The Oracle of the Villainous Baby - Chapter 159

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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 159
“I’ve always told you. You’re the protagonist. Just stay still and I’ll set up the entire stage for you.”
At Hila’s words, Shalone fell silent, unable to utter a single response. She had never once attempted to defy Hila.
To Shalone, she was like a parent—and one could not defy a parent figure. That was only natural.
She knew that, but…
“However, Bunny has never done anything that could be called villainous behavior. Not the kinds of things you described…”
“That’s exactly why she’s such a despicable villainess! She monopolized every bit of attention that should have been yours. That’s the problem. You should be the protagonist, but that girl has taken all the attention you deserve as the protagonist. That’s what’s wrong.”
Hila shrieked, her face contorted like a demon’s.
“Why don’t you understand? Why can’t you comprehend it? Why on earth not!”
Hila, who had been clutching her cheeks, finally grabbed Shalone by the collar and dragged her forward, speaking urgently.
“Hmm? Why can’t you understand my heart?”
“…M-Mother.”
“Yes, I’m your mother. I created you, I taught you. So what on earth has that villainess done to you that you act this way?”
At Hila’s words, Shalone breathed heavily.
Her seized neck ached, as did her cheeks, which had been gripped so forcefully. Her flushed cheeks stung. Yet Shalone could not speak a word.
“I’m doing all this for you. The reason I’ve been trapped in this world for over a hundred years is all because of you!”
“…What?”
“If it weren’t for you! No, if it weren’t for this world itself, I would have already returned…!”
Hila’s face twisted as she muttered something incoherently, then buried her face in her palms.
“What’s the problem? You said you wanted to be loved. If you just stay still, everyone in this world will love you…”
What could possibly be the problem…?
She tilted her head, genuinely unable to comprehend.
Shalone clenched her fists and observed Hila cautiously.
‘Even if she’s called a villainess…’
Bunny had done nothing that would warrant such a label.
Whether she cared about others’ gazes or had some other purpose, the important thing was that she had done nothing of the sort. If that were the case… wouldn’t it mean Bunny could no longer be called a villainess from that point onward?
Yet Shalone could not bring herself to voice such words.
“What would you know.”
“….”
“Right, you know nothing. After all, you’re just a heroine blessed with all the luck in the world. Being foolishly kind is one of the heroine’s charms, after all.”
Hila continued muttering to herself incessantly.
Unease crept over Shalone, and she bit her lip. It seemed that no matter what she said, Hila would not hear it.
‘What exactly is this happiness she speaks of…’
She couldn’t understand what was happy or what constituted a happy ending. Even as a child, Hila’s such words were difficult to comprehend, and even now that she was older, it remained the same.
“…Where to.”
After a long silence, Shalone finally spoke.
“Where do you wish to return to?”
From time to time, Hila would tell Shalone something.
That if only she became happy, she could return. That both she and Shalone could become happy.
When she was young, she didn’t fully understand the meaning. But now, she was beginning to grasp it.
Hila sometimes resembled Shalone from those days when she yearned for her family. It seemed as though she was longing for something.
“….”
In response to Shalone’s question, Hila remained silent for a long time before slowly opening her mouth.
“Home.”
Her vacant eyes fixed upon Shalone, then gradually shifted to gaze upon something distant and far away.
“I want to go back home.”
Having spoken thus, Hila returned to her composed expression as though nothing had happened, and nodded slightly.
“So you simply need to do as you’re told. Regardless of whether that child is good or bad, she is the villain. That is how she is defined.”
“…Who made such a definition?”
“Well….”
Hila let out a soft laugh and nodded. Then she slowly tilted her head back, gazing up at the empty ceiling.
Her index finger pointed slowly upward.
“God?”
“…God.”
“Perhaps that is what such an existence would be called.”
Hila returned to her weary expression and began tending to her nails once more, as though she intended to forget everything that had transpired and return to her former self.
“Do as you’re told. It will bring you no harm. My wish for your happiness is genuine.”
Hila spoke with unwavering conviction.
Shalone could not bring herself to say another word. She could not even voice that this entire situation was anything but happiness—that it was anxiety and fear.
‘…Bunny is a bad person?’
A Demon Clan Member.
Cunning as a fox.
Always coveting her belongings, then one day casually taking them.
She had even secretly taken and hidden away her private novel.
Yet that was hardly the sort of thing one would call ‘villainous.’
Bunny was rather a child who felt sympathy for others’ suffering. Toward those who did wrong and wicked things, she admittedly showed a somewhat cold and excessive side.
But that was only because they deserved it.
In her everyday nature, Bunny was simply an ordinary human being. Except that she was slightly stronger than most, a bit more cunning, and a little more irritable.
“…Is there no way for Bunny and me to find happiness together?”
“I have never seen such an ending.”
Hila remained resolute.
She clearly believed it to be true. That no other ending existed.
But it was strange.
All people live according to their own choices. No matter how much one sees the future, there is surely a way to avoid it.
Is that not true of all those who seek out the future?
They desire to see their own future, even if it costs tens of millions of gold, precisely so they might evade it.
“….”
“I have never seen such an ending route. It was not in the guide either. So leave now. If you speak such useless words even one more time… I will consider other methods. Remember that.”
She could not comprehend what Hila was saying at all.
Shalone had no choice but to nod and withdraw. It seemed she would not listen to anything more right now.
“…I’ll go out and check on them, Mother.”
“Yes, everyone must be disheartened. Go and comfort them. You must fill that child’s absence.”
“…I will.”
Shalone answered obediently and withdrew.
As she stepped outside and paused before the closed Ancient Door, releasing a heavy sigh and bowing her head in exhaustion—
“Kyaaaah!”
Shalone discovered something crouching in front of the Ancient Door and let out a scream.
It was Bunny, her eyes wide open and gleaming.
Her face was as bright and carefree as always, without a trace of worry or concern. Save for the faint redness beneath her eyes, she appeared no different from usual.
“What, what is this?!”
“I was waiting for you, Shalone. Whew, that took forever.”
How absurd.
Bunny rose to her feet, tapping her small knees with her fists, and broke into a wide smile.
‘Surely she didn’t hear everything?’
Well, the Ancient Door was thick enough that she couldn’t have heard what was discussed inside.
“You were waiting for me? What’s this about? I don’t have much time, but I’ll make an exception. Come along.”
Shalone spoke with feigned indifference.
Looking closer, her eyes were red, and there were faint traces of something running down her cheeks.
‘Surely she wasn’t crying?’
Just as Shalone was thinking this, she spun around sharply.
“Wait, I didn’t come to see you, Shalone. What’s this? Did you want to see me?”
At the sinister, mischievous laughter in the voice from behind, Shalone froze in place.
“Want to see you?! Who would—!”
Shalone growled and spun around abruptly.
Click.
“Hello~!”
With a cheerful greeting, she flung open the tightly closed Ancient Door wide.
Bunny had opened the door to Hila’s Room and stepped inside!
“Shalone’s Mother! I want to be happy too!”
She had heard everything!
“Hey, aren’t you coming out?!”
Shalone gasped in shock and rushed after Bunny into Hila’s Room.
But Hila and Bunny were already facing each other.

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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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