I boldly responded with my name, ensuring that everyone in the room could hear.

“I’m Cien Mirmod!”

The situation unfolded as planned. It was those who pretended not to hear my name that turned their attention in our direction.
It was those who pretended not to hear the booming voice that turned their attention in our direction.

All of this was thanks to the person who had set a trap for me, playing the media game diligently.

While it was negative attention, people were curious about whether my business would really shut down.

“Oh…”

For a moment, intrigued looks were directed towards us.

And the expression of the administrative officer contorted suddenly.
I understood this from his uncomfortable expression and the envelope on the desk with the sender’s name ‘Shinjeon,’ which he didn’t bother to hide.

“Did you bring the guardian?”

‘Oh, this man… Did he take a bribe from Shinjeon to shut down my business?’

My hunch seemed to be right on the mark.

The administrative officer in front of me, Georges, became even colder as soon as he heard my name.

As if hearing my name was a signal for everyone to be on high alert.
“I’m a busy person. If you have nothing important to say, go away.”

“…Yeah? Fine then.”

Every time Georges looked at the urging letter he sent in my name, it seemed that this administrative officer had also taken some money. Or maybe he had been enchanted by Melodia’s charm, I thought…

But facing him in person made it even clearer.

Whatever the case, my expectation that he wouldn’t leave a favorable impression on me was true; he was truly hostile towards me.
I stared at him intently and tilted my head.

“Don’t speak needlessly, huh!”

I’m Sien Mirmord.

I’m not the kind of person who would use honorifics with someone who takes bribes and wears rose-colored glasses.

Georges, seemingly not noticing that I was using informal language, furrowed one eyebrow.

“You’re really trying to apply for guardianship needlessly, huh?”

“I’m applying for guardianship for a good reason!”

I confidently handed him the paper with the list of guardians.
“Isn’t it invalid unless the guardian comes with you?”

“They did come with me…”

In response to my question, he glanced at the door.

But there was still no sign of an ant, not even a single one.

He seemed slightly uneasy but managed to put on a reassuring expression as he scolded me.

“Youngsters who tell lies can’t be trusted. Your cheeks are all red.”

“But it’s not a lie…”

“Then what is it? Oh well, I have to handle the young one’s case all the way to the top. How troublesome.”

“Give me the guardian letter too!”
I handed over the letter that the guardian had personally written, but he didn’t even consider taking it. He waved me away with a flick of his hand as if it was bothersome.

“Well… So, you were trying to find a guardian, huh? You’re indeed a Mirmod as well. However, it’s already over.”

“Why?”

“Just now, a new law was passed in the palace.”

He showed me a crisp piece of paper.

——————————————————————————————————————————

[Children’s Top ‘Open/Closure’ Amendment Approved] [DASH] Children as owners cannot register for opening a business.

[DASH] Due to labor exploitation issues, children applying for business opening will be guided again.

——————————————————————————————————————————

“What’s this?”

I puffed up my cheeks as I accepted the document and read it.

He seemed to have finally noticed my informal tone and angrily exclaimed, narrowing his eyebrows.

“Dare you use informal speech?”

But that wasn’t important.

I shook the document and said to him with pressure.

“What’s this?”
He glared at me, his face turning red and blue as if he were angry, and whispered lowly.

“You’re quite ill-mannered for someone abandoned by their family.”

It was a voice only I could hear.

But it didn’t bother me much. I shrugged and motioned towards him.

“Explain.”

“…Well, forget it. According to the revised bill, Children as owners are no longer allowed to establish businesses from the start.”

“…I see.”
So, the intention was to restrict the establishment of children as owners in the future because there was a possibility of it being exploited for child labor and tax evasion purposes.

It was quite a good bill.

It seemed that they even amended this law in case I tried to find a guardian.

“So, get out. There’s no help for you here.”

He was slowly starting to show me the way out.

It was understandable.

The Mirmod family might be scary, but a little 5-year-old kid who seemed to have been discarded by the Mirmod family wouldn’t be scary at all.
Moreover, judging by the envelope of the temple placed on his desk, he seemed to have profited greatly.

Would I be visible?

“…Phew.”

I pouted my lips as if in a sullen mood.

Then he raised his hand to push me away.

“Now, leave.”

“…I’m not leaving. I have more to say.”

“What [Dash].”

At that moment, the door to the business department swung open wide.

And I turned around, smiling broadly.
At that moment, a woman’s resounding voice filled the room distinctly.

“Why should I leave?”

The clicking of high heels began to approach rapidly in this direction.

Melan Rolo, the most famous pharmacist in the empire and the head of the Rolo family, who is also the manufacturer of the drug ‘Devil’s Herb’ used by everyone.

She, who had volunteered to be my guardian, had arrived at the perfect timing.

“I’ve decided to be the guardian. What’s all this talk about it being closed?”
She stood firmly behind me and began to press the flustered administrator pitifully.

“W-Who are you?”

“Do I need to introduce myself to someone like you?”

The elegant aura of a lady of high standing was clearly evident, and the administrator wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand.

He appeared to be the type who was strong with the weak and weak with the strong.

“Well, for now, registering as a guardian is not possible.”
“I have no intention of wasting my words on a mere junior administrator. Call the supervisor.”

Whether he thought it wasn’t his job or not, he subtly summoned the manager who had been dozing off behind the partition.

“…Manager, please speak. That’s right, Manager, right?”

He glanced at his boss, who was sitting in the manager’s seat.

Then, the manager got up and casually said, “Sure.”
“I apologize, but the registration for a guardian is already closed. It’s Melang, the esteemed pharmacist and the mother-in-law of the Earl. That’s correct. It’s an order from above the palace. It means that it’s a matter that can’t be changed by Melang’s instructions.”

Both of them didn’t immediately crumble, which was fortunate.

The administrator straightened his hunched shoulders and looked at me.

“Alright, kid. It’s a pity, but it’s a closure.”

“You sure about that?”

I smiled broadly and looked back at the door.
At that moment, the door swung wide open, and the sound of countless footsteps echoed. Each step was a distinct clatter of wooden shoes.

Just as planned, they arrived right on cue, precisely when people were paying attention to this side.

I hid a smile of satisfaction and straightened my chin.

And finally.

Elegant ladies, even more imposing than Melang, crowded around me.

“Who dares to trouble our little one?”

“What do you mean, it’s closed?”
“Shall we extend an invitation to Her Majesty the Empress?”

“Do you think we can boldly raise our heads when it’s not even a stone’s throw away?”

A reliable ally on my side!

Ten members of the Refund Expedition, no, the ladies arrived.