-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Sweltering Heat and Mansion Tours
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Recently, the humid and sweltering heat had dragged on without respite.
All the servants wore their summer uniforms made from thin fabric, but they still broke into a sweat the moment they started bustling about.
And to make matters worse.
Of all days, yesterday.
The magic device that regulated the ideal temperature throughout the Dayamor mansion had broken down.
The steam-bath heat robbed the maid of any semblance of dignity.
The cool marble floor soothed the heat from her body, letting her savor an indescribable bliss.
"It's so cool..."
"Right? Isn't it cool?"
"But you can't just lie on the floor like this. The entrance hall sees the most foot traffic, so it's the dirtiest spot."
"It's fine. I can wash up..."
Nibelria mumbled as she rubbed her cheek against the floor.
Far from hesitating over whether this was proper, the maid pressed her own cheek and arms even closer to the cool surface.
"Ughhh..."
A blissful moan escaped her lips.
"So cool..."
"Cool, huh?"
The pathetic voice from above sent a chill down the maid's spine, like ice water poured on her back.
She slowly rose, not daring to even lift her head.
"If it was so cool, why didn't you just stay lying there?"
"H-Head Maid..."
The air around them grew frigid enough to banish the heat entirely.
Yet cold sweat beaded on the maid's forehead.
In the end, she earned herself a tremendous scolding.
"Hold on!"
Nibelria rolled right between them.
She pitifully clutched at the hem of the head maid's skirt.
"Nini told her to lie down! She said it was cool!"
"Young Lady, why were you lying here again? Where's Dether? And what about Master Arep?"
"Dether went on an errand for Grandma, and I came out because it was hot while I was napping. Arep's learning swordsmanship with Grandpa, so he's gone."
"Then you should have called one of us."
"Too hot... too bothersome..."
Nibelria spoke with utter sincerity.
"And Nini's thirsty..."
Water, please.
She opened her mouth wide like a kitten.
In the end, after a lecture on maintaining dignity, the head maid escorted Nibelria back to her room.
"Oh, Head Maid?"
Dether arrived just as she finished her errand.
The head maid sighed deeply as she recounted what had happened.
"No matter how important Madam's errand was, you can't leave the Young Lady alone. You should have asked a colleague at least."
"I'm sorry. I'll be more careful."
"Since she was rolling around on the entrance hall floor, you'd better give her a thorough bath."
Nibelria, who had been watching like it was someone else's problem, gaped in shock.
"I-I'm bathing tonight...!"
She flatly refused a bath right now.
But they couldn't just overlook the mess she'd made rolling on the floor to beat the heat.
Especially since it had just been mopped, leaving a musty smell wafting from her.
In the end, Nibelria was forced into a bath.
"No! I don't wanna!"
"Then why'd you roll around on the freshly mopped floor? The entrance hall's the dirtiest place in the house."
"No way! The toilet's the dirtiest!"
"Unfortunately, you're the dirtiest right now, Young Lady."
"Hiss! Hiiiisss!"
Cornered, Nibelria hissed a warning.
She swung her tightly clenched fists sporadically.
"Shoo! Go away!"
"Can't do that."
But Dether shoved the fiercely resisting Nibelria into the tub anyway.
Water splashed everywhere.
The hissing didn't stop.
After emerging from the disaster of a bath, Nibelria made no effort to hide her pout.
Tears even welled up in her eyes.
"We agreed to one bath a day...!"
"I'd love just one bath a day too..."
Dether replied weakly, utterly soaked in sweat and water, looking three years older in an instant.
Freshly powdered and fluffy, Nibelria sniffled.
"I'm telling Mama! And Papa! Grandma and Grandpa too! And big brother and Arep!"
Fuming in earnest, Nibelria threw a full tantrum.
Dether nodded along silently.
"Please do tell them. Then I can stop taking care of you and live easy for once."
"......"
"Shall we go right now?"
"...No."
Nibelria immediately retracted her words.
"I like Dether. It was a lie..."
"But I'm hurt."
"Sorry..."
Nibelria hugged Dether's leg tightly.
Dether hugged her back.
With her wet hair dried and fresh clothes on, Nibelria felt refreshed.
She gulped down cool milk and let out a satisfied "Puha!"
A white mustache formed above the child's lip.
"All the heat gone now?"
"But now I'm bored."
Craving playtime, Nibelria yawned widely.
Bored, but sleepy too.
'Will she just nap like this?'
Just as Dether watched and considered suggesting a nap.
"Nini!"
Solles came running.
"The Magic Tower Lord is here. Wanna go say hi?"
"Yeah!"
Shaking off her drowsiness in an instant, Nibelria turned to Dether.
Dether smiled brightly and followed behind.
"Why's the Magic Tower Lord here? To see Nini?"
Nibelria asked Solles.
"He came to fix the broken magic device."
They headed to the drawing room and ran into the Magic Tower Lord just as he was about to move with her grandparents.
"Arep!"
But Nibelria boldly called Arep's name first.
Arep, fresh from sword training, was already with the Magic Tower Lord.
"Done with sword lessons?"
"Yeah."
"Good job. No injuries? Want me to check?"
Like a mother cat, she inspected every inch of Arep's body for wounds.
"Good grief. I'm speechless."
Majia, unable to stand it, cut in.
"Hey. You ignoring me?"
"Magic Tower Lord can wait. Take a number."
"That cheeky attitude really runs in your family."
Majia glanced at Muniel and Ardores. The two just smiled silently.
"Magic Tower Lord, I heard you came to repair our mansion's magic devices. Thank you so much for coming."
Solles greeted him politely.
Majia's furrowed brow softened warmly.
"Yes, you're the Dayamor miracle...!"
"And my grandson."
"Shut it, holy knight."
Majia filled Solles's hands with candy and chocolate he'd brought.
Seeing this, Nibelria drooped her eyebrows.
"Nini wants some too!"
"No. You didn't greet me."
Instead, he tossed her a pack of chocolate cookies.
"Not giving Arep any?"
"Already gave the wolf some. Unlike you, he greeted me."
"What, did a politeness ghost possess you?"
"...Something happen to you?"
Your vocabulary suddenly improved?
Flustered, Majia got to the point of his visit.
"Anyway, the temperature regulator broke?"
The Dayamor mansion's temperature control device was on the top floor.
The moment they entered, a blast of stifling heat hit them.
"Whoa, it's seriously scorching..."
The Magic Tower Lord tied his long purple hair high with a string as he spoke.
"But why'd it break?"
"Nini knows!"
Nibelria shot her hand up.
"The answer is...!"
She added a dramatic sound effect.
"It broke because it got too hot!"
"Oh, that's a solid theory."
"Sounds like Nini's got the right answer."
Muniel and Ardores nodded.
Majia grumbled about wasting time listening and inspected the device again.
He had personally built the Dayamor temperature regulator.
It wasn't prone to breaking easily, and he came every year to maintain it himself.
"......"
Majia's face grew sterner as he examined it.
The onlookers watching him tensed up as well.
"Magic Tower Lord looks like he needs the bathroom."
Everyone except Nibelria.
Majia let out a hollow laugh, deflated for a moment.
"Hey."
He slowly stood.
"Let's tour the mansion first."
"Found the cause of the breakdown?"
"I'm checking if that's really it."
Majia's face was filled with quiet fury as he spoke.
Muniel and Ardores tasked the children with courteously guiding the Magic Tower Lord.
"Will you note it in my passbook?"
Nibelria asked eagerly.
"But you must be polite to the Magic Tower Lord."
Muniel laid down the condition.
"He came today to fix the broken device. No teasing—guide him kindly."
"Nini's always kind."
Nibelria blinked her innocent blue eyes at Majia.
"Right?"
"...Shameless cat."
And so began the mansion tour disguised as an introduction.
Before setting off, Leader Nibelria had a word.
"No wandering off alone. No running—you'll get hurt! And if you need to pee, raise your hand! If you're thirsty..."
She proudly displayed the wolf bag on her back.
"Water and cookies in here! Nini'll share!"
"Thorough preparation."
Solles praised her coolly.
"Dether packed it."
(Dether had gotten soaked bathing Nibelria, so with Muniel's permission, she'd gone to tidy up. She was probably singing in a tub full of flower petals by now.)
"Young Lady, want me to carry the bag?"
Arep offered.
But Nibelria shook her head.
"A leader always bears the weight on her shoulders! I protect my subordinates! That's the burden I carry!"
"Just hurry up and guide me already..."
"Aye, the Magic Tower Lord's an adult but so impatient."
"......"
Unable to beat Majia's stubbornness, Nibelria declared departure.
