kscans

Chapter 25 - The Little Person and the Pilgrimage, Part Two

"Come to think of it, this was always strange, wasn't it."

Chihiro opened the picture book she had received on her first day in this house. As always, multiple lines of ruby text wavered above the words. At first, Chihiro had thought this was a reincarnation perk, a gift to ensure she had no trouble with the language. However, as she began to study properly with a teacher, she realized something was odd about this ruby text.

For example, suppose there was a difference in phrasing between ‘The king has graced us with his presence’ and ‘The king came.’ No matter which was written on paper, the ruby text would only display the concise expression ‘The king came.’ The meaning was not wrong, but it was no use if the same ruby text appeared for completely different phrasings. In the end, Chihiro had to learn the language from scratch. It was a strange kind of ruby text.

She was able to understand the meaning, so her learning was fast, but it was when she was formally adopted at the royal palace that she learned there was a purpose to this mysterious ruby text. In one place, among several pages of lengthy documents, she found an unbelievable description.

‘The princess’s residence shall be the royal palace, and all authority over it shall be ceded to the king.’

It was a single sentence buried in a long, roundabout, and indirect text.

When Chihiro pointed it out, Romel, who confirmed it, lashed out at the king like a raging fire. The king also had not known that such a clause had been slipped in, and upon investigation, the culprit was that idiot Dakken.

"I was only thinking of what was best for Your Majesty," he yelled, his thinking as off-target as ever, as he was escorted from the royal palace. Seeing him off, Chihiro understood that this mysterious ruby text was something that could see through any riddles or schemes hidden in any text.

No matter how cleverly or indirectly phrased, this ruby text could not be deceived. It would convey the meaning of the sentence to Chihiro concisely and to the point.

What in the world is this ruby text?

This previously unknown utility of the translation ruby text, which she had thought was a reincarnation perk, gave rise to a new question for Chihiro.

"Absolutely not."

"No."

"...Personally, I am against it."

In the king’s private chambers at the royal palace. Her three fathers sat in a row, shaking their heads. All three of them were staring at Chihiro with fixed, intense gazes.

It was a secret meeting held after dismissing their aides and guards.

The king was the first to speak.

"How could I possibly send my precious daughter, who has only just returned to my side, to the dangerous frontier of a neighboring country?"

You have eight other daughters. It wouldn't hurt for one to go out for a bit. She wasn't even here until now.

"I hear that forest is in the middle of a wilderness. It will be a long journey, and there might be bandits or wild beasts. There is no way I can send you to such a terrifying place."

Ugh, it’s hard to argue when my dad says it. Mrow.

"Even if we could clear those problems, I cannot consent. Do you have any awareness of what an adorable young child you are? People after money and goods would surely abduct you on sight. It wouldn’t be surprising if kidnappers targeting you appeared."

Could you please be quiet, Romel. Your stories have too much credibility to them, they’re unsettling.

A dry smile fixed on Chihiro’s face, her gaze fell upon the king and Drago. Both of their eyes widened at Romel’s explanation, and they nodded vigorously.

"That’s right. Chihiro is adorable. She’ll definitely be kidnapped."

"She will absolutely be kidnapped. Your father is against it."

See, now things are out of control.

A sharp buzzing sound reached the ears of the king and Drago as they chattered on. When they looked around, they saw honeybees everywhere near the ceiling. Each one was staring intently at the king and the others, their wings buzzing wuun wuun. It was as if they were threatening them.

Under the concentrated fire of their gazes, the kings swallowed hard and fell silent. Suddenly, a large object flew in through the skylight. Landing with a thud on the table was none other than Merda-sama. She turned all of her compound eyes, each as large as a human eyeball, toward the kings and tilted her head scornfully.

Hearing the sudden loud noise, knights and attendants rushed in to see what was happening. Then, seeing Merda standing there defiantly, they let out a dry smile. Ah, the usual.

Oblivious to their dumbfounded state, Merda looked down at the kings and smirked.

《This matter was brought forth by me. To hold a discussion without including me shows great courage.》

But of course, her words did not reach them. Realizing this, Merda turned toward the wall with an air of ‘not again.’ Seeing this, one of the attendants, guessing Merda’s intention, couldn’t help but scream.

"Not the wall agaaaaain."

Hearing that, Chihiro was jolted back to her senses.

"Merda, waaaait. I’m here."

With an "ah," Merda came to Chihiro’s side.

And so, with all parties present, the discussion resumed, and the result was a landslide victory for Merda.

《My children will be accompanying her, will they not? What danger could possibly befall my king? Is that a challenge to me?》

At these words, the members of the royal palace were forced into silence.

And so, tearfully, the king sent an inquiry to the neighboring country about the princess’s visit. The finger with which he penned the letter seemed to tremble. Was it just her imagination?

《Well then, I shall have my children prepare for departure as well. Rest assured, my king.》

With the pilgrimage decided, a beaming Merda praised her children and flew off to the forest. It seemed her children had informed her.

"...You’re so unfair, you know," Romel murmured with a tired expression.

"We want to be of help to you too, and we want to be with you. But without giving us time to think and worry together, you just smash through the wall in front of you. It makes us look like fools for worrying."

Romel looked a little lonely. Although he had opposed it, it seemed he had been trying to think of a way to make it work.

"If possible, I want to handle things with human power. The queen will probably lend a hand while you’re here, but it’s not good if that becomes the norm. We must never stop thinking. ...Do you understand?"

Chihiro gave a small nod at Romel’s gently curving eyes.

The queen’s power was extraordinary and phenomenal. Even among the many monsters, it was a cataclysmic power said to be on the level of a disaster. Romel did not want other countries to know about the existence of the little person who flew through the sky, commanding such power. That was why he had been devising a plan to prevent the honeybees from becoming public knowledge, but the queen herself had appeared before he could bring it up.

In terms of her past life’s television, it was like someone was about to sing a song, and the original artist appeared in front of them during the intro. Unless one was an exceptional talent, there was no way they could sing.

Sitting down on the sofa where Romel was, Chihiro hung her head dejectedly.

"I’m sorry, Romel."

At Chihiro looking up at him questioningly, Romel chewed on a bitter bug with great gusto.

You know what you’re doing, don’t you? You know how adorable you are, and I think that kind of upward glance is unfair too.

However, Romel also knew that he was overthinking it. Chihiro was completely indifferent to her own appearance. Anyone could see that from watching the noble young lady run around in a single thick dress.

Ahhh, honestly. In the end, everything will go your way. Us, the castle town, the royal palace, even the queen.

His face contorting, Romel patted the head of the worried-looking child.

"Don’t make that face. The queen will come barging in again."

Being patted on the head, the little person smiled with a soft ‘honya.’ A person who wasn’t knocked out by that innocent smile would have to be a real cynic.

Even Romel, who was aware of his own cynical nature, felt like he would do anything for that smile. In fact, he had already done a great deal.

Haah... I can’t win.

Scooping the little person, who was snuggling closer as if asking for more, onto his lap, Romel’s face relaxed at the warmth in his arms.

That smile was not his usual nonchalant, gentle smile, nor was it his scornful, black-hearted smile that made light of others. It was a truly calm smile from the bottom of his heart.

As Romel savored the blissful moment while patting the little person’s head, the king and Drago, who had noticed, widened their eyes.

"What are you doing, you? How envia... No, me too. Chihiro, come to your father."

"What are you talking about? Chihiro, your dad is better, right?"

In the suddenly lively room, the aides smiled wryly. One attendant was weeping over the table that bore Merda’s footprints, but that was just part of the charm.

New discoveries, new problems. Something different happens every day.

But loved by everyone again today, the little person is happy.