Translator: Nox

Chapter 16

“…What?”

“Bunny’s gonna be a super big great demon… yeah, gonna be super strong. Not scary at all. When black-flamey dragon baby hatches, super big demon and… wizard.”

Bunny trailed off at the end, slapped the hand not holding Allen’s onto her hip, and snorted with a hmph.

At her confident words, Allen unwittingly relaxed his stiff face and burst out laughing, pfft.

“What’s a demon wizard?”

Ahahaha!!

The boy let out a huge burst of laughter. At the booming sound that seemed about to shake the whole place, Bunny stuck out her lower lip in a pout.

“Why are you pouting? Silly Bunny.”

“Bunny not silly. Allen dummy.”

Bunny narrowed her eyes into little triangles, whipped around, and strode forward with big steps.

Allen watched as Bunny marched toward the enormous white mansion without flinching at the huge estate or the scary guards in their uniforms, then hurried after her.

“Aren’t you scared going into a place this big?”

Allen grabbed Bunny’s hand again and asked.

“Mm-hm.”

“Why?”

At Allen’s question, Bunny giggled, hee.

Bunny was a super tough demon child who didn’t turn to dust even in bright light, so she wasn’t afraid no matter where she went.

“Bunny cutie super strong.”

Bunny stuck out her thumb and shrugged her shoulders.

‘And it’s a secret from everyone, but…’

Bunny actually knew magic too.

‘Bunny can make water go splashy-splashy.’

The guards who saw Bunny froze for a moment, then narrowed their brows when they spotted Allen following behind.

Ignoring them completely, Bunny held tight to Allen’s hand and bowed her head deeply in greeting, just like always.

“Hello! Bunny come to see Young Master.”

The soldiers’ eyes went wide at Bunny’s polite bow. Their stern faces softened a bit as they spoke.

“Ah, I see. I’m not sure if Young Master Kiriel is in right now…”

“He’s here. He’s been staying in the mansion ever since the summoning ritual.”

No one was unaware that Bunny and Allen were wards of Kiriel Yudia.

It had been that big of a deal. Kiriel Yudia’s declaration that he would take two collateral relatives under his wing.

“Then we’ll escort you to Young Master Kiriel’s room.”

“Yay!”

Allen stumbled after Bunny as she followed the soldier inside. He kept his head bowed low, unable to lift it.

It felt like everyone would point and laugh at him if he did.

‘She’s so carefree because she doesn’t know anything.’

Allen thought gloomily as he looked at Bunny, who showed not a speck of worry.

Bunny surely wasn’t welcomed here either.

Allen had overheard the other kids whispering and cursing during lessons. That Bunny was a bastard child who didn’t even know her parents. That Allen and Bunny had shamelessly stolen their spots. That trash like them were getting along just fine without any shame.

In fact, Allen still thought Kiriel Yudia’s decision to become their guardian was some cruel prank.

Because he hadn’t made any contact once since declaring it.

Other guardians would send personal maids to look after their wards, or at least some gifts or money to make things easier, but Kiriel Yudia had done none of that.

So it had to be some bad adult’s twisted game to toy with them.

‘Even if not me, this kid needs more help…’

Bunny probably had no idea about adults’ malicious intentions. Allen was the only one who knew.

That thought made Allen’s resolve harden a little.

‘I’m the only one who can protect her.’

What if they got laughed at when they showed up like this? Bunny would be devastated and burst into tears for sure. Then he’d have to take her away and comfort her.

“Wow, what’s that?”

“That’s a vase.”

“Wow, it’s huge! What’s that?”

“That’s the divine beast called the phoenix, which the first Duke Yudia summoned. It’s the divine beast featured in the crest symbolizing the Yudia Ducal Family as well.”

“Phoeniiiix!!”

Bunny’s eyes sparkled as she stared at the crystal statue.

She thought she’d look so cool riding on top of that giant phoenix.

‘Oops.’

Bunny shook her head vigorously side to side.

‘Bunny has black-flamey!’

Hee hee.

She’d kept it warm in her pocket to hatch it, so it’d come out soon.

“We’ve arrived.”

“Wow…….”

Standing before the grand door, Bunny’s mouth fell open wide.

‘Bunny… tiny bean.’

She felt endlessly small compared to the door.

* * *

Knock knock.

“Young Master Kiriel. Miss Bunny has come to see you.”

The soldier who knocked spoke carefully, and from inside came a crash and clatter!—like something spilling over.

Question marks popped up over Bunny and Allen’s heads as they exchanged glances.

“Young Master Kiriel?”

Ugh.

“Tell the kids to wait a bit and you can go….”

The soldier hesitated at the low groan and the slow words from inside, then nodded slowly.

“Yes, understood.”

The soldier turned to Bunny and spoke.

“Miss, please wait here just a moment.”

“Okay.”

“It was an honor to escort you.”

The soldier didn’t even acknowledge Allen, just gave Bunny a slight bow and turned to retrace his steps.

Allen’s head drooped even lower as he felt the soldier’s unpleasant, sidelong glare. While Allen stood there with a dark expression, the doorknob clicked, and the door opened.

“You’re here……?”

“Yup! Hello!”

Bunny bowed her head low. The girl, whose waist folded in half as always, peeked up and glanced at Allen.

Seeing Allen standing ramrod straight, Bunny’s mouth formed a perfect O.

Bunny poked Allen’s side repeatedly and winked—or tried to, but both eyes squeezed shut tight instead.

Allen, who had frozen at Bunny’s repeated double-blinks, finally straightened his awkward stance when he heard her mutter “Greet him!” under her breath. With a reluctant face, he bowed his head.

“Hello.”

As Allen greeted him, Bunny beamed proudly, stood on tiptoe, and patted his head, stroke stroke.

‘Praise for a job well done!’

That’s what Luriel said you had to do so they’d do it well next time too. Seeing Bunny’s pleased smile, Allen’s face flushed bright red. Unable to snap at her, he whipped his head away.

“You both came together. I only told the soldier about one…….”

Young Master Kiriel Yudia murmured softly, his red eyes narrowing further.

Bunny nodded vigorously, eyes wide.

“Yup! They ignored Allen whole way here. Mean uncle.”

At Bunny’s words, Allen’s face burned with shame. He hadn’t thought she’d noticed.

“Really?”

Young Master Kiriel Yudia crouched down in front of Bunny and asked.

“Yup!”

“How did they ignore him?”

“Uh……. They only greeted Bunny and uh, uh… like that. Ignored Allen lots. Kept glaring. And stuff like that.”

Bunny, not yet fluent in human speech and short on vocabulary, wrapped it up roughly.

“Hey! What the heck are you saying……!”

Allen hurriedly clamped his hand over Bunny’s mouth at her words.

Of course, by then Bunny had already earnestly recounted everything that happened on the way, stumbling through it step by step.

Because Luriel had said adults’ business should be handled among adults.

Luriel had said that’s why kids need adults nearby—for when there’s something a kid can’t handle, they should ask an adult for help.

And……

‘Bunny can’t beat burly knights.’

Bunny was a mature child who could quickly size up a situation.

And now Bunny had an adult who could handle things for her.

“Ahh……. I see? Guess I’ll have to scold Dad then.”

“Yup?”

“Huh?”

Bunny and Allen’s faces filled with equal bewilderment at Young Master Kiriel Yudia’s utterly languid words.

Dad.

The two of them sharply sucked in their breaths at that word.

“I decided to be your guardian, didn’t I? Or did you only need my name?”