Chapter 39

39

I released the grip on the mana stone in my hand.

"Even if I had used dark magic by accident, I could have been in serious trouble, right?"

I never thought he could be a paladin because I couldn't sense any divine power.

"Am I the problem?"

His emotionless, pitch-black eyes moved for the first time, turning toward Sharent Clow.

A low but calm voice, a straight posture without moving from a straightened waist, and a pentagram embedded in his pitch-black left eye.

'This guy is an advanced paladin.'

It's said that among paladins and priests, some can completely hide their divine power once they reach a certain level.

Dark mages and priests are polar opposites.

In what sense are they polar opposites? If they stay close to each other for a long time, their abilities tend to cancel each other out or diminish.

This applies to both dark mages and priests.

Since they only have a negative influence on each other, it's better not to be close.

"Yes."

Sharent Clow answered firmly.

The paladin's eyes darkened slightly as if he had realized something from the firm answer.

I also began to slowly distance myself from them.

"Subordinate!"

I desperately stretched out my arms toward Desar Clow.

Hey, save me.

If I stay close to him in this situation, the dark magic power I've barely accumulated will disappear.

In fact, a weak dark mage becomes powerless next to a strong priest or paladin, and vice versa.

It's correct to say that they can't coexist.

"The child's answer is clear. Since we're not mistreating her, you should leave now."

What's going on? I thought he would send me to the paladin to make me suffer.

Surprisingly, Sharent Clow seemed to be on my side.

"Do you expect me to believe that you're not mistreating her, knowing that this mansion is known for its strict bloodline policies?"

"Whether you believe it or not, you are no longer a part of the family, aren't you?"

Meanwhile, Desar Clow held me in his arms.

I quickly snuggled into his embrace and let out a sigh of relief.

"Leave now. Even if you take her, it won't be good for the child."

"Why is that?"

"The reason, I believe, is something you've already guessed."

Sharent Clow deflected the question.

Lanian's face showed clear dissatisfaction as she tightly closed her mouth.

The paladin glanced at Lanian and nodded heavily.

When the paladin agreed with Sharent Clow, Lanian's eyes drooped in disappointment.

She didn't feel good at all, as if a dagger had been stabbed into her heart.

'If it weren't for the dark magic power...'

I've also escaped from this family, sister.

You should kick the paladin out...

"For now, it was too sudden, so I'll go back today. I'll visit again formally next time, Father."

But she gave up on me.

Sniff, I can make you happier than the paladin... Wow, what a surprise. I didn't expect to see my sister in person.

"Go ahead."

Lanian stood up.

The paladin, who had only spoken one word since arriving, also stood up silently.

He helped her put on her coat and handed her a hat, then bowed silently.

"See you next time, Sherina."

"Yay! Bye! See you! Bye-bye!"

I smiled widely and waved my arms vigorously, almost losing my balance.

Glancing to the side, Sharent Clow's expression seemed stiff. His face might get wrinkles if this continues.

Whatever. I kept waving until Lanian's figure disappeared.

Sister, I love you a lot, but I won't give up my revenge.

'Sorry. I'll grow up quickly and come to you proudly...'

Then, I hope you can sign for me.

I threw a tearful farewell in my heart.

Anyway, there's nothing I can do right now. I can only wait, huddled and holding my breath.

Until this body grows a bit more and I can use magic more effectively.

I blinked.

"Are you going to bed now?"

Sharent Clow's gruff voice rang out. What's his problem now?

I wanted to say something, but my eyelids grew heavy. I silently surrendered to the approaching drowsiness.

* * *

After Lanian visited the mansion, everything was peaceful. Time passed peacefully.

Yes, I turned three.

I've managed to survive in this annoying Clow family for two years and a few months.

But since I started walking properly, I rarely ran into those guys.

"Sherina?"

Ugh, he's here again.

Kaisan, who is now seven years old, never gets tired of looking for me.

As he grew, he became even more handsome and better at finding me.

I hid even deeper in the corner.

Small footsteps echoed throughout the warehouse.

Peeking through the gaps between the clutter, I saw Kaisan wandering around.

To be precise, I was actively avoiding him. I held a crayon in my hand and took notes in the sketchbook I had brought.

'The range of my teleportation is still this much.'

I drew a large circle on the sketchbook and nodded.

I had taken the pacifier out of my mouth out of habit, but I quickly put it back when I was surprised by the circle I had drawn.

As I grew, I needed the pacifier less and less.

However, I still needed it to think properly. Otherwise, I might end up doing something stupid like nodding at a circle I drew.

Fortunately, I didn't need the pacifier much for simple daily activities.

"Sherina?"

I need to get away from this annoying thing.

I used the mana stone to teleport to another part of the mansion, avoiding Kaisan.

Now that my limbs have grown and I can walk on my own, I have nothing to regret.

I started to move slowly, wondering where to go.

Thud.

Thump.

"Oh, I'm sorry. You're so small, I didn't see you."

Strangely, the bullying increased a bit.

Well, Desar Clow, who used to look for me every day, now rarely does, and I hardly see Sharent Clow.

As I grew, people naturally lost interest, and others gradually relaxed their guard.

It doesn't matter. I didn't expect anything, so I'm not disappointed.

Isn't that how human interest usually works?

People are only interested in the beginning. The only one who consistently shows interest in me is the snot-nosed Kaisan.

I didn't respond to the servant's words and straightened my face, which was squished on the carpet. I lightly dusted off the dirt and stood up.

"Her mother is a gypsy, so her child is unlucky too."

"That woman only ruined the precious youngest master."

"I don't understand why they keep her in the mansion without giving her a family name."

I don't understand either.

Ignoring the servants' chatter, I continued on my way.

I couldn't gather dark magic power. There was no opportunity to kill anyone. A war would make things easier, but it's a peaceful era after the big wars ended.

'Ah, I'm so frustrated and want to leave the house.'

I couldn't kill people I disliked because I was afraid of being caught, and because of that, I couldn't gather any dark magic power.

As a result, my magic power is recovering more slowly than expected.

Thanks to practicing magic, I can now use a slightly wider range of spells than when I was a baby.

But it's still not enough.

I need to be able to use a wider variety of spells.

'This can't go on.'

This way, it will take too much time.

I need to at least recover to the level I had when I was Hella. It's been over two years, and it's been tough to survive in this mansion.

Sharent Clow and Desar Clow don't seem to know, but there are people who subtly bully me.

Desar Clow often calls me, makes me call him grandfather, and gives me snacks and mana stones to play with.

Perhaps he treats me like a pet.

I can't stay in this mansion forever. I was about to sneak into Sharent Clow's study to talk to him when I heard him and Desar Clow talking.

"How long do you plan to keep Sherina here, Father?"

"...How old is the child?"

"The child is three years old. It's time to send her away."

"...Is that so."

Where are they sending me?

I widened my eyes and listened to their conversation as they walked toward the corner where I was standing.

Their voices were heavier than usual.

"Clowns without a family name must attend the academy from the minimum age until they become adults. You haven't forgotten that, have you?"

What? Is that a thing?

"She was three."

Isn't that incredibly short?

I vaguely remember hearing that noble families often send unwanted or useless people to the academy's nursery class early.

At first, I thought it was cruel, but am I going to be one of them?

'What a despicable bunch.'

If they're going to do that, why not just abandon me?

Even if I'm half, abandoning me would mean the Clow bloodline leaks out, so they want to confine me in the academy.

'Am I crazy?'

"I know. We should start looking into it soon."

If I had known this, I would have just been abandoned!

I can take care of myself.

Desar Clow gives me plenty of mana stones every time he sees me, so I won't lack money until I become an adult.

"When is the latest admission date this year... Oh."

"..."

"Sherina."

Desar Clow stopped mid-sentence and sighed.

Sharent Clow, who seemed surprised, called out to me with an uncharacteristically flustered look.

"Am I being kicked out?"

Are you kicking me out?

Desar Clow cleared his throat and closed his mouth at my question.

He couldn't say no or yes, and his face hardened.