kscans

Chapter 58 - Little One and the Kodoku Curse, Part Two

".........."

"Well, it’s been a while, Prince Marcello."

The Crown Prince was at a loss for words before the smiling, handsome man.

This was Bastok.

The Little One Squad, sent ahead the day before, had arrived, and a short while later, the Mononoke Carriage arrived as well. Prince Marcello stared with fixed eyes but sighed, thinking it was within his expectations. However, an unexpected surprise had emerged gracefully from that carriage.

Faintly shining beige hair and calm, gray-blue eyes. The monster of Frontier, the one who had thoroughly drilled into Prince Marcello that he must not be deceived by that friendly, gentle smile.

"Prince Romel.....?"

"I’m glad to see you’re well. Is His Majesty the King in good health?"

As they exchanged idle pleasantries, Prince Marcello shot a stunned glance at Little One.

How am I supposed to explain this?

Little One averted her eyes awkwardly, recalling that morning’s events.

"I’m going too."

Learning that the Little One Squad had gone on ahead, Romel had charged directly into Count Jorge’s mansion. Apparently, it had been touch-and-go whether he could finish a week’s worth of work, so he hadn’t been able to say he wanted to accompany them until he had perfectly completed it. Very typical of the workaholic Romel. Moreover, if he hadn’t made it in time, he had apparently intended to go on his own.

"Um?"

Romel lifted the dumbfounded Little One into his arms and glared at the little girl with a sharp, dangerous look.

"I said I’m going. Got it?"

Terrified by his magnificent sanpaku eyes, which smoldered with a dark light, Little One had nodded repeatedly and reluctantly allowed him to come along.

Well, I know what his goal is, but still.

Prince Marcello walked stiffly, his body rigid with tension. Behind him, our country’s Prince Romel followed with a wide smile. And behind him, the soldiers were lined up.

What is this scene?

Glancing at the knights from both countries keeping their distance, the twins exchanged a look. Seeing this, Romel waved to the two of them.

"Chihiro, Chihaya, the Crown Prince said he’ll guide us to that mine shaft. Let’s go see it."

With a sparkling, beaming smile, Romel frolicked like a child, leaving the people around him bewildered. Especially the members of the Frontier Knight Order. They watched the procession in question with blank, dumbfounded faces.

"That’s Prince Romel, isn’t it? He’s just like Wilfe-sama."

"No, the prince used to be like that long ago. A bundle of curiosity. He was the type to casually undertake life-threatening adventures."

As soon as that conversation reached her ears, Little One’s head whipped around toward the knights.

What’s this?! I really want to hear about that?!

Her eyes also sparkling with interest in Romel’s past, Chihaya’s hands clamped over his sister’s ears.

"We have bigger things to worry about, don’t we, Hiro? Isn’t it bad to let that Prince Romel run wild?"

The seven-year-old jutted his chin out with a look of exasperation. In that direction were the backs of Prince Marcello and Romel, trotting away.

Since when!

Taking Chihaya’s hand, Little One hurriedly chased after the procession.

"Is this the mine shaft?"

Next to a pile of cleared rocks, there was a cave just wide enough for one person to pass through. The pillars of the old mine shaft looked brittle, giving it a rather dangerous atmosphere.

"It has been reinforced. It shouldn’t collapse immediately, but it’s not certain, so... that is..."

Prince Marcello glanced repeatedly at Romel.

I get what you’re trying to say, but does that not apply to me?

Noticing Little One’s lukewarm smile, Prince Marcello made a sour face.

"You should be fine. You are with the Mononoke Squad. You are likely the safest person in the world."

Mononoke Squad?

Little One tilted her head in confusion. On her shoulder was Pochiko-san. On her upper arm, Mi-chan. And on her head, Mugi-ta-kun and the little spiders were proudly puffing out their chests, looking back at Prince Marcello. The Crown Prince chuckled and nodded to the monsters.

"I’m counting on you. Take care of Chihiro."

While they were having this carefree exchange, Romel walked into the cave alone with unhesitating steps.

"It’s narrow. Are there monsters in here?"

Dorfen grabbed the arm of the barging Romel, hastily stopping him.

"Please stop! Where do you think you’re going?!"

Ignoring the surprised and bewildered Dorfen, Romel displayed a smug, unpleasant smile.

"Where? To the Gnome’s main body that’s supposed to be here, of course. That’s why I came."

Of course.

Little One looked up at the heavens, while Prince Marcello was once again stunned, for a different reason. Then, he and Dorfen shouted in unison, their tones slightly different.

""Gnome? What are you talking about? I haven’t heard anything about this?!""

Yeah, I didn’t tell them.

Little One, still looking up with a weary face, placated Romel by saying there were still preparations to make, and they returned to the surface.

Romel, who had apparently forced Prince Marcello to guide him with threats, ended up getting an earful from Dorfen, a very rare occurrence. Dorfen, who was in charge of risk management, had never dreamed that Prince Romel would come and was now holding his head in his hands, lamenting the lack of proper arrangements.

"Well, you can just think of me as Chihiro’s bonus, can’t you?"

"I cannot do that! I have sent an express messenger, the Royal Guard knights should arrive tomorrow."

While Romel laughed nonchalantly, Little One and the others had dinner, and he bit back his frustration.

They were at the royal villa used before.

Since it was also used to entertain distinguished guests, it was equipped with a large hall and kitchen. Adonis and Zac showed off their skills to the fullest, and the main course, for some reason, was spaghetti. It was Little One’s request. A bright red sauce with many ingredients. At first glance, it looked like a tomato sauce, but a spicy aroma tickled the nostrils.

"What is this?"

Little One answered Prince Marcello, who was eyeing the unfamiliar dish with suspicion.

"Pescatore. It’s spaghetti with lots of seafood, nyo."

Apparently, the authentic version also includes things like eggplant and zucchini, but Little One’s signature pescatore was seafood only. It was closer to a pirate spaghetti. Little One opened her mouth wide and ate happily, mosha mosha.

"This is delicious."

Prince Marcello ate with a look of admiration.

"There are no failures in the young mistress’s recipes."

Zac cast a cold glance at the Crown Prince while serving.

As she chewed, mosha mosha, Little One thought.

I wonder if he’d say the same thing if I served him natto or dried horse mackerel.

Deciding that Zac probably would, Little One changed the subject to the mine shaft.

"So. It seems there’s a large cavern underground here, with stones made from the remains of magical beasts. And the main body of the Gnomes, nyo."

Saying so, Little One picked up her usual shoulder bag and took out the stone she had received from the Gnome before. Placed on the table was a blackish-purple stone that glowed eerily. Staring at it intently, Romel narrowed his eyes in thought.

"This is... a magic stone. I can’t tell its attribute, but I can feel a fair amount of magical power from it."

"This is in the caverns of Bastok?"

Little One nodded and flicked her finger lightly.

Pockle appeared with a pop.

"Pockle gave it to me. Hey? This is what’s underground here, right?"

‘Hou!’

The small spirit nodded vigorously.

Then Little One summoned Colon as well. Prince Marcello’s eyes lit up at the sight of the dull silver lizard.

"What is this?"

"A Salamander. The main body of the Salamanders is said to be under Frontier, so any powerful mage with the flame attribute can obtain one."

"Anyone?"

Before the quavering Prince Marcello, Romel and Chihaya also flicked their fingers in the air. Two bright red lizards appeared instantly, leaving everyone speechless.

"This is normally top secret information, known only to mages. But it can’t be helped for the sake of this discussion. If you don’t know, the investigation won’t proceed."

In front of a smirking Romel, Prince Marcello shot to his feet with a loud clatter.

"Me too! Ah..."

Realizing his own unintentional action, he quietly sat back down. The Crown Prince had worked hard, but he could hardly be called a powerful mage. He must have been aware of that. Not wanting to give him false hope, Little One kept her mouth shut, but she couldn’t hide the grin on her face.

Prince Marcello can probably manifest a Gnome.

In Little One’s eyes, she could see small lights around him. Since living with Hyrulia, perhaps due to the influence of her foster brothers, the little girl’s eyes had become able to see things that were not human. The small lights that sparkled around the spirits. The same kind of lights were dancing around him. The lights flickered faintly, joyfully circling Prince Marcello.

Chihaya could see this too, and it was a secret between the twins.

The adorable children exchanged grins, and the people around them couldn’t help but feel warm and fuzzy.

Only Romel, a discerning glint in his eyes, quietly observed the twins.

And so, after a thorough meeting, the four of them formed an investigation team and headed for the mine shaft.

Incidentally, it’s a side story that Romel got a huge scolding from Commander Harold, who had rushed to the scene.

"You, of all people!! You are no longer a child?! I thought you had calmed down, but please stop this reckless charging ahead whenever you fixate on something!!"

"I get it, I was wrong! So stop lecturing me in front of the children, will you?"

After witnessing the rare sight of a flustered Romel, the Little One Squad, now renamed the Mononoke Squad, descended into the depths of Bastok.

Little did they know that the mystery of the spirits hidden there was eagerly awaiting them.