“……”

Ixion could not believe what Ruatisha was saying.

He remembered.

The way people looked at him when he drew out the magic.

Fear and disgust, unease and wariness, and hatred.

But beautiful?

Comfortable and warm?

“No way.”

Tch, a scoffing sound came out.

“Well, you’re the one saying that, aren’t you? And the reactions…”

Ares, muttering to himself, narrowed his eyes. He slowly stroked his chin.

“Hmm, the youngest really isn’t afraid of magic. Interesting.”

Ixion clicked his tongue, and jumped down from the tree with a thud.

Although he jumped from a branch that reached the second floor, it was a light landing that not even the sound of touching the ground could be heard.

“I don’t believe it.”

Ixion left with only those words.

“Yeah, I don’t believe it.”

Didn’t that wicked girl say she enjoys playing with him, lying that she had fun?

Even though she actually hated it.

The weak always cling to the strong.

Ruatisha is also weak to the power of Phaeraton, so she is only trying to flatter herself in front of the strong to make herself look good.

Hoping the maids will convey her words.

‘That’s why she’s saying those things.’

I won’t be fooled.

Ixion repeated to himself as if making a pledge.

Chapter 7. 20,000 Cash Lottery Ticket

“So, the youngest miss took away… no, received this much fortune from Marquis Tarenka?”

“It’s amazing.”

The vassals exclaimed as they looked at my list of conquests.

The vassals who were with me on the island already knew about it, but the vassals who were in the duchy learned about it for the first time.

“Oh, this mana stone mine is the problem.”

“Daring to sell out Phaeraton’s name and commit fraud, it’s a big crime.”

Right, right.

As I nodded my head, I felt that something was off.

“Marquis Tarenka wasn’t willing to give anything. But you, Miss, managed to get everything.”

“Yes, she quickly saw through the marquis’s fraud with her sharp mind! She threatened! No, no, she negotiated, so how could he not give in and give everything away!”

“Is that so?”

“Yes! I was with the young lady when she demanded the marquis’s fortune.”

The vassals who had become friendly with me on the island proudly boasted to other vassals, splashing saliva as they spoke.

Among them was Viscount Dier, a vassal who had gone with me to Marquis Tarenka’s estate.

“You’re still young miss, but you’re amazing.”

“Yes, don’t you resemble His Excellency!”

The vassals’ eyes turned to my Dad.

My Dad arrogantly lifted his chin and put a raspberry cookie in my mouth.

The vassals whispered as they watched him.

“I’m more impressed by the fact that the youngest lady brought in so much wealth. His Excellency even let her sit on his lap…”

“Just sit on his lap?”

“Hehe, you’ll be even more surprised later.”

“What happened on the island? It wasn’t just His Excellency. You guys have changed too.”

“Sigh, I can’t explain it. You have to experience our young lady’s cuteness and loveliness yourself….”

Excuse me, I can hear you.

Why does the shame always fall on me?

“By the way, it’s really weird.”

The power of Duke Phaeraton is impressive.

Special powers.

Tremendous wealth.

And this time, he also made great achievements in the war.

Judging by people’s fear, public opinion might not be that good.

‘But does that mean he would use the name of Phaeraton to play pranks?’

What did Marquis Tarenka believe in to commit such a fraud?

Even if he succeeded, there was no way he wouldn’t get caught after mining the mana stone.

Besides, no matter how much I thought my dad would treat me poorly, does it make sense to treat the Princess pf Phaeraton like that?

Don’t nobles care about family honor or something?

Well, even on Earth, things that didn’t make sense happened quite often.

When my Dad came to Clatie’s birthday, I felt like something was off from Marquis Tarenka’s reaction, but…

At that moment, a sinister thought crossed my mind.

‘Could it be that he thought my Dad might die in the war?’

I felt a chill all over my body.

“Ruru?”

Looking up at the voice calling me, my father was looking at me as if asking why I was like that.

He had a face that was expressionless and even cold, but now I knew.

My father was worried about me.

“Dad.”

As soon as I called him, my father reached out to me.

A firm touch on my head. That warm weight.

My father returned safely from the war.

And he was by my side.

As I repeated this to myself, I felt relieved.

I leaned on my father’s chest.

The vassals trembled as they watched us again.

That was the moment.

[A new quest has arrived.]

[Unable to disclose associated quests as they have not been unlocked.]

[Please proceed with other quests to receive associated quests.]

Notifications popped up one after another.

Quests.

Yes, I had something to do.

The clear condition for ?My Fortune Never Stops (1)?.

To succeed in the mana stone business.

“Dad.”

“Why?”

“I received this from Uncle.”

As I pointed to the thick property documents, my dad nodded.

“That’s right.”

“So, can I manage it?”

The answer to that question didn’t come from my dad, but from the vassals.

“Your Excellency, the young lady is still too young to handle such an estate directly…”

“What are you talking about? Do you remember at what age the young lords started managing their assets? Our young lady is incredibly smart!”

“But the young lady hasn’t received any education in finance…”

“She can start receiving it now! Our young lady is more than capable!”

“Stop talking nonsense! How can she handle so much, not just one or two…”

“You talk too much.”

It was a straightforward remark.

But with that one remark, the noisy office instantly fell silent.

The vassals held their breath, sensing their master’s mood.

“What does it matter if my daughter plays with her own things?”

Um, I said I would manage the estate.

I didn’t say I would play with toys, Dad…

The aged god-grandfather cautiously spoke up.

“Your, Your Excellency. It may be impertinent, but the young lady lacks experience and knowledge. Managing an estate might be premature… This vast fortune could disappear.”

It was a valid point.

I was only four years old.

I know that Phaeraton is special, but even so, entrusting such a large estate to a four-year-old?

‘Besides, I could really become a baby because of the penalty!’

I may act like a child in front of my dad, but shouldn’t he think about it seriously?

“Elder’s words are correct. Please reconsider…”

“I request you reconsider, Your Excellency!”

The vassals all agreed.

Come on, Dad!

Think about it a little more!

…Even though I asked for it.

“It doesn’t matter if it all goes away.”

My dad dismissed the vassals’ arguments.

Then he turned to me with a proud face.

“Dad has a lot of money.”

No…

Still, if your child is about to waste money, please stop them.

* * *

Ixion clenched his fists in frustration.

A black magic flew and silently shattered a rock.

The cracked rock separated due to gravity and then made a loud sound.

That was the start.

Many rocks in the training ground began to break and split due to magic.

Kwa-gwa-gwa-gwang! Kkong!

The noise spread and the ground cracked.

After a cloud of dust passed by, a subordinate who was waiting nearby approached Ixion.

“Your personality has always been dirty, and you’ve become even dirtier lately.”

“Get lost.”

“Is it because of the youngest miss?”

The crimson eyes turned towards the subordinate.

Even the subordinate who had been by Ixion’s side for a long time, had a heart-stopping aura, as if his liver was shrinking, protruding from his stomach.¹?? ? ?? ??? (literally: to have a liver out of one’s stomach) a saying used to make fun of, condemn, criticize someone who act way too recklessly without fearing possible consequences.

Ixion raised his hand.

The black magic obediently extended along with his will.

It swirled around the subordinate’s body, uncertain and ambiguous.

Ixion’s gaze focused on the subordinate’s face.

A pale, disgusted face covered in cold sweat.

Tsk, Ixion clicked his tongue low and lowered his hand.

“Boring.”

Leaving the frozen subordinate behind, he left the training ground.

“Is it because of the youngest miss?”

Was that what he said influenced his mood.

It’s just that… the annoying sound that he heard every day didn’t come today.

The sound that used to irritate him suddenly became familiar, and not hearing it bothered him in its own way.

That’s all.

Ixion didn’t know that it was a feeling of emptiness.

‘…Is she not coming today?’

It was strange that the little fluff that always came to find Ixion once a day didn’t come.

‘No, there’s nothing strange.’

That child didn’t come because she liked him.

Even though Ixion disliked it, she approached him with a clear purpose.

To cling to the strong and live as a parasite.

That must have been her way of survival, weak as she was.

‘She must have realized that it’s futile to keep coming when I don’t accept them.’

They probably went to Ares, whom they loved so much.

“……”

Ixion’s steps quickened as he strode forward.

For some reason, he felt anxious.

Has there ever been a day when that kid didn’t come chasing after him?

Yesterday, too, the child waved her hand, saying they would meet tomorrow.

‘Do you believe that? That kid’s promises are meaningless.’

“I just want to get along well with Ixion.”

“Ixion didn’t bother me!”

“It was fun!”

A liar.

“What kind of good relationship? You always say I’m annoying! You act badly towards me! You tell me to go away! Nyah!”

“Ares is much, much better! Ixion can’t even compare to you!”

A liar.

“But magic is beautiful.”

“Magic is like the night.”

“A night where you can close your eyes and rest.”

A shallow plan of the weak who cling to the strong.

Even with that thought, Ixion’s steps did not stop.

He went to places where Ruatisha often went, such as the greenhouse, tea room, playroom, dining room, and even near the Duke’s office.

But the child who used to roll around like a ball of fluff was nowhere to be seen.

Suddenly, Ixion thought of his training ground and headed there.

Because Ixion detested people so much, his training ground was located in a remote place where no one ever visited.

And around it…

“Haa, haa…”

Ixion breathed out in the field.

A tiny shoe, no bigger than a palm, was rolling on the grassy field around the training ground.

“……”

Why was that?

After all, he didn’t even know what he was talking about.

This is the language of the weak.

Being weak can’t be helped.

That’s what he had to think.

He had thought that way until now.

Why.

Kwaaaang!

A jet-black spike that emitted a creepy energy suddenly shot up from under Ixion, causing chills to run down his spine.

His head felt cold. No, it was hot.

His vision turned black. No, it turned white.

The magic spread instantly in all directions and began to erode the ground.

Find it.

Find it.

Find it!

At the fierce will of his master, the magic chased after the child’s trail with a roar.

Ixion’s footsteps disappeared and reappeared repeatedly.

Every time this happened, the surrounding scenery changed.

He had never moved so quickly before.

And finally.

A bound little child was wriggling on the ground.

Suppressed sobs escaped from their sealed mouth.

The kidnapper, who was carrying the child, raised their hand as if annoyed.

At that moment, the child lifted her head.

The large eyes that had always confidently stared back at the bully were now a mess of tears.

The moment Ixion saw that sight, he felt something snap inside him.

Kwang!

A deafening explosion tore through the air and echoed around, swallowing up other sounds.

Kwagwagwagwagwang!

The ground vibrated with the sound.

It felt like night had fallen on the world.

A black energy that couldn’t be penetrated by a single point of light swelled up and devoured the space with its evil aura.

The thugs who were kidnapping Ruatisha ran away screaming in silence from the violent and vicious energy.

But it was a meaningless defiance.

Their limbs were torn into eight or nine pieces, and blood was splattered everywhere.

It took just a moment.

When the time for slaughter was over, a complete corpse couldn’t be found.

The magic that had colored the ground and sky crouched over the body, but the ground remained dark.

Blood pooled and gathered, creating a deep puddle.

Ixion, who stared at the remnants of the gruesome massacre with an emotionless face, flinched.

He had forgotten about Ruatisha.

When he turned his head, there was the weak child, trembling with a pale face.

Dilated pupils in shock.

Lips turned blue.

Tears streaming down her face.

The same appearance that Ixion usually found repulsive and despised.

But he didn’t feel like mocking or teasing her.

‘It was a lie after all.’

Everything was a lie, pretending to not be scared, pretending to be okay, pretending to understand, pretending to like.

Even the face that smiled broadly when she said ‘Ixion’ was a lie.

The gestures that followed him around were also lies.

The warmth that hugged his neck was also a lie.

“……”

He felt dirty, enough to do anything.

‘Should I kill her?’

An impulse arose.

It was a very sweet and tempting impulse.

‘Yes, let’s kill her.’

There had never been a presence that disgusted him so much until now.

Ixion raised his hand.

The magic, responding to his will, stretched out towards the trembling child.

It seemed like the child’s body would be swallowed up by the black energy at any moment.

But.

The child’s shoulders were as weak as her body, and her hands and feet were too small.

With those small hands, she grabbed onto Ixion.

With those small feet, she followed Ixion.

“……Tsk.”

Ixion turned his head.

The magic disappeared as if it had never been there.

It was the moment he passed Ruatisha with faltering steps.

“I, Ixion…!”

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  ?? ? ?? ??? (literally: to have a liver out of one’s stomach) a saying used to make fun of, condemn, criticize someone who act way too recklessly without fearing possible consequences.