# Chapter 91
Chapter 91
Lepha watched and thought.
‘Half-human, half-demon hybrids don’t have strong immunity to demonic energy, so they have to live with humans when they’re young.
I heard that back then, a young hybrid also left the village early and started traveling.’
The last thing he had heard was that the hybrid was building a country with some dragon race…
‘That was 1,500 years ago.’
No one would remember now, no matter who he asked.
‘In this hopeless situation, the only one I can rely on is an undergrown Demon King.’
Five years old, yet already developed this much.
Judging by the fast growth, it’s likely the child follows a human lifespan.
For demons or elves, a five-year-old is barely different from a newborn.
The child, nodding while fidgeting, leaned against Kiriel as he patted her back.
Soon, she nodded off into sleep.
Lepha silently watched before crossing his legs and turning his head.
‘This is troublesome.
I have no money and nothing at all.’
He had followed the young Demon King all the way to this human settlement, but he couldn't just keep trailing behind without any foundation.
Lost in thought, Lepha finally spoke when Bernie was deeply asleep.
{That child.
Is she your daughter?}
Kiriel narrowed his eyes at the sudden question.
After a short silence, he nodded.
{Yes.}
{I see.}
Lepha lowered his gaze.
If Kiriel was the child’s parent, then it should be fine to talk about it.
{Is the other parent dead?
A demon, right?
Human, demon, hybrid… You must have loved the demon a lot.
Otherwise, you wouldn’t have had a child.}
Kiriel stiffened at Lepha’s broken speech.
Slowly, as if his body creaked, Kiriel lifted his head to look at Lepha.
He was a little surprised.
It wasn’t just that Lepha instantly saw through Bernie’s true nature.
It was the way he spoke, as if hybrids weren’t rare.
{…So this child is a hybrid?}
After a long silence, Kiriel finally asked.
Lepha’s eyes widened slightly.
{You didn’t know?}
{…I only suspected.
I just took Bernie from an orphanage.}
{Orphanage…?}
{A place that takes care of children without parents.}
{Ah… I see.}
Lepha nodded and rubbed his chin, observing Kiriel.
A normal human.
Except for the strong divine power blessed by the gods and a faint mix of demonic energy.
{An adopted child?}
Kiriel answered with a light nod.
Lepha’s expression turned strange.
{I heard about the war.
Demons are gone.
But you.
You’re raising a demon child.
Any reason?}
Lepha carefully pieced together words, but Kiriel hesitated before silently turning his head.
It was a gesture saying he wouldn’t answer.
Lepha fell silent as well.
Before long, the carriage stopped.
{I’ll warn you about two things.
I’m the only one who knows the child is a demon.
You should keep quiet about it.}
{I will.}
Lepha’s casual remark received a firm reply.
Kiriel narrowed his eyes and spoke again.
{And if you do anything unnecessary in the mansion or harm my children…}
{Elves like children.
They are like young sprouts.}
Hearing Lepha’s peculiar response, Kiriel carefully cradled the sleeping Bernie and got off the carriage.
“Welcome back, Young Master.”
Click.
Click.
Click.
With a calm and expressionless face, Rebon greeted them as usual.
Without a single change in expression, he circled around the sleeping Bernie, pressing the shutter of his camera nonstop.
“Rebon.”
“Yes.
And who is the person behind you?”
Even as he asked, Rebon’s sharp eyes scanned Lepha’s entire figure.
Pointed ears, dark skin, pure white hair.
An unfamiliar yet distinctive appearance, but the ‘pointed ears’ were something he recognized well.
He had already heard about a certain existence recently discovered in the dungeon.
“He’s an Ancient Elf.”
“I thought so…”
“Do you know the ancient language?”
“I only learned a little during my basic education at the House of Trials.
I wasn’t interested.”
Levon shrugged his shoulders and answered, making Kiriel smirk as he started walking leisurely.
"It seems he speaks an Elven language we don’t know, so we can’t communicate properly.
We have to use Ancient Language, but it’s not perfect either.
You should take charge and teach him the common language."
"Huh?
Do you know how much work I have?"
"Do I have to know about your work too?"
"Of course!
How am I supposed to handle the mountain of work I already have, and now you’re dumping the education of this suddenly appearing Elf on me?"
Kiriel passed Levon without a word.
Lephaha naturally followed behind Kiriel, slowly looking around the mansion.
He clicked his tongue at the divine blessing and holy power spread over the entire estate.
The defenses seemed quite solid.
"No matter how I think about it, this is impossible.
Isn’t there anyone else who knows Ancient Language?"
"Find out yourself."
Kiriel replied indifferently as he strode toward the child's room.
Just then, he saw someone coming out of the child's room and suddenly stopped.
"Oh, young master~!!
You’ve returned.
My goodness.
I was looking for Lady Bunny everywhere since she was nowhere to be found, but she was with you!
Oh dear, she must have fallen asleep."
Belial, who had been making a fuss, quickly covered his mouth in surprise.
Kiriel frowned.
"Ohh, even when asleep, she looks so cute and dignified.
As expected, the embodiment of adorableness.
By the way, where have you been, young master?
I just arrived due to my support mission, so I haven’t heard anything yet."
"Do I have to report such things to you, Belian?"
At Kiriel’s cold response, Belial flinched but then let out a hearty laugh, shaking his head good-naturedly.
"Of course not.
I was just asking.
After all, I am Lady Bunny’s escort knight.
I am the glorious victor of the fierce competition of dozens-to-one."
"The young master visited His Majesty the Emperor today.
And for reference, his bad mood is because His Majesty gave him a request he didn’t particularly like."
Levon explained on Kiriel’s behalf, his tone filled with personal amusement.
Kiriel looked at Levon in disbelief, but Levon didn’t even glance at him.
"A request he didn’t like?"
Belial blinked his eyes wide and then slowly turned to look at the man standing behind Kiriel.
Lephaha’s eyes widened, and Belial’s eyes also slightly widened.
"Ah...?"
"You remember that Lady Bunny deciphered the Ancient Elven text that was discovered inside the stone."
"Yes, I was running around keeping people quiet under orders regarding that."
Belial nodded readily.
He then licked his lower lip with a light smile.
"During the follow-up investigation based on that translation, they rescued this Elf.
The problem is… he can’t communicate in any language except Ancient Language.
And the young master decided that I, who already have a mountain of work, should teach him."
"Ahh…"
Belial let out a soft exclamation and nodded.
"If it's just about teaching writing, should I help?
Assistant Levon?"
Belial grinned as he spoke, and Kiriel, who had just resumed walking toward the child’s room, suddenly stopped.
"You… can speak Ancient Language?"
"Yes~!
Actually, it’s a bit embarrassing, but one of my hobbies is archaeology, so I once self-studied languages related to that field.
I wouldn’t say I’m an expert, but I do know a bit."
"Ohh, impressive.
Then may I leave this to you?"
"Of course, I’ll take him around and teach him properly."
Even at Levon’s flat, textbook-like praise, Belial simply smiled warmly and saluted.
He then turned to look at Lephaha, who was standing in the back, observing the situation.
Belial flashed a bright smile.
Lephaha, meeting Belial’s gaze, narrowed his eyes even more.
"One thing."
Just as Belial was about to take a step toward Lephaha, Kiriel spoke in a cold tone.
"Why were you in the child’s room?"