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Episode 27: The Great Wish of the Heir of Exordium
“Lies, that must be a lie! Glutinous rice!”
(TL/N: Um’s nickname for Annette.)
Um, who suffered cognitive dissonance due to Annette’s grand and high dream, jumped up from his seat and shouted.
Then I widened my eyes like a puppy and said,
“It’s true.”
“……!!!”
Smile, my light-green eyes were folded.
“I’ve always wanted to try it. Being the owner of a bakery that produces fragrant, delicious, and fluffy bread!”
Sordi quietly took out a handkerchief and wiped his face. The milk tea sprinkled on his face was like honey on a lily.
Um’s face turned as red as the color of his hair.
“Ha, but you can become an emperor with that power, glutinous rice!”
‘Um, it’s strange if glutinous rice is the emperor.’
“But the emperor can’t even sleep in.”
Um blinked and said, “Is that the only reason…?” He then made a face that was as if he was hit with a hammer, and hurriedly said,
“Or you can make the powerful obey you at your feet. Make them tremble at your words!”
…Was he really trying to make a 12-year-old do such a scary thing?
I answered with cloudy eyes.
“That sounds a bit scary, Um.”
‘I don’t really want to make anyone tremble.’
I was like, ‘What’s this… I’m scared…’ When I looked at Um with such eyes, Um restrained his heart with a sigh.
“However, with such tremendous power, it’s barely enough to be a bakery owner!”
Sordi, who managed to wipe his face clean of milk tea, folded the wet handkerchief down neatly, and then put his hand on the excited wolf’s shoulder.
“Um, calm down”
“…B-But! Bakery! What do you mean bakery!”
“She is still young. A dream can change later in life, and even if she becomes a baker, we must respect this child.”
“Heuk!”
After gently calming the mad wolf, Sordi looked at me and said kindly.
“Baby, like Um said, you don’t have to use your abilities for personal gain. You can also use them to protect your loved ones.”
It was one of the best things I had ever heard. My eyes gleamed.
‘I can protect my loved ones!’
Heinrich’s face came to mind, followed by Sislin’s face. And the big, pure eyes of the Forest children.
“It’s really cool…”
From now on, I could protect anyone I care about.
My heart was pounding and it felt warm.
“Hey, then, will I be able to kill monsters by emitting light like before?”
When I asked a little naively, Sordi lowered his eyebrows and smiled.
“Earlier, it was the moment of ‘inheritance’, so you were able to show great power. You and the soul of Exordium have not yet resonated perfectly, so that will be too much.”
“Ah… ”
Seeing my disappointed face, Sordi quickly added.
“But the longer you spend time with us, the stronger you will be.”
“Okay! So, how much power can I use now?”
Sordi pondered a little, then raised his index finger and smiled.
“It may be possible to produce a very small light?”
Oh? That’s pretty cool too?
I was happy and covered my mouth with both hands.
“Then I can turn on the light and bake bread in the dark!”
It was a life where I wouldn’t have to worry about the price of candles!
‘Saving money is really important for the self-employed. Mhm, indeed.’
“Heh, you’re cute.”
Sordi smiled slightly at my reaction, but Um’s expression wasn’t very good.
‘Hey, every time I talk about bread, his expression turns rotten…?’
Apparently, he had not yet accepted the fact that the successor of Exordium would become a great baker.
‘It’s difficult, really.’
At that moment, Um, who was holding his forehead, opened his mouth.
“…For now, you will only be able to control fire.”
What a match! I clapped my hands and answered.
“Then I can bake bread at the perfect temperature!”
“Argh, don’t link everything to the bakery! Glutinous rice!”
The red wolf shook his head in pain at my ‘obsessive baker’-like line of thought.
‘Fufu. But it’s my old dream.’
I didn’t care at all. I just drank the sweet milk tea in front of me.
I would be the greatest baker who bakes the most perfect bread with the best fire control, fufu.
‘I’m sorry, but Mom and Dad, please stay out of my career counseling.’
Having finished drinking the milk tea proudly, I got up from my seat and greeted like a model student – very politely.
“Then I’ll be on my way! The children will be waiting.”
“Baby, remember one thing.”
Sordi grabbed my wrist and said with a serious face.
“Never, you should never easily reveal your abilities.”
“Yes. I understand.”
I nodded.
“Some people fear your power like it’s death itself, others salivate like a greedy dog for a chunk of drugged meat.”
From the moment Um said these words, I swore in my mind that I would not reveal my abilities easily.
Besides, if my abilities were revealed when I was young and fragile like now, I would be kidnapped without a trace and split into pieces.
In the hands of those who fear me and want to destroy me, or those who covet me.
Ugh, I am getting chills.
At this time, Sordi seemed relieved at my answer.
“As expected, you’re clever, sweetheart. If you keep that in mind, you’ll be fine.”
“Yes! It was really nice meeting you, Sordi and Um.”
After shaking hands with Sordi and Um in turn, I grabbed a bunch of jelly and candy from the dessert tray and stashed them into my pocket. Like a squirrel trying to store cashews in its cheek pockets.
Sordi covered his mouth as if he found my actions cute and then asked with a smile.
“Are you going to take it and eat it later?”
“No, I am going to give it to the children of the Forest. These snacks are precious and everyone will love them.”
I smiled brightly, and suddenly the handsome lily-like man’s face became flushed and he made a grim expression.
“How… Um, look at my baby…! How can she take care of other children like this when she herself is young? How can she be so sweet?”
“…It’s definitely glutinous rice with no ambition, but she has a very warm heart. This successor is different.”
‘I think it’s a bit of an exaggeration, isn’t it?’
“Her cheek pockets are cute too. Like a hamster, Um.”
“Hmm. To be precise, it looks like a hamster whose cheek pockets are made of glutinous rice.”
Pyoong, pyoong— They thoroughly enjoyed pulling my cheeks from both sides.
“……”
In a daze, I thought as my cheeks were pulled.
‘The two of you are incredibly lovey-dovey…’
Muah–
“I’m sorry, but it’s time to get going, sweetheart.”
Sordi kissed my forehead with a look of regret to let go of my cheek.
Then, the surrounding environment dispersed in a dizzying manner like five colors of paint dissolving in the water, and I returned to reality in an instant.
***
When I opened my eyes, the faces of the boys were right in front of me.
On the left was a boy with silver hair and a pretty cat-like face.
On the right was a boy with an expressionless face, with black hair and red eyes like a young beast.
“Sister!”
“Annette, did you sleep well?”
I laughed a little awkwardly.
“Ah, huh!”
‘Is this the cave?’
Did I dream about meeting Sordi and Um?
I hurriedly fumbled through my pocket, and I could still feel it was full of candy and jellies.
‘Really, it wasn’t a dream.’
To get to meet Sordi and Um after being eaten by a monster plant, and to return with a friendly kiss.
It was a mysterious experience.
That space must have been in my unconsciousness or a special space they had created.
I told Sislin and Heinrich briefly about what I had been through.
I also said quite a bit of detail about my abilities. I had to hide my powers, but Sislin and Heinrich were truly on my side and the only children I could trust.
‘More than anything else, they have to be on my side so that it will be easier to hide in the Forest.’
However, I deliberately did not talk about Sordi and Um. Because some degree of secrecy was necessary.
“Sister, you’ve awakened a great power, right?!”
As Heinrich spoke in surprise, Sislin, who was listening quietly next to him, opened his mouth.
“Don’t worry about the future. Annette. I’ll keep your secret.”
“Yes. Thank you!”
“And even if you’re caught…”
Sislin quietly closed his red eyes and opened them.
“I will protect you. Even if it means giving my life.”
‘Please don’t give your life at 11, child. Usually 11-year-olds don’t say things like that!’
‘The buds of Gwanggong are really different, different.’
At that time, this damn chihuahua! He pushed Sislin and took his place.
“No, I’m going to be the one who protects Sister, right?”
Pukk! This time, Sislin pushed Heinrich away.
Then, with his red eyes shining, he spoke again seriously.
“Annette, don’t worry.”
“Hey, shouldn’t you go over there, you bastard? Sister, I’ll protect you. Don’t worry about anything! It’s a must! Understand? Don’t worry!”
‘I’m most worried about you…’
Other than you, I have nothing to worry about.
I smiled awkwardly and nodded, thinking there was no reason to stay here any longer.
So I picked up the Pluto ring.
“Are you planning to go back now?”
I answered Sislin’s question.
“Yes! If I rub this, Teacher Julius will come right away.”
Probably.
It was my first time using the power of the ring, so I wasn’t sure.
Even in the original story, there was only a rough explanation, and there was no scene where the Pluto clan obeyed the owner of the ring properly.
‘It’s written that he will appear in a very polite manner.’
With the attitude of serving his master.
Hmm, and I think he took a very cringy posture, but what was it?
I traced the part where my memory was vague, and decided to call him for the first time. I exhaled a little nervously and rubbed the ring.
Then, bang! An amazing thing happened.