Lord Baby Runs A Romance Fantasy With Cash [EN]: Chapter 280

Runs the Romance Fantasy with Baby’s Cash – Episode 280

☆ Episode 280 ☆

* * *

Large countries that occupy most of the continent, like the Empire, often have individual territories larger than many other countries.

Therefore, even if one area is peaceful, problems often arise in another.

However, recently, natural disasters have been occurring so frequently that it can’t be explained by that alone.

I think I know the reason.

‘Signs of the apocalypse.’

The harbingers of the end, which had been subtly progressing, are now overlapping and accelerating.

The problem isn’t just that.

‘On top of that, human-caused disasters have also increased exponentially.’

People are exhausted from the continuous natural disasters, so they may not be able to properly examine or judge things.

But if you think about it the other way around, shouldn’t they be more alert and come to their senses?

‘Something feels off.’

As I was thinking that,

“You mean they deliberately infiltrated and tried to destroy the central controller of the repair facilities?”

I heard the news that someone had been arrested for deliberately causing a disaster, not by mistake.

“Yes.”

My dad nodded at my words.

As soon as he caught the culprit who tried to cause a flood in the territory, he brought them to the capital.

I asked as I headed to the basement prison of the annex of the Duke’s residence with my dad.

“But instead of dealing with it in the territory, you brought them to the capital?”

“I thought my daughter would want to interrogate them herself.”

“That’s my dad!”

How does he know my heart so well without me even saying it?

When I grabbed and clung to my dad’s arm like when I was young, a faint smile crossed his face.

Erkel, who was narrowing his eyes and watching the scene, muttered.

“Of course, that’s one of the reasons, but more than that, His Excellency wanted to see the youngest miss as soon as possible… Ahem! Ahem! I didn’t say anything.”

Erkel avoided my dad’s eyes and sweated profusely.

“Did Dad bother you a lot?”

“Don’t even mention it. He kept saying that his daughter would want to see him, so he rushed his vassals to finish things quickly.”

Erkel shook his head.

“But it’s unlikely that the culprit was working alone. What if they’re planning something else, taking advantage of the fact that we’ve caught the culprit and let our guard down?”

“I left Ixion behind.”

Ah.

‘So that’s why I received so many messages from Ixion last night.’

I was tired yesterday and fell asleep early, so I only found out this morning.

I was about to call him, but I came out right away when I heard that Dad had arrived, so I forgot.

“Ugh, I didn’t get Ixion’s message. He must be completely sulking right now.”

Ixion is a glass cannon [powerful but fragile], whether he was young or now.

“Sulking? Master Ixion? Can you even describe him as sulking? He must be causing all sorts of trouble for the vassals in the territory right now……”

Trouble!

“If there’s another intruder, I might even feel sorry for them.”

“It’s better than getting caught by Ares, right?”

“……That’s true.”

See?

‘Anyway, I have to contact Ixion later and appease him.’

“Where’s Ares?”

“I ordered him to go straight to the Imperial Palace. He’ll be back in the evening.”

I nodded.

In the meantime, we arrived at the underground prison.

The man was slumped over, his arms twisted and tied.

“He’s not a resident of Phaeton.”

“Yes.”

“How did you know? I didn’t tell you separately.”

Because my influence over Phaeton is at its maximum.

As a result, not only the vassals and retainers of Phaeton, but also the residents, will never abandon me.

Splash!

As the soldier poured water, the slumped man regained consciousness.

He coughed for a moment, then stopped abruptly when he saw me.

“Ah, so I get to meet the famous Saintess.”

A bizarre smile crept up, and his voice was rough.

His gleaming eyes were filled with madness.

“The false Saintess of the deceitful temple. You don’t even know your place, daring to… Cough…!”

Black magic struck the man’s abdomen.

“You better think before you speak.”

“Keuh, keuh he he he!”

Even though blood was dripping from his mouth, the man burst into mad laughter as if he didn’t feel any pain.

“Do you think you can stop his great work by doing this?”

The man raised his head sharply, not caring that his arm was twisted.

Crack!

A strange sound came from his arm, but the man didn’t even care.

“I have been chosen! As a faithful servant who is used by him!”

Only a mad cry echoed.

“I will go to paradise!”

Bloodshot whites and unfocused pupils.

The mouth, stained with blood, was stretched as if it would tear, and the cheekbones were raised as if fixed.

The self-broken arm hung down in a strange shape.

The soldier standing next to the man, in his inhuman, grotesque form, flinched and stepped back.

“What, a cultist.”

I spat.

The man’s head moved unnaturally, as if making a creaking sound, and looked at me.

That didn’t mean I was scared.

The reincarnated person who watched a horror movie where the neck turned 180 degrees to over 360 degrees was strong.

“Paradise?”

He’s making me so mad.

“You’re doing this kind of thing and saying that? Even if there is a paradise, there won’t be a place for you there.”

“How dare you, a false Saintess, insult his promise!”

“You’re trying to destroy the central controller of the duchy for that reason?”

I was beyond dumbfounded.

“Did you think about what would have happened if you had succeeded? Countless people would have died. Not just hundreds or thousands. It’s roughly hundreds of thousands!”

“Keuh he he, what does it matter?”

“What…?”

“What’s the problem if a few ignorant non-believers who don’t follow him disappear!”

The man glared at me and shouted.

“It is an honor for non-believers to die for him! On the other hand, I have been chosen! He will save me!”

“……”

“Worship! Worship!”

The man, with his head raised, squeezed his throat with eyes gleaming with madness.

“The true god, Kiyas Edel, who will stain this world with darkness and save it!”

“……!”

Kiyas Edel.

The moment I heard that name, I realized.

This is not just a cult for the purpose of money or exploitation.

* * *

“The man’s name is Marlon. His family all died in the earthquake that occurred in Porteln last time.”

“I think I know why he fell into a cult.”

“Not everyone who experiences a disaster falls into a cult. It’s because this person is weak.”

“It’s not just that simple.”

Now that Kiyas Edel’s name has come up, this is not just a cult that preys on people’s weaknesses and brainwashes them.

“The investigation?”

I ordered my staff to conduct additional investigations into the human-caused disasters that had occurred so far.

Until then, I thought the human-caused disasters that had occurred were due to accidentally not checking or just making a momentary misjudgment.

‘But after seeing it today, it may have been planned from the beginning.’

“I have delivered the message. It seems that it will take some time.”

“Don’t report after completing all the investigations, but let me know immediately if there are any cases related to the cult.”

“Yes, miss.”

Good.

I can trust Duke Dier’s work.

‘I have to go see Claudia.’

I had reduced my social activities because I was busy with various things.

So now, Claudia, who received my request, has become the center of the unmarried noble ladies’ social circle.

I left the office, finished preparing to go out in my room, and went to the lobby, where my dad was.

“Dad.”

Oops.

Dad came back from the capital after a few days today, but was I too indifferent?

“……Are you going to eat dinner out?”

I shook my head and approached Dad and hugged him tightly.

“I want to eat with Dad.”

“Okay.”

A faint smile appeared on Dad’s lips.

“I brought a lot of your favorite cherries from the territory.”

“Really? You’re the best, Dad!”

The cherries from Phaeton are so sweet and delicious.

In fact, I can eat them anytime in the capital, but I felt good that Dad thought of me and brought them while he was there.

“Are you upset that I’m going out on the day you came back after a long time?”

“I am upset.”

Dad swept back the bangs that had fallen on my forehead.

“So think about Dad when you’re doing things. Be sure to consult with me before doing anything dangerous.”

“Okay.”

“Lulu.”

“Yeah.”

“You are a complete Phaeton. I have no intention of stopping you from doing what you want to do. You know what I mean, right?”

I stared at Dad for a moment and nodded.

“Yeah!”

“Okay.”

Dad pressed down on my head.

Looking at Dad’s eyes, which were a little lost in thought, my playfulness suddenly rose.

“Then can I go see Sid?”

“……Except for that.”

Dad gritted his teeth.

‘My dad, really.’

I giggled, but Dad didn’t laugh and stared at my face before asking again.

“……Are you going to see that guy? I heard you were going to see Miss Micheloen.”

“I was kidding. I’m going to see Claudia.”

“Okay.”

Dad nodded in satisfaction.

But I’m sorry, Dad.

Claudia happens to be in the Imperial Palace.

This is something I really didn’t expect.

‘But the Imperial Palace is so big, there might not be a chance to run into Sid.’

Sid might be out.

So this is not deceiving Dad.

* * *

“Your Holiness.”

Claudia, Tiriel, and Jasmine greeted me gracefully.

“Ah, really. Don’t do that.”

“Why? You are Her Holiness, aren’t you?”

I shook my head.

“Where are the other ladies?”

“We just slipped out.”

“Are you okay? Isn’t Claudia hosting the tea party today? Is it okay to come out like this?”

“That’s true, but you didn’t call me for an important matter?”

“Yeah, that’s right. Thank you.”

“It’s not a big deal to leave for a while.”

Claudia said coolly, but in fact, it was a great honor for a noble lady who was not related to the imperial family to hold a tea party in the Imperial Palace.

She left her seat for me on this important day.

‘It would have been a great help to Claudia if I had attended the tea party.’

We took our seats in the gazebo in the central garden of the outer palace.

“So, what’s going on?”

“I was wondering if you’ve ever heard of cults in social circles.”

“Cults?”

At my words, Jasmine and Tiriel widened their eyes as if they had never heard of it.

But Claudia was different.

“…I think I’ve heard such things being said indirectly.”

“Really?!”

Jasmine asked back in surprise.

“Yes, at secret social gatherings or midnight masquerade balls.”

“Ugh, I can tell what it’s like just by hearing it.”

“I thought it was possible and ignored it. Because there are natural disasters and anomalies happening everywhere right now.”

I nodded because I thought I knew what she meant.

“When the world is in chaos, cults and people selling strange medicines tend to appear.”

“Yes. And since they’re not really active enough to be publicly known in social circles, I didn’t think there would be a big problem. Tiriel and Jasmine didn’t know either, right?”

“Don’t you know more details?”

“Um. The dark world is coming soon and the world is heading towards destruction? They’re talking about such childish stories.”

“But it’s a bit tempting now that disasters are overlapping. There are also nobles whose territories have been ruined.”

“Aren’t they doing something like demon worship?”

While listening to Tiriel and Jasmine’s chatter, I thought to myself.

‘…It’s true that destruction is coming. But even if you worship demons, they’re not very trustworthy.’

If you actually see the demon, you’ll definitely feel it.

[That’s too much!]

[What’s wrong with me!]

I easily ignored the demon’s words.

‘Well, the cult is probably worshiping Kiyas Edel, not the demon.’

“But cults won’t gain much power, right?”

“Why?”

“Don’t you know better? You’ve met him too.”

Claudia looked at me as if to ask why I didn’t know.

“A huge weapon has appeared in the temple.”

“Weapon?”

Was there such a thing?

“Mr. Crescentio.”

“…Why that man?”

Of course, he is a powerful possessor of divine power, but….

‘Is that why?’

If they show healing power, people’s faith in the temple will become stronger.

But the reasons that came out of the three people’s mouths were completely different from my expectations.

“He’s handsome.”

“He’s very handsome.”

“Thanks to him, the number of people going to the temple on weekends has increased.”