The Oracle of the Villainous Baby - Chapter 60
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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 60
Peek.
Bunny poked her head out from behind Kiriel and opened her mouth.
“Kalbad is Daddy’s. If you play with mister, Kalbad king gets small. Kalbad, so sad….”
“What? Kalbad? I’m Kalbad! And who even——”
“Kalbad, jealous of Allen.”
At Bunny’s interruption, Kalbad’s face flushed crimson.
Whether it was shame, embarrassment, or the bewilderment of being exposed, I couldn’t tell.
“Bunny jealous too. Daddy doesn’t pet and comfort, just hits. So sad. Right? Luri says so. Says hitting Young Lady is garbage.”
“No, this is just sparring——”
Yet my throat felt impossibly tight.
As if someone were squeezing my heart violently, as if a fist were choking my windpipe.
“Jealous of what….”
Kalbad, muttering quietly, dropped his head.
Drip.
The moment I lowered my head, dark stains spread across the carpet.
Drip, drip—only then, watching the silent cascade of droplets, did I realize my cheeks were drenched.
“Ah….”
Once I understood, the dam burst entirely, and tears poured forth relentlessly. I drew a sharp breath.
Slowly, I lifted my head to find my father watching me—his eyes wide as if he’d witnessed something he should never have seen.
“Father.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“Can’t we raise Kalbad ourselves?”
Before I could even wipe my tears, I heard that voice and dropped my head.
Kiriel gazed down at Kalbad silently for a moment, then slowly turned his gaze toward Klein Yudia and let out a soft chuckle.
“Very well. If my daughter wishes to raise him and he desires it, then so be it.”
Kiriel’s gaze shifted leisurely to Klein Yudia. The man who always maintained an indifferent, taciturn, expressionless face was today wearing a rather irritating smile at the corners of his mouth.
“So who was really playing games?”
“Kalbad, stop playing along with this pointless nonsense and let’s go.”
Kalbad looked up blankly at Klein Yudia. Even as tears streamed down my face, my father didn’t blink once.
I knew it. That he was a cold man.
My father despised weakness and uselessness, and I had desperately strived to meet his exacting standards.
Even when I drew the Giraffe, he seemed pleased.
But instead of praise, he only spoke in that eerie manner about how wielding a Divine Beast beyond my level would kill those around me, then withdrew.
It was the same when I scored a perfect mark on the test.
It was no different even when I ranked first in the Mansion of Trials and maintained that position.
‘Father hates me.’
‘Father doesn’t want to acknowledge me.’
‘Why, why, why? Why does Father hate me? What am I lacking? I’m doing well enough here. How can I do better? How much more——’
Days without recognition.
In that suffocating space, an illegitimate child of unknown parentage had rolled in and brazenly secured the direct line’s patronage. And not just any patronage—that of his uncle, the one called a hero.
Just like Father, Uncle showed Kalbad absolutely no interest whatsoever.
Whenever I tried to speak to him, he would pass by as though I didn’t exist, his face as blank and ghostly as a specter’s.
And yet….
“Hehe. Father! Bunny got 40 points this time!”
“Remarkable. Hmm, at this rate my daughter might just enter the Academy early. Well then, Allen, your test scores must be back too.”
“Ah, um. Well… I got quite a few wrong….”
“94 points? That’s excellent. Weren’t you in the Advanced Class? You’re doing well. There’s no need to be discouraged.”
“…Yes!”
Why….
Why were those far inferior to me smiling as though they were happier than anyone else?
40 points—could that even count as a score?
94 points? I had received a perfect score.
“Kalbad, don’t mind your father’s mood. Do as you wish. If you don’t want to go, you don’t have to.”
What, you weren’t the type to say such tender things before.
“It’s fine!”
What has this little one changed?
What exactly is this child?
Countless grievances swelled within Kalbad’s mind.
Yet despite it all, rather than voice these complaints, Kalbad grasped Bunny’s small hand in return—the one holding his own—and with his other hand, he firmly gripped the hem of Kiriel’s garment.
“…Father hates me. So I won’t go.”
At the pronouncement from the wet-faced boy, Klein Yudia’s eyes widened considerably.
That day, Klein Yudia returned home alone.
* * *
“Ahem.”
Bunny tensed my shoulders and clenched my fists tightly.
Today was the day of both the test score announcement and my meeting with Grandfather.
‘I came in last in sparring with the Divine Beast, but my test score went up to 30 points.’
It was all thanks to my diligent studying and memorizing every single human character.
That’s right.
I had actually memorized all 57 human characters!
My lips curled upward. Those 57 characters had been grueling and agonizing, but I had ultimately triumphed.
Now I could read too.
And that wasn’t all.
I discovered that what I thought was the Heugyeomryong was actually a Phoenix.
Though still a young Phoenix, it was certain to become a magnificent great Phoenix one day.
Luri had said it was incredibly amazing, so she hadn’t been lying.
‘Luri is a genius too!’
Not a Heu-Gyeom Dragon, but a great Phoenix was also incredibly cool.
‘A magnificent great Phoenix and a magnificent great Demon King?’
The Demon King riding around on such a magnificent bird would surely look equally impressive.
Bunny nodded contentedly as she walked down the Corridor with measured steps.
“Welcome, Young Lady Bunny.”
“Yes. Hello….”
No, that wasn’t right.
Surprisingly, after studying, I discovered that the proper pronunciation of the greeting wasn’t “annyong” at all. It was “annyeonghaseyo”!
“An…nyeong…haseyo!”
“…!”
As Bunny’s shoulders squared and her chest puffed forward proudly, Pel’s eyes widened in astonishment.
The expression on her face said it all—wasn’t it amazing? Wasn’t it impressive?
“My goodness, you’ve grown even more mature. That was excellent pronunciation.”
And Pel was a seasoned butler, the sort who would never disappoint the expectations of the Young Lady he served. His smile curved upward with genuine warmth.
“Yes!”
Bunny answered with her fists clenched tightly.
“The Marquis is waiting for you inside.”
“Okay!”
As Pel opened the door, Bunny stepped inside. The elegant, substantial Sofa table was laden with an abundance of delicate treats.
“Ooh….”
Bunny’s mouth fell open in wonder before she suddenly caught herself and shook her head vigorously.
‘Bunny, you absolutely cannot fail this test.’
Bunny steeled her gaze and clenched her fists as she thought this, then lowered her head respectfully and spoke with confidence.
“Hello, haseyo!”
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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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