Lord Baby Runs A Romance Fantasy With Cash [EN]: Chapter 30

☆ Chapter 30 ☆

It was a voice so faint, it was almost inaudible.

But Ixion heard it.

Abruptly, his feet stopped without being told.

“Th-Th-Thank you……”

One leg felt heavy.

No, it couldn’t be heavy.

It was just a weightless cotton ball clinging to him.

Even so, Ixion turned around.

The child, clutching at his sleeve, was trembling.

The hand that held him was damp and shaking pathetically.

“Being this scared.”

At those words, the child’s large eyes fluttered slightly.

He must have hit the nail on the head.

‘Thank you,’ she says.

A con artist who spouts sweet nothings even in this situation.

‘Just how far are you trying to take me?’

Ixion’s lips twisted into a smirk.

“Weakling. Why grab me when you’re this scared?”

Should I really kill her?

It was the moment when a murderous intent flashed in Ixion’s red eyes.

“I was scared!”

Ruatisha shouted.

Like a child pouring out her sorrowful memories to her parents, older brother, or older sister.

“I was really scared! I was scared, I tell you!”

Waaah! Ruatisha burst into loud sobs and clung tightly to Ixion.

Just like someone relying on a person they trust.

Ixion couldn’t move.

It was a ridiculous thing.

No matter how much this cotton ball clung to him, it shouldn’t have been a problem for Ixion to move his body.

Yet, Ixion still couldn’t lift a finger.

“Why, why now! How scared do you think I was! You bad guy! Bad guy!”

The cotton ball even started hitting him, pat, pat.

Only then, as if the spell had been broken, could Ixion move.

He slowly reached out to the child.

The child entrusted herself to his hand as if it were the most natural thing in the world. She even wrapped her arms tightly around his neck.

As if she didn’t care that this hand had just committed a massacre.

“Waaaaah!”

The child was hotter than usual.

Ixion’s shoulder was instantly soaked.

It was as if the child would melt into water.

She was so small, she would melt away if she cried any more.

Knowing it was an absurd thought, Ixion slowly stroked the child’s back.

Pat, pat.

Even though it was an awkward and creaky movement, Ruatisha’s sobs began to weaken.

Gradually, very slowly.

* * *

The Paeraton Duchy was turned upside down.

It couldn’t be helped.

Ruatisha, the youngest daughter of Duke Paeraton, had almost been kidnapped.

Even inside the ducal castle.

“This is an unprecedented situation!”

“All those involved must be ferreted out and eradicated!”

“To dare to do such a thing within the sight of Paeraton!”

The retainers were outraged.

But no matter how much they raged, it was nothing compared to Duke Paeraton’s wrath.

Everyone from the guards to the knights, retainers, and employees had to bear the brunt of the Duke’s fury.

A desperate situation where hundreds of lives could be lost in an instant!

“Your Excellency, of course, those involved in the kidnapping must be punished severely. But punishing hundreds of people……”

“We cannot punish even the innocent. They have not been negligent in their duties.”

“The defenses of the ducal castle are not primarily focused on the kidnapping of direct descendants.”

Paeraton’s direct descendants were all possessors of magic and were born with great power.

Naturally, they were not targets for protection from kidnapping.

Ares alone had slaughtered monsters at the age of two.

It was impossible to be kidnapped.

And even if they tried to kidnap them, it could never be done secretly.

“Who would have expected a kidnapping to occur in the ducal castle?”

Paeraton’s direct descendants roamed freely within the ducal castle without special protection.

The same was true for Ruatisha.

Although she had no magic, everyone entering the castle had their identities checked, and there were knights and soldiers everywhere, so they thought it would be safe.

“Upon investigation, everyone was at their post and patrolled at the appointed time.”

Duke Paeraton, who had been listening to the retainers’ words in silence, slowly opened his mouth.

“Are you saying that my daughter was kidnapped from my house, but no one is at fault?”

It was a low and quiet voice.

But the seething rage within was overwhelming.

The retainers could not say more and closed their mouths.

“His Excellency ordered them to protect my sister’s safety. And they failed to keep that order.”

Ares, who always wore a friendly and gentle smile, looked around the room with a coldly hardened face.

“How do you intend to atone for endangering my sister?”

His eyes gleamed strangely red in his shadowed face.

The retainers could not dare to look at the two Paeratons and lowered their heads.

In the suffocating silence, the old elder carefully opened his mouth.

“Your Excellency and Young Master are right. But holding them responsible should not be done until after the culprit is caught.”

“Trying to use a shallow trick to avoid immediate punishment.”

The Duke muttered, but soon nodded.

No matter how angry he was, he was not foolish enough to confuse his priorities.

“Good. First, we need to find that bastard who deserves to be torn to pieces.”

“Yes, Your Excellency. Upon checking the identities of the kidnappers, they were members of a dark guild working on commission.”

“It seems someone commissioned them to kidnap the young lady, but the problem is, they’re all dead……”

The kidnappers had all been slaughtered on the spot by Ixion.

Unfortunately, the most important witness who could testify who the client was had died.

“First of all, it is highly likely that the perpetrator is someone who is familiar with the Duke’s family’s security.”

The retainers, the head of the guards, and the commander of the knights were exchanging opinions.

Knock, knock.

The sound of knocking on the door was heard, and a small figure peeked out.

The protagonist of all this discussion, the youngest daughter of Paeraton.

It was Ruatisha Paeraton.

* * *

“Ruru.”

My dad’s expression wasn’t good as he called me. His handsome face was rough with worry and fatigue.

Dad had stayed by my side all night and had just gone to the conference room for the investigation.

“Why did you come here? I told you to rest in your room.”

“I’ve rested enough. I’m okay now.”

As I scurried over, Dad picked me up.

“This is not a place for you to be.”

It was a pushing-away remark, but the hand patting my back was warm.

I felt strange.

“……Dad, why aren’t you blaming me?”

“What reason do I have to blame you? You were just playing well at home.”

I fidgeted with my hands.

“Then why don’t you ask me? What happened.”

Now that the monsters are all dead, my testimony as the person involved is the most important in identifying the kidnapper.

“You’re thinking unnecessary things.”

Dad flicked my forehead.

“Ruatisha.”

“Yes.”

“This is not your fault.”

“……”

“And your dad is not so incompetent that he needs to make you recall bad memories to use them as clues.”

Dad said it as if he were stating a very obvious fact.

I blankly stared at him and nodded, “Yes!”

My dad is the best!

“Then go back to your room.”

“No! I’m okay! I’m also a Paeraton!”

“Ruru.”

“Besides, I have a wonderful dad who worries about me like this!”

Why would I be afraid when I have such a wonderful dad who won’t ask me about the situation at the time because he’s worried I’ll have a hard time recalling the memories of when I was kidnapped!

And also……

I glanced at the quest window.

〈The Revengeful Magpie (1)〉

Dear Reader!

Kidnapping is actually a common trope in romance fantasy.

The female lead, the male lead, or even the supporting characters.

Various people get kidnapped.

What the reader wants at this time varies, but it all boils down to one thing.

Completely destroy the kidnapper.

Especially in this case, it’s even more heinous.

Kidnapping a child, really!

Child abduction!

A crime against children! Absolutely unforgivable!

Reward good, punish evil! Reward good, punish evil!

We demand severe punishment!

– Condition: Identify the kidnapper

– Reward: 5000-cash gacha ticket, increased influence within the Paeraton Duchy, linked quest 〈???〉 progress

– Quest Acceptance Benefit: Penalties are lifted while the quest is in progress.

‘I think I know who the kidnapper is.’

I was just a four-year-old baby when I was kidnapped, but now I have the mind of a perfect reincarnator.

“Dad, someone told me to go to Ixion’s training ground.”

“Who was it?”

“It was Uncle Dier.”

I pointed my finger at Viscount Dier.

It was that retainer uncle who went with me to Marquis Tarenka’s mansion.

“Viscount Dier?”

“Viscount Dier has always been especially fond of the youngest lady.”

“Fond? He’s an executive member of ‘Ru.Sa.Mo.’ [Ruatisha Loving Society]…… Could it be him?”

People murmured.

Viscount Dier waved his hands with a pale face.

“M-Miss! How could I ever plot to harm you! I一.”

Viscount Dier’s words could not continue.

Black magic blocked his path.

“If you come any closer to my sister, I cannot guarantee your life, Viscount,” Ares said, narrowing his eyes languidly.

I was a little surprised by Ares’s new appearance, who always seemed kind and gentle.

Ares was smiling now, but he was exuding a sharp atmosphere that made it difficult to even talk to him carelessly.

Viscount Dier took a step back and showed both palms.

“I never intended to scare the young lady. I’m just upset…… You know how much I like the young lady, don’t you?”

“Don’t appeal to emotions, Uncle.”

I might not look cool sitting on Dad’s lap, but I spoke as seriously as possible.

“It’s very simple in times like these. If we clarify the facts, the answer will come out easily.”

I started the interrogation.

“Viscount Dier, you told me yesterday that Ixion would be at the training ground, right?”

“Yes, the young lady asked me if I knew where the third young master was, so I answered that way.”

“Miss, that alone doesn’t mean the viscount is the culprit.”

Another retainer who was listening interjected.

I nodded.

Right, he just answered my question.

“Fact check.”

At my words, Ixion’s aide nodded.

“Yes, Miss. The young master was at the training ground yesterday afternoon. Viscount Dier didn’t make up a lie.”

“Viscount Dier, when did you find out that Ixion was at the training ground?”

“It was probably a little after three o’clock. I found out on the way to see the young lady after finishing the meeting at three.”

“Then what time did I ask you where Ixion was?”

“I don’t know exactly, but it must have been at least four o’clock. I found out that the young master was at the training ground on the way to see the young lady, and you asked me after having a snack with the young lady.”

I asked Ixion’s aide.

“How long was Ixion at the training ground?”

“It wasn’t even 10 minutes. He just went there to vent his anger rather than to train.”

Viscount Dier was flustered at the aide’s words.

“I didn’t know! I thought the young master would be at the training ground一.”

“Ixion is fickle. He doesn’t have a set routine.”

I know that best, as I’ve been following Ixion around.

“But you thought he would be at the training ground? Why did you think that? You don’t even go near the training ground.”

Due to Ixion’s dislike of people, only a very few people can enter his training ground.

Paeraton’s bloodline or Ixion’s aide.

Of course, Viscount Dier is neither.

“When we were eating snacks, I heard that Ixion was already in the main castle.”

“I didn’t know. I didn’t see the young master. Weren’t you with me, Miss?”

“Yes, of course, we didn’t see him. Because we were eating snacks in the gazebo in the east garden, not inside the main castle.”

“……”

“If we had eaten in my room or the greenhouse as usual, we would have definitely run into Ixion.”

I heard that Ixion had come to my room and the greenhouse yesterday.

“The path from the gazebo to the training ground is completely different from the path from the main castle to the training ground.”

The surroundings were quiet.

“Ixion wouldn’t have been able to find me even if he went back and forth between the main castle and the training ground. Because our paths don’t overlap.”

The retainers, who had been buzzing, were now listening to my words.

“The path from the gazebo to the training ground would have been the perfect place to kidnap me.”

“……That’s right.”

“Besides, if you’re in the gazebo, you can never run into Ixion, and you can’t get information about Ixion’s whereabouts.”

From the route to the location.

It can only be seen as being guided for the purpose of crime.

“Why did you guide me to such a place?”

“Miss……”

“Yes, tell me now.”

Viscount Dier looked at me. It was a different expression than before.

“Who is it?”

I asked him.

“The criminal who tried to kidnap me.”

Instantly, everyone in the conference room closed their mouths.

A short silence ended.

“……Yes?”

“Are you saying that Viscount Dier is not the culprit?”

“But it’s clear that the viscount lured the young lady to the scene of the crime?”

Amid the bewildered retainers buzzing.

Clap, clap, clap.

A slow clapping sound rang out.

“I’m impressed.”

The light veiled Ares’s face.

The red eyes in his slightly drooping eyes stared at me clearly.

“My sister, you’re really smart.”

Ares smiled at me.