I Became the Emergency Food Supply of the Bear Family - Chapter 36

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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 36

“I’m sorry, Count?”
Theodore held the girl in his arms without a word until Na Bom, flustered, called out to him.
At the uncertain note in Na Bom’s voice, Theodore finally released her from his embrace. His hand remained on her shoulder as he gazed at her white hair, pale face, and dark eyes before speaking slowly.
“Humanization. Congratulations.”
“Thank you…….”
Na Bom replied reflexively, and Theodore proceeded to examine the girl’s small frame carefully, asking softly.
“You’ve been well these past days? No pain anywhere?”
“Yes, yes! I’ve been doing well, and I’m completely healthy!”
Na Bom straightened her chest as she answered. If her body felt strange after becoming human, it might mean the Humanization wasn’t proper. Though nothing was actually wrong, she felt the need to be more emphatic for the sake of the Adoption.
“……I see.”
Theodore exhaled with relief. Yet his expression still appeared somewhat darkened. It was strange. The Curse on his wife had been lifted—so why did his face carry such bitterness?
“I’m sorry.”
“……Pardon?”
At the sudden apology, Na Bom tilted her head just as Theodore’s hands enclosed both of hers.
Very carefully. As tenderly as if touching fragile glass.
“And I truly thank you.”
She’d heard similar words when she was held by his wife. Lost in thought, Na Bom gazed down at the large hands cradling hers.
Rough, scarred hands worn by battle and proximity to war were caressing the back of her hand with a gentleness that belied everything else.
Was it just her imagination?
Theodore’s eyes, which were always so dry, seemed somehow moist today.

***

“My goodness!”
After adjusting Na Bom’s clothes and positioning her before the mirror, the Tailor let out an exclamation like a cry.
The Tailor twisted about, unable to tear her gaze from Na Bom’s reflection for even a moment.
“This dress is just adorable, I feel like my heart might burst…….”
She nearly reached out to touch the girl on her cheek, but soon felt Anna’s cold stare and withdrew her hand.
“Oh, well, it suits you perfectly! Hehe. What do you think? How does this dress feel?”
“I’ll purchase it.”
Anna cut off the Tailor’s words with a firm nod. Rib, who had been watching, burst into laughter.
Na Bom likewise turned away from the mirror’s reflection.
‘Oh, there are so many clothes.’
She’d already tried on more than ten outfits, yet the Tailor seemed to have brought at least sixty in total.
This morning, immediately after waking and finishing a simple meal, his wife and the Tailor had entered the room, and all of this had unfolded.
Before she could even have her measurements taken, they’d suddenly begun dressing her. When she asked Anna what was going on, the answer came back that his wife had already provided her size information to the Tailor.
When did she take my measurements? I don’t even remember. She didn’t know my human size—or even my rabbit size, for that matter.
The clothes she began trying on skeptically fit perfectly, as if they’d been made for her all along.
That was wonderful. So very kind. But surely she wasn’t planning to buy all these clothes for her?
“Try this Sky Blue Dress as well.”
At Rib’s instruction, the Tailor began changing her clothes with astonishing speed.
A sky blue dress adorned with copious quantities of delicate white lace. Pink ribbon accents gave it an unmistakably lovely style.
‘……Will a dress like this suit me?’
The only clothes she’d ever felt familiar in were white hospital garments.
Of course, in childhood she’d once felt a spark of interest in what people called princess dresses. Her mother had surprised her with one as a gift, but Na Bom’s enthusiasm had died the moment she put it on.
In her past life she’d been nothing but skin and bones, so clothes like that could never have suited her.
Na Bom’s shoulders had somehow sagged.
“How is it?”
Rib gave no answer. Instead, she reached for a white Scarf hanging on a clothes rack and approached Na Bom.
After wrapping the Scarf around her neck, Rib gazed at her face gently, then smiled broadly and spoke.
“It really suits you.”
There was not a shred of dishonesty in those words. His wife’s words were no empty flattery.
Na Bom’s face flushed red as she studied herself in the mirror.
Was it just her imagination? Or was it thanks to his wife’s words?
The Sky Blue Dress truly did seem to suit her far better than she’d expected.
“Would you mind if I tied up your hair as well?”
“Oh, of course!”
Still blushing, Na Bom nodded eagerly and offered her hair to Rib.
With a soft laugh, Rib whispered a quiet thank you near her ear and sat down on the chair before the mirror. Then she patted her thighs gently with her hands.
“Come now. Sit here.”
At this unexpected invitation, Na Bom clutched the dress’s hem in her small hands.
Sit on his wife’s lap? Me? Was that allowed? She’d received an Adoption proposal, and Humanization had succeeded, but she still wasn’t officially this family’s daughter, and besides……
I’m not Koko.
“Perhaps it’s a bit…… burdensome for you.”
When Rib met Na Bom’s gaze with a sad expression, Na Bom startled and shook her head vigorously.
“Oh, no! I’m just feeling so very honored.”
At the word that tumbled from Na Bom’s small lips, Rib burst into laughter.
“You know such a difficult word, Snow Drop.”
“Oh, d-do I?”
Embarrassed, Na Bom scratched her head and avoided his wife’s gaze.
Though her life had been short, she’d lived until fifteen and had read many novels, so knowing such words was only natural.
“There’s nothing to feel honored about. It’s what I want to do.”
“Then, b-beg your pardon.”
In the end, Na Bom very carefully sat down on Rib’s lap.
Using the comb Anna handed her, Rib began brushing Na Bom’s hair herself.
The comb glided gently through her locks with soft, whispering strokes. After combing her entire head, Rib divided her hair into two sections and brought them forward.
“Your hair is quite long. Since your Humanization came so late, you wouldn’t have been able to cut it.”
Unsure whether this was to herself or a question directed at her, Na Bom simply nodded quietly.
“You can cut it later if you wish. If that’s what you want. But today, I’ll tie it for you.”
As Rib spoke, she seemed to be enjoying herself tremendously.
Rib lifted the divided sections with her comb.
Holding a handful of hair in her hand, she spoke with the Tailor while carefully selecting a Hair Ribbon. The inside of the box caught faintly in the mirror. There seemed to be about sixty different Hair Ribbons, and Na Bom felt a touch of vertigo.
The ribbon Rib chose had a fur decoration similar in design to the Scarf she’d wrapped around Na Bom’s neck.
After tying the ribbon just snug enough not to hurt, adjusting the position of the fur decoration, Rib finally met Na Bom’s eyes in the mirror and smiled.
“All done.”
“Th-thank you.”
Na Bom gazed blankly at her reflection, eyes blinking slowly.
In truth, she still wasn’t accustomed to her human form. It hadn’t even been a week since her Humanization succeeded.
So everything seemed wondrous to her. Her large, dark eyes. Her pale skin and white hair. The dress overflowing with billowing lace. The way his wife stood behind her with a hand on her shoulder, smiling.
Na Bom gently turned her head. Her hair, tied in two sections, swayed with the motion.
Now that she thought of it, his wife had her hair tied up too. Suddenly Na Bom’s gaze caught Rib’s reflection in the mirror.
‘White hair. The exact same color as mine.’
In the mirror, her eyes met his wife’s. That radiant smile was somehow so dazzling that Na Bom carefully looked away.
And in the place where her eyes had turned, she discovered something strange.
More precisely, two heads reflected in the glass.
Na Bom startled and rose from Rib’s lap. At that very moment, her body began to glow white.
“Snow Drop?”
Rib called out to Na Bom and reached her hand into empty air. What descended into Rib’s hand was a rabbit, white as fresh snow.
‘Oh no!’
Na Bom’s ears perked straight up.
She’d shifted into animal form out of sheer shock!

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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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