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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: The Saintess's Heart
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"Huh? What was that, Lilis?"
As I watched Theo tilt his head, my heart pounded with excitement.
The thing that the ‘Saintess’s Heart’ referred to was something Chessier would only discover years after Theo’s death.
As an avid reader, I, of course, knew its absurd true identity.
‘It doesn’t just save him! He said it hurt immensely every time he had an attack, and now he won’t have to go through that anymore!’
Excited, I stomped my feet in place as if I were running.
"B-B-Big brother, big brother!"
"Yeah, yeah!"
"Me, me, me!"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah!"
"Go buy me something pretty!"
Theo, who had been staring at me intently, burst out laughing.
"Alright, I'll buy you anything you want!"
* * *
A stuffed rabbit, a princess mirror, a jeweled ring…
After wandering through all sorts of shops to obtain 'that item' without raising suspicion, I pointed to our next destination.
"I wanna go here too!"
A former magic swordsman!
...Or rather, a general store owned by a former magic swordsman's attendant.
The sign, which seemed to be full of false advertising, didn't inspire much confidence.
‘Still, it's the biggest general store around, so they should have it.’
It had to be there.
The Saintess's Heart.
"Glory to the great Primera!"
The shopkeeper, whose sly mustache made him look like he'd rip us off for all we were worth, greeted us.
"You seem to be people of high station. What brings you here?"
"Um."
"Ah."
The twins looked as if they weren't sure this was the right place, even after coming inside.
The general store, frequented by mercenaries, had its walls covered with wooden training swords and low-quality basic blades, while subjugation armor, cloaks, and boots were displayed haphazardly.
'This is it.'
My eyes scanned the display cases, and I let out a gasp.
"Wow! This is so pwetty! I want this!"
Everyone's gaze followed my finger, then widened in horror.
"Ooh! The purple is all squiggly~. It's so cool. It looks just like the stars at night..."
I pressed my cheek against the transparent glass display case like a steamed bun and marveled.
Dark purple orbs that looked like they would leave a grimy residue at the slightest touch.
What were these?
"Ahem, young lady? Well..."
Even the shopkeeper, who had been planning to swindle some rich noble kids, shook his head.
"Those are monster cores. Dug out from the carcasses of slain monsters. They are very unsuitable as toys for noble young ladies..."
"Buy me this!"
"No, you can't have this."
Leon pulled my arm away.
"Huh? Why?"
"It's dangerous."
"What is?"
"Monster cores constantly emit magi. If you carry one around, you'll get poisoned. Only ability users who can control magi can handle them."
"Yes, that's correct."
The owner interjected, tapping the glass display case a couple of times.
"This isn't ordinary glass, either. It's a special type called 'Block Glass' that partially blocks magi."
"It's okay. I'm an ability user, too!"
"What are you talking about? You're just a little kid who hasn't even been to the training center yet."
"Sigh, it's really okay."
"No means no. Don't throw a fit."
Leon said firmly.
Faced with his unusually stern reaction, I rolled my eyes and thought.
‘He’s due for an attack in five days. If not now, I won’t have time to get this without arousing suspicion. I know a way for him to not be in pain, and I don’t want to make him endure it.’
Having made up my mind, I puffed out my cheeks like I was pouting and crossed my arms.
If there was one good thing about being a child...
It was the privilege of being able to throw myself on the floor and whine, "Mommy, buy me this!"
"If you don't buy me this, I'm not leaving."
"There are so many prettier things out there!"
"This is the pwettiest."
"Where? Kid, what is wrong with your taste?"
"Huh. You're just realizing that now? I told you I like hairy tarantulas, didn't I?"
"Argh...!"
Leon was at a loss for words.
"Anyway, no! I can't buy you something dangerous!"
"Yes!"
"No!"
"Lilis has spoken! If you don't buy me this, I'm not moving a single step!"
"Yeah, fine! You think I can't lift a tiny little kid like you?"
"Waaah?! D-don't! Brother, don't!"
"...Wait."
Just as Leon was about to hoist me over his shoulder, Theo, who had been watching me throw a tantrum with a serious expression, approached the display case.
"Could you possibly take the smallest one, put it in glass, and make it into a pendant?"
"Aha! That's an idea! Well, if we do that, there should be no problem for the young lady to carry it."
The shopkeeper grinned.
"But this Block Glass is incredibly expensive. Will that be alright?"
* * *
[Items Purchased: 1 Low-Grade Monster Core, 6 sheets of Block Glass.
+Additional crafting fee
Total Amount Billed: 56,000,000 Terr]
"You are so~ dead when Mom finds out."
"Don't use such vulgar language, Leon."
Theo's face was pale as he looked at the bill charged to the Antracse Duchy.
It was like getting a credit card bill for roughly 56 million.
But it was a small price to pay for a life. Everyone would soon realize that.
"Big brother."
"Yeah."
I put on the monster core, now crafted into a pendant inside a small glass box, and took Theo's hand.
"Thank you... It's so pwetty..."
"Do you like it?"
"Yeah, you're the best, brother. I'll buy you a present when I get my allowance, too. Is there anything you want?"
"Hmm."
After a moment of thought, Theo grinned and tapped his cheek.
"Then give your big brother a kiss."
"Yay, okay!"
I gave Theo, who had bent down slightly, a peck on the cheek.
"Hehe."
"Heehee."
As we were creating a heartwarming scene, Leon grumbled from behind.
"Give me a break."
"Come here. I'll give you one too, brother."
"...Really?"
"No~pe! I was lying!"
"What? You little!"
"Haha! Let's go get something delicious now!"
I flapped my short arms and ran towards today's final destination.
'13, 3, 3...'
Luman Street 13, in the Valentin district where commoners mostly resided.
On this street lined with restaurants, take the third alley and turn right to the third building.
The very place the protagonist, Enoch Rubinstein, found by memorizing 13, 3, 3.
It was right there.
I found the expectedly shabby wooden sign.
'Heehee, praise my memory.'
I hid my pride and said.
"Should we eat here?"
"Wow, this place looks really run-down. Do commoners really eat in places like this?"
"I'm glad we snuck out. If Mom or Grandpa found out we came to a place like this... we'd be in big trouble."
Leon and Theo clicked their tongues as they looked at the restaurant's exterior.
"But brothers, are you really okay? Eating this kind of stuff with me?"
When I spoke cautiously, the twins quickly nodded.
"Hey, kid. I can eat anything. Don't worry."
"That's right, Lilis. If there's something you want to eat, you should eat it."
"Hehe, thank you."
The two followed me inside without a shred of suspicion.
Nobles appearing in a commoners' restaurant...!
'Oh my, we're certainly getting attention.'
As we entered the restaurant, the commoners, who had been sitting in their own groups, were startled and approached us.
After bowing and greeting the nobles in their fancy clothes, the commoners returned to their seats, sneaking glances at us.
"You... really? You really ate stuff like this when you lived in Zenon?"
"Is this kind of thing really tasty, Lilis?"
"It is yummy..."
Seeing the twins flipping through the menu in shock, I felt a little embarrassed and scratched my nose.
"Excuse me, could we get some service here?"
A moment later, when Theo gestured elegantly, a red-haired waitress who was weaving between the tables rushed over.
"Yes, sir. What can I get for you?"
"Bring us everything on the menu. We'll pay double, so please take extra care with the cooking. My sister is very much looking forward to it."
As Theo smiled and patted my head, the woman smiled back and nodded.
"Yes, of course."
"Miss! Wait a moment!"
I called out to the woman as she was about to turn away.
She paused, and the shocked gazes of those around us focused on us all at once.
"Uh, Lilis."
Theo looked around and whispered quietly.
"You, uh... you shouldn't speak so formally to commoners outside."
"Hmph, don't be so stuffy, Theo. Grandpa isn't here. Lilis just hasn't gotten used to it yet."
"What are you talking about? She needs to adapt quickly. She could get in trouble if she makes a mistake in front of Grandpa later."
The two started to bicker.
'If I acted like a typical noble and threw my weight around here, I'd be in big trouble.'
Thinking this, I rummaged through my bunny bag and took out a gold coin.
The empire's gold coins had the country's name on one side and a profile of the emperor embossed on the other.
'Just as I thought.'
At my sudden action of taking out a gold coin, the woman's eyes sharpened.
Of course, it was on a level no one else would notice.
"It's not on the menu, but..."
I kept watching the woman's expression as I placed the gold coin on the table with a thud.
Specifically, with the side bearing the emperor's face down.
As if to mock him, to grind his face into the dirt.
"Do you have any fermented herring?"
Herring, a fish the emperor was said to enjoy. A 'fermented' version of that herring.
Ordering fermented herring while slamming the emperor's face onto the table was an act of mockery toward the imperial family...
And at The Red Falcon, a secret intelligence guild disguised as an ordinary restaurant, it was the way to request a trade.
The woman, who was clearly a guild informant, looked me straight in the eye, sizing me up.
