The Oracle of the Villainous Baby - Chapter 137

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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 137
It is said that such things occurred long ago, before this ancient Empire was even created.
Some claim that the Village of Oteloid stands as evidence of this.
Of course, now that an eternity has passed, there is no way to know whether that is truth or fiction.
As time flowed onward, the world transformed. The Demon Clan and humans no longer lived together. The chasm of resentment between them had grown far too deep.
It was too late for a simple apology and reconciliation born of misunderstanding.
Even I still found myself wary of the Demon Clan—all except Bunny, at least.
Moreover, the Udiah Duchy was a family that had long stood at the forefront of war against the Demon Clan.
Everyone living within the Udiah Duchy harbored ill feelings toward the Demon Clan.
“Well, I’m not certain.”
Kiriel stroked Bunny’s hair as he spoke.
“…So it wouldn’t work even if I became a virtuous Demon King, would it?”
Even if Bunny became an innocent Demon King who knew nothing and harbored goodwill toward humans, the world’s gaze would not easily shift.
‘They would surely attempt to exploit her.’
And later, they would seek to eliminate her.
Most anyone with a functioning mind would harbor thoughts similar to my own.
The Demon Clan were valuable resources. Their horns, their wings, their hearts that produced strange magical power—all were subjects of research.
One need not even consider why that mad Mage Tower Master, Jedrian, kept several Demon Clan members alive in captivity.
‘Unless, perhaps, we were to form a royal marriage as a powerful alliance…’
My thoughts halted abruptly.
Now that I thought about it, Bunny’s betrothed was none other than Roel—the Crown Prince himself.
‘Would the Emperor truly leave Bunny be?’
Perhaps.
If the Emperor, who prioritized national interests, found profit in an alliance with the Demon Clan, he might consent. However, the Empress would be far more enraged than the Emperor.
Roel had already been cursed by the Demon Clan and died, only to be revived. The Empress would never stand by and watch her son rush toward such peril again.
When Demon Clan and humans drew close, humans suffered far greater negative influence.
Conversely, when clergy and the Demon Clan drew close, the influence of the stronger side prevailed.
‘Yet Bunny possesses both holy power and magical power coexisting within her.’
Perhaps because of this, or perhaps because she had not yet fully awakened, she had never caused harm to those around her.
But if she were to become a complete Demon King…
My eyes narrowed as I patted Bunny’s back.
‘Would Bunny change in that way too?’
Devoid of all emotion, dry and cold.
I drew in a slow breath, then exhaled, recalling the appearance of the last Demon King.
With each exhalation came a chill, and the air around her roiled with dark magical power.
Knock, knock.
The sound of knocking cut through my thoughts, and my eyes narrowed.
I slowly turned my head.
“Who is it?”
“I am Leptha. I have come to see my master.”
Leptha.
He opened his eyes slowly.
An ancient Elf I had captured from the Ruins discovered previously.
Since he needed a quiet place where humans rarely ventured, I had given him a private quarters tucked away in a corner of the Marquis Estate.
He had been secluded inside until now, but it seemed he had finally emerged.
‘He appears to meet with the Emperor periodically…’
Listening to his Imperial speech, which had grown considerably more fluent than before, I opened my mouth.
“…Now is not…”
It was the moment Kiriel was about to voice a refusal on Bunny’s behalf.
Tug.
Bunny suddenly pulled at his sleeve.
Kiriel’s eyes narrowed as he watched Bunny nod.
“Leptha is fine. I know him.”
“…You know his identity?”
“Yes.”
Kiriel gazed at Bunny silently for a moment, then slowly swallowed and nodded.
He wanted to ask when she had learned this, how she had discovered it, and whether there were any complications, but for now he suppressed his curiosity. He could ask later without any rush.
When Kiriel unlocked and opened the door, Leptha entered in a light tunic.
Once Leptha was inside, Kiriel closed the door again.
“As expected.”
Upon seeing Bunny, Leptha’s eyes sparkled with delight.
Bunny met his gaze without speaking.
Leptha looked far healthier than when I first saw him.
His once dull black skin now gleamed with vitality, and his previously coarse white hair shone brilliantly. His deep violet eyes brimmed with life, and his sunken cheeks had filled out pleasantly.
“Ah, your awakening has finally begun. Why do you not release yourself? Your awakening is incomplete, young master.”
“…I don’t want to awaken until I’m grown. If I grow up, I’ll have to become the Demon King, and if I become the Demon King, I can’t be with Father and my family anymore.”
At Bunny’s words, Leptha paused and tilted his head.
He looked at Bunny with some bewilderment, then noticed a small Phoenix dozing on a large perch set in one corner of the room.
“Why is that?”
“Humans hate the Demon Clan. So if I become the Demon King and stay here, it will cause enormous trouble.”
“It would suffice to get along well. Besides, isn’t it human nature to exploit anything if there is benefit? And the Demon Clan would obey the Demon King’s commands.”
At Leptha’s casual words, Bunny pouted her lips with a sullen expression.
“Young master, your concerns are trivial. Your awakening as the Demon King is far more important. The world is fundamentally composed of good and evil. Without a Demon King, balance crumbles.”
“Crumbles…?”
“I have investigated the Human Realm thoroughly during my time here. The deterioration between humans and the Demon Clan occurred quite long ago.”
Leptha strode forward and settled himself casually on the windowsill as he continued.
“It was fascinating. Humans believe the Demon Clan is evil, and that the world would become righteous if the Demon Clan ceased to exist.”
A gentle breeze drifted through, lightly brushing against Leptha’s long hair tied in a single knot.
Leptha caught the breeze with the tip of his finger as it passed his cheek. When he brought his index finger forward, the wind created a small whirlwind spinning around it instead of passing by.
‘Wow…’
Bunny’s eyes widened. The small vortex that had formed at her fingertip looked absolutely magnificent.
“Do you think evil will vanish from the world if the Demon King disappears? Child of the divine.”
Leptha asked, looking toward Kiriel.
Kiriel hesitated, then narrowed his eyes.
There was something subtly unsettling about a man who appeared far younger than himself speaking with such casual authority.
As Kiriel fell silent, Leptha, quickly grasping the reason, let out a soft laugh.
“Ah, forgive me. She is your precious child. It was not a question I should have asked a parent. I apologize.”
At Leptha’s courteous apology—his right hand placed over his chest as he bowed lightly—Kiriel narrowed his eyes and slowly nodded.
“To elaborate… evil does not vanish. Rather, because the Demon King exists, the fallen and humans can coexist together.”
….
At words that made no immediate sense, a deep furrow formed between Kiriel’s brows.
Bunny’s eyes widened even further.
“It means that because there exists an absolute ruler who cannot be defied, the subordinates dare not act recklessly… Perhaps it is difficult to understand?”
….
Leptha tilted his head lightly.
Observing Bunny and Kiriel, who wore identical expressions, he broke into a gentle laugh.
“The Demon Clan are, as commonly said, the very source of evil. The Demon King controls all of them from the source closest to that desire.”
Leptha, who had been sitting cross-legged, leisurely crossed his legs and opened his mouth very slowly.
“The Demon Clan are living beings created from the world’s desires to maintain the balance between good and evil.”
Leptha’s long fingers, having uttered incomprehensible words, pointed directly at Kiriel Yudia.
“Especially yours. Humans.”

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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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