Chapter 79
‘This guy isn’t normal either.’
The youngest Magic Tower Lord.
A madman who declared an entire massive Magic Tower and the land surrounding it as his own nation, then took down one of the opposing countries in a single night with just a handful of mages.
He wasn’t someone you could even reason with from the start.
If something didn’t sit right with him, he’d just say, “Ahh, I see~” with a smiling face and snap his fingers.
And that was it.
Whether the other person died or ended up crippled, that was the end of the matter.
“Hey, hey. Duke Yudia. If I go find the Young Master right now, fix whatever it is he dropped, give it back to him, and show up at the party, what are the odds he’d welcome me?”
Spinning around his finger was a Transparent Glass Orb. Given the wrapping paper scattered on the floor, he’d clearly torn it open himself.
“…Tch.”
As if he’d drop something like that. He must have used magic to steal it.
Rudbride shot Jedrian a displeased glance before lightly nodding to the emperor.
“I’ll head in first.”
“Ahh, sure.”
“What~?! Why won’t you answer me?! Duke Yudia! What are the odds the Young Master would welcome me…!”
He stopped.
Jedrian, who had been floating midair, froze under Rudbride’s icy gaze, then slowly curled the corners of his lips upward.
With a soft smile crinkling his eyes, Jedrian straightened his posture.
“Hehe, what’re you glaring at me like that for, so scary.”
“Even if my son lost his mind from a sword to the head and welcomed you, I never will. I haven’t forgotten what you did to him.”
“…!”
Jedrian’s eyes widened. Then he giggled, shrugging his shoulders.
“You mean that cute thing I said when he was little? I was just stating the facts. The Young Master is under a demon race curse, so he can’t feel human emotions and will have to live his whole life broken.”
Jedrian spun once in midair.
“It wasn’t exactly wrong, was it?”
“…”
“Oh, or are you talking about after that, when I cast magic on him to make him want to experiment and sent his demon energy into a frenzy? Eh, that worked out fine in the end…”
After that day, it was only natural that Kiriel became completely isolated from those around him. Even in the ducal household, people started quitting left and right, saying they couldn’t work there anymore.
And even after that, Jedrian kept hounding him, asking if he wanted to be an experimental subject, pulling all sorts of dangerous stunts, which led to a huge fight between them.
“You…”
Rudbride narrowed his eyes, swallowing the words he wanted to say.
“Does that look or sound like something a guy who doesn’t know human emotions would say or do?”
He froze.
Jedrian halted his movements.
“The only nonhuman here is you. You foolish, ignorant fool.”
Leaving Jedrian rooted to the spot, Rudbride left the conference room.
Drip. Jedrian, who had been frozen solid, suddenly beamed radiantly and turned to the emperor.
“Your Majesty, can I interrogate this one a bit? He might know ancient tongue.”
The tip of the innocent-looking man’s finger pointed at the elf still muttering to himself, harboring Demonic Qi.
* * *
‘Bunny… all alone.’
Hugging Ma-gomi tight as she lay sprawled on the bed, Bunny sank into gloom, lost in thought.
Because Grandpa and Daddy had been gone all day, and Kalbad and Allen had gone to extreme lengths to avoid her.
Bunny had been bored out of her mind with no one around all day, so when she went to play, Allen jumped in fright and hurried off saying he was busy. Kalbad didn’t even show his face.
If she caught even a glimpse of him from afar, he’d dart away like a rabbit.
When she asked Jessie, the maid just smiled and said she didn’t know. And even when she ran into Roden, whom she hadn’t seen in ages, he pushed her away saying he had urgent training today.
Everyone was avoiding Bunny.
‘Because they found out I’m a demon…?’
What if Bunny gets kicked out like this?!
Poor Bunny, tossed out onto the streets?!
“…Hng.”
Luri had told her absolutely never to let it slip.
Bunny didn’t keep Luri’s promise. No matter what, even if she got kidnapped, she wasn’t supposed to use her powers.
‘Next time, I have to keep it super secret.’
Thinking that, Bunny clenched her tiny fist and slipped her hand into Toto’s belly.
She pulled out the notebook and flipped through the pages.
‘Useful info for Daddy, Allen, and Kalbad…’
Even though she was a demon, if Bunny became a good demon who brought lots of helpful stories, everyone would like her.
Like ways to make tons of money or something.
‘I heard it.’
People whispering that Bunny was a ‘prophet.’
Sometimes they even came up to her asking what would go well. Of course…
‘Bunny’s a fake prophet, so they all shook their heads.’
So Daddy and Allen would like that kind of thing too.
Luriel’s secret notebook was amazing. It always told her what she was thinking.
Babyyyyyy!!! You got kidnapped and came back!!! Are you hurt anywhere?! Does it hurt anywhere?! I should kill those damn bastards!
Bunny blinked at the page overflowing with worry. Her mouth went all soft and wobbly.
Luri was great. She always worried about Bunny.
Stomping her feet, Bunny grinned.
By the way, they found out you’re a demon. But it’s okay!!! You won’t get chased out right away, at least. But from now on, you absolutely can’t bother Kiriel Yudia anymore. Honestly, it’s best to stay out of sight as much as possible!!!
“…Out of s-sight?”
Bunny’s little mouth fell open in a perfect O, her face struck with shock as she murmured softly.
Her heart, pounding moments ago, sank in an instant.
No more cutie-cutie tactics either! I’m telling you, staying out of sight is key. A new kid’s coming soon, and you can’t approach that one either. Just… think of it as preparing to grow up by keeping your distance.
“…”
Her fidgeting body came to a complete stop.
Silently tracing the words with her finger, Bunny read and reread the contents, pressing down firmly over and over.
After a long while, she wiggled her finger and wordlessly turned to the next page.
Now that they know you’re a demon, even if Baby’s not bad, they might think you are. So… you have to become a useful kid. I know it hurts, but hang in there a little. You get it, right?! Training to become the Great Demon King!!!
“Ung……. Training!”
Bunny in training to become the Great Demon King.
‘Just use human Daddy.’
So thinking of staying out of sight as training made it okay.
When Bunny grew up, she’d leave this house, and then she might have to fight Daddy with water splashy-splashy powers or something.
‘Bunny, the praiseworthy demon kid who doesn’t seek love.’
She could do anything on her own now, so she didn’t need Daddy anymore.
“Ung. Bunny queen is fine!”
Declaring it firmly, Bunny stared at the same page for a good long while before she could finally turn to the next one.
