“What on earth is that…?”
The group’s expressions darkened instantly.
What was that gigantic mud-colored balloon-like object?
They set that up to welcome Her Majesty the Empress?
Has Vermont gone mad?
[Kyaa, Kyaoo! Is this enough?]
“…What on earth is that, Vermont?”
“Ah, you saw it. That is the mascot of our city.”
“Mascot…?”
“It’s a kind of representative character. Just because the roads have been opened, it doesn’t mean people will suddenly flock to the Vermont territory. But if rumors spread about a strange creature, it might become famous.” “You’re aiming for tourism revenue. But I wonder how many people will come all the way here to see something like that…”
The Empress’s expression was also thoroughly disgusted.
However, Aslan, standing next to her as if he was a fish in water, continued to explain cheerfully. Irene Vermont, watching the bizarre scene, froze.
‘What did I just see?’
The Empress’s faint smile had just flashed by.
It wasn’t a derisive or mocking smile.
It was the kind of smile that might escape while reading a romance novel alone in a room.
An uncontrollable, escaping kind of smile.
Only Irene had seen that smile.
In the blink of an eye, the Empress’s expression had hardened, and her face was filled with anger.
Just like the rest of the group.
‘Did I see it wrong? Was it an illusion?’
Irene hurriedly rubbed her eyes again and again.
It didn’t make sense.
The emotionless iron Empress laughed at that ridiculous monster?
And with an expression that made her look like she was going to say, ‘Hehehe.’
No matter how much she thought about it, she must have seen it wrong.
That must be it. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Irene tried to dismiss the Empress’s smile from her mind.
She hadn’t seen it wrong!
“Your Majesty, I will give the order to remove that hideous thing at once…”
“Silence. Whether to demolish that monster or not is up to Aslan Vermont. Let him do as he wishes.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I am deeply grateful for your grace.”
“…Stand up. Your clothes will wear out if you keep bowing like that.”
Aslan’s prediction was right…?
Irene was dumbfounded.
And at the same time, her memory flashed back to the previous day.
.
.
.
“Aslan. Are you f*cking crazy?”
“No bad words are allowed in the Vermont mansion!”
“…”
Ouch.
Charlotte’s audacious outburst left Irene momentarily speechless.
Had she just interrupted her? This little green-haired brat?
Irene’s temper flared, and her hand started to rise, but then she stopped.
Behind her, Sylvia was deliberately making a sound and pulling out her sword.
Unlike when she had beaten her up before, Sylvia now exuded an overwhelming amount of mana.
There was no way to win against her now.
“Sh*t.”
“Sh*t is forbidden!”
“…Sh*t.”
Irene clicked her tongue and took a step back.
This wasn’t the time for unnecessary confrontations.
She needed to find a way to survive.
Because of the madness Aslan had caused, she might be dragged off and beheaded as well!
“If I use the children and the mud creature, it might work.”
“Explain more. The children are one thing, but capturing the Empress’s heart with that brown monster? It doesn’t make sense. Is there some symbolic meaning?”
“There’s no such thing. It’s just literal. The Empress likes cute things, so I thought she would be quite pleased to see it.”
“What the…?”
Irene was about to burst with anger but suppressed it, gritting her teeth.
Fine. Let’s say the Empress loves cute things.
As absurd as it sounds, and even though she wanted to beat Aslan to a pulp right now, let’s say it made sense.
“That thing is cute? Who would find that monstrosity cute!?”
Setting that aside, how is that cute?
That monster?
Are his eyes okay?
[Kyaaa! Monstrosity!]
“That’s right! Too much! Our Dirt-Dirt creature is so cute!”
[Right! I am cute! …Huh? What!? I’m cute!!!]
“It’s true that you’re cute, Dirt-Dirt! Accept it! Love yourself as you are!”
[Kyaaaa!!!]
Charlotte’s sharp remark made the Great Spirit scream.
Throb.
Irene felt a sudden migraine.
Besides children, only someone with severe emotional deficiencies due to the harsh reality and a tender inner self could find that thing cute.
“Your face looks like you swallowed something bitter.”
“Wouldn’t you be the same? The day before welcoming the Empress, listening to this nonsense…”
“Trust me. What do we have to lose?”
“If we lose, we’ll be executed, you crazy b*stard.”
“Anyway. Do you think we’ll do well even if my older sister takes the lead and prepares the reception without me?”
“…No, I wouldn’t. Besides, you are the head of the family. If your sister handled the reception while the Empress visited, it wouldn’t be strange for the count’s title to be revoked.”
Right. You know well. So you know how to behave, don’t you? Aslan’s expression seemed to say.
Irene’s lips trembled, but she couldn’t argue.
There was no way out except to follow Aslan’s ‘plan’ for now.
“This is driving me crazy…”
Irene grumbled and turned away.
It was a signal that she wouldn’t interfere anymore, so he could do as he wished.
“Julia. I’m open to suggestions. How can we make that thing cuter?”
“Hmm. Dirt-Dirt was cuter when it was bigger. Wouldn’t it be better to increase its size again? …Yes?”
“Alright, accepted. Use your incantation to enlarge it and greet the Empress.”
“A big Dirt-Dirt…! That would be super cute!”
[Kyaa! What nonsense are you spouting! Who cares about the Empress or any human leader? I have no intention of helping you with your reception!]
Flutter.
Wriggling furiously, the Great Spirit screamed while stuck under Charlotte’s arm.
Aslan squatted down in front of the Great Spirit, meeting its eyes.
[Ugh!?]
At that moment, Szzzz…
An unknown chill ran through the Great Spirit, causing it to freeze.
There was a sense of foreboding and fear in Aslan’s gaze.
“Let’s make a deal.”
[W-What is it? I don’t accept material things from the human world.]
“It’s not that. If you follow our instructions for just one day, I’ll return you to the mountain. After that, we won’t interfere with whatever you do there.”
[Is that true? If so, I’ll cooperate!]
The Great Spirit quickly yielded, becoming compliant.
Sylvia tilted her head in confusion.
That didn’t seem like a promise they could keep…
“Young master, are you serious? If we return the Great Spirit to the mountain, there will be chaos from earthquakes.”
“Dirt-Dirt! Do we need to return it!?”
“Both of you, just wait a moment.”
Aslan smiled meaningfully, causing Charlotte, who had been anxious, to hold her tongue and wait.
It was clear the young master had a plan.
“Hoo. Here I go.”
With a breath, Julia uttered an incantation.
A faint light enveloped the Great Spirit’s body.
The light grew, enlarging it to a size much larger than the mansion.
[Kyaa! I’ve returned to my original size!]
And then the halo cleared away, revealing the Great Spirit in its gigantic form.
The Great Spirit opened its mouth wide as if to show off its majesty and roared.
[Huh!?]
Suddenly, it tottered, unable to maintain its balance, and fell backward with a thud.
Struggling.
The Great Spirit could not stand up on its own, and was lying down, flapping its short arms.
[What is happening, Ahhh!!!]
“It’s because you’ve grown too large to control your body. You’re now subject to gravity as a physical entity.”
[Pick me up! Right now!]
“Really? What will you give us in return? A trade needs both sides to gain something, right?”
[Kyaaak! Damn humans! You knew this would happen from the start! How can you always think of taking advantage of others!!!]
The Great Spirit sobbed and shouted.
He had been fooled again!
This brat was trying to get something out of him.
“Let’s slightly amend our earlier deal. If you follow our instructions, I’ll return you to the mountain as promised, but it’ll be 10 years later. How about that?”
[What? 10 years? I can wait that long! I accept your proposal! Now pick me up!]
The Great Spirit’s face brightened as it accepted the deal.
Sylvia tilted her head again in confusion.
“Even if it’s 10 years later, the road will still be in trouble, won’t it?”
“Think about it. Ten years is a long time. We had a chance to amend the promise just now, but over ten years, there will be many more opportunities. We can keep extending it indefinitely.”
“Oh.”
“And even if we do have to send it back eventually, it won’t matter. We’ll sell the old road cheaply and build a new one in the next mountain.”
“Oh.”
Sylvia’s uncertainty vanished completely.
This man was undoubtedly a thorough scoundrel.
[The Evil God, ‘Kali’, fervently notes your demonic ingenuity!]
Feeling proud, Aslan rubbed his nose and snapped his fingers at Irene.
“Sister, I need your help. You’re the only one who can lift that.”
“Hah, f*ck…”
Sighing, Irene got up. With a gesture, a dark figure began to emerge from behind her.
“…!”
Feeling a sense of déjà vu, Sylvia gripped her sword and stepped back.
Thump, thump.
The aura was unmistakable.
This was the same giant fragment of the Evil God that had broken through the mansion walls that night…
‘Given its massive size and shape, it must be it!’
As Sylvia braced for battle, gritting her teeth.
The avatar of the Evil God Laura manifested.
“…Huh?”
But…
Was it always this small?
Was it the night that made it seem so terrifying?
Its unimpressive appearance left Sylvia speechless.
[Urgh… Cha!]
[Th-Thank you.]
Putting its strength into lifting the Great Spirit, Laura nodded in response to the Great Spirit’s thanks.
Sylvia relaxed her grip on her sword. Had she really been defeated and terrified by something like that? Sylvia’s dwindling pride shattered completely in that moment.
