The Oracle of the Villainous Baby - Chapter 167

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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 167
Vines sprawled across the castle from every direction, and bats flitted through the air as though they owned the place.
The dead earth was choked with yellowed weeds.
“We’ve arrived!”
Bunny cried out from before the castle gates.
“Melissa, are you alright?”
Bunny gazed at Melissa, whose complexion had grown somewhat pallid.
Though Kiriel Yudia had cast a protective barrier around her, the demonic energy grew denser as they ventured deeper, and it seemed to be affecting her gradually.
“Yes, I’m fine, Young Lady.”
Melissa spoke with a forced smile.
That she had come this far was nothing short of remarkable. Unlike Allen, Kalbad, or Kiriel Yudia, Melissa possessed little natural resistance to demonic energy.
Naturally, her holy power was not particularly strong either. She lacked the fortitude to withstand such intense demonic energy. Had it not been for Kiriel Yudia, she would have collapsed long ago and succumbed to demonic poisoning.
“Don’t worry. You’ll be fine once we’re inside the castle. I’ll make sure of it.”
Holy power existed within me as well.
By interweaving the Demon King’s Castle’s demonic energy with my holy power so that neither overwhelmed the other, even an ordinary person could survive comfortably here.
‘Next, I need to speak with Luri.’
A conversation with Luriel was absolutely necessary.
There was so much I needed to ask Luriel. Beyond that, there was also much I needed to tell her. So many questions to pose.
‘…Could it really be true?’
That the Notebook is Luriel.
“Bunny.”
“Hmm?”
At Kiriel’s call, I jolted from my reverie, my eyes widening in surprise.
A flicker of astonishment crossed my gaze. And for good reason—Kiriel had stepped close and lifted me effortlessly into his arms.
“If you’re tired, why don’t you rest a bit?”
“No, I’m fine! Really! I need to clean up the castle quickly so Melissa, Allen, Father, and Kalbad can all be comfortable….”
“Don’t think of your father as someone so incompetent.”
Kiriel’s hand stroked my hair.
I blinked.
“You’re tired, aren’t you? Very sleepy?”
“…I’m fine.”
I murmured the words even as I buried my face against Kiriel’s shoulder.
There was so much to do.
‘I need to clean the Demon King’s Castle, talk with Luri, summon the Demon Clan members, punish Belial, and make sure the High Priest’s Sibling doesn’t die so I can earn points.’
On top of that, I had come to the Demon Realm without even telling Roel, so I should at least write a letter.
There was so much to do, yet being held in Father’s embrace, I found myself wanting to think of nothing at all.
I murmured that I was fine even as I buried my face against his chest. His soft voice whispered soothingly, and somehow my entire body felt as though it were melting away.
I knew I was incredibly strong.
So I didn’t need anyone to protect me anymore—I could become an adult on my own now.
I had gained that strength, and I had changed. Among the Demon Clan, one becomes an adult through power alone, even without parents.
‘Father always treats me like a child.’
Yet, oddly enough….
I didn’t hate it.
The concern in his voice, the tender, delicate warmth of his touch—I knew better than anyone that all of it was directed toward me.
“Father….”
“What is it?”
“I’m still your daughter, right? Even if I become an incredibly powerful Demon King?”
“Of course. Even if you become a grandmother Demon King with white hair.”
“And our little sister too, of course!”
Allen interjected with those words. I let out a soft giggle before slowly closing my eyes.
“Actually, I think I’m a bit drowsy. I usually take afternoon naps, but I couldn’t today, so maybe that’s why. And suddenly there’s so much demonic energy that I can’t seem to process it properly.”
My body had become overloaded from the unexpected awakening. I was experiencing fatigue. And that wasn’t all—I had warped to the Demon Realm all at once!
It would have been stranger if I weren’t tired.
“Is it okay if I sleep just a little?”
“Sleep as much as you need. If it’s just a few rooms, Father can purify them easily enough.”
“But the demonic energy is enormous?”
At my words, Kiriel Yudia let out a soft chuckle.
“Well. It doesn’t even bother Father.”
“Really…?”
“Yes. I could purify the entire Demon King’s Castle if I wanted. But since we don’t know how long I could sustain that, I’m thinking of purifying just enough space for our daughter to sleep soundly.”
Because he didn’t take the forefront, truthfully speaking, there was likely no one within the Udiah Duchy who could match his holy power.
His holy power was stronger even than his elder brother’s. He simply hadn’t stepped forward because everything felt tedious and meaningless.
Had he been more proactive, he would have already inherited the Marquis position or been appointed as the New High Priest. Because he hadn’t, the New High Priest had taken office instead.
‘If I’d known it would come to this, I should have claimed the High Priest position beforehand.’
And it wouldn’t have been bad to inherit the Marquis position as well and monopolize all the power.
There would have been resistance, but that wasn’t his concern, was it?
If he had seized both the Holy Temple and the Udiah Duchy, Bunny wouldn’t have needed to flee all the way here.
He could have protected the child more safely. He could have built her a safer cage.
‘Would it have been better to take a more active role?’
Harmony between Demon Clan and humans.
No matter how much I thought about it, it made no sense.
The rift between them had deepened over centuries. There was no way to bridge such a chasm now.
‘Proving the Demon Clan’s harmlessness isn’t an easy task.’
Even if the Demon Clan itself were harmless, their very nature differed far too much from humans.
Beyond the demonic energy they possessed, their very existence was too aggressive and threatening. To speak of coexistence with humans was to acknowledge that their existence itself was dangerous.
“So I can sleep?”
While I was lost in such thoughts, Bunny asked carefully.
“Yes, sleep now.”
I answered while gently patting her back.
Bunny’s head bobbed drowsily before she leaned her forehead against my shoulder.
“Just a little sleep.”
“Sleep as much as you need.”
“Okay….”
Before the child could finish speaking, soft, rhythmic breathing soon began to spread evenly throughout the room.
Kiriel Yudia walked forward with measured strides, cradling Bunny in one arm while keeping his gaze fixed on the doll standing motionless to the side.
He reached out and lifted the doll lightly with a casual motion.
The bear doll, seized by the scruff of its neck, thrashed about wildly before its expression twisted into a scowl.
“What are you doing?”
A displeased voice emanated from it.
“Guide us.”
“Why should I obey a human like you….”
“It wouldn’t be particularly difficult for me to purify and kill you right now. Are you really going to be this uncooperative?”
Belial fell silent.
In truth, Belial was now bound to the doll with most of his power stripped away, and whatever ability the doll possessed was ravenously devouring his demonic essence and mana.
This meant Kiriel Yudia’s threat to kill him was no idle boast.
Belial closed his mouth, weighed the situation, then sighed and floated up into the air. Fortunately, being inside the Demon King’s Castle meant using mana posed no significant problem.
In other words, employing minor magic was entirely feasible.
Such as lifting small objects or levitating the doll’s body through the air.
“Our King wouldn’t perish even if you handled them as delicately as fragile glass, yet you treat them with such care. I cannot fathom human emotion at all.”
“That’s because you’re a Demon Clan Member.”
Kiriel Yudia replied without a hint of amusement.
But for them, it was different. To Kiriel, Bunny was his daughter, and to Allen and Kalbad, she was their younger sister. To Melissa, she was a precious young lady to be cherished.
That was all there was to it.
Only Belial failed to understand that their actions required no justification beyond the bonds that connected them.
“Caring for a child who has not yet grown is only natural.”
“Hmm….”
Belial scoffed as though finding it contemptible, but offered no further comment.
“The Demon King’s Chamber is this way.”
Belial pointed toward the Great Sealed Door at the far end of the first floor.
Kiriel Yudia narrowed his eyes and reached out to open the door.
It was a dark room devoid of light. Melissa hastily lit a candle nearby.
Judging by her pallid complexion, Melissa too had reached her limit.
Kiriel glanced at Melissa, then carefully lowered Bunny onto the Bedroom.
“….”
He slowly surveyed the surroundings.
They would need to purify the space before they could stay here. Kiriel breathed in slowly, then exhaled.
“We should begin by tidying this place.”
Kiriel said, spreading holy power throughout the room.
Pure white light radiated outward.

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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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