I Became the Emergency Food Supply of the Bear Family - Chapter 20

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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 20

‘A chair?’
Na Bom’s curiosity sent her scurrying forward.
Compared to an ordinary chair, this one was at least five times smaller. She was wondering if it might be some kind of table decoration when a voice reached her from beside Theodore.
“Yes, that’s right. You can sit there.”
When she spun around, she found Demirun’s face, wreathed in a faint smile as he gazed at her.
“This chair was crafted personally by me, so please sit without worry, Snowflake!”
Demirun’s brown eyes gleamed with something mischievous. Na Bom felt her spine prickle.

“You certainly do lavish affection on your emergency rations.”
“I imagine I’d feel rather sad when the time came to eat you.”

My suspicion that I was Theodore’s emergency rations stemmed in no small part from this aide’s words.
For someone who smiled constantly, he said terrifying things, and the way he looked at me—as though I were a plaything—made me fear him nearly as much as I feared Theodore.
‘Actually, right now I’m more afraid of him than of Theodore.’
To harm me, Theodore would have to break the Covenant. I didn’t think his aide would do anything pointless, but my rabbit’s instincts were screaming.
‘That fellow’s definitely a bear too……!’
Black hair and brown eyes. Probably an Asian black bear or a moon bear. And above all, he smelled like one.
A whole month I’ve been rubbing shoulders with bears in Grizzly Castle—did he think I wouldn’t notice?
An adult bear. A young bear and a dog. The latter was far more reassuring.
Na Bom swallowed hard and began tapping the chair with her foreleg.
“Hmm…… it really is just an ordinary chair, Snowflake.”
At her careful inspection of the chair, as though tapping a bridge before crossing, Demirun chuckled.
“Snowflake’s being remarkably cautious all of a sudden.”
“Demirun, what did you do to Snowflake!”
Just as Demirun came under questioning from Ferdi and Louis, Na Bom finished her investigation and settled onto the chair.
“It really does suit you perfectly, Snowflake. Who knew my wood carving hobby could shine so brightly.”
“Well, all the sleighs in our castle were made by Demirun anyway.”
“‘Were made by Demirun anyway,’ you say. You’re too much.”
Though Demirun’s expression showed not the slightest change despite Louis’s pointed tone, he smiled with satisfaction as he looked at me. At his pleased grin, Na Bom huffed through her nose and turned her head away sharply.
Well, honestly, it was comfortable.
“At any rate, I’m relieved.”
Demirun spoke to Na Bom with that characteristic smile of his.
“Now that you’re bound by Covenant with our lord, no one can eat you anymore, Snowflake.”
……
Na Bom’s fur stood on end at once. Her heart thundered in her chest.
That Covenant is the best……!
“Rune.”
“My apologies, my lord.”
At his lord’s reproachful voice, Demirun bowed his head immediately.
“Snowflake is just so adorable.”
But with that added remark, Theodore’s gaze only grew sharper. The same went for the two young bears and Anna.
Demirun simply shrugged as if he couldn’t help it, then smiled and opened his mouth.
“Of course, my lord never had any such intentions from the start.”
He knew that better than anyone.

—I don’t believe someone as small and powerless as I could ever be of use to you.

I’d been cast out from the village for my weakness. After being beaten by those who’d seen me as an eyesore, I’d been left for dead.

—So please abandon me. I beg you.

When I buried my face in the snow in despair, Theodore had scooped me up in one motion.
The brown bear had spoken only one thing to the moon bear struggling on his massive back.

—I’m not taking you with me to use you.
——
—So it doesn’t matter.

Small or weak, useless or not—it didn’t matter.
He’d never said anything like that before.
And that was why I wanted to be of use to him.
Demirun laughed softly as that old memory surfaced unbidden.
Na Bom, who’d been sitting in the chair and staring blankly at Demirun, felt her eyes widen slightly.
‘If he smiled like that all the time, it would be nice.’
Then maybe he wouldn’t seem so frightening.

And so Na Bom sat in the chair Demirun had made and devoured delicious hay, dandelions, and carrot leaves with gusto.
Ferdi nagged at Na Bom and Louis about chewing slowly, though Na Bom hardly heard it.
‘Why is the grass here so delicious.’
Were there magical devices installed in the glass greenhouse in the Garden? Or was there some special preparation method? It seemed they were just washed and served…….
It was just grass, yet the mere memory of its taste made saliva pool in her mouth. Remarkable, really.
And so she sat ruminating on the flavor of the grass she’d just finished, her small mouth working away.
‘Eek……!’
Suddenly Louis’s face filled her entire vision.
“Snowflake, did you eat well? Are you full?”
Na Bom nodded dazedly. For some reason, Louis’s expression fell.
“…… You’re really full? Can’t eat anything else?”
His expression was like that of a downtrodden puppy—though Louis was a bear, after all.
It seemed clear that nodding again would be a mistake. Besides, she wasn’t actually that full.
The moment Na Bom shook her head, Louis’s face brightened like the sun.
“Then want to try this as dessert?”
With those words, Louis extended his hand toward Na Bom. When he unclenched his fist, his palm was laden with dark berries.
Her small nose twitching as she sniffed the berry’s scent, Na Bom quickly popped one into her mouth.
‘What is…… this!’
Na Bom’s cheeks puffed out and rose upward. Without thinking, her foreleg rose to press against her swollen cheek.
It was too good. Far too good.
The aroma was sweet and rich, the texture crisp and snappy, and despite their small size, the berries were bursting with juice, leaving her mouth fresh and tart.
“The truth is, I took you for a walk because I wanted you to try these.”
As Louis spoke slowly, Ferdi turned to look at him. Louis met Ferdi’s gaze and smiled faintly.
He’d gone outside the castle with an escort that morning and picked Berries. His brother had persuaded their father to allow it.
“But then…….”
Louis’s expression darkened again.
I almost got Snowflake hurt. If I were clever like my brother, I wouldn’t have done something so dangerous. Why am I like this…….
Just then, a tugging at his arm drew Louis’s gaze downward.
“Snowflake?”
Tap-tap-tap-tap. Na Bom was striking Louis mercilessly with her fluffy foreleg. Drool gleamed at the corner of her mouth, threatening to fall any moment.
‘Give me more, quick!’
At her urgent little strikes, Louis burst out laughing. He promptly extended his hand again, and Na Bom quickly devoured the heap of Berries he’d gathered on his palm.
At her unusual eating display, Louis hastily pulled out more Berries—still on the branch—and set them before her.
Na Bom remained leaning back in her chair, moving only her head as she began plucking Berries into her mouth.
Her belly jutting out, her small mouth working without pause as she chewed away, Na Bom had surrendered completely to the world of Berries. Her white muzzle had already begun to stain violet.
At her state of utter absorption, Louis’s shoulders went slack.
Snowflake seemed not to mind the events of that day at all. Truly, not one bit.
A smile of happiness returned to Louis’s face.

***

A month and more of hibernation preparations had come to completion. A quiet stillness settled over Grizzly Castle.
The winter sleep had begun.
“Young Master Louis is asleep as well.”
Anna whispered to Na Bom, who had settled on her shoulder.
As the door slowly closed, Na Bom poked her head out through the gap and waved her foreleg toward the bed.
‘Sleep well, Louis.’
Looking back at Na Bom, Anna spoke.
“Now the confirmation is complete. You’ve worked hard too, Snowflake.”
Na Bom nodded in reply.
Confirming the bears of the Grizzly Family who had entered hibernation one last time—it was Anna’s task, but Na Bom had volunteered to accompany her.
“You really do seem like a warm-hearted person, Snowflake. Hehe.”
Anna laughed, rubbing her cheek against Na Bom’s face.
Warm? It seemed Anna had gotten something wrong.
‘The Grizzly Family needs to remain strong for me to be adopted safely.’
Where else would I find a beast that made a Covenant never to harm me? So I have to help them all survive this winter sleep, bears!
Na Bom clasped her rabbit’s paws together before their chambers in prayer.
Just then, Anna giggled and said something incomprehensible.
“Actually, Snowflake. You don’t need to worry so much.”
‘……?’
“Because there’s a bear in Grizzly Castle who doesn’t hibernate.”
…… What did you say?

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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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