“But what are you planning to do with this gold, our baby?”

I glanced at Delphia and smiled brightly.

Then, pressing my index finger firmly to my lips, I said,

“…Shh! It’s a secret.”

Looking straight at Delphia, I made a flower cup gesture.

“I saw it in a magazine!”

Delphia’s expression changed to that of someone seeing the most beautiful thing in the world.

Her hands kept fidgeting, seemingly eager to pinch my cheeks.

But I deliberately ignored her expression and gestures, just smiling all the while.

Then Delphia sent a blurry gaze towards me and whispered.

“Is this… what they call push and pull?”

“Yep!”

“Oh my… I’m so excited.”

I nodded. Leonhart, who was standing beside Delphia, nodded and muttered quietly to himself.

“Creating gold and all, she really is amazing.”

I don’t think I’ve ever created gold, that’s something alchemists do… But I decided not to correct that statement.

“Thank you! I’ll give you some gold later!”

You see, giving carrots to your close associates one by one is also part of the roadmap to becoming a great leader.

[This is the timeline separator]

The next day, the social circle was abuzz with unexpected news. It was such a big issue that even those staying in the social salons were taken aback.

“Have you all heard about it?”

“About what?”

“They say the Mirmode family has launched a new trading company.”

The Mirmode family.

There was no one unaware of the infamous reputation the family had built. It was to the extent that few in social circles dared to utter the name of that family casually.

However…

“…It’s said to be the daughter of that Matthias Mirmode.”

“Ah…”

People sighed softly.

Matthias Mirmode, or his daughter, held a somewhat ambiguous position in social circles.

The heir who had been driven out for committing unforgivable, heinous acts even by family standards.

But who had returned.

One who hadn’t particularly demonstrated any abilities, but whose future was uncertain.

To be precise, it was closer to not knowing how to deal with them.

“She’s only five years old, but already running a trading company.”

“Isn’t that early even for ‘that’ Mirmode family known for their precocious social lives?”

Here in the salon, there was no one bearing the Mirmode family name.

Even knowing there was no one to hear, people lowered their voices and whispered. It was a familiar habit that emerged when dealing with the Mirmodes.

“Read this.”

————————————————————————————

[Front Page] Mirmode Family Establishes New Magic Tool Trading Company

News has it that Lady Sien Mirmode (age 5), the little lady and daughter of Matthias Mirmode, heir to the Mirmode family, has established a magic tool trading company.

The newly established company is said to be looking for magicians to collaborate with.

Compensation to be negotiated.

————————————————————————————

Though the content was simple, it was featured on the front page, and the state of the magazine delivering the information was peculiar. It was published in a gossip magazine that delivers social news.

“Is this for real?”

“Why is it in a gossip magazine?”

News of a trading company being established usually ends up as a brief mention at the bottom of an .

But oddly enough, this magic tool trading company was featured prominently on the front page of a gossip magazine.

Of course, being Mirmode, nothing was impossible, but it was an unusual move.

Moreover, there was another unique point.

“I heard Lady Sien Mirmode herself submitted the content to the gossip magazine.”

“Then does that mean… it’s true?”

“Just what kind of young lady is she?”

Everyone was whispering.

There were positive reactions, and there were negative ones too.

In any case, Sien Mirmode had definitely imprinted her presence on people’s minds.

“What kind of magic tools is she planning to sell?”

“Wasn’t the magic tool sector dominated by other trading companies, or Lord Axel?”

“That’s right.”

Lady Bonnet, Delphia’s spy wedged in the salon, smiled gently and spoke up.

“But I’m really looking forward to it. The first release magic tool model.”

Surely…

“I’ve heard rumors that the young lady is extremely cute and lovable.”

“Have you seen her?”

“I haven’t seen her myself, but that’s what they say. Apparently, she’s the precious treasure of the Mirmode family.”

…Lady Delphia had instructed to say this word for word without changing a thing.

It was a bit cringeworthy, but Bonnet had to carry out her orders.

[This is the timeline separator]

That night, inside the Mirmode mansion.

Delphia, Leonhart, and I smiled with satisfaction as we listened to the information from the salon delivered by Lady Bonnet.

“Are they really all talking about me?”

“Yes. They’re curious about the magic tool trading company. Also, I mentioned about a hundred times that you’re cute, Lady Sien, Lady Delphia.”

“Cute…?”

“I told her to say that. Everyone should know how cute our baby is.”

My cheeks turning red, I put my hands on both cheeks and shook my head.

Originally, the magic tool trading company should have belonged to Melodia.

Come to think of it, it felt a bit uneasy as if I was taking away Melodia’s things one by one.

But Melodia would become a great threat as a saint in the future, while I was just a little kid with nothing.

Taking one or two things should be enough to make it a fair fight.

I nodded, shaking off the uneasiness.

“Any bad reactions too?”

“Ah…”

Seeing Lady Bonnet rolling her eyes, it was obvious there were certainly bad reactions. Probably responses like ‘Mirmode’, ‘daughter of a pushover dad’, ‘just a five-year-old’, and such.

But you know what.

“It’s okay.”

“Really?”

Delphia asked in bewilderment. I nodded at her.

“Yep. I expected it.”

Of course.

The young daughter of the Mirmode family announced she would open a magic tool trading company. There would surely be people already in the magic tool business, those with grudges against Mirmode, and those expressing displeasure at a child doing business.

In this situation, attempts to find fault were bound to happen.

‘Perhaps Axel or Melodia might step up and take some action.’

Those people might try to keep me in check.

Perhaps thinking similarly, Leonhart clenched his fist.

“If that happens, I’ll take care of it.”

“No, it’s okay. I’ll handle it.”

Friedrich Nietzsche said.

“What doesn’t kill me, makes me stronger.”

After saying this coolly, I nodded in agreement with my own words.

But something was odd. It seemed like there was a moment of silence.

I glanced around.

Delphia and Leonhart, their lips quivering, muttered in turn.

“…Where did you learn to say such things?”

“Chestnut!”

Leonhart opened his eyes wide.

“Just how much of a genius are you?”

As I awkwardly pulled at the corners of my mouth, Delphia, as if she couldn’t hold back anymore, hugged me tightly.

“You’re so smart!”

“Can’t… breathe!”

“So pretty and cute and lovely and our baby can do whatever she wants!”

Watching us, Leonhart shook his head.

But even he was twitching his hands.

[This is the timeline separator]

At the same time, the story about Sien’s magic tool trading company spread everywhere.

Of course, Melodia, Gabrielle, and even Axel Mirmode received all these reports.

Naturally, Axel Mirmode was busy dealing with the sudden outbreak of unrest. So whether that happened or not, he was too preoccupied with his sword work to care about a little child’s escapade.

However, things were a bit different on Melodia and Gabrielle’s side.

Melodia, who had returned gloriously to the Empire from the Eastern Continent with a sorcerer, headed to the Senoa Temple where Gabrielle was staying.

And she first checked the items Gabrielle had bought.

Looking at the insignificant cheap items, Melodia narrowed her eyes. She addressed Gabrielle in a kind tone.

“Nothing special, I see.”

“I’m sorry…”

“I heard the arboretum was also up for auction at the auction house.”

“…Yes.”

Gabrielle muttered in a shrinking voice.

Watching her, Melodia spoke as if humming.

“I see. I heard people were in an uproar because that child called Sien bought it, calling her the golden hands who dug out gold from that unremarkable arboretum.”

Gabrielle bit her lip.

Yes, that was right.

Sien Mirmode had bought the arboretum where gold was buried. She was a lucky girl.

But…!

“I, I was going to bid too! But because the budget was small…”

Melodia stared at Gabrielle. The expression stained with immaturity and jealousy was by no means befitting of a saint.

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

“But you lost to Sien Mirmode, didn’t you?”

“If, if only I had more money… Besides, that child seemed to have a strange sorcerer with her! It’s obvious she used some weird sorcery to get in! To lose to such a child, I’m so angry.”

Gabrielle, who had been thoroughly beaten by Sien, kept fuming.

Seeing this, Melodia smiled faintly and said.

“I see. Remember that anger.”

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

“It seems the heir to the Mirmode family should be Axel Mirmode after all. To completely eliminate Mirmode, that is.”

Even Gabrielle looked perplexed at those words.

Suddenly talking about eliminating the Mirmode family. For Saint Melodia to have such thoughts…

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

“Matthias Mirmode is difficult to control, and his daughter Sien Mirmode seems quite smart too. If they become the head of the family, it feels like we won’t be able to handle Mirmode.”

Watching Melodia’s expression, Gabrielle bit her lip.

“Si, Sien Mirmode isn’t smart, she’s just cunning…!”

“I wonder. She seems intelligent at least. At least more than Gabrielle.”

Gabrielle looked at Melodia cautiously.

“Bu, but Lady Melodia, if things go on like this, what if she overshadows me even during the debutante later?”

“That could happen. What should we do to prevent that, Gabrielle?”

“I will… definitely become stronger than her. Then I’ll get Ted back too, and I’ll claim that child called Asian for myself. For sure.”

Melodia smiled brightly and stroked Gabrielle’s hair.

“That’s a very good idea. Oh, and about that magic tool production trading company that Sien Mirmode established…”

“…Wh, what if that trading company becomes famous? If she gains reputation?”

“Don’t worry about such things.”

As Gabrielle’s complexion didn’t improve, Melodia whispered softly.

“Whether that child is the daughter of Mirmode or whatever. Right now, Matthias Mirmode isn’t by her side, is he?”

“…”

“And soon, I will have my saint enthronement ceremony.”

Melodia’s snow-white hand gently stroked Gabrielle’s hair.

“Don’t worry, Gabrielle. I’ll test that child.”

“A test?”

“Yes. I’ll test whether she’s the kind of child who would fail from such… minor adversities. If she’s stronger, I’ll give her stronger trials.”

Gabrielle bit her lip hard.

As expected of Lady Melodia.

It was obvious that a villain like Sien Mirmode would soon perish.

“Oh my, we shouldn’t let my child bleed.”

There was news that the one who had cornered Axel Mirmode was Matthias Mirmode.

Perhaps Matthias might hinder her goals.

If so…

“I’m going to crush the sprouts of the Mirmode family from now on, should we lose strength so soon?”

Melodia smiled gently and stroked Gabrielle’s head.

“Child, we are destined to win.”

That’s how it’s meant to be.

Mirmode will be defeated, and Gabrielle and Melodia will triumph and wear the laurel wreath.

That is the fate set for this world.

Seeming somewhat relieved by Melodia’s words, Gabrielle smiled, “Hehe.”

It was a quite naive yet satisfied-looking smile.