The Oracle of the Villainous Baby - Chapter 28
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Chapter 28
“Yes. Soon, the Dungeon will swallow our land. Should anyone discover this, I beg of you… please save us. We shall now fall into eternal slumber in this sacred place. When this Crystal shows the way, please break the seal and free us.”
Murmurs of awe rippled through the room at Bunny’s words. And for good reason—these were the words of the Ancient Elves.
The Ancient Elves!
Their very existence was shrouded in uncertainty, yet the civilization they left behind was so magnificent that even fragments and records of them were enough to astound.
Yet according to legend, they had vanished entirely in a single moment.
Since only records remained, if not for the artifacts and traces of the Ancient Elves scattered throughout the world, their existence would have faded into pure myth.
But only traces of their ancient past remained—not a single living Ancient Elf had ever been found. This was remarkable, given that they were said to live nearly eternal lives.
“The one who opens the seal… shall be a soul untainted by any corruption, the purest of all, yet one who has stepped into the deepest darkness. Such a being would be the world’s savior…”
As Bunny’s words ended, silence fell over the room.
“My… if that’s truly authentic, it’s extraordinary.”
“Should we actually discover the ruins of the Ancient Elves or the place where they slumber, a new hero might be born within the Udiah Duchy.”
Though they whispered, Bunny could hear every word.
Generally, the Demon Clan possessed superior senses—they could perceive the invisible and hear even the faintest sounds with clarity.
Particularly, the Demon Clan had excellent night vision, allowing them to see everything in darkness as clearly as in daylight.
Hm. They were all astounded by my abilities, it seemed.
With my shoulders puffed out proudly, I glanced around. It seemed about time for some praise.
Pat, pat, pat!
‘When should I get it?’
As I fidgeted and glanced up at Kiriel, I noticed his expression had grown slightly stiff.
“…Kiriel?”
Flustered, I called out to him, my neck shrinking back slightly.
At the sound of my voice, Kiriel’s expression softened and he lowered his gaze.
“You did well, Bunny…”
“Yes.”
When Kiriel reached out and stroked my head, my face melted into a puddle of contentment.
The Crystal continued to emit voices. After what I had told them ended…
【Save us, save us, save us, save us. Save us, save us, save us, save us. Save us, save us, save us, save us. Save us, save us, save us, save us.】
What followed was nothing but an endless plea to be saved.
The desperation in those voices made me bury my face in Kiriel’s clothes.
‘I’m a little scared…’
I fidgeted with my fingers.
Kiriel set the Crystal back in its original place and slowly patted my back.
It was so warm and comforting.
‘I miss Ludbreed.’
Ludbreed always held me like this and patted me gently.
I let out a soft sigh and buried my face deeper into Kiriel’s chest.
“Why? Are you tired?”
“Yes.”
“Then sleep.”
“Don’t… Bunny is trying to be an adult….”
A wide yawn escaped her.
Kiriel’s expression grew subtle as he gazed down at Bunny, who murmured softly while nodding off, yawning repeatedly.
Thud.
Her small head, which had been drooping, finally slipped free and buried itself against Kiriel’s chest.
Without a word, he stroked Bunny’s back and shifted his posture to make her more comfortable as she slept.
Kiriel, looking down at the child’s peaceful face, quietly brushed her hair back.
“Hm… If that’s truly the case, it’s quite remarkable.”
“Should we discover the ruins of the ancient elves or the place where they slumber, wouldn’t a new hero be born within the Udiah Duchy?”
Kiriel let out a hollow laugh.
Had that remark reminded him of himself?
What more could go wrong if he failed to manage his expression here and burdened the child with his concerns?
‘Did I really say I’d raise the child?’
Kiriel chewed over the words once more, releasing another hollow laugh.
Interacting with people was exhausting. Humans who desired only what benefited them, who sought nothing but sacrifice from others. His elder brother, who had vanished that way, and himself, destined to follow beneath the name of hero.
I had first decided to keep the child nearby because of the aura of the Demon Clan that troubled me.
I had wondered if there was some deliberate purpose in her approach.
It would have been easier to entrust everything to my adjutant Lebon.
Soft, steady breathing.
Watching the child sleep peacefully, unaware of my thoughts, stirred something strange within me.
She laughs readily and cries readily, yet she possesses an unexpected resilience, like a weed pushing through concrete.
To be honest, my face was hardly what one would call kind.
Most children who encountered me would stiffen in fear.
Regardless of my refined features, no child enjoyed staring at an expressionless, rigid face.
Yet despite this, Bunny approaches me without hesitation, reaches out her hand to my father whose demeanor is as harsh as they come, and even to Allen, who pushes her away.
She smiles brightly, as though she were the happiest person in the world.
In truth, she grew up in the Orphanage, without a personal maid or knight escort, and takes pride in washing herself alone.
A child hungry for a single word of praise, a moment of attention.
She doesn’t hesitate to ask for it.
She feels no shame in seeking help from others or desiring their affection.
“Well then, what shall we do about it, Marquis?”
At the words of Klein, the Holy Paladin Commander, Ludbreed folded his arms and pondered briefly.
“First of all….”
The child’s account wasn’t entirely without credibility.
According to records, the ancient elves concealed themselves completely. They vanished as if by magic itself.
But what if their habitat truly became a Dungeon, and they either sealed themselves away or were trapped somewhere beneath it?
The child’s imagination was too specific to dismiss entirely.
“Klein, Salame. One of you take this stone and search the place where it was found. I must meet with the Emperor.”
If this were true, it would be a discovery of immense significance.
I don’t know what divine beast will be born from the child, but it will surely become a tempest of change.
“Well, the child is….”
“I’ll be taking my leave now.”
Kiriel rose from his seat, cutting off Ludbreed’s words.
The scrape of the chair being dragged drew every eye in the room away from Ludbreed and toward Kiriel.
“And going forward, since it’s bothersome—unless the Demon Clan actually appears, don’t bother calling me. The same goes for my children.”
“The meeting isn’t finished.”
“I have nothing left to contribute anyway. I only came because I heard a peculiar cursed crystal had been discovered and wondered if it might belong to the Demon Clan.”
“Kiriel! Just how long are you going to…!”
Kiriel Yudia regarded Ludbreed with an indifferent, icy gaze before speaking.
“I’m taking my daughter. Lower your voice.”
“Daughter? You’re still spouting that nonsense! Marry a woman and talk sense! You were never the type to care for anyone. If that child needs a guardian, I’ll look into finding suitable people to take her in, so you just…!”
“And what kind of person were you, Father? If I relinquish custody… you’ll parade this little one around as a hero, boast about her remarkable abilities, push her into danger, and kill her like you did my brother?”
Kiriel Yudia’s sharp words sent a chill through the room.
At the unfilial language that had spilled from Kiriel’s lips, Ludbreed Yudia stiffened rigidly, his face contorting in an instant.
“You bastard…!”
“I’m leaving.”
He turned sharply on his heel.
“Custody be damned! You have no custody rights either, you wretched creature!”
Ludbreed shouted through gritted teeth, but Kiriel merely scoffed and exited the conference room.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————