Chapter 22

I beamed and spoke to Grandpa.

“You know the thing I asked for yesterday? Where is it?”

“I’ll have it brought here right away.”

Grandpa replied kindly, then gave a subtle glance toward the researchers.

At the same time, the researchers immediately began approaching me as if they had been waiting for this.

Each of them was carrying something in their hands.

“These are Imp Tears.”

Soon, they began setting ingredients down on my workbench while explaining them one by one.

“This is powdered wing from a black tiger butterfly infused with mana.”

“This powder is made from ground hippogriff feathers.”

“And this is powder made by drying specter hide in sunlight… Wait, are we really giving this to her?”

The researcher setting down the final ingredient turned to the side and whispered in shock.

Another researcher beside him jabbed him in the ribs and whispered back.

“When you’re told to do it, just do it.”

Sorry, but I can hear everything.

Though it sounds just like Mom and Dad talking, so I don’t really mind.

‘These really are valuable ingredients.’

Especially now that Mom had purified all the lands occupied by demons.

Still, we’re using them to save the very person responsible for that achievement, aren’t we?

I deliberately put on an even brighter smile.

“Thank you!”

Then I shifted my gaze to the colorful assortment of ingredients spread across the workbench.

I think I’ve gathered almost all the ingredients I saw in the main story…

‘Ah, wait!’

Right, right.

I almost forgot the most important thing!

I quickly rummaged through my pocket and pulled something out.

For the record, this pocket also contains other inventions I borrowed from Daddy Kyle’s laboratory.

I hadn’t really had a chance to use them until now.

Anyway!

‘Perfect.’

I carefully placed a hair as thin as a strand of thread beside the ingredients and smiled in satisfaction.

By mixing in a piece of someone’s body, this powder would make the target sneeze whenever they were in danger.

Which naturally meant the owner of this hair was Mom.

‘A freshly acquired hair I picked up from under Mom’s pillow this morning.’

I grabbed a few extras too, just in case I lost one.

I’m a thoroughly prepared child!

“Hmmmmm.”

The ingredients are completely ready!

Next, I just need to combine them according to the recipe from the main story.

“The scale… is right here.”

The Imp Tears are fixed at five drops.

As for the rest, I just need to match the ratios described in the story, right?

I brought over the scale sitting on one side of the workbench and began weighing the ingredients.

Grandpa watched me quietly for a moment before speaking.

“…She’s my granddaughter.”

At once, the researchers who had been observing me with curiosity dropped their jaws.

I froze with an ingredient halfway to the scale and blinked.

That came out of nowhere.

‘Is he bragging? He’s bragging, isn’t he?’

But Grandpa still doesn’t know who my biological father is.

Can he really just say that?

“I hear she can write as well.”

Ignoring my confusion, Grandpa continued boasting.

“…”

“She takes after me.”

He even went as far as claiming I resembled him rather than Daddy Kyle or Daddy Harzen!

I clicked my tongue inwardly.

I think Grandpa has decided to sabotage my work.

But I’m not someone whose concentration can be broken that easily.

Leaving behind Bragging Machine Grandpa and the researchers with their troubled thoughts and anxious eyes, I calmly finished measuring everything.

Phew, done.

There was a little obstacle, but it’s fine.

‘Now if I put everything in and mix it…’

I began adding the ingredients into the bowl one by one.

Specter powder, hippogriff feathers, butterfly wings, and five drops of Imp Tears…

“Wow.”

As I slowly stirred the contents with a rod, a small gasp escaped me.

Even though the only liquid was those five drops of Imp Tears, all the ingredients blended together like water as if they had been a single substance from the beginning.

“So pretty…”

The moment I added Mom’s hair, the previously clear liquid began glowing with a mysterious pink hue.

I think this turned out pretty well.

The main story described it as a liquid that took on a mysterious color resembling the owner’s hair.

‘Success!’

I clenched my fist.

Then I quickly shook my head.

No, calm down.

It’s not completely finished yet.

I still have to dry this liquid in the sunlight and turn it back into powder.

‘If I made it properly, it should take around three hours.’

The story said it dried faster than ordinary liquids, so I should wait and see.

“Hehe.”

I carefully carried the bowl and placed it somewhere with plenty of sunlight.

The sun was shining brightly too.

Perfect.

I was admiring the sparkling liquid with satisfaction when…

“My child.”

Grandpa, who had been watching me this entire time, finally couldn’t hold back any longer.

“What exactly are you making?”

“Ah, this?”

I couldn’t exactly say it’s Sneeze Powder that will protect my mom.

“So, this is…”

I looked down into the bowl before finally making up my mind.

“It’s Sparkle Powder!”

“…?”

At once, Grandpa and the researchers widened their eyes even further.

“You’re using all these rare ingredients to make…”

“Sparkle Powder…”

A tiny voice full of shock drifted into my ears.

I simply kept smiling brightly and let it pass out the other ear.

Anyway, thank you everyone!

* * *

Several hours later.

“Wooow.”

I stared at the completely dried bowl and my eyes sparkled.

It’s real.

The real thing is here.

This is actually Sneeze Powder…

‘There’s less than I expected.’

I was hoping to save the leftovers and use them later if needed.

At this amount, it feels like there’ll only be enough for Mom and Dad.

Tilting my head, I placed both hands on my waist and puffed out my chest.

No, for a first attempt, this is really, really good!

Now if someone decides to kill Mom, we’ll know immediately!

‘Bertolt probably won’t try to kill Mom himself.’

Based on his personality, he’d definitely get someone else to do it.

But Mom now has Grandpa’s trust, so noble slander shouldn’t work anymore.

‘Which means assassination is the most likely answer.’

Still, with this powder, we’ll be able to react before an attack happens.

‘That alone should help protect Mom.’

After finishing my thoughts, I carefully poured the powder into a small vial.

I’ll sprinkle this on Mom and Dad later.

What about me, you ask?

Naturally…

“Yah!”

I lifted the bowl above my head and vigorously shook it over myself.

Mom always told me this.

Even scraps are useful!

Unlike my triumphant self…

“Huh?”

The researchers who had been watching me with half-dead eyes suddenly flopped around like fish thrown onto dry land.

Just moments ago they had been staring blankly with expressions that screamed, ‘Where am I and who am I?’

“Wait, that! That, that!”

“You sprinkled it on yourself, right? You did, right?”

“Didn’t you spill it?”

“Is this okay?”

Maybe it was because they knew exactly what the ingredients were.

My sudden action seemed to have shocked them quite a bit.

“Wait, there was specter hide in that mixture. Is she really okay?”

“But it was dried in sunlight, so shouldn’t it be fine?”

“Do specters stop being dangerous just because they’ve seen sunlight? Isn’t it still risky?”

“She said it’s just Sparkle Powder. Nothing has happened yet, so isn’t it fine?”

“We still don’t know how those ingredients react together. What if something goes wrong later?”

Wow, they’re loud.

‘I’ve never met people louder than Mom and Dad.’

It’s a good thing Grandpa left to work.

If he’d stayed here, he would’ve experienced the true noise of a genuine disorderly rabble…

“Shouldn’t we wash her off?”

The researchers kept throwing out suggestions.

“Should we call a maid?”

“Shouldn’t we at least brush it off first?”

“Wait, but she’s His Majesty’s granddaughter. Are we even allowed to touch an imperial grandchild?”

Confused gazes kept bouncing between me and each other.

How much time passed like that?

“-Still, a person’s safety comes first, right?”

“I’m sure His Majesty will understand…”

Apparently their debate had finally ended.

All the researchers turned to look at me again.

Then they slowly began approaching me like people trying to capture a kitten.

It sounded like they had reached a very bad conclusion.

‘I don’t want to get brushed off!’

I immediately shouted.

“I’m fine!”

“Yes, yes, everything will be fine.”

“We’ll just brush off a little…”

They didn’t understand me at all.

I guess it’s finally time to say it.

I squeezed my eyes shut and shouted once more.

“Do you know Kyle Blake?”