Chapter 26

26

The doll moved with me. To be precise, it was the arm of Deshar Clown, who held the doll, that moved.

‘It doesn’t seem to be a cursed doll, so what is it?’

It had a bear’s face, but its ears were long and drooped like a rabbit’s, and its body was entirely red.

The most noticeable feature was the blue gem embedded in its eyes. It seemed familiar...

‘Is it a magic stone?’

It was very small, but this was definitely a magic stone.

As I reached out with sparkling eyes, Deshar Clown handed me the strange doll.

It had a cute bear’s face with long rabbit ears, and its body was red like a bear.

Moreover, its body was covered with geometric and beautiful patterns like a leopard. Although it was a high-quality doll, why did it have a magic stone embedded in its eyes?

"Still, you’re a kid, so you’re interested in such things."

Deshar Clown muttered softly with a more relaxed expression.

I looked at his wrinkled face and then back down at the doll.

‘It’s not powerful enough to kill someone.’

Even if the magic stone inside exploded, it wouldn’t be enough to kill a baby.

It was that weak. At best, it could perform a simple illusion.

"Try pressing here."

As I stared blankly at Deshar Clown, he reached out and embraced me.

I was startled and struggled, but I stopped moving when he patted my back.

"Judging by how much you wriggled, it seems your body has recovered quite a bit."

Moreover, his voice was surprisingly affectionate.

Where did the man who used to look at me with a fierce gaze, as if I were something dirty, go?

‘Did something get into Deshar Clown...?’

Is this really Deshar Clown? The man who used to yell at me every day?

The man who would get angry and show his displeasure without regard for allies or enemies? The hero who won every battle? I can’t believe it.

As I stood still in disbelief, he sat down in a chair and placed me on his lap.

Then he showed me the doll and pressed its belly with both hands.

Kwaang!

I shuddered reflexively at the strange sound coming from the doll’s belly.

It was a familiar yet unfamiliar cry. If it were a familiar cry, it would be...

"It’s a rabbit bear. I heard it’s very popular among children."

The tastes of the empire’s children are truly unique. To like such a monster...

‘Using a magic stone for something useless.’

If he’s going to do that, he should have given it to me.

I reached out and grabbed the doll’s eyes, then pulled them out with a snap.

‘Good, the magic is insufficient.’

The insufficient magic can be replenished by absorbing the magic stone.

As I grinned at the magic stone, I heard a "Huh" from above.

Holding the magic stone in both hands, the eyeless bear doll rolled on the floor.

"…You have an eye for expensive things, I see."

He said it with a hint of surprise.

‘Of course I do, why wouldn’t I? A magic stone is like my oxygen tank.’

Deshar Clown bent down with a somewhat bitter look and picked up the doll. Then he offered it to me again. The doll, now missing its blue eyes, looked even more grotesque.

"Do you like this?"

Deshar Clown took a magic stone from a drawer and offered it to me. It was much larger and purer than the one in the bear doll’s eyes.

I moved the magic stone I was holding in both hands to one hand.

"Uu!"

Focused, I clutched the magic stone in one hand and stretched my arm towards Deshar Clown.

"Uu..."

My arm was too short, and my face flushed with heat.

No matter how hard I stretched, my fingertips only trembled pitifully. I frowned and wriggled my whole body, which made Deshar Clown laugh.

My magic stone! My gem! It’s mine! Give it to me!

"Sure, if you have the blood of a clown, you should know the difference between good and bad."

Deshar Clown, without a care, threw the eyeless bear doll into the trash and handed me a magic stone the size of my palm. It was much purer than the one in the bear doll.

‘Where should I hide it?’

Baby clothes don’t have pockets, which is inconvenient.

I felt around my body.

The only place to put it... I rolled my eyes in thought.

‘In my underwear...?’

No, even if I’m desperate, that’s not right.

I need to find some fabric. A handkerchief or something. A small fabric bag would be perfect.

Holding the precious magic stone in both hands, I waved my arms and legs in the air to find some fabric.

Deshar Clown gently placed me on the soft rug and watched me.

"Shirina."

Why does he keep calling me?

"Come here, Shirina."

I glanced at him and then turned my head, placing the magic stone on the floor and looking at it contentedly.

Deshar Clown might improve a little. Rich people are different, after all.

‘This level of purity must be quite valuable.’

Several magic stones were rolling around in Deshar Clown’s drawer.

"I’ll give you another magic stone if you come here."

He deliberately made a clinking sound and showed me a magic stone from the drawer. It was the same size as the one in my palm.

I sparkled my eyes, pushed my precious stones to one side, and crawled towards him.

"Hey, you should walk."

Oh, he’s picky!

My face contorted with annoyance, but when Deshar Clown showed me the magic stone, I had no choice but to crawl.

Sure, if I can get a magic stone by acting like a dog a few times...

I grabbed the nearby sofa and struggled to stand up with my trembling legs.

Crawling has become so easy that standing is difficult.

As I wobbled and took a few steps forward, Deshar Clown’s eyes widened.

It was a stark contrast to his usual statue-like, stern face.

‘What’s the point of blood ties?’

Especially when they’re only half-blood. Is it fun to train me like a dog? I don’t know since I’ve never had a child.

Deshar Clown watched my desperate wobbling.

"Uu!"

I made it!

I stretched out my hand when I reached his feet.

The wrinkles around Deshar Clown’s eyes deepened.

He carefully placed the magic stone in my hand and then sat me on his lap again.

I examined the magic stone in my hand. Upon closer inspection, it was slightly purer than the one I received earlier.

But the difference wasn’t significant.

If we were to grade them, they would be in the same category. If the one I received earlier was a C-grade magic stone, this one would be a C+.

"How nice it would have been to meet you officially."

His voice was filled with deep regret.

If one of my parents had been different, I wouldn’t have been born with this appearance. Different genes mean a different child.

I half-listened to his voice.

"Shirina."

He called my name several times but never added the clown surname.

This was clearly the last line Deshar Clown would cross.

The boundary of what he could give and allow to the character named Shirina.

For a man who clearly separates public and private matters, even this level of allowance is surprising.

"Ahem, by the way, you did a good job calling that maid’s name last time."

"Vera?"

I can’t even pronounce it correctly, so how could I have done a good job?

I tried pronouncing it again, but it was still poor.

Deshar Clown cleared his throat several times, looking at my blank expression.

After a moment, he looked around and bent down, speaking in a low voice.

"Can you call me grandpa?"

I involuntarily blurted out a horrified reaction.

Deshar Clown, looking embarrassed, pressed his neck and cleared his throat a few more times.

He showed me another magic stone from the drawer.

It was the same size as the two I already received. No matter how many he gives me, I won’t call him grandpa.

‘How much have I suffered at the hands of this old man!’

He was always eager to tear me apart during meetings.

Of course, it was because he had more experience and wisdom than the young me.

But being stripped of my dignity in front of everyone, even I would be shaken.

So, I would delay my answer to the next meeting and prepare the reasons and conditions for negotiation, only to have him reluctantly nod.

Of course, many negotiations failed.

The newly established country was unstable.

We had to prove our worth by establishing diplomatic relations.

Mages were undoubtedly stronger than civilians, but they couldn’t overcome the numerical disadvantage.

The country’s military strength also differed from the number of citizens.

And among them, the heroes couldn’t be underestimated. A newly established country couldn’t do much about it.

Fortunately, magic items using magic stones could only be produced in Silophia, proving their value.

We tried to establish diplomatic relations centered around this.

Although there was a perception that magic was dangerous, we gradually changed this by focusing on daily life magic. We showed only the harmless aspects.

To make them underestimate Silophia.

To make them see Silophia as a small entity.

During this time, we would secretly build our strength.

Until no one could dare to underestimate Silophia.

That was the plan.

I, along with other skilled mages, learned offensive magic as a necessity.

I mainly used lethal magic, though I kept it hidden.

Only the mages of the Silophia Magic Tower knew that I used black magic.

The senior mages of the Magic Tower, like the Council of Elders and Melaine.

No one knew the destructive power and danger of black magic better than them. And that’s why they cut me off. I was foolish.

"Hmm."

Since I showed no interest, Deshar Clown cleared his throat again.

I wondered if his throat would give out. But with his muscular body, it probably wouldn’t.

Still, he’s shameless. Asking for ‘grandpa’ when he has nothing to offer?

What help did he ever give to this body? He only neglected it. How shameless.

I turned my head away, showing my disdain.

I always thought the Sharent Clowns and Deshar Clowns were shameless based on their demands during meetings...

‘Now he wants to be treated well?’

Hmph, hmph!

Even though it felt strange, I couldn’t help but feel annoyed.

Honestly, if it weren’t for me, this original body would have died long ago.

Can you really forget someone for two weeks? Even if it was a mistake, and I almost died, would he show family affection? Even if it were a lie, I wouldn’t say such a thing. I wouldn’t bow for just a magic stone.

"Hmm, can you understand this much? Kant said that you’re very mature for your age."

"Uu..."

As I turned my head away, ignoring Deshar Clown’s disappointed tone, I stopped.

Because in his calloused hand, a large magic stone was shining.

"Grandpa!!"

I called him with all my might and threw myself into his arms.

Pride, I realized, wouldn’t save my life.