“Oh! Kiki is also a target? Can it be anyone? But what’s this huge number…?”

Anyway, it seemed that to obtain a new key, she needed to open more than just one person’s heart.

It was positive that Grandfather’s heart was opening, but the number beside it bothered her.

If it was 2/4, then fulfilling it four times seemed to be the condition.

‘What have I done twice to open Grandfather’s heart?’

No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t figure out what those two instances were.

Kiki climbed onto Liria’s knee and held out a paw.

“Kukku.”

Liria asked the little creature who had adorably spun around in place.

“What? You want beef jerky, right?”

“Pit pit!”

“……”

Liria took out three pieces of beef jerky from her bag and gave them to Kiki.

Then Kiki’s heart status changed in real time. 48, 49, 50.

[The target’s heart is opening. (50/1000)]

“Huh? What, so beef jerky was the answer. Aha… the number increases when you give what the other person wants. Since what Grandfather wants has already been partially fulfilled, I can figure out the rest slowly. But I have no hint about what Father wants.”

There wasn’t even a number.

It seemed to be because his heart was locked.

“First, I need to find out the cause and change his heart.”

***

-Your Grace plans to convene the family assembly at the end of next month. Please let me know if you will attend so I can reflect it.

“Of course, I’ll attend.”

After closing the communication orb from the Duke’s aide Buena, Osdel slammed his fist on the desk.

“Damn it. Why a family assembly at this time of all times?”

He was in the middle of diverting and moving funds from the Roberg bank.

It seemed he would have to pause the work he was doing.

What made him more uneasy was that Father had ordered the family assembly immediately after Classid, who had been in limbo, regained consciousness.

If the funds didn’t go through now, several things would get tangled up in succession.

“…How about it, shall we cancel and recover the funds that are being transferred?”

“First, return everything. Restore it as if nothing happened!”

“…But the payment for the experimental investment…”

“The experiment must continue. Without fail!”

Osdel’s slender eyes narrowed even more.

“You know they only move after confirming the investment funds.”

“…Who doesn’t know that? I mean you should stall for time.”

He roughly swept back his hair and added.

“We’ll discuss that matter again after the family assembly is over.”

The aide who received the order bowed his head and left.

Osdel quietly watched the mana stone box being transported through the gate.

“Tsk… If only we could find a magic stone deposit, things would be much easier in many ways.”

Among the many things he was currently pursuing, the magic stone development experiment investment was a fairly big project.

The number of mana stones that one magician could refine and create in a day was only twenty-four.

To operate the huge diamond-shaped gate platform of the magic railway normally, it easily consumed thousands of mana stones a month.

However, magic stones that had been formed while absorbing natural mana over a long period of time were different in purity and quality.

The value of one was a hundred times that of a mana stone.

No, honestly, the price was whatever you named.

The amount of mana it contained was enormous, from at least dozens to hundreds of times more.

If that experiment succeeded… not only would he obtain large funds, but everything would go smoothly.

Then Father would acknowledge his abilities too.

Not only would he build experimental laboratories everywhere, but he would also be the one to sit in the position of head of the Roberg family in the future.

Furthermore, if he could awaken the Eternal that he held in his hand…

‘Wouldn’t I be able to control not only Roberg but also this country in the future?’

Osdel licked his lips greedily as he suddenly recalled the boy’s blue eyes.

“…That was undoubtedly a trace of the Eternal.”

He even had a feeling that it would be very powerful.

The strongest ability in the world.

It surpassed magic and more.

Just imagining how wonderful it would be if he could have such power under his feet was thrilling.

He would be able to achieve even more than his father, Duke Roberg.

He wouldn’t know that the eldest son of Roberg had such dark intentions.

Pah!

Osdel instantly teleported to the townhouse in the imperial capital using shadow magic.

Then he flung open both doors of the empty head of the family’s office.

An owl perched on a staff.

The head’s seat, decorated with the family crest symbolizing Roberg, was a place where only the head of the family could sit.

Osdel sat in that seat without a moment’s hesitation.

He felt as if he could command the world right now.

A satisfied smile spread across his lips.

“I should visit that one again as soon as I return.”

Just then, Osdel’s communication orb lit up once more.

-Lord Osdel, I just heard the news that the family assembly will be held. Would you visit my territory this time? The territory’s revenue is so lucrative that I’d like to host and treat you. And my children are also interested in that mysterious research, they say.

The owner of the coquettish voice was Viscount Jade.

Shortly after, Natasha’s voice could be heard pestering him from nearby.

-Dad, stop beating around the bush and just tell him! I also want to support that research.

Osdel’s eyes gleamed softly as he heard the father and daughter speak.

“Of course, I should stop by your estate, Lord Jade. Your contribution is significant. Since we’re working on this together, naturally your children should benefit too.”

To successfully awaken the Eternal in the future, Osdel had been researching black magic on ordinary children for some time.

When a black magic seal was implanted in ordinary children, they manifested new magic as painful emotions exploded. This was similar to the process of awakening an Eternal awakener.

However, magic artificially manifested through black magic was an illusion without substance, in other words, fake.

Even though it was fake magic, it was enough to fascinate people as an optical illusion.

Viscount Jade, who had directly witnessed the remarkable effect with his own eyes, not only provided financial support for the experiment but also provided test subjects. He was truly a grateful existence.

***

Noah’s routine was simple.

Like any other day, he would go up to the deep mountains to gather wood as soon as he woke up, and when he returned, he would have breakfast with the leftovers from Humbletine’s meal.

Next came household chores and odd jobs.

Even after finishing those, he would get hungry again, but no more meals were provided.

This was because Humbletine usually had his remaining meals at the tavern.

Once, when he was too hungry, he asked if they could pack leftover food from the tavern, but all he got in return was a beating and confinement.

Actually, after finishing all the odd jobs in the afternoon, there wasn’t much to do, so he would wear a blindfold and gently stroll around.

Last fall, he had picked up a small, worn wooden sword that someone had discarded, and he occasionally swung it around.

He had never properly learned, but he had carefully observed how Humbletine used a sword when hunting animals.

So whenever he had time, he would swing the wooden sword and work up a sweat like this.

After that, sometimes this boring and terrible daily life would feel a little better.

Today too, after finishing his odd jobs, Noah went outside the mountain lodge and opened the door.

The sun seemed to have lengthened as it was still bright.

It was far from sunset. He would have to wait until sunset to eat something the next morning.

Growl.

At the sound from his stomach, Noah reflexively thought of that child’s basket.

But yesterday, the day before, and the day before that, the cookie basket had been empty.

Nevertheless, the basket was the only place he could rely on and hope for.

Noah rushed over mindlessly and stared intently at the basket placed in front of the tree shade.

He felt a surge of spite at the seemingly empty basket.

“Tch, liar.”

Are you really coming at all?