Translator: Nox

Chapter 7

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“Wow!”

Bunny’s mouth fell wide open.

The place where Bunny arrived, lined up with the other children, was a small temple within the ducal estate grounds.

It only opened when there was a summoning ritual in the ducal family, so everyone called this small temple inside the mansion the ‘Blessing Room.’

To be precise, the enormous hall inside it, which looked just like a temple, was the Blessing Room.

The massive hall visible the moment they entered, the small table in the center, and the numerous chairs arranged in a circle around it like an enclosure made the Blessing Room resemble a courtroom.

Bunny trotted along at the very back, constantly looking around her surroundings.

Atop the central table sat an eerily transparent glass orb—so clear that Bunny thought it looked just like a water droplet.

“Lady and young masters, please stand over here for now, and when your name is called, step forward and do as you’re instructed.”

Bunny’s eyes sparkled at the words of Jessie, who had come along as a helper to look after all the children.

Recalling the contents of the secret notebook Luriel had given her once more, Bunny’s little body wriggled with excitement.

Something super cool and totally awesome!

As far as Bunny knew, there was only one such thing in the whole world.

‘I’m gonna pull the super-strong dragon!’

Luriel’s words were always right, so she was definitely going to draw something incredible this time too.

Fire beams blasting from the mouth, kaboom!

Riding on a dragon’s back and soaring high into the sky!

‘Heh heh, line up behind Bunny for dad candidates.’

Deeply immersed in her imagination, Bunny smugly rubbed just under her nose.

‘Oh my, a child with such an incredible ability! Please let me be your dad? I’ll raise you with love until you grow up. So please call me dad?’

‘Heh. To become my child, you need at least this much talent. I’ll give you a castle made of the finest chocolate. How about it—becoming my child?’

‘Hmph. That scruffy-looking bunny kid is the dragon’s master? No way I can believe it, no matter how cute that face is! What? Even aspiring to become the Great Demon…….’

Lost in the fluffy clouds of her expanding imagination, Bunny spent a good while vividly picturing various dad candidates competing fiercely to claim her—when she suddenly froze and clamped her mouth shut.

‘Great Demon King secret!’

Snapping back to reality in a flash, Bunny shook her head vigorously, then lifted the corners of her mouth in a sly grin and plunged right back into her fantasies.

‘That scruffy-looking bunny kid is the dragon’s master? No way I can believe it, no matter how cute that face is! What? Even has ambitions to become a great mage? I won’t believe it without proof!’

‘Heh, here’s your proof.’

In her imagination, Bunny plopped down on a long bench, awkwardly crossing her short legs, slurping orange juice from an elephant-shaped cup with one hand while wagging a finger side to side with the other—then a pitch-black dragon from behind let out a mighty roar!

‘Oh my, so it was real. I’ve never seen such an outstanding child before. Will you join my family? My dear.’

Bunny, total heartthrob.

Adult humans loved kids who were cute but not a hassle—admirable little ones.

And Bunny could handle everything on her own, wasn’t a hassle at all, was cute to boot, and on top of that, the future owner of a super-strong dragon and a super-big Great Demon King!

No matter how she thought about it, she was just too impressive—nothing but positives.

‘Dragon!’

Time to fly up and play on the clouds!

“His Excellency Duke Ludbrid Yudia, 1st Holy Knight Captain Klein Yudia, Saintess Salame Yudia, and Young Master Kiriel Yudia are entering.”

While Bunny was lost deep in thought, a resounding voice rang out.

The moment Bunny lifted her head, she saw people who had been chatting here and there rising sharply from their seats and bowing neatly.

Only then did Bunny realize there were tons of people seated in the chairs encircling the room in a circle—her mouth fell open.

The other children who had come with her were all bowing their heads too.

‘Gasp, Bunny too!’

Flap flap—finally realizing her duty, Bunny hurriedly bowed her head forward.

Of course, she stretched both arms straight back behind her this time to avoid flailing or tripping… in other words, striking the pose of a bird just about to take flight.

Not that it prevented the tragedy of Ma-gomi’s waist folding clean in half once more.

“Snrk.”

Hearing a small chuckle from somewhere, Bunny’s ears perked up as she peeked her head up. Her waist was still bowed, of course—only her head lifted slightly.

In that instant, her eyes met those of the people in the high seats through the air. Bunny tilted her head curiously, then realized their eyes had met and promptly bowed her head again.

The man with the dark skin turned his head away, his shoulders shaking, while the terrifyingly fierce old man in the center shot him a sharp glare.

“Everyone, rise and take your seats.”

At the old man’s words, everyone straightened their bowed waists and sat back down.

Catching on quick, Bunny shot her own waist upright too—then plopped down grandly onto the floor with a thud.

“Khup…”

Another stifled snort came from somewhere.

Whatever. Sitting there on the floor, Bunny thumped her waist—which ached from bowing too deeply—with her small fists.

The surroundings had gone mysteriously quiet, but she paid it no mind. Patting her back with her short arms felt more urgent.

“Lady Bunny.”

Only after hearing the voice did she notice the shadow falling over her head.

“Yeth?”

It was Roden Hainer.

“The floor is quite cold. If your legs hurt, I can have someone fetch a chair, so would you stand up for now?”

Bunny tilted her head and looked around. None of the other children who had come with her were sitting on the floor.

Only then realizing the instruction to sit hadn’t been meant for her, Bunny’s face turned beet red.

Her face on the verge of bursting, she hopped right up to her spot.

When she sneaked a glance around, everyone was staring right at her.

‘All eyes on Bunny…!’

Overwhelmed by the gazes pouring her way, Bunny twisted her body slightly and shoved Ma-gomi out in front of her instead.

After all, Ma-gomi was her courage-boosting bear.

She shook him a couple times, and his limp limbs dangled limply.

The already hushed vast hall grew so deathly silent she could practically hear a pin drop—no breaths at all.

Bunny turned her head with a puzzled look, and only then did she hear indrawn breaths from here and there.

“Ahem!”

Duke Ludbrid Yudia let out a loud, awkward cough as well.

“No more delays—start right away.”

At Duke Ludbrid Yudia’s words, Saintess Salame Yudia rose from the high seat and walked forward, placing her hand on the transparent glass orb.

At once, pure white light poured from her hand and began seeping into the orb.

‘White light!’

Bunny die! Bunny turn to dust!

Bunny leaped back and swiftly hid behind the nearest large pillar.

“…Lady Bunny?”

No, more precisely, it was Roden Hainer’s leg—she’d mistaken it for a pillar.

In truth, hiding behind Roden didn’t conceal her one bit.

‘Gasp, Roden’s white too!’

It was a major event, so Roden Hainer had attended in his formal uniform, which was pure white.

“Are you all right? Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Bunny… die…”

“Die…?”

Huh, doesn’t hurt.

Not turning to dust either.

“Baby, if strong holy power touches a weak demon, it turns to ash and crumbles away, so you have to be careful.”

But Bunny was totally fine!

That means…

‘Bunny actually already super grown-up?!’