BVGW 45

chapter 45

“What is that?”

“It looks like… a child.”

“Why is the kid acting like that?”

“Maybe they thought it was a toy.”

“This is driving me crazy. Whose room is that?”

“Count Rose’s. He recently made a huge investment and became an informant in the underworld…”

“Enough with the introduction! I can’t see the screen! Maybe it’s intentionally hidden—turn on the voice magic device, now!”

“Yes!”

They activated the voice magic device.

• Baby Villain! Doo-ru-ru-doo-ru-

• Cute! Doo-ru-ru-doo-ru-

• Of the Empire! Doo-ru-ru-doo-ru-

• Baby Villain!

“?”

“???”

Instead of a human voice, a cute melody played, throwing the entire monitoring room into chaos.

“…What is this?”

“It seems… like a children’s song.”

“You don’t know that, so you’re asking?! Why is there a children’s song playing?!”

“Maybe it’s for the kids brought here.”

“Ha… this is maddening.”

Meanwhile, the opening song of Moonlight Witch, Rose continued to play.

• We are! Doo-ru-ru-doo-ru-

• Of the Empire! Doo-ru-ru-doo-ru-

• Dark— Doo-ru-ru-doo-ru-

• Villain Family!

“But this melody is surprisingly catchy. We are, doo-doo, the villain family—doo, ugh!”

“Hey, you bastard! That’s not important right now!”

While the monitoring room was in chaos, Lirian was deep in thought.

‘This looks like the Abyssal Eye.’

The shiny red glow, the creepy sense of being watched—so similar.

It reminded her of the Abyssal Familiars, reconnaissance demons used by the priests of the Abyssal Church.

Her eyes darkened as she recalled humanity’s traitors.

‘Should I break it?’

Just then—

“Infuse it with mana.”

Flap— a golden butterfly landed on Lirian’s shoulder.

‘Huh? That’s Daddy Illey!’

The silver-haired man, casually resting his chin, wobbled slightly.

…Let’s call him the Great Serevia.

‘That’s too long.’

Lirian, pondering, exclaimed,

‘Then I’ll call him Star!’

Because he’s Daddy Illey!

With hair that sparkled like a star, he became Star.

The man spoke in a resigned voice.

“Fine. Infuse it with mana. There’s no time.”

‘Huh? Why?’

Don’t argue.

Lirian pouted but, thinking of a face similar to Illey’s, her resolve softened.

“Tch.”

Grumbling, she pressed down firmly on the jewel.

The moment the screen went black, the monitoring room erupted in chaos, screaming about how expensive it must have been—but that didn’t concern her.

Lirian closed her eyes and felt the surrounding energy.

Waves of intangible energy.

Mana, spreading widely like the air.

Normally, she should only feel the faint, colorless, odorless currents of mana flickering quietly in the darkness, but—

‘It’s warm.’

Strangely, a bright cluster of light touched her shoulder.

It moved toward her fingertips.

Now.

At that moment, Lirian’s eyes opened brightly.

Crackle—!

All screens in the monitoring room went black at once.

“What?!”

“They’re all dead!”

“Damn it! Call the mage!”

Naturally, the monitoring room was in chaos, and even the covert agents infiltrating Kunkart sensed something unusual.

“Brother, the red light isn’t visible. It seems the surveillance device is off?”

“What? Could it be a trap?”

“I don’t know. But even if it’s a trap, it’s the perfect opportunity—let’s enter.”

“Good. Head to the storage immediately.”

The extra thieves, who should have been caught easily, successfully entered the auction hall.

“Something seems to have happened. Nothing is detected by the magic sensors, Captain.”

“It’s an opportunity. Let’s rescue the children immediately.”

“Understood!”

“Remember, escape as soon as you rescue them.”

Even those who had hoped for light in the darkness began to move.

“…Sir, there are more signs of presence.”

“……”

“What should we do?”

And here, there were those who wanted to become pure darkness.

“Oh dear.”

A pair of red lips traced a smile beneath a black robe.

“It seems impossible to retrieve quietly.”

A melodious laugh followed.

The silver-haired man watched all of this through the golden orb resting on his hand.

The moment when the once-fixed world line twisted.

He rested his chin and looked down at Lirian, clutching her head in the orb, struggling.

“Quite an unusual human. Such a strong mana control for a human.”

Even with his guidance, he hadn’t expected her to dismantle such a meticulously designed spell in one go.

Not with finesse, but by sheer overwhelming power—

“No wonder it resonates.”

He clicked his tongue.

“Still, this is quite impressive.”

A smirk appeared on his lips.

“Ugh…”

Lirian made a sour face as her head throbbed, like the day she secretly ate three strawberry sherbets.

‘Star is mean.’

Making a child do this!

Lirian grumbled inwardly, flipping between adult and child depending on convenience.

The duke and duchess felt a foreboding.

“Why is it so quiet?”

“……”

“……”

“Princess!”

“Lirian!”

They both tossed their binoculars aside and jumped up.

Childcare rule #1: When a child is quiet, they’re always causing trouble.

Lirian, dizzy and unsteady, teetered dangerously on the cushion.

“Oh no!”

Caesar snapped his fingers.

Suddenly, round droplets appeared around Lirian.

Plop!

The droplets lightly lifted her.

Meanwhile, Lessa appeared like mist and caught her.

“Haa.”

“Phew…”

The couple exhaled in relief simultaneously.

Illey, seeing the much more competent adults, widened his eyes.

Parents… are strong.

“Sniff, my head hurts!”

Even in pain, Lirian whimpered for attention.

The couple exchanged glances and smiled helplessly.

Lessa gently arranged Lirian’s hair.

“I’m sorry, I should have been watching. Does your head hurt? Want me to do a massage?”

“Mm… yes, massage…”

“Alright, here—massage—”

“Oh, our daughter. Why does your head hurt? Here we go.”

Her headache was almost gone, but whining was the youngest’s privilege.

Lirian, quietly receiving her parents’ love, glanced at one person left out.

“Why isn’t Illey doing it…?”

Illey, who had never indulged in such play before, panicked. His eyes shook.

Zig…

But under Lirian’s persistent gaze and the couple’s eyes, he hesitantly approached.

Finally, he peeked at Lirian.

Seeing her calmly closing her eyes like a princess from a fairy tale, he swallowed.

‘Why am I so nervous?’

He took a deep breath as his heart thumped wildly.

The closer he got, the more he noticed her dense eyelashes and soft, childlike fuzz.

Feeling someone’s burning gaze behind him made him sweat, but Illey quietly blew on her.

“Phew.”

“Ticklish.”

At that moment, Lirian’s eyes sparkled open.

Illey was startled by the sudden dazzling amethyst eyes.

“But I think a kiss is better than a massage.”

The sudden bombshell made his face slowly heat up.

Thump thump thump thump.

His heart raced madly. Heat spread throughout his body.

Even below his neck, he felt the pounding.

Illey couldn’t properly look at Lirian’s face. It felt suffocating, the surroundings flickering like a blackout.

Yet, Lirian alone remained vivid.

His heart sank further.

“Ahem…!”

Caesar cleared his throat.

Illey regained his senses and hastily stepped back.

His legs gave out; he couldn’t stand, only managed to breathe deeply while covering his mouth with his hand.

‘Why am I like this? Lirian’s just a friend… and my little sister…’

Otherwise, he didn’t know what he might blurt out.