The Baby Villain Dreams of Conquering the World

Chapter 27

Episode 27

She didn't understand why he had to make it so difficult when he could just say he didn't like it if he didn't, or that he did if he did.

'If it looked like he was doing it because he liked it, would I have even asked?'

Flora met Benio's eyes and smiled sweetly, the corners of her eyes crinkling.

Perhaps infected by the child's innocent smile, Benio also smiled gently.

In the warm atmosphere, a voice tinged with envy and jealousy was heard.

"It seems you two have gotten closer. Siblings really are siblings, I see. To see such affection build up so quickly."

"Mm, Oppa really likes me a lot."

She was worried Benio might deny it, but fortunately, he quietly nodded.

Athanas smiled contentedly.

Seeing the father and son, who looked rough but were kind and had a good relationship, Flora grinned.

'I'll have to remain a good, cute daughter and sister for the time being.'

And then, when they let their guard down, I'll make contact with the Demon Forest, build my forces, conquer the world, and destroy humanity.

'They're living under the stigma of being betrayers of humanity anyway, so isn't this something they brought upon themselves? I'm just acting as they call me.'

Humming a tune to herself, Flora reaffirmed her dream.

'To do that, I first need to find things in this territory that could make money.'

Despite her grand plan to spend money lavishly, their clothing and lifestyle were exceedingly simple.

'This won't do.'

She had to find some means to make money, no matter what, and use it as funds for humanity's destruction.

'And I want to enjoy a more comfortable life a bit longer.'

First, she would somehow transform this barren northern environment into one of abundance.

'I'll have to ask to see the office later.'

She would conduct a legal territory investigation to find ways to make money.

Holding grand ambitions, Flora snuggled into Athanas's embrace.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · · · · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

While Benio was recovering at a surprisingly fast rate, loads of goods arrived from the town below the castle under the name of tribute.

Medicinal herbs to aid wound recovery, healthy foods and medicinal ingredients, and a single branch engraved with wishes for a speedy recovery.

"What's this?"

Flora picked up a single branch placed in a clean box and asked.

"It's a wishing branch from the northern people."

Why do they write their wishes on a branch?

Seeing Flora's confused expression, Benio kindly continued his explanation.

"The north receives few visits not only from Executors but also from priests. People feared the northern land might be forsaken by the gods. So, on sacred days, they offer branches containing their wishes and pray for us not to forget them."

"Sacred days..."

Sacred days mark the first day of the new year, a festival day commemorating the death of the Great Demon at the hands of the heroes.

"This is a custom unique to the north. Usually, nobles make wooden plaques from luxurious timber and carve on them..."

But commoners wouldn't do that.

Processed wood sells for a high price.

More importantly, in a cold territory, wood is a precious resource that couldn't be wasted.

"Commoners carve on branches like this. So they can only write short wishes."

"I see."

Flora nodded to show she fully understood.

"Still, it's a relief people don't hate us."

Looking at the pile of gifts accumulated in Benio's room, Flora couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

Benio, who had been listening quietly, stroked her head with slightly sad eyes.

"It's something to be grateful for. That they serve our family, cursed and forsaken by the gods, as their lords, and that they follow us like this."

'Well, that's only natural since the Lucifers are fulfilling their duties.'

While grumbling internally, Flora nodded with a bright smile on the outside.

"But not everyone loves our family."

"Even the people of the territory?"

"...Yes, even among the people of the territory, many resent us. Since we are the rulers of the north, Executors don't come, so the damage from monsters is greater than in other regions."

'Executors.'

While the hands of those called the bearers of the god's mission do not reach here, if tragedies keep occurring, it's understandable some might think this territory is cursed.

"Do you know about Executors?"

"A little."

"About their special power too?"

"Mm. It's a bit different from divine power, I heard."

In the distant past, when the Great Demon Mors was alive, the Executor Bureau was an institution under the Temple.

It was created with the special mission of opposing Mors and the demons, an institution for training Executors to confront demons.

'The ones who killed me were also part of it.'

But after the five heroes defeated the Great Demon, the situation began to change.

The heroes emphasized the importance of the Executor Bureau's role, and in the process of founding the Philinwood Empire, they achieved independence for both the Temple and the Executor Bureau.

In the early days after the institutions' independence, there was chaos in various aspects, including intervention from the Temple. But after the founding, the Chief God Beshart bestowed a mysterious power upon the heroes, naturally leading to the heroes taking charge of the Executor Bureau.

This special power was passed down through the ducal families, naturally inherited by the next dukes, and it became customary for them to become the heads of the Executor Bureau, solidifying the power structure.

Originally, the initial purpose of the Executor Bureau was that anyone, regardless of status, gender, or age, could become an Executor if they had the ability.

But after falling into the hands of the imperial family and the ducal houses, the original pillar of the Executor Bureau disappeared, and Executors came to be composed solely of nobles.

'I heard that if you become an Executor, they impart a special power that flows through them, and supposedly only nobles can handle it. Anyway, whatever that power is, the Executor Bureau became the Empire's strongest monster subjugation group. I heard they're complete elites, overflowing with pride.'

So people couldn't dare protest. The heads of the Executor Bureau could control and manage the dispatch of Executors at their will.

While both the Temple and the Executor Bureau still protect people from demons and monsters, since most of those affiliated with the Temple are commoners, the Executor Bureau naturally transformed into a powerful authority.

In fact, when I first heard about the Executor Bureau, I naturally thought the Lucifers would also belong to it.

'But instead of belonging, they're periodically judged, which makes me want to go crazy and jump around! They can't even enjoy the status gained from killing me!'

Flora covered her cheeks and let out a small sigh.

Still, the good thing about having powerful people nearby was that she could gradually glean such precious information.

'Thank you, Rosaria.'

Sending a word of thanks to Rosaria, the only one among her enemies she'd grown fond of, Flora slowly crawled into Benio's bed.

"We have no knights blessed with special power, and our number of knights is small compared to other territories. So, unlike other territories, we inevitably suffer more damage."

"Why, why is the number of knights small?"

"To prevent the threat of potential rebel... Ahem, ahem. What am I saying to you?"

Benio hastily closed his mouth, but the words that would have followed were easy to guess.

I had no idea the imperial family even managed the private soldiers of this barren place.

Flora felt wronged again.

'What rebellion are these innocent people capable of?!'

Unable to contain her rising anger, she shot up, making the bed shake.

"But that's not the Lucifers' fault!"

Worried Flora might fall, Benio grabbed her waist and carefully sat her back down.

"It's the ancestor's mistake, so we must take responsibility."

You are an overly conscientious fool.

"Since we have few soldiers, we built the walls high, but sometimes monsters climb over them, like last time. So you must always be careful when going to the town."

So that means money is significantly lacking because of wall repairs, hiring mercenaries to fill the shortage of knights, and compensation for victims?

But the treatment they receive is miserable, and the castle is poor.

"So that's why you do mercenary work too?"

"Yes, subjugating monsters with mercenaries builds experience and earns money."

It was a commendable answer, but Flora almost let out a hollow laugh.

'Wow... To live so diligently, yet not become wicked...'

She didn't want to pity them, but seeing them like this repeatedly made her heart ache unbearably.

Flora pondered how to scold this utterly innocent little bear to make him come to his senses.

Crossing her arms and frowning deeply, Benio gently smoothed her forehead. Yet, the furrowed brow lost in thought didn't budge.

But no matter how much she thought, no special solution came to mind.

'Is this the limit of a child's body?'

Blaming it all on her small body, Flora let out a familiar sigh.

Then, something suddenly popped into her mouth.

"I've noticed since last time, but you sigh too much for your age."

The thing clacking in her mouth was a sweet lemon-flavored candy.

Rolling the candy in one cheek, Flora tilted her head.

"From now on, let's have candy whenever you feel like sighing."

"But then I'll get cavities."

Recalling what Mrs. Finny and Lian usually said, she repeated it, and Benio nodded, agreeing.

"You should think about reducing your sighs before you get cavities."

A rough but kind hand swept over Flora's forehead.

'Right, what should I do with this innocent one?'

Let's think about this problem slowly too, Flora smiled sweetly.

Benio smiled back at her.

The prickly demeanor he had when they first met was gone, replaced by a look of being completely smitten with Flora.

Just as she couldn't contain her satisfied smile, a neat knocking sound came from the door.

"Young Lord, it's Zamira."

"Come in."