Translator: Nox

Chapter 59

What kind of existence was she, to harbor demon energy within her?

Up until now, it had been a subtle suspicion, but just moments ago, he had felt it clearly. The moment Holy Power burst forth, Demonic Qi had surged as if some balance had been shattered.

Anyone with a certain level of skill would have noticed it right away.

How desperate must the situation have been for Kiriel to brush off Rudbride and Klein, who were asking about his condition, and reflexively drape his own Holy Power over the child before hurrying back to his room?

Especially after using Holy Power just now, the demon energy had grown even stronger. It was as if all the Holy Power had been drained from her body, leaving only the demon energy behind.

Why?

He could only ask himself that.

For demon energy to leak out this much meant there was clearly something wrong with the child.

And yet, instead of exposing it, why had he brought the child with him and fled back to his room like a coward?

‘If she’s connected to demons, how could she wield Holy Power?’

Mana and Holy Power were like water and oil.

Black magic wielded by demons was no different from waste. It couldn’t mix with Holy Power, nor should it.

Coexistence itself was impossible from the start, so how could this child use Holy Power from a body that reeked of demon energy?

On top of that, she had summoned a divine beast. Not just any divine beast, but a Phoenix.

The Phoenix was a symbol of divinity.

It was said to be the greatest among God’s creations. The idea that something incompatible could coexist with it was simply unbelievable.

Kiriel rubbed his face in silence, his mind growing endlessly complicated.

‘Maybe it’s best to keep my distance?’

If, by any chance, the child truly was connected to demons… then Kiriel would have to kill Bunny.

Or take appropriate measures. If not that, then at the very least, he would have to send her away from this estate.

The Yudia Ducal Family was the empire’s final bastion.

No matter what, nothing that defiled divinity could be allowed to invade this place.

Why else would the ancestors of the Yudia Ducal Family insist on building their army solely from their own bloodline? It was to ensure not even the tiniest evil could breach their defenses.

Even if, in the worst-case scenario, the heavily fortified capital fell, there was no safer place than Yudia Territory, where a massive barrier could be erected.

Pok.

When he pressed his index finger firmly into the child’s cheek, the soft, squishy flesh sank in with a gentle give. Her face, still plump with baby fat, was utterly adorable.

“…She can’t possibly be a demon.”

Demons couldn’t use Holy Power, after all.

So, had she perhaps been afflicted with a demon’s curse when she was young, just like he had?

Even that didn’t quite fit—her eyes weren’t red, and her hair wasn’t black.

Or maybe she was a demon contractor?

This tiny, fragile little thing?

No way.

Kiriel let out a hollow chuckle at his own ridiculous thoughts. The most plausible explanation was a demon’s curse.

Having reached that conclusion, Kiriel let out a short sigh, roughly raked his hair back, and then reclined diagonally on the bed.

As he patted the back of Bunny, who was wriggling into his embrace seeking warmth, Kiriel closed his eyes.

For some reason, the child’s body heat felt slightly lukewarm.

* * *

“…Sorry.”

In the sunlit greenhouse, Bunny, who had finished a hearty meal nestled in her daddy’s arms and received sweet chocolate pudding as a reward, tilted her head at the abrupt apology from Calvad Udia, who had appeared before she could even take a bite.

Overnight, something must have happened—Calvad Udia stood there wrapped in gauze and bandages around his body and face, offering an apology, though his expression remained stiffly rigid.

Kiriel’s eyes slowly narrowed as he scanned Calvad standing before him.

“Calvad, did you spar with your father again?”

“…Yes.”

At Kiriel’s question, Calvad Udia, who had been gazing at Bunny, softened his expression and answered obediently.

Seeing his deeply sunken, dark expression, Bunny blinked slowly.

“What are you sorry for?”

Allen, who had been calmly munching on his snack amid the family, tossed out the blunt question, causing Calvad’s cheek to twitch as if he were bristling.

“You…!”

The moment Calvad twisted his lips and clenched his fist, taking a sharp step forward—

“Calvad.”

Flinch.

His body shuddered violently at the voice from behind.

Calvad’s face instantly filled with fear as he clenched his fist tighter.

“You still haven’t apologized properly?”

“…I did.”

Klein Yudia, now suddenly there in his uniform though he hadn’t been moments before, narrowed his eyes suspiciously, turned his head, and looked at Allen.

“Did this idiot apologize properly?”

Allen glanced at Calvad, fell silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.

“Yes.”

Calvad’s face flushed red with humiliation at Allen’s straightforward affirmation.

Bunny’s head tilted slightly at the sight of him trembling, fists clenched tight.

Klein silently regarded Allen, then nodded.

“I see. Well, that’s fortunate, then.”

“Yes.”

“You seem to enjoy playing daddy quite a bit, don’t you, little maknae.”

At Klein’s words, Bunny’s lips puffed out in a pout.

Allen, who had flicked his gaze over and spotted Bunny’s protruding lower lip, furrowed his brow ever so slightly.

“You, get out of here and go study in your room. Pathetic. Can’t you live properly for once? A direct-line heir who’s worse than those kids.”

“…….”

The moment Calvad bit his lower lip, nodded, and moved to step away—

Hop.

Bunny hopped down from Kiriel’s knee and toddled over, planting herself squarely in front of Klein with a thwack!

“Kiriel, Uncle.”

“…Un, what…?”

“Uncle! Bunny doesn’t like uncles. Not friends, so uncle!”

Bunny pointed her tiny finger straight at Klein as she declared it.

Klein let out a hollow laugh at the bold words from such a pint-sized thing.

“Why only say that to this uncle?”

“‘Cause you did bad things, so you gotta get scolded.”

“The baby got scared, why no pat-pat?”

“‘Cause you didn’t do anything good.”

“That’s not baby’s fault. Kiriel bigger than baby. Super big, so daddy s’posed to help, why not?”

Klein Yudia’s brow twitched once at Bunny’s words, as she blocked the doorway with her tiny body.

It had been cute at first, but her persistence was starting to grate a little.

“There are things kids like you don’t understand. Tsk. Little maknae, move your playmate aside.”

“Why keep saying it’s play?”

Bunny puffed out her cheeks in dissatisfaction.

“Not daddy play. Daddy always eats meals with Bunny and Allen, gives pat-pats, taps on back too. Even when Bunny can’t wake up, says it’s okay.”

Kiriel froze without realizing it at the words coming straight from the child.

“…….”

Klein Yudia’s lips tightened. It sounded almost like the little one was blaming him.

“Daddy is Bunny’s daddy. Uncle’s not daddy.”

Bunny tilted her head way back to look up at Klein Yudia.

Somehow, those pink eyes staring straight at him made Klein Yudia feel exposed, as if all his inner thoughts had been laid bare, and he scowled unwittingly.

“Luri said babies gotta be loved to grow big. Loved lots to grow tall and strong like super big person. Unloved kids stay super small.”

Bunny’s eyes widened as she grabbed the hand of the frozen Calvad and yanked it hard.

“Wh-what are you doing?”

Calvad stumbled along, dragged by Bunny’s hand.

The place Bunny led Calvad to was right behind Kiriel, who was seated at the dining table.