The Oracle of the Villainous Baby - Chapter 147

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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 147
“It’s alright.”
Bunny spoke with composure.
“I have Father, and I have Heugyeomryong too….”
As Bunny’s lips trembled, Roel’s image flashed through her mind before vanishing.
The child fidgeted with her fingers before carefully opening her mouth.
“Father, does that mean I can’t see Roel either?”
“It depends on Roel’s will. The Emperor and Empress will likely oppose it, after all.”
“…I haven’t done anything wrong all this time.”
“That’s true.”
“Everyone became soft toward me. They all said they liked Bunny.”
“That’s right. Everyone loves you, Bunny.”
Kiriel gently affirmed her words.
I wanted to live as a human, so I removed my horns, hid my tail, concealed my wings. I even forcibly compressed my demonic power into holy energy. I thought it would be fine now. I foolishly imagined I wouldn’t be discovered until I became an adult.
‘…Belial.’
Suddenly, I recalled Belial, who had been present in that place. And along with him, the aura I had sensed in the Elven Territory.
‘It’s because of Belial.’
I wasn’t a fool.
The rift that remained in the Elven Territory.
That rift which surely corrupted the Elves.
I realized when I arrived at that place that Belial had made a significant contribution to creating that rift. However, I deliberately chose not to speak of it because it fell under what I considered a ‘bad deed’.
A member of the Demon Clan committed what I considered a bad deed. With that fact alone, the world would view the Demon Clan as evil.
So I said nothing. Even as I thought it was obvious I should speak, I remained silent.
“….”
Perhaps this too is a bad deed.
‘I don’t know.’
I had no idea how to proceed.
I didn’t know how humans and the Demon Clan could ever get along again.
The prospect of failing to become a respectable adult weighed heavily on me.
‘If only it weren’t for Belial….’
Yes.
Belial certainly said something to Shalone’s mother, the High Priest, and Grandfather.
That demonic essence too… if it was Belial’s doing, it makes sense. If it was created by such a high-ranking member of the Demon Clan, it could affect me as well.
‘…Luriel, what should I do?’
I didn’t want to disappoint Luriel.
I had to become a respectable adult. Because if I became happy, then Luriel would be happy too.
At this rate, far from becoming respectable, I would be treated as an evil member of the Demon Clan and cast out of the house along with Father.
“Father.”
“Yes?”
“…Do people fear the Demon Clan because of their horns? Would everyone stop being afraid if there were no horns?”
At Bunny’s words, Kiriel paused, then silently patted the child’s back. If it were something so simple to resolve, none of this complexity would have arisen.
“…That’s not it. It’s something that happened because our thoughts have never aligned well since long ago.”
“What didn’t align?”
….
Indeed.
When the Demon Clan sees a suffering animal, they feel joy; when humans see one, they wish to heal it.
But if one asks whether all humans are like that and all Demon Clan members are like that, Kiriel cannot provide a complete answer.
Unable to respond to Bunny’s question, he slowly closed his mouth. What was considered the nature of the Demon Clan actually existed in humans as well.
As the silence stretched on because he could not find words to console the child, Bunny spoke first.
“I….”
“Hmm?”
Kiriel looked down at the child, whom he had thought would be dejected.
For some reason, Bunny’s pink eyes sparkled as she grinned.
“Wouldn’t it work if I showed the High Priest that I’m not dangerous?!”
At Bunny’s words, spoken with eyes gleaming as if she had discovered a brilliant solution, Kiriel’s steps—which had been moving forward with a stern expression—suddenly stumbled.
Just moments before, he had been wondering how to console the child who seemed so thoroughly discouraged, yet Bunny was already looking at him with vibrant eyes as if she had overcome it all on her own.
Kiriel, who had paused briefly at those confident eyes, let out a slight laugh. Then he resumed his steps and opened his mouth.
“Why did you think of that?”
“Because if I run away, they’ll keep thinking the Demon Clan is bad.”
“So you won’t run away?”
“Luri said that running away without saying anything when you haven’t done anything wrong… causes bad things to happen.”
At Bunny’s words, Kiriel blinked slowly.
Though he was surely aware of the wary gazes felt from all around, Bunny appeared almost composed.
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Luri said that even if something is unpleasant, it won’t be resolved unless you face it.”
“Luriel has taught her daughter well.”
At Kiriel’s words, Bunny’s eyes widened slightly.
The child broke into a bright smile and nodded with all her might.
“That’s right! Luri raised me so carefully. She taught me so much, and she even cut off my horns so no one would find out I’m a Demon Clan member.”
The child’s voice grew quieter.
Kiriel patted Bunny’s back.
“That’s why I want to become a happy and wonderful adult so that Luri can be happy too. I don’t know where she is, but….”
Bunny murmured softly, wiggling her fingers.
“My daughter is brave.”
“I’m brave?”
“Yes. Honestly, your father only thought about running away. I hate loud things, I hate being tired, and I was just going to pick you up and run away out of laziness. To a quiet place where no one is.”
Bunny blinked and looked at Kiriel.
The child burst into giggles, then threw her arms around Kiriel’s neck and buried her face in his shoulder.
“You were going to run away?”
“Yes. Your father has always lived running away. I never even thought about facing things, using the excuses of being lazy, tired, and having a headache.”
If he simply stepped away, everything resolved itself smoothly. A single step back, and most troubles never escalated into chaos.
So I had no desire to make a fuss when I could quietly wrap things up. I had lived my entire life by turning away and ignoring everything.
“Sometimes I think about it.”
“Hmm?”
“My daughter seems to live such a different life from her father. I raised you, yet somehow you’ve grown so wonderfully.”
Kiriel suddenly lifted Bunny high into the air as he spoke.
Bunny, now positioned higher than Kiriel’s head, burst into delighted laughter.
“I learned it all from Father!”
“From me? I never taught you anything like that.”
“Yes, you did. Father said it—don’t let anyone hit you, hit them instead! So I, well, I grew up to be quite excellent at hitting people.”
Bunny thrust out her thumb triumphantly, and Kiriel faltered for a moment.
The phrasing was slightly off.
Kiriel burst into hearty laughter and gently pressed his forehead against the child’s.
“That’s right—as long as you won, without getting hit.”
“Yes. Father said to stand and face them, not run away.”
Kiriel’s eyes widened suddenly.
“Good. From now on, if you think you’re about to get hit, just hit them. Don’t go around letting people beat you. Understood…?”
“…Yes.”
When was that?
I couldn’t bear to see the child surrounded by parents from the Branch Families, cowering as she offered an apology. I had chased them away and spoken those words.
A single phrase born from a light-hearted wish that Bunny wouldn’t lose her confidence anywhere.
It had been years ago, when she was still so small. I never imagined she would hold those words close to her heart all this time, treasuring them so carefully.
“So I grew up to be a courageous child.”
“…Yes, I see.”
Those were my words.
Here I was, always running away and avoiding, turning my back on everything—yet I had told the child to stand and face things.
He chuckled softly and resumed his steps toward the Room.

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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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