I Became the Emergency Food Supply of the Bear Family - Chapter 39

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 39

“Yes……”
Malamuut barely squeezed out the word when an urgent voice came from behind.
“There you are, miss!”
Startled, Malamuut reflexively let go of Ber’s hand.
“You frightened me half to death disappearing like that!”
“I’m, I’m sorry.”
“Come now, let’s get you dressed.”
Anna approached with purposeful urgency and draped a shawl over Ber’s shoulders, then took her hand and led her toward a table in the center of the Banquet Hall.
“It’s February, but the cold persists. Now that you’re human, you have no fur, so you must be especially careful not to catch a chill.”
Ber nodded silently as she walked, then turned to look back, offering a bright wave toward Malamuut. Malamuut stared blankly at Ber’s receding figure, then lowered his gaze.
He stood gazing at the hand that had just held hers.

***

The banquet began.
At first, people ate from their assigned seats, but once Theodore gave permission, they began approaching Ber one by one.
They greeted her and kept pressing food upon her until her stomach grew full.
Just as Anna, who had been exclusively watching over Ber from beside her, started declining additional dishes, the hall doors opened and the Head Chef appeared.
“We are ready, sir.”
“Mm.”
Theodore nodded, and the Head Chef bowed, then began pulling something toward them.
It was an enormous cake, barely balanced on the tray.
The Head Chef and Sub Chef worked in tandem, pulling and pushing the cake until it came to rest near Ber’s place.
“We shall place it here for you, miss.”
With those brief words, the massive cake was swiftly positioned. Ber stared blankly at the pristine white cake now set before her and voiced her confusion.
“But…… today isn’t my birthday.”
“What if we made today your new birthday?”
At the sound of his characteristically matter-of-fact tone, she turned to find Theodore.
“The day you received your new name.”
“……”
“Of course, if you’d prefer not to, we needn’t call it a birthday cake.”
His added words were far softer than before, and somewhat careful.
Ber gazed at the cake and quietly shook her head.
“No, it’s wonderful. If today is my birthday……I think I would be very happy.”
Barely managing the words, Ber smiled.
“Then we’ll need to light the candles.”
As Ribe, seated across from Theodore, spoke, the waiting Head Chef immediately struck a match.
Eight candles already placed atop the cake began to glow.
Perhaps the light was too bright. Her vision wavered and danced before her eyes. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and drew in a breath.
Whoosh.
With a strong breath, she extinguished all eight candles.
In that moment, applause erupted.
Happy birthday, miss. Congratulations. Everyone offered her a word and clapped with smiling faces.
Tears threatened to fall, so Ber covered her eyes with her arm.
A cake. A birthday celebrated by everyone.
She never imagined such a day would come again in her life.

***

The next morning.
After finishing breakfast together, the four dispersed according to their schedules.
Perdi went with Heinz to the Library for tutoring, while Louie and Alexei headed to the Training Grounds.
Ber, meanwhile, had no particular plans.
Pallas appeared suddenly during mealtime, relayed that since Ber had devoted herself to Humanization Training, she could rest now, and promptly vanished.
‘Though somehow Pallas looked more exhausted than I did.’
It seemed likely he would hole himself up in the Magic Tower and not emerge for months.
Ber left the Dining Hall and walked down the Corridor.
Anna had worried whether she could find her way back to her room, her concern surprisingly protective. Whether because she hadn’t yet adjusted to her human form, or for some other reason, Anna seemed far more protective than she had been when Ber was a rabbit.
Of course, now that she had become human, the surroundings looked unfamiliar.
Naturally, when she was a rabbit, even walking down the Corridor, the windows had been outside her peripheral vision. But now, with merely a slight turn of her head, she could admire the view beyond the glass—she had grown so much taller.
Snow lay thick on the branches, reflecting light and gleaming beautifully, like luminous blossoms in bloom.
“Ber!”
Someone called to her as she paused at the window, lost in the view.
It was Ribe. She waved from the end of the Corridor and approached with quick steps.
“Ber. Would you come with me for a moment?”
“……? Yes.”
Not understanding, Ber nodded, and Ribe smiled. She bent down and carefully wrapped the Scarf around Ber’s neck, then took her pale hand and set off walking.
Ber blinked, alternating her gaze between Ribe’s back and the hand holding her own.
Something felt slightly strange. But her hand was warm.
Without thinking, Ber grasped Ribe’s hand firmly in return.
They arrived at the entrance to Grizzly Castle.
The great Iron Gate that barred entry to outsiders was already open when they arrived.
Ribe, still holding Ber’s hand, leaned forward to peer beyond the gate to the right. Her face, which usually wore a maternal smile, now bore an expression of excitement Ber had never seen before.
“She’s arriving now, ma’am.”
Not long after the Guard standing watch made his report, a Carriage came to a halt before the castle.
A woman descended, escorted by a Knight.
A middle-aged woman with white hair and dark eyes—her face resembled Ribe so closely that Ber felt a strange familiarity.
She approached Ribe in silence and stopped. The two stood facing each other for a considerable time. Then, with great care, as though handling fragile glasswork, they embraced.
With their faces buried in each other’s shoulders, both women began to weep.
As Ber watched the two crying silently, she understood.
‘That woman is Ribe’s mother.’
She had seen her in a dream before the Humanization. She had seen Ribe’s mother weeping, stroking Coco’s wounds.
By the time Ber recognized the woman’s identity, both had wiped their tears. Soon Ribe’s mother noticed Ber and opened her eyes wide. She approached slowly and smiled—a soft smile like Ribe’s own.
“So you are Ber.”
She knelt to meet Ber’s eyes and slowly extended her hand.
“I’m so glad to meet you.”
Ber hesitated for a moment, then carefully took the offered hand.
“It’s an honor to meet you. Ribe’s mother……”
As she spoke, uncertain of the proper title, the woman laughed softly and stroked Ber’s hair.
“You may call me Grandmother.”
Grandmother. Of course. Now that Ribe was to be my mother, her mother would be my grandmother.
Though it was only logical, the very fact that the Adoption had been successful still felt uncertain, so the title of grandmother felt strange to Ber’s ears.
“Mother. I wanted you to witness something with us.”
At Ribe’s suggestion, Grandmother nodded, then turned to Ber and spoke.
“Ber, come along with us.”

The three moved to the Back Garden.
The ordinarily quiet Back Garden seemed unusually bustling.
With a creak, the rear door opened and two servants emerged carrying something together. What they set down was a Bed.
Already, several pieces of furniture had gathered in the Back Garden in the same manner. And beside them, a fairly substantial Bonfire was burning.
“Is that all of it?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
At the exchange between Ribe and the servants, Ber’s eyes fell upon the furniture beside the Bonfire. A familiar Desk, Wardrobe, Chair. She knew these pieces.
They were the furnishings from Coco’s Room, the room that had been given to her when she could not yet undergo Humanization.
Ribe looked to Grandmother as if seeking permission. Grandmother nodded, and Ribe nodded to the servants in turn.
Two servants nearest the Bonfire lifted the Desk. Fire and furniture. In that instant, Ber sprang from her spot and threw herself in front of Ribe, spreading her arms wide.
“No, you mustn’t!”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————