I Became the Emergency Food Supply of the Bear Family - Chapter 34

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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 34

“I should head back to the Main Castle now.”
Ribe steadied herself and spoke to Pallas.
“Yes, that’s best. It’s been a long while. Walking would be difficult, so let me—”
“I appreciate the thought, but I’d like to walk.”
Pallas stared at Ribe, who had rejected his rare gesture of kindness, and let out a scoff through his nose.
“Then there’s no help for it. Rabbit.”
Pallas turned to Nabom for some reason, then gestured toward Ribe with his chin.
“You take her hand.”
Nabom tilted her head, struggling to understand the situation.
So they were leaving the Annex Building and heading to the Main Castle where everyone else was? It seemed until now she hadn’t been able to visit, but why the change?
She wondered if the children were sleeping through winter soundly. Though, if the timing was right, she could probably sneak away and come back.
Still, it seemed Pallas wasn’t the Countess’s “beloved” either, unlike her. She’d thought he was close with everyone in the Grizzly Family, but perhaps she’d been mistaken.
His expression clearly showed he knew she was thinking something impertinent, but Pallas decided to let it pass.
“Answer me.”
“Yes, sir!”
Nabom replied with enthusiasm and immediately extended her hand to Ribe. As Ribe carefully took the small, delicate hand, Nabom straightened her chest and smiled.
“Leave it to me!”

***

“This way, madam.”
Nabom pointed the direction with her free hand, speaking as if she were guiding them through the castle.
Nabom, who had succeeded in Humanization at last, was now in an incredibly elevated state. It felt as though she could accomplish anything at all.
When Ribe nodded and smiled at her, Nabom’s spirits soared even higher. Gripping Ribe’s hand firmly, Nabom walked out into the snowy field.
Crunch—her boots pressed into the snow, and she let out a soft gasp of wonder.
‘It feels so different from when I walked on rabbit paws!’
The feel of snow beneath the leather sole of her shoe. The quiet whisper of snow settling from the sky to earth. The cold air touching her nose. Her bare skin, unprotected by fur, ached deliciously in the chill wind.
Every sensation of being human—so ordinary, yet so entirely new to Nabom.
Watching Nabom, who was plainly thrilled beyond measure, Ribe chuckled softly to herself.
As the Garden before the Main Castle began to come into view, Ribe called to Nabom.
“Child, there’s a place I’d like to stop by first.”
“Of course! Just say the word!”
Pleased by the eager response, Ribe led Nabom toward the right side of the Garden.
They arrived at the Greenhouse.
Nabom’s cheeks flushed slightly red.
Of course the Countess would know the castle better than she did—here she was, acting like a guide.
“Come in, child.”
Ribe turned to Nabom and gestured her forward, blinking. After a moment’s hesitation, Nabom also entered the Greenhouse.
Ribe began to move slowly through the space.
Her footsteps were familiar, her gaze seemed to know exactly where each plant was located, and above all, her expression held the tenderness of someone returning to a cherished place.
‘She must have loved this Greenhouse very much.’
As Nabom watched Ribe’s back while thinking this, the woman suddenly turned around to face her.
Looking at Nabom’s bewildered expression, Ribe then turned her gaze to the plants and began to speak, as if lost in memory.
“I tended this Greenhouse myself. That is—Count Theodore asked Pallas to create a Greenhouse enchanted with Magic.”
As she explained, Ribe bent down and carefully passed her hand beneath the calyx of a yellow Geranium, gently caressing its petals.
Nabom also crouched nearby and gazed quietly at the flower before asking.
“Do you like flowers?”
“More than I do, it’s the children. Ferdi, Louis, and Coco—they would smile the moment they saw flowers. I’m speaking of when they were very young, infants even.”
Ribe, lost in memory with a gentle smile, slowly grew expressionless.
“So much time has passed, yet nothing here has changed. Not a single weed.”
Her face looked lonely, tinged with sorrow.
Seeing Ribe like this, Nabom was suddenly reminded of Ferdi’s face as well.

“Really. Mother doesn’t scold me about it anymore.”

The Greenhouse that Ferdi and Louis had brought her to.
With what feelings must they have visited this place? Surely they had thought of their mother, their lady. A place of happiness had quietly become a place of sorrow.
As it had been for Nabom and her home.
Sometimes, when her condition improved, she would visit home with her mother.
She would venture out from the hospital ward after so long and return home.
A warm place that carried the scent of mother and father, of Naeul, of family—
Yet each time strange new objects appeared in the house, each time she heard stories of unfamiliar memories shared only among three people, an indescribable sadness and sense of loss washed over her.
Perhaps I will never return to this place again. That thought left her endlessly afraid and alone.
“Ma, madam!”
Before she knew it, Nabom was calling out loudly to Ribe, gripping her hand.
“I love it too, this place! The Greenhouse, I mean. Ferdi and Louis brought me here, and the grass was so delicious I still can’t forget the taste of Dandelion! Oh, that’s right—I’m, I’m sorry, madam. I ate some of the Dandelion that grows here…….”
Ribe, with her mysterious golden eyes widening, looked at Nabom, then covered her mouth and began to tremble with laughter. Soon she burst out laughing, then shook her head and spoke.
“I’m glad it was delicious.”
At Ribe’s reply, Nabom relaxed and smiled sheepishly.
The Geranium swayed beside Nabom’s pale face.
Its yellow glow seemed more vivid and beautiful than ever before, and Ribe smiled with genuine happiness.
As the two of them walked through the Greenhouse, exchanging small talk, someone arrived at the entrance.
Nabom was the first to notice her and rushed forward, calling out her name.
“Anna!”
She ran along the Greenhouse path and, without hesitation, buried her face in Anna’s belly.
White hair swayed at the woman’s waist. Clear black eyes looked down at her. Anna knew those eyes well.
“L, Little Snowflake? You’ve finally achieved Humanization!”
“Yes. It’s thanks to Anna’s help all this time. I’m really grateful!”
“Eeek!”
Anna made a strange sound, clutched at her chest, trembled, and then pulled Nabom into a tight embrace.
“No, madam. This is the result of your own effort. To be able to have a conversation with Little Snowflake like this is truly an honor!”
Nabom laughed at Anna’s excited voice, then nuzzled against her lower belly as she replied.
“I’m happy too, to be able to talk this way.”
At that, Anna let out an even louder cry and began to stroke Nabom’s head.
“But what brings you to the Greenhouse at such an hour? Where is Pallas?”
“Oh, well, about that…….”
At Anna’s question, Nabom finally gathered her senses and began to explain from the beginning.
Just then, Anna heard footsteps approaching from deeper within the Greenhouse and turned her head.
Ribe, who had been watching the two of them, slowly made her way forward.
“M, madam……!”
At the sight of Ribe, Anna released Nabom and approached her cautiously.
With about two paces between them, Anna forced a careful smile.
“To think I would encounter you here in the Greenhouse at such an hour…… It has been a long time, madam. Have you been, that is, have you been well?”
Ribe, listening to Anna carefully choose her words as she greeted her, opened her mouth with a smile.
“Anna. So you’ve been tending this Greenhouse all this time.”
“……Madam?”
As Anna stared at Ribe in confusion, the woman took one step, then another toward her. Then, slowly, she placed her palm over the back of Anna’s hand.
“Thank you so much, Anna.”
……
Anna dropped the Basket she had been holding. A small spade, Scissors, and a Spray bottle tumbled out.
As Anna stood frozen in place, Ribe spoke quietly.
“It’s all right. I can speak to you now, Anna. I can touch you. It’s all right now.”
Her warm voice, and the tender touch of her hand gently brushing across the back of Anna’s hand.
Tears welled up in Anna’s eyes at once.
A miracle she had never dared to imagine had come to pass.
Anna embraced her mistress—the lady of her entire life.

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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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