***

During the day, Leticia usually held the Grand Duke’s hand.

Astrid, perhaps vividly remembering that the Grand Duke had once tried to kill Leticia, tended to avoid leaving the two alone and preferred to stay with them.

As a result, during the day, Astrid, the Grand Duke, and Leticia often stayed together as a group of three.

Meanwhile, the actual children, Chamuka and Tan, were busy fighting away from their parents’ eyes. Though in reality, most fights ended with Chamuka subduing Tan.

Today, like any other day, Leticia was sitting on one of the Grand Duke’s arms, exploring the valle,y when she glanced back at Chamuka.

She could see Tan, who had become covered in dirt as if he had been rolling on the ground, trying to bite Chamuka but getting hit on the head instead.

‘That one is his actual younger brother, hmm…’

It doesn’t look like he cares for him at all.

Leticia wondered if the people of Basilinte, including Chamuka, were even capable of caring for someone out of genuine affection rather than necessity.

Ah, of course, Tan was an exception here.

Because he wasn’t fully matured as a person yet.

Leticia shook her head, recalling what Colin had said.

Honestly, it was more likely that Colin had misunderstood. There was no way Chamuka would think badly of Colin just because he seemed friendly with her.

Chamuka was generally unkind to everyone around him.

Of course, Leticia was an exception, but that was because she was necessary for breaking the Basilinte curse.

‘That’s probably why he misunderstood.’

Thinking that she should tell Colin about Chamuka’s personality later, Leticia pushed aside what Colin had said.

Instead, she focused on the increasingly thick blue streams of light on the ground.

It seemed the water source, the origin of the water vein, would soon be discovered. The days of exploration had not been in vain.

Leticia looked into the distance and muttered.

“I think the water source is about an hour’s walk away.”

Leticia’s guess was correct. Before long, she arrived at the water source of this valley.

However, while it was a water source that only Leticia could recognize, to others’ eyes, it was just the same wasteland they had been seeing.

“I think we need to dig here. About… as deep as Your Grace’s height.”

Ferik put Leticia down and grabbed a shovel. Then he began digging without hesitation where Leticia had pointed.

Watching the inside of the rapidly deepening hole intently, Leticia said.

“The rest of you should go up the valley. There’s more water than expected, so if you stay here, you might fall into the water.”

“Really? Then let’s go up.”

After digging a hole as deep as himself in an instant, Ferik wiped his hands clean and picked up Leticia.

At the same time, Gaien tried to pick up Isana but was scolded, so he lifted Chamuka and Tan instead.

Since Colin hadn’t come along due to being wary of Chamuka, Astrid supported Isana.

As they were about to go up, Leticia waved her hands.

“No, no, leave me behind!”

Ferik asked.

“You want us to leave you alone here while we’re all up there?”

“Yes. Oh, it would be even better if you put me in that hole before you go.”

“….”

A moment of silence enveloped the group.

Isana muttered in a worried voice.

“Isn’t that like burying someone alive…?”

Leticia hastily shook her head.

“That’s not it. I’ll be fine. I won’t die even if I fall into the water. Right, mentor? …Mentor?”

When she looked at Astrid, who wasn’t answering, Astrid hesitantly replied.

“That’s true, but… you never know. The soil might suddenly collapse, or you might fall into the water.”

What nonsense is this?

Leticia had a constitution that made it impossible for her to die by drowning even if she wanted to. She had already confirmed that she could breathe underwater.

But why was Astrid, who had clearly confirmed this with her, worried?

And why were the others agreeing with that concern?

“That won’t happen, mentor.”

“We don’t know that for sure. Just in case, I should at least stay with you.”

“Mentor, you can’t use magic right now. What are you saying?”

“But!”

After a long argument, Leticia finally managed to send the others up.

However, they refused to the end to put her in the hole, saying that the soil might collapse and trap her.

Finally left alone in front of the hole Ferik had dug, Leticia ignored those who were sending intense gazes from behind and put her hand into the hole.

A blue light filled the hole brightly.

Leticia closed her eyes quietly and felt the pulsation of the crouching water.

Astrid had taught Leticia that ‘magic is using magical power to command non-human entities.’

But the more Leticia learned about magic, the more difficult that ‘command’ became for her.

Why do I have to command them?

“Would you rise for me?”

Like this, they listen when I just ask.

Leticia opened her eyes.

Water was rising from inside the hole. Faster and faster. As if stretching vigorously.

The water vein surged, and the ground shook.

Eventually, the massive ‘river’ that had been hiding underground for a long time, crouched, rose up.

Leticia scraped out her magical power to the limit.

So that her voice could reach the ‘river.’ So that it wouldn’t go back to sleep.

It was a magical power that had never been insufficient since her awakening.

Even while draining magical power into the source of the curse in Astrid’s experiments, Leticia had never felt strained.

But now, it was definitely challenging.

Her blood vessels felt like they were tearing as she scraped out her magical power to the limit.

Soon, her nose started bleeding. A metallic taste also filled her mouth.

But Leticia wiped the blood from under her nose and continued talking to the ‘river.’

Let me prove that I’m truly necessary for this land. That everything given to me is not a mistake!

“Stop!”

Startled by the tearing scream, Leticia looked up.

Astrid was rolling down the valley while shouting.

“You can stop now! Don’t do it!”

Her face was colored with worry, even desperation.

Leticia blankly stared at Astrid and those who were running after her.

Suddenly, she thought.

That she had made the right choice in choosing these people.

That she wanted to be a useful tool for them.

At that moment, the water that had been rising in the hole overflowed.

The amount of water that had been hiding beneath this dry wasteland was revealed as the valley filled with water in an instant.

The river began to flow.

Leticia, submerged in the overflowing water, watched those who had been running toward her.

She could feel them being swept away by the sudden water and submerged.

Only then did she snap to attention and head toward them.

The absurd situation of the owners of a land suffering from drought for over 300 years drowning must not happen.