Lord Baby Runs A Romance Fantasy With Cash [EN]: Chapter 81

Runs the Romance Fantasy with Baby’s Cash – Episode 82

* * *

“Heol, refusing the cure? Is he crazy?”

I clutched the back of my neck upon hearing the report about Count Miaren.

In a situation where the Black Death was rampant, the cure had a value that wouldn’t be enough even if you paid billions for it.

Nevertheless, I was trying to provide the cure almost for free.

Because saving people comes first.

Ares wore a smile as warm as the spring sunshine.

“To dare refuse my sister’s kindness. He’s not worth saving.”

“Those bugs who don’t know their place are acting up too much. Should I just go kill them?”

“…It might be better for the people of Miaren Territory if such a ruler died, but no.”

Why did he refuse, anyway?

‘Even if the efficacy is doubtful, you should at least receive it and test it! Besides, my dad guaranteed it!’

It meant Dad would take responsibility if there were any adverse effects.

Isn’t this a time when you should grab at straws?

“He could die from the Black Death himself if he’s not careful!”

“Count Miaren won’t die. He has holy water. He’s acting like that because he has something to rely on for his life.”

“Holy water?”

Is it like a panacea [a cure-all]?

“Do we have it at our house?”

“…We don’t have it at our house.”

“Don’t worry too much about it. That geezer can’t come near where my sister is anyway.”

“I’ll kill him if he comes.”

‘…It feels like they’re changing the subject.’

In any case, Paeraton Territory had been thoroughly prepared even before the Black Death broke out, so there was no need to worry.

Even now, each checkpoint is being strictly managed, and cures have been prepared throughout the territory.

‘The problem is elsewhere.’

“I heard other territories are in chaos right now?”

“Thanks to Count Miaren’s terrible management.”

“Miaren Territory is slightly southwest, but it’s still in the central region, so there’s a lot of movement between territories. That’s why it spread to other territories faster.”

Ares slid the Black Death status map towards me as he spoke.

The imperial map showed land masses painted in red and green.

Red indicated infected areas, and green indicated safe areas.

It was a convenient map that immediately reflected reports from each jurisdiction by pressing the magic device.

Five territories near Miaren Territory were all red except for one.

“They couldn’t even respond properly in the early stages, and they even refused the cure. This is what happens when the lord is incompetent.”

“But Lindhal Territory turned green again after being red, right? That means the cure my sister made is working very well.”

“That’s really a relief.”

The Lindhal Viscountcy and the Adersen County were the next places where the Black Death spread after Miaren Territory.

I immediately sent them the cure as well, and the two territories welcomed it with open arms.

Anyway, seeing the red areas turn green thanks to the cure made my heart swell.

“I heard an envoy came today too?”

“Yeah.”

“You’re popular, my sister.”

Not only territories where the Black Death had spread, but even safe areas were sending envoys asking if they could receive the cure.

The closer they were to Miaren Territory, the more they made a fuss, bringing enormous gifts and incredible conditions, asking if they could receive more of the cure.

A marquis grandfather who didn’t have a good relationship with Dad even came directly to Paeraton Territory.

“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t even sit at the same table as a war-crazed butcher? To come to my castle, is your time running out?”

“I apologize to the Duke for my past rudeness.”

“I didn’t expect a marquis to apologize so easily.”

“What is my pride in the face of my territory’s people’s lives?”

Dad looked at the marquis grandfather as if gauging him, then sighed and said.

“The cure is not something I can decide. It belongs to my daughter, so talk to her.”

“…You’ve become very gentle. It’s all thanks to you that your father can make such a soft expression.”

Dad isn’t really making a soft expression right now.

You’d faint if you saw him smile at me.

I thought so and gave the grandfather the cure.

I clearly heard him call my dad a war-crazed butcher, so I added a few more conditions as a penalty.

Nevertheless, the grandfather was very pleased.

“I wish my grandson was just a little older. Do you dislike younger men?”

“How old is he?”

“He’s four years younger than you.”

Then he’s a one-year-old baby right now!

This grandpa!

“Four years isn’t a big difference when he grows up.”

“A boy with a grandpa who shoves a one-year-old baby as a husband is definitely not good.”

“Oh dear, I’ve blocked my grandson’s path. But his granddaughter is exactly your age. I hope you meet later and get along well.”

“Hmph, we’ll see.”

The grandfather was Marquis Poshet, a fairly powerful figure.

Poshet Territory had not yet had any infections, but they were on high alert as they were near the infected area.

It was quite impressive that the lord had humbled himself and come such a long way, even though the situation wasn’t that urgent yet.

It was then.

Knock, knock. Orca, my dedicated butler, entered the tearoom with a knock.

“Young lady, you have a guest.”

“Again? Which noble sent an envoy this time?”

“Count Miaren has come in person.”

Count Miaren?

‘Seeing that shameless and arrogant guy come all the way here, the situation must be urgent.’

I don’t want to help Count Miaren at all because he’s hateful, but what about the countless people in Miaren Territory?

‘Since he’ll beg on his knees anyway, I should watch and then give him the cure.’

Of course, with a lot of conditions!

“And young lady.”

Orca opened his mouth with a serious face.

Count Miaren was not pleased that he had come all the way to Paeraton Territory himself.

‘Why should I, a count, come in person!’

He originally intended to send his vassals, but he faced strong opposition.

“How can we go when he refused once already! And it wasn’t like he refused nicely back then!”

“I heard that all sorts of places are begging Paeraton for the cure. We must also show sincerity!”

Should I just burn the cure and be done with it?

一He had the thought, but in any case, Count Miaren didn’t want his tax revenue to decrease either.

“The Princess will be seeing you soon.”

“Princess? Not the Duke?”

“The cure is something the Princess made, so all authority lies with her. Isn’t that why you came, for the cure?”

“That’s right.”

“Then please talk with the Princess.”

For some young girl to negotiate with me.

Count Miaren pursed his lips in dissatisfaction.

‘Well, whatever. Paeraton is a monster even if she’s young. Even if the Princess doesn’t have mana, she still made the cure, so一.’

As he was thinking that, the door opened.

‘Huh?’

Count Miaren chuckled as he saw a small child waddling into the room.

‘What, she’s a real kid.’

Moreover, unlike the Paeratons, she had cotton candy-like pink hair, soft and fluffy.

He felt a little slighted, but soon changed his mind.

‘This will be very easy.’

Count Miaren smiled slyly and crossed one leg over the other.

“So, you’re the youngest daughter of Paeraton. Gee, I wouldn’t have recognized you if I hadn’t heard the introduction. The Paeratons are all inhuman, but you’re very cute.”

The child’s Paraiba-colored [blue-green] eyes seemed to flash for a moment, but it must have been his imagination.

Why would she glare at him when he was even complimenting her like this?

Above all, this child was clearly a pushover who didn’t even know how to get angry.

“You said you wanted to give me the cure before, right? Well, it’s late, but I’ll accept it.”

“…….”

“I was out of my mind back then. If I had known it was a gift from such a cutie, I would have accepted it.”

“…….”

“You’re not upset, are you? I’ll accept it now, so cheer up.”

The child stared at him without answering.

Count Miaren finally began to feel that something was wrong.

And finally, the child’s lips opened.

“Who is the grandpa?”

It was a very clear voice.

* * *

Count Miaren’s expression became quite a sight.

I turned my gaze away from his dumbfounded face, gaping and swallowing air.

[Sudden Quest Alert!]

〈Life is a Battlefield, Jong-man!〉

Dear Reader!

Is there really a need for explanation?

He should be begging on his knees for the cure, but what is this audacity?

Let’s teach this Jong-like guy [someone who flatters power] that life is a battlefield!

Don’t misunderstand!

We’re calling him Jong-like because he usually flatters power!

Discarding this kind of guy is the path to world peace!

– Condition: Teach Count Miaren the bitterness of life

– Reward: 5000 Cash Gacha Ticket, Increased Influence within the Empire

It was the quest that popped up when Count Miaren said that the Paeratons were inhuman, that I was cute, and that he would accept the cure.

Of course, I am fully prepared to thoroughly mess with this Jong-like guy.

[Quest Accepted.]

“G-Grandpa…did you say?”

“Yes! Aren’t you a grandpa?”

I widened my eyes innocently. Blinking was a bonus.

Sure enough, Count Miaren’s face turned red.

“Where do I look like an old geezer! I’m the same age as your dad!”

“Umm, you’re the same age as my dad? Uung? That’s strange? Uuum?”

I scanned Count Miaren up and down, tilting my head to the right and then to the left.

“W-What’s strange about it! I look exactly the same age!”

“But my dad doesn’t have a belly like grandpa, and he doesn’t have wrinkles, and his shoulders aren’t hunched over!”

“W-What!”

“Oh, and he has hair!”

I smiled brightly.

The last word was a critical hit.

Count Miaren contorted his face like a yaksha [a fierce mythological being].

“Y-You impudent thing! What’s what? Do you even know who I am to act like this!”

“Uuum, I don’t know who you are. I just asked who you were. Can’t you even remember that?”

I widened my eyes and nodded.

“Ah, I heard that your memory gets worse when you get old! I understand everything!”

“I complimented you, calling you cute, but you impudent little girl一.”

“Grandpa, you came to ask me for the cure, right?”

Reminding him of his position to bow down to me made Count Miaren’s cheeks twitch.

“…I’m saying I’ll accept it since you’re giving it.”

Wow, he’s really amazing.

I was genuinely impressed.

I thought he would naturally apologize for his rudeness, given what he had done last time.

But even in this situation, he’s still holding onto his pride?

“I don’t plan on giving it.”

“What?”

“Saying I would give it was a long time ago. I said you lose your sense of time when you get old. Are you like that too, Grandpa?”

Count Miaren opened his mouth dumbly.

“I already gave what I was going to give to Grandpa to the territory next door. They were very grateful.”

“Are you saying I have to bow my head all the way to the ground for you to be satisfied!”

“Uung? Lulu never said that?”

“An adult should give in when they coax a child with compliments!”

“Why should a child give in when an adult should give in? Ah, does that mean Grandpa is also an elderly person because he’s old? So he should be taken care of?”

“You keep doing this! I’m still young!”

That’s not the important thing.

I slammed the pile of letters I had received on the table.

Count Miaren frowned and read the letters.

一To think you created a cure for the Black Death at such a young age, you are truly amazing. As expected of a descendant of Paeraton.

一They say that the wise have the foresight to see the future. The Princess is still young, but…

“What, are you telling me to flatter you like these guys now!”

“That’s just a greeting, the important thing is what comes next.”

一If you would just send the cure to our territory, we will provide silver pearl clams and Puhoo bear honey, which are local specialties of our territory, every year for the next 5 years, and…

一If you promise to give us the cure, we will immediately provide ten boxes of gold ingots, one hundred boxes of silver ingots, and additionally…

一We will fully open the Roydel Harbor to the people of Paeraton Territory for the next 10 years. Also…

“Ha!”

Count Miaren scoffed.

“You’ve become arrogant because of this, you little thing! You should know how to be humble. Are you showing off just because you created one measly cure?”

“I initially tried to provide you with the cure almost for free. But you trampled on that kindness and ignored it.”

“Ha! So you’re finally upset and want to receive money?”

“I heard you ignored our family’s envoy. That’s the same as ignoring Duke Paeraton. I’m not such a pushover that I’ll give the cure for free to someone like that.”

“Not giving the cure in this situation is the same as killing people!”

“Me? Isn’t it you who’s killing them?”

“It’s because of you! Do you know how many people live in my territory? You’re killing all those people!”

I let Count Miaren rant and turned my gaze to the clock in the reception room.

The golden, beautiful automata clock [self-operating clock] with a dancing couple spinning around.

Soon, the man and woman kissed softly.

“Ha? You’re not even listening to me properly now? What kind of manners is that!”

“What kind of manners do you have? If you came to beg for the cure, you should act accordingly. Get on your knees and beg like a dog.”

“Y-Y-You damn bitch!”

Count Miaren screamed like a bull and rushed at me.

“A beating is the best medicine for an ill-mannered brat!”

He raised his hand high.

I focused my eyes, gathered my breath, and focused my strength on my dantian [energy center in the body].

And.

“Hng, Hngaaaaaah!”

Count Miaren looked momentarily bewildered when I suddenly burst into tears even though he hadn’t hit me yet.

But soon, he smiled bitterly and was satisfied.

“Yes, as expected, a beating brings you to your senses一.”

“How dare you do this, Count Miaren!”

A thunderous roar struck Count Miaren’s back.

Count Miaren was startled and turned around.

As soon as he identified the person, he panicked and hurriedly approached the door, kneeling down.

“Y-Y-Your Majesty the Empress!”