Dad is Back From a Deserted Island - Chapter 44

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Father has returned from the Deserted Island
Chapter 44

“Th-th-this wolf. No, this person…?”
How could such a colossal wolf be that tiny monkey?
It was a story difficult to believe readily, but Jean de Lamber was someone who had witnessed Kiki hatching from Egg with his own eyes.
Since he also knew that Kiki was no ordinary monkey but a divine beast, he could accept it swiftly.
Vivian had returned—whether Kiki was a monkey or a dragon hardly mattered.
The problem was.
“Kiki?”
Luca, who had rushed over after brushing past the Guard Militia, heard this account.
The fact that Luca knew the name of the small monkey that accompanied Vivian daily.
The greater problem was.
“Kiki? You’re talking about this wolf?”
Eduard, who had rushed over forgetting even the pain in his legs upon hearing that Vivian had appeared, also knew Kiki.
“…No, that can’t be! That can’t possibly be right! Kiki is so small and adorable… a monkey.”
Jean de Lamber, who had been gesticulating wildly through the air with both hands as if to demonstrate Kiki’s size, eventually bowed his head deeply.
Even he thought such an excuse would not convince Eduard and Luca. The more he explained, the more pathetic it sounded.
In reality, Luca was still uncertain, but Eduard, who knew that Vivian could converse with animals, had eyes half-convinced.
“Exactly. There’s no way that monkey could become such a magnificent wolf.”
[What? How dare this human belittle me? What’s wrong with being a monkey!]
At Eduard’s words, Kiki bared sharp fangs and growled menacingly.
Only Vivian could understand Kiki’s words, but anyone could discern what that reaction meant.
“As expected.”
“Really…?”
Both Eduard and Luca, witnessing that response, became certain that this wolf was indeed Kiki.
Jean de Lamber could not bring himself to blame the divine beast who had saved Vivian, and buried his face in his hands.
“…In any case, let us relocate. Such a massive wolf draws far too much attention.”
“Yes, yes, M-Master. No, Kiki! You mustn’t transform here!”
At the mention of drawing attention, Jean de Lamber stopped Kiki, who was positioning herself as if to shift back into a monkey.
It was already shocking that Eduard and Luca had discovered the truth, but if Kiki transformed in a place crowded with Guard Militia and others.
He had no confidence in weathering the aftermath.

* * *

The group returned to Eduard’s Residence and made their way to the back garden. Kiki had them use a different route to avoid drawing attention, slipping over the wall discreetly.
Normally, they would have had to stay behind to apprehend the culprit, but circumstances were different this time.
“Kiki says not to worry about the culprit! He’ll handle everything himself!”
Vivian’s cheerful announcement allowed me to make the decision to return immediately.
Of course, Eduard had left behind several instructions regardless.
In any case, when the four of us and one divine beast came face to face again—
….
An awkward silence hung in the air.
Jean struggled with how to explain Kiki’s true identity.
Luca still found it difficult to believe that the monkey was actually this wolf.
Eduard regarded Kiki with eyes that mingled curiosity and wariness.
Vivian was simply overjoyed to be reunited with her father.
It was Kiki who broke the silence first.
[Since there are no prying eyes now, I suppose it’s safe. I’ll return to my original form.]
A sharp intake of breath.
“Vivian!”
As black light suddenly erupted from the massive wolf’s body, Luca gasped in shock, and Jean pulled Vivian toward him.
Beneath the darkening sky, the black light that burst forth remarkably refused to be swallowed by the shadows.
The light gradually contracted, soon taking on a familiar form.
Luca, watching with a dazed expression, found himself muttering involuntarily.
“It’s… it’s really true….”
A small, adorable monkey. Remarkably, it still wore the same clothes it had been dressed in before.
Eduard’s grip tightened on his walking stick.
Glancing sideways, Jean appeared equally stunned, as though witnessing this sight for the first time.
“I want to transform too!”
[You cannot transform, Vivian.]
“Why not!”
[It is only possible because I am a divine beast.]
“Kiki is so mean! Only he gets to transform!”
Vivian was the only one conversing with Kiki in such a composed manner.
‘What on earth is this child’s true nature….’
Though Eduard had entered the twilight years of his life, he had never heard of anything like this.
An animal capable of transformation—surely such a thing belonged only to legends and fairy tales.
A subtle cough.
Jean, who had been lost in thought, snapped back to attention at the sound of Eduard’s throat clearing.
Having revealed such a transformation, there was no point in continuing to hide the truth.
Perhaps it would be better to come clean and seek his cooperation.
Eduard was not someone Jean knew to be careless with secrets—he was no stranger, after all, and Jean knew Eduard would not thoughtlessly spread such information to others.
“First, I must ask that you keep this matter confidential. For Vivian’s safety, if nothing else.”
Why mention that beast when speaking of Vivian’s safety?
Luca’s gaze flicked toward Vivian before dropping away.
Jean felt his lips dry as he respectfully extended his palm toward Kiki.
“This person is… a Divine Beast.”
“….”
A Divine Beast? Eduard couldn’t even respond immediately.
Of course, it was better than hearing the word “monster,” but a Divine Beast?
This was a tale that rarely appeared even in fairy stories.
“…Do you have evidence that this is a Divine Beast?”
[If I say I’m a Divine Beast, then I’m a Divine Beast. Evidence? This old human has some nerve!]
Eduard regarded the squeaking, indignant Kiki with an utterly bewildered expression.
Jean was equally perplexed. It wasn’t as though the Imperial Palace issued certificates for Divine Beasts—what evidence could he possibly present?
“The evidence is, well. That this person was born from an Egg. Could that be the evidence…?”
“Is a monkey an animal born from eggs? No, it’s not even a monkey. Wolves aren’t born from eggs…. Born from an egg?”
Luca, listening to the explanation, also seemed confused, his words tumbling out incoherently.
“Yes! Kiki was born from an egg. I hatched it!”
[Indeed. Vivian helped me awaken from the egg. In return, I granted her the honor of serving me.]
Kiki climbed proudly onto Vivian’s shoulder and thrust out his belly with satisfaction.
“What is this creature—no, what is this Divine Beast saying right now? Bibi, do you understand?”
It was a question asked without much hope. To Luca, it merely seemed that Vivian could communicate with animals through the innocent candor of childhood.
But the answer came from an unexpected source.
“I already knew that Vivian could communicate with animals.”
It was Eduard.
“Gasp.”
But we agreed to keep it secret from Father!
Vivian held her breath and watched Jean’s expression carefully. But Jean had no mind to scold Vivian about anything.
“When did you find out…. In any case, that’s how it is. On the Deserted Island where I was stranded, there was an egg containing a sleeping Divine Beast, and Vivian hatched it. And from inside it… this person emerged.”
“Is Vivian’s ability something passed down through the House of Lamber as a special gift?”
“No? There is no such special ability passed down through our family.”
It was true that he himself, her father, could reverse time, and his daughter could awaken Divine Beasts, make plants grow, and communicate with animals—yet there was no family legacy to explain it.
Jean himself was most curious about where these strange abilities had come from.
When it became clear that this was not something he could have predicted alone, Eduard felt somewhat shocked.
“There were no unusual circumstances when Vivian was born, and as she grew, she was perfectly ordinary. Of course, she was an unbelievably angelic child. If you had witnessed her first babbles yourself, you would understand my heart. I regret not having captured every moment of that time in paintings.”
Even so, Jean couldn’t help but indulge in such sentimental remarks.
Luca, sensing the conversation might veer off course, raised his hand to request the floor.
“Why did the Divine Beast…awaken? Is there some crisis approaching this world?”
“…I’ve never asked that.”
Three pairs of eyes turned toward Kiki.
The Divine Beast spoke.
[I was bored being trapped inside the egg, and since there was power beside me that could awaken me, I simply awakened and came out. Do you have a complaint about that?]
Vivian summarized and relayed it very simply.
“I was so frustrated!”
“…So you didn’t wake up because some calamity struck?”
“No.”
“Sigh.”
The boy exhaled in relief and took Vivian’s hand.
“I’ll go inside with Vivian now. You’ve had a rough day, so you need to rest. These complicated matters about divine beasts and such—we adults need to handle them ourselves. …Besides, there’s still more that needs to be handled.”
Vivian had clearly said earlier that Shinsu had “handled” the culprits. Young Vivian didn’t fully understand what that meant, but Luca could vaguely guess what had become of them.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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