The Youngest Saves the Family with a Key - Chapter 1

The grand corridor leading to the office.

Pitter-patter.

The scurrying steps, like those of a squirrel, suddenly stopped.

Liria quickly glanced at her reflection in the transparent crystal statue.

She looked like a young baby, appearing to be only about five years old.

A round, four-head-high body with soft limbs and a plump baby belly.

Cheeks as white and puffy as marshmallows.

Hands as small as maple leaves.

Adorable feet that kept slipping out of even the smallest shoes.

“I’m really too small, way too small.”

This body still surprises her with its smallness every time she looks at it.

Although her growth is particularly slow, she’s actually seven years old this year.

“When will I ever become an adult?”

The saying that children grow up quickly is purely from the perspective of fully grown adults.

Today was the day of reckoning.

She had gathered as much evidence as she could to tattle on the trashy deeds of her grandfather’s children.

It took over half a year just to collect the information.

Even so, she was undeniably nervous and worried.

As for her grandfather.

The iron-blooded Grand Duke, from whom not a drop of blood would come if pricked.

The legendary Archmage with the power to wipe out half the empire’s population with a snap of his fingers.

Not content with turning a magic family into the empire’s wealthiest in an instant, he was a born businessman who struck gold in every venture he touched, from mines to ships to magic railways.

The current head of the thousand-year-old Roberg family.

Vladimir von Roberg.

‘…Will such a grandfather believe what I say?’

As Liria tilted her head, her downy light pink hair fluttered.

‘No. You can do it, Liria.’

Liria clenched her tiny chestnut-like fist and affirmed with her large lime-green eyes wide open.

It might be difficult, but if she could just gain her grandfather’s support, the road ahead would be smooth sailing.

Above all, Liria had ‘that ability’, so she was determined to capture her grandfather’s heart.

As the resolute Liria looked ahead, a man with a gloomy impression appeared before her.

Long black hair and glowing red eyes. It was Osdel, the eldest son among her grandfather’s trashy children.

And one of the final targets Liria needed to eliminate.

A person of interest who would turn Roberg into an infamous villain family in the future and not hesitate to commit all sorts of evil deeds.

“…Don’t loiter around. This is no place for a child like you.”

His low, cool voice alone instilled a sense of unease in the listener.

“I’m here because I have business too”, Liria said, gripping the hem of her dress tightly.

“What business could a thing like you have? The office where the family head is present is a place only for direct adult family members. Well, I suppose a fearless child like you needs to be taught what that means, doesn’t she?”

Osdel smiled at Liria, sending a chill down her spine. As his fingers moved, black shadows began to creep out from the walls.

Osdel was skilled in dark attribute magic, particularly in manipulating shadows.

The shadows gradually grew larger and darker, beginning to approach Liria.

Swish swish swish!

“W-what are you suddenly doing? Eek! Help, some…!”

“Shh.”

Osdel, who had suddenly approached, stroked Liria’s head with his gloved hand.

“You shouldn’t make a fuss.”

Feeling a chill from his touch, Liria stepped back and thought.

Although attack magic was forbidden in the mansion, it seemed he had put up a barrier around them since no one was coming.

‘Isn’t he being too harsh on a child?’

Well, Osdel was the type to cruelly use even children. Furthermore, he openly despised and envied Liria’s father, Classid, the youngest sibling. This explained his callous treatment of Liria as well.

Because Classid’s magic was once stronger than his own, despite being the eldest son.

By now, the shadow that was initially human-sized had grown so large that it filled the hallway.

The angry eyes and mouth that had formed in the shadow opened wide towards Liria.

‘…Wasn’t he just trying to scare me?’

Grrrr…

If she stayed like this, it felt like she would be swallowed whole by the approaching shadow monster exuding an overwhelming presence.

‘No.’

Liria slowly backed away. Suddenly, feeling something squirm in her chest, she clutched at it and collapsed on the floor.

“Ah… please stop. I, I can’t breathe…!”

Come to think of it, the air had been thick with suffocating mana for a while now.

Osdel, looking down at Liria and clicking his tongue, muttered with a twisted smile.

“Liria, you’ll clearly understand what happens when you act disrespectfully towards adults, won’t you?”

Just then, footsteps and a presence were heard from the far end of the corridor. It was probably the aide guarding the office.

“…Oh no!”

Whoosh!

Frowning, Osdel instantly withdrew both the shadow and the barrier and disappeared with a quick teleportation.

As Osdel vanished, Liria got up, dusting herself off, and looked down at her chest.

“…Ah, I thought I was going to die from the itching. My acting was pretty good, wasn’t it?”

“Beep beep.”

Pop, only the head of a white, fluffy ball of fur poked out from Liria’s dress pocket.

This tiny creature with black eyes, nose, mouth, and even whiskers was the key spirit contracted to Liria.

It was biting down on a golden key in its mouth. It probably meant for her to use it against Osdel.

“Sip beep!”

“It’s not time yet.”

Shaking her head, Liria gently stroked the ferret’s head fur.

“…Beep.”

Seemingly disappointed, it retreated back into the pocket with the key.

Though a bit temperamental and not yet able to communicate properly, it was a diligent creature guarding the key.

Everyone born into the Roberg family had magical power and manifested magic before the age of seven.

There were separate circumstances for contracting with the key spirit, though.

Tap tap tap!

One of the Grand Duke’s aides approached and asked.

“Miss Liria? What are you doing here?”

“Ah, I got lost on my way to the office. I have something to give to Grandfather.”

“I see. Please come this way first.”

As the aide guided her, Liria trotted along behind. Walking briskly on short legs to the end of the corridor, they finally reached the large door of the family head’s office.

“If it’s something for the family head…”

“Ah, just a moment, please.”

Liria rustled around in the bag on her back and took something out.

Then she handed the aide a thick bundle of documents she had carefully prepared.

“I’d like Grandfather to see this.”

「The precious funds of Roberg are leaking steadily.」

Along with such a note.

If it was her grandfather, who valued the family more than his own life, he would surely meet with Liria.

As expected, not long after, she was able to have a private audience with her grandfather.

The Grand Duke, seated at the mahogany desk, wore a cool and impassive expression.

With an icy demeanor as if carved from ice, a massive build like a great mountain, ash-gray silver hair, and blood-red eyes as vivid as garnets.

Facing what truly seemed like a languid and seasoned predator, Liria felt all strength leave her body.

Her tiny hands, gripping the hem of her skirt, began to sweat involuntarily.

“…Who dared to order you to investigate such things?”

The Grand Duke’s gaze, pointing at the thick documents, was cold enough to cut flesh.

“…W-well, that…”

Liria swallowed hard before speaking.

‘It’s scary, but I can’t show that I’m afraid.’

What Grandfather hated most was weakness and cowardice.

Being brazen would be better.

Suppressing her pounding heart, Liria gathered her courage and spoke.

“You’ll need time to verify the contents of those documents anyway, right? So, can I have a snack first before answering, Grandfather?”

“…Such a tiny thing, yet quite gutsy.”

The Grand Duke, narrowing his brows, spoke to the aide standing behind him.

“Bring something suitable for the child to eat.”

A while later, the table in the family head’s office was set with incongruous items like milk, savory butter cookies, and cream cake. It was a scene that would never occur normally.

Of course, the most out of place was the girl sitting curled up on the sofa, swinging her legs.

He wondered if his youngest son had given birth to something other than a human child.

Much later, after confirming the authenticity of the documents, Grand Duke Roberg was overwhelmed by anger strong enough to make him dizzy.

“…Who is it!”

Crunch.

The armrest he was gripping crumpled miserably.

In the silent office, as everyone froze unable to move, the Grand Duke’s cold red eyes narrowed, and his thunderous voice echoed through the room.

“What brainless maggot dared to do such a thing?”

Whoever was pointed out as the culprit this time would not be spared. He was a Grand Duke with a resolute nature who would cut off even his own flesh and blood if necessary.

He approached his young granddaughter who had reported this incident, one step at a time.

“So, which of my four idiot children dared to deliberately sully the Roberg name, hm?”

Liria held up three tiny fingers to the Grand Duke’s ear and whispered.

“Three of them.”

“……”

Seeing Liria answer so brightly, the Grand Duke’s expression hardened seriously, then relaxed.

“Oh, the elder three! That’s everyone except my father, Grandfather.”

“You wouldn’t snitch on your own father, you little fluff. Who’s trying to protect whom? Anyway, you… you’re quite something.”

At her grandfather’s narrowed gaze, Liria could only smile back.

‘I have quite a lot to protect, Grandfather. Because, you see, I know the future of this entire family.’

It was a year ago that Liria realized this world was inside a book.