“Umm. Th-the dungeon will soon swallow our home. If anyone finds this, please… spare us. From now on, we shall fall into a deep, deep sleep. Since this crystal illuminates the path, please undo the seal when the time comes.”
Bunny’s words drew gasps of wonder from all around. It was only natural—this was the voice of an Ancient Elf.
An Ancient Elf!
Even if their existence remained a mystery, the remnants of their civilization were so magnificent that even small fragments and records commanded awe.
Yet, history held only a void: they had simply disappeared in an instant.
If not for the occasional artifact or scattered trace of their presence, their very existence would have been dismissed as a mere legend. There was evidence that they had lived in ancient times, but not a single Ancient Elf had ever been found, despite their fabled, near-eternal lives.
“The one who opens the seal… is one who possesses the purest soul, unstained by any filth, yet has set foot into the deepest darkness. That one shall be the savior of the world…”
As soon as Bunny finished, the room fell into a heavy, solemn silence.
“Huu… If that is true, it is truly astounding.”
“If we were to discover the ruins of the Ancient Elves or where they sleep, wouldn’t a new hero be born in this Judia Dukedom?”
Although they were whispers, Bunny could hear them all.
Generally, the five senses of a demon are keen, allowing them to perceive the unseen or catch the faintest sounds with startling clarity. Their night vision was particularly exceptional, rendering the deepest shadows as navigable as the bright of day.
*Hmph.* It seemed everyone was finally impressed by Bunny’s ability.
Bunny puffed out his chest, glancing around with pride. It felt like the perfect time to be praised.
*Pat, pat!*
‘When will they do it?’
As Bunny wiggled, looking up at Kyriel, he found the man’s expression strangely stiff.
“…Young Master?”
Startled, Bunny drew back slightly.
Only after hearing that tentative voice did Kyriel soften, his gaze dropping to the child.
“Bunny… did well…?”
“Ah, yes.”
As Kyriel reached out to pat Bunny’s head, the child’s face melted into a soft, contented expression.
The voice continued to flow from the crystal. After the message Bunny had relayed, the tone shifted…
The words became an endless, desperate plea for salvation.
Hearing the raw terror in the voice, Bunny buried his face into the hem of Kyriel’s clothes.
‘A little… scary.’
Bunny wiggled his fingers nervously.
Kyriel placed the crystal back where it had been and slowly patted Bunny’s back. It felt cozy.
‘I want to see Luri.’
Luri always used to hold Bunny in her arms and pat him just like this.
Letting out a shaky breath, Bunny buried his face deeper into Kyriel’s chest.
“Why, are you tired?”
“Yes…”
“Then sleep.”
“But… Bunny is… an adult…”
*Yawn.*
Kyriel’s expression grew complex as he looked down at Bunny, who was mumbling and nodding off, struggling to keep his eyes open.
*Thud.*
The small head, which had been bobbing, finally fell, burying itself firmly against Kyriel’s chest.
He silently smoothed the child’s hair and shifted his posture to ensure the boy could sleep more comfortably.
“Huu… If that is true, it is truly astounding.”
“If we were to discover the ruins of the Ancient Elves or where they sleep, wouldn’t a new hero be born in this Judia Dukedom?”
Kyriel let out a dry, mirthless laugh.
Did they think of *him* when they said that? Why couldn’t he manage his expressions better, instead of letting the child worry?
‘Should I… not have decided to raise a child for nothing?’
The thought cycled through his mind, followed by another dry, self-deprecating chuckle.
Humanity was exhausting. They were creatures of endless desire, always eager to trade others’ lives for their own gain. His brother had disappeared into that furnace, and he, too, had been marked to become a “hero.”
He had only kept the child close initially because the demon’s aura had piqued his suspicion. He had wondered if the boy was deliberately trying to manipulate him. It would have been far easier to leave the burden to Levon, his adjutant.
*Sleep, sleep.*
Watching the child sleep so soundly—completely oblivious to the darkness in Kyriel’s thoughts—felt surreal.
Though he cried and laughed easily, the boy was unexpectedly resilient, like a weed growing in the cracks of a stone wall.
Truthfully, Kyriel’s face was rarely described as gentle. Most children he encountered froze in his presence. Even if he was considered handsome, few children felt comfortable around such a stiff, expressionless man.
Nevertheless, Bunny reached out to him without hesitation—and even to Alan, who had pushed him away.
He smiled broadly, acting as if he were the happiest person in the world.
In reality, the child had grown up in an orphanage, proud of merely being able to wash himself because he had no personal maid or escort. He was a boy starved for a single word of praise, a single moment of genuine interest—and he didn’t hesitate to ask for it.
He must never feel ashamed for that. To ask for help, to seek affection… it wasn’t a sin.
“Hmm. So, what are you going to do, Duke?”
At the prompting of Klein, the captain of the Holy Knights, Ludbreed pondered with his arms crossed.
“For now…”
The child’s words weren’t entirely without credibility. According to history, the Ancient Elves hadn’t just moved—they had vanished as if by magic. If their habitat had truly turned into a dungeon, and they were trapped beneath the earth, it was far too specific to be a mere fabrication of a child’s imagination.
It wasn’t something he could simply ignore.
“Klein, Salame. One of you, take this stone, return to the site, and search the area. I must meet the Emperor.”
If this were true, it would be a discovery of monumental proportions. He didn’t know what kind of divine beast might emerge from the child… but it would undoubtedly trigger a new storm.
“For now, the child is…”
“I will be leaving.”
Cutting Ludbreed off, Kyriel rose from his seat.
At the sharp sound of the chair scraping against the floor, every eye in the room turned toward him.
“And from now on, it’s annoying. Unless a demon appears, do not bother calling me. That goes for our children as well.”
“The meeting is not over.”
“There is nothing for me to do here. I only came because I thought the strange, cursed-looking crystal might be a demon’s artifact.”
“Kyriel! Just how long are you going to…!”
Kyriel Yudia looked at Ludbreed with a cold, indifferent mask before speaking.
“My daughter is sleeping. Keep your voice down.”
“Daughter? What daughter! You’re still spouting that ridiculous nonsense! Get married to a woman and then talk! You are not the type of person who can raise anyone. If that child needs a guardian, I will find people to look after him, so you…!”
“And what kind of person were you to look after anyone? If I give up custody… you’ll go back to babbling about him being a hero with great powers, push him into the jaws of death, and let him die just like my brother, wouldn’t you?”
At Kyriel Yudia’s sharp retort, the room turned icy.
Ludbreed Yudia stiffened at the unfilial remark, his face twisting in immediate rage.
“You…!”
“Let’s go.”
Kyriel turned on his heel.
“Custody, my foot! You don’t have custody either, you wretched brat!”
Ludbreed shouted, fuming, but Kyriel only scoffed and strode out of the conference room.