Chapter 14
‘What is this feeling……?’
Kynemia sat at the head of the conference table, clasping her hands over her stomach as she sank deep into her chair.
‘Ah, that’s it.’
It was the same sensation as when she’d thought thought, ‘I shouldn’t have run my mouth like that,’ as if paint had spilled inside her chest.
‘No,. This is more?
“Right here, skin and sharp, narrow eyes, Mikayla looked every bit the strict businesswoman as she stood at the front of the conference room, passionately presenting her materials on the screen.
“These pristine, untouched hands are the key!”
The vassals nodded along enthusiastically to Mikayla’s presentation.
Mikayla’s visit itself wasn’t surprising—Kynemia had planned to meet her soon anyway.
‘If I want to brand Behemoth’s swords as legendary masterpieces, I need her help……’
The real issue was Mikayla’s purpose for coming. She’d arrived with a proposal claiming slimes were a highly profitable business venture.
‘……How did it come to this?’
Kynemia grimaced, retracing the steps that led here.
The Behemoth sisters, overflowing with gratitude toward her, had apparently assumed “slimes” were Kynemia’s unspoken passion project.
“She still has such a childish side.”
“So adorable!”
The sisters had laughed, researched tirelessly, and even handled real monster slimes until……
Kynemia poked at the slime sitting in front of her.
‘They actually made it……. But how? Are they geniuses?’
“The Grand Duchess is undeniably a genius!”
Mikayla slammed the table, jolting Kynemia from her thoughts.
‘……!’
Kynemia clutched her chest, her heart racing as Mikayla continued.
“Such an innovative vision! The Grand Duchess transcends genius!”
Mikayla leaned forward, hands planted on the table, staring at Kynemia with reverent eyes. Avoiding her gaze, Kynemia weakly raised a hand.
“……Uh, thank you……”
“To think the Grand Duchess is only eleven! When I heard about the slime toy concept, I thought, ‘Ah…… Joining the Lion Trading Company was fate. I rejected all those prestigious offers for this day. Mikayla Cooper, I’ll devote my bones to Grand Duchess Kynemia!’ How bold of me!”
Kynemia bit back the urge to point out Mikayla had likely joined for the competitive salary.
After what felt like hours of poetic praise, Mikayla—flushed and coughing—finally continued.
“This product will dominate the market. Guaranteed!”
As Mikayla gestured to the screen, Kynemia numbly turned her gaze. A slime photo filled the display.
‘What even……?’
While Kynemia sat speechless, the vassals erupted into thunderous applause.
“As expected of Your Grace!”
“The Grand Duchess reigns supreme over slimes!”
“Supreme ruler!”
Unwanted accolades poured forth.
‘Make it stop……’
Kynemia forced a stiff smile.
She’d only made an offhand comment, yet somehow became the slime world’s sovereign and master artisan.
Mikayla, eyes glittering with profit-driven zeal, pressed on.
“Who could’ve imagined processing monsters like this……!”
‘I certainly didn’t……’
Kynemia squished the slime. It felt soft yet durable—far superior to the empire’s sand toys or dough.
Mikayla added, “Unlike monster bones or hides requiring specialized skills, this can be mass-produced with ordinary craftsmen……”
Wait—what part of the slime is this even made from?
“Which part of the slime did you use?”
“Ah, that’s—” Mikayla grinned. “—their bodily fluids and [censored].”
Plop. The slime slipped from Kynemia’s hand.
She truly shows no trace of magic.
“…….”
The lark-shaped mentor perched on Ayan’s shoulder, chirping intermittently.
Ayan sat silently at the roof’s edge, watching Kynemia stroll below with the blacksmith sisters.
Still nothing remarkable after all these months……
Since their first meeting, Kynemia had displayed no magical energy—nor any effort to conceal it.
Perhaps her constitution is unique. Some are innately sensitive to magic.
“Is that so.”
Ayan’s tone suggested he found the theory unconvincing.
‘A mage’s curiosity is insatiable……’
The lark tilted its head, sensing something else gnawing at Ayan.
How long will you linger here?
“Until my wounds heal.”
You’re still injured?!
Months had passed. Ayan smiled cryptically.
“I was dealt quite the blow this time.”
You?
He answered only with a smile.
The real casualties had been the mages—over a dozen dead, their leader Lion fleeing with one eye. Even battle-hardened veterans would shudder at the brutality.
‘A lesson, they called it.’
The elders had raged, not at the assassination attempt, but at Ayan’s disrespect toward mages. They still claimed he’d bring global ruin if made Tower Lord.
“Lion must relish my absence.”
Not just him—the entire tower celebrates it, the mentor nearly retorted. But Ayan thrived on such chaos.
Lion’s in seclusion anyway……
Lion—the senior mage who’d plotted Ayan’s demise—had been young, gifted, but consumed by ambition and pride.
‘Without Ayan, he might’ve become Rikasha.’
Ayan had exploited Lion’s inferiority complex, provoking him until he snapped. The resulting ambush ended disastrously for Lion’s faction.
He mustn’t discover you’re here.
The lark chirped anxiously as Ayan watched Kynemia below.
The girl laughed freely with the sisters, her expressions shifting like sunlight—a stark contrast to Ayan’s impenetrable mask.
‘To think the empire slanders someone so genuine……’
Gossipmongers called her a villainess, oblivious to the truth.
The lark studied Ayan, whose past mirrored Kynemia’s in tragedy—abandoned at seven, yet he wore indifference like armor.
‘But no human escapes such scars unscathed.’
Ayan’s gaze remained fixed on Kynemia, his thoughts inscrutable.
‘Will you ever drop the act?’ the lark mused.
Suddenly, Ayan spoke.
“Let’s investigate.”
Investigate what?
“Whether the Grand Duchess truly lacks any hidden qualities.”
Haven’t you tested her enough?
Months of observation, engineered dangers—all revealed nothing.
“There’s one method I’ve yet to try.”
Ayan rose, prompting the lark to flap wildly.
Ayan! You’re not considering—
“Mental magic.”
It’s forbidden!
Hypnosis, brainwashing—taboos among mages.
Ayan smirked. “Since when have I cared about taboos?”
You—!
But he’d already vanished.
