As I entered the reception room, I frowned and stared intently at one spot.
Where on earth did that Iron Blood woman waiting for us go, and why is there a little boy here…?
The girl with white hair flowing with a blue aura, sporting a blue bridge, was dozing off with her chin resting on the desk, looking just like a silly little kid sitting in their parent’s seat.
I was puzzled and subtly turned my head to the side.
Nameless was observing the little boy with a somewhat confused expression, but Elia and Lucius showed no changes in their expressions, as if they predicted this situation.
Hmm.
Nameless’s expression was starting to irk me a bit.
Could it be… that my disciple likes bratty kids like that?
I narrowed my eyes at Nameless.
After watching for a moment, Nameless seemed to notice my gaze and shook his head vigorously in surprise.
What exactly is he taking that to mean by denying it like that?
Every single action from Nameless was becoming suspicious.
I continued looking at Nameless with a significant expression.
Nameless was merely shaking his head with a look of grievance, but that only made me narrow my eyes further in suspicion.
Come to think of it.
Didn’t Nameless say his ideal type is a woman about two hands shorter than himself?
I thought he liked women around my height…
As I recalled how Nameless had introduced Iron Blood with a smiling face, my heart ached a little.
Furrowing my brows, I glanced at the little boy resting his chin on the desk.
Hmm…
No matter how I look at it, that little kid is shorter than me.
At that rate, isn’t he about two hands shorter than Nameless, not mine?
…I think that’s a bit off.
I shot a contemptuous look at Nameless.
Nameless shook his head with a pale face, and I couldn’t help but find that sight incredibly annoying.
“Tsk, Nameless, don’t get yourself caught for doing something stupid.”
“I truly didn’t….”
Nameless spoke in a gloomy voice, and I turned away from him and stared straight ahead.
If he’s going to bring someone like that, no matter how much of Nameless’s ideal type it is, this teacher is against it.
I hope Nameless is on the right path.
Besides, can that little boy even give birth to a proper child?
At least he should have a physique like mine to manage that.
“…?”
What am I even thinking?
Shaking my head to stop my strange thoughts, I firmly closed my mouth.
After about three minutes passed, and still no sign of Iron Blood appearing, I was getting increasingly annoyed and decided to speak up.
After all, it’s not like a guest should have to wait like this just because the lord of the castle can’t come out to greet them, right?
Frowning, I turned my head towards Elia.
“So, where exactly is this Iron Blood person?”
Nameless also seemed to be genuinely curious, looking at Elia with an expectant gaze.
Receiving our attention, Elia forced a smile and pointed at the little boy we had been looking at.
“He’s right there….”
Hmm, but all I see is just the little boy.
Perplexed, I tilted my head, and Lucius let out a deep sigh and approached the little boy.
“…Your Excellency, the Duke.”
“Uh-huh…”
The little boy, seemingly unaware of Lucius’s voice, just kept dozing off…
But wait… Your Excellency, the Duke?
That little boy?
Both Nameless and I were left in shock simultaneously.
Wait, so earlier Nameless acted that way knowing that little boy was Iron Blood?
I turned my head sharply to look at Nameless, and he shook his head in panic like a frightened leaf.
Be it as it may, Lucius gently began tapping the desk where the little boy was dozing.
“…Duke Valencia.”
“Yawn….”
The little boy stirred slightly at that, brushing his chin off the desk, only to then smack his forehead against it.
Lucius let out a deep sigh at the sight and then knocked on the desk even harder than before.
As the strength of his knocks increased, it almost seemed like Lucius’s hand was about to turn red, but—
The little boy suddenly jerked his head up, blinking and looking around.
“Huh? What’s up?”
And then—
The little boy stood up, struggling to climb onto the desk and grinned widely, showing off his sharp teeth like a shark.
“Hey, you losers finally made it, huh? You’re super late!”
Why on earth did he climb onto the desk…?
No, more importantly, wasn’t it that little boy who hadn’t gotten up?
And what on earth was with that tone?
There was more than one thing to question here.
Stunned, I narrowed my eyes and looked at the little boy, Iron Blood.
Now I was outright snickering, covering my mouth with one hand as I chortled.
“…”
Looking at that sight, I should’ve been furious, but…
Seeing something like this in real life, I just couldn’t believe my eyes, as I completely lost my wits.
Wait, is it even possible for someone to speak like that in reality?
My head throbbed.
And according to what Elia said…
Wasn’t that little boy supposed to be someone else who was Iron Blood?
Clearly, when I asked Elia about Iron Blood’s age, I recall her saying it was 31.
Moreover, I heard that Iron Blood had a prickly and cold personality, so I was expecting some icy woman to appear…
But the one in front of me now is…
I shut my eyes tight to regain my senses and shook my head.
…Right, this is a world from a novel, isn’t it?
What could be impossible in this world?
Such… right, isn’t this the typical cheeky brat from subculture?
Anyway, it wouldn’t be weird if one or two of ’em popped up.
Hmm, right.
I nodded to myself.
Just as I began to calm down again, reminded this was a fictional world.
The little boy’s voice suddenly caught my ear and pricked my nerves.
“Hey, losers~ why were you late? Did you call me here and then make me wait? Total trash~”
“Your Excellency… We were not late.”
“Pffft, are you now lying? Not very grown-up of you~”
A little boy slightly shorter than me obnoxiously pointed at Lucius with a cheeky smile, while Lucius just lowered his head silently and endured.
I was curious how he could endure that, and when I glanced at Lucius, I noticed veins popping on his forehead—it seemed he was also holding back.
Hmm, I understand completely.
I nodded in agreement.
While I was silently consoling Lucius in my thoughts, the cheeky little boy then fixed his gaze on Nameless and me.
“What’s up? I see more losers around?”
…How did I end up being considered a loser?
There was much I wanted to say, but as a grown-up with a bit of sense, I managed to hold it back.
Lucius glanced at me closely, seemingly worried, and spoke with a somewhat anxious expression.
“Your Excellency, these are the people I wanted to introduce to you.”
“Hmm? Really?”
Upon hearing Lucius’s words, the little boy, no, Iron Blood, climbed off the desk with a struggle and waddled over to stand before Nameless and me.
…Despite being 31 years old, his behavior is still so childish.
Tsk, what on earth does Nameless see in someone like her?
None of it sat well with me, but since I wasn’t here to fight with the author, I didn’t show any outward signs.
Eventually, standing before Nameless, Iron Blood tilted her head and stared into his eyes for a long while, then broke into her characteristic cheeky smile again.
“Heh… you have a sleazy look in your eyes.”
“…Huh?”
Veins bulged on my forehead.
Didn’t she just say that Nameless had a sleazy look in his eyes?
I looked at Nameless in shock.
Feeling my gaze, Nameless shook his head hurriedly, but…
Ignoring him, Iron Blood continued to speak.
“Wow~ Are you getting all hot and bothered looking at a brat like me? That’s just gross~”
“…What do you mean by that?”
…Iron Blood glancing at me was probably just my overthinking.
Nameless frowned slightly at her words, unable to comprehend, and when Iron Blood met his gaze, she smirked and turned her attention to me.
“Okay, I get it~”
And then—
Just like she did with Nameless, she started staring at me straight in the eyes.
Taking this chance, I too began assessing the powers of this annoying little brat staring back at me.
After all, wasn’t she supposed to be the most powerful force in the Empire?
When I took a glance earlier, I hadn’t sensed much of an aura, so I hadn’t realized this little kid was Iron Blood.
But now that I was up close, I’d make sure if she really was Iron Blood.
And through that, I’d get the chance to gauge the power dynamics of this world that I’d longed to understand.
So, there we were, staring at each other for a while.
The first to speak up was Iron Blood.
“Wow… that’s gross… you look like a grandpa?”
“…What?”
Veins popped on my forehead.
