I Became the Emergency Food Supply of the Bear Family - Chapter 16

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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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Chapter 16

“Nabom hasn’t done anything wrong. It was me who took her out. I wanted to eat tree fruit together, and so…….”
After a long breath, Luie bowed his head deeply.
“It’s my fault. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry…….”
He kept apologizing with his head bowed.
His mother, bloodied and broken. His father’s expression like that of a man whose soul had departed. His brother, quietly weeping.
If I hadn’t thrown a tantrum, Mother and my brother could have left a little earlier. If they had, they surely wouldn’t have met those dreadful people.
If I had just been stronger, I could have protected Nabom…… Mother and my brother.
Tears were falling, one after another, onto the back of Luie’s hand pressed against the ground.
Nabom pressed her small front paws firmly against Theodore’s hand. Theodore blinked in surprise and relaxed his grip.
In that moment, Nabom jumped. She landed perfectly in front of Luie and hopped onto his trembling shoulders.
Nabom’s tiny front paws were stroking Luie’s hair.
“Nabom……?”
The moment Luie turned to look at the rabbit with wet eyes in confusion, Nabom quickly withdrew her paws.
‘What was that.’
I did it again with my front paws. Just like when Luie was crying in his sleep.
My body moved on its own. I don’t know why I keep doing this. I don’t know what it is, but somehow, I understood. The feeling of wanting to comfort someone.
Even knowing that some misfortunes in this world happen through no one’s fault, still wishing that someone would forgive. That feeling.
Then it happened.
“Luie, you reckless fool!”
A loud voice rang out from the doorway again, and Nabom flinched.
“I told you to stay in your room and reflect! Look how startled Nabom is!”
It was Ferdi who came toward them, scolding sharply.
His expression was far more severe than when he usually nagged, and Nabom’s shoulders stiffened slightly.
“S-sorry.”
Luie slumped his shoulders and drew away from Nabom.
In truth, the surprise had come from Ferdi. Nabom felt a little apologetic anyway.
“You really…….”
Ferdi muttered and bit his lower lip. Then, as he raised his hand toward empty air, Luie squeezed his eyes shut.
Nabom closed her eyes too, but nothing happened.
Soon, feeling warmth envelop her entire body, Nabom quietly opened her eyes.
Ferdi was hugging both Nabom and Luie tightly in his small arms.
“I’m…… I’m sorry too. I wish I’d noticed sooner that you two were gone.”
Ferdi’s voice was trembling slightly. He held Nabom and Luie even more tightly.
“Thank goodness you’re safe. Really.”
“……Hic.”
Soon Luie began sobbing again. Ferdi’s voice grew shaky as well.
“Young masters…….”
Anna, who had been watching them, approached with a face full of emotion and began gently stroking the three of them in turn.
Into Nabom’s bewildered gaze fixed on empty air came Theodore’s face.
Watching his two sons and the maidservant embrace and weep, along with the rabbit, Theodore was——
‘…….’
Smiling.
It was faint, ever so faint, but Nabom, who had lived in Grizzly Castle until now, could recognize it.
That curve at the corner of Theodore’s mouth was unmistakably a smile.
With a start, a strange suspicion bloomed in Nabom’s mind.
‘Perhaps.’
Perhaps these predators would not eat me after all.
Then she furrowed her brow and tilted her head.
It was far too peculiar a thought for a small creature like Nabom to ever conceive.

***

After wiping away his tears and bowing once more to Nabom and Theodore, Luie swore that he would not set one foot outside the castle until he received permission as penance.
Theodore nodded silently, and Luie saluted him like a soldier before a superior. With his bearing so sharp and measured, Nabom found herself standing on her hind legs and striking a formal stance as well.
After that, a physician arrived and began examining Nabom carefully.
The physician was an elderly turtle-man. Even in human form, a few scales were visible on his skin.
His examining hands moved quickly as he circled around. For a turtle-man, his movements were quite nimble.
“No fever, no scratches. I find no abnormalities in the rabbit lady’s body.”
“…….”
Of course, all of this was because of Theodore’s fierce gaze watching the examination.
‘Why is he staring like that.’
Eyes that said he would not tolerate any carelessness.
Though as a rabbit, Nabom should have feared the turtle more, Theodore’s cold stare made her spine tingle with dread.
“I-I stake my life as a physician on this oath. Please believe me, Your Grace!”
When Theodore did not answer, the physician, gone pale, made his plea. Theodore finally gave a curt nod, and the physician wiped his chest with relief.
“Th-thank you for your trust. I shall also examine the second young master’s condition.”
The physician seated Luie beside Nabom and began his examination. The physician’s hands moved mainly around Luie’s face.
Luie’s face was somewhat swollen—or rather, quite significantly so.

‘If it doesn’t go down…… it’ll be really bad……!’

‘That’s because of me.’
Memories of the Snowy Field and the Cave flashed back, and Nabom’s hind legs trembled. Heat rose to her cheeks.
Feeling the rabbit’s unwavering gaze on her face, Luie looked back at Nabom.
“Nabom, I’m fine!”
Then he promptly clenched his fist to show her.
“Actually, when I came to, I felt even more refreshed than usual. It was great!”
Luie was smiling with a foolish brightness.
The heat drained from Nabom’s cheeks. Does he remember nothing?
‘…… Is this the perfect crime?’
The snow-white rabbit grinned darkly, but to Luie’s eyes, it was simply endearing.
‘But why was I so drowsy then.’
Luie suddenly became lost in thought.
He had searched desperately for the missing Nabom.
When he came to, he found himself in a place he didn’t recognize, despite being familiar with the geography of the Northern Region.
He was terrified.
What if he never found Nabom?
Just as he’d never seen Coco again, what if this parting with Nabom was permanent?
His heart raced wildly from the anxiety, pain spreading across his chest.
Fighting back tears, he clenched his fists and desperately searched through the snow-laden brush for Nabom.
Then, in the midst of it all——

‘Luie!’

A voice from somewhere startled him.
A clear, high voice—a girl’s voice he’d never heard before.
When he turned instinctively, Nabom was running toward him.
As though she herself had called his name.
His tears nearly spilled over in that instant, but the moment he held Nabom in his embrace, drowsiness crashed over him. The heartbeat that had raced so violently grew quiet, and the suffocating sensation faded.
The tension melted away all at once, and he collapsed into the snow. His hands, raw from searching, and his legs, buried under snow, suddenly ceased their aching.
As though emerging from hibernation, with spring’s warmth pouring across his back, Luie closed his eyes.
And when he awoke, he was already in Grizzly Castle.
Before worry about Nabom could settle in, Luie got out of bed.
His body felt incredibly light.
Standing before a mirror, his face was red and swollen with countless scratches, yet he felt no pain—only a surge of strength. He wanted nothing more than to rush to the training ground and wield his sword.
‘…… That’s strange.’
In any case, it was fortunate.
As he underwent the examination, Luie reached toward Nabom. He stroked the rabbit’s head and smiled brightly.
Thank goodness Nabom is safe. Really, truly.

***

After Luie’s disappearance.
Grizzly Castle was in full preparation for hibernation.
In the kitchens, the bear was ceaselessly preparing stored food and emergency rations for unexpected circumstances. The Sled Dog Knight Order had increased their training hours, and the lord was occupied with affairs that needed settling before dormancy.
“I’ll have the documents sent out by today.”
Theodore nodded silently at Demirun’s words. Yet Demirun, with documents tucked under his arm, seemed to have more to say.
“However, Your Grace. There appears to be one matter still unresolved.”
“Unresolved?”
“Yes. The matter of Nabom.”
At the word Demirun spoke, Theodore’s hand, which had been moving across the desk, went still.
“A week has passed since the second young master’s incident. Nabom returned without injury, and her injured leg recovered long ago.”
“What are you trying to say?”
Before Theodore’s seemingly indifferent yet sharp gaze, Demirun slowly inhaled, then exhaled.
“Is it not time to return Nabom to where she came from?”

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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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