Translator: Nox

Chapter 50

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The grounds of the ducal residence were quite vast.

The duchy itself was large, but the residence’s grounds were impressive in size as well. It was saying something that there was even a lakeside nestled within a small forest inside the residence.

Once a month.

On the night of the full moon, Allen spent the night here.

Half-human, half-beastkin.

That was the term usually used for the mixed blood of beastkin and humans.

Beastkin possessed intelligence on par with humans and could shift into human form.

However, Allen, who was half-human half-beastkin, always lost control and turned into a beast when the full moon rose.

Allen, crouched before the lake that shimmered brilliantly under the moonlight, stared at his non-human form reflected there, then turned his head.

‘Monster….’

He was a monster.

Humans despised him, calling him a filthy beast and a monster. Even the beastkin called him a filthy half-breed monster.

Just as they said, Allen was a monster.

Even normally, when he overexerted himself, his ears would sometimes perk up involuntarily.

Beastkin in human form would sometimes revert to their quadrupedal beast form to conserve energy when their strength waned. Of course, by their own will.

But Allen couldn’t control it.

Neither the ears that popped out on their own when he was tired, nor the shaggy-furred beast form that went on all fours under the full moon.

‘Bunny would surely hate seeing me like this.’

She said she liked him now, but if she saw this monstrous form, she’d definitely be greatly disappointed.

‘If only it were something cute like a rabbit or a baby bear….’

Bunny seemed to like rabbits.

If it were something like that, maybe she would have liked him.

But his form was….

Rustle, rustle.

In the midst of his thoughts, the rustling sound made Allen, whom he thought of as a beast, snap his protruding muzzle shut and squeeze his eyes shut in irritation.

“Wahhh, so sparkly!”

At the sudden familiar and nostalgic voice, Allen’s eyes snapped open.

‘Bunny?!’

Flap.

Allen abruptly rose to his feet and looked around.

A wide grassy field stretched around the lake.

“This lake is called Moonlight Lake. It got its name because the moonlight is perfectly captured in the water. They say the moonlight held in the lake carries a sacred power.”

‘Even the Young Master…?’

What was he doing here at this hour?

In a panic, Allen spun in circles, unsure what to do, and was just about to whip around and flee when—

“Ae-run!!”

The scream-like voice made Allen’s steps halt abruptly.

‘No. If she sees me….’

She’d definitely despise me.

He didn’t want that. Bunny was the first child to ever approach him.

She was still so young, so she probably didn’t know anything and just came close.

‘I want to show her only my good side.’

He wanted to show her more mature sides of himself.

With that thought, as Allen shook his head, braced his legs, and was about to push off the ground—

Poof—!

The warm, soft sensation from behind made Allen’s yellow eyes widen hugely.

“Ae-run!”

“…….”

“Ae—run?”

“…….”

“Ae. Run!”

Suddenly.

A small head popped out beside him, and Allen slowly turned his head, his gaze trembling finely.

Thud. His elongated muzzle touched Bunny’s cheek before jerking away in surprise.

“G-go away. Today….”

“Wah, so fluffy, so soft and squishy. Ae-run king big wolf! So cool! So pretty! King big! Tail two too!”

Small palms repeatedly stroked Allen’s head. The warmth felt all over his face made his large body shudder.

“So you’re a hybrid of the Two Wolf Clan….”

Kiriel’s surprised voice added on, and Allen’s body stiffened before shrinking back slightly.

“Wh-why are you here…? Today….”

“Wanted to see Ae-run so came! Daddy missed too.”

Allen’s eyes widened hugely.

Under the dark night sky, by the lake pouring with moonlight, Bunny’s face beamed brightly, and Allen’s eyes crinkled as if about to tear up.

A massive monster on all fours.

And a chubby-cheeked girl draped over that monster’s back, arms wrapped around its neck.

“…Aren’t you scared of me?”

“Nuh-uh. Bunny not scared cuz king big and king strong. Plus Heukryong here and daddy here and….”

Bunny’s pink eyes sparkled. They seemed to shine even more iridescently, reflecting the moonlight.

“It’s Ae-run!”

“……!”

“Ae-run no hurt Bunny so not scared even one bit.”

Bunny giggled and stomped her feet.

“Cuz Bunny like Ae-run suuuper lots! If no Ae-run, Bunny suuuper sad and….”

“…….”

Hearing Bunny’s words, Allen’s eyes trembled faintly.

‘Even in the middle of being busy, she doesn’t forget the cute act strategy—genius Bunny.’

Of course, Bunny was actually thinking something very naughty.

“…Don’t I look like a monster in this form?”

Monster?

He looked more like a super cute puppy.

The floppy ears.

The two tails swishing little by little since earlier.

The protruding muzzle.

Even the fluffy gray fur.

“Cute puppy!”

Bunny grinned wide and shouted.

Allen’s eyes crinkled as if about to cry. Kiriel watched quietly from a step behind, observing how his lips twisted on the verge of tears at each of Bunny’s words, then curved happily.

“So let’s go home!”

“We’ll sleep together tomorrow. Today I… can’t go back to the mansion…….”

“Why?”

“…Because everyone hates it.”

Allen, thoroughly deflated, answered softly.

Bunny, astride his back with her short arms crossed once more, huffed “Hm.” through her nose, then suddenly slid down his back.

Kiriel startled and quickly reached out an arm to catch the child, carefully setting her down on the ground. Then Bunny bowed her head politely and scampered right in front of Allen to stand there.

“If everyone hate, scared?”

“…A little. It makes me feel like I’ve become a bad person. I’m a monster, after all.”

“But me too, had that before. When walking with Luri, everyone hate Bunny. Say Bunny make Luri embarrassed. Then even more like.”

Allen and Kiriel’s pupils dilated for a moment. The two startled people’s gazes both landed on Bunny.

“What?! Which brats……!”

A growl erupted from Allen’s excited throat.

Allen flinched in surprise and quickly clamped his mouth shut. Even as he bared his fierce fangs, Bunny just “Heehee”d brightly.

“Little sad… but Luri say Bunny more precious than anyone. Not embarrassed. People who say bad things that much, their hearts sad. So…….”

Bunny trailed off.

“So little one, even if someone speaks badly of you, don’t mind it. When that happens…….”

Bunny opened her mouth with a big smile.

“Make fist tight and stick up middle finger and say fuck you!!! Then pretend not know, that’s it.”

At Bunny’s sudden words, the wolf’s mouth gaped open.

“What?”

“Anyway, those guys losers of life. But Bunny gonna be great grown-up so king big… mage gonna be.”

Standing straight, hands on hips, Bunny puffed out her chest and declared.

“So little one, even if it turns out you’re demon tribe and people hate you, it’s okay. As long as you love yourself super lots. And don’t forget Luriel loved you.”

“Nuh-uh? Wait, yeah.”

“Our little one gonna be king big great demon king super high-up person.”

Allen gazed down silently at Bunny, who was much smaller than him, and tightly pressed his lips together.

Bunny, beaming radiantly, continued.

“Ae-run gotta love self too to be super strong person!!”

“…….”

“So okay. Ae-run no monster. Come here.”

As Bunny spread her two arms wide to the sides, Allen padded over on all fours, knelt before her, and then thud, shoved his muzzle right into Bunny’s small embrace.

As if desperate to somehow nestle into that tiny bosom.