# Chapter 60
With eyes full of expectation, Bernie confidently looked at Ludebrid.
Ludebrid paused for a moment and then glanced at Pell.
Seeing the subtle hint from Pell, who motioned with her lips to prompt the greeting, Ludebrid finally opened his mouth.
"Ah."
Ludebrid let out a small sigh.
It was then that he realized he had never properly greeted anyone.
"Cough.
When did you become so sharp?
Truly my granddaughter, you are excellent."
Ludebrid tilted his head slightly and cleared his throat several times before finally speaking.
It felt quite unfamiliar to compliment someone over such trivial matters.
It was no wonder his neck felt hot even at his age.
At that, Bernie’s face lit up with joy.
"Well, cough.
I heard you've already mastered reading letters.
Is that true?"
At Ludebrid’s words, Bernie’s face brightened even further.
She let out a little laugh and nodded enthusiastically.
"Yes!
Bernie is a perfect master!"
"Good, very good.
Now come, have some snacks."
"Bernie’s not a baby, so I won’t eat."
"Hmm..."
Ludebrid scratched his chin as if recalling a similar situation from the past.
"Even if you're not a baby, you still eat.
See, grandpa is eating."
Bernie’s eyes widened at the sight of Ludebrid eating a cookie in one bite.
She wiggled her fingers.
"Grandpa won’t scold me?"
"Scold you?
Why would I scold you?"
"If I don’t have permission, I’ll get scolded.
It’s already a big rumor."
Bernie stretched her arms wide, making a large circle as she spoke.
Ludebrid paused for a moment.
"A big rumor...?"
Once again, an unexpected word slipped out.
Ludebrid rubbed his mouth a few times, then let out a short sigh.
He understood what the rumor was.
‘I once scolded someone for eating a snack without permission.’
He hadn’t expected it to come back around in this way.
‘No wonder, last time you didn’t eat snacks...’
Now it made sense.
Looking back, maybe it hadn’t been something worth scolding for.
Bernie was particularly young and small, but other children were still quite young as well.
Maybe they also wanted to eat.
"This time, I gave you permission, so it’s fine.
I won’t scold you."
Upon hearing Ludebrid’s words, Bernie’s face lit up.
She quickly lowered her gaze and began scanning the different types of snacks laid out before her.
"Thank you."
Bernie bowed her head slightly and grabbed a cookie filled with chocolate, popping it into her mouth.
Ludebrid’s lips softened into a gentle smile.
He reached out and patted Bernie’s hair.
"Ah, by the way, the rankings were decided this time.
I called you here to tell you."
"Rankings!!"
Bernie’s eyes sparkled.
As Ludebrid wiped the crumbs from Bernie’s mouth and fingers with a handkerchief, he waved his fingers, signaling for Pell to bring something over.
Pell soon appeared with a silver tray filled with items and placed it on the table.
On the tray were a small silver bracelet, a large power stone the size of a fist, and a key.
"This account containing money for the 1st place winner, the power stone as a prize, and the key to the mansion that only the top ranks can use."
Bernie tilted her head.
"1st place?"
"Yes."
"...1st place?"
"Yes."
"Really, Bernie is 1st place?"
"That’s right."
Thunk, thud.
The snack in Bernie’s hand fell to the floor.
Bernie’s mouth hung open in shock.
"You saved Ellen brilliantly as a Phoenix.
Cough.
The rankings are based on how well a divine beast and its master trust and rely on each other, and how strong they can become.
That’s why you are 1st place."
"Bernie is 1st place!!!"
Bernie jumped up from her seat, stomping her feet excitedly.
‘Bernie is 1st place!’
Indeed, the great Phoenix Bernie!
Ludebrid placed the bracelet onto Bernie’s wrist.
The large bracelet shrank perfectly to fit Bernie’s wrist.
"This bracelet allows you to make payments at stores or buy things without any actual money.
The real money can be withdrawn at the Sacred Bank."
As Ludebrid explained while fastening the bracelet, Bernie tilted her head in confusion.
‘A bracelet made of straw by an affiliate?’
Can a straw bracelet really hold money?
Bernie’s eyes gleamed with curiosity.
"Does this bracelet give out money?"
"...Something like that."
When Ludebrid’s long explanation was condensed into a single sentence, he paused for a moment and then nodded.
Gulp.
Just as Bernie finished swallowing the cookie and was about to jump off the couch, the black flame dragon—no, the Phoenix—took off from her shoulder, landing on the power stone Bernie had received.
"Fhgehmryong?"
At Bernie’s call, the Phoenix let out a sharp "Pik!" and spread its small wings, quickly grabbing the power stone.
The power stone burst with white light, then turned into white dust that absorbed into the Phoenix’s body.
Whoosh.
Soon, the Phoenix’s body ignited, flames blazing as it started to burn.
"Fhgehmryoouuuuong!!"
Startled by the burning Phoenix’s appearance, Bernie quickly reached out.
"Piyo?"
From the flames, the Phoenix’s carrot-colored beak popped out, and soon it soared into the sky.
"Doontoon...?"
Now looking much rounder than a sparrow, the Phoenix had taken on a more bird-like form.
Flap.
As usual, the Phoenix flew up and landed lightly on Bernie’s head, nesting there.
Heavy.
Bernie’s head sank forward under the weight.
"...Heavy."
"Piyot?!"
The Phoenix looked at Bernie with a shocked expression.
***
"Hello, my daughter.
Did the meeting go well?"
Instead of having the heavy Phoenix perched on her head, Bernie, who was now holding it in her arms, was about to run to Kiriel when she heard the voice coming from the parlor.
Her eyes widened in surprise.
"Daddy?"
"Yes."
"Why are you here?"
"I came to welcome my daughter."
Kiriel knelt on one knee, lifting Bernie into his arms as he replied.
Bernie’s eyes sparkled as she beamed and immediately spoke up.
"Daddy, Bernie’s 1st place!
1st place!
I’m 1st place!"
"Really?"
"Yes!
Grandpa says I’m 1st place.
I didn’t get super strong, but I saved Ellen!
I’m really 1st place!"
Bernie gave a thumbs up, grinning with joy as she continued to kick her feet happily, even while still in his arms.
The sound of her chattering, instead of being bothersome, was actually pleasant to Kiriel.
"The bird... it’s gotten bigger, hasn’t it?"
"Yes.
I ate the power stone.
It got really big.
Later, it will get super big and I’ll ride it on my back!"
"I see.
Once it gets super big, that would make sense.
It’s already quite large."
Since the Phoenix was discovered yesterday, the mansion had been unusually noisy.
Several people had tried to approach Bernie, so he had been sending guards to follow her around.
Fortunately, those who could enter the main mansion were limited, and everything inside was under Ludebrid’s watch, so there was no need to worry about any treasonous actions.
This meant that they didn’t need additional security here.
However, outside was a different story.
Even distant relatives and servants, who had once thought the Phoenix was just a legend, were now showing great interest in the Phoenix and in Ellen, whom it had saved.
The Phoenix.
A bird that does not die.
A sacred being, reborn from fire again and again.
As long as it doesn’t die, it can heal any wound and is considered the greatest creation of the gods, more powerful than anything on earth.
Many people would cling to Bernie.
There were many who didn’t want death.
A Phoenix, whose feathers were said to grant eternal life if you just had one.
Rumors of such incredible power spread easily.
"Daddy, since I’m 1st place, will it get super big now?"
"No, not yet.
It’s still a baby, so it’s still small.
The Phoenix is still small too."
"...Huh?
When will it get super big?"
"You need to eat well, not be picky, play well, study hard, and grow tall.
Then, when you’re as big as Daddy, it will be really big."
Kiriel gently patted Bernie’s back as he answered calmly.
Bernie pouted, then, as if used to it, leaned her cheek against his shoulder.
"Do you want to grow up quickly?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Because... she has to become the great, mighty demon king.
But...
‘If I become the great, mighty demon king, I won’t be able to be with Daddy anymore.
Not with Ellen, Grandpa, or Pell either.’
Perhaps there would be no one left to pat her back or scratch her head.
When she grows up, Bernie will become the great demon king, find Luri, gather the scattered demons, and rebuild the kingdom.
But...
"I’ll grow up a little slower... maybe."