NOVEL NEXT Chapter 178: High Society Debuts Are Difficult! (8)
Both were quite buzzy topics, but not the most intriguing.This summer.The thing that groups of children on this Pangea continent were talking about the most was this.
━Meow.
It was about the strange creature called Molumolu!From a certain day, every child came to have a Molumolu in their shadow.
A cute, fluffy, soft, warm, good-smelling animal that was smart enough to help with science homework.Although it's doubtful whether it's even an animal to begin with, Molumolus became friends with children, and children quickly became friends with Molumolus.Therefore, children of low status, unfortunate orphans without parents, and children born into noble families alike all loved to talk about Molumolus.
And naturally, they loved to show off their own Molumolus.Molumolu duels or Molumolu battles.Molumolu battles were competitions born from the pride of children who thought they had raised the best Molumolu.It was a contest where two or more Molumolus competed fairly to determine a winner, and the child who raised the strongest Molumolu was reverently called the 'Molumolu Champion'.
"Mhmm..., speaking of Naru, daughter of Lord Judas, she was the first Molumolu trainer on this Pangea continent...! Surely she has the potential to become this year's Molumolu Champion..., no, Molumolu Master...!"
When people crowded around Judas's daughters, Sifnoi, who was neglecting her childcare duties and gorging on desserts, confidently shouted as if she had been waiting for this moment.For children, raising a powerful Molumolu was something to be confident about.
"Let's have a battle with my Molumolu!""Me first! My Molumolu has been doing special training, running 3km every day!""My Molumolu-Chikorita eats lots of mysterious herbs every day! It's strong!"
The children at this social gathering each pulled out their Molumolus from their shadows and presented them to Naru.
━Meow.━Meow.━Meow.Since the children here were all offspring of prestigious nobles and royalty, they raised their Molumolus luxuriously and were arrogantly proud of it.In fact, the Molumolus that ate well, slept well, and received plenty of affection every day were larger and sturdier compared to other ordinary Molumolus.
However, Naru didn't care about such things.Naru just shouted, looking at the Molumolus filling the surroundings.
"Wow, holy shh...! So many Molumolus! They're more colorful than I thought!"
Naru was happy that there were Molumolus everywhere.After all, she was the first to get to know the original Molumolu.
"......""......"
Cecily and Hina, who were watching this scene, looked at each other's faces. Then they nodded once and shouted towards the surroundings.
"If you want to have a Molumolu battle with Naru, there's a condition...!""You have to vote for us...."
The three sisters wanted to receive high votes at this banquet.If they used this situation well, it would be advantageous for becoming the little princess.
Of course, this might mean that votes would concentrate on Naru, who raised Molumolus the best, but Hina and Cecily had lost interest in being chosen as the 'little princess' and didn't mind either way.If someone else was going to be chosen anyway, it would be better if it was Naru.With that feeling, the Molumolu duel began.And Naru's Molumolu was strong.
"Molumolu! Hydro Pump!"
━Grrrr!
Whoosh— Splash—Naru's Molumolu spewed out an intense stream of water. In the end, the Molumolu-Boostie with its impressive red fur lost its strength and went limp.
"Boostie! My one and only king Boostie! Wasn't Naru's Molumolu also a fire attribute like my Boostie? How can it spew water too!"
While the children's Molumolus usually had only one attribute, Naru's Molumolu possessed multiple attributes.Could it be that only Naru's Molumolu was a special individual?No, that wasn't it.There was just a difference in the training method.
"Every day Naru gives Molumolu—""Mhmm, that's a secret...! If you're curious about Naru's Molumolu raising method, please purchase the 'Three Sisters' Nanny Diary' written by this Sifnoi...!"
Sifnoi interrupted Naru's words and presented her book to everyone.Since it was a diary where Sifnoi recorded every day, of course there were a few lines written about how Naru raised her Molumolu.People flocked like clouds to buy Sifnoi's nanny diary, and thanks to that, they got some hints about the Molumolu raising method.
"...She fed mud cookies to the Molumolu? Does that allow it to use earth attribute attacks?""If you soak the Molumolu in a river, is there a chance it will evolve into a water attribute...?""If you give a brick as a gift to the Molumolu, it evolves into a ghost attribute?"
That's right.Naru was an explorer who had done more experiments on Molumolus than anyone else. Indeed, she was the person closest to the title of 'Molumolu Master'.
"Did you say your name was Naru? Can you raise my Molumolu to be a steel attribute? I want to have a cool Molumolu like a knight."
At that moment, Prince Elric asked Naru.Prince Elric was only 15 years old, still not having shed his boyish appearance, so he was at an age where he would be full of interest in Molumolu battles.
In the Pangea continent, there were plenty of researchers who maintained interest in Molumolus and continued to study them even after passing the age of forty or fifty, so Prince Elric's interest in Molumolus wasn't particularly special.However, Soso, Prince Elric's fiancée, was a little surprised.
'I didn't know Prince Elric liked Molumolus so much! I thought he would like horseback riding or hunting! Or maybe he would like to talk about politics in an adult way!'
Swish— Rustle—Soso also pulled out a Molumolu from her shadow.
"Xiaoxiao."━Xiaoxiao-ooong.
The name of the Molumolu that Soso raised was Xiaoxiao.It was a Molumolu slightly smaller than other Molumolus, but with beautiful purple fur. Soso raised it by brushing its fur every day, reading it books before bed, and taking it for walks in the garden every morning.Moreover, Xiaoxiao's food was meals that Soso personally prepared with great care.
To think that it eats food made directly by a noble lady with sincerity.It couldn't be a greater luxury.Perhaps due to Lady Soso's sincerity, Xiaoxiao came to have more mysterious purple fur than any other Molumolu, and Soso was quite proud of it.
Purple.It was a color that symbolized nobility.Even Naru, who was infinitely close to being a Molumolu master, was surprised at the appearance of this purple Molumolu with good fur texture.
"Wow, holy shh...! A purple Molumolu! A purple Molumolu is a poison attribute Molumolu! Even I have never seen a poison attribute Molumolu before, how did you raise it?""Huh? Po...poison attribute? My Xiaoxiao is a poison attribute?"
Soso couldn't help but be bewildered.To think that a purple Molumolu was a poison attribute Molumolu.
'Poison, that sounds scary! I've only fed my Molumolu the food I made with sincerity!'
Soon, the children around Lady Soso started to whisper.
"I heard that the Tang family of Palchen is skilled in making poisons and medicines....""I see, so that's why the Molumolu became a poison attribute...!"
In many ways, the children's attention was focused on Lady Soso.Naru shouted.
"Soso, let's have a Molumolu battle! I've never fought against a poison attribute Molumolu!""Huh? What? Me? My Xiaoxiao probably isn't suitable for battle...."
Xiaoxiao had small and soft fur and was adorned with lots of ribbons.If Molumolus had social status, Xiaoxiao would certainly be a noble lady Molumolu far from battle.
'What should I do? What should I do? Everyone is looking at me!'
As Soso blushed, Prince Elric said.
"A poison attribute Molumolu. That's amazing. Soso, I didn't know you had such talent. My fiancée was already a genius!"
It was a very proud voice.Lady Soso felt very pleased about that.
'Maybe I can score more points with Prince Elric! I'm glad I became friends with Naru!'
"O-Okay. Naru. Let's have a Molumolu battle!""Wow, holy shh...!"
It was an exciting situation in many ways.While all the children were enjoying this situation, there was someone who was getting very angry.It was Princess Neva de Valuntari, who was supposed to be the protagonist of today.
'How stupid, what's the big deal about Molumolus? They're just slightly strange animals! This is so stupid. So childish! Naru Baryuda, you're doing this on purpose to upset me, aren't you!'
Neva didn't like Molumolus very much. They seemed a bit scary because they were unknown creatures.So Neva's Molumolu also tended to keep its distance from Neva, never approaching too closely.
'What should I do.'
Neva worried a lot.If things continued like this, it might interfere with her plan to become the adopted daughter of the Ordol Princess.
"Ah."
Soon, something seemed to flash in Neva's mind.It was the words her father, King Valuntari, had told her.
—Neva, politics are like a play. What you show is important. If things don't go well at the upcoming banquet, break this small jar as a last resort. But, you must not be caught by anyone.
Swish— Rustle—Neva took out the jar her father had given her from her pocket.It was a very small jar, about the size of a thumb.Neva couldn't help but gulp as she had a general idea of what would happen if she broke this.
Her heart pounded and a chill ran down her spine.Neva knew well that she had to do a 'bad thing' for the first time in her life.
But if she just stayed still like this, she might really lose the position of adopted daughter to Naru.As various worries and concerns continued endlessly—
"Lady Neva, are you okay?""You look really unwell."
The noble children next to Neva checked her complexion.
Neva, coming to her senses, put the jar she was holding back into her pocket. She thought that no matter what, she couldn't do a 'bad thing'.
'It's not befitting of a princess. I'll become today's protagonist fair and square!'
It was right then.
Sssss— Hiss—Something like black dust seeped out from the small jar tightly wrapped in bandages.It swept over Neva's body with an ominous feeling, but while Neva didn't notice it, the nearby Molumolus sensed that energy keenly.
━Grrrr!Pop— Thud—
One Molumolu pounced towards Neva.Because of this, Neva was startled and couldn't help but scream as she fell on her bottom.
"Kyaaak! What is it!"
Crash— Shatter—The sound of something breaking was heard.Neva was startled even though her bottom hurt, and she became flustered and everything went dark before her eyes.
"Ru...run away...."
But Neva didn't have time to warn everyone.
Rumble— Boom—As if a huge lightning struck, dark clouds formed on the ceiling of the banquet hall.Swish— Swish— Swish—It soon changed into a human-like shape and began to emit a gloomy energy. It was the appearance of a person wearing a purple robe.
—Greetings, ladies and gentlemen. I am the magician Epsilon of Purple, who has attended this gathering to celebrate today's banquet.
Epsilon of Purple.Was there such a magician?
The nobles were well aware of the color-bestowed magicians, so they hurriedly searched their memories.After all, there were only a handful of color-bestowed magicians in the Pangea continent.At that moment, Prince Elric bravely shouted, receiving a sword from someone and drawing it.
Shing— Slash—
"Don't lie! Epsilon of Purple died after being executed more than 20 years ago! I know it well because my father, King Veraim, executed him personally!"
—I see. Indeed. Then it would be correct to introduce myself like this. I am one of the three pillars of Pandemonium. I am Valdes, the Magician of Devastation. Now, farewell to you all.