Chapter 6
“Huh? It’s the size of a bean?”
“…Yes?”
Airi nodded determinedly.
“Then let’s start practicing!”
“Purification power isn’t something you can improve with practice. You use what you’re born with.”
The cookie drew a quick chart of Airi’s purification power.
[‘Light Purification Power’ 5-Star Ranking]
1★ Seed of Light
2★ Tree of Light
3★ Shield of Light
4★ Holy Light
5★ Light of Salvation
“The lower the rank, the weaker the magical energy you can purify… You’re the very lowest of 1★. Dead last.”
Airi’s eyes shook.
In her dream, the mysterious voice had said she was the “world’s purifier.”
‘Does that mean the voice was wrong?’
As she sulked, the cookie, inspecting her carefully, clenched its fist.
“…Huh?”
It scanned her body intensely, blinked its chocolate eyes, and whispered excitedly:
“But… there’s something amazing inside your body!”
“Huh?”
“You have a ‘Purification Ring’ that absorbs magical energy… like I eat mana, but you absorb it from others! And this Purification Ring is special—anyone purified by you can never be affected by magic again! Amazing, right?!”
“Wow! Then I want to absorb everyone’s magic energy!”
Finally, some success!
“But you can only absorb magic from people you’re close to. And since you’re still 1★, you can only purify those affected by weak magic.”
“…Hmm…”
It sounded like a weak power…
‘Am I really a hero?’
Seeing Airi frown, the cookie quickly added:
“Don’t be disappointed! In this world, only you can reach 5★, the ultimate rank!”
Airi’s eyes widened.
She remembered an anime she loved as much as Regent: “Super Fast Growth! Level Up Rapidly!”
The story of a protagonist stuck in a game world, underestimated as a beginner, but with a secret cheat—while no one else could grow, he became the strongest.
‘I… I get to be that amazing? The main character?!’
Her drooping shoulders lifted slightly.
“You really are a hero!”
At the cookie’s words, Airi’s confidence soared.
As the youngest leader of the Kyunghye Taekwondo Demonstration Team, she knew how to carry herself.
Airi wiggled her hips and danced the “peek-a-boo” dance her grandmother loved.
In her mind, she imagined everyone patting her head.
“Wow! You have the strongest purification power! Amazing!”
“Ahem. It’s nothing. I also have a belt.”
“A belt? That’s incredible!”
“Yes, a little impressive, right? Hmm… want me to show a medal-winning poomsae from Kukkiwon?”
“Yes! That would be amazing! Truly, the hero of justice!”
Airi clenched her fists.
“Let’s go show the maids!”
“No, you can’t tell anyone yet. Keep it secret and report to the duke first.”
“…Huh?”
“If this leaks, someone could try to kill you. You’re still weak.”
“Huh, oh!”
“True heroes are always in danger. Hide your power, young warrior!”
The cookie mimed slashing its neck ominously.
Airi grabbed her own throat nervously.
“N-No, I won’t!”
“Exactly. Let’s go see Duke Ortezo first. Tell him you’re the hero and get help.”
“Yes…”
“By the way… isn’t he your dad? I could tell the moment I was summoned.”
“Uh… y-yes…”
Airi froze. Hearing the word ‘dad’ made her a little… no, very nervous.
Reality hit her.
‘Will Duke Ortezo even meet me?’
Airi wasn’t particularly cute.
In her past life, her parents divorced when she was very young.
They were gone forever, leaving her in the care of others.
“Why is the kid being so annoying? So irritating.”
“The kid can hear you. Don’t say that…”
“Then take care of her yourself. Don’t pretend to be kind if you don’t want to raise her.”
They occasionally came around to argue about custody or child support.
It was her grandmother who saved her.
“Useless fools. My child is raised by me!”
Still, time with her grandmother had been happy.
So even if her current dad didn’t seem to like her, Airi wasn’t sad.
‘I can’t fail before “Super Fast Growth!”’
She would save the world heroically and enjoy life with her grandmother, eating delicious food and being happy.
“Alright, then. I’ll meet him!”
The cookie watched Airi carefully.
Though it grumbled about being a babysitter, it sensed Airi’s determination.
Its chocolate eyes were worried.
‘She looks pale… is she really okay?’
But Airi remained brave, so the cookie relaxed.
‘She’ll be fine!’
***
The young hero and her cookie companion planned the “Operation Settle in the North”.
While scouting the hallways for a strategy, Airi unexpectedly met the steward.
“Greetings. Steward Peter wishes to see Miss Airi.”
Peter, the steward of Ortezo Castle, made Airi’s eyes widen.
Unlike the weak maids, he was cold and distant.
‘And an unfamiliar adult man!’
Airi was intimidated.
‘I want to ask for something, but he looks untouchable!’
Peter stared at her suspiciously.
“Miss Airi, I trust you will behave properly during your stay.”
His expression was like a winter wind.
But Airi didn’t flinch.
‘Maybe I can get something from Steward Peter!’
She noticed papers tucked in his arms:
[Safety inside the castle is top priority. In emergencies, all troops must return immediately.]
‘What does that mean?’
As she tilted her head, a noise came from afar.
Instinctively, she looked toward the window.
“Ah, the knights are doing the morning assembly.”
Perhaps because it was morning, knights at the training grounds were reciting their oath:
“We defend Ortezo Castle and report immediately to the duke in emergencies!”
Airi’s eyes sparkled.
She remembered her Taekwondo master from Kyunghye Dojang—eyes even in the back!
Back when she had secretly eaten yogurt ice cream at the dojo…
“Can I eat ice cream inside the dojo, or not?”
“Huh! Master! How did you know I was eating ice cream here…?”
“Speak of the tiger, and it appears.”
“Then… is the master a tiger…?”
The master wiped yogurt ice cream from her mouth:
“I told you, tigers appear when spoken of. You kids keep causing trouble and calling me out.”
That’s it! Airi clenched her fists determinedly.
If children cause trouble, adults will appear.
Adults can see everything—even behind you!
“Sometimes, small sacrifices are necessary for the greater good.”
Remembering her master’s words, Airi tightened her fists.
Steward Peter remained expressionless, bowing briefly before walking away.
The 9-year-old righteous Taekwondo girl’s mind spun with ambition.
“Right, Cookie?”
“Huh? Uh… don’t think too badly…”
Airi leapt into the air and shouted:
“Let’s go cause some trouble!”
