# Chapter 22
Chapter 22
“Don’t throw it away.
Why do you think I’m throwing it away, my daughter… .”
Kiriel Judias spoke with a rare firmness hugged Bunny tightly and sat him on his lap.
Bunny's eyes widened.
Kiriel Judias rubbed the cheek of the child who had a surprised expression and snickered.
“Well… … .”
Bunny blinked.
Bunny is a demon, and since Kiriel Judias hates demons...
Bunny blinked a couple of times, recalling Luriel’s notebook contents.
But, to become an adult, I need to stay in the duke’s family.
I don’t know why, but Luriel said so.
To do that, I need to be useful...
“Bunny is useless right now...”
When the rare sight of a discouraged Bunnymumbled sadly, Kiriel Judias wiped the child's wet cheeks with his palm and spoke.
“You don’t have to be that useful.
Even if you are useful in this household...”
As Kiriel Judias slowly continued his words, he suddenly trailed off and let out a short sigh.
“Anyway...
I won’t abandon you.
I already took you in, so I’ll take responsibility.”
“Until Bunnygrows up?”
“Yes.”
Bernie’s eyes widened at Kiriel Judias’s words.
As Kiriel watched Bernie’s sparkling eyes, he gave a slight smile.
He slowly turned his head to look at Alan.
Alan flinched and quickly averted his gaze when their eyes met.
“You too, Alan.”
“...!”
Alan’s eyes widened at the added words, and he pressed his lips together tightly.
The carriage continued moving forward in silence.
* * *
Knock knock.
At the faint sound of knocking, Rudevried, who responded quickly, stood up and opened the door.
“Hello.”
“Oh, you’ve come?”
Nod.
Rudevried looked at Bernie, who politely greeted him, and his mouth softened into a pleased smile.
Who would believe it?
That this iron-willed old man was smiling so fondly.
Every time I moved, there was a jingling sound from the cheap coins clashing together.
“Bunny came to buy a sacred stone.”
“Oh?
Come on, choose.
There are plenty over here.”
Holding the jingling elephant, Bunnytoddled over to sit on the sofa Rudevried guided him to.
Bernie, who had wisely learned how to buy sacred stones for just 1,500 Rost, thanks to Kiriel’s introduction, was a quick learner.
“So, what are you buying today?”
Rudevried watched Bernie, who was deep in thought, seriously contemplating the various sacred stones in front of him, with a slight grin.
That shameless youngest son, Kiriel, had once mentioned a guy who had dared to scam his granddaughter in Yudia.
He had sold fake sacred stones.
And that little one, using her hard-earned money, had been completely swindled.
Of course, Rudevried personally took care of the matter.
The scammer was a wanderer who had drifted into Yudia, and his downfall was daring to commit such nonsense in Judiaterritory.
Judia was the most protected territory by divine power.
It was even said that if the capital were ever breached, the emperor would take refuge in Yudia.
Especially after Rudevried was born, the crime rate dropped below 1%.
That’s because Rudevried’s partner, his divine beast Pegasus, had the ability to track and find whatever its master desired.
Finding Yudia’s bloodline or criminals was no difficult task for Pegasus.
“How much is this one, Grandpa?”
Rudevried cleared his throat at Bernie’s serious question and glanced at the sacred stone.
“Let’s see, it’s pretty big, so I’d say about 2,500 Rost.
That’s 25 coins.”
58 million Rost.
The real price flashed through Rudevried’s mind, but he lightly ignored it.
“It’s all to hatch the divine beast,” Rudevried thought, nodding.
The egg Bunny had summoned was growing quickly, feeding on sacred stones.
It was said the egg was now as big as Bernie.
“I’ve never seen a divine beast in egg form before...”
Given how fast it consumed sacred stones, it was more likely a divine beast than a holy relic.
Rudevried was a bit curious to see what would hatch.
Sacred stones were, in essence, worth whatever one was willing to pay for them.
Just keeping one could prevent minor illnesses and purify dark energy.
Sacred stones were also deadly to demons and monsters, often used to forge weapons.
Processing them was highly complicated, which is why the Judiadukedom monopolized most sacred stone mines.
“I’ll take this one!”
“Alright, go ahead.”
“Okay!”
Nodding quickly, Bunnypopped the elephant bank’s nose off and started pulling out coins.
“One, two... five...”
Watching Bunny count diligently with her fingers, Rudevried’s smile deepened.
“Twenty-five!”
“Well done.
You already know up to 25!”
Heh, Bunny is a genius!
Just then—
Knock knock.
At the sound of knocking, Bunny jerked up and looked around.
“Duke, may I come in for a moment?”
At the appearance of the butler, Pell, Rudevried narrowed his eyes, having instantly returned to his serious expression.
“What is it?”
Pell quietly observed Rudevried, who had become stern again, especially while patting Bernie’s head and holding the 25 coins.
“You’re wearing a new ribbon.
The yellow ribbon suits you well.
And Miss Bernie, you look as adorable as always.”
Hehe.
Bernie’s bottom wiggled in delight.
Compliments made Bunny want to dance, and Pell was always generous with compliments.
“A good human,” Bunny thought.
When she becomes the great demon king, she’ll make sure Pell becomes rich.
Having stamped her approval in her heart, Bunnynodded happily.
“Sir Kiriel’s adjutant is looking for Miss Bernie.”
At Pell’s words, Rudevried frowned slightly but nodded.
“Are you ready to go?”
“Yes.”
Nodding, Bunny closed the elephant bank and started putting the remaining coins back in.
Watching her, Pell smiled warmly.
“Oh, and...”
Just as Pell was about to say something, he hesitated and glanced at Bernie.
Rudevried narrowed his eyes and spoke.
“What is it?
Speak.”
“Well, it seems there are strange rumors among the demons who escaped after their defeat.”
“Strange rumors?
What kind?”
“It’s just a rumor for now, but... it’s said that the Demon King’s child is still alive.”
“A child?”
“Yes, apparently, the late Demon King had a child.
The rumor is that this child is destined to awaken as the next Demon King...”
Jingle jingle.
At that moment, Bernie’s body trembled, and the coins she was holding fell and rolled across the floor.
“Oh dear, are you alright, Miss Bernie?”
“...Yes, thank you.”
Pell picked up the dropped coins and handed them back to Bernie.
“Bernie’s heart is pounding...”
The Demon King’s child...
No matter how she looked at it, it was definitely Bernie’s story.
With her heart pounding, Bunny hugged the elephant bank even tighter.