Home/The Seven-Year-Old Village Chief of Exile/ch 92

Chapter 92

The Crown Prince said indifferently.

[Even knowing what they are, I still don't get it.]

[But they are all dead. The power of demons is truly remarkable in making the impossible possible.]

[Even so, it's just playing with corpses. They can't resurrect them, after all.]

Uncle Pex and I simultaneously turned to Verity.

"Sigh, what a waste of taxes."

Can't even show off what he's learned.

The demon muttered in a low voice, filled with anger.

Uncle Pex and I wisely kept our mouths shut.

[So, what are you going to do with the undead? Build an undead army?]

[They are byproducts of the experiments meant to steal the Clavis's power.]

[Hmm.]

Hearing that, it naturally came to mind.

[I like that.]

The greedy smile of someone who firmly believes others' possessions are theirs.

[So the Clavis did have a special power. That arrogance, not knowing their place, was because of it.]

[That's why I entrust the visit to the Magical Engineering Academy to you.]

[For a Knight Commander to make such a presumptuous request...]

[......]

[I see. You've also made a contract with a demon, haven't you?]

[......]

Wow.

I glanced at Verity.

"Everyone's summoning demons left and right."

"That's strange..."

Verity genuinely seemed offended, frowning and muttering for a while.

"Demon summoning is really difficult..."

"......"

Actually, I knew that too.

'Summoning is difficult.'

It's an act of calling a demon from another dimension to grant a wish, requiring immense power and a price.

I'm just the exception, able to do it all with a drop of blood or a few drops of spit. Probably because I'm a Clavis.

'If so...'

I need to find this out too.

'How the Emperor summons demons.'

---

After briefly discussing the Magical Engineering Academy schedule, the Crown Prince returned to his room to rest.

Knight Commander Rashid also remained silent and moved to a different location.

"Since we've registered both their voices in the device, it'll automatically record whenever they talk."

"Oh, amazing!"

"Hebenia..."

Uncle Pex asked with a worried face as I took off the headphones.

"The Emperor, he wants you..."

He hesitated for a long time.

I knew what Uncle Pex was worried about.

[They are byproducts of the experiments meant to steal the Clavis's power.]

He must be concerned about me because of what we'd just overheard.

'He doesn't need to worry.'

Actually, I felt better than ever. Because the wiretap had given me so much information.

'The Crown Prince doesn't know everything.'

The arrogant Crown Prince doesn't know about creating possessors or the Interdimensional Alliance. The Emperor is keeping information from his own child.

'On the other hand, the Knight Commander seemed to know everything.'

And he's even made a contract with a demon.

I'd found another demon I needed to capture. If I catch him, I'll make sure to get a tablet PC that works here too.

Just then.

"I never understood why the Emperor was after you, but now I get it."

"Uncle Pex, please choose your words more carefully."

I knew he was worried about me.

'That was just disgusting.'

But Uncle Pex's anger was much greater than I'd expected.

"All because of such a ridiculous greed, innocent people..."

"......"

"Us, locked in the exile camp, the employees who were killed without knowing anything and turned into undead—all of them...!"

"......"

His gaze toward me was filled with shock and pity.

I smiled as if to say I was fine, but it didn't help.

It only poured oil on Uncle Pex's anger.

"Insane! This country is insane!"

"I can't offer any comfort to the contrary."

Verity, as if nursing a headache, pressed his temples and squeezed his eyes shut for a long moment.

"Hmph, stealing the Clavis's power, huh..."

Then he subtly glanced at me.

I immediately understood what that look meant.

'Not stealing the Clavis's power—using it.'

If that were the real goal, things wouldn't have come to this point.

Because it's impossible, they changed course to creating possessors using that power. That's also why they couldn't treat me, the last remaining Clavis, carelessly.

'The lie about stealing the Clavis's power is actually a clue.'

The Knight Commander had given us a great gift.

'The Emperor wants to obtain the power of a possessor.'

The power to steal fortune, ignore causality, and shake fate.

'I underestimated the Emperor.'

When I reached the Interdimensional Alliance, I thought there was nothing left to surprise me.

But the Emperor was a madman beyond human common sense, imagination, and delusion.

What kind of upbringing could make someone think of such madness?

"Anyway."

To change the subject, I steered the conversation elsewhere.

"We've found a way to visit the Magical Engineering Academy."

The Magical Engineering Academy.

One of the most coveted potential trading partners for our village.

Just catching and selling a single monster from the primeval forest could easily cover our village's budget for fifty years.

I'd been worrying about how to establish a trade deal, and the Crown Prince's visit to the academy was a golden opportunity.

"I need to act even more warmly toward the Grand Duchess. While subtly mentioning the Magical Engineering Academy."

The academy had very strict entry controls for safety and security reasons.

I'd asked the Deste priests for help, but they'd apologized, saying they didn't know how to get inside either.

'A visit would be enough.'

One of my abilities, spatial transfer, has a fatal flaw: I can only move to places I've visited before.

So if I can just set foot inside even once.

'It's as good as getting a free pass.'

I should reread the section on the Magical Engineering Academy in Part 2 of Clavis in One Volume.

Just then.

"My Lady."

Verity called me.

"What was that earlier?"

"Earlier?"

"You said you knew the Crown Prince was involved."

"Ah, that?"

I fidgeted with the back of my neck.

How should I explain this?

"It was a feeling..."

"A feeling?"

"The Crown Prince reminded me of the guards."

"The guards?"

Uncle Pex's eyes widened.

"You mean the guards from the exile camp?"

"Yes."

"Did something happen when you went to greet them?"

"Not at all."

The carriage ride to the Deste mansion had been perfectly peaceful.

But occasionally, the expressionless profile of the Crown Prince gave off an ominous vibe.

I remembered what Ian had said.

On the day of the fire at the Crown Princess's palace, the Crown Prince had clicked his tongue in disappointment.

"...He's the kind of person who can kill."

Only then did I realize the true nature of the ominous feeling I'd sensed.

"The Crown Prince is like the guards—given a purpose and an order, he'll kill people without a second thought."

---

That night.

Ian came to the Deste mansion, just in case the undead employees caused a commotion.

I played him the recorded wiretap.

Ian's face twisted in horror.

I offered him genuine comfort.

"At least he's your former boss, not your current one—if he were, you'd be caught up in this too and your life would be ruined. Good thing you were let go early, right?"

"Thanks for the practical comfort."

"Don't mention it."

Whether my joke worked or not, Ian's expression remained serious, but he no longer seemed as pained.

"Is there anything else I need to know?"

"Just a feeling I have..."

I honestly shared what I'd felt upon meeting the Crown Prince.

Listening intently, Ian said.

"Your judgment is good, Habi. That feeling isn't just a feeling. It's best to keep the worst-case scenario in mind."

"What about you, oppa? Do you think the Crown Prince could really kill someone?"

"Yeah."

Ian didn't hesitate long.

"At least, that's my feeling."

Ian was the only one among us who had set foot inside the imperial palace.

So when it came to matters related to the palace, his judgment was more accurate than mine.

Even if it was just a feeling.

'And we both reached the same conclusion.'

What a truly insane nine-year-old.

Ian and I headed to my room.

Ian had dyed his hair black again, like last time, and wore a neat tailcoat like a servant.

We'd both disguised our appearances, but just in case, we only moved through areas with no one around.

"Miss Beni."

Ian called quietly.

"The Grand Duchess is coming from the other direction."

"Oho."

At that, I took a book out of my subspace and handed it to Ian.

Magical Engineering for Children.

Ian frowned.

"When did you get this?"

"Hey, Ice. Watch your tone. And I bought it at a bookstore yesterday."

"Is 'Ice' my—your name?"

"Cold-Blooded Demon Knight, so 'Ice.'"

"......"

Soon, the Grand Duchess appeared from the other direction with her personal maid.

"Oh my, Miss Beni."

The Grand Duchess, recognizing me, lifted the corner of her mouth, then put on a stern expression.

"Children should be in bed early."

"I was reading a book without even a moment to catch my breath. So this servant oppa is taking me to my room."

Adults love well-mannered and clever children, but they adore them even more when they have that uniquely quirky childlike charm.

And sure enough.

"You were reading a book without even a moment to catch your breath?"

The Grand Duchess and her maid found my peculiar use of the phrase 'without even a moment to catch my breath' utterly adorable.

"So, what book were you reading that kept you up so late?"

"This one. Ice, give me the book."

"Yes, miss."

Ian handed me the book.

And I showed it to the Grand Duchess.

The Grand Duchess's eyes widened as she read the title.

"Do you like magical engineering?"

"Yes."

"......"

"......"

Huh?

'Gasp!'

I quietly swallowed my breath.

The Grand Duchess had suddenly started crying.

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