The Oracle of the Villainous Baby - Chapter 135

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 135
Her folded wings unfurled with a magnificent sweep, and Bunny soared high into the sky with a sudden thrust.
Flap—!
The rushing wind made Roel instinctively close his eyes, then open them. By then, the Phoenix had already created distance between itself and Bunny.
Bunny hovered gently in the sky above.
The moonlight, which had been hidden behind the clouds, now revealed itself and illuminated Bunny precisely from above.
Roel drew in a deep breath and blinked slowly.
“Bunny….”
With her massive wings spread wide, floating silently in the void, Roel found his mouth falling open without conscious thought.
She was beautiful.
And yet, she looked so lonely.
Her long hair, the color of flowing water, was streaked with black in places, and her eyes no longer held that sparkling pink radiance.
Soon, the young girl hovering high in the sky slowly extended her arms, pointing her fingers toward the sea.
No emotion emanated from her, and her snow-white skin appeared even more pallid.
‘Is this what it means to be a Demon Clan member?’
Infinitely solitary in appearance, simultaneously infinitely lonely, and yet so breathtakingly beautiful.
The girl stood in a position that no one could ever reach.
“Ah….”
In that moment, Roel thought to himself.
“I just… I just wanted to be happy too. I wanted to be loved. You said you’d protect me… So why am I… Why, why, why am I….”
In the not-so-distant past, that girl who had seemed only lonely—why had she lingered so persistently in his thoughts and weighed so heavily on his mind?
He had suspected it was because he had unconsciously thought of that girl as Bunny, but more fundamentally….
‘That’s Bunny as a Demon Clan member.’
Bunny, alone with no one else.
So if he didn’t hold her firmly in his grasp, someday she might become that solitary figure.
Dark demonic energy began to surge, and soon the density of that power swelled. Demonic aura flowed outward, staining the surroundings pitch black.
[Tsk, this place is dangerous too.]
The Phoenix, observing the situation, flew higher and increased the distance between itself and Bunny.
Simultaneously, a colorless, transparent barrier wrapped around Roel’s body. And then….
Rumble, rumble, rumble—!
As the air vibrated, a tremendous roar erupted, and the condensed demonic aura exploded.
Seawater surged endlessly upward, then poured down from the sky like a torrential downpour.
“Ah….”
Even as the rain fell upon him, Roel remained transfixed, his head tilted back, unable to tear his gaze from Bunny.
Beautiful, and yet so lonely….
“Phoenix, could you go over there? Next to Bunny.”
[It could be dangerous.]
“Now!”
Roel grabbed the Phoenix’s feathers as if to tear them out, shaking them urgently.
The Phoenix hesitated in surprise, but eventually flapped its wings and drew closer to Bunny.
[I am not a Carriage.]
The Phoenix protested as it drew near to Bunny.
Yet Roel simply continued running across the Phoenix’s back and launched himself toward Bunny.
“Bunny!”
“…!”
Bunny’s eyes widened in surprise.
Bunny reflexively caught Roel and swept him into her embrace. She cradled the boy—whose head stood two full heights taller than hers—with the ease of a princess, her lips parting in astonishment.
Gleam—
Light suddenly returned to eyes that had been lifeless. It was as though vitality itself had seeped back into her gaze.
“Wh….”
“Why?”
“That’s dangerous, Roel!”
Bunny’s voice rose in alarm at his incomprehensible action.
At her words, Roel’s eyes widened, and then a small laugh escaped him.
“Because the great and mighty Bunny will protect me. You’re stronger than I am.”
“…Mm.”
At Roel’s words, Bunny hesitated, then slowly nodded as though acknowledging the truth of it.
Roel was right!
“That’s true. I will protect you.”
Bunny nodded repeatedly.
Seeing Bunny nod with satisfaction, Roel laughed and held her a little tighter.
Unlike before, there was no coldness or pallor about him. He was warm as always, his expression mischievous and familiar.
“Are you hurt anywhere? Anything strange?”
“No.”
Bunny nodded slightly and slowly settled down onto the Phoenix’s back.
Bunny shifted her body this way and that, then quietly folded her wings and hid them.
“But you know, Roel. I have a problem.”
“A problem?”
“…Yes.”
Bunny nodded slightly.
“What problem? Are you unwell? Tell me.”
At Roel’s words, Bunny shook her head firmly.
“No, I’m not in pain. I feel refreshed.”
It was as though a weight had lifted from my chest. I had finally released everything I’d been holding back. Only now did I begin to understand just how much demonic energy I had been suppressing all this time.
“But it’s not just one problem—it’s two.”
“Two problems?”
Roel’s eyes widened.
At his earnest reaction, Bunny smiled with satisfaction and nodded repeatedly.
“What are they? Can I help?”
“No.”
Bunny blinked, then shook her head with firm resolve. Her expression grew serious as she opened her mouth.
“This is my problem alone—I have to solve it myself. It’s time for the solitary wolf to act.”
“…Hmm. Bunny, is that perhaps a line from that novel about the cunning wolf?”
“…No? The line in that book is ‘It’s time for the solitary wolf to step forward.’ That’s different from what I said.”
“…Oh, I see.”
Though Roel couldn’t quite grasp the distinction, he nodded anyway. Bunny’s wide, innocent eyes made it clear she was absolutely insisting on her innocence.
“So what’s the actual problem?”
“My horns won’t retract. And these pointed ears won’t either.”
She’d managed to conceal her wings, but no matter what she tried, her horns and sharpened ears refused to hide.
“Ah….”
Roel let out a small sigh.
Now that he thought about it, her vertically-slit pupils remained unchanged as well. Her water-colored hair and pink eyes had returned to normal, but these demonic features persisted.
Bunny furrowed her brow and exhaled heavily.
“It seems my awakening has begun. What should I do?”
“Awakening…?”
“Yes. I—not Bunny, but I—said I would become a great Demon King someday, remember? That wasn’t a joke. It was the truth.”
“Right, you did say that.”
Roel nodded in agreement, his expression turning equally grave.
“My awakening as the Demon King has begun. It’s because I consumed the essence of the Demon Clan.”
I’d managed to suppress it all this time….
A note of discontent slipped into her dejected voice.
Bunny’s head drooped as if overwhelmed.
“…Does that mean I’ll become the Demon King soon?”
“I don’t know. It started on its own, and I can’t control it well.”
“You haven’t fully awakened yet?”
“No. Not yet… I’m still managing. I can endure it.”
Bunny raised her hand and pressed her palm firmly against the horns sprouting from her forehead.
The horns, grown considerably larger than when she was younger, couldn’t be fully hidden even beneath her palm.
‘Until I become an adult….’
Until she could grow up beautifully and say she’d found happiness, she wanted to remain with Father, Grandfather, Allen, Kalbad, and everyone else.
“Bunny….”
Seeing her dejected expression, Roel blinked very slowly.
Then he reached out his large hand and carefully cradled her horns.
When his warm palm made contact, Bunny’s shoulders trembled and her eyes widened.
“It’s alright. If anything happens, come to me.”
“…Roel.”
“When that time comes, I’ll protect you.”
At Roel’s words, Bunny slowly nodded. For now, there was no choice but to return home. Father would worry otherwise.
‘If I tell Father….’
Father was like Bunny’s hero—someone who could solve anything—so perhaps he would know what to do.
‘Luriel’s notebook is at home too.’
Bunny nodded slightly.
“But Bunny, did the High Priest feed you that demon clan member’s essence?”
Hmm…
Bunny, arms crossed, tilted her head and let out a long, thoughtful hum before her eyes widened and she shook her head.
“No, probably… no.”
If the High Priest had known Bunny would transform like this, he would have waited a bit longer.
And… someone who despised the Demon Clan so intensely wouldn’t have tried to join hands with one and reveal his true identity. Though it was merely intuition on my part.
“If we don’t go back, Father will worry.”
“…Right.”
Roel nodded slowly, his expression somewhat uncomfortable.
Yet there was nothing he could do for her now.
“If anything happens, come to me. I’ll protect you no matter what. Don’t think dark thoughts.”
“…Okay.”
At Roel’s words, Bunny smiled brightly and nodded.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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