But Melodia is a saint who will be a big threat in the future, and I’m just a little kid with nothing.

I can take a few things, and that should be enough of a fight.

I nodded, trying to shake off the uneasiness.

“Not the best reaction, is it?”

“Uh… yeah…”
Seeing Lady Bonnet rolling her eyes, it was clear that there would be a negative reaction. People would probably react with comments like “Mirmod,” “Daddy’s girl,” or “She’s just five years old.”

But you know what?

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Really?”

Delphia asked in confusion. I nodded at her.

“Yeah, I expected it.”

Of course.
The young daughter of the Mirmod family declared that she would open the Madogu Upper Tier. People who were already involved in the Madogu business, those who held ill feelings towards the Mirmod family, and those who were uncomfortable with a child running a business would surely express their displeasure.

In such a situation, it was only natural for there to be some criticism.

“Perhaps Axel or Melodia might step forward and take some action,” I thought.

These individuals could potentially try to restrain me.
Whether they had similar thoughts or not, Leonhardt clenched his fist tightly.

“If it comes to that, I’ll handle it.”

“No, it’s fine. I’ll take care of it,” Friedrich Nietzsche said.

“The pain that doesn’t kill me only makes me stronger.”

I stated elegantly, then nodded in agreement with my words.

But something felt strange. It was as if everything had become momentarily static.

I glanced around my surroundings.
Delphia and Leonhardt mumbled with their lips pursed, taking turns to whisper.

“…Where did you learn such things?”

“Dear me!”

Leonhardt’s eyes widened significantly.

“How much of a genius are you, exactly?”

I awkwardly pulled at the corner of my mouth, and Delphia couldn’t bear it any longer, enveloping me tightly.

“You’re too smart!”

“Quiet…!”

“You’re so beautiful, cute, and lovely, and I want to do everything with our baby!”
Leonhardt, who had been watching us, finally nodded in approval.

But he, too, was clutching his hand.

At the same time, news about Sien’s Madogu Upper was spreading everywhere.

Of course, all of this was also received by Melodia, Gabrielle, and Axel Mirmod.
Of course, Axel Mirmod was busy dealing with the sudden outbreak of the conflict. So, for one reason or another, he was either trying to forget about the little one’s escapade or was fully focused on wielding his sword.

However, it was different with Melodia and Gabrielle.

Melodia, who had brought a sorcerer from the Eastern Continent and returned triumphantly to the Empire, headed to the Senoa Temple where Gabrielle was staying.
And Gabrielle checked the items she had bought.

Melodia, who had been looking at the rather cheap and worthless items, raised an eyebrow. She spoke to Gabrielle in an affectionate tone.

“It doesn’t seem like much.”

“I’m sorry…”

“I heard even the arboretum was auctioned off.”

“…Yes.”

Gabrielle muttered in a hesitant voice.

Looking at her like that, Melodia said with a humming tone.
“Yes. People went crazy when that child, Sienna, bought it. They called her the golden hand that mined gold from that unremarkable arboretum.”

Gabrielle bit her lip.

Yes, that was true.

Sienna Mirmod had purchased the arboretum where gold was buried. She was a lucky girl.

But…!

“I-I wanted to bid too! But my budget was limited…”
Melodia stared at Gabrielle intently. Her expression, marred by jealousy and resentment, was far from that of a priestess.

She gently whispered, as if pointing out Gabrielle’s mistake.

“But Sienna Mirmod got it from you.”

“If only I had more money… Besides, that girl, she seemed to be with a strange sorcerer! It’s clear she used some weird magic to win! Losing to someone like her makes me so angry.”
Gabrielle, who had been frustrated by Sienna, continued to complain.

Seeing that, Melodia grinned and said, “That’s right. Remember that anger.”

She gently stroked Gabrielle’s hair and muttered to herself.

“It seems like Axel Mirmod would be better as the Mirmod family’s successor. To completely get rid of Mirmod, that’s what it takes.”

Even Gabrielle looked puzzled at those words.
To suddenly eliminate the Mirmod family. The fact that Saint Melodia is thinking such a thing…

However, Melodia didn’t pay much attention to Gabrielle’s bewildered expression. Her gentle murmuring continued.

“Matthias Mirmod is hard to control, and his daughter Sienna Mirmod seems quite intelligent. If they become the heads, it seems like we won’t be able to handle Mirmod.”
Gabrielle bit her lip while looking at Melodia’s expression.

“S-Sienna Mirmod isn’t just intelligent; she’s cunning…!”

“Well, she does seem intelligent. At least more so than Gabrielle.”

Gabrielle glanced at Melodia.

“B-But, Melodia, if we keep going like this, what will we do if she outshines us even when we debut as Tants?”
“That could happen, right? To prevent that, what should we do, Gabrielle?”

“We must… become stronger than her. That way, we’ll also recover Tait, and I’ll claim Acidra as well. Absolutely.”

Melodia smiled cheerfully while stroking Gabrielle’s hair.

“It’s a really good idea. Oh, and about the production Madogu Top that Sienna Mirmod established…”

(Note: Some terms and names in this text may be specific to the story’s context and may require further clarification for a broader audience.)
“…What if that Top becomes famous? If she gains a reputation.”

“Don’t worry about that.”

Seeing Gabrielle’s complexion not improving, Melodia whispered gently.

“Whether that child is Mirmod’s daughter or anything else. Right now, Matthias Mirmod is not around.”

“…”

“And soon, I will have the Coronation Ceremony as a Saint.”

Melodia’s pure white hand gently stroked Gabrielle’s hair.
“Don’t worry, Gabrielle. I will test that child.”

“A test?”

“Yes. Um… I will test if she can withstand such minor setbacks. If she’s stronger, I will give her tougher trials.”

Gabrielle bit her lip tightly.

It was Melodia, as always.

Scum like Sien Mirmod would surely die soon.

“Oh, my child shouldn’t shed blood.”
There was news that Matthias Mirmod, the one who cornered Axel Mirmod, was making his move.

Perhaps Matthias would thwart her goals.

If that’s the case…

“In the future, we’ll trample the Mirmod family’s roots, so there’s no need to lose hope from the beginning.”

Melodia smiled gently as she stroked Gabrielle’s hair.

“Sweetie, we’re already winning.”

It was indeed the case.
Mirmod would be defeated, and Gabrielle and Melodia would take control of the Academy.

It was their predetermined destiny in the world.

Gabrielle’s heart seemed to lighten a bit at Melodia’s words, and she chuckled.

It was a rather innocent yet satisfying smile.