The Oracle of the Villainous Baby - Chapter 61

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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 61
“…”
Bunny gazed at Ludbreed Yudia with a confident expression, her eyes brimming with anticipation. At this, Ludbreed Yudia paused for a moment, then glanced sideways at Pel.
When Pel caught on and mouthed “say hello” as a hint, Ludbreed Yudia finally opened his mouth.
“Ah.”
Ludbreed Yudia let out a small sigh. Now he recalled that he had never properly greeted her before.
“Ahem. When did you become so clever? Indeed, you are my granddaughter—truly splendid.”
Ludbreed Yudia turned his head slightly, then after several false starts and throat-clearings, finally managed to speak.
Praising someone for such a trivial matter felt profoundly unfamiliar to him. So much so that even at his age, he felt a warmth creeping up the back of his neck.
At his words, Bunny’s face brightened considerably.
“I, ahem. I hear you’ve already mastered your letters. Is that true?”
At Ludbreed Yudia’s question, Bunny’s face grew even brighter.
Bunny giggled and nodded her head.
“Yes! Bunny perfect master!”
“Good, excellent. Come here now and have some snacks.”
“Bunny not baby, so won’t eat.”
“Hmm…”
Ludbreed Yudia rubbed his chin, recalling that a similar situation had occurred before.
“You eat even when you’re not a baby. Look—Grandfather eats too.”
At the sight of Ludbreed Yudia taking a pastry and popping it into his mouth, Bunny’s eyes widened.
Bunny fidgeted with her fingers.
“Bunny not get scolded?”
“Scolded? Why would I scold you?”
“They say you scold if eat cookies without permission. It’s spread everywhere.”
As Bunny stretched both arms wide, drawing a large circle, Ludbreed Yudia froze at her words.
“Spread everywhere…”
Again, an unexpected word had slipped out.
Ludbreed Yudia rubbed the corners of his mouth a couple of times, then exhaled a short sigh. He understood what rumor had spread.
‘I did scold someone harshly once for eating sweets without permission.’
He never expected such a rumor to circulate like this.
‘No wonder she was similarly reluctant to eat sweets last time…’
If this was the reason, it made sense now.
Thinking about it, perhaps it wasn’t really something worth scolding over.
Bunny was particularly small and young, but the other children were still quite little themselves—perhaps they simply wanted to eat.
“This time you have permission, so you may eat. I won’t scold you.”
At Ludbreed Yudia’s words, Bunny’s face brightened. Then she quickly lowered her gaze and began scanning the various assortments of snacks before her.
“Thank you.”
Bunny bowed her head respectfully, then took a cookie studded with chocolate and popped it into her mouth.
A gentle smile played at the corners of Ludbreed Yudia’s mouth. He reached out and stroked Bunny’s hair.
“Ah, and speaking of which, the rankings have been decided this time. I called you here to tell you about it.”
“Bunny!!”
Bunny’s eyes sparkled with delight.
Ludbreed Yudia wiped away the crumbs clinging to the child’s lips and fingers with a handkerchief, then gestured with his hand. Pel promptly appeared with a silver tray laden with items and set it upon the table.
Upon the silver tray rested a small silver bracelet, a fist-sized Divine Beast Stone, and a key.
“The account containing the prize money awarded to first place, the Divine Beast Stone given as a reward, and the key to the Dormitory Mansion that only the top-ranked may use.”
Bunny tilted her head slightly.
“First place?”
“Yes.”
“…First place?”
“That’s right.”
“Really Bunny in first place?”
“Indeed.”
Thud, tumble.
The cookie that had been in Bunny’s hand fell to the floor.
Bunny’s mouth fell open in astonishment.
“You saved Allen splendidly with the Phoenix. Ahem. The ranking tournament exists to see how much trust and reliance a Divine Beast and its master share with one another, and how far they can grow together. That is why you are first.”
“Bunny is first!!!”
Bunny leaped from her seat and bounced up and down in place.
‘Bunny is first!’
Truly the mighty Bunny!
Ludbreed Yudia fastened the bracelet around Bunny’s wrist. The large bracelet shrank perfectly to fit the child’s small wrist.
“This bracelet allows you to make purchases at affiliated shops and banks without needing physical currency. The actual funds can be withdrawn from the Holy Bank.”
At Ludbreed Yudia’s explanation, Bunny’s head tilted in confusion.
‘A bracelet made of straw by the bank and the store?’
But could money really come out of a straw bracelet?
Bunny’s eyes sparkled.
“A bracelet that gives out money?”
“…Something like that?”
As the lengthy explanation condensed into a single line, Ludbreed Yudia paused for a moment before nodding.
Gulp.
It was just as Bunny swallowed the last of her cookie and jumped down from the sofa.
“Chirp!”
The Heugyeomryong—no, the Phoenix—that had been dozing on Bunny’s shoulder suddenly took flight and landed firmly upon the Divine Beast Stone that Bunny had received.
“Heu-Gyeom Dragon?”
At Bunny’s call, the Phoenix let out a sharp “Chirp!” and spread its short, small wings wide before eagerly embracing the Divine Beast Stone.
The Divine Beast Stone then erupted in brilliant white light, transforming into fine white powder that seeped into the Phoenix’s body.
Whoosh.
Soon flames ignited across the Phoenix’s form, burning brightly and intensely.
“Heu-Gyeom Dragon!!”
Alarmed at the sight of the Phoenix beginning to burn and disappear, Bunny hastily reached out her hand.
“Chirp?”
With a crackling sound, a carrot-colored beak poked out from the blazing flames, and soon the Phoenix soared high into the sky.
“Peep peep…?”
Compared to the Small Bird, it had grown plumper and taken on a more recognizable avian form.
Flap.
The Phoenix descended onto Bunny’s head as it always did, settling into its nest.
Thud.
Bunny’s head drooped forward under the weight.
“…Heavy.”
“Chirp?!”
The Phoenix stared at Bunny with a shocked expression.
* * *
“Hello, my dear. Did the meeting go well?”
Just as Bunny, cradling the heavy Phoenix in her arms instead of balancing it on her head, was about to rush toward Kiriel upon exiting the Reception Room, a voice rang out. Bunny’s eyes widened at the sound.
“Father?”
“Yes.”
“Why are you here?”
“I came to pick up my precious daughter.”
Kiriel knelt on one knee and scooped Bunny into his arms as he answered.
Bunny’s eyes sparkled, and she broke into a wide smile, opening her mouth eagerly.
“Father, Bunny’s amazing! Amazing! So amazing!”
“Really?”
“Yes! Grandfather said Bunny’s amazing. Bunny was, like, super strong and saved Allen and everything. He said Bunny’s incredibly amazing!”
Bunny thrust her thumb up as she spoke. She was so delighted that even while held in his arms, her feet kicked excitedly, clearly overjoyed.
Her cheerful chatter in his embrace was not annoying in the slightest—it was wonderfully pleasant to hear.
“The bird… has grown quite a bit?”
“Yes! I fed it a growth stone, and it got really big. Later it’ll get even bigger, and then Bunny can ride on its back!”
“I see. Once it grows large enough, that will certainly be possible. It was already quite substantial in size.”
Ever since the Phoenix was discovered yesterday, the Dormitory Mansion had been unusually chaotic. There were many who tried to approach Bunny, so I had been continuously sending guards to accompany her.
Fortunately, only a limited number of people could enter the Main Mansion, and everything within this estate was under the surveillance of Ludbreed Yudia, so there was no need to worry about any untoward incidents.
It meant I didn’t need to assign additional personnel here.
But outside was different.
Not only the direct line but even the Branch Families and servants alike were captivated by the appearance of the Phoenix, which they had only known as legend, and by Allen, whom the Phoenix had saved.
The Phoenix.
Literally, the bird that does not die.
A sacred being reborn countless times from flames.
A creature that can heal any wound as long as it does not perish, and is called the greatest life form ever created by the divine—more magnificent than anything else that exists on earth.
Many would cling to Bunny.
There were countless who did not wish for death.
The Phoenix, which grants endless life as long as it does not die—even absurd rumors that merely possessing one of its feathers grants immortality had spread widely.
“Father, since Bunny is one year old now, will I grow really big soon?”
“No, you’re still a baby, so you’ll grow slowly. The Phoenix is still small too.”
“…Hmm. When will Bunny grow really big?”
“When you eat well without being picky, play hard, study diligently, and grow steadily until you’re as tall as Father, then you’ll be really big.”
Kiriel answered matter-of-factly while gently patting Bunny’s back.
Bunny pouted her lips and, now accustomed to it, leaned her cheek against his shoulder.
“Do you want to grow up quickly?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Because I need to become a really great Demon King soon.
But…
‘If I become a really great Demon King, I’ll have to say goodbye to Father. And to Allen, and Grandfather, and Pel too.’
There might be no one left to pat and stroke me like this ever again.
When I grow up, I’ll become a really great Demon King and search for Luri, gather the scattered Demon Clan members, and rebuild the kingdom.
But…
“Maybe… I could grow just a little bit slower…”

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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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