# Chapter 72
Jedrian smirked and approached Klein until he was right in front of him.
With a twist, he spun midair, hanging upside down like a bat.
"I'm tired, so why don't you handle that?
After all, you're only good at brute force~~ right?"
"This bastard never opens his mouth without spewing nonsense.
Tch, this is why I hate partnerships.
The day you fall from your perch, I'll sever your neck myself."
"Eh?
That's impossible.
With your skills??
Ahahaha!!
That was the funniest joke I've heard in a while.
Maybe a prince who defeated the Demon King could manage it, but with your half-baked swordsmanship?
Not a chance."
Klein, glaring fiercely, gripped the greatsword strapped to his back and swung it ferociously at Jedrian.
Whoosh!
The massive sword tore through the air, creating a menacing sound.
"Ahahaha!!
See?
You can't even hit me!
Besides, swinging like that in a cramped space is dangerous, you know?"
"Filthy mage-tower scum."
"Ahahaha!!
Finally catching on?
By the way, I love that nickname.
Crazy psychopath!
Annoying wizard!
Trash!
Yet, the best in skill, flawless in appearance.
No one dares to openly defy me—they all bow their heads."
Jedrian chuckled, his fiery orange eyes locking directly onto Klein.
"Why?
Because I'm strong, and anyone who challenges me is weak."
Suddenly, the mischief in Jedrian's eyes faded, replaced by a glint of madness.
As Klein stared into his dilated pupils, he clicked his tongue and slammed his sword into a crack in the ground.
Crack!
Thud, thud—
Crash!
With the sound of something shattering, a hole appeared in the cave wall.
Their eyes widened in shock.
***
"Is this really the five-billion-gold relic that summoned a phoenix?"
Dangling helplessly in midair, Bunny gawked.
'Bad guys after the Flowing Dragon again!'
Bunny thought, distressed.
Today, even MierMier was left behind!
If MierMier were here, she could have flailed around wildly to attack, but now, that wasn't an option.
Bunny flailed her arms and legs, but the grip holding her was too strong to break free.
"What are you doing?!
Let go of her this instant!!
Do you have any idea who you're messing with?!"
Hmm.
Should I use my Water Bang-Bang Magic?
If I work hard, I might be able to escape from here!
"What's this kid babbling about?
But hey, I've been meaning to ask—those red eyes of yours...
Are you a demon brat?"
The man laughed mockingly.
"How dare you compare me to something so filthy!!"
Just as Bunny was about to strike a pose with her fingers like a gun, a fierce voice interrupted her, and she froze.
‘Loel hates demons too.’
Her raised hand slowly lowered.
If she used magic, they'd know she was a demon.
Would Loel hate her for that?
Maybe Loel would tell her father that Bunny was a demon.
‘Does he like me because I look human right now?’
Would he hate her if she didn't look human?
Bunny felt a bit disheartened, her mind racing.
If Water Bang-Bang Magic was out of the question, she had to find another way.
In that case...!
"B-Bunny... doesn’t have a phoenix…?"
Emphasizing the fact that she didn’t have a phoenix seemed like the only option.
"What are you saying?
Your face was plastered everywhere alongside a phoenix.
The bounty's five billion gold."
Pfft.
‘Bunny failed at lying...’
Bunny drooped as the man laughed mockingly right in her face.
"F-Five billion…?"
"Impressive, huh?
That much money is riding on your tiny body."
The man leaned in close, his face just inches from Bunny’s, and laughed mockingly.
Bunny, who didn’t quite understand what five billion meant, was sure of one thing.
“You smell… bad.”
“What?
What nonsense is that?”
The man’s face twisted in irritation, his expression souring.
Clearly offended, he retorted.
“Ugly and smelly.
Your beard is ugly too.”
“What kind of smell are you talking about?!
Ah, I see.
The noble little lady can’t handle a bit of odor, huh?
Too bad, ugly brat.
You’ll get used to it before you’re sold off.”
“I said, let her go!”
Loel’s voice rang out as he drew a small sword from his belt and charged forward.
“Ha!
What’s a tiny runt like you going to do with that?”
Wham!
“Ack!”
Loel’s small body flew through the air and landed heavily on the ground.
One of the men, who wasn’t holding Bunny, grabbed Loel by the scruff of his neck and lifted him effortlessly.
The man let out a derisive laugh, as if the boy’s resistance was beneath him.
A sturdy mercenary against a nine-year-old child was no contest.
Especially when that child was Loel, the crown prince, who hadn’t yet fully inherited the power of the royal bloodline.
“Wait a second.
Blond hair?
He does look a bit like royalty.”
“Don’t be stupid.
The Emperor’s only child is a frail crown prince who’s rumored to be on his deathbed.
Besides, look at his red eyes.
He’s clearly connected to demons.”
“Hmm… Could be.
What if he’s a demon hiding among us?
We could sell him to some nobles.
I hear demons make excellent test subjects, especially for the mage tower.”
The men cackled as they spoke, their cruel words filling the air.
Bunny’s expression hardened as she listened.
Malice.
Pure, dark malice.
It clung to these men like a heavy, suffocating stench.
There was no warmth, no softness—only cold, hard cruelty.
“Let’s head back to the hideout.”
The men roughly stuffed Bunny and Loel into a large sack.
“It’s so dark in here!”
“Bunny!
Are you okay?”
“I’m fine… but it’s cramped.”
“Ugh… Sorry.
I’d move, but there’s nowhere to step.”
The two were tossed into the sack together, leaving them no choice but to huddle close.
Bunny wriggled, trying to adjust, and Loel’s face turned slightly red as he glanced at her.
Her soft skin brushed against his, unfamiliar and flustering.
The faint, childlike scent tickled his nose.
Bunny’s chubby cheeks bumped against his, and she squirmed every time they made contact.
‘What do we do if we get dragged away like this?’
Loel’s thoughts spiraled into panic.
They’d snuck out, which meant it would take time for anyone to realize they were gone, let alone find them.
Worse, the Duke of Rudebred, who owned a sacred beast that could track them, was away on an expedition to ancient elven ruins.
‘What if we die?
Bunny… and me…?’
His pale face grew ashen, his body trembling as dread consumed him.
He regretted convincing Bunny to come along, wanting to spend time alone with her so badly that he had dismissed their guards.
‘Will Father find us in time?’
Revealing himself as the crown prince might buy them some time, but the men already seemed convinced he was a demon.
What should I do?
What should I do?
WhatcanI do?
The overwhelming fear of countless “what-ifs” left his mind spinning, his breathing growing more labored.
Just then, something warm and soft brushed against his cheek.
He flinched.
“Bunny…?”
“It’s okay.”
Bunny’s pink eyes met Loel’s crimson ones, steady and unwavering.
Her gaze was as bright as ever, but there was a peculiar weight to it—no innocence, no naivety, just quiet assurance.
“Loel, Bunny will protect you.”