# Chapter 17
Chapter 17
“That, that was just a joke.
You were just playing with kids like us!”
“A joke…?”
Kiriel Yudia, who was squatting down, tilted his head slightly at Alan’s outburst.
“What’s a joke?”
“Haa…?
You lied to us just to play with us!”
“Why?”
Even with Alan's agitated voice, Kiriel Yudia maintained a relaxed expression.
Alan, who was fumbling for words, bit his lower lip.
“B-because...
You just wanted to enjoy seeing us get excited and hopeful…”
“Did you get excited and hopeful because I said I’d be your dad?”
Kiriel Yudia asked with a faint smile.
Alan's face turned bright red.
As Alan stammered, Bunny, with sparkling eyes, opened his mouth.
“Master, you wanna be Bunny’s dad?”
“Didn’t Bunny ask me to be his dad?”
“No… Bunny asked for a guardian to take care of him…”
“You don’t want a dad?”
Kiriel Yudia asked.
Bunny’s eyes widened.
Without saying a word, he fidgeted with his fingers, then quietly pulled out a small pouch from his bunny bag and handed it to Kiriel Yudia.
“I like it!”
Bunny answered with a wide smile.
Kiriel Yudia blinked slowly as he looked at the shabby cloth pouch Bunny had given him again.
‘Is this like a gift for parents?’
“Thanks.”
Though a bit puzzled, Kiriel Yudia took the pouch with a soft smile.
“Oh, and also!
The medicine from the Modern Store… it’s going to be a big hit, so throw your money at it!”
“Throw… what?”
“Throw your money at it!”
“…Throw money at it, huh.
You sure know some weird words.”
At Kiriel Yudia’s words, Bunny tilted his head and then chuckled.
Not knowing something like this?
Master still has a long way to go.
Bunny shook his head and shrugged, raising his chin proudly.
“That’s adult language.”
“Adult language?
What does that mean?”
“Well… like, using everything you have to hit the jackpot!”
At Bunny’s explanation, Kiriel Yudia's smile deepened.
Thinking that someone had taught Bunny such crude language, Kiriel Yudia leisurely replied.
“If that’s adult language, then Bunny’s banned from using it.”
“Hmph… But Bunny’s an adult.”
“With your tiny height, you can’t be an adult…”
“Tiny height?”
“Yeah.”
Bunny blinked.
“What’s tiny height?”
“It’s something small and cute.”
At Kiriel’s words, Bunny’s eyes widened before he grinned widely.
‘Bunny is popular after all.’
There may not be dads lining up, but a dad has been found, anyway.
Luriel had said that it doesn’t matter how you get there, as long as you get to the shrimp.
Bunny was a shrimp that wouldn’t be crushed, even among whales.
“Bunny, tiny height.”
Heehee.
As Bunny giggled, Alan looked at him as if he couldn’t believe it.
Bunny, with a puzzled expression, glanced at Alan and then snickered again.
“By the way, did you hear any news about medicine from the Modern Store?”
Kiriel murmured as he slowly stood up.
“So, what brings you here today?”
“I came to give you pocket money.”
“Pocket money for you?”
At Kiriel’s question, Bunny shook his head vigorously.
“No!
Bunny is admirable!
Bunny can do it on his own.
I don’t complain.
Right?”
“Well…”
Kiriel nodded easily.
Seeing his agreement, Bunny’s face brightened.
Bunny shuffled closer to Kiriel.
Kiriel flinched as Bunny suddenly stuck his face near Kiriel’s hand, but then gently reached out and patted Bunny’s hair.
Bunny’s cheeks flushed red.
As Bunny pulled Alan forward, Kiriel chuckled softly and, seeing Alan’s flustered expression, patted his head a few times too.
Bunny, now all smiles, bowed deeply.
“See you later!”
After receiving his pats, Bunny spun around and trotted off the way he had come.
Kiriel, who hadn’t invited them into his room or even offered to meet in the sitting room, stared blankly at his hand, hovering in the air, before pulling it back slowly.
‘…As expected.’
Kiriel’s eyes narrowed.
Maybe it was just his imagination, but…
“I can definitely sense a faint trace of demonic energy.”
Kiriel muttered quietly as he shrugged his shoulders.
From the start, he had kept the kid around to confirm something he was curious about.
There might be some purpose in why the kid approached him.
‘Cute, though.’
Well, since it’s a hassle, maybe I’ll just leave it be for now…
Kiriel Yudia, narrowing his eyes, headed back into his room and burrowed under his blanket as if nothing had happened.
* * *
Once a year, the Duke’s family holds interviews with the children summoned through the ritual.
It was a precious opportunity for the head of the Yudia family to give direct advice on future plans or divine beasts.
“They say the head of the family is really scary, and if you hesitate even a little, you’ll get severely scolded.”
“They also hate lies… a lot.”
“If you’re useless, they won’t ever see you again.”
“They might suddenly ask a question, and if you can’t answer, they’ll secretly sell you off.”
“That’s not all!
They also test your manners.
Last time, someone ate the snacks in front of them without permission and got scolded badly.”
Hearing the voices around them, Bunny gulped nervously.
‘The head of the family… what a terrifyingly greedy human!’
Hugging his stuffed bear tightly, Bunny had stuffed quail eggs wrapped in cloth and money for market shopping into the bunny bag he carried.
‘Should I bring the elephant, too?’
Bunny, feeling tense, fidgeted with his fingers as he thought.
‘No, Bunny has a special egg.’
The Hegyeom Dragon egg.
Bunny giggled.
He had read Luriel’s secret notebook again today and brought useful information, so he would surely be considered a valuable child.
‘Lies are essential for becoming the great king and demon lord!’
Of course, for now, the egg was too small and weak, so he had to lie like this, but when it grew and the Hegyeom Dragon was born, no one would be able to ignore the egg anymore.
‘Until then, Bunny will protect the egg!’
As long as Bunny was around, no one could ignore the Hegyeom Dragon egg.
“Child, child.
Don’t trust humans too much.
They’ll only be with you until you grow up.
So, be a helpful child, okay?”
“Yeah.
Bunny doesn’t trust humans.
Bunny only trusts Luri.”
“Oh, you’re so good.
If you ever feel lost or it’s too hard, just read this big, great Luriel’s notebook.”
“Luri, can Bunny stay with you forever?
Bunny wants to stay with Luri.
Humans are bad… Luri is good.”
“Aww, you’re too cute.
Those wretched humans better not be mistreating you.
Why is someone like you in the villain’s position, anyway?”
“Huh?”
“Oh, nothing.
Luriel loves you, too.
But, child, since you’re special, you’ll have to stay with humans for a while.”
“…Yeah.”
“Okay?
And don’t expect love.
Don’t get jealous of friends, either.
Humans are just there to be used!
Suck them dry!”
“Yeah!
Suck them dry!”
Recalling his conversation with Luriel, Bunny rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand.
Bunny won’t cry, Bunny has the great Hegyeom Dragon egg, has great information, and makes money.
Bunny is awesome!
Bunny, interview 100 points!
With his nose up in the air, Bunny clenched his tiny fist tightly.