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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Whose Granddaughter Is She?
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"Whose granddaughter is she, really."
Muniel swallowed a hollow laugh and shook her head.
"Her timing is just hilariously spot-on."
"That's not meant for my ears, right?"
"It's exactly for your ears."
"......"
"I got burned the same way."
"Let's get our facts straight. You loved it when I did it..."
Anyway.
With things having come to this, Ardores Dayamor decided to teach the kids how proper relationships between people of the opposite sex should work.
But first, he had to point out what needed pointing out.
"Nibelria. Didn't Grandpa tell you not to kiss without permission? I said it clearly when you were going to see Azel."
"Arep didn't hate it!"
Ardores turned to Arep.
"Arep. If you don't like it, you have to say no..."
"Ah, I didn't hate it..."
"......"
"I liked it..."
Ardores, at a loss for words, turned back to Nibelria.
Nibelria met his eyes and smirked in the most infuriating way.
See? I'm right.
She stared at him with that exact look.
'No wonder Kaleo collapsed.'
For reference, Kaleo had apparently fainted from shock at the kids' shockingly advanced romance.
He was probably getting endlessly teased by Muniel, who had gone to visit him at his sickbed by now.
'Good thing Armifera isn't here.'
She would've teased her own brother mercilessly.
Finishing his thoughts, Ardores spoke up.
"You can't just kiss whenever you feel like it."
"Why not?"
"Your lips get chapped and start bleeding later."
It was from personal experience.
Nibelria and Arep both clapped their hands over their mouths at the same time.
So Ardores made a proposal.
"From now on, let's limit kisses to three times a day."
"Only three?"
Nibelria grumbled that it was too few. Arep subtly held up five fingers.
"......"
It was a great sign that timid little Arep was voicing his opinion.
But not in this situation.
"And it's not good to kiss too much in front of others."
"Why?"
"Well..."
Ardores paused midway through his common-sense explanation.
Would these two love-struck troublemakers really listen obediently?
They were already whining that three was too few.
Ardores finally said this.
"If people see you kissing and looking so happy, they might want to jump in and do it too."
"Huh?"
"Someone else might want to kiss Arep."
"Kyaaaaah!"
Nibelria let out a monstrous screech.
"Someone might want to kiss Nini too."
"Eek!"
Arep shuddered in terror.
'It actually worked.'
Ardores hadn't been sure even half of that would land, but he seized the moment and pressed on.
"So kisses are three times a day, and only at home."
"Okay!"
"Yes!"
The kids answered eagerly.
Only then did Ardores smile in satisfaction and breathe a sigh of relief.
"Kiddo, you kissed Arep, huh?"
Monatos asked as he removed his navy fedora.
He had come to the Dayamor estate to prepare for the imminent launch of his pharmaceutical company.
Nibelria, who had come out to greet him, nodded.
"We did it because we love each other."
"Kids these days really have no fear."
"The power of love can defeat even the Demon King! It's not scary at all!"
"Your grandma just beat the Demon King with raw strength..."
Monatos stopped himself mid-snort.
"...Or was that love too?"
He glanced at Nibelria, who was beaming up at him innocently.
Back when that cat of hers was killed.
He could still vividly picture the saintess half-mad, rampaging wildly.
In truth, the real hero of the Crepat War forty years ago wasn't some grand figure—it was Nini the cat.
Muniel had lost her mind after losing Nini and slaughtered everything.
Monsters.
People.
"......"
Monatos's large hand gently poked Nibelria's forehead.
"Live a long life."
He said earnestly.
"Healthy and sassy. For a very, very long time."
"......"
"Got it?"
"Yes!"
Nibelria replied vigorously.
"Then no causing trouble. Be good."
"Nini is always good."
"......"
Instead of piling on, Monatos headed to Kaleo's study.
Left alone, Nibelria wandered the hallway out of boredom.
Solles was at tutoring, and Arep was training with his swordsmanship.
"Nini?"
That's when Muniel spotted Nibelria, who was striking a pose for a forward roll.
"Grandma!"
Nibelria toddled over excitedly.
"What are you doing by yourself? Bored?"
"Yeah! Wanna play with me?"
"Grandma has to talk with Ater."
"With the dragon?"
Ever since confirming that some bizarre entity was meddling in the world, Muniel and the evil dragon Ater had been chatting whenever they had a moment.
Nibelria pouted.
"Nini's bored..."
"Aww, what are we gonna do with our bored kitty?"
"Then, um."
Nibelria pointed outside.
"Can I go play?"
"Where? The Degladis estate?"
"Yeah!"
"Contact them first, then."
"Aww, no need!"
"Proper ladies contact ahead before visiting."
"Nini is already a cool kitty, so it's fine!"
Fortunately, a reply came saying she could visit.
Nibelria grabbed some chocolate cookies as a gift and hopped into the carriage.
Arep and Solles would head over to the Degladis estate later, once their studies ended.
"Nini!"
As she climbed down from the carriage, Rubens greeted her happily.
"Rubens!"
Nibelria ran over and hugged him tight.
"Waaah, Nini! I missed you so much...!"
Rubens whimpered for a good while, clinging to his much smaller friend like a little brother.
Nibelria patted her subordinate's shoulder like a proper boss.
"What's wrong? Did you pee the bed and get in trouble with the uncle?"
"Hmph! I'm eight now, so I don't have accidents anymore."
In Rubens's room, they shared the chocolate cookies before heading to the garden with a ball.
The two kicked it back and forth.
"Rubens! Kick it harder!"
"Think you can catch it? I'm kicking it for real!"
"Nini will catch it!"
"Alright, here goes...!"
Rubens took four big steps back, charged forward, and slammed the ball with force.
It rocketed away with a booming thwack.
"Whoa!"
Nibelria forgot to chase it and just jumped up and down.
"So far! It flew!"
"That's what I'm talking about!"
Rubens pumped his fist in excitement.
Then he suddenly hugged Nibelria and rubbed his cheek against hers.
"Eek! Don't do that!"
"You have no idea how happy I am that you came. You gotta kick it like this! Right?"
"Totally! I love watching Rubens kick the ball."
Not just with the ball.
Rubens loved any game that got him moving. Running, jumping, even rolling around play-fighting with Arep.
"......"
Rubens gazed at Nibelria with a touched expression.
"Thanks to you, I feel so much better. Thanks for coming today."
"No problem!"
"Haha! But the ball went too far, huh?"
"Race you! First one there wins!"
Nibelria bolted off first.
"Hey! That's cheating!"
Rubens hurried after her.
He soon caught up but slyly slowed down.
In the end, Nibelria got the ball.
"Got it!"
"Nini, that was cheating!"
"The world is full of cheaters!"
"Where do you even learn this stuff?"
The two started playing again.
Soon the garden filled with their laughter.
"Hey, Nini. Did you really kiss Arep?"
Rubens asked, bouncing the ball off his chest and thigh with skillful control.
Nibelria, watching admiringly, nodded.
"Yeah. We love each other!"
"Whoa, Nini, you're amazing..."
"Nini is pretty amazing."
"Did our dad freak out when he heard?"
"Horse-Thigh Uncle?"
"What's that mean?"
"Thighs as big as a horse's! The maids taught me."
Just then.
"Miss!"
Dether called out urgently for Nibelria.
"Dether?"
"What's up?"
Rubens grabbed the ball and asked. Nibelria instinctively gripped his hand tight.
Dether caught her breath from running.
Then she said,
"You need to head home right away. And Duke Degladis orders Young Master Rubens back to the estate at once."
"Dad?"
Flustered, Rubens forced a grin to keep Nibelria from getting scared.
"Nini, let's play again later."
"Okay."
"Today was fun. Cookies were yummy."
"Next time, you come visit. Got it?"
"Yeah, got it!"
Back home, Nibelria was shocked by the unusually chaotic atmosphere.
"Mom?"
Seletrina Dayamor Lubeo was just coming down the stairs.
Having just returned from work, she was already preparing to head out again.
"Nini!"
She hugged Nibelria and planted a kiss on her forehead.
"Mom...?"
"Nini, Mommy has to go back to work?"
"Again?"
"Something urgent came up. Gotta hurry."
"Uh..."
Before Nibelria could grab her, Seletrina boarded the carriage and left for Lubeo.
Nibelria looked up at Dether beside her.
"What's going on?"
"I don't know the details, but something huge happened."
"Huge? Dangerous?"
"The bank went bankrupt."
The biggest bank in the Drameno Empire.
News of Petra Bank's collapse had just broken.
