The Baby Villain Dreams of Conquering the World

Chapter 10

Episode 10

At the voice that couldn't hide its surprise, Flora cleared her throat, "Ahem, ahem."

"It's all thanks to me."

"That's strange. I've never heard of a child as skilled as you at the temple."

"Ahem, ahem, ahem!"

As if to say anything more was a secret, she turned her head away.

The boy's persistent gaze touched her cheek, but she pretended not to know until the end.

"Hmm, hmm."

Flora went back to where she had been and fetched the water and handkerchief.

"Here, drink some water first."

"...And how am I supposed to know what's in this?"

"If you don't want to drink it, then don't."

At his arrogant words, Flora snorted 'Hmph!' and took a sip of the water herself.

After finishing the hard work and quenching her thirst, even plain water tasted sweet, and she let out an appreciative "Ahh," but she felt his gaze on her again from the side.

This time, it was a gaze full of longing, different from before.

'Of course he'd be thirsty after such a serious injury.'

Flora chuckled softly and offered the water bottle to the boy again.

"Want to drink?"

"......"

As if aware of his own awkwardness, the boy nodded with an embarrassed expression.

When she handed him the bottle, he began to gulp the water down eagerly.

"Is he an idiot? What if I'm immune to poison?"

She was just teasing him a little because his eager drinking seemed a bit annoying.

"Pfft!"

The boy seemed to choke, starting to cough violently.

"Cough, cough!"

"Ah!"

It was just a joke, but he was coughing so harshly it looked painful, making her feel sorry.

"Sorry, it was just a joke."

Flora carefully wiped the boy's wet mouth with her handkerchief.

"Being immune to poison for real is..."

"Nope. I'm just a pretty, cute, and adorable but ordinary kid."

"How can you say that about yourself with your own mouth..."

"Does it seem untrue?"

Flora tilted her head to one side quizzically.

As she gently narrowed her eyes and softly lifted the corners of her mouth, the boy's gaze went blank, and then his face began to turn bright red.

When she added a light wink, his face turned crimson as if burning. As expected, no one could resist this expression that all the orphanage people loved.

Seeing that, Flora burst into a 'Kya-ha-ha' laugh, and the boy, seeming embarrassed, snatched the handkerchief and turned his head away.

Not that his red ears were hidden, though.

Watching the boy wipe his own wet mouth, Flora spoke up.

"Hey, how did you get hurt?"

"...A monster attack."

"I could tell from the wound that you were attacked by a monster, right? But it's strange. Monster attacks are rare around here."

The town where Flora lived, thanks to the precious Young Lady of Hermannus who liked her, had much more thorough security than other places despite being close to the Demon Forest, so damage was minimal.

At her words, the boy gave a bitter smile.

"Guess I'm just a cursed guy with terrible luck."

"Huh?"

"I don't know either. I was just chased, got hurt, and then passed out."

As if he didn't know anything more, the boy cut it off short.

Whether he was hiding something or not, she didn't feel any more interest, so Flora just nodded.

"I should get going now."

The boy returned the empty water bottle and got up from his spot.

"Already?"

"I need to leave this territory before nightfall."

"I see."

She had definitely wanted to be alone and found him bothersome, but now that he was about to leave so soon, a sense of regret washed over her.

With a sullen face, Flora stood up, following the boy's lead.

"What's your name?"

"I have no name to give to an ungrateful person who leaves right away without even knowing their benefactor."

"...I'll repay the favor, alright?"

"You said you're leaving the territory today. How are you supposed to repay it?"

"Today might not be our last meeting. I'll come back to see you again next time. Isn't that fine?"

"I don't believe in human promises."

"Oh, for goodness' sake."

The boy let out a frustrated laugh, then, after a slight hesitation, raised his pinky finger.

"What's that?"

"It's a pinky promise."

He must be a surprisingly pure person.

"You don't know what a pinky promise is?"

"I do. I know."

I just didn't expect you to say that.

Flora raised her pinky finger with a dubious expression.

Because she believed in pinky promises?

No, no.

It was to protect the boy's childlike innocence, who was making such a serious face over this childish game.

'Sigh.'

I should have left the orphanage when I was younger.

If I had, I wouldn't be so lenient with children.

'The Great Demon's dignity is completely dead.'

While grumbling internally, Flora hooked her pinky with the boy's and shook it up and down vigorously.

"Thinking about it, you're the one who has to keep the promise, right? Shouldn't you tell me your name first?"

At that, the boy hesitated a little, then with a determined expression, revealed his name.

"...My name is Basilian."

Then he glanced at her sneakily, as if hoping for some kind of reaction. Flora gave him the same 'good job' praise she gave the orphanage children.

"Okay, it's a cool name."

"Th-that's it?"

"What else should there be?"

"Ah, no. Nothing! It's fine!"

Basilian nodded his head desperately and quickly added.

"...Thank you. I won't forget this promise."

"Okay, Basilian. Keep your promise tight. My name is..."

Basilian, without letting go of her finger, cut Flora off.

"Your name is for next time."

"Huh?"

"Tell me next time we meet. I'll definitely come back to see you again."

With those words, Basilian lowered his hand.

Their pinkies smoothly unlocked and drifted apart.

Simultaneously, the mountain's chilly wind swept lightly between them.

As the swirling leaves stung her eyes, she lowered her head, covering them with her arms, and when she looked up again...

"What? Where did he go?"

Basilian had disappeared without a trace.

Is this what it feels like to be possessed by a ghost?

Flora shivered from the chill she felt running down her back.

"H-he's not a ghost, right?"

The story Lian told just a week ago, about a scary ghost deep in the mountains that eats disobedient children, suddenly came to mind.

Sniff…

Swallowing the sniffles brought on by the cold wind, Flora glanced down at the empty water bottle.

"L-let's go back."

She needed to get back to the orphanage quickly.

It wasn't that she was running away scared.

The Great Demon being scared of a ghost? That's nonsense.

...I'd better hurry back.

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When Flora came down from the mountain, strangely, the area around the orphanage was in an uproar.

"What's going on?"

Since there was a security barrier in place, such a commotion shouldn't normally happen at the orphanage.