Translator: Nox

Chapter 52

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“Thank youuu.”

“Oh dear, take care. Little miss. Out of gratitude for waiting since early this morning, I added a few more chocolates that are a bit misshapen from slight failures, but they taste exactly the same.”

“Gasp. Yeees!”

Bunny grinned widely and waved her hand vigorously while clutching the item in her arms tightly as she left the shop.

‘People bustling everywhere.’

Bunny came in first.

Heh.

The people who arrived late wouldn’t be able to buy the chocolates that Bunny had purchased.

“Let’s go, Berry.”

Belial looked down at the girl with a puzzled expression at Bunny’s cheerful face. And well he might, for he hadn’t been able to make sense of her actions since morning.

He had wondered what she was doing out in the markets of the ducal territory’s capital at such an early dawn, and there she was, squatting in front of the chocolate shop and waiting for a long time.

Shivering in the cold from dawn until noon had nearly arrived, standing there as steadfastly as if nailed to the spot.

Belial mulled over Bunny’s actions in his mind as he walked slowly before opening his mouth.

“Did you leave the ducal residence at the crack of dawn just to buy those chocolates?”

“Uh-huh.”

“May I ask why?”

“Because today’s Bunny’s special day! This choco is necessawry. Choco that Bunny eats first.”

Belial’s expression turned subtle at Bunny’s words.

The rabbit backpack that had jingled the whole way there was now empty of contents, not even making the sound of a single small coin rolling around.

“On Luri’s special days, this is what she does. Sharing the yummy things Bunny likes.”

“…….”

Belial thought it was ridiculous.

Demons were fundamentally selfish beings. A race with strong egocentric and individualistic tendencies.

They didn’t share anything with others or crave affection. That was the basic nature of demons.

‘…That woman instilled strange ideas in the vessel who will become king.’

Belial found the situation quite distasteful.

He debated for a moment whether to crush what Bunny was holding in her arms and give her a wake-up call, his fingers cracking as he flexed them and lowered his gaze.

The moment he looked at Bunny, Belial froze solid. He had no choice but to.

Bunny’s pink eyes were staring straight at Belial, sparkling with an inner light.

As if she could see right through all his thoughts.

Soon, the pink eyes were tinged red.

『Belial, Bunny doesn’t like it if you don’t listen.』

A chill ran down his spine.

A shiver raced up his vertebrae, and he slowly retracted his claws before lowering his hand. Only then did Bunny’s face brighten up.

“Good boy!”

The reddened eyes soon sparkled once more with their clear pink hue.

‘No wonder she’s called the king’s vessel.’

Belial couldn’t shake off the feeling that he had been overwhelmed in that instant as he slowly rubbed his face.

“Belial, the little one is a special person. Stronger than any previous Demon King, more special than any being ever born, and thus lonelier than anyone else.”

“I’ve heard enough of that tiresome prophecy of yours.”

“Yes, I’ve done all I can now. Take care of the little one.”

Belial shook his head lightly to clear his thoughts and slowly followed after Bunny, who was walking ahead.

“If I may, could you tell me what day today is?”

“Uh-huh? The day Bunny was born.”

“Ah…….”

Come to think of it, humans made a big deal out of the day they were born. It held no meaning for demons, but it seemed like a very special day for humans with their short lives.

“I see.”

Belial had no idea what significance it held, but he nodded with a faint smile.

He was quite curious about what kind of being the Demon King would become—the one Luriel had protected with her life, raised and taught herself, only to hand over into human hands.

Bunny, who had been toddling along the road, suddenly stopped in her tracks.

‘Bunny’s at her limit.’

Thinking about it, she had been out since early dawn, waited until nearly noon, and bought the chocolates.

“Berry.”

“Yes, miss.”

“Hug me, pwease. Tired.”

Bunny spread her arms wide toward Belial.

Bunny was an excellent child… no, an adult who knew to rely on grown-ups when she needed to.

“With pleasure.”

Belial replied lightly and scooped Bunny into his arms. Bunny nestled into his embrace and retraced the path they had taken.

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Oblivious to the uproar back at the mansion, Bunny arrived cradled in Belial’s arms, sleeping soundly, and the moment she opened her eyes……

Click. Click. Click.

Her eyes met those of Levon, who was on tiptoes in the corner, passionately holding a camera and angling it this way and that.

The instant their eyes met, Levon shoved the camera into his inner pocket at a speed too fast for the eye to follow.

“You’re awake, Miss Bunny.”

“Uh-huh…….”

Bunny rubbed her eyes and let out a small yawn.

Click. Click.

“Huh?”

Bunny tilted her head. Levon was holding the camera again, though she hadn’t seen him take it out. His face was utterly expressionless, but his actions were incredibly enthusiastic.

“The Young Master was very worried. Where did you go?”

Ah!

Bunny’s eyes lit up at Levon’s words, and she hopped down from the bed with a flap of her arms.

“Bunny’s choco!”

“Choco…….”

“Uh-huh. Whewe’s the choco?”

“It’s in my heart. Would you like to come in and look for it…….”

Levon said this with an expressionless face, spreading his arms wide.

Bunny blinked her eyes a couple of times.

“Huh?”

“Ah, sorry. My heart nearly burst for a moment there, so I misspoke without thinking. Your choco is in the kitchen for safekeeping. Shall I fetch it?”

“Yees!”

It was the moment Bunny, relieved it hadn’t disappeared, raised one arm high and answered energetically.

“Please hold that pose for just five seconds. I’d be grateful.”

“Yees……?”

Click. Click. Click.

While Bunny froze in place for a moment, the camera flashed repeatedly.

Levon approached, knelt down, gently lowered Bunny’s hand back into place, and sat her on the bed.

“Thank you. Please stay seated comfortably here, and I’ll bring it right away.”

“Yees.”

Bunny tilted her head at Levon’s words.

‘Levon’s a weird guy.’

While Bunny was thinking that and tapping her feet, Levon returned quickly with a well-packaged box.

“Miss, is this what you were looking for?”

“Yees! Pop-pop choco!”

It was the incredibly sweet chocolate that popped and burst in your mouth when you ate it.

There were always huge lines whenever Bunny went to the market.

That’s why she had endured and waited patiently to eat it today!

“Pop-pop choco, huh. The most popular one these days.”

“Levon knows?”

“Yes, of course. I know all the popular snacks nowadays.”

“Gonna eat this with Daddy, Aaron, and Grandpa.”

Bunny said that, then rummaged in the box, took out one chocolate, and held it out to Levon with a bright smile.

“Giving one to Levon too.”

Levon’s eyes widened slightly at Bunny’s words.

“…To me?”

“Yees.”

Levon blinked a couple of times before kneeling on one knee and holding out both hands.

“Thank you. I’ll seal it away like this and cherish it as a treasure.”

“No, choco’s for eating!”

“This one?”

“Yees.”

“…How could I possibly…….”

Levon stared at the chocolate with a serious expression. No matter how he looked at it, it was just an ordinary chocolate, but it was one given by Bunny herself.

How could he just chew and swallow the chocolate bestowed by this adorable, lovable ray of sunshine who had descended into his dreary daily grind under a boring, unrewarding superior—a sunshine who even transformed that boring superior?

“Ah!”

Bunny let out a small exclamation upon seeing Levon had no intention of putting it in his mouth.

Thinking back, there had been people before who refused what Bunny offered, saying it was dirty.

Something about getting sick if you ate something given by a kid of unknown origins?

“Bunny washes hands supew clean, so not diwty choco. Didn’t touch with hands eithew…. Because Bunny’s clean, won’t get sick choco!”

Levon, who had been gazing at the chocolate with a moved, reverent feeling at Bunny’s words, grew even more rigid in expression.

“Origins? Who said such a thing?”