# Chapter 75
Kiriel released his grip on the sword, the tension leaving his body as he raked a hand through his hair.
He closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them slowly.
“…Bunny?”
Before he realized it, Bunny had shuffled closer, standing quietly in front of him with the oversized robe draped over her head and body.
She clutched the hood tightly with both hands, pulling it low over her face.
“Daddy… do you hate Bunny now?”
Her voice, so small and dejected, made Kiriel’s eyes widen.
In an instant, all the turbulent thoughts and heavy dilemmas that had filled his mind dissipated.
“…Are you going to abandon Bunny?”
“……”
“If Daddy hates Bunny… Bunny will go somewhere else.”
Thud.
The sound of his heart dropping into his stomach rang loud in his ears.
He finally spoke, his voice strained.
“Somewhere else?
Where?”
“…Bunny will sell herself cheap.
Bunny will find a new daddy to take care of her…”
Bunny’s head was bowed low, her face hidden under the dusty folds of the robe.
She spoke softly, her small frame trembling.
Kiriel’s brows furrowed deeply as he knelt on one knee to meet her at eye level—or at least tried to.
Bunny ducked further into the robe, avoiding his gaze.
“Bunny, look at me.”
His voice, gentle yet firm, made Bunny pause.
Slowly, she lifted her head, her teary eyes peeking out from under the hood.
“Bunny.”
“…Yes?”
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
Kiriel wanted to say more—there were so many things he wanted to ask.
But he couldn’t.
The frightened child in front of him looked at him with blurry, tear-filled eyes, like she was moments away from being scolded.
Without a word, he reached out and gently pulled the robe away from her face.
Her wide pink eyes, now back to their usual soft and lovely hue, stared up at him.
The horns and wings that had appeared earlier were gone, as if they had never existed.
“…You’ve got a scratch on your cheek.”
Her pale, chubby cheek was slightly swollen, with a small cut that had dried blood crusting over it.
Kiriel’s expression hardened, an unspoken fury simmering just below the surface.
He reached out carefully and brushed his thumb across her cheek, wiping the area with a featherlight touch.
Bunny winced slightly at the sting, one eye squeezing shut.
“I told you not to go anywhere without telling me,” he said quietly.
“…Yes.
That’s why I brought Loel with me…” Bunny mumbled.
Her words made Kiriel feel like pulling his own hair out.
He pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled heavily, stifling the sigh that threatened to escape.
“You should have brought an adult.
A knight or Rebon, at the very least.”
“……”
Bunny lowered her head, her lips pressed tightly together.
She had wanted to surprise him.
That was why she hadn’t told Rebon either.
She had planned to give the gift to Daddy as soon as he came back…
Tears welled up in her big pink eyes as she glanced at the shattered, crumpled box on the floor.
Her chest tightened painfully at the sight.
She had chosen it so carefully, with so much effort.
Sniffle.
“What brought you all the way to the capital?” Kiriel asked, his tone soft.
Bunny couldn’t hold it in any longer.
The tears spilled over, streaming down her cheeks.
She sobbed quietly, the sound of her sorrowful crying piercing Kiriel’s heart.
He opened his mouth to speak but hesitated, at a loss for words.
“Daddy…”
“Yes?”
"I came to buy a relic for Daddy’s birthday… h-heung… but it’s all broken now… heung… the bad people smashed it… h-heuung…”
Bunny’s sobs grew louder as she pointed a small finger toward the corner where the ruined gift box lay.
It was barely recognizable, crushed beyond repair, as if it had been stomped on with great force.
A sharp pain stabbed Kiriel’s heart, accompanied by a strange queasiness that churned in his chest.
Slowly, he blinked.
“…Why did you get a gift for me?”
“Because Daddy doesn’t like birthdays… so Bunny wanted to make you happy… heuung… Bunny wanted to give you a gift… heuung…”
Birthday.
That was the only word he could clearly make out through her tear-choked explanation, but it was enough for him to piece together her intent.
She had wanted to do something special for him, to bring him joy.
Kiriel rose silently from his kneeling position and retrieved the box from the corner.
Inside, the faint sound of broken glass rattling confirmed the state of its contents.
“You wanted to give this to me for my birthday?”
“Yes… heuung.”
“Thank you.
I’ll fix it, so stop crying now.
You’re a good girl, aren’t you?”
Bunny blinked at his soothing tone, her large teardrops rolling down her cheeks before dripping onto the floor.
“Sniff… hic.”
“That’s it.
Good girl.”
Kiriel tucked the box under one arm and turned his attention to Loel, who lay crumpled on the ground.
Without hesitation, he lifted the boy and carefully placed him on his divine beast’s back.
“Is Loel… is Loel dead…?”
“No.
He’ll be fine.
He’s got some bruises and internal injuries, but nothing life-threatening.
He’ll recover soon.”
Sniffle.
Bunny rubbed her eyes with the back of her hands, hiccuping as Kiriel gently pulled her into his arms.
She instinctively wrapped her small arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder, her hiccups gradually calming.
“Is that Daddy’s Dark Flame Dragon?” she asked, peering at the large creature.
“It’s not a Dark Flame Dragon, it’s a Blue Dragon.”
“Daddy’s so cool for saving Bunny.”
Bunny giggled softly, her wet face rubbing against his chest as if seeking comfort.
The warmth of her small body steadied the storm in Kiriel’s heart.
“From now on, you must never go out alone,” he said firmly.
“…Okaay.”
“And not with just other kids, either,” he added, cutting off the protest he knew was coming.
“Did only the bad men here see Bunny’s demon form?”
“Yes…”
“Good.”
Kiriel nodded to himself, his voice dropping to a low murmur.
If I kill them all, there won’t be any evidence.
He considered questioning the men further—to uncover their motives, to find out where they planned to take her—but decided against it.
Sometimes, pursuing answers only led to more complications.
“Bunny, can you promise me something?” he asked.
“A promise…?”
“Yes.
Unless it’s a very, very dangerous situation, don’t show this form to anyone.
If you do… you won’t be able to stay with Daddy anymore.”
Gasp!
Bunny’s eyes widened in alarm, and she clapped her hands over her mouth.
“What if it’s very, very dangerous?”
“Then you must use it.
What’s most important is that you stay alive.”
“…But I won’t be with Daddy?”
“…Maybe not.”
After a long pause, Kiriel carefully patted her back.
“Is it because Bunny’s a demon?” she whispered.
Kiriel didn’t respond.
Instead, his fist clenched tightly.
Crack!
The water prison he had created turned crimson in an instant, silencing the struggling men inside.
They moved no more.
“Bunny.”
“…Yes?”
“No matter what happens in the future, if you ever reach out to me, I’ll always be there to hold your hand.
Don’t ever forget that.”
Bunny tilted her head, confused.
She didn’t understand—whenever she reached out now, Daddy always held her hand tightly.
“Daddy says hard things.”
“What I mean is… you are my daughter, and I am your father.”
At his confident declaration, Bunny giggled and nodded enthusiastically.
Her unshakable belief in his words warmed his heart, and he gave her a gentle pat on the back.
Phoenix.
Demon.
Prophetic abilities.
Kiriel knew the child in his arms would face countless storms in the future.
She would endure loneliness and hardship.
Perhaps, in the end, she would stand utterly alone.
“If you ever need me…”
No matter the situation, no matter how their fates intertwined—whether they met as allies or enemies—if she ever reached out to him, crying and asking for help…
“I’ll always be there for you.”
Even if, one day, Bunny became the very type of demon he had spent his life fighting, he would answer her call without hesitation, even if it led to his own downfall.