Chapter 101

‘What is going on? Right in the very center of a place that is mild all year round?’

Wondering what had happened, he turned his head.

“...Your Majesty...”

His mouth fell open as he stammered out the words.

“B-but Avin is definitely a poison power user....”

He could not believe what he was seeing. But Argen’s confident attitude told him that this was real.

“That is true. However, I discovered that there are many things one can do with poison power. I can distribute this to my people.”

What Tree was seeing right now was indeed the “real thing.”

I-if that is truly real... i-if His Majesty King Argen grants me that ability as well...

Thud.

He dropped to his knees before Argen and cried out.

“Y-your Majesty! I-I am completely Your Majesty’s man. P-please grant me the same blessing as that boy....”

“Hahaha!”

A satisfied laugh filled the underground treasury at Tree’s submission.

There was something Argen had realized from the recent incident involving Duke Pose.

The reason the man who possessed poison power ultimately failed to survive as a ruler and died as a spy.

“Tree. I will show all of this on the day of the public sparring match, so gather as many spectators as possible. Commoners and nobles alike. Everyone.”

“Yes!”

It was because he only knew how to control people, but never learned how to rule them.

How foolish. Treating people like machines, Duke Pose. A ruler should be someone who knows how to share what he possesses, like me.

Argen watched Tree running away at full speed with satisfaction before dropping heavily into his chair.

He was incredibly excited for the upcoming public sparring match with House Kreutz.

***

“L-Lady Aisha! F-finally, our B-Bibi understands attack and stop!”

After his tearful reunion with Bibi, Guide’s training speed had increased dramatically.

“B-Bibi. S-stop!”

“Kyu! (This little brat whose blood has barely dried dares to order his grandmother around....)”

“B-Bibi. Attack the tree!”

“Kyu! (I am only doing this because I pity your trembling appearance, you little Guide!)”

It was not because Guide’s ability had improved.

It was because Grandma Bibi grumbled while still accepting his commands.

But Guide had no idea about Grandma Bibi’s true feelings and continued smiling brightly.

“Wow. Amazing! You’ve really improved a lot, haven’t you?”

Pretending that I could not understand her either, I watched Grandma Bibi scratch the tree rapidly with her sharp claws according to Guide’s commands and admired her.

Anyway, this was a relief.

Because of this incident, the way people at Kreutz ducal castle viewed monsters had changed, even if only by a tiny amount.

Of course, it was still important to remain cautious of monsters and continue subjugating them.

But at least people no longer viewed Bibi with hostility.

There were even knights who would sometimes let out small amused smiles when they saw Bibi toddling along after Guide.

With this, when Guide becomes the Kang Hyeongok of this world later on, I should be able to get help from them.

Feeling proud, I puffed out my stomach and crossed my arms.

“Kyuu! (Aisha! Come here to your grandmother.)”

Suddenly, Grandma Bibi called out to me.

“Yes? Why?”

“Kyu, kyukyuu! (I think I finally understand a little why only you, a human, can understand what I say.)”

“......?”

My eyes widened at Grandma Bibi’s words.

“W-what is it?”

Startled, I looked around before whispering to Grandma Bibi so that no one else could hear.

After all, to everyone else, Bibi’s sounds probably only sounded like “kyu kyu.”

If they saw me seriously having a conversation with her, they would think it strange.

But why can I understand Grandma Bibi’s words?

I folded my knees and cautiously approached Bibi.

“Kyu. Kyu, kyuu. (You smell like a monster.)”

My entire body froze at the chilling answer that suddenly reached my ears.

“Kyu, kyuuk. (I did not notice when we were in the ice cave because my sense of smell was numb, but now that I smell you again, I understand. Somewhere on you, a strong monster scent has soaked in.)”

“.......”

I could not react at all to Bibi’s words.

Because they were completely unexpected.

That was when—

“Dandelion! They said we have to leave now!”

Lucas called out to me from far away.

It seemed the portal preparations were finished.

“G-grandma. I-I’ll go for now!”

I had been staring blankly at Bibi, whose expression remained serious, but I finally came to my senses and hurriedly ran away.

Even while running toward the two people waiting for me, my thoughts were in chaos.

I smell like a monster?

Why?

In the original story, the character named Aisha was eventually expelled from House Kreutz and disappeared from the novel, so I did not know the exact details.

But one thing was certain.

There was no reason I should smell like a monster.

“What? Did you just wake up?”

I ran so distractedly that when I arrived at the portal, a huge hand suddenly appeared in front of my eyes and waved back and forth.

It was Calypse.

I grabbed his hand, which was moving in front of me, and asked in a daze.

“Dad. Do I smell?”

“No.”

Calypse frowned at my question and shook his head.

“Smell me once. Do I smell or not?”

I swallowed nervously and stubbornly refused to let go of Dad’s hand, just in case.

Calypse deliberately sniffed around my face before shrugging.

“I smelled you. You don’t. Satisfied? We’re in a hurry, so come along.”

“Eek.”

Then he lifted me up effortlessly and placed me on top of the portal.

“Activating the portal!”

At the gatekeeper’s shout, my vision flashed white in an instant.

Live a little longer.

At the same time as the light filled my vision, I felt like I heard the familiar voice of a young boy beside my ear.

It was only for a brief moment.

But the voice sounded similar to Kyle’s.

“...Kyle?”

When I lifted my gaze toward the ducal castle that was no longer visible, I had already arrived at the Frozen royal castle, where warm air lingered.

It was the day of the public sparring match with the Frozen royal family.

***

The public sparring match between the Frozen royal family and House Kreutz had been prepared on a grand scale, as if a festival were being held.

The spectator stands surrounding the enormous circular arena were built in tiers so that anyone could see the training grounds.

At the center, the platform-separated noble seats, placed higher than the ordinary spectator stands, were already filled with guests who had arrived in advance.

This time, commoners had also been specially permitted to enter, and the tiered spectator stands were already completely full.

“We will escort you to the noble seats.”

At the entrance to the arena.

Unlike the spectators who had to enter through the royal castle entrance, we had arrived through a portal, so we could enter through the back door.

The problem was that the arena was much larger than I expected.

“That is Duke Kreutz!”

“Wow, it’s my first time seeing him in person. Young Lord Lucas is beside him too.”

“Is that the blonde princess from the rumors? She looks so cute in that knight uniform!”

While being escorted to the noble seats by the gatekeeper, countless gazes followed us.

There seemed to be hundreds.

No, thousands.

From nobles waving fans to commoners shouting while chewing on bread.

They called it a public sparring match, but I never expected this many people.

I thought it would only be something like inviting the royal palace people as spectators!

Creak, creak.

Holding Dad’s and Lucas’s hands, I walked awkwardly.

Only after dropping into the highest chair among the noble seats after the royal family’s own seats did I finally let out the breath I had been holding.

“...Dad. Are there usually this many spectators at public sparring matches?”

I was so nervous °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° that even the two points of my arrow-shaped hair stood straight up.

Calypse seemed just as surprised that it had become this large, and he let out a hollow laugh before shaking his head.

“Perhaps too much attention was drawn.”

Then the commander of the ducal knights, who had been standing beside us, spoke.

“I do not know how things became this big. Until now, when people said public sparring match, only the opposing side’s knights, His Majesty the King, and Her Majesty the Queen would attend....”

Judging by their reactions, it seemed Dad and the knight commander had not known about this either.

My body stiffened inside the rigid knight uniform.

I did not know what it was, but it was certain that King Argen intended to show something during this public sparring match.

That was when—

“Aisha. It is fine if you lose.”

Dad, who sat like a huge mountain beside me, whispered.

“Just show them that you can use ice power. That alone will prevent them from carelessly touching you.”

At his gentle yet calm words, I pressed my lips together and nodded.

That’s right. The reason King Argen called us here is to use me to embarrass Dad.

So I only need to do what I have to do.

That was when—

“His Majesty King Argen and Her Majesty Queen Grace are entering!”

At the gatekeeper’s announcement, the noisy crowd’s attention turned toward one side.

King Argen and Queen Grace entered through the enormous doors.