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Chapter 06
The morning of the summoning ritual had arrived.
Bunny had stayed up all night reading the notebook until she finally dozed off at dawn, so now she rubbed her puffy eyes with the back of her hand as she sat up in bed.
Still half-asleep, she hugged Toto and swayed back and forth, unable to fully wake up.
Eventually she climbed down from the bed, placed Toto against the headboard, dragged a chair over with effort, and opened the window.
Then she hopped down, pulled the messy blanket tight with her tiny hands, and neatly fixed the bed.
After going back and forth across all four corners, the bed was perfectly made.
“Yaaawn…”
Wiping a tear with the sleeve like a grown-up, Bunny set up a small step stool and bravely completed her toothbrush routine—something even Luriel used to find annoying.
After washing her face thoroughly with water, she rolled her hair with a towel, then lay down on it and rolled across the floor like a log.
Wrapping herself in a fresh towel, she dried her hair by rubbing it, then opened her wardrobe.
“Hmm…”
Today… she felt like being stylish!
She chose a light blue dress gifted by the orphanage director and pinned a hairclip from a friend.
She kicked the used towels into a corner and strapped her “Demon King bear of courage” onto her back using a ribbon.
“Bunny… perfect.”
Hehe.
She nodded proudly.
Her slightly damp hair soaked her shoulders, and the bear on her back hung awkwardly upside down—but to Bunny, everything was perfect.
“Bunny is a genius.”
What if too many dads-in-line showed up?
She thought happily, then tucked her secret notebook back into Toto’s pocket and covered her stuffed animals with a blanket.
“Let’s go. Ma-goma!”
Bunny marched forward with her “Demon Bear of Courage,” recalling last night.
So, you opened this page!
That means you’ve been adopted into the House of Yudia and are about to face the summoning ritual.
Are you worried?
But don’t worry. You are a genius.
Trust Luriel—you will summon something amazing.
Also, there are people who might become your guardians.
“Heh!”
Bunny kicked her feet excitedly in bed.
I guarantee everyone will line up for you!
If not, turn to page 227.
“Of course they will all fall for you and line up! The criteria is simple: the better-looking ones get priority roles.”
Good-looking people!
Important roles!
As Bunny descended to the first floor, she saw other children gathered for the summoning ceremony. Most were early teens.
Which meant Bunny was the youngest.
“Lady Bunny.”
“Oh, Roden!”
She raised her hand brightly.
“Good morning!”
“Yes, good morning. Have you been well?”
“Yes! Bunny is totally adjusted to the House of Trials. No failure! Soon I’ll be popularity rank 100!”
He chuckled softly.
Nearby children froze.
“…Did that knight just laugh?”
“The cold Roden Heiner?”
“No way. Must’ve been a mistake.”
Roden knelt beside Bunny, glancing at her damp shoulder and the upside-down bear.
“That bear doll…”
“Yes! Ma-gomi! It gives Bunny courage!”
“It looks like it might fall. May I fix it?”
“Ah! Ma-gomi must not fall!”
She quickly turned around.
Roden carefully retied the ribbon holding the bear.
“Done.”
“Thank you!”
Bunny bowed deeply—so deeply she almost toppled forward.
“Pfft.”
“She bowed to a knight like that?”
Roden instinctively reached out to stop her—
But Bunny suddenly steadied herself by flapping her arms and standing straight again.
“…”
His hand froze awkwardly in the air.
Then Bunny looked at his hand and suddenly realized something.
“Oh!”
She ran over, placed her head against his hand like it was obvious, and stood still.
‘Head pat!’
Already popularity rank MAX!
Roden hesitated… then gently patted her head.
“…Shall we go?”
“Yes!”
And so Bunny, now properly attached to her bear, headed toward the main mansion.
“Long time no see. The temple brat and the shut-in finally came out. You really want to make your father suffer, huh?”
“Well, we do show up for events. Summoning ceremonies are like talent shows for kids. It’s not that interesting otherwise.”
A muscular man with dark skin smirked lazily.
Duke Ludbride Yudia frowned at him.
“Father, don’t be like that. My brother is probably busy gambling and playing around~”
“Hey, watch your mouth.”
“What? Gambling?! You little—do you think you can disgrace the House of Yudia?!”
“It’s not like that! It’s just information gathering!”
“Tch. Anyway, what about you, youngest? Hiding in the temple all this time.”
At the center of the group, a silent young man with black hair calmly sipped his tea.
“Father said if I don’t attend, I’ll be sent on another long mission.”
His voice was calm, soft, but carried a strange emptiness.
“Can we start already? Time is precious.”
“The kids are on their way.”
A beast-like growl echoed faintly somewhere.
“By the way, those ‘runaway kids’ are participating today? Half-beast, abandoned children…”
“Watch your words.”
“Wonder if they’re trash or gems.”
The dark-skinned man stood up lazily.
“Well, let’s see.”
One by one, the four members of the House of Yudia rose and headed out of the white mansion decorated in gold.
