Chapter 7
***
That afternoon, Airi began scouting a place to cause her first little accident.
“Are you really sure you want to explore the haunted castle?”
“Yes!”
“Are you sure it’s safe, young lady? There might be scary things… suddenly popping out…”
“Yes, I’m fine!”
Although the staff followed her reluctantly, sweat ran down their backs.
‘This place is not suitable for sunny Airi!’
Even just walking down the hallway, strange things happened.
A skull suddenly fell to the floor.
“Oh… maybe it’s raining outside?”
“No, that’s not rain. It’s a skull!”
Tragically for them, Airi’s eyesight was excellent.
“Where did this skull come from?”
“Ah, that’s part of a rotting tree turned into a skull by magic…”
“Don’t explain so much to the young lady!”
One servant crushed the skull with one hand, giving a nervous smile.
Airi looked at them with a thoughtful, inspecting gaze, making them even more uncomfortable.
“Uh… maybe we should go inside?”
“No, keep going! It’s fun!”
The more Airi explored the haunted castle, the more the staff felt overwhelmed.
This cursed place did not suit her bright personality.
By the time they reached the annex, a maid spoke cautiously:
“You’ve probably gotten used to the warm southern sun, but the north is colder.”
“Wow! That’s perfect! I like the dark too!”
Airi walked energetically in her ‘magic-blocking outfit,’ waving and smiling at the maids:
“Lead the way!”
For some reason, it felt like light followed wherever Airi walked.
If things stayed like this, working in the castle might even be enjoyable.
The maids, unaware that Airi was looking for a place to cause trouble, happily showed her around.
When they reached the training hall:
“Wow! Do children study here?”
“Yes.”
“Can I go inside too?”
“Ah… the training hall is protected by a barrier.”
Airi didn’t fully understand what a barrier meant, but the maids’ expressions made it clear she couldn’t enter.
“Ah, I see. Understood.”
“Shall we go somewhere else?”
At that moment, a bell rang from inside the training hall.
Airi tilted her head, noticing the maids and servants looking pale.
The doors of the hall opened, and several children poured out!
The maids hurriedly said:
“Miss Round-Head, come quickly! This place is dangerous.”
‘Suspicious… perfect for causing some trouble!’
The young hero Airi, 5 years old, sensed the chance.
Her eyes caught a scene: a mischievous child, sucking on a lollipop, standing with one leg bent, raising his fist toward a smaller child.
“Hand over everything you’ve got.”
“I… I don’t have anything today!”
A delinquent kid frowning, carrying his bag out of the hall.
“Hey, if you show up again, it’ll be 1 silver per hit.”
The servants murmured quietly.
“Not a peaceful day, huh…”
“But at least he doesn’t seem to hit much.”
Because of status differences, they couldn’t intervene.
But Airi was different.
‘Injustice always calls me!’
Without thinking, she clenched her fists and ran forward, faster than a hamster on a wheel.
“Are you bullying my friend?”
The delinquent boy spat on the floor and sneered.
“Not bullying, just asking for money. Who are you, the steward’s daughter?”
“No! My name is Airi…”
“Never mind. Judging by your outfit, you’re a non-magic user, huh?”
The boy smirked, clearly changing his target.
Five servants froze in shock.
Airi shook her head at them, signaling them to stay back.
The servants couldn’t move.
Airi narrowed her eyes and asked:
“Excuse me, what’s your name, young sir?”
“…Me? Schultz. A distant relative of the great Ortezo family, roughly the duke’s sixth cousin.”
Airi tilted her head, confused by the family details.
Meanwhile, Cookie, observing from Airi’s pocket, sent a mental message:
[In short, he’s weaker than you.]
The brat repeated:
“Don’t mess with me, get lost.”
Airi had no intention of backing down.
She stood her ground before Schultz.
“Why won’t you leave?”
Schultz, annoyed, lifted his foot to trip her.
But Airi, trained in Taekwondo, dodged instantly.
“What?! How did she dodge?”
His shiny face looked perfect for a spanking.
Airi’s eyes gleamed:
“Perfect. Time to teach some manners.”
The boy frowned.
“Manners… what?”
“You clearly don’t understand respect for others.”
“What?”
The adult scolding made his face red as a tomato.
“I… I know!”
“Oh? Then what is respect?”
The boy stomped his foot in frustration.
“Anyway, I don’t want to hear that from a weak, useless kid like you.”
Airi wasn’t affected. She had heard worse in her past life.
Instead, she remembered her master’s words:
“Sometimes, defending justice means you must act strongly.”
And now was the perfect chance to cause trouble and call an adult!
The brat’s face suddenly looked like a delicious rainbow rice cake.
Airi licked her lips with excitement.
As the servants tried to intervene, she acted.
“Don’t harm anyone!”
Hectopascal Kick!
