Translator: Nox

Chapter 17

“That, that was just a joke. They were just messing with kids like us!”

“A joke…?”

Kiriel Yudia, who was squatting down, tilted his head slightly at Allen’s outburst.

“What’s a joke?”

“Hah…? I mean, they lied just to toy with us!”

“Why?”

Even as Allen’s voice rose in excitement, Kiriel Yudia asked with his usual relaxed expression. Allen’s lips twitched, then he bit his lower lip.

“W-Well… to enjoy watching us get all excited and hopeful…”

“Did you get excited and hopeful when I said I’d be your dad?”

Kiriel Yudia countered with a hint of amusement in his voice. Allen’s face flushed bright red. As Allen’s lips kept flapping soundlessly, Bunny’s eyes sparkled and she chimed in.

“Young Master, Bunny wants you to be daddy?”

“But you’re the one who asked me to be your daddy?”

“Nooo… Bunny asked you to be guardian who raises Bunny…”

“Don’t like daddy?”

Kiriel Yudia asked.

Bunny’s eyes went wide. She fidgeted with her fingers silently for a moment, then pulled a pouch from her rabbit backpack and held it out to Kiriel Yudia.

“Like it!”

Bunny replied with a big smile.

Kiriel Yudia blinked slowly as he gazed at the shabby cloth pouch, just as worn-out as ever.

‘A gift like something you’d give to a parent?’

“Thanks.”

Though puzzled, he accepted it readily and gave a faint smile.

“Oh, and also. This… medicine from Morden Merchant House… It makes a ton of money!”

“A ton of… what?”

“Makes money hand over fist!”

“…Hand over fist. You really know the weirdest words.”

At Kiriel Yudia’s words, Bunny cocked her head, then let out a little “hee-hee” laugh.

He doesn’t even know this stuff. The Young Master still has a long way to go.

Bunny shook her head side to side, shrugged her shoulders, and lifted her chin proudly.

“This is adult language.”

“Adult language? What does that mean?”

“Um… like, taking everything and selling it off big-time.”

Kiriel Yudia’s smile deepened at Bunny’s explanation.

Whoever taught her that sure had a vulgar way with words, he thought, before opening his mouth leisurely.

“That’s adult language, so it’s off-limits for Bunny.”

“Hng… Bunny’s a grown-up though.”

“You can’t be a grown-up with such a tiny height…”

“Tiny height?”

“Yep.”

Bunny blinked.

“There’s tiny heights?”

“There are. Small and cute ones.”

At Kiriel’s words, Bunny’s eyes widened round, and she grinned ear to ear.

‘Bunny’s popularity is perfect, as expected.’

No line of daddies had formed yet, but she’d gotten a daddy anyway. Luriel had said that even if you’re heading the wrong way, as long as you end up as a shrimp, it’s fine.

Bunny was a splendid shrimp that wouldn’t burst even among whales.

“Bunny, tiny-cute.”

Hee-hee.

As she giggled, Allen shot her a pitiful look from the side. Bunny stared at him curiously, then her lips quirked and she let out a “hee-hee.”

“By the way, any word about medicine coming from the Morden Merchant House…?”

Kiriel muttered softly to himself as he rose slowly from his seat.

“So, what brings you here today?”

“Came to give allowance.”

“Asking for allowance?”

Kiriel’s words made Bunny shake her head firmly.

“Nope. Bunny’s good girl! Does great all by self. Not naughty. Right?”

“Well…”

Kiriel nodded readily. At his agreement, Bunny’s face lit up brightly. She bounced in place excitedly, then sidled right up to Kiriel.

Kiriel paused at the sight of Bunny suddenly thrusting her face near his hand, then reached out and gently stroked her hair. Bunny’s cheeks flushed red.

When Bunny dragged Allen over and pushed him forward too, Kiriel chuckled and gave a couple pats to Allen’s hair as he flailed his hands in flustered panic.

Bunny grinned happily and bowed at the waist.

“Then bye-bye for now!”

Having received her head pats, Bunny spun around and trotted back the way she’d come. Kiriel, who hadn’t gotten the chance to invite her into his room or the parlor, stared blankly at his hand hovering in the air before withdrawing it slowly.

‘…As I thought.’

Kiriel’s eyes narrowed.

He’d wondered if it was his imagination…

“There’s definitely a faint trace of demon energy.”

Kiriel muttered under his breath and shrugged. He’d kept her around in the first place to verify that oddity.

Her approaching him might mean she had some ulterior motive.

‘She is cute, though.’

Eh, too much hassle. Might as well leave it be…

Kiriel Yudia, eyes thinly open, slipped back into his room as if nothing had happened and burrowed under the covers.

* * *

The ducal family held interviews once a year with the children who had performed the summoning ritual.

It was a precious opportunity for the Family Head of the Yudia Ducal Family to offer personal advice on their future plans or their divine beasts.

“The Family Head is super scary, they say. Hesitate even a little, and you get in huge trouble.”

“He hates lies like crazy too, right…?”

“I heard he never meets with useless kids again.”

“They say he’ll suddenly quiz you, and if you can’t answer, he sells you off in secret.”

“That’s not all. He tests your manners too. Last time, someone got yelled at big-time for eating the snacks in front of them without permission.”

Bunny gulped at the voices rising from all around the gathering for the interview.

‘The Family Head’s a super scary greedy human!’

She hugged Ma-gomi to her chest, and in her rabbit backpack on her back, she’d tucked the quail egg wrapped in cloth and the money for market shopping.

‘Should I bring the elephant too?’

Bunny fidgeted with her fingers tensely as she thought.

‘No. Bunny has an amazing egg.’

Her huge dragon egg.

Bunny giggled hee-hee.

She’d read Luriel’s secret notebook today too and brought info that would help, so they’d surely see her as a useful kid.

‘Lies are essential for becoming a great big Demon King!’

Of course, right now the egg was too small and weak, so she had to tell fibs like this, but once the egg grew and the huge dragon hatched, no one would be able to ignore it.

‘Till then, Bunny will protect the egg!’

As long as Bunny was around, no one could look down on the huge dragon egg.

“Little one, little one. You can’t trust humans too much. Humans will only stick around till you grow up. So you have to be a helpful kid so they don’t hate you. Got it?”

“Ung. Bunny no trust humans. Only trust Luri.”

“Oh my, such a good child. If you’re ever unsure or it’s tough, just read this great big Luriel’s notebook.”

“Okay, Luri. What if Bunny stays with Luri forever? Wanna stay with Luri. Hate humans… Like Luri.”

“Gasp, so cute I could die. Those damn humans better not bully you. How is a kid like this stuck in a villainess role?”

“Ung?”

“Er, nothing. Luriel loves our little one big-big-big too. You know? But little one, you’re special, so you have to stay with humans for a while.”

“…Ung.”

“Got it? Never ever hope for love or anything. No jealousy over friends either. Humans are all users! Suckers! Stick in the straw and slurp!”

“Ung! Slurp-slurp!”

Remembering her time with Luriel after so long, Bunny rubbed at her eyes with the back of her hand.

Bunny no cry, got huge dragon egg, smart info, making money, good girl!

Bunny, interview perfect score!

With her nose held high, Bunny clenched her tiny fist triumphantly.