Chapter 64

This is the fourth time today. Focusing intently, I enveloped the five Living Mails heading towards Sammie.

The metallic armor clattered against the stone-tiled floor, the sound echoing.

Seizing the opportunity, Sammie slipped out through the door.

She will surely help the children.

"Ha!"

Pio was sewing the Living Mail with a hole in its stomach to the floor.

Leaving the immobilized Living Mail behind, Pio lunged at Gyral again, but was blocked by newly arrived Living Mails.

"Ugh..."

"Pio, over here!"

"Got it!"

Twelve Living Mails have been turned to light. However, I could sense a large number of Living Mails still behind Gyral.

I don't have the power to turn all of them to light... not in my current state.

I can barely feel the warmth in my chest that surged when I saw Caries' tears, and I doubt I can do it one more time.

"Pio, please take care of Caries."

I entrusted Caries to Pio, who came over.

"Your Highness, I apologize for this."

"Pio... I'm glad you're alive."

"Your Highness and Reni saved me."

The two quickly exchanged greetings and confirmed each other's safety. Though their words were few, it was clear they understood each other.

Then, the sound of out-of-place clapping echoed.

"Truly a wonderful bond between master and servant."

The one clapping was Count Gyral, who said this with a calm and composed voice.

"However, what interests me is that beastkin child. I never expected you to be the one with the power..."

Count Gyral's gray eyes met mine.

I looked back at him—

"I see."

I nodded to myself. It felt like the first time our eyes met. At that moment, a surge of anger rose in my chest.

If I had met Count Gyral now, the [Bell of Perception] would have rung. The Count Gyral at the tea party truly had no interest in me.

"Do you know anything about the dragon?"

"When you say dragon, you mean the Earth Dragon that attacked the princess. The dragon was supposed to be guarding a gemstone underground, but when I sought the gemstone, it no longer had it."

"Did you teach it?"

"No. I merely mentioned in front of the dragon that a child with the gemstone might be the third princess, Caries. Dragons are intelligent for monsters, so it's not surprising that it thought of attacking the princess."

Count Gyral spoke as if it were someone else's story.

The dragon's gemstone was obtained by my father and Sammie for my mother. The dragon must have come to the surface to reclaim the gemstone after hearing Count Gyral's story. Count Gyral didn't control the dragon, but he definitely sent it after Caries.

"It is said that the Child of the Gods grows stronger through trials. If the princess is the Child of the Gods, I believed that meeting the dragon would be a turning point. Therefore, when I heard that the princess survived the dragon's attack, my heart leaped with joy."

He continued with a calm expression.

"Upon hearing the details, I was deeply moved. A child served by elves, descendants of the goddess. This must be the prophesied Child of the Gods."

Count Gyral, who had been searching for the Child of the Gods, must have been very pleased to hear about a child who could defeat the dragon. It was then that I, wearing the [Cat's Hand Gloves], appeared.

"However, contrary to my expectations, the child invited by the princess was a cat beastkin. I was truly disappointed. A beastkin child cannot be the Child of the Gods."

Count Gyral shrugged and then stared at me intently.

"Who are you?"

His gray eyes probed me.

"To find the Child of the Gods, I thoroughly investigated the birth records of all children born at that time. There was no name like yours. I even checked the records of beastkin children."

I tilted my head.

"Reni, not registered."

"Huh?"

Count Gyral's calm face crumbled, and he looked bewildered. My parents had discussed and decided to keep me hidden. That's why I wasn't found by Count Gyral and his people.

"Relevance, none."

The village priest had said that being an elf or a beastkin didn't matter. But it doesn't seem to apply to me. My status race is elf, but it's sealed, making me no different from a human. With the right item, I can become a cat beastkin. And most importantly—

—I don't belong to this world.

I'm a reincarnated being, an outsider in this world. If asked who I am, I am nothing.

"Reni, just Reni."

Who I am is simply who I am. Is there anything more important than that?

"You are quite amusing."

Count Gyral laughed at my words. Then, with a calm face, he extended his hand to me.

"You are the Child of the Gods. You have power. Those with power should use it meaningfully."

His hand beckoned me.

"Can you see the stained glass? That is the former capital, Rewander. It was a very beautiful city. I am a descendant of the royal family. With your power, we can purify the ghosts and rebuild the nation. You can have a kingdom."

Count Gyral spoke with enthusiasm, as if dreaming.

"We don't need wandering ghouls or flying hellbirds. The ghosts of commoners are unnecessary. Living Mails are the souls of knights and are suitable for a king to command. With this power, we can reclaim the kingdom."

He smiled at me, a calm and gentle smile.

"You will be the first queen."

"Queen?"

"Let's build it together."

Seeing his smile, I—

"Unnecessary."

Shook my head.

"I don't like it."

Because he made Caries cry, and the words he spoke to me didn't resonate at all.

"I don't want a kingdom."

I want to travel and have fun in this world. I don't want a kingdom.

"…So, just a child, after all."

My words made Count Gyral's eyes flash for a moment. The light quickly disappeared, and he sighed deeply.

"Very disappointing."

He withdrew his hand and signaled behind him. A large number of Living Mails began to move. There were… thirty?

"So many…"

"Even more are coming…"

Pio and Caries gasped. I nodded firmly to encourage them.

"Don't worry. I'm strong."

Then, I leaped forward. At this point, there's no need to involve them.

"Actually, I wanted to turn them to light…"

But I can't do it now. So, I extended the claws of the [Cat's Hand Gloves] with a snap. I have to blow them all away!

"Reni! You can't! That's—!!"

As I landed, Caries' voice echoed behind me. Then, Count Gyral laughed, drowning out her voice.

"To jump in yourself! You don't need a body! The gemstone is mine!!"

With his laughter, the floor began to glow. This is… a magic circle?

"You are standing in the center of a magic circle that erases the body and leaves only the soul! Come forth, gemstone! Appear before me!"

Volume 2 will be released in one week. Additionally, the manga adaptation of the original novel "The Indifferent Lady's Delicious Contract" has started. Please check the activity report for more details. I would be grateful if you could take a look. Thank you.