Chapter 178.1

First chapter of Conspiracy Arc

Chapter 178.1. The Baby Has Been Born

-Miu’s POV-

The popular topic of conversation, the beautiful girl Takano Miu, was wandering the hospital’s corridors.

The story of Miu easily defeating Washizu at Takano County’s New Year’s gathering had become a rumor and spread.

People began to speculate whether she was pretending to be a fool, just like Oda Nobunaga in the past, and they started paying attention to Miu.

During the New Year’s gathering at the imperial palace, when they saw her freely acting and getting scolded by her papa, people started questioning if she was that intelligent or if it was her father’s strategy. Some even thought it was all an act. The rumors about Miu only grew stronger.

Takano Miu, caught amid those rumors, couldn’t calm down.

With her glossy gray hair fluttering and her petite figure wandering around. She occasionally turned her face towards the end of the corridor, showing a worried expression with her deep blue eyes.

Her mama had gone into labor, so they came to the hospital. That’s why Mii-chan was worried.

She looked so serious as she wandered around that Ranko-san asked if she was hungry. Nimue brought some potato chips as a snack, but Ranko-san hit her when she opened the bag and started munching on them.

“I wonder if everything will be okay… Are you sure everything will be fine?”

“Stay calm, Miu-chan. I’m sure they’ll be born safely.”

“Yeah… I should learn [Raise Dead]. I messed up.”

“You don’t need to learn that magic, okay? I promise you. It’s not necessary. It’s a promise between me and papa.”

Her papa gently smiled, his voice calm and mixed with a wry smile, as he tried to calm the worried Mii-chan down. His eyes were filled with seriousness, so he must also be worried about mama, but he was hiding it.

He muttered, “I hope she doesn’t learn that kind of magic.” as if he couldn’t let his guard down because she was Mii-chan, but it seemed unrelated.

“Maybe I should have learned [Revive] instead!”

That’s right. I should have learned different magic instead of [Raise Dead]. I lightly slapped my hand, realizing my mistake.

“What’s the effect of that magic?”

“It brings you back to life immediately after you die.”

“Well, you don’t need to learn that magic either, okay? It’s a promise between me and papa. Absolutely.”

“Aww, but it would be useful in battles.”

For some reason, papa grabbed my shoulder and shook me, probably because he couldn’t help but worry about mama. But seeing papa flustered somehow calmed me down.

“It might be better to stop the mischievous comedy routine. It’s probably about time for the birth.”

“Yes.”

Matsu-san wore a shrine maiden outfit and gently admonished them with closed eyes and a calm tone. Matsu-san was mama’s bodyguard, a calm and elegant woman. Gamon was standing guard behind them, being watchful.

Ranko-san offered ham and doughnuts to Nimue and changed as the bodyguard for me. But Nimue smiled wryly and declined. She knew that despite being a bodyguard who devoured people’s snacks, Nimue was the strongest among the nine.

Concerned about Ranko-san’s plea, Mii-chan considers using healing magic later, but she notices papa is watching her intently. I wonder if he wants a hug.

“Mii-chan, is the study of Oden-ya’s Imperial Studies interesting?”

“Yeah! As the head, he told me to aim for no hits, no runs!”

“It’s better not to aim for no hits, no runs. After that, you’ll have an uncertain future. Well, not that. I’ve also reconsidered.”

I wonder what it is. Maybe he’s talking about tonight’s dinner? We can order takeout today. Mii-chan is fine with fried rice and gyoza.

“I thought it was necessary to teach you the Imperial Studies. Until now, I’ve stopped because you were still a child, but if you’re learning it from Oden-ya, it’s a different story. Besides, Oden-ya’s Imperial Studies seems to have a fierce content.”

Oh, it wasn’t about dinner.

“Shisho said it was a kind response.”

Mii-chan, who doesn’t kill her enemies, is amazing, right? I restrained from taking a harsher approach because it seemed like the subordinates of the Washizu family might go out of control.

“I see… I see… Even so, I still think I have to teach you the Imperial Studies of Takano County. Mii-chan, have you been giving all the letters from Oden-ya to papa?”

“Yeah, I give all the letters to papa first. I’ll tell you what I’ve learned. It’s a promise between papa and me!”

With a sweet smile, I proudly puff out my chest and say, “That’s right.”, while he gently strokes my head.

Feeling happy, Mii-chan wriggles her small body. She loves it when papa strokes her head.

It seems that Papa and Grandpa Kazamichi are wary of Odin.

Since ancient times, when the children of the powerful had private tutors, it often led to a close relationship, and they became close aides and held power.

Odin has gained a foothold in the Tokyo area and is familiar with the Gardo Farm. They suspect that he is seeking wealth, land, and power.

It seems unlikely that a great sorcerer would lend his power to Mii-chan out of goodwill just because she’s a cute disciple.

There is a possibility that he’s secretly manipulating her as a puppet. From papa’s perspective, it seems that he sees it that way. Papa, being a good person, doesn’t doubt it to that extent, though.

It’s natural to be cautious if I’m in the same position, so I can’t do anything.

Therefore, Mii-chan has been promised to report the content of the Imperial Studies lessons and the letters and information she received from Odin.

I haven’t received any lessons from Odin, and the information comes from Frigg-neesan, so there’s no specific content to report. So, I’ll convey whatever content Frigg-neesan comes up with.