“And about that thing you summoned. I’ve never seen an egg like that hatch before, so I’m not entirely sure myself. I don’t know if the egg itself is a holy relic, or if a divine beast is born from within it.”
At Ludbrid Yudia’s long-winded explanation, Bunny let out a small, defiant “Heh.” She puffed out her chest.
“A Heugyeomryong is gonna be born.”
“…A Heugyeomryong…”
Ludbrid Yudia stared blankly at the egg—which had grown from the size of a quail egg to the size of a chicken egg in the child’s hand—his eyes glazing over with confusion.
“…I see.”
Watching Bunny’s sparkling gaze, Ludbrid quietly picked up a pen and paper.
[Divine Object: Egg of Heugyeomryong]
With dead eyes, Ludbrid stared out the window as he scribbled the note. He pushed the papers and pen away, then cleared his throat.
“Would you like some snacks? I’ll have some juice brought to you as well.”
The moment Ludbrid Yudia made the casual offer, Bunny snorted.
“Bunny is not a baby, so I don’t eat snacks or drink juice. I’m a splendid adult who isn’t easily tempted.”
Bunny, having successfully dodged the trap, replied with her cheeks twitching.
*Gulp.*
She couldn’t help but swallow at the sweet aroma wafting through the air. Ludbrid Yudia was not the type to miss such an obvious tell.
“Then, shall I pack them up for you to take?”
At his smooth suggestion, Bunny paused. Her gaze locked onto the plate Ludbrid Yudia was holding.
“Is that all? I heard you got scolded quite a bit last time for eating the snacks placed in front of you without permission.”
Bunny pondered.
*It’s okay if I don’t eat them right in front of him, right?*
She’d just take them to her room to eat!
Not even ten seconds later, Bunny finished her internal debate, reached out her hand, and beamed.
“Yeah!”
*It’s safe since I’m not eating it right away! Totally okay!*
Ludbrid Yudia covered his face with his hand for a long moment before calling the butler.
“Pel, fill a basket with these and send them with her.”
“Yes, Master.”
It was the moment Ludbrid Yudia’s golden rule—that a child taking the trial at the Mansion Of Trials is never given anything other than provided supplies—was shattered.
***
Recently, there was a bustling attraction at the large market in the Judia Dukedom.
It was a surprisingly innovative and incredibly cheap snack called ‘Honey-Glazed Sweet Potato.’
It had become so famous that the nearby market merchants had all tried a piece at least once. A snack sold by a very, very cute child that actually tasted good? Honestly, there was no reason not to eat it.
Every morning, when Bunny cut the sweet potatoes into little chunks, the youngest cook, Luca, would fry them, glaze them in a gathered sauce, and stir-fry them until they were perfectly coated. Then, Bunny would put them in a bowl, sell them alongside Alan, and return home with a nice profit.
*Rustle, rustle.*
Late at night, after creating a decoy pile under her blanket by stuffing it with a pillow, Bunny snuck out of her room and hid in the ducal garden. Carrying a rabbit backpack, she checked her surroundings with stealthy, practiced steps.
The ‘Honey-Glazed Sweet Potato’ was a labor of love. The most important ingredients were the sweet potatoes and the honey, both procured by hand.
She sourced the sweet potatoes from the market, and since she couldn’t get honey without bees, she extracted sap from the trees just as Luri had taught her. Fortunately, there were a few trees in the garden near the Mansion Of Trials that yielded exactly the kind of sap she needed.
Bunny set her empty containers near a tree, placed her small hands on the thick trunk, and closed her eyes.
“Tree, I’m gonna take just a little bit.”
A tiny light spilled from her palms and seeped into the bark.
“Pong-pong Magic!”
‘Pong-pong Magic’ was one of the spells Luri had taught her; it drew water from an object and made it spring forth from one’s hands.
The sap began to gush from the wood, flowing directly from Bunny’s fingertips.
“Hehehe.”
Bunny smiled, filling one container, then another. After filling the third, she stopped.
“I’m gonna do just a little bit more now. Sorry.”
Luri had warned her that the sap was the tree’s lifeblood, so she shouldn’t take too much. That was why she limited her ‘Pong-pong magic’ to exactly three times per tree.
Since there weren’t many trees left that she could tap, it was about time she found a new way to multiply the gold she’d saved up.
Just as Bunny sat down, tucked the tightly closed bottles into her rabbit backpack, and hopped to her feet—
“Hello, little one.”
“Eek!”
Startled by the sudden voice, Bunny jumped and stumbled.
“My, that’s dangerous…”
Long, firm arms reached out and carefully caught her, setting her upright.
*Hic! Hic!*
“Young Master…?”
Bunny’s jaw dropped.
“What are you doing here at this late hour instead of sleeping…?”
A voice filled with languor brushed against her ears. Bunny gulped, her eyes darting around in a panic.
*He said it was a secret that I use magic…!*
Bunny looked up at Kyriel with a trembling gaze. Kyriel’s eyes curved into crescents.
“I, I couldn’t sleep so I went for a walk!”
“A walk?”
“Yeah!”
Kyriel stared at her in silence for a long time. Bunny’s eyes wandered, her throat working as she swallowed hard.
Eventually, Kyriel smiled brightly and nodded.
“I see…”
He didn’t ask anything further. Bunny’s expression softened with relief.
“But it’s very dangerous to be out alone at this hour, so don’t do it again.”
“Yeah! I won’t do it again!”
Bunny replied vigorously. Kyriel chuckled and patted her head.
*Everyone likes it when I answer well!*
The praise made her cheeks flush.
“I’ll take you back. Let’s go.”
“Bunny can do it well all by herself!”
“But I want to take you back—do you not want me to?”
At his question, Bunny hesitated, then widened her eyes and shook her head.
“I like it!”
“Come here.”
Kyriel took Bunny’s hand and walked leisurely along the path. Soon, they reached the Mansion Of Trials, and he let go of her hand at her door.
*I guess he didn’t see anything after all.*
Bunny let out a wheezing sigh of relief. She was squeezing her body through the slightly opened door to hop inside when—
“Bunny.”
“Yeah?”
Kyriel Yudia wore his usual languid expression, his smile soft.
“Do you know how to use magic?”
*Rumble!*
*Flash!*
Just like always, thunder and lightning struck around Bunny. Her jaw dropped. With a trembling gaze, she parted her lips, sputtered, and shook her head.
“N-n-no…? B-Bunny doesn’t know anything about Pong-pong magic…?”
Kyriel’s lips curved slightly. Bunny glanced around nervously, her trembling eyelids looking pitiful.
“I see. I must have been mistaken then. Go inside and get some sleep.”
“Ye-yes! Goodnight!”
After offering a strange, hurried greeting, Bunny scurried inside, slammed the door, and locked it.
Kyriel Yudia stared at the closed door, his eyes narrowing.
People of the Yudia family could not use magic. Conversely, mages could not use divine power. It was said that the two powers could never coexist. And the Orb of Choice, used for the Yudia Dukedom’s summoning ceremony, would not react unless the descendant possessed pure divine power.
Therefore, it was impossible for her to use magic.
But Bunny had used both. It was an impossibility—a feat that had never happened in history, save for one exception.
“What are you?”
Kyriel Yudia rubbed his chin and turned around slowly.