Chapter 38
Lilia boldly spoke first.
“I couldn’t tell you earlier because of my father’s request. So I’m not guilty. Of course, if you want to vent your anger on me, that’s fine too.”
After a short pause, the old duke spoke.
“…Hmm, I see. I wasn’t angry at you.”
At last, her grandfather honestly admitted his true feelings.
Vladimir looked down at the child lazily, and something like a faint smile briefly passed across his lips.
The moment Lilia noticed it and blinked in surprise, the old duke quickly hardened his expression again and asked,
“Ahem. So, what brings you here?”
“Grandfather, do you remember that I told you before that I would show you a new magical achievement within a month?”
“I remember.”
“Well… it hasn’t even been two weeks since I said that.”
“You know you can’t take it back, right?”
The duke narrowed his eyes as he stroked his beard.
“Of course! I’m not trying to take it back… I just think I might be able to show it to you even sooner. Please look forward to it!”
“Huh, already?”
After saying that, Lilia lightly scratched her nose and added,
“And I have another suggestion for you, Grandfather!”
“…A suggestion?”
“Yes. Grandfather, you’re not someone who makes deals that put you at a loss, right?”
“That’s true.”
“I’m the same.”
“…What is your point?”
“Please take me to the next family meeting.”
“You? To the family meeting?”
“Yes. You don’t have to keep me by your side. I’ll just attend from far away.”
The duke quietly looked at Lilia’s swaying pink head, and his eyes wavered slightly.
“Your father will be there.”
“…I’m keeping some distance from my father for the time being. Of course, it’s not by my own will.”
She had felt disappointed and hurt, but now she had calmed down enough to say it calmly.
“……”
Vladimir recalled what Clasid had said earlier.
“…I will send Lilia to her mother.”
“Your father has completely lost his mind.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“Then please scold him.”
The words slipped out before she realized it. Lilia quickly shook her head.
“No, never mind. What’s the point of blaming someone who’s sick? Since I’m the one who’s not sick, I should endure it.”
“Huh? What did you say? This kid, honestly.”
Though her body was small, it felt as if a grown adult lived inside her.
“Hahaha! Hahahaha!”
Her grandfather’s hearty laughter echoed through the room.
Then suddenly he stopped laughing and asked quietly.
His eyes had become sharp again.
“But you know… your story earlier didn’t have an ending.”
“Oh right, I didn’t tell you what I would give you, did I?”
“That’s right. Let’s hear it. Go ahead.”
Now that her grandfather had even crossed his arms, clearly ready to listen properly, Lilia raised her small hand and gestured.
“Grandfather, could you lend me your ear for a moment?”
“…What a troublesome child.”
The duke stepped closer and tilted his head toward her.
“Is this enough?”
“Yes. But Grandfather, you mustn’t tell anyone about this.”
Then Lilia whispered something.
The duke’s eyes widened.
“I’m going to find the Mana Cave.”
“What? I don’t know where you saw or heard that, but that’s impossible.”
“No. I’m sorry that this is the only thing I can say for now. But I will definitely find it and show it to you.”
Seeing the child’s unusually confident light-green eyes, the duke was momentarily speechless.
“Would that be a satisfying deal for you?”
For a moment, it felt as if this tiny child had him completely in the palm of her hand.
“Then I’ll see you next time. Uncle Emmet, see you later too!”
After finishing her little “negotiation” with the duke, Lilia politely greeted them and trotted away.
The pink teddy bear dangling from her white bear-shaped bag caught his eye.
Its fur was soft and fluffy.
‘She carries something as trivial as herself.’
Still, the more he thought about it, the more he felt that the six-year-old child was unbelievably adorable.
“I’m going to find the Mana Cave of the Eternal Snow Mountain.”
Finding the mana cave hidden deep inside the Eternal Snow Mountain—like the backbone of northern Roberk—had long been her grandfather’s greatest wish.
Lilia could never forget the surprised look on his face.
After all, it wasn’t an impossible fantasy.
There was a reason for that.
In the past, her grandfather had succeeded at almost everything he attempted. The mana cave was the only project he had ever abandoned.
It was something he had pursued his whole life but never achieved. It must have remained a deep regret in his heart.
When he was young, he even organized an expedition team and tried to search for the cave, but they failed again and again because they could never find the entrance.
In fact, some magic scholars and geologists even theorized that the reason the Roberk family developed into a powerful magic family was because of that mana cave.
Because of the enormous mana flowing from the snow mountain and the cave, the bloodline of the Roberk family was naturally born with powerful magic.
That was why people continued to believe something must exist inside the mana cave.
If it were ever discovered, it would surely contain tremendous treasures or resources.
And that was actually true.
In the original story, Adrian discovered the mana cave in the snow mountain of the fallen Roberk family.
Inside the cave was a real treasure trove of rare mana.
Mana crystals filled with dense magical energy, veins of spirit stones containing spirits, and even mysterious herbs with powerful medicinal effects.
It was both a miraculous natural wonder capable of writing a new chapter in history—and a literal gold mine!
Lilia clearly remembered the part of the story where Adrian searched for the entrance of the mana cave with an expedition team.
However, there were a few problems.
The snow mountain was crawling with powerful magical beasts.
There was also a guardian protecting the inside of the mana cave.
And right now, Lilia had neither the strength nor the allies to defeat them.
Still, even though she didn’t have the hammer, she already knew where to place the nail.
And the person most capable of doing that, as far as Lilia knew, was Clasid.
So she had to open Clasid’s heart as soon as possible.
To find a new key.
To discover the mana cave.
And to prevent Osdel from taking control of the Roberk family.
Just then, Kiki climbed up from her bag and scurried onto Lilia’s shoulder.
“Piit! Kyuu kyuu!”
The little creature was urging her to quickly check the book.
“Oh right! I’ll go back and check it right away.”
After returning to her room, Lilia immediately summoned the key and the book.
[The target’s heart is opening. (2/10)]
Lilia’s eyes widened.
Was the target referring to her grandfather?
⟨I think I understand Grandfather’s heart now.⟩
When she tried to understand her grandfather’s feelings, an echo rang inside her chest.
And last time—
⟨I want to know Father’s true feelings.⟩
She had said something similar.
Whenever she mentioned someone’s heart, the key and the book seemed to give her hints.
Alright, then let’s run an experiment.
Suddenly, Lilia looked at Kiki in front of her and said,
“Kiki! I want to know your heart!”
Kiki jumped up as if cheering her on.
At that moment—
The Key of Authority glowed, and the pages of the book flipped.
[The target’s heart is opening. (47/1000)]
