Chapter 21

"Huh? What is it, Lilius?"

As I watched Theo tilt his head in confusion, my heart raced with excitement.

It was only years after Theo's death that Cheshire discovered what 'The Saint's Heart' referred to. As an avid reader, I naturally knew the absurd reality of it.

"It's not just about saving! It used to hurt so much every time I had a seizure, but now I won't have to suffer through that anymore!"

I was so excited that I started to hop on the spot.

"Oh, oh, big brother, big brother!"

"Uh, uh!"

"Me, me, me!"

"Uh, uh, uh!"

"Take me out and buy me something pretty!"

Theo, who had been staring at me intently, burst out laughing.

"Sure, I'll buy you whatever you want!"

* * *

Rabbit plushies, princess mirrors, gemstone rings….

I wandered from shop to shop, determined to get 'it' without any doubts, and pointed to my next destination.

"I want to go there too!"

A former swordsman!

...No, a former swordsman's servant, now the owner of a general store.

The sign looked like it was selling medicine, but it was rather unimpressive.

"But it's the largest among the nearby general stores, so they must sell it."

It must be there.

The Saint's Heart.

"May the glory of Primera be with us!"

The shop owner, with a sly mustache that seemed likely to overcharge us, greeted us.

"You seem like important people. What brings you here?"

"Hmm."

"Ahh."

The twins looked uncertain even as they entered.

The store was filled with practice wooden swords and low-quality real swords, as well as armor, cloaks, and boots for mercenaries.

'This is it.'

I quickly scanned the display and let out an exclamation.

"Wow! This is so pretty! I want this!"

Everyone's eyes followed my finger and then widened in shock.

"Ugh! The way it glows purple is so fascinating. It's like the stars in the night sky…."

I pressed my cheek against the transparent glass display case, marveling.

The dark purple spheres, which seemed to exude all sorts of unpleasantness just by touching them.

These are...

"Hehe, miss? Hmm…."

The owner, who had initially planned to overcharge the wealthy noble children, shook his head.

"These are the cores of demons. They are extracted from the bodies of slain demons. They are very inappropriate as toys for noble young ladies…."

"I want to buy this!"

"It's not possible."

Leon pulled me back by the arm.

"Huh? Why?"

"It's dangerous."

"What is?"

"Demons' cores continuously emit dark energy. If you carry one, you'll be poisoned. Only those with the ability to control dark energy can carry them."

"Yes, that's correct."

The owner interjected, tapping the glass display case a few times.

"This is not ordinary glass but 'Block Glass,' a special type that partially blocks dark energy."

"It's fine. I'm an ability user too, you know?"

"What? A brat who hasn't even been to the training facility yet."

"Ugh, really, it's fine."

"It's not possible. Don't throw a tantrum."

Leon said firmly.

His unusually harsh reaction made me think.

'The seizure is in five days. If not now, there won't be any time to get this without arousing suspicion. I know how to stop the pain, and I don't want to endure it.'

After finishing my thoughts, I puffed out my cheeks and crossed my arms.

One good thing about being a child is...

...the privilege of lying on the floor and whining, "Mom, buy this for me!"

"I won't go if you don't buy this for me."

"There are prettier things outside!"

"This is the prettiest."

"What's so pretty about it? What's wrong with your taste?"

"Huh? You just figured that out? I also like furry giant spiders."

"Ah…!"

Leon was speechless.

"Anyway, it's not possible! I can't buy you something dangerous!"

"It is possible!"

"It's not!"

"Lilius said it! If you don't buy this, I won't move from here!"

"Uh, go ahead! Do you think I can't handle a brat like you?"

"Ugh?! No, don't! Big brother, don't!"

"...Wait."

Just as Leon was about to pick me up.

Theo, who had been seriously considering my tantrum, approached the display.

"Is it possible to put the smallest one in a glass container and make it into a pendant?"

"Aha! That's a good idea. If so, there should be no problem for the young lady to carry it."

The owner smiled.

"The cost of this Block Glass is astronomical. Is that okay?"

* * *

[Purchased: 1 Low-grade Demon Core, 6 sheets of Block Glass.

+Crafting Fee

Total: 56,000,000 Terr]

"You're in big trouble with Mom now."

"Stop using such vulgar language, Leon."

Theo's face turned pale as he looked at the bill sent to the Antresse family.

It was roughly equivalent to 56 million won, but considering it was a matter of life and death, it was a bargain. Everyone would soon realize that.

"Big brother."

"Uh-huh."

I put on the pendant with the demon core, crafted into a small glass box, and held Theo's hand.

"Thank you... It's so pretty…."

"Are you happy?"

"Uh-huh, big brother is the best. When I get my allowance, I'll buy you a gift. Is there anything you want?"

"Hmm."

After a moment's thought, Theo tapped his cheek and smiled.

"Then give me a kiss, big brother."

"Ugh, okay!"

I leaned in and kissed Theo's cheek.

"Hehe."

"Haha."

As we created a warm atmosphere, Leon grumbled from behind.

"You're playing around, really."

"Come on, big brother, do it too."

"…Really?"

"No way! I'm lying!"

"What? This!"

"Ugh! Let's go eat something delicious now!"

I flailed my short arms and ran toward our final destination of the day.

'13, 3, 3…'

Lumen Street in the Valentin district, where mostly commoners live.

The third alley to the right from the third street, and the third building.

The place that the protagonist Enoch Rubinstein remembered as 13, 3, 3.

<Rico's Restaurant>

I found the shabby wooden sign without fail.

'Hehe, praise my memory.'

I said, trying to hide my satisfaction.

"Shall we eat here?"

"Wow, but it really looks like nothing. Do commoners really eat here?"

"I'm glad we came out secretly. If Mom or Grandpa knew we came here… it would be a disaster."

Leon and Theo whistled at the restaurant's appearance.

"But, big brothers, are you really okay? Will you eat this with me?"

When I asked hesitantly, the twins nodded quickly.

"Hey, brat. I can eat anything. Don't worry."

"Right, Lilius. If you want to eat something, you should."

"Hehe, thank you."

They followed without any suspicion.

The appearance of nobles in a commoner's shop!

'Of course, we're getting attention.'

As we entered, the commoners, who were sitting around, were startled and approached us.

The commoners, bowing to the nobles in their fancy clothes, returned to their seats and glanced at us.

"Are you… really? When you lived in Zeon, did you really eat this?"

"Is this really delicious, Lilius?"

"It's delicious…."

I scratched my nose, feeling embarrassed as I watched the twins marvel at the menu.

"Excuse me, can we order?"

A moment later, a red-haired waitress, who had been weaving between the tables, hurried over at Theo's elegant gesture.

"Yes, sir. What would you like?"

"Bring everything on the menu. I'll pay double, so please prepare it carefully. My sister is really looking forward to it."

The woman nodded and smiled as Theo patted my head.

"Yes, I understand."

"Wait, miss!"

I called out to the woman who was about to leave.

She paused, and the shocked gazes of those around us turned to us.

"Uh, Lilius."

Theo looked around and whispered.

"You… shouldn't speak so formally to commoners outside."

"Hmph, don't be so uptight, Theo. Grandpa isn't here. Lilius hasn't adapted yet."

"What do you mean? You need to adapt quickly. If you make a mistake in front of Grandpa, you might get in trouble."

The two of them started to bicker.

'If we act like nobles and bully people here, it could be a big problem.'

As I thought, I carefully took a gold coin from my rabbit bag.

The imperial gold coin had the name of the country on one side and the profile of the emperor on the other.

'Sure enough.'

The woman's eyes sharpened at the sight of the gold coin I suddenly took out.

Of course, no one else noticed.

"It's not on the menu, but…."

I kept watching her expression as I placed the gold coin on the table.

Specifically, with the emperor's face facing down.

Mockingly, as if pressing it into the ground.

"Do you have pickled herring?"

The herring that the emperor is said to enjoy. The pickled version of that herring.

Ordering pickled herring while pressing the emperor's face into the ground is a way to mock the royal family and...

...a method to request a transaction at the secret information guild <Red Falcon> disguised as an ordinary restaurant.

The woman, who was clearly an informant for the guild, scrutinized me with a probing gaze.