The Oracle of the Villainous Baby - Chapter 199

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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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Side Story: Episode 3
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Deep within the forest lay a village.
Houses of wood, decorations of wood, signposts of wood. Vines serving as rope in place of cordage.
At the village entrance, incomprehensible script was inscribed, and the village itself was profoundly silent.
It was a settlement so thoroughly nature-harmonious that one could blend seamlessly with the forest merely by gazing upon it.
“…This place.”
Bunny laughed with delight, spreading both arms wide.
“It’s the Dark Elf Village! Nobody knows about it!”
Perfect for an escape, she meant.
【…Demon King?】
Sensing a presence, someone quietly emerged from the shadows.
【Hello! Leptha.】
Bunny answered fluently in the Elvish tongue, her smile radiant. It had been ages since she’d seen Leptha.
Ever since she’d vanished into this forest, Bunny had scarcely glimpsed his face. She’d only heard occasional news that he ventured out to sell goods.
Elf-crafted items fetched exorbitant prices in trade.
“You know, I’m going to have my honeymoon here. Do you have a room?”
“Bunny?!”
At this sudden declaration, Roel’s jaw dropped.
“Ah, you’ve come to rest. We have several empty houses. Please feel free to relax during your stay.”
“Thanks.”
“How long do you intend to remain?”
“Hmm, perhaps a month?”
“A brief visit, then.”
Bunny nodded at Leptha’s words.
For an Elf, a month was scarcely more than a few days. It was indeed a fleeting duration.
“Wait, a month?! Bunny! What about the Demon Realm and the Human Realm? We have work to do! A month is far too long.”
“It’s fine, it’s fine.”
Bunny thrust her thumb upward.
“I’ve taken care of everything!”
“…What?”
At her utterly unconvincing confidence, Roel’s expression darkened slightly.
“Surely you’re not suggesting a letter resolved everything?”
“I wrote everything that needed to be said in that letter?!”
“What did you write?”
“Well.”
Bunny rubbed her chin.
What was it, exactly….
[I’m kidnapping Roel! Please handle the rest! Father!]
Recalling the letter I had written, I thrust my thumb upward once more.
“Perfect.”
“Bunny, I’m anxious about this….”
“Let’s go!”
Bunny scooped Roel into her arms and dashed straight into the house Leptha had pointed out.
Leptha watched their retreating figures with a soft chuckle.
An age of peace had arrived. Just as the Demon King and humans had once coexisted in harmony long ago….
After an eternity, such a time had come again. Humans and the Demon Clan had originally been on quite good terms. Even the first half-human, half-demon had been born between them.
I don’t know what transpired during their 1500-year slumber, but the world continued its eternal cycle, turning and turning once more.
I couldn’t fathom what a child born between a half-demon and a human would be like. In any case, they were gradually adapting to this transformed Human Realm.
They had to survive, so they were selling items one by one using their craftsmanship skills, and he had taken on the role of intermediary in that trade.
【Who has arrived? Leptha.】
【Your Majesty. The Demon King has come to visit.】
【The Demon King? What brings her to this place?】
The Elf King’s question prompted Leptha to give a light shrug.
【She says she’s come to enjoy her honeymoon.】
【It would be wonderful if we could bestow our blessings together. After all, she is our benefactor and sovereign who was trapped in darkness for such a long time.】
Unlike the countless humans whose lives merely brushed past, the lifespan of Elves stretched on endlessly.
Therefore… they would likely serve the Current Demon King for an extraordinarily long time. Human time, Demon Clan time, and Elf time could not help but flow differently.
【There’s nothing wrong with thoroughly enjoying the present moment. She is still so young, after all.】
The young Demon King carried the scent of sunlight, soft and warm.
【We must support the Demon King at her side for a long time.】
【Yet she hasn’t visited us even once until now.】
All she needed was to borrow an empty house, of all things.
Why had Elves hidden themselves away in remote corners? Why had they come to shun and despise other races? It was because they had all sought to exploit the Elves.
Beautiful appearance.
Long lifespan.
Exceptional craftsmanship.
Flexible and nimble bodies.
A race with special blood that could commune with countless flora and fauna.
Even unparalleled magical prowess.
Because of these gifts, they had once been used as slaves. So they resolved never to mingle with anyone, and thus they lived apart from all others.
Had they not been unfortunate enough to be trapped in a place where dungeon corruption was advancing, the Elves would likely still be living in isolation.
Though they had hidden themselves in the Demon Realm Forest, even entering another’s territory was an unprecedented occurrence.
“Piiiii….”
At the faint cry that suddenly reached them, they lifted their heads.
【…Is that a Phoenix?】
【It appears so. It seems to have followed its master…】
Leptha laughed softly. It was clear that she over there had no regard for Divine Beasts whatsoever.
【Everyone desires the Phoenix so much… yet she treats it as though it were nothing more than stone.】
That was truly remarkable. When people gained power and strength, they coveted everything, yet the young Demon King was not like that at all.
And what of the Demon Clan? More specifically, the Demon King herself—the being whose desires rage most fiercely of all.
Yet despite possessing an Elf, a being of unparalleled strength never to appear again in history, and cradling the Phoenix, the Divine Beast that all coveted, she desired nothing at all.
She made no personal use of them either. Perhaps she had even forgotten their existence until necessity reminded her.
【It seems I’m frequently forgotten.】
When Leptha reached toward the Phoenix, the Divine Beast exhaled a long sigh before plopping down heavily upon his head.
His head drooped forward.
【…You’re heavy.】
“Chirp?!”
The startled Phoenix ruffled its feathers indignantly. Of course, it ate well, slept well, and lounged about contentedly!
It had! Become! Just a touch rounder and plumper!
But surely that wasn’t enough to warrant being called heavy by a full-grown adult male.
-Or so the Phoenix believed.-
“Squawk, chirp! Chirp!”
Leptha tilted his head at the Divine Beast’s protest. Though he couldn’t discern the meaning, he understood well enough that the creature was upset.
【What if we were to open a shop of our own, Your Majesty?】
【A shop?】
【Yes, for we cannot hide away in this forest indefinitely. Should we work through brokers or merchants, they extract commissions… we could spare ourselves that expense. And perhaps we might display a wider variety of goods beyond mere accessories.】
Owning one’s own shop meant freedom from restrictions on what could be sold.
Elves were renowned for their craftsmanship, yet they possessed considerable skill in weapon-forging as well. Their dexterous hands proved their worth across many disciplines.
【…Yes, that doesn’t sound like a poor idea.】
Time had passed.
It was time for them to change as well. No longer would they hide away somewhere, trapped and left to rot for over a thousand years without rescue.
【I shall petition the Demon King about this.】
【That seems like a sound notion.】
Leptha gave a small nod. Living in the Human Realm, what he had come to understand was that the world was boundless.
There were certainly irritating things, but not all humans were contemptible or foolish.
【Leptha. And Your Majesty, what are you doing here?】
【We were discussing the future of the Elves. Was the hunt successful?】
【Of course, naturally. My body was stiff at first, so it was somewhat difficult, but I believe I’ve regained my form by now.】
He glanced back over his shoulder.
【The Demon King has come to visit. Let us receive her with great ceremony.】
【The Demon King?】
【Yes, understood.】
The Elves, bearing large game upon their shoulders, began to disperse in different directions.

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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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