Chapter 16
Even the honorifics had unnecessarily increased.
*'Isn't her vocabulary too advanced for just five years old?'*
He looked at Iri with a somewhat awkward expression. Then Iri opened her mouth.
"It's really tasty-nimida."
Her two eyes, seeking praise, sparkled clearly.
The moment he met those eyes, such a thought crossed his mind.
"......Yeah, it seems tasty."
"Right?!"
The child beamed brightly, thrust her arms forward with a *snap*, and took a step.
Declan knew what posture Iri was taking.
It was the stance for a running jump, building momentum.
*'Like mother, like daughter—her running form is exactly the same.'*
......Thinking that brought his wife's words back to mind.
"Declan, when our child grows up and starts running around."
"Yeah."
"Let's go for a walk on a sunny day together. Our daughter will be good at running too, right?"
"Who knows, but since she's my daughter, she'll only run to me."
"What? Already acting like a doting dad? Does that mean I'm second place now?"
"What are you talking about. Even after our daughter is born, you're still number one."
"......Ah, what. Suddenly."
"There's no one in the world I could love more than you."
But Iri mustn't run to him.
"Stop."
About 3 meters away.
Iri halted her step.
*'Her face is clearer now.'*
A face resembling someone buried in Declan's memories.
He let out a short breath and whispered.
"......Thanks, I ate well."
Iri flinched.
Her fidgeting was exactly like her mother's.
Even the way she bashfully averted her gaze after being treated kindly—everything.
And it was right then, as he gazed quietly at Iri.
Raspin entered and cautiously whispered in his ear.
"Duke Your Highness, as you mentioned before, we've opened the ability measurement room."
"Then let's go."
"But right now, you're not in a condition to measure someone else's ability......"
"I know."
Raspin's concern was justified.
If he measured an ability in his current state.
Interference between magi and ability could distort or damage the ability.
Moreover, gauging another's ability consumed great power.
It could create gaps in his ability to control magi.
But......
He stared intently at Iri's sparkling purple eyes proclaiming, *'I'm a hero-nimida!'*
If the child wanted it, he had to do it.
It would be her first and last request.
"Doesn't matter. Prepare the child."
* * *
Iri rubbed her eyes a few times.
*'M-Magi......!'*
Clearly, Grand Duke Declan Ortejo had told Iri, *'Let's go eat something even tastier.'*
*'I want pork cutlet!'*
Excited, she'd tucked Cookie in her pocket, whistled, and come out......
*'But it says [Immunity Measurement Room] here!'*
Iri stood in front of the measurement room, puffing up, then paused.
*'No, actually it's good! Calm down!'*
Cookie, peeking its head out from her pocket, muttered, *'Like a sterile room or something,'* but she didn't quite understand.
Iri stared at Declan, standing far away.
His aide, Raspin, spoke kindly beside him.
"The measurement room can tell if you're an immune or non-immune."
"Wow! How do you know-nimida?"
"Everyone has circles in their body. Duke Declan will touch the circle in your dantian with his ability to check your magi immunity."
"Gasp, I really have no idea what that means-nimida!"
"Ah, haha. Immunes' circles are sensitive to others' abilities, so they repel them quickly. Non-immunes get fully probed."
"Yup."
She actually had no clue.
But like a polite child, Iri clasped her hands and stood tall.
"Lady Iri, shall we go inside?"
"Yes! I'll go right in-nimida!"
Iri nodded vigorously.
Would her mighty power be revealed just like this......!
Super excited, Iri entered the sealed room.
Declan stood maintaining a set distance from Iri.
The dark, deep magi cloaking him settled quietly.
It was the act of gathering magi temporarily into his dantian.
The room's air felt heavily compressed, steeped in silence as if everything had stopped.
Declan's red eyes pierced deeply into Iri's presence.
Soon, his hand slowly struck straight at the air.
In an instant, transparent energy rippled from his fingertips, softly enveloping Iri.
As the massive power filled the room.
The formless energy slowly approached, probing Iri's existence.
Iri held her breath slightly at the ticklish sensation like butterfly wings fluttering nearby.
Declan strictly controlled his inner magi while sensing Iri's immunity through his ability.
Suddenly, the air grew taut.
Errant magi flickered from his fingertips, trying to spread.
As flustered Raspin moved to intervene.
Declan suppressed his inner magi again at superhuman speed.
The energy swirling around Iri overflowed like a massive wave.
Iri, standing still, held her breath.
*'Super super weird. Why's his face like that?'*
His expression somehow looked pained.
But it was just a fleeting moment.
"......Done."
With those light closing words, Declan lowered his hand.
Only then did the suppressed magi surge explosively within his body.
He held his breath momentarily, focusing on planting his feet firmly on the ground.
"How am I?"
At Iri's words, Declan regained his composure.
"You are......"
"I am?"
"An immune."
More shocking than the magi exploding in his dantian.
A truth he had checked himself, beyond any doubt.
Iri's non-immune constitution had changed to immune.
He said in a trembling voice.
"There've been no cases of non-immunes becoming immunes before."
"But I did-nimida. Of course! Because I'm a hero! With super powerful strength!"
Declan replied awkwardly.
"I see."
"Me! Did you find out I'm super super strong-nimida? Did you learn I can purify too-nimida?"
Hesitating on the answer, he did his best to gloss over it.
"Your Purification Power is a pittance, but you're confirmed immune."
Raspin was appalled at Declan's words.
Saying that to a child!
Sure enough, Iri's eyes slowly widened in shock.
"Horn? Mice have horns too! So amazing-nimida!"
Raspin thought to himself.
No need to worry. They're a well-matched father-daughter pair.
Raspin cautiously spoke up.
"As Lady Iri wishes, shall we contact the Northern Magic Tower that holds Purification Sorcerers?"
There were five Magic Towers in the empire total. One central, and one each in the east, west, south, and north.
"Do it."
"Understood."
Most in the Magic Tower had magic-related abilities, but a few Purification Sorcerers were affiliated too.
Since Iri's ability was purification-related, she should train under them.
A tiny amount, but Iri seemed proud to be a Purification Sorcerer.
*'Probably just 1-star, but anyway.'*
"It'll take time for the Magic Tower to reply, so......"
He looked at Iri.
"Contact her grandmother to let her stay about a month longer."
Iri's eyes widened hugely in an instant.
"Wow! Then I can stay a whole month! Can I get close to the elder too-nimida?"
