After leaving Eperu’s room,

  Miko led Hulim to a separate courtyard in the royal castle.

  "Hulim, you can stay here these days. If you need anything, just tell the guards."

  "Thank you, Miko. I appreciate it."

  "No problem! By the way, what exactly is the thing you need to investigate?"

  "Hmm......"

  Hulim thought for a moment, then told Miko the whole story......

  "Sigh——! Is it really that important?! "

  "It’s not that important......"

  "No, no, no! It is important! It’s the power inheritance of your ancestor—how could you let it be lost?!"

  "Well, it might only possibly be there."

  "That’s true, but the possibility is high, right?"

  "If the possibility is high, we can’t give up trying!"

  "But it’s hard to get in now."

  "Hmm......"

  Miko scratched her head.

  "Ah——! We just need to use magic tools that still work, right?"

  Hulim thought for a moment and nodded:

  "That would work. There should still be some high-grade magic tools that protect the will capable of resisting the curse. But......"

  "Those high-grade tools are not easy to get."

  "What does that matter~? I can ask Father to lend me one!"

  "No."

  Hulim shook her head.

  "I don’t have anything to exchange for such a high-grade magic tool."

  "It’s fine! It’s just a magic tool—I’ll lend it to you. Besides, our family has plenty!"

  "Lend it to me? Are you sure that’s okay?"

  "Alright, stop being polite with me! Let’s go explain to Father right now——!"

  With that, Miko hurried off to the audience chamber in a fluster, dragging Hulim along.

  When they arrived at the audience chamber, unlike her earlier reckless intrusion into Eperu’s room, Miko was much more well-behaved this time. She even smoothed out her clothes at the door before carefully opening it a crack and poking her head in.

  "Um, Father......"

  Inside the audience chamber, Bars was buried in handling documents.

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  Hearing the voice, he looked up.

  "What are you sneaking around out there for? If you want to come in, just come in! Weren’t you running around barging into places not long ago?! "

  "I wasn’t barging in......"

  Miko muttered softly, then carefully pushed the door open and squeezed in.

  "Do you think I can’t hear you?"

  "Huh?! You heard that? Ah——! No, I didn’t say anything!"

  Miko quickly covered her mouth.

  "......"

  Bars stared at her silently with a "kind" expression.

  It wasn’t until Hulim also walked in that Bars shifted his gaze to her.

  "You must be Hulim Hayelar, right?"

  "Yes, hello, Mr. Bars!"

  Hulim bowed politely.

  "Mm, hello. Did my naughty daughter cause you any trouble at the academy?"

  "No, Miko never caused me any trouble. On the contrary, she often helped me."

  "Right! Exactly! Miko and I are partners who help each other! Please don’t talk about me like I’m a burden!"

  Miko protested from the side.

  However, Bars ignored her protest and instead looked at Hulim with a skeptical expression.

  "Really? You don’t have to spare her feelings—speak frankly. With her personality, she couldn’t have stayed out of trouble. She must have caused something in Langard, right?"

  "Uh......"

  Hulim was about to say Miko hadn’t caused any trouble, but suddenly remembered the time Miko had become a vigilante shortly after arriving at the academy.

  She really was quite active......

  "Oh~, so there really was something!"

  Bars’ gaze immediately fixed on Miko, filled with a hint of scrutiny—as if calculating how much compensation he might have to pay.

  "What? Why are you looking at me like that? I’ve never done anything bad!"

  "You’ve never done anything bad?"

  Bars stared straight at her.

  "......"

  Miko tilted her head, then puffed out her chest defiantly and glared back.

  "You——"

  Bars was so angry he almost rolled his eyes.

  "Um...... Mr. Bars, may I say something?"

  "Miko did do something in Langard, but it wasn’t a bad thing. On the contrary, many people were helped because of her actions, and many still gratitude her to this day."

  "......Really?"

  Bars looked stunned.

  He glanced at Miko, then at Hulim.

  "Are you sure you’re talking about her, not someone else?"

  "I’m certain. I saw it with my own eyes."

  "You see! I told you I didn’t do anything bad!"

  Miko huffed and put her hands on her hips, speaking even more defiantly.

  "......"

  Bars looked at her, wanting to say something but holding back.

  "Fine, I’ll admit I wronged you this time...... Now, what do you two want from me?"

  "Ah——"

  Only then did Miko remember they had come to ask for something.

  "Oh right! Father, I want to ask you for a magic tool!"

  "A magic tool?"

  Bars turned to look at Hulim.

  "I see. It’s this young lady who needs it, right? You can go get one from the treasury yourself—no need to ask me."

  "It’s not one of those ordinary magic tools! I need a high-grade one!"

  "High-grade magic tool...... What kind are you looking for?"

  "I need a high-grade magic tool that protects the will!"

  "Hmm?"

  Bars thought for a moment, then looked back at Hulim.

  "......Young lady Hulim, what do you plan to do with such a high-grade tool?"

  "Mr. Bars, I need to investigate something in the Hekadiza Mountains. That’s why I need a magic tool powerful enough to resist the curse there."

  "Hekadiza Mountains......"

  Bars frowned, then slowly shook his head.

  "I’m sorry...... Young lady, I’m afraid this will be difficult."

  "Why?! Father! This is really important to Hulim!"

  "Be quiet for a moment and let me explain."

  "Hmm......"

  Miko pouted and closed her mouth reluctantly.

  Only then did Bars continue.

  "You two probably don’t know this, but although the curse shrouding the Hekadiza Mountains hasn’t spread, it has been gradually growing stronger. Ordinary magic tools that protect the will stopped working years ago. In fact, even high-grade ones stopped being effective about a year ago."

  "Now, there’s only one top-tier magic tool left in our clan that still has protective effects. It’s extremely precious, and since it’s the only one left, the clan values it highly. Even I can’t use it without a valid reason, let alone lend it to someone outside the clan......"

  "Ah...... How could this be?"

  Miko looked disappointed.

  "Father, can’t you think of something?"

  Bars shook his head.

  "No. Something this important can’t be taken out casually. The Elder Council would never agree unless there’s a sufficiently legitimate reason."

  "This......"

  Hearing mention of the Elder Council, Miko was at a loss for words.

  In beastman nations, power was often not concentrated solely in the king’s hands. The Elder Council held an extremely important position—it was composed of the most respected members of the clan. They usually assisted the king, and if the king was too incompetent, they could even take coercive measures to depose him.