It was a voice so feeble that it could not be heard.

But Ixion heard it.

He stopped walking without even being told to.

“T, t, thank you….”

One leg felt heavy.

No, it couldn’t be heavy.

It was just a wad of cotton that had grabbed onto him without any weight.

Even so, Ixion turned around.

The child who had grabbed onto his clothes was trembling.

The hand that held him was soaked and trembled pitifully.

“To be so scared like this.”

At those words, the child’s large pupils shook slightly.

It looked like she was about to cry.

Thank you.

A con artist who only spouted words from their mouth even in this situation.

‘How far will she go with me?’

Ixion’s lips curved upwards into a sneer.

“Weakling. Why are you grabbing onto me in such a scary situation?”

Should he really kill her?

There was a moment when life flickered in Ixion’s red pupils.

“I was scared!”

Ruatisha shouted.

Like a young child pouring out their painful memories to their parents, older brother, or older sister.

“I was really scared! I was so scared!”

Waaah! Ruatisha burst into tears and clung tightly to Ixion.

Like someone relying on their trusted person.

Ixion couldn’t move.

It was ridiculous.

No matter how much this wad of cotton clung to him, there was no problem with Ixion moving his body.

But Ixion still couldn’t move a finger.

“Why, why now! I was so scared! You bad guy! Bad guy!”

The cotton ball was now hitting herself until it hurt.

Then, as if a spell had been lifted, Ixion could move.

He slowly reached out his hand to the child.

The child entrusted her body to his hand as if it were natural. She even hugged his neck tightly with both arms.

It was as if the fact that he had just massacred with this hands didn’t matter.

“Ah-ah-ah-choo!”

The child was hotter than usual.

Ixion’s shoulders were immediately drenched.

It felt like the child would melt into water if she cried any more.

Even though he knew it was an absurd thought, Ixion slowly patted the child’s back.

Pat-pat.

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

Slowly, very slowly.

* * *

The Duke of Phaeraton was beside himself with anger.

It couldn’t be helped.

His youngest daughter, Ruatisha, had almost been kidnapped.

And that too, inside the duke’s residence.

“This is an unprecedented situation!”

“All those involved must be identified and rooted out!”

“How dare they do this in a place where Phaeraton’s eyes can reach!”

The vassals were furious.

But no matter how angry they were, it could not match the Duke of Phaeraton’s wrath.

Everyone from the guards to the knights, the vassals, and the employees had to endure the duke’s anger.

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

“Your Majesty, of course, those involved in the kidnapping must be punished severely. But there are too many people to punish….”

“We can’t punish even the innocent. They didn’t neglect their duties.”

“The security of the Duke’s residence is not particularly concerned about direct kidnappings.”

All of the direct descendants of Phaeraton were born with strong power as weilders of magic.

Of course, they were not protected from kidnapping.

Even Ares slaughtered monsters at the age of two.

They couldn’t be kidnapped, and even if they tried, they couldn’t do it secretly.

“Who would have thought a kidnapping would occur in the Duke’s residence.”

The direct descendants of Phaeraton freely roamed the Duke’s residence without special protection.

Ruatisha was no exception.

Although she didn’t have magic, everyone entering and leaving the castle had their identities verified, and there were knights and soldiers stationed everywhere, so it was thought to be safe.

“I investigated, and everyone stayed in their designated locations and patrolled at the appointed time.”

Duke Phaeraton slowly opened his mouth as he listened to the words of the quiet vassals.

“So you’re saying that something happened in my house, my daughter was kidnapped, but no one did anything wrong.”

It was a low and quiet voice.

But the anger boiling inside him was almost unbearable.

The nobles couldn’t say anything more and remained silent.

“I commanded you to protect my sister’s safety. And they didn’t keep that command.”

Ares, who always smiled softly and gently, looked around the room with a cold, rigid face.

“How do you plan to bear the guilt of putting my sister in danger?”

The pupils of his eyes shone red to a strange degree on his shadowy face.

The nobles couldn’t even face the two Phaeratons and bowed their heads.

In the suffocating silence, the old man spoke cautiously.

“Your Excellency and the young master’s words are reasonable. It is not too late to hold them responsible after catching the culprit.”

“You’re using shallow tactics to avoid immediate punishment.”

The Duke muttered, but soon nodded his head. He wasn’t foolish enough to confuse priorities even if he was angry.

“Good. First, let’s find the scum who deserves to be torn apart and killed.”

“Yes, Your Excellency. We investigated the identities of the kidnappers and found that they were members of a dark guild who were hired for the job.”

“Someone seems to have commissioned them to kidnap the young lady, but the problem is that they all died….”

The kidnappers were all killed on the scene by Ixion. Unfortunately, all the most important witnesses who could testify who the client was dead.

“First of all, there is a high possibility that someone who is aware of the security of the Duke’s residence committed this crime.”

The vassals, the captain of the guards, and the leader of the knights were exchanging their opinions.

Knock knock.

The sound of knocking on the door was heard, and a small figure poked its head in.

It was Ruatisha Phaeraton, the youngest lady of Phaeraton, who was the protagonist of all these discussions.

* * *

“Ruru.”

Dad’s expression calling me wasn’t good. His handsome face was haggard from worry and fatigue.

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

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

“I rested. I’m okay now.”

As I approached him, Dad hugged me.

“This is not where you should be.”

It was a pushing remark, but his hand patting my back was warm.

I felt strange.

“…Dad, why aren’t you blaming me?”

“What’s there to blame you for? You were just having fun at home.”

I fidgeted with my hands.

“Then why don’t you ask me what happened? What kind of situation it was.”

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

“You’re thinking too much.”

Dad tapped my forehead.

“Ruatisha.”

“Yes?”

“This matter is not your fault.”

“……”

“And your dad isn’t incapable enough to make you recall bad memories and use them as clues.”

Dad said it like it was a very obvious fact.

I stared at him blankly and then nodded my head saying, “Yeah!”

My dad is the best!

“Then go back to your room.”

“No! I’m fine! I’m also a Phaeraton!”

“Ruru.”

“Also, I have a great dad who worries about me like this!”

I have a wonderful dad who said he wouldn’t ask me anything about the situation at the time when I might have a hard time recalling the memory of my kidnapping!

Besides…

I looked at the quest window.

?Avenging Magpie (1)?

Dear reader!

Kidnapping is a regular theme in romance fantasy novels.

Various characters, including the female protagonist, male protagonist, or surrounding characters, are kidnapped.

At this point, what readers want may vary, but ultimately there is one thing.

To perfectly deal with the kidnappers.

Especially in this case, it’s more heinous.

A child kidnapping!

A child abduction!

Child crime! It’s unforgivable!

An eye for an eye! An eye for an eye!

We demand strong punishment!

– Condition: Identify the kidnapper

– Reward: 5000 cash lottery ticket, increased influence in the Phaeraton duchy, progress in linked quest ?????

– Quest acceptance benefit: Penalty is lifted during quest progress.

‘I think I know who the kidnapper is.’

When I was kidnapped, I was only a four years old, but now I have the mind of a perfect reincarnator.

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

“Who is it?”

“Unce Dier.”

I pointed my finger at Viscount Dier.

He was the old man who went with me to Marquis Tarenka’s estate.

“Viscount Dier?”

“Didn’t Viscount Dier particularly care for the youngest miss?”

“He just cared for her. He’s an executive of ‘Ru.Sa.Mo.’¹i don’t know what this means yet. It could be an abbreviation for something… It couldn’t be him, could it?”

People murmured.

Viscount Dier held out his hand with a pale face.

“Ah, miss! How could I plan to harm you! I would never–”

Viscount Dier couldn’t continue his words.

A black magic blocked his way.

“If you go near my sister again, I can’t guarantee the Viscount’s life.”

Ares said lazily, with his eyes half-closed.

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

Even though he was smiling now, there was an air of intimidation that made it difficult to speak to him casually.

Viscount Dier took a step back and showed his palms.

“I never intended to scare you, miss. I just feel it’s unfair… You know how much I like you, don’t you?”

“Don’t appeal to emotions, uncle.”

I tried to be as serious as possible, even though I was sitting on my dad’s lap.

“It’s simple in situations like this. If we just clarify the facts, the answer will come out easily.”

I started the interrogation.

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

“Yes, when you asked me where the third young master was, I answered that way.”

“Miss, that alone cannot make the Viscount the culprit.”

Another vassal who was listening spoke up.

I nodded my head.

Yes, he just answered my question.

“Verifying the facts.”

Ixion’s assistant nodded at my words.

“Yes, miss. The young master was at the training ground yesterday afternoon. Viscount Dier did not make up the story that he wasn’t there.”

“Uncle Dier, when did you know that Ixion was at the training ground?”

“Probably a little past three o’clock. I found out on my way to see the young lady after the meeting ended 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 know because I knew he was in the training center on my way to you, and you asked after you and I had a snack.”

I asked Ixion’s assistant.

“How long was Ixion at the training ground?”

“He wasn’t there for more than 10 minutes. It was more like going there to vent than for actual training.”

Viscount Dier was taken aback by the assistant’s words.

“I didn’t know! I thought the young master was still at the training ground.”

“Ixion is capricious. He has no set schedule.”

I knew that better than anyone, having followed Ixion around like a shadow.

“But you thought he would be at the training ground all the time? Why did you think that? Viscount Uncle never goes near the training ground.”

Due to Ixion’s dislike of people, only a handful of people can set foot in his training ground: the Phaeraton family or Ixion’s assistants. Of course, Viscount Dier is neither.

“When we were having a snack, Ixion was already in his quarters.”

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

“Yeah, of course we didn’t see him. We were eating snacks at the gazebo in the eastern garden, not inside his quarters.”

“……”

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

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

“The path from the gazebo to the training ground and the path from the quarters to the training ground are completely different.”

The room was quiet.

“Even if Ixion had gone back and forth between his quarters and the training ground, he wouldn’t have been able to find me because our paths didn’t cross.”

The vassals who were murmuring before were now listening intently to what I was saying.

“The path from the gazebo to the training ground was the perfect place to kidnap me.”

“…Yes, it must have been.”

“Plus, if I had been at the gazebo, I wouldn’t have come across Ixion and wouldn’t have been able to gather any information about his whereabouts.”

From the route to the location, it could only be seen as a setup for a crime.

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

“Miss…”

“Yeah, tell me now.”

Viscount Dier looked at me. His expression was different from before.

“Who is it?”

I asked him.

“The culprit who tried to kidnap me.”

In an instant, everyone in the conference room fell silent.

After a brief pause…

“…What?”

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

“But it’s clear that the Viscount lured you to the crime scene, isn’t it?”

Amidst the bewildered expressions of the guests…

Clap, clap, clap.

Slow applause echoed through the room.

“I’m impressed.”

The light cast a veil over Ares’ face.

The slightly tilted eyes revealed vivid red pupils as they stared at me intently.

“My sister, you’re really smart.”

Ares smiled at me.

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  i don’t know what this means yet. It could be an abbreviation for something