!

“Are you that excited?”

“Yes, of course!”

I nodded vigorously to Ares, who asked with a smile.

“A lavishly decorated banquet hall and well-dressed people. What else are you looking forward to, my sister?”

“And, and amidst that noble and elegant demeanor, the subtle power struggles of high society!”

“……Huh?”

“That place is another battlefield! Hiding knives in their tongues and stabbing each other in a ruthless world! That is the politics of high society!”

“…….”

“Who is in a more superior position! They must prove themselves! Sometimes with dignity! Sometimes even childishly!”

“…….”

“However, those who cannot even participate in that fight will watch the power struggle and make fierce calculations about which side to take!”

Yes, yes!

It’s such a wonderful grand banquet……!

“……Who taught my sister such things.”

Thousands of romance fantasy novels are my teachers!

My eyes sparkled.

“Ah, and there will be lots of delicious food, right? Cake, chocolate, and pudding!”

There were female leads who participated in political battles, but there were also many who indulged in gourmet delights.

Female leads usually eat a lot of delicious things, so the banquet food must be even more delicious, right?

“Will there be a chocolate fountain, too?”

Ares, who was looking at me with an expression as if he were seeing a strange creature, finally chuckled.

“There hasn’t been a chocolate fountain yet.”

He tapped my cheek.

“Seeing what my sister wants, I’ll have to make sure they make one.”

“Wow!”

I raised both arms and hugged Ares tightly.

“Ares is awesome!”

A faint smile appeared on Ares’s face as he looked down at me.

It was a smile as if spring, not winter, had come.

Maybe.

Maybe the frozen ice between Ares and me was slowly melting, and a warm spring was beginning to come.

As I was staring blankly, Ares suddenly became serious.

Winter came again in an instant.

Che [Tch].

He’s pushing me away again.

Resisting Lulú’s cuteness is a meaningless act!

I huffed and stubbornly strengthened my weakening heart.

[-203]

Still, it’s much better!

“Anyway, do all the vassals attend the New Year’s Grand Banquet?”

“They almost always attend unless they’re too sick to move. The attendance rate is even higher than the monthly conference.”

“Really?”

“Even the elders who have retired from the front lines and don’t attend the monthly meetings come.”

“Wow! That’s great!”

Then I’ll be able to confront them all and track their income!

“Now, will you tell me why?”

“Huh?”

Ares picked me up, sat me on the sofa, and sat next to me.

“The reason you asked when you could see the key figures of the family.”

“Well, I’ve only just returned to the estate. I thought it would be good for us to greet each other.”

“Not to find out who the backers of the traitors are?”

Ares looked at me intently and smirked.

“Ares, you’re too perceptive.”

Well, I thought Ares would naturally notice, but still.

Ares narrowed his eyes and rested his chin on his hand.

“Strange. Why would you want to meet them? You can’t find out anything just by looking at their faces.”

Ouch!

You’re really perceptive, aren’t you?

I closed my mouth like a clam.

“You can’t get anything out of them by talking a few words either.”

Hmm, Ares looked at me with a suspicious gaze.

“It’s not like they’re walking around with ‘I took a bribe’ written on their foreheads.”

“O-oh, oh. That’s right! Who would walk around with that written on their forehead!”

Of course, I can see it.

“P-perverts wouldn’t do that!”

That pervert’s appearance!

“Hmph一.”

Although in my eyes, it looks like they have ‘Peek-a-boo! I’m a tax evader!’ written on their foreheads.

Anyway, they didn’t put it on themselves, did they?

Sweat, sweat.

Ares’s gaze is stinging.

‘No, I was going to figure out who they were first and then create a plausible argument.’

I have no choice but to do this.

Ah, I sighed and met Ares’s gaze seriously.

“Because Ares is my collaborator.”

“Temporarily, though.”

Ugh, really.

“Yes, Ares is a temporary collaborator and my brother, so I’ll tell you.”

Ares’s eyes also became serious.

I cleared my throat and lowered my voice to open my mouth.

“Actually…… I can……”

I paused and looked around.

Of course, there were only Ares and me in the room.

But it’s never bad to be prepared!

As I made a cave with my hand, Ares carefully brought his ear closer with a serious face.

I whispered in Ares’s ear.

“I…… can use mind reading!”

“What?”

Ares looked at me with a dumbfounded face.

But I proudly stuck out my stomach.

Hmph, you little rascal!

I guess you were curious!

Even though you’re a temporary collaborator and my -184 brother?!

Who, who made a coughing sound!

Ares stared at me blankly before turning his gaze away.

“It’s okay if you don’t tell me anything. You have a way to find out, right?”

“Yes. But I have to see their faces directly.”

Since I teased him a lot earlier, I looked at Ares seriously.

“Baby’s eyes are the eyes of truth. The energy of the sky flows in the eyes of an innocent baby.”

“Oh, is that so.”

The reaction became boring, tsk.

“In Lulú’s innocent and pure baby eyes, everything bad, negative, and evil is visible!”

As I blinked my eyes, Ares chuckled.

“You didn’t recognize me, though.”

“I saw you properly! Ares isn’t a bad person to me. Because he likes me!”

As I smiled brightly at Ares, he gently pinched my plump cheeks.

Oh?

This reaction. Has something improved?

“Then, which side am I on now?”

Ares tilted his face towards me.

Bang, our foreheads touched.

“The good side, or一.”

Ares’s eyes, which I saw very closely, were so beautiful that I felt like I would be sucked into them.

Slightly drooping eyes that were languidly curved.

Red lips that drew a smooth arc.

“一the bad side.”

Whispering voice.

My vision spun.

Only after exhaling did I realize that I had been holding my breath.

“Ba, bad side. Bad side.”

“Do I look bad?”

Ares looked at me with a sad expression, lowering his eyebrows.

Who could look at him now and say he was bad?

But I am a steadfast romance fantasy reader.

I did not withdraw my opinion even under the pressure of beauty.

“It’s, it’s bad for my heart…….”

Such beauty tactics are really bad.

If beauty is too great, it has tremendous power in itself.

“My heart is pounding.”

“Oh dear.”

Ares chuckled.

“I guess we are siblings after all. We are similar in that respect.”

“Huh?”

What does that mean?

But Ares didn’t answer my question and changed the subject.

“Anyway, you can tell right away if they’ve taken a bribe just by looking at their faces, right?”

“Yes, this time.”

“Well, okay. To be honest, I don’t believe that you can tell if they’ve taken a bribe just by looking at their faces.”

Ares’s gaze turned to me.

“Since we’ve decided to collaborate.”

“Yes!”

I nodded.

And we carefully planned the New Year’s Grand Banquet.

“What else do you want besides a chocolate fountain?”

“K-Chicken [Korean Fried Chicken].”

“K-Chicken?”

Well, there wasn’t really much of a plan.

I just had to enjoy my first grand banquet that day.

After finding out about the backers, we would discuss it with Ares and approach them carefully.

The first New Year I’m celebrating after returning to my family’s embrace.

The New Year I’m celebrating knowing my age.

I’m so, so excited!

* * *

“Okay, all done, Miss.”

“Would you like to walk around to see if it’s comfortable? That’s right, turn around.”

As I walked around with little steps and twirled around, groans of “Haaaah一” erupted from the maids.

Nancy actually collapsed, and Anna burst into tears.

Well, that was normal.

Laura started making a doll of me, and Tilda quietly grabbed a knife, saying she would pluck out my heart again.

I nodded.

Luatisha Paeraton.

Just turned 5 years old today.

Even I think I’m 귀염뽀짝 말랑콩떡 [gwiyeomppojjak mallangkongtteok – cute, adorable, soft, and squishy].