# Chapter 79
The youngest Tower Master.
A madman who declared a single magic tower and its surrounding land as a nation—and when other countries resisted, wiped out one of them overnight with just a handful of mages.
From the start, he wasn’t someone you could reason with.
Whenever something displeased him, he would just smile and say, "Ah, I see~" before snapping his fingers.
And that would be the end of it.
Whether his opponent died or ended up crippled, it didn't matter.
The matter would simply be resolved in that instant.
“Hey, hey, Duke Yudia.”
The transparent marble in his fingers spun in a lazy circle.
"If I go find the young lord now, fix something he accidentally dropped, and return it to him, what do you think the chances are that he’ll welcome me to his party?"
A torn candy wrapper lay on the floor.
Clearly, he had opened it himself.
He didn’t drop that.
Ludbrid clicked his tongue in irritation.
That bastard stole it with magic.
With a scowl, he cast a brief glare at Zedrian before turning to the Emperor and giving a slight nod.
“I’ll take my leave first.”
“Aah, I see.”
"Hey!
Why aren't you answering me?!
Duke Yudia!
What's the probability that the young lord will—"
Ludbrid’s gaze turned sharp as ice.
Zedrian, who had been floating midair, suddenly froze, his playful smirk momentarily stiffening.
Then, with a slow, exaggerated movement, he curled his lips into a grin and straightened his posture.
“Ahehe, no need to glare like that.
Scary.”
Ludbrid’s voice was cold.
"Even if my son took a blow to the head and lost his mind enough to welcome you, I never will.
Because I haven't forgotten what you did to him."
"……!"
Zedrian’s eyes widened.
Then he chuckled, tilting his head with an amused shrug.
"Oh, are you talking about those harmless little words I said when we were kids?
I merely stated the facts.
That the young lord was cursed by the demons and would never be able to feel human emotions—he'd live broken for the rest of his life."
He spun in the air, his voice light and teasing.
"And I wasn’t wrong, was I?"
Ludbrid remained silent.
"Ohhh, or are you talking about the time I cast magic on him?
You know, to push the demonic energy inside him into overdrive?
Because I was curious about the results?
Hehe, well, that turned out just fine in the end, didn’t it?"
It was after that day that Kiriel had become utterly isolated.
Even within the duchy, people had begun quitting, saying they couldn’t handle it anymore.
Yet Zedrian hadn’t stopped.
For years, he had continued pestering Kiriel—asking him to be his test subject, constantly chasing after him, and pulling dangerous experiments until their fights became infamous.
“…You…”
Ludbrid clenched his fists, suppressing his anger.
And then, in a voice colder than ice, he said:
"Tell me, does that sound like something a man without emotions would do?"
Zedrian stilled.
His playful spin halted midair.
Ludbrid’s eyes were sharp, unwavering.
"In this room, the only one lacking humanity—is you."
With that, Ludbrid turned and left.
For a moment, Zedrian remained frozen.
Then, suddenly, he beamed and turned to the Emperor.
"Your Majesty, can I interrogate this one?"
His finger lazily pointed toward the elven prisoner, still muttering darkly to himself.
"He might know something, if I try speaking in the Ancient Tongue."
Bunny lay curled up on the bed, hugging Magomi tightly.
She was deep in thought.
All day long, Grandfather and Father were gone.
And even Calvard and Allen—who usually played with her—had been avoiding her.
Whenever she tried to approach someone, they ran away.
When she tried to visit Allen, he jumped in shock and muttered something about being busy before hurrying off.
Calvard?
She hadn’t seen him at all.
If she caught even the slightest glimpse of him from afar, he would vanish.
Even Jessie, when asked, only gave a vague smile and avoided answering.
Even Rodeng, who she hadn’t seen in a long time, said he had “urgent training” before keeping his distance.
Everyone was avoiding her.
“...Is it because they found out I’m a demon?”
The thought made her tremble.
Would she be kicked out?
Would she end up a poor, lonely street demon?!
"…Hing."
Luli had told her never to get caught.
Luli had warned her not to use her power, no matter what happened when she was kidnapped.
"I have to be careful next time," Bunny whispered, clenching her tiny fists.
She reached into Toto’s stomach and pulled out her notebook, flipping through the pages.
"I need to write down useful things for Father, Allen, and Calvard."
If she proved she was helpful, if she showed she could bring valuable information—maybe they'd like her again.
Like making them rich, or things like that.
Bunny had overheard something.
People had been whispering.
Calling her… a prophet.
Sometimes, strangers would approach her, asking her what investments would succeed, what ventures would flourish.
Of course…
She always shook her head.
Because Bunny wasn’t actually a real prophet.
But maybe, maybe…
If she could use this to help Father and Allen—
Maybe they’d stop avoiding her.
***
At that moment, her notebook suddenly reacted.
Baby!
You were kidnapped and made it back safely?!
Are you hurt anywhere?!
Do those bastards need to be hunted down and killed?!
Bunny blinked.
Her lips curled slightly.
Luli was always like this—always worried about her.
She kicked her legs in excitement, grinning as she read on.
So, they found out you’re a demon, huh?
But don’t worry!!
For now, they won’t kick you out.
But from this moment on, you must never, ever bother Kiriel Yudia.
Bunny froze.
Her round eyes blinked in shock.
“…Don’t bother him?”
Her heart thumped anxiously.
The ‘Cute Act’ is also banned!
From now on, staying invisible is the most important thing.
Soon, a new child will arrive.
Do NOT approach them.
Just… stay far away and prepare for the future.
“……”
Her small body stiffened.
Her tiny fingers traced over the words, reading them again.
Again.
And again.
After a long time, she silently turned the page.
Now that they know you’re a demon, even if you’re not bad, they might still think you are.
So… you need to be useful.
I know it’s hard, but stay strong, okay?
This is all part of your training to become the Great Demon King!
“…Mmh.
Training.”
Bunny clenched her fists.
Bunny is training to become the Great Demon King.
‘Just use your human father for now.’
If she thought of it as training, then hiding would be okay.
Bunny would leave this house when she grew up.
And if that day came, she might even have to fight Father.
Bunny doesn’t need love.
Bunny is a strong and independent demon.
She could do everything on her own.
She didn’t need Father.
Not anymore.
“…Mmh.
Bunny-king is okay!”
She said it out loud.
But even after turning the page, she didn’t stop staring at it.
Not for a very, very long time.