Among demons, those who reach a high rank become exceptionally natural at mimicking humans.
Unless one is an upper-tier demon, it is often impossible to discern their true identity. This was why Kyriel had failed to notice.
The man’s mimicry was far more natural than Bunny’s.
“What do you mean by what… I am Barian, hired as the Lady’s guard knight starting today…”
Bunny blinked.
In that heartbeat, the man’s pupils split into vertical slits, flushing blood-red for a fleeting second before returning to normal.
『Not that. It’s you, isn’t it? The cook, Holly-Holly.』
Barian hesitated at the fluent demonic language that slipped from Bunny’s lips, then his mouth stretched into a wide, jagged grin.
“Heh heh…”
Sharp fangs protruded, his eyes flashed, and Barian’s gaze deepened into a sticky, visceral red.
He smiled brightly, locked the door, and approached Bunny at a leisurely pace.
『I’m not sure what a “Holly-Holly” is, but it is true that I cast a fascination spell on the cook. It was a simple game, a prank. I merely wanted to greet Lady Bunny… no, our great God.』
Barian strode forward and knelt on one knee. With one hand pressed over his heart, he bowed his head deeply before Bunny, who sat perched on the edge of the bed. Large, jet-black horns had already sprouted above his head.
『I shall greet you again. You who are the new breath of the Demon Realm, its center, and the small moon that is the source of the dark night. My name is Belial. I am the fourth of the Seven Pillars of the Demon Realm.』
『Yeah, hello. But I can’t go right now. Luriel said I have to become a great adult here to become the Demon King. So I can’t go.』
At Bunny’s words, Belial slowly lifted his head, hand still over his chest, and offered a faint smile.
『I am aware. I have been waiting for you here all this time. Until the day you grow up to be King and reign once more under the night sky, I, Belial, shall serve you as my master and stay by your side.』
『Why?』
To Bunny’s innocent question, Belial smiled without answering. He silently took Bunny’s small hand and carefully kissed the back of it.
Bunny didn’t feel the need to ask further.
“Bunny, I’m acting like a human here just like Luri said. I have to become a great adult, so you mustn’t get in the way.”
“Of course! I will keep it a secret and guard your side as a human knight. By the way, you really are as cute, squishy, and adorable as I was told. Ha… how can you look so much like a doll?”
Belial, who had hidden his horns and retracted his fangs, stood up and lifted Bunny into the air.
“Bary.”
“Yes, my Lady.”
Belial, smiling brightly, set Bunny down and crouched before the child.
“Do you know Luri?”
Belial hesitated. His expression shadowed, his lips curling into a faint, somber smile, and he nodded lightly.
“Yes, I do. She was the one who told me the small moon was here. She told me to come here and look after you well.”
Bunny’s face lit up. Belial paused at the child’s radiant expression.
“Hey, is Luri healthy? Bunny is super healthy… is Luri healthy too? Can you tell her that Bunny needs her to be healthy so we can meet when I’m an adult?”
“……”
Belial stared down at Bunny for a long time, his eyes wide. He inhaled silently and only blinked when Bunny tugged on his hem.
“I’m afraid I don’t know. It has been a long time since I last saw her, too. She told me not to even think about showing my face if I didn’t successfully turn the small moon into the King. *Sigh*.”
Watching Belial crouch down and let out a deep, weary sigh, his earlier tension having vanished, Bunny nodded resolutely.
“It’s okay. Bunny will be a great adult soon. I’m going to be a big, big Demon King.”
Belial smiled and nodded at Bunny’s determined thumbs-up.
“To do that, you first have to win the ranking competition.”
“The ranking competition?”
“Yup. You fight with divine beasts. If I get first place, Bunny hits the jackpot.”
That’s what Luri said. That life is one big shot.
Bunny would take that shot here, win first place, and climb to the top. Bunny patted his chest. Belial watched him silently, then gave a slow, measured nod.
“Do you have a divine beast?”
“Yup. This is Bunny’s divine beast.”
“…Is that a chick?”
“No! Heugyeomryong!”
“Heugyeomryong…?”
Belial turned his head to look at the parrotbill. He saw the chick-like creature occupying the pillow, sprawled out and sleeping soundly.
“Oh, Heugyeomryong! A truly magnificent and solemn name! Whose master could it be—you will surely take first place against such foolish humans. Even if you don’t, I, Belial, will ensure it happens.”
Belial said with a wide smile. Bunny, nose held high, giggled and nodded.
“You don’t know, but the baby is going to have such a difficult time you can’t even imagine. That’s why I have to change things so that doesn’t happen. It makes no sense for someone this cute to have such a miserable life.”
“…Is that why you’re leaving?”
“You’ll survive even without me, but the baby can’t survive without me. I’m sorry.”
At the sudden memory, Belial slowly lifted his head. The red sunset visible through the window struck his eyes with particular vividness.
Three months until the ranking competition.
Bunny decided to enter special training.
* * *
“Go! Heugyeomryong!!”
“Peep!!”
*Flap, flap.*
The parrotbill flew diligently and *thumped* its body against a small apple hanging on a tree.
The apple wobbled, and the parrotbill plummeted. The fruit didn’t fall as intended; only the bird, resembling an apple itself, tumbled to the floor.
Bunny’s eyes narrowed.
“…Bunny’s Heugyeomryong is too weak.”
At this rate, winning first place seemed impossible.
“Oh, it’s tastier than I thought. I expected low-quality food, but this is a surprise. Ah, nice to meet you. I’m Calvad Yudia. I’m the son of the Holy Knight Captain, Kline Yudia.”
“The beast raised by the family can talk too? Honestly, I didn’t think you’d be adopted… my uncle sure is strange. Was the beating you took during the rankings not enough of a lesson?”
“Is it because you’re a bastard that you sell such pathetic food? It suits you, though. Sitting on the floor selling things.”
At this rate, I can’t beat that nasty Calvad something-or-other.
“Baby, you can take this as a motto for your entire life. If you get hit once, you have to hit back ten times.”
“Whyyy?”
“Because that is life. Rather than being a pushover, be a mad… no, be a mad dog. *Woof woof.* You know, right?”
“Okaay!”
‘Bunny might have to become a mad dog.’
Bunny was rubbing his chin with his short hand, looking serious, when—
*Crackle.*
He turned his head at the sound of something being brutally crushed to see Alan’s large snake coiling around a tree much larger than his father, snapping it to pieces.
Bunny glanced away and looked at his own divine beast again.
“Peep!”
The phoenix flapped its tiny wings, tapping its chest as if to say, *believe in me.*
When he looked up, the apple was still dangling there.
“…Heugyeomryong is weak…”
Bunny let out a long sigh, walked over, picked up the red parrotbill rolling on the grass, and placed it back on his shoulder.
“Peep?”
“I don’t know. I’ll read Luri’s notebook.”