Chapter 16

Claudia visits this village less frequently than Noah.

Claudia sometimes falls asleep due to a lack of magical power, and when that happens, she naturally stays at the tower.

However, within about a month of starting to come and go to this village, Claudia and Noah had become quite famous. On this day, too, a man called out to Claudia as she walked along.

"Princess! Princess, Noah, are you here!"

Looking around, there were several men gathered around a few wooden boxes. Claudia, who had been called, put on a cat-like act in front of the wizards, creating a very cute and innocent, pure smile, as if she were a six-year-old child.

"Hello, Uncle!"

"..."

Noah looked at Claudia as if he had something to say, but the man didn't seem to mind. Ignoring the curious looks from the other men, he spoke to Claudia and Noah.

"You two are still mysterious little ones who come from who knows where. Did you happen to ride in the merchant's carriage that just arrived?"

"Hehe, that's a secret!"

"I see, I see. Well, anyway, Princess, can you take a look at this?"

"What is it?"

The man took a box of cheese from one of the wooden boxes, and the other men looked puzzled.

"Hey, Daniel. What are you asking a child for?"

"This princess is a special one. When my child was having terrible night terrors, she passed by and stroked the baby's head, and from that day on, the baby stopped waking up at night."

As the man said, when Claudia had visited the village before, she had taken an interest in the baby he was holding. The child had a disturbance in their magical power, which is not uncommon in children with magical potential, but if the adults around them are unfamiliar with it, the baby will continue to feel an annoying sensation.

Claudia, pretending to be innocent, was allowed to stroke the fussy baby and secretly adjusted the flow of magic.

"But... and besides, a baby and a cow are completely different, right?"

"Come now. Princess, about this cheese."

Facing the wheel of cheese, Claudia feigned disappointment.

"...It doesn't look very tasty..."

"Haha, you understand, don't you? This was once a cheese we were proud of, even supplying it to the capital, but lately the quality has been poor. The cows aren't feeling well, you see."

"The cows?"

"That's right. They have plenty of their favorite hay and get plenty of sunshine. So why do you think the cows aren't producing good milk anymore?"

"Daniel. At the very least, shouldn't we have someone look at the cows?"

After staring at the cheese, Claudia suddenly turned and started walking.

"Hey, Princess? The cheese is over here..."

"Children are like that. Miss, it's dangerous to get too close to the wooden boxes."

"Hey, hey, Noah, look!"

When Claudia called, Noah followed obediently. They both looked down at the corner of the wooden box Claudia pointed to.

"There's a problem. What are these scratch marks on this box?"

As she said this, the adults' expressions changed. Noah, frowning, thought for a moment before quietly answering.

"Are they bite marks from a cow?"

"Boo, wrong!"

Claudia made an X with her fingers and smiled.

"The correct answer is! A scary bear left a mark."

"Bear..."

"A bear!?"

The men, frowning, surrounded the wooden box and looked at each other, noticing the claw marks on the corner.

"Those are definitely claw marks from a magical beast! It's marked. Hey, where did this wooden box come from?"

"It's stacked next to the cowshed! Maybe it's been wandering around the cowshed at night? The cows can't sleep because of it."

"Let's get a wizard right away. I'm going to the village chief's place!"

As the men started bustling about, Noah quietly asked,

"Princess, how did you know?"

"When a magical beast marks something, residual magical power remains. We just need to find it."

"Magical power..."

Noah looked at the claw marks as if they were something difficult.

"You don't have to be able to do this, Noah."

"No, I am your servant, so I will learn."

"Hehe."

Laughing at Noah's serious face, Claudia turned to a man who had walked over, looking relieved.

"Eh? Uncle, where are the other uncles?"

"They went to check on the cowshed. And to the village chief to arrange for a wizard. But, well done, Princess! I didn't notice the claw marks at such a low position. It's a discovery only a short child could make!"

"Hehe~"

In reality, height had nothing to do with it, but Claudia pretended to be pleased.

"Take this muffin as a thank you! My wife baked them, and we still have plenty."

"Wow, a snack! I love it, thank you, Uncle!"

"You're welcome. Noah, you should eat a lot too. The old lady next door said she wants to thank you for helping with the luggage the next time she sees you."

"...Not really. I didn't do anything that deserves thanks."

(Ah. So you were doing things like that when I wasn't here.)

Since she hadn't received any reports, she hadn't known about it. Noah, looking embarrassed, turned away. Chuckling, Claudia took the basket of muffins.

"Princess, I'll carry it. Give me the basket."

"Okay, Noah. Let's go shopping!"

Claudia waved goodbye to the man. Noah bowed slightly and they started walking.

The man, watching them go, muttered to himself.

"Haha. Noah is also very serious, calling her 'Princess.' Really, there's no way a real princess would be in such a remote place..."

"Hey, Daniel!"

"Ah, you're back! What did the village chief say?"

"He said he'll arrange for a wizard right away. ...Still, I was surprised."

The man, panting, looked at the retreating figures of Claudia and Noah and muttered.

"Who are those girls?"

"Who knows? --Anyway, they are mysterious children."