The Baby Villain Dreams of Conquering the World

Chapter 57

Episode 57

Basilian's face hardened coldly as he recalled the mysterious power imbued in his attacker's sword, a power he had seen so often it was sickeningly familiar.

"According to the doctor, you had a fever from bruises, lacerations, and muscle pain all over your body. You've been unconscious for three days."

Basilian slowly sat up.

Seeing the bandages wrapped around various parts of his body reminded him of the time he had fought desperately.

But his own physical state wasn't the most important thing right now.

"Flora?"

Just before he lost consciousness, he had felt an immense energy nearby. It enveloped Flora completely and then pulled her into a black void.

Basilian had failed to hold onto Flora and lost consciousness, only waking up three days later.

"......"

There was no answer.

"Is Flora safe?"

He asked again, urging with his anxious heart, but Athanas's expression remained dark.

"The assassin who attacked is dead, and Flora was kidnapped......"

Athanas found it difficult to even speak the words. Clenching his fist tightly, he slowly continued his answer.

"She was kidnapped."

At his words, the last vestige of hope in Basilian's eyes vanished.

Seeing Athanas's gloomy demeanor, he also realized the current situation was bad.

"It's because I was weak……"

Is this what it feels like when your heart feels like it's crumbling?

The fact that he alone had survived safely was agonizing to the point of madness.

Tears began to well up in Basilian's eyes from the fear and sorrow he was feeling for the first time in his life.

"I couldn't protect her because I was lacking."

The wounded boy began to cry, large teardrops falling one by one.

Despite all the persecution and death threats he had endured steadfastly in the imperial palace, the reality of failing to protect someone precious made his tears burst forth.

If only I had been a little stronger, couldn't I have used the Holy Sword?

If I had had the courage to be hated?

Couldn't I have saved Flora, even if it meant using my cursed power?

He knew it wasn't right to show this side of himself before the Duke who had lost his daughter twice, but the self-loathing that gnawed at him like a worm wouldn't stop.

"I'm sorry, Duke......"

He managed to force out an apology, but saying that wouldn't bring back the missing Flora.

Even at this moment, while Basilian grieved alone, Flora might be trembling in fear in the kidnapper's hands.

Seeing Basilian bowing his head deeply and continuing to apologize, Athanas shook his head firmly.

"No, it is not Your Highness the Crown Prince's fault."

"No, if only I had been a little stronger……"

"Please don't think that. All of this happened due to my own shortcomings."

'Yes, it's all my fault. I shouldn't have left the territory so carelessly.'

He must have gotten carried away, happy that Flora had returned and wanting to change a little himself to live happily with his family.

"Many in this empire hate the Lucifers. It was inevitable that some would target the returned Lucifer daughter. It is my fault for not considering that."

If Flora had heard this, she would have flown into a rage, saying it was the kidnapper's fault, not theirs, and kicked away their negative thoughts. Unfortunately, the Flora who would do that was not here.

"……Is there nothing I can do to help?"

"Anything at all. Even something small, please tell me what you know about the kidnapper you witnessed. I will get my daughter back somehow."

Basilian recalled the immense energy he had felt just before losing consciousness.

An utterly black, powerful force had erupted from Flora's body.

No, it felt like an illusion of eruption; an enormous amount of demonic power was enveloping her.

The source of that overwhelming power, the cursed force that made everyone tremble in fear.

"……Demonic power."

"Excuse me? Demonic power?"

A flustered Athanas shook his head, saying it couldn't be.

"You must have seen wrong."

Even if everyone said no, that it was a mistake, Basilian could definitively identify that power as demonic power.

'It's the power I possess; how could I not know?'

He smiled a self-deprecating smile, thinking he wasn't so foolish as to not recognize his own cursed power.

Then, a being he had momentarily forgotten in the shock came to mind.

"……That's right! The cat……!"

"Excuse me? A cat?"

"A suspicious cat that was wandering the garden disappeared with her. Thinking about it, it's strange. How could a normal animal withstand demonic power?"

With a fearful face, Basilian voiced a terrible assumption.

"……A demon was targeting Flora and prowling the castle."

If it wasn't Basilian's power, then there was only one being in this northern territory who could possess such demonic power.

It was the master of the northern Demon Forest.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · · · · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Despite Basilian's outrageous claim, Athanas immediately assembled his knights.

"Do you truly believe a demon kidnapped the Young Lady?"

Unable to hold back any longer, Isaac, who was dissatisfied with Athanas's hasty decision, spoke up.

Athanas, who had just finished preparing, was about to mount his horse but turned his gaze to Isaac, who was holding him back.

"Do you remember the day Flora first arrived at the castle?"

"Huh? Why bring that up all of a sudden......"

As he was about to tell him not to change the subject with such a random remark, something flashed through his mind.

"Surely you don't think the demon kidnapped her because the Young Lady was wandering around at night with a lantern?"

"If not, what reason would a demon have to hide its form, linger around Flora, and then kidnap her?"

"It is a plausible speculation, but...... What if it's not the work of a demon but a scheme of our enemies?"

"Then we would end up subjugating the northern demon on this occasion."

"You know it's not that simple!"

Isaac shouted in frustration. Unlike his angry voice, his contorted face was full of concern for them.

"If it wasn't the demon's doing in the first place, the possibility of the Young Lady being in the Demon Forest is low, isn't it! Please keep your reason and make a careful decision!"

To this, Athanas replied with a voice full of self-mocking regret.

"How can I keep my reason? My daughter has been kidnapped."

There wasn't a single wrong word in what Isaac said.

But if there was even the slightest possibility that Flora might be in the Demon Forest, he had to go.

Because that was the role of a parent he had to fulfill.

While the two were struggling with each other.

"I will go as well."

Basilian approached them, having gathered his own sword.

The two were very surprised to see him take out the Holy Sword for the first time in the ducal castle, but Athanas quickly composed his expression and replied.

"That will not do."

"I know I'll be a burden. I just want to confirm from behind that Flora is safe. I absolutely will not get in the way."

"It is not because Your Highness would be a hindrance. The Demon Forest is a more terrifying place than you can imagine."

Basilian was also well aware of the Demon Forest's notorious reputation. But losing Flora was scarier than dying in the Demon Forest.

"I know! That's why I'm saying I'll go! How could I stay comfortably in the ducal castle when Flora might be there alone!"

"I understand Your Highness's feelings completely. But this time, I absolutely cannot grant your request."

"……What if I command it?"

"Please forgive this disloyal subject."

At the firm indication that he wouldn't change his mind, Basilian's expression darkened further.

"Flora would surely be angry if she saw Your Highness, who is still unwell, coming all the way to the Demon Forest."

"Yes, that sounds like her."

"Not at me, but at you."

"Haha. You're right, she'd probably be angrier at me than at you."

For a moment, his gloomy voice brightened. Athanas didn't miss this small change.

"Please don't worry, Your Highness. I will definitely bring my daughter back safely."

"......"

"So, let's begin serious training upon my return. You need to become stronger."

Basilian couldn't bring himself to meet Athanas's eyes and bowed his head deeply.

"……Thank you."

At the strained reply, spoken as if through clenched fists of frustration, Athanas smiled slightly.

"Father, the departure preparations are complete."

Just then, Benio, who had lined up all the knights, approached them.

Athanas looked at the stiffly standing knights, just like during magical beast subjugations, and nodded.

"Then I shall take my leave and return safely."

"Come back without getting hurt."

Fortunately, his face looked somewhat better than when they first saw him.

Feeling relieved, Athanas left the ducal castle. Half a day later, when the full moon hung high in the night sky, they arrived before the Demon Forest.

The atmosphere was indeed different from usual.

Even though they were right before the Demon Forest, strangely, no magical beasts that should be prowling near the forest were in sight.

Just before entering the Demon Forest, Athanas called all the knights to attention.

The sixty elite knights stood in formation as trained, but tension and fear were clearly written on their faces.