I’Ll Protect My Tyrant Dad! [EN]: Chapter 91

91. Became Fifteen

October 13, 2023

“So busy, so busy!”

The academy’s classes were, to put it colloquially, incredibly ‘intense.’ I was going back and forth to school almost like a zombie.

It wasn’t just the academy that was the problem.

I also had to manage the trading company, which was growing steadily and had even started direct exchanges with the Duchy.

‘If only the trading company was just busy, but I also have to skip a grade!’

If I didn’t skip a grade, I might be stuck in the academy and in danger.

However, once I graduated from the academy, I would be treated as an adult in the Mirmord family.

I could participate in the power structure within the Mirmord family without Dad’s interference, receive a title if I made contributions in the family’s name, and, most importantly, I could directly jump into the power struggles without involving Dad’s name!

While spending time with no time to spare, I couldn’t doubt Dad. Of course, I diligently watched the movements of the Imperial Palace and the temple…

‘I can’t even figure out where the Pope and Saintess Melodia have gone.’

…I failed to find them.

I went through the midterms, the finals, and slowly started to become friends with Burger and Martin. I lightly ignored ‘Liena,’ who tried to bully me but couldn’t even make a peep because it escalated into a diplomatic issue.

And so…

“I don’t know how many times I’ve seen the cherry blossoms bloom and fall at school.”

“I don’t know how many years it’s been since I’ve been walking with Acid like this.”

Before I knew it, I had grown up so much.

I stood under the large zelkova tree that we had made our hideout when I was ten. Before I knew it, my height had grown so much that this zelkova tree didn’t look as ‘huge’ as it used to.

“How old am I this year?”

Then, Acid, who was staring at me, whispered with affection.

“You are fifteen years old.”

Five years have passed since I entered the academy.

So many things have changed, but…

“Dazzlingly beautiful… age.”

…Acid kept his promise.

Acid, who promised to always be by my side like a limb, hasn’t changed.

If there was a change…

“Sien! Chestnut!”

I waved my hand at Leonhardt. If you told someone that this puppy-like person running so hard was a dangerous villain from a novel, who would believe it?

I smiled brightly at Leonhardt, but I couldn’t smile when I saw another person running at gale-force speed behind him.

“I found a way to save taxes for the Sien Merchant Group!”

…It’s hard to believe he’s a foreign prince, but he’s so frugal, and he’s so good at math that he’s already helping our merchant group, ‘Mirmord’s ward,’ Burger, was running almost as if he was about to fall.

“Be careful! Burger!”

However…

“Run faster, Burger! I have something to say too!”

…There was someone else behind him.

I chuckled as I looked at Martin running quickly.

“Sien? I’ve become a Sword Expert, I hear. You don’t have to praise me since I don’t need it.”

The three of them, compared to five years ago, had made tremendous progress.

They were running so fast without even panting, and they had made remarkable progress in terms of physical strength. I smiled at them and replied.

“Yeah, you’ve all worked hard! You’re awesome, really!”

The five years had changed many things for the better.

“Now, let’s go home from school!”

***

There was something else that hadn’t changed in five years. It was Dad’s love for me.

Even though I’m already fifteen years old and almost treated as an adult in the family, Dad was always eager to put me on his lap.

Today, after wrestling with Dad for a while and sitting side by side on the sofa, Dad seemed a little sulky.

“…You’ve been so busy with academy work and trading company work that you haven’t been playing with Dad.”

“Dad, are you sulking because of that?”

Oh, there was something else that hadn’t changed.

Even though five years had passed, I was still using the word ‘Dad.’ Thinking about that made me smile. Dad quietly gritted his teeth.

“Who are you thinking about, Sien? In front of Dad. Are you thinking about those male friends again?”

“Huh? No!”

I smiled brightly and quickly rummaged through my pocket. And I handed the report card inside to Dad.

Just in time, the report card came out after the recent final exam. Dad, who received the report card I gave him, widened his eyes and said.

“I think we should have a party.”

“Huh? A party?”

“It will be an empire-wide party.”

“The top student is every year! Last time, something almost terrible happened during the party…!”

Dad shook his head firmly as if he couldn’t give up this time.

“Even if it’s every year, it’s special every year! Especially this year, it’s the year our daughter graduates. Our daughter is the top student in the graduating class, so of course, we should have a party every month.”

“Oh, no! We’ll become beggars like this…!”

It seemed like there was no way to stop Dad. Because Dad got up right away and left to meet his aide.

‘I don’t know anymore…’

Ten years have passed since I entered the Mirmord mansion, so I expected Dad to have a sense of economics, but…

‘Our dad is still our dad.’

I just decided to give up. I can make up for the insufficient budget, and strangely, even though Dad spends money like that, it didn’t seem like there was a deficit in the budget.

I leaned back on the sofa in the drawing room and decided to read the newspaper on the table. To develop political insight and economic sense, I read the newspaper diligently in my spare time.

By the way, there was an interesting news in this 《Imperial Capital Newspaper》.

It was a news outlet that delivered all kinds of important news in the capital, and unlike various tabloid newspapers, it was a newspaper company that selected only the most important information in the empire.

“Hmm, let’s see.”

Of course, it’s also a newspaper company that my trading company directly acquired some time ago. I hummed with satisfaction as I looked down at the newspaper.

“Oh, there’s content about our trading company again this time!”

I smiled with satisfaction when I saw that the financial statements of the Sien Merchant Group this year were solid on the second page, and I fell into thought.

Isn’t all of this thanks to recruiting Burger? While contemplating, Dad, who had already met with his aide, said.

“There was a story about Ambassador Heinrich of the Duchy in the newspaper, did you see it?”

“Huh?”

I widened my eyes and read the contents of the newspaper and froze.

“They have Refined Mana Stones! He’s coming to donate some specifically for educational purposes to the academy?”

Dad nodded as if it wasn’t a big deal and took a sip of white wine.

“Ah, yes. There are many opinions that they don’t know what it is because nothing is known about Refined Mana Stones.”

“Re, Refined Mana Stones are…!”

Dad says it like it’s nothing, but I knew how valuable this ‘Refined Mana Stone’ was.

‘The Duchy is really a blessed land. Even Refined Mana Stones are coming out!’

Refined Mana Stone.

Just Mana Stones are great, but if ‘Refined’ is attached, the class was different. Should I say it’s the difference between regular coffee and T.O.P [a popular brand of canned coffee in Korea] ?

In fact, people might think that humans refine it because ‘Refined’ is attached to the front. But Refined Mana Stones are…

‘Mana Stones that dwarves have refined themselves!’

Mana Stones refined by dwarves had tremendous effects.

In order for a human with mana to use magic, they had to be able to freely control the mana flowing through the meridians [energy channels] of their body.

But it’s easier said than done, how do I know if my mana is flowing through the meridians of my body or through my heart?

What’s important at that time is the dwarf’s ‘Refined Mana Stone!’

Refined Mana Stones literally show you how much mana is in your body, whether the mana circulation is okay, and when and how you used your mana.

In other words, it’s like a pinpoint teacher for wizards with mana!

Of course, there was another original effect. More than anything, it helped people who couldn’t use magic at all to use magic temporarily. Usually, they focus on the latter ability, but…

‘…If I have a Refined Mana Stone, I can find out why there’s no mana in my body.’

I’ve been living a life away from magic so far because I was afraid that the secret would be revealed and become a weakness of the Mirmord family.

But if there is a Refined Mana Stone that Ambassador Heinrich brought, my future will definitely be different.

If you know yourself and your enemy, you will win every battle.

If I know why I don’t have mana in my body, I might find a way to generate mana.

I jumped up and prepared to run out. Dad will nag me to keep the etiquette, but that’s a big deal…

“Sien, if you don’t keep the walking etiquette, I’m going to the etiquette education academy with Dad. For 2 nights and 3 days.”

…Yeah, it’s a big deal. It’s okay to be scolded for not following dining etiquette, but I can’t go to the etiquette education academy. I straightened my legs neatly and said in a stiff and formal tone.

“Yes, Father. I will go to the academy for a while to get the Refined Mana Stone.”

***

I barely got Dad’s permission and quickly sped to the academy in a carriage.

Headmaster! I have to go meet the headmaster! No, actually, I have to go see Ambassador Heinrich, who is meeting the headmaster!

‘It’s been a while since I’ve seen Ambassador Heinrich and Headmaster Hephziba.’

I wanted to build a friendship with both of them because they seemed to like me quite a bit, but no matter how I thought about it, there was no opportunity to build a friendship. Why?

‘Because I’m so, so busy…’

Ambassador Heinrich often visited our trading company, and there were opportunities to see the headmaster in passing at the academy. Both of them seemed to be eagerly looking forward to having a break with me, but I didn’t have time to have a break with them.

‘But once I graduate, I’ll be done with this life!’

I sighed and swept under my eyes.

I felt like there were dark circles under my eyes.

But even so, I had to shrug my shoulders now. Because!

“The Refined Mana Stone is in there now!”

Ambassador Heinrich of the Duchy came to the Imperial Academy himself. The purpose is to supply a very small amount of Refined Mana Stones to the academy!

This was a huge boon. They said they would supply it to the academy for ‘educational purposes,’ and if they are at the academy now, the probability of signing a formal agreement with our trading company increases!

‘It must be in the headmaster’s office!’

I ran as fast as a flying squirrel.

If I go right in there now, there is my precious Refined Mana Stone. I couldn’t miss this opportunity.

Of course…

“Ouch!”

…As soon as I ran out near the headmaster’s office, I didn’t know I would run head-on into Headmaster Hephziba.