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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Yuziro
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“What?”
Vivian clicked her tongue, bewildered, as she looked at Jekkiel standing before her.
“…I told you, I was in the middle of something really important. What’s the meaning of this? Tsk, tsk.”
Vivian’s gaze shifted back and forth between the man in front of her and the small child he was holding.
Based on appearance alone, the child was undeniably cute.
Dark blue hair, like the night sky, which contrasted sharply with jewel-like red eyes.
Yes, based on looks alone, she was a little girl impossible to dislike.
Despite this, Vivian waved her hands dismissively.
There was one thing she absolutely couldn’t do, no matter what.
“Even so, you can’t just leave a child with me. I can’t do childcare!”
Jekkiel looked at the flustered Vivian and spoke firmly.
“I wouldn’t leave her with you anyway.”
“…Then why did you suddenly bring this child here? Tsk.”
Vivian looked at Jekkiel, a mixture of bewilderment and curiosity in her eyes.
Come to think of it, it hadn’t been long since Christine and Jekkiel had their first time together.
‘It doesn’t make sense for them to have a child already.’
The deeper the love between two people, the faster a child might be conceived, but that didn’t mean the child would grow any faster.
“Papa. Papaa.”
The child tugging on Jekkiel’s clothes looked to be about four or five years old.
Logically, there was no way she could be Jekkiel’s child, yet she was calling him “Papa,” creating a jarring dissonance.
Just then…
“Wait a minute.”
Tsk, tsk.
Vivian’s eyes widened as she approached the child.
‘She’s different.’
This wasn’t an ordinary child.
If a child were to be born between Jekkiel and Christine, it naturally wouldn’t be ordinary, but this one felt different, on another level entirely.
Her appearance and actions were those of a child, but inside, there was something dark and profound.
“This is…”
Something resided deep within the girl’s red eyes.
The moment Vivian felt that ominous presence, as if it cursed even souls…
“…This is Lepista’s Wand, isn’t it?”
Vivian turned her head sharply to look at Lepista, who nodded.
“Yes. My name. Lepista~”
“Ha…”
Now, even Vivian acknowledged this being as Lepista’s Wand.
Jekkiel sighed deeply.
‘This is closer to good news than bad.’
Considering all the trouble he had gone through to obtain Lepista’s Wand, this was definitely good news.
In any case, Lepista’s Wand was now in his possession.
Vivian clicked her tongue.
“So, you got Lepista’s Wand after all? Then what’s the problem? Tsk.”
“Obtaining it isn’t the end.”
“Care to elaborate?”
“That’s what I intend to do.”
Jekkiel nodded and continued.
“If I intended to use Lepista’s power myself, this would be the ideal situation. However, I don’t plan to borrow Lepista’s power.”
“So you want to transfer Lepista’s power to someone else?”
“Exactly.”
Vivian’s face twisted slightly.
“Are… are you stupid? Can’t you see Lepista’s current state?”
Lepista’s current state was easy to observe.
Calling Jekkiel “Papa” and clinging to him.
Anyone could see she was already deeply attached to him.
“I can see it.”
“And you’re still saying such foolish things? Tsk, tsk. Lepista has already chosen you. That means, even if you transfer Lepista’s power now, you’ll have to pay the price.”
“I know.”
“Huh?”
Vivian clicked her tongue, this time in surprise.
She was taken aback by Jekkiel’s confident tone.
She had intended to get angry at his absurd statement, but his composure made her more inclined to hear him out.
“I intended to bear the curse myself anyway. It’s a human who needs to receive Lepista’s power.”
“A human?!”
Vivian jumped up as if she had heard something preposterous.
“You’ll bear the curse yourself, but give the benefits to a human? Does that even make sense?”
“Surprisingly, that’s exactly what I plan to do.”
“Christine! Yes, Christine! Does she know? No, of course she doesn’t! If Christine knew about this, she’d use the Queen’s Nest to stop you!”
“She would.”
Vivian’s words were completely accurate.
If Christine found out, she would definitely object.
Vivian was about to say something more, but Jekkiel spoke first.
“Investigate it. Find out what curse Lepista demands as payment.”
“No… no, wait. Yes, that’s better.”
Vivian nodded vigorously.
Perhaps Jekkiel was taking such a risk because he didn’t yet understand how dangerous Lepista’s curse could be.
Let’s investigate.
And then, let’s tell Jekkiel about the horrifying curse without any sugarcoating.
If it was as terrible as she expected, Jekkiel would have no choice but to change his plans.
He had to.
The Jekkiel and Christine couple had recently become Vivian’s only source of joy.
They were a couple so blissfully happy together that even she couldn’t find it in herself to not be envious.
A curse?
Absolutely not!
“You wait right here.”
Tsk, tsk, tsk!
Vivian quickly disappeared towards the library.
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“Papa. Papaa.”
“What.”
“Lepista~ Happy~”
“Why.”
“Because I’m with Papa~”
Jekkiel, caught off guard by the unexpected attack, couldn’t help but smile.
Was this what it felt like to have a daughter?
Just listening to her and watching her, there were moments when he found himself disarmed.
So this was why adults couldn’t resist children.
“This little one.”
Like it or not, this was the one who would accompany Charlotte and contribute to saving the world.
Jekkiel gently pinched her cheek.
“Heeung~ Heeeeek~ Hya! Eut!”
“?”
Suddenly, Lepista let out a strange sound.
It was a sound easily misinterpreted, so Jekkiel instinctively looked around.
Fortunately, they were alone in the reception room.
“…Why are you making that sound?”
“A woman makes this sound when she’s happy.”
“Who told you that?”
“The person with hair like this.”
Lepista grabbed her hair with both hands, forming fists.
She seemed to be imitating twintails.
‘Artel?’
You’re getting severely punished when we return to the castle.
Jekkiel hardened his resolve.
Just then…
Knock, knock—
A knock came.
Before Jekkiel could respond, the door opened.
It was Vivian, as expected.
The Sin of Envy sat down with a subtle expression.
Her face was so complex that even Jekkiel struggled to read it.
“Did you finish your research already?”
“Yes.”
But then, silence descended.
It wasn’t that she was debating whether to tell him, but rather that she didn’t know how to say it.
Vivian’s face was a mask of contemplation.
“I’m prepared to endure any curse. Tell me.”
“Endure… endure, you say.”
Vivian tapped her finger on the desk.
“It’s not even something you can simply ‘endure.’ I thought any curse related to Lepista would be the worst kind of curse, but…”
“But?”
“It’s the worst kind of curse, alright? But… it’s all so ambiguous. It’s a complex and subtle curse. Equally tricky.”
“I’d prefer you didn’t beat around the bush.”
When someone in front of you was visibly struggling, it was only natural to feel uneasy.
“Before I tell you, I need to confirm something.”
“What is it.”
“Lepista is calling you ‘Papa,’ right?”
“That’s right.”
“Lepista calls the person she favors most ‘Papa.’ The person called ‘Papa’ naturally bears both Lepista’s curse and benefits. The benefits can be transferred.”
Jekkiel thought for a moment.
“Is there something related to being called ‘Mama’ as well?”
Vivian sighed deeply and rubbed her forehead.
“This is driving me crazy… She’s already designated a ‘Mama’ too. Of course! Aside from receiving benefits or curses, Lepista learns the interpersonal relationships of her ‘Papa’ and decides how to act accordingly. This is incredibly important! Incredibly!”
“I see.”
Vivian clicked her tongue and put on the most serious expression Jekkiel had ever seen on her.
“So, listen carefully. If you want to transfer Lepista’s power to a human…”
Her story began.
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On a beautiful afternoon, Charlotte’s face was filled with excitement.
Why wouldn’t she be?
After escaping the underground passage with Demelie, the academy remained unaware of their little adventure.
They had avoided punishment, which was a relief.
However, that wasn’t the reason for her excitement.
Adrian.
Professor Adrian was returning today!
She had worried he might never return, but that morning, a short announcement had been posted for the failing class.
It was a brief notice stating Adrian’s return, but it was enough to send tremors through Charlotte’s heart.
After escaping the underground passage, she had reflected on her actions and studied tirelessly.
She had many things she wanted to be praised for, and many questions she wanted to ask.
“Ah.”
She spotted Adrian walking towards her from the end of the hallway.
His air of exhaustion, his usual expressionless face, his aloof demeanor… Charlotte hurried towards him and blocked his path.
“P-Professor!”
Before Adrian could say anything, she thrust a stack of papers into his arms.
“This is what I’ve been studying! I-I’ve reflected a lot. I’ll never go anywhere without permission again… and I won’t act impulsively. A-Also! I have so many questions…”
“Move.”
Charlotte’s words were cut short.
“…Huh?”
Before she could react, Adrian had already brushed past her, his footsteps indifferent.
Thwack!
The study materials Charlotte had meticulously compiled landed in the hallway trash can with a harsh thud.
Unable to believe it.
Truly unable to believe it.
“…Professor?”
Charlotte was left standing alone, murmuring in a daze.
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[Please dont make that sound anymore Lepista]
