I Became the Emergency Food Supply of the Bear Family - Chapter 15

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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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Episode 15

The child stretched out a trembling arm, pointing beyond the hill.
“If you go this way…… there’s a cave…… Louie is there.”
……
“Please…… save him.”
The small, quavering voice was faint, but Theodore recognized it at once as the same one he’d heard in his mind.
The child’s fingers gripped Theodore’s fur tightly. An urgent gaze met his eyes, pleading for confirmation.
Theodore nodded in response.
I heard you.
The child’s eyelids fluttered shut and open again.
We heard your voice.
As though hearing the voice of Theodore transformed into his Humanoid Form.
“Thank goodness.”
The child exhaled a long breath, and the corners of his mouth slowly rose.
Soon the child’s eyes closed gently. Then came soft, rhythmic breathing, and the child’s body shimmered as it collapsed.
In Theodore’s arms lay a small, white Arctic hare, curled up.

***

“…… is waiting…… we recommend.”
“From what we can see, there doesn’t appear to be…… any problem.”
“…… just to be safe, an examination…….”
Indistinct voices murmured through a dark haze.
Soft cloth seemed to brush against her paws, and Na Bom lay dazed in thought.
She was certain she’d fallen from the hill. But where exactly had she fallen from?
‘It was surely as soft as this cloth…… and……’
Warm.
Suddenly the darkness brightened, and Na Bom’s eyes slowly opened.
“You’re awake! You’re awake!”
“Truly?”
“Na Bom is awake! I must report this to the head of the family!”
Urgent voices accompanied the sound of footsteps hurrying away.
It was rather noisy. Where was this place?
“Na Bom! Are you all right?”
A face suddenly thrust into her view made Na Bom jolt upright.
‘Anna?’
Anna was staring at her with a worried expression. Then Na Bom understood.
Ah…… this wasn’t inside that mountain.
A bed that stretched endlessly to a rabbit’s eyes. This was undoubtedly the bedroom of Theodore, the head of the Grizzly Family.
The moment that truth struck her, Na Bom’s eyes flew open.
‘Louie!’
She cried out without thinking.
‘Is Louie all right?’
But Anna didn’t answer her question.
Frustrated, Na Bom pressed down on the sheet with her paw, and then something struck her as odd.
Right. My voice is never heard. That’s natural for those in Humanoid Form, and of course, for those in Animal Form too.
But then why.
‘…… Theodore heard it.’

‘Please help me.’
‘Save Louie……!’

As though hearing that final desperate cry, the Animal Form Theodore was pushing through the avalanche toward her.
And. After that……
Her memory grew hazy, so Na Bom cracked open her eyes.
What came back to her was……

We heard your voice.

Just that one thing from Theodore.
After hearing those words, everything went black.
Perhaps she’d fallen asleep once the tension released, having found him.
There was no way a grizzly bear that could break through such a massive avalanche couldn’t rescue Louie.
The fact that she was in this room now meant those memories weren’t a dream.
“Na Bom? Can you hear me?”
Did this mean her voice could only be heard by those in Animal Form? Theodore had been in bear form back then.
Right, that’s it. Anna is in Humanoid Form now, so it makes sense she can’t hear me……
“Na Bom!”
Anna suddenly leaned in closer, and Na Bom sprang backward with a start.
Anna caught the leaping rabbit gently in her arms and smiled brightly.
“You’re as energetic as ever. I’m so glad.”
Anna’s voice trembled slightly. She laughed softly, then began wiping the corners of her eyes with the back of her hand. Her eyes glistened with tears.
……Anna was……
‘Crying?’
Why?
Without thinking, Na Bom reached toward Anna’s face. But her extended paw suddenly froze in the air.
Na Bom looked down at her paw—no, her foot—in confusion.
Wait.
‘…… Hand? Arm?’
Why had she thought that?
Bothered by this inexplicable wrongness, Na Bom wriggled her feet. They were covered in the same fur as always, perfectly normal front paws.
Na Bom shook her head.
None of that mattered right now.
A small sound escaped her.
Na Bom began trying to figure out how to communicate that she wanted to be taken to where Louie was.
“A doctor will be here soon, so please wait……”
Just as Anna started speaking.
Thundering footsteps and a crash!
It was Theodore, bursting through the door with enormous strides.
“Oh, you’ve arrived, sir,”
Before Anna could even finish her greeting, Theodore approached and lifted Na Bom right out of Anna’s arms.
‘Oh!’
Na Bom thrashed her four paws in surprise, but Theodore’s large hand held the rabbit firmly.
“Are you hurt?”
After checking her belly.
“Where?”
He spun her around to examine her back.
“Are there any injuries?”
He grasped her front and hind legs, carefully inspecting even the soles of her tiny feet.
“Any pain?”
He gently touched her ears and pushed his face close, scrutinizing her head and face intently.
Theodore’s gaze was so serious that Na Bom trembled beneath it.
“S-Sir, I think Na Bom is frightened.”
“…… Ah.”
Theodore seemed to understand then. He made a brief sound of acknowledgment and gently set Na Bom down on the bed.
“Don’t worry. It looks like you don’t have any wounds, and you’ll be examined soon anyway.”
“Right. That’s true.”
Theodore exhaled and ran a hand through his hair.
Seeing her master speak more than usual, Anna smiled silently.
‘……?’
Theodore suddenly knelt before the bed, and Na Bom blinked. In the silence, his lips moved. Did he have something to say to her?
“I’m sorry.”
What he finally spoke was unexpected.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t find you sooner.”
Na Bom’s small mouth fell open, her front teeth showing. At her stunned rabbit expression, Theodore’s face twisted oddly. He slowly bowed his head.
“Thank you…… for saving Louie.”
……
Faced with another shocking revelation, Na Bom couldn’t close her mouth.
But seeing Theodore remain bowed in the ensuing silence, Na Bom began thinking of something else.
The head of the Grizzly Family felt apologetic and grateful toward her?
Tap, tap-tap.
When Na Bom reached out her paw to touch Theodore’s head, he finally looked up.
This was an opportunity!
‘Well then. If you’re grateful, please don’t eat me.’
She tried throwing the words at him as she had on the snowy hill, but Theodore didn’t blink. He clearly couldn’t hear her.
Then there was no choice.
Na Bom tapped her chest with her paw, then made an X shape with her legs.
……
But Theodore showed no reaction. Na Bom repeated the same movements. She varied her gestures. She tapped her chest and drew an X, then shook her head vigorously.
Yet Theodore simply tilted his head slowly, completely baffled.
‘This is frustrating!’
After actually communicating with words, body language felt terribly inconvenient. Na Bom began striking her chest frantically.
“Your chest feels uncomfortable, does it? Where is the doctor?”
That’s not it!
Na Bom grew even more frustrated and began pounding the bed with her paws.
Theodore leaned his face in close again and declared with a serious expression.
“I’ll take her myself.”
Then he grabbed her by the scruff and lifted her up. That was when.
“No, sir!”
At an urgent shout from the doorway, Theodore turned while still holding Na Bom aloft.
A boy came rushing in and clung to Theodore’s thigh.
“Don’t eat Na Bom……!”
Looking up at Theodore, the boy was Louie.
Louie! Thank goodness he’s safe.
Relief was short-lived as Na Bom replayed what Louie had just said and went deathly pale.
‘Was I about to be eaten?’
Terror seized her suddenly, and Na Bom froze in Theodore’s grip.
Then Louie collapsed onto his knees on the floor.

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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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