The Oracle of the Villainous Baby - Chapter 184
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Chapter 184
The two gatekeepers’ eyes widened as they beheld Bunny, who smiled harmlessly and innocuously.
‘Bunny Yudia.’
What a name that was!
In this estate, it was like a sore thumb—a name that stood out painfully.
Though the mansion now exuded a heavy, gloomy atmosphere, the long-serving staff would occasionally jest that things had been different when Bunny, the youngest granddaughter, had been here.
“…If you are Miss Bunny, then you must be the youngest granddaughter of the Marquis, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Which means you are the Demon King…”
In that moment, they both understood.
What had emerged from the most sacred of the Yudia Family.
The Demon King.
The child of the Demon King they had slain at the end of the long Holy Demon War.
The next Demon King.
And that Demon King was none other than the youngest granddaughter of the Yudia Family.
At first, High Society had hushed it up. As the world shifted gradually and everyone began to care less about appearances, whispers of the Demon King and the Demon Clan had surfaced occasionally—but still.
They had never dreamed they would meet one face to face.
“Look, I even have horns.”
As the two gatekeepers exchanged nervous glances without speaking, Bunny grinned and pointed to the top of her head with her fingertips. Horns had sprouted there, where none had existed moments before.
“Still don’t believe me?”
“…No, that is… but we must verify this, so if you would please wait a moment, we shall confirm with those inside.”
“Okay.”
Bunny nodded readily.
In truth, I could have simply spread my wings and slipped inside, but after so long, I didn’t want to enter so rudely.
‘And if they say they don’t want to see me, I’ll have to leave.’
If I suddenly appeared and heard them say outright that they didn’t want to see me, even I would be deeply shaken.
‘Father said it would be fine, but…’
I was uncertain. After all, my last parting with Grandfather hadn’t been joyful or pleasant.
I had fled the house, and Grandfather hadn’t said I didn’t need to come back or that he wouldn’t welcome me.
How long had I waited?
After quite some time had passed, a familiar figure approached the Main Gate.
“Miss Bunny…?”
“Pel!”
It was Pel, the steward of the Udiah Duchy.
Bunny waved her hands excitedly. Pel stopped abruptly on the other side of the massive iron Main Gate and stared at Bunny blankly.
Seeing Pel frozen in place, Bunny tilted her head.
“…Pel?”
What’s wrong?
‘Oh, the horns!’
Humans might not be accustomed to horns yet. And they could be frightening, too.
Thinking this, Bunny hastily retracted her horns and pressed down on her hair with her palms, smoothing it repeatedly.
After patting down the tousled strands that had puffed up from the horns growing, Bunny broke into a bright smile once more.
“It’s not scary now, right? See, Pel? Can I come inside? I won’t stay long—I’ll leave right away.”
“…Ah. Of course. You needn’t worry about the duration. You’re welcome to stay as long as you wish. The Marquis had prior engagements and stepped out briefly, but I’ve sent an urgent summons, so he should return shortly.”
An urgent summons?
That wasn’t necessary.
Bunny scratched her cheek with a slightly embarrassed expression. She stepped inside and swiveled her head left and right, taking in the surroundings.
The atmosphere seemed a touch dimmer than she remembered, but the Udiah Duke Family Estate hadn’t changed dramatically from what she recalled.
“I heard you’d been in a long sleep… Have you awakened?”
“Ah! Yes. I’ve grown up now, haven’t I? I’m no longer a child—I’m an adult. I’ll be having my Coming of Age Ceremony soon.”
Once that happened, no one could say anything against her anymore. The thought alone filled her with joy.
“You’ve grown most… splendidly. You’ve truly become a proper lady.”
“Pel, you’ve gotten a few more wrinkles too.”
Bunny spoke with a somewhat serious expression, and Pel faltered momentarily.
Pel burst into hearty laughter and nodded.
“After the Young Lady and the Marquis left the house, the Marquis’s irritation became so pronounced that even this Pel aged considerably. Regrettably so.”
“Grandfather did?”
“Yes. He visited several times, but the Marquis turned him away at the gate. Because of that, I haven’t been able to see his face… and now that you’ve come to visit like this, I hardly know what to do with myself.”
“Of course I had to come! I woke up yesterday and came straight here today.”
Bunny spoke with a proud air, and Pel nodded warmly. Despite the considerable time that had passed since they last met, Bunny remained unchanged. Pel could feel that truth clearly now that she was beside him.
‘To call her the Demon King…’
The Young Lady he had served remained bright and gentle as ever.
“Ah, I wanted to see Grandfather and Sister, and of course I wanted to see you too, Pel.”
“…!”
Pel’s eyes widened suddenly, then curved into crescents.
Though joyful occasions had become noticeably rarer with age, there were certain things that never changed.
“I wanted to see you as well. Very much so.”
Such as watching the young masters and mistresses grow and flourish.
Pel pressed his palms against his eyes, which had grown warm, patting them gently.
‘I suppose I’ve truly aged.’
He exhaled a long breath, thinking that had they been anywhere but here, he might have shed tears without restraint.
“I understand Grandfather is away, but what about Sister?”
“If you mean Shalone, she’s likely in the Annex Building. She spends most of her time there and rarely comes out.”
“Why?”
“She believes your departure was her fault. Because of that, she feels she has no face to show to others.”
At Pel’s words, Bunny’s eyes widened.
She had assumed everything would be fine, but the story Pel relayed was somewhat surprising.
How the Dormitory Mansion had grown much quieter, how Shalone rarely showed her face, how Shalone’s Mother had been acting out more frequently—such things.
‘But Father didn’t mention anything like that.’
Father might not have known either.
‘I’ve been living in the Demon Realm all this time.’
Even so, I couldn’t quite believe that Shalone had been living with such feelings.
Bunny slowly rubbed her cheek and exhaled.
“Pel, can I meet my sister first?”
“Of course. She’ll surely be delighted. I do wish Young Lady Shalone would lift her spirits as well.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll cheer her up. My sister loves me, so she’ll definitely give me a huge welcome.”
Bunny laughed brightly and spoke with confidence as she headed toward the Annex Building.
Standing before the door of the room she was led to through the entrance hall of the Annex Building, Bunny knocked with triumphant confidence, and the door opened.
“Sister, hello!”
“Get lost.”
Slam—!
As a violent response came to her cheerful greeting, the door shut with a harsh sound.
“…Huh?”
Bunny’s mouth fell open at the sudden rejection right before her eyes.
Creak creak.
Bunny turned her head to look at Pel. Her trembling index finger pointed at the firmly closed door.
Pel smiled awkwardly, looking between Bunny and the closed door.
“….”
“Perhaps she was simply too shocked.”
“…No, she literally told me to get lost?”
“Hmm, might that not have been a rather blunt way of saying she’d prefer you visit another time?”
At Pel’s words, Bunny stared at the door with a darkening expression, then clenched her fists tightly.
“There is no next time.”
Bunny immediately began pounding the door with her fists.
Thud thud!
“Sister!”
Thud thud thud!
“I’m here!”
Thud thud thud thud!
“Your lovely little sister Bunny has arrived! All grown up!”
Thud thud thud thud thud!
As Pel watched Bunny relentlessly pound the door, a bead of sweat rolled down his cheek. Both Bunny, who wouldn’t stop knocking, and Shalone, who stubbornly refused to open it, seemed equally formidable.
“You idiot! Open the door!!”
Crash!
Crunch.
Thud.
And along with Bunny’s furious voice, the door shattered and collapsed.
“…Oh, it broke.”
Oops.
Now that I thought about it, I was quite strong. I must have become even stronger as an adult.
‘I forgot.’
Bunny let out a soft laugh, tilting her head to the side before lifting it again.
Standing before the door was Shalone, her expression unmistakably furious—blazing cyan flames dancing in her eyes.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————