Chapter 19

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Lord Leyton looked at his son with a bewildered expression.

“…Ed, what are you saying? You killed the monster?”

He couldn’t believe it.

Ed had been learning swordsmanship, but he was still just a ten-year-old boy.

He wasn’t nearly strong enough to face a monster.

Even if he were older, could he really have defeated a monster that had brutally killed Knight Baldric and twenty soldiers all by himself?

‘No, but…’

It was also strange for Ed to lie. There was no reason for him to lie.

“I killed the monster, Father.”

Ed spoke.

“I got lucky. My sword accidentally stabbed the monster in the eye. It writhed in pain and then fell off the cliff.”

“…”

Lord Leyton quietly observed Ed.

Ed looked like he had truly been in a battle.

His face and body were covered in scratches, and he had apparently discarded his armor.

“Are… are you serious?”

Lord Leyton asked one last time.

“Did you really kill the monster?”

“Yes.”

“Haha…”

A smile spread across Lord Leyton’s face.

He turned to the knights and soldiers behind him and shouted.

“Did you all hear that? My son Ed killed that terrifying monster! He avenged Baldric, Hoff, and the soldiers himself!”

“Wow!”

Cheers erupted from the knights and soldiers.

“He’s a hero!”

“Long live Young Master Ed!”

“Long live the Leyton family!”

The knights and soldiers raised their swords and spears, genuinely rejoicing.

Ed scratched his head, looking embarrassed, and Lord Leyton hugged him tightly, clearly proud.

“…”

Meanwhile, from a distance, Lucy watched the scene while hiding behind a tree.

She wore a slightly incredulous expression.

‘They’re buying it…?’

Ed’s plan had been to lie and say he had killed the monster.

That way, no hunting party would come after her.

Lucy had been skeptical.

Would they really believe that a ten-year-old kid had killed a monster?

But judging by the scene before her, Ed’s plan had worked.

Well, at least it turned out well.

Lucy smiled faintly and turned away.

◈

A night with a faint moonlight.

A beautiful woman sat by the window, sipping wine.

Michela, Lord Leyton’s second wife.

Her elegant face twisted suddenly as she drank.

“Idiot!”

She threw the wine glass she was holding onto the floor.

The thick carpet prevented the glass from breaking, but the wine spilled, leaving a dark red stain on the carpet.

“He couldn’t even kill one brat! Useless fool!”

Michela seethed with anger.

Ed had returned alive.

Hoff had failed.

“…It was bad luck.”

Someone spoke from beside her.

“Who would’ve thought a real monster would appear at that moment…”

It was Groose, a bald, overweight man.

Groose always stayed by her side like a shadow, assisting her with her schemes.

“…But Sir Hoff did try to attack Young Master Ed.”

Michela shot Groose a sharp look.

“What does that matter? Ed is still alive! And now he’s being called a hero for killing the monster!”

Michela let out a deep sigh.

Her goal was to eliminate Ed.

Only if Ed were gone could her son, Ron, become the heir to the Leyton family.

That’s why she had sent Hoff to kill Ed, but the plan had failed.

“Hoff’s failure has only made things worse.”

Michela muttered.

Upon returning to the castle, Ed had told Lord Leyton that Hoff had tried to kill him.

Enraged, Lord Leyton was now investigating why Hoff had attempted to kill Ed.

At the same time, he had increased Ed’s personal guard and tightened security.

He had realized that someone was targeting Ed’s life.

“But do you really think Ed killed the monster?”

Michela asked.

“Maybe he’s lying.”

Groose hummed thoughtfully.

“…There’s no reason for Young Master Ed to lie. A lie like that would be exposed the moment the monster appeared…”

“That’s true… but do you really believe that the little brat killed the monster? The same monster that killed Knight Baldric, Hoff, and twenty soldiers?”

“According to Young Master Ed, he got lucky…”

“Ugh.”

Michela sighed again.

It irked her to hear people in the castle calling Ed a hero.

It felt like Ed was solidifying his position as the heir.

“We need to get rid of him as soon as possible. If this continues, it’ll only get harder.”

Now that Lord Leyton knew someone was after Ed’s life, security would only tighten.

“…It’s better not to rush.”

Groose said.

“Rushing could lead to mistakes.”

“But…”

Michela tried to argue but then slumped her shoulders.

Groose was right.

They had come this far; they couldn’t afford to mess things up now.

Groose spoke in a soft tone.

“If we wait, a good opportunity will surely come.”

“…Fine. By the way, what’s this about a commoner?”

Michela asked.

“Is it true that Ed invited a commoner to the banquet?”

“Yes. It seems Young Master Ed has made friends with a commoner. He’s invited them to the banquet…”

“That’s insane!”

Michela raised her voice.

“Inviting a commoner to a noble banquet? What will happen to the family’s dignity?”

To her, commoners were nothing but lowly, worthless beings.

Inviting a commoner to the castle and seating them among nobles was an insult in itself.

“…Lord Leyton has already approved it.”

Groose said cautiously.

“It seems he couldn’t refuse Young Master Ed’s request.”

“Hmph, is he going to allow everything just because that brat killed a monster? How foolish!”

“Perhaps… this could work in our favor.”

“What do you mean?”

“If the commoner child comes to the castle… it opens up new possibilities for us. Maybe we can use that child to eliminate Young Master Ed.”

Michela’s eyes sparkled.

“Oh…”

The corners of her lips curled up.

“That’s not a bad idea. That child could get close to Ed without raising suspicion. Groose, you’re quite clever, aren’t you?”

“Thank you.”

Groose bowed politely.

Michela’s expression turned thoughtful.

“The problem is how to persuade that child…”

“There’s a much easier way than persuasion.”

“A much easier way?”

“We can use the child’s family as leverage to threaten them.”

“Ah.”

Michela’s smile deepened.

“Groose, you’re a genius.”

“Thank you.”

The two of them delved deeper into their conspiracy.

◈

‘Stop…’

Lucy frowned and shook her head.

Huge objects were approaching her from all sides.

They were mushrooms.

Giant mushrooms were bouncing toward her, their bodies jiggling.

‘I hate this…’

Lucy desperately tried to back away, but there was no space to escape.

Everywhere she looked, there were mushrooms.

Thud!

The mushrooms closed in, surrounding Lucy.

Thud!

Lucy was pinned down by the mushrooms, unable to move.

‘Stop…!’

Just then.

“…Lucy, are you okay?”

Someone shook her, and Lucy opened her eyes.

She saw her grandfather’s face.

“Did you have a nightmare?”

“…”

Lucy slowly sat up.

It seemed that she had a nightmare.

Her face was drenched in cold sweat.

“You’re fine now. Get up and come eat.”

Her grandfather wiped her forehead as he spoke:

“The menu is stir-fried mushrooms.”

“…!”

The nightmare wasn’t over yet!!

‘Stop…’

Lucy muttered to herself as she got out of bed.

Through the open door, she could see Kairos.

Kairos was sitting in the kitchen, eating the mushroom dish.

He looked like he was enjoying it immensely.

“I’m not feeling well today…”

Lucy said to her grandfather.

She was done with mushroom dishes.

She was seriously considering running away from home.

“…Not feeling well?”

Her grandfather looked worried.

“Then how about some mushroom porridge—”

Knock knock—

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

Lucy hurried to the door.

She couldn’t help but feel a glimmer of hope—maybe someone had brought a different dish.

Sometimes, villagers would bring over food when they made too much.

Creak—

But Lucy couldn’t help but feel disappointed when she opened the door.

Standing at the door was a young knight donned in armor.

He grinned at her.

“Hey, kid.”

Lucy instinctively furrowed her brows.

After the mushroom dream, she wasn’t in the mood to greet anyone cheerfully.

“Is there an adult at home?”

At the knight’s words, her grandfather approached from behind.

“Wh-what can I do for you?”

Unlike Lucy, who was openly scowling, her grandfather greeted the knight with a polite demeanor.

To commoners, knights were always intimidating.

“Ah, I’m here to deliver this.”

The knight handed her grandfather an envelope.

Her grandfather took it with a puzzled expression.

“What is this…?”

The envelope was made of high-quality material, and there was a seal stamped on it.

It was the kind of envelope her grandfather had never seen before.

“It’s an invitation from the heir of the Leyton family, Young Master Ed.”

At the knight’s words, her grandfather’s eyes widened.

“An… an invitation?”

“That’s right. A banquet is being held at the Leyton family’s castle, and Young Master Ed wanted to invite his friend. So I’ve come to pick them up personally.”

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
I would go crazy too, if I could only eat mushrooms for the rest of my life.