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chapter 50
Bang!!!
The parasol collided with the man’s head, producing an unusual sound.
A bell-like chime echoed inside his head, and blood gushed from his nose.
“Ugh… what the…?”
He saw heaven.
No, since he hadn’t lived a good life, it must be hell.
“Then… is this a demon from hell…?”
A girl with black hair, her violet eyes shining brightly, swung her parasol.
…A demon. It was definitely a demon!
“Repent!”
“Ugh!”
When his legs buckled, she struck his side.
“Confess!”
“W-wait…!”
Clutching his body in pain, he was beaten all over his back and shoulders.
Finally, crawling away, begging to be spared,
“Be good!!!”
Bang!!!
Another blow to the head.
The man collapsed, nose bleeding profusely, thinking:
“Ah, a villain… hitting the same spot twice…”
And then he fainted.
Thud.
When the man fell, Lirian wiped her forehead with a sigh.
“Reformation complete!”
The children, watching the one-sided fight between Lirian and the man, couldn’t help but clap.
“W-wow…”
“The villain is awesome…!”
Lirian smiled proudly.
“Villains are cool, right?”
“Yeah!”
“The best!”
Just by defeating a common enemy, the children’s shallow barriers were broken.
A bigger child shivered.
“Did we really defeat him…?”
Lirian reattached her parasol to her back in place of the sword and nodded confidently.
“Of course! The villain’s defeated, so let’s go!”
“But… where are we going?”
“Do you know the way?”
The confident Lirian blinked in confusion.
“Oh.”
Right. She was also lost.
Lirian clutched her head, groaning.
“What do I do, what do I do…? Mom and Dad are going to scold me. Illei must be crying because he lost me…!”
At that moment, Illei, who was searching the auction house for Lirian, suddenly felt an itch in his ears and tilted his head.
While the children huddled together, trying to decide where to go, a noise came from outside.
“Captain, we’re here!”
“Oh! Could it be… we’re late?!”
The children, startled, hid behind Lirian.
Lirian didn’t sense malice from the approaching figure and stayed still.
“This is…”
The party finally spotted the children trapped in the cage, eyes wide in surprise.
“…….”
“…….”
A guard lay collapsed on one side, and in front of him stood a resolute girl.
The gaze of the gray-haired man called the Captain and the black-haired girl met.
Lirian stared blankly at the man, who looked at her in shock.
“Sir, do you know the way?”
At Lirian’s question, the man suddenly realized and composed himself.
He cautiously knelt on one knee before the child.
“Is anyone hurt?”
“No.”
“Any pain…?”
“Nope!”
Lirian then turned around, realizing something.
“These ones seem a bit hurt. Their energy is very weak.”
Hearing this, the Captain urgently called over his party.
“Quickly, the medicine chest.”
“Yes!”
They approached the children to treat them.
But the children, scared, only looked at Lirian.
“It’s okay. They’re not bad people.”
“Really?”
“Yes. You can trust them.”
Once Lirian confirmed it, the children relaxed and accepted the adults’ help.
The man, silently observing, finally spoke.
“I will guide you.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
He quickly realized the child was a noble—likely of quite high rank.
The attire, the lack of discomfort when adults showed respect, and other traits made her status obvious.
Normally, he disliked nobles. But,
“She’s just a child.”
He suppressed his personal feelings. A child is just a child.
“Hehe, thank you!”
Such a pure smile.
“Goodbye, thanks.”
“Take care.”
“Villains are the best!”
They parted ways with the children at the room.
The Captain would escort Lirian, while the rest of the party would take care of the children.
Lirian shook hands with the Rose doll.
“Bye, see you again. You must keep the secret!”
The children giggled.
The man watched, amazed, as the fragile child walked confidently ahead.
Even though he looked weak,
“Not a single strike missed its mark.”
The guards who had collapsed were only hit with precise, intentional strikes.
If one asked if such a thing could be done with just a parasol, even he couldn’t guarantee it.
“Could it be…”
He silently pondered the absurd hypothesis that a child had accomplished all this.
Soon, the two arrived at the place Lirian had mentioned.
“Are you sure you can go alone?”
“Yes!”
The man, uneasy about sending the child alone, asked again, but Lirian was firm.
“I’m a spy, so I can’t let the secret warehouse be discovered!”
Still immersed in her spy game, Lirian said.
“Then, goodbye!”
She gave a small service for the children with the Rose doll but turned away coldly from the adult.
“Secret.”
The man said.
“I will keep it.”
He bowed and left.
Lirian tilted her head as she looked back.
“Seven stars on his sleeve…?”
It was the moment Lirian Ershioni met the seventh star of the vanished Order: Tesilon Versiuy.
At the end of the path she had come with her parents, Lirian found the secret warehouse.
But there was a problem.
“Wh-whoa… it’s huge!”
It was enormous. Compared to tiny Lirian, it was like an ant facing a dragon!
The entrance alone had five doors.
Lirian stared at the doors labeled 1 through 5.
“Can’t be helped.”
Folding her arms, she nodded solemnly.
“Dumda, help me!”
If Illei saw her, he’d probably think, Is that really such a serious matter?
Her “antennae” perked up sharply after a long time.
They trembled gently… and suddenly,
“Yap!”
The antenna pointed to door number 3.
“This is it!”
Confidently, Lirian ran into door 3.
Inside, a maze-like corridor appeared.
Without hesitation, Lirian followed the antenna’s direction.
After a few more turns…
“Huh?”
Another door appeared ahead.
“Open?”
It was half-open—a sign someone was inside.
Lirian pressed her lips together.
“…I smell blood.”
The innocent light in her amethyst eyes deepened.
She drew her parasol, eyes sharp, and moved toward the door.
Reaching the door, she opened it without hesitation.
Creeeak—
Inside was a large space.
A round room, lined on all sides with display shelves.
“Ugh… w-what… a child…?”
An extra thug leaning by the door spotted Lirian and muttered weakly before going silent, likely fainting.
But he wasn’t alone.
Lirian slowly scanned the surroundings.
What had happened here?
Bodies scattered everywhere, the smell of blood, and—
‘But how would I recognize the sacred relic?’
‘It’s hard to explain.’
On the carriage heading to the auction, Illei had answered Lirian’s curiosity:
‘You just know when you see it.’
A figure in a black robe reached for an old book.
The book glimmered with light reminiscent of the golden butterfly.
Lirian’s eyes shone at the unmistakable special aura.
She immediately threw her parasol.
Swooosh—!
“……!”
The black-robed figure, sensing the intense presence from behind, turned in a hurry.
The parasol brushed across his cheek.
Thud!!
It hit right beside his face, and the strong wind from it toppled his robe, revealing bright golden hair.
“…A new guest has arrived.”
Lirian saw a red streak on his pale cheek.
Ruby-red eyes glimmered beneath the golden hair.
Inside the robe was a handsome young boy, roughly Illei’s height.
