Lord Baby Runs A Romance Fantasy With Cash [EN]: Chapter 297

Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably.

It felt as though my body was being torn into ninety-nine pieces; the pain was excruciating.

What did Aphthanes want me to do?

He knowingly played along with Kiyas Edel’s scheme to kill him, pretending not to see through it.

I could feel Aphthanes’ desperate desire to save her, consumed by greed…

Aphthanes’ feelings from thousands of years ago.

However.

“Please, destroy the evil and save yourself.”

His last request was for me to kill Kiyas Edel.

Not for her sake, but—

‘For my sake.’

And for the sake of the people and everyone on this land.

“My last hope and my only successor.”

The affectionate gaze he gave me.

“Looking back, all of it was only to meet you—”

In his last moment, he cupped my cheeks.

“Be happy, no matter what.”

Aphthanes very carefully kissed my forehead.

As if blessing, as if praying, as if hoping.

Then, he disappeared.

“…….”

I wiped away my tears.

Soon, a darkness as warm as a spring night enveloped me.

* * *

The Duke Mitchelloin’s mansion, home to the empire’s finest intellects, always maintained a quiet and dignified atmosphere.

The only time loud voices were heard in the mansion was during heated debates.

However, there are always exceptions.

“What in the world is going on?”

Duke Paeraton’s voice was not loud. Rather, it was low and quiet.

But the murderous intent within gripped the hearts of everyone present.

“Duke Paeraton… normally, the Repository of Knowledge—”

“It’s been over half a month. Do you think this is normal?”

“That is….”

Duke Mitchelloin lowered his head.

Frankly, he himself didn’t know why the situation had turned out this way.

What on earth was happening inside that was preventing her from coming out?

He, too, was worried that something might have happened to Ruatisha.

He tried to reopen the Repository of Knowledge, but it was impossible, either because he didn’t have the necklace or because something was wrong inside.

Duke Paeraton, who had been silently watching, began to gather his mana [magical energy].

Dark black mana covered the air like a curtain.

The Mitchelloin family members were horrified.

“P, please calm down, Duke Paeraton!”

“There are no dangers inside the Repository of Knowledge! The Princess will be safe!”

“The Repository of Knowledge is the foundation and heirloom of the Mitchelloin family!”

*Kwang!*

The mana struck the Repository of Knowledge directly.

An immense power that seemed as if it would shatter even the most solid door.

But the door didn’t budge.

Contrary to the Duke’s intention, the mana flowed smoothly along the patterns engraved on the door.

The door seemed to glow slightly, and then the mana disappeared.

‘…It’s the same.’

It had been the same for days of attacks.

It wasn’t repelling or reflecting.

‘It’s like it’s absorbing it.’

As if it were a force from the same source.

‘Strange.’

Why would a power similar to mana be embedded in the Mitchelloin family’s heirloom?

Duke Paeraton’s gaze flicked towards the Mitchelloin family members.

Faces full of fear.

‘Judging by their reaction to mana, there’s nothing special about the Mitchelloins’ blood.’

“Father.”

At his son’s call, Duke Paeraton turned his head.

The questions could be resolved later.

Right now, saving his youngest daughter was the priority.

If it absorbed everything no matter how much he attacked…

‘It would break if it were a force too powerful to contain.’

Dark black mana surged from Duke Paeraton’s feet.

A completely different energy from before, as if it would suck everything in like an abyss.

Even the air in the room seemed to carry weight, pressing down on everything present.

“Ugh, kkeuek….”

“Keuk….”

The Mitchelloin family members groaned as if they were being strangled, even though the mana hadn’t touched them.

The intense pressure emitted by the condensed mana was suffocating.

Despite the enclosed space, a fierce wind swirled around Duke Paeraton.

*Kwajangchang! Kung!*

The windows shattered from the wind pressure, and the objects in the room were torn apart.

‘Not yet.’

Sweat beaded on the forehead of Duke Paeraton, who was always so composed.

But he stared at the massive door without wavering.

It was the moment Duke Paeraton raised his mana even further.

*Kuuung!*

A dull explosion was heard from inside the Repository of Knowledge.

“……?!”

The massive door, which had been emitting a faint light, faded, as if all its vitality had been drained.

“Cotton ball!” [Term of endearment for Ruatisha]

Ixion quickly ran to the door.

The door, which hadn’t budged no matter what he tried, opened with ease.

“……This is.”

Beyond the door, a completely different world unfolded.

All sorts of exotic and beautiful plants that he had never seen before were blooming, as if a garden of the gods had been brought here.

Blue skies visible even inside the building.

A soft breeze caressing the body.

Duke Paeraton calmed his mana and hurriedly entered.

In the middle of a lush thicket, a huge stone statue was visible.

The old statue was not properly maintained, with vines and flowers climbing over it and cracks running through it.

And Ruatisha was asleep, nestled against the statue.

“This is inside the Repository of Knowledge….”

Duke Mitchelloin, who had followed in belatedly, trailed off as he saw Ruatisha’s figure.

The Mitchelloin family members, as if witnessing a scene from a sacred painting, stopped moving and looked up at Ruatisha, who was nestled against the statue.

But the men of the Paeraton family were different.

They quickly approached the statue.

Whether their youngest was simply asleep or if there was a problem was all that mattered to them.

Duke Paeraton leaped onto the statue and reached out to his daughter.

At that moment, Ruatisha’s eyelids fluttered.

Soon, paraiba-colored eyes appeared.

Ruatisha blinked a few times to focus and called out to Duke Paeraton in surprise.

“Dad?”

* * *

Why is Dad here?

I was startled by the sight of Dad as soon as I opened my eyes.

More than anything, Dad’s expression was—.

“…Yes. It’s Dad.”

Dad hugged me tightly.

Reflexively, I hugged Dad back, looking around with a bewildered expression.

“Even my brothers?”

“You silly cotton ball!”

“……Always making us worry.”

Ixion was angry, and Ares smiled with a relieved expression.

‘Why are they like this?’

Then, Zion silently took my hand and placed it on his forehead.

I felt sorry because Zion’s hand was trembling slightly.

“I said I was going to use the Repository of Knowledge and came here, so why are you like this? It wasn’t anything dangerous….”

I was going to find out information about Kiyas Edel.

Of course, unexpected things happened inside.

“Do you know how long it’s been since then?”

“How long has it been?”

“18 days.”

“What?!”

I was shocked.

It’s been that long….

‘My physical condition isn’t that bad for that long.’

It meant I hadn’t eaten for 18 days, which was devastating news for someone with my appetite.

I wasn’t particularly hungry right now, but thinking about not eating made me want to eat something.

‘…My condition is probably good thanks to Aphthanes.’

The notification floating in front of me was proof of that.

[You have discovered the legacy of .]

[First discovery!]

[Congratulations!]

[A special gift only for the first discoverer! Enjoy the luck of a 50,000-cash gacha ticket!]

[Aphthanes’ legacy has recognized you as the owner of the legacy.]

[You have acquired a portion of Aphthanes’ divinity!]

[Caution!]

[The divinity is currently too powerful for your body and soul to handle.]

[Stabilization system activated.]

[Sealing the connection circuit.]

[Sealing complete.]

[Aphthanes’ will dwells within you.]

[Aphthanes’ blessing will be with you.]

“Lulu?”

I snapped out of it at Dad’s call.

“Um, let’s go downstairs and talk.”

For some reason, I was on top of a cracked stone statue.

‘The scenery is completely different from before.’

I was definitely in a room with endless stacks of books. Buildings are visible outside the window.

Unlike the statue that looked like it would crumble, the buildings I saw earlier were all intact.

Before leaving the Repository of Knowledge, I turned back one last time.

The statue, though broken, had the face of a man.

I knew who he was.

‘Aphthanes.’

Seeing him looking like an abandoned ruin made me feel strange.

What I saw earlier must have been an illusion, and this must be the real appearance of this place.

The moment I passed through the door, a notification popped up in front of me.

[The power maintaining Aphthanes’ legacy has disappeared.]

[Closing.]

*Kugugugugung.*

A low vibration sound was heard, and the inside of the Repository of Knowledge began to collapse.

The strange thing was that there was no effect on the outside of the Repository of Knowledge.

‘He gave me all the power he had left and disappeared, so he can’t maintain it anymore.’

The arrangement made by Aphthanes’ splintered fragments.

It was fulfilling its role and disappearing, but it made me feel sentimental.

“M, good heavens!”

The horrified Mitchelloin elder tried to re-enter the Repository of Knowledge.

But before he could, the door closed on its own.

And the next moment, the massive door turned into an ordinary mansion door.

The elder hurriedly opened the door, but there was nothing there.

It was an ordinary room, like any other room in a mansion.

“This can’t be… The Repository of Knowledge!”

The elder slumped down.

* * *

A heavy atmosphere filled the reception room.

It couldn’t be helped.

They had kindly allowed her to use the Repository of Knowledge, but who would have imagined that it would be completely destroyed?

Not only the elders who were present but also the elders who had retreated to the back room rose up in an uproar.

Duke Mitchelloin opened his mouth with a stiff face.

“What exactly happened inside?”

“…I met a god.”

“A god?”

The Mitchelloin elders opened their mouths with angry faces.

“The records of the heads of the family who used the Repository of Knowledge are recorded in detail! But there is not a single record of meeting anyone inside! They only said there were stacks of books.”

“Is the Princess trying to avoid responsibility by using the fact that she is a saintess [holy woman]?”

‘I guess I was able to meet him because I inherited Aphthanes’ power, so only I could meet him.’

Ruatisha immediately grasped the situation.

“Are you pointing fingers at my sister and raising your voice?”

“…The Repository of Knowledge is the heirloom and foundation of the Mitchelloin family! It was destroyed because of Princess Paeraton, so how can we stay calm!”

The elder was intimidated but didn’t back down, raising his voice.

It was that important of an issue.

“That’s right!”

“No matter how Paeraton compensates, this issue cannot be resolved!”

The noise made my ears ring.

‘…It’s going to be difficult to resolve this quietly.’

Ruatisha sighed.

It was Claudia’s family, so I wanted to resolve it quietly with a secret agreement with the head of the family.

Ruatisha calmly opened her mouth.

“Is it really my fault?”

“What…!”

“How can you say that, Princess!”

Ruatisha quietly raised her gaze and looked at Duke Mitchelloin.

Unlike the elders and old members who were making a fuss, he had been strangely silent since earlier.

“Of course, no one could have met a god before that. And the reason is well known to the Duke.”

At those words, Duke Mitchelloin closed his eyes tightly.

The truth passed down only to the head of the Mitchelloin family.

The Mitchelloin’s foundation, pride, and heirloom, the sacred object, is actually—

‘Not ours.’

We were just lucky enough to find it and take it as our own before others saw it.

And through generations of management, we have glimpsed the amazing truth contained within.

And within that truth, there was also a story about the ‘true owner.’

Someday, when the true owner appears, the Repository of Knowledge must be handed over.

A request passed down through generations.

‘…And the true owner was Princess Paeraton.’

“Heo! How can you be so confident even after ruining another family’s heirloom!”

“Princess Paeraton, no matter how much of a saintess you are—”

“Everyone, stop!”

Duke Mitchelloin shouted strongly.

“This was originally going to happen. Even if it hadn’t been destroyed, it would have had to be handed over to Princess Paeraton.”

“It feels like you expected it.”

At Ruatisha’s words, Duke Mitchelloin nodded.

“There were no restrictions when the Princess entered. We naturally expected there to be restrictions and prepared for them, but not even a little mana was used. That’s because the Princess is the true owner.”

“Head of the family? What on earth is that….”

It was then.

“H, Head of the family!”

The Mitchelloin family’s butler opened the door and rushed in.

“His Majesty the Emperor has awakened!”