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Chapter 42 - Crash

"What the heck is that...?"

The expressions of the group instantly soured.

What was that giant, earth-colored balloon-like object?

They put something like that to welcome the Empress?

Has Vermont lost their minds?

[Kayaoo! Is this good enough?]

"...What is that, Vermont?"

"Oh. You saw it. That is the mascot of our city."

"Mascot...?"

"Yes, a sort of representative character. Just because a road opens doesn\'t mean people will suddenly flock to Vermont. But if rumors spread about a strange living creature, it could attract attention."

"Are you aiming for tourism income? I can\'t imagine many people coming all the way here just to see that… thing."

The Empress\'s expression also soured, just like everyone else\'s.

But Aslan, standing beside her, seemed as happy as a fish in water, eagerly explaining.

Watching this bizarre scene, Irene stood frozen.

\'What did I just see?\'

A faint, fleeting smile from the Empress.

It wasn\'t a scornful or mocking smile.

It was the kind of smile she might wear while reading a romance novel alone in her room, one that she couldn\'t help but let slip out.

Only Irene saw that smile.

The next moment, the Empress\'s face twisted into a mask of anger, just like everyone else\'s.

\'Did I see it wrong? Was it an illusion?\'

Irene hurriedly rubbed her eyes, again and again.

It didn\'t make sense.

The emotionless Iron Empress smiling at such a ridiculous monster?

And with a face that looked like she might burst out laughing?

It had to be a mistake.

It must have been.

Even as she shook her head, trying to convince herself, the Empress\'s smile lingered in Irene\'s mind.

It wasn\'t a mistake!

"Your Majesty. Shall I order that hideous thing removed immediately..."

"Silence. The decision to remove or keep that creature rests with Aslan Vermont. Let him do as he pleases."

"Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you for your grace."

"...Stand up. If you keep bowing, your clothes will wear out."

Could it be that Aslan\'s plan actually worked...?

Irene was dumbfounded.

Her thoughts drifted back to the previous day.

.

.

.

"Aslan, have you lost your damn mind?"

"No bad words in the Vermont household!"

"..."

Huh.

Irene was momentarily speechless, shocked by Charlotte\'s cheeky interruption.

Did this tiny, green-haired brat just cut me off?

Just as her temper flared and she was about to raise her hand, Sylvia made a deliberate sound by unsheathing her sword.

Unlike the last time when she had been beaten senseless, Sylvia now radiated a formidable amount of mana.

She couldn\'t win this time.

"Shit."

"No cursing!"

"...Sheesh."

Irene clicked her tongue and stepped back.

Now was not the time for unnecessary power struggles.

She needed to find a way to survive.

Because of the crazy things Aslan had done, she was at risk of being dragged off and beheaded...

"We\'ll use the kids and Earthy. That should do it."

"Explain in detail. Using the kids, fine, but winning over the Empress with that brown monster? That makes no sense. Is there some hidden meaning?"

"Nope. It\'s exactly as it sounds. The Empress likes cute things, so seeing that will make her very happy."

"What the...?"

Irene almost exploded with anger but gritted her teeth and held it in.

Fine. Let\'s say the Empress likes cute things.

Even though it sounds like complete nonsense, and I want to turn Aslan into a bloody mess right now, let\'s assume it makes sense.

"That\'s supposed to be cute? Who would find that hideous thing cute?"

That\'s secondary, but really, that\'s cute?

That monster?

Are your eyes okay?

[Kyaaaaah! How dare you call me hideous!]

"That\'s right! You\'re too much! Our Earthy is very cute!"

[Yeah! I\'m cute! ...Huh? What!? Did I hear that right!? I\'m cute!!!]

"Cute or not, it\'s true, Earthy! Accept it! Love yourself as you are!"

[Kyaaaah!!!]

The Great Spirit screamed at Charlotte\'s sharp retort.

Throbbing.

Irene felt a migraine coming on.

Other than children, the only ones who would find such a thing cute would be mentally disturbed people suffering from severe affection deprivation due to the harshness of reality and their delicate inner selves.

"You look like you just bit into something awful."

"Wouldn\'t you? Listening to this nonsense the day before welcoming the Empress..."

"Just trust me. What\'s there to lose?"

"Failure means execution, you lunatic."

"Either way, can you handle the reception on your own?"

"...Not really. Besides, you\'re the Young Lord. It would be strange for the Empress to be hosted by your sister instead of you, and it might even cost you the Count title."

Right. You get it.

So you know how to act, don\'t you? Aslan\'s expression seemed to say.

Irene\'s lips quivered, but she couldn\'t say a word.

For now, the only way out was to follow Aslan\'s "plan."

"This is driving me crazy..."

Irene turned away, signaling she wouldn\'t interfere anymore.

"Julia. Any ideas on how to make that thing cuter?"

"Hmm. Earthy was cuter when it was bigger. Maybe we should make it bigger again?"

"Alright. We\'ll go with that. Use your magic to enlarge it and make it greet the Empress."

"A big Earthy...! So cute!"

[Kyaaak! What are you talking about! Who said I cared about the Emperor or anything, or the leader of the human world! I have no intention of helping you with your hospitality!]

The Great Spirit squirmed and yelled from under Charlotte\'s arm.

Aslan squatted down and made eye contact with the spirit.

[Ugh!?]

In that moment, a chilling sensation washed over the Great Spirit, freezing it in place.

It was a look that conveyed a sense of dread and fear.

"Let\'s make a deal."

[Wh-Whatat? I don\'t want anything from the human world.]

"It\'s not that. If you follow our instructions for one day, I\'ll send you back to the mountains. After that, we won\'t interfere with whatever you do."

[Is that true? If so, I\'ll cooperate!]

The Great Spirit quickly agreed, its attitude turning submissive.

Sylvia tilted her head in confusion.

That promise seemed impossible to keep...

"Young master, are you serious? If you release the Great Spirit back into the mountains, the road will be ruined by earthquakes."

"Do we have to release Earthy?"

"Both of you, hold on."

Aslan smiled meaningfully.

Seeing this, Charlotte clamped her mouth shut, waiting.

She knew the young master had a trick up his sleeve.

"Alright, let\'s do this."

Julia took a deep breath and cast her spell.

A pale light enveloped the great spirit\'s body.

The light grew, enlarging it to a size much bigger than the mansion.

[Kaah! I\'m back to my original size!]

The light faded, revealing the giant Great Spirit.

It roared, showing off its might.

[Oh no!?]

But then it stumbled.

Unable to maintain its balance, it flailed its arms and fell backward with a thud.

Flop, flop, flop.

The Great Spirit couldn\'t get up, waving its short arms helplessly.

[What\'s happening!!!]

"Its size makes it hard to control its body. It\'s now affected by gravity."

[Help me up! Immediately!]

"Oh? What will you give me in return? If you want something, you have to give something, right?"

[Damn you! You knew this would happen from the start! How can you humans be so deceitful!!!]

The Great Spirit howled.

I\'ve been tricked again!

This guy is trying to get something out of me!

"Let\'s modify our agreement. If you follow our instructions, we\'ll send you back to the mountains after ten years. How about that?"

[Ten years? That\'s nothing! I\'ll agree! Now help me up!]

The GreatSpirit quickly accepted the deal, its face lighting up with joy.

Sylvia tilted her head again.

"Even after ten years, the road will still be at risk."

"Think about it. It\'s ten years. We had one chance to modify the agreement just now. In ten years, there will be many more chances. We can keep extending it forever."

"Oh."

"And even if we do send it back, it doesn\'t matter. We can sell the old road cheaply and build a new one in another mountain."

"Oh."

Sylvia\'s worries vanished.

This man was a bona fide villain.

[The Evil God \'Kali\' is fervently taking notes on your devilish plans!]

Aslan, feeling proud, wiped his nose and snapped his fingers at Irene.

"Sis, it\'s up to you. You\'re the only one who can lift that thing."

"Dammit..."

Irene sighed and stood up.

With a gesture, a black form emerged from behind her.

"...!"

Recognizing the familiar presence, Sylvia stepped back, gripping her sword.

Slither, slither.

It was clear.

The presence was a fragment of the giant Evil God that had demolished the mansion\'s wall that night...

\'The size and shape match perfectly!\'

Sylvia gritted her teeth, ready for battle.

The Evil God, Laura\'s fragment, manifested.

"...Huh?"

But...

Was it always like this?

Did it look terrifying only because it was night?

Its appearance seemed unexpectedly shabby, leaving Sylvia speechless.

[Urgh... there!]

[Thank you.]

Irene helped the Great Spirit up, who thanked her with a nod.

Sylvia relaxed, lowering her sword.

Had she really been terrified of this?

It was a moment where what little pride Sylvia had left was completely shattered.