The Baby Villain Dreams of Conquering the World

Chapter 67

Episode 67

"But I want to become stronger."

"Why?"

At the straightforward question, Basilian paused for a moment, then answered with a more serious face than ever before.

"Because I want to have the power to protect what's precious to me."

His face, shadowed beneath his eyelashes, was tinged with the frustration and anger he couldn't overcome.

And simultaneously, it held a desperate wish strong enough to conquer those turbulent emotions.

'I think I'm probably included in those precious things, right?'

It seems this "Suspicious Intruder and Demon Castle Kidnapping Incident" has affected Basilian too.

'It's my fault.'

If she had known it would be like this, she wouldn't have planned the demon castle kidnapping.

'Of course, it wasn't a kidnapping I planned; Janet took me on her own. But I have to take responsibility for my subordinate's mistakes.'

Since she had no intention of blaming Janet, who had waited for her for so long, it seemed best to end this conversation here.

Flora stared intently at Basi for a moment, then just flopped backward onto the bed.

"...What are you doing?"

Flora, who had been lying down and looking up at Basilian, grinned broadly and then pulled on his arm.

Since he hadn't braced himself, he was helplessly pulled over and ended up flopping onto the bed just like Flora.

"Time's late. It's time for children to sleep."

"That's more like you..."

"Who would think Basi isn't a child either?"

"Phew, I shouldn't even say anything."

Along with the complaint that he couldn't win against her, Basilian tried to get up from the bed.

At that moment, Flora grabbed Basilian's arm and pulled him into a hug.

"What? You told me to sleep and now you're telling me to leave?"

Judging by his grumbling voice, it seemed he was offended, thinking she was kicking him out.

It was understandable he'd be upset, having been told something that could be taken as an order to leave during a serious conversation.

But Flora had never told him to leave.

"Let's sleep."

"What?"

"Stop thinking about other things and let's sleep. Our Basi."

Before Basilian could say anything, Flora turned her body and settled in beside him.

Then, as if to prove her point, she closed her eyes, and a sound of a resigned sigh, as if he was exasperated, was heard.

"I hate sleeping alone."

At her weak complaint, the tension left his stiffened body.

"...Sigh, just this once."

Basilian lay down comfortably, saying he had no choice.

Flora's even breathing began to echo across the bed, which was spacious enough for two children.

Basilian twisted his body slightly to confirm that Flora was sleeping peacefully and muttered.

"Stupidly, why didn't you even ask why I was avoiding you?"

Given Flora's personality, he thought she would ask immediately upon meeting him, but she didn't even question him, as if she felt guilty because he got hurt because of her.

He brushed back the pink hair that had fallen over her forehead and lightly swept her brow.

There was a small bandage stuck on her forehead, which had been hidden by her bangs, as if there had been a faint scratch.

When he carefully touched it, Flora's body flinched slightly.

'Did she wake up?'

Basilian froze unknowingly, like a guilty person.

Fortunately, Flora didn't wake up.

It seemed she had accumulated a lot of fatigue despite resting continuously in her room, as she didn't wake even from external stimuli.

He could see Flora's chest moving up and down with her soft, rhythmic breathing.

Basilian, who had been quietly watching Flora, let out a low sigh.

'What am I doing here?'

What was the reason he had been avoiding her even after hearing that Flora had returned?

'I was just going to leave without saying anything.'

The initial reason Basilian decided to settle here was to receive swordsmanship instruction from Athanas and to cultivate the power to protect himself.

But the longer he stayed here, the more he only gained a weak heart.

Even though he knew he should be training in swordsmanship, and thought he should discard his emotions to maintain composure, he couldn't do it.

'Because I'm happy.'

Flora was the person who made Basilian happy.

He was enjoying a life filled with emotions, far from being earnest, so how could there be progress in his swordsmanship?

'That's why I couldn't protect her.'

If the demon hadn't kidnapped Flora, would he be able to sleep soundly beside her like this now?

'No.'

The crying face of Flora he saw as he collapsed might have been the last sight of her.

And what if he had never met her again?

A distant fear dominates his body.

The single ray of light that had fallen into a world filled only with darkness is erased, and darkness threatens to rise again.

This time, thanks to someone else's help, she returned safely, so the light still exists, but if this light were to be erased, could he really endure it?

"I never want to feel that way again."

To prevent that, he had to become strong.

He had to obtain power more resilient than anyone else's, so that no one would dare touch his precious person.

'It seems the conclusion that I ultimately have to leave remains unchanged.'

He had already finished talking with Athanas, who had just returned to the castle.

At first, Athanas tried to dissuade Basilian, but when Basilian said he would leave to become stronger by abandoning his weak desire to settle comfortably, Athanas nodded with a sad face and agreed.

Thanks to Athanas's understanding, he decided to leave the castle but continue learning swordsmanship from him.

By mingling with mercenaries to gain real combat experience and receiving separate training outside the castle, he would be able to become even stronger.

'It's okay. Because I will be happy in the end.'

Just for a very short while, for a truly fleeting moment, he would forget this happiness.

"It's something I can do by becoming stronger and then returning, I don't know why even starting is so difficult."

When he placed his hand on Flora's forehead, there was indeed no movement.

"It's amazing how you can sleep so well."

He wished her pale face, which seemed to have no worries, would always be full of laughter. If he could make that happen, he felt he would have no other wishes.

"I'll miss you a lot. But I'll hold it in, become strong, and come back, so please wait for me."

Basilian gazed at Flora's face like that for a long time.

Even though looking and looking wasn't enough, he thought this much would help him endure the loneliness for a while.

"I'll accept the thank you from earlier."

And he would become strong enough to return so that Flora would never have to say she's sorry to him again.

"Sleep well, Flora."

Basilian lightly pressed his lips against Flora's round, smooth forehead.

Peck. A cute sound echoed on the bed.

Looking at Flora, who still hadn't moved a muscle, Basilian smiled contentedly. Then he slipped out of the room before dawn.

Click. The sound of the door closing was heard, and the sound of footsteps walking down the hallway gradually faded away.

The moment she judged no more sounds could be heard, Flora's eyes snapped wide open.

'Wh-what was that?'

She covered her forehead, where warm lips had touched just moments ago.

'Wh-what was that!'

It was impossible not to realize that Basilian considered her special.

'B-but this isn't it, is it?'

First of all, we're too young, and Basilian is even younger than me...

'What am I thinking right now?'

It was clearly just a thankful kiss; she was thinking too far ahead.

Honestly, when he kissed her forehead at the end, she almost failed at pretending to be asleep and her eyes nearly popped open.

But she desperately held back.

Because she knew his determination was extraordinary, and she wanted to support him.

"Phew, you're so foolish."

It would be nice if they could become stronger together by her side; she didn't understand what was so great about leaving her side so desperately to gain something on his own.

As soon as she sighed, Janet, who had been hiding by the bedpost, flew in front of Flora.

「It seems he values my Lord more than I thought. While I don't particularly like it, seeing how earnestly he intends to serve, it might not be bad to keep him by your side.」

"Right? When he comes back stronger, I'll have to make him my subordinate."

「Yes, if he remains unchanged even after becoming stronger, keep him by your side. If his mindset becomes misguided later, I, Janet, will teach him properly.」

"Thinking about disciplining your junior already as a senior."

When she praised her, saying "Well done, truly demon-like," and stroked her head, the sparrow puffed out its chest with a proud face. That cute appearance calmed her somewhat troubled heart.

'Right, he left with a proud heart, saying he would grow and return, so I should support him.'

She only hoped that Basilian would return without being hurt, healthy, sturdy, and stronger than anyone else.

"I'll be waiting. You have to come back before I forget you."

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After Basilian left, the castle became less fun.

She occasionally visited Elena with Daphne and spent time with Benio, but it still wasn't as fun as when she was with Basilian.