Translator: Nox

Chapter 47

But before that, today she had to go buy food for the Black Flame Dragon.

The Black Flame Dragon’s food was Holy Power Stones, and Holy Power Stones could only be bought from Grandpa.

“Allen!”

“Yeah?!”

The moment Bunny called him, Allen came running over, leaving the divine beast behind.

“I’m going to Gramps. You come too, Allen?”

“Ah…….”

Allen, who had brightened at Bunny’s suggestion, darkened slightly. The boy scratched his cheek with an awkward smile and slowly shook his head.

“His Grace the Duke doesn’t like me much. I want to go with you, but…….”

Allen smacked his lips regretfully and took a step back.

“Sorry, but go on by yourself.”

Bunny tilted her head.

“Gramps doesn’t hate Allen.”

“…No. He does hate me. I’m a beast and…….”

Allen, mumbling to himself, flinched in surprise and shook his head side to side.

Avoiding Bunny’s steady gaze, he bit his lip hard and waved with a forced smile.

“Anyway, hurry back! If you return before snack time, I’ll give you my chocolate cookie.”

“Gasp. Yeah! I’ll be back quick!!”

“Gasp, where are you off to? Allow me to escort you, Miss Bunny.”

Belial, who had appeared out of nowhere, scooped Bunny up into his arms as he spoke.

Stomping her feet, Bunny waved frantically at Allen.

Allen watched the receding Bunny and clenched his fist tight.

“Tomorrow’s already… the full moon.”

The day he turned into a beast.

The day he couldn’t even pretend to be human.

The day he had to hole up somewhere out of sight was fast approaching.

---

“No, Your Grace! This venture has investment value! Look, it has solid long-term returns, and it’s a new product from a merchant guild that’s succeeded every time so far! We have to go with this one.”

“Hah, who would invest in something like that! Nonsense! Look, this clothing business has already been proven in another country. We’re just adding a slight variation, so it’s far more stable.”

“Hey, you con artist. Isn’t that country at the frigid northern tip? How can you even compare a land of eternal snow to our temperate empire?!”

The shouting match right in front of her sent documents flying everywhere in chaos. A chill seeped from around Rudbrid Yudia.

“Have you all got holes in your heads or what? These lunatics are throwing tantrums now that we’ve finally called a meeting…….”

“Your Grace, mind your language. This is an official gathering.”

At Pel’s flat voice from behind, Rudbrid’s lips twitched.

Yudia Ducal Family.

The family was impeccably upright, pure, and pristine—straighter than anyone else’s.

Not a single crooked bone in the bunch.

Some said the people of the Yudia Ducal Family were noble, elegant, and refined.

Rudbrid glared at his opponents in annoyance before letting out a hollow laugh.

“Fine. So, do you want to hole up in the temple prayer room for a month, or shall I personally bury you in the ground? Choose. I’m kindly giving you options.”

His voice was soft but laced with ferocity, and those who had been noisily banging on the table fell silent, gathered up the scattered documents, and meekly returned to their seats.

“We’re sorry.”

“Ahem. Anyway, with so many investment requests… the Yudia Ducal Family should figure out how to support them…….”

“Yes, indeed. After all, ‘business support’ is something the Yudia Ducal Family has steadily provided for a long time.”

As Rudbrid fell silent, Pel quietly poured a glass of ice water and set it on the table.

“The predecessors started supporting businesses to give opportunities to talented young people, you brainless idiots. Do you think my eyes are peepholes?”

As if anyone wouldn’t know they had brought proposals from enterprises connected to their own sidelines.

Rudbrid muttered lowly and let out a long sigh.

With the number of collateral relatives growing and their own positions growing precarious, the real problem was that they no longer cared about consequences.

‘I need to cut them all off soon.’

It was true that they had consistently supported businesses, so he had to review them all.

It was then.

Knock knock.

At the sound of knocking, Rudbrid looked up.

To think someone would knock on a door that said ‘Meeting in Progress.’

Rudbrid let out a hollow laugh, suppressing his irritation as he opened his mouth.

“Who is it, barging in during a meeting like this?”

“I’ll go check.”

Pel, bowing slightly, carefully opened the door, and his eyes widened a fraction.

“Your Grace.”

“What now.”

“Miss Bunny has arrived. What should we do?”

Rudbrid’s furrowed face instantly smoothed out, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

Ahem!

Clearing his throat once, he spoke.

“What’s that kid here for now? Running out of Holy Power Stones?”

“Yes, it seems so.”

Rudbrid waved his hand lightly and spoke.

“Tell her to come in. The meeting’s almost over anyway; we just need to select the ventures.”

Those gathered for the meeting exchanged glances at Rudbrid’s claim that the just-started meeting was nearly done.

“Yes, understood. Miss, you can come in.”

“Yeees.”

The door swung wide open, and all eyes turned to Bunny, who wore a black rabbit backpack on her back.

Bunny took a deep breath, rolling her big eyes around until she spotted Rudbrid, then beamed.

“Gramps!!”

“What if you trip, running over like that again.”

“Bunny missed Gramps so much!!”

Bunny latched onto Rudbrid’s leg like a koala.

‘Today too, cuteness operation.’

Dad had melted into a puddle, but Grandpa still wasn’t gooey yet.

The proof was that Bunny was still paying money to buy Holy Power Stones.

Of course, Bunny wasn’t some pathetic great demon lord whose hands shook over a mere 15 or 20 rosts, but even so, the goal was to melt him with gooey charm and get free Holy Power Stones.

Pfft.

A thick smile spread across Rudbrid’s lips.

He never imagined there could be a being so lovable just to look at.

About to speak lightly as he usually did when alone with Bunny, Rudbrid remembered this was the meeting room and quickly schooled his expression.

“Ahem.”

With a low throat-clear, Rudbrid scooped Bunny up and settled her on his knee.

“We’re in the middle of a meeting, so can you wait quietly for a bit? Bunny.”

“Yeees.”

“Pel, bring some cookies.”

“Yes, sir.”

Rudbrid scanned the stack of documents piled in front of him. He planned to select ones unrelated to the collaterals and be done with it.

“Uh, then how about having the young miss decide? Your Grace.”

“…What nonsense is this? Speak foolishly in front of the child, and a month in the prayer room won’t end it, you know.”

“No, the young miss… she possesses a most mysterious power, doesn’t she? She predicted that plague incident before… With that mysterious power, she might be able to sense which business will succeed! ”

As the retainers raised their voices insistently, Rudbrid’s eyes narrowed.

Bunny chewed on her cookie, crunch crunch, and tilted her head.

“Ahem, Bunny.”

“Yeth?”

“I’m thinking of investing in the best business here. Want to pick which one you think will do the best?”

Since Rudbrid’s interest had fled every proposal anyway, he asked casually, and Bunny’s eyes sparkled.

‘Is this a test?!’

If Bunny helps, Grandpa melts? Free Holy Power Stones?

‘Bunny can buy super lots of chocolate.’

She was already eyeing some chocolate at the market and saving money diligently because she wanted it.

Because in ten days—the most important day for Bunny—a limited edition chocolate went on sale, and she had to buy it!

‘Bunny buy that.’

Clenching her fists, Bunny nodded with sparkling eyes.

“Yeth!”