I Became the Emergency Food Supply of the Bear Family - Chapter 60

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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 60

So she could climb that fast. There was no need to offer her tail at all.
With eyes narrowed to slits in a threatening glare, the caracal soon flicked her tail upward and set the rabbit down gently on the rooftop.
“We’ve arrived. Let go now.”
‘But it was so short. An opportunity like this doesn’t come along very often… Oh! Oh no, I’m slipping, I’m slipping!’
The rabbit still clinging to her tail earned nothing but brisk, unhesitating shakes from Pallas, who simply brushed her off.

Sitting beside the skylight on the clinic’s roof, the rabbit and the caracal faced each other in silence.
“First, let me confirm the contents of that letter. A child your age is using Time-Reversal Magic to treat patients?”
Ber nodded to Pallas’s question, and her long ears twitched.
“Not merely slowing time, but reversing it? And on someone else’s time at that? That’s truly a magic born of imagination alone.”
Pallas herself was an authority on Time Magic—the art of slowing one’s internal temporal flow to an extreme, halting aging and extending lifespan. Thanks to this discipline, Pallas’s lifespan had increased roughly fivefold, and her physical form had ceased growing somewhere in her youth.
The very reason Pallas was called a Great Sage lay in this Time Magic.
Yet even such advanced Time Magic could only be applied to the caster herself. A magic capable of freely adjusting another person’s time? It had never been reported in academic circles, and even she, a Great Sage, had no knowledge of it.
Could it be some secret family technique passed down in utmost secrecy?
“Ber. I trust you’re not the sort to play pranks about such things, but do explain.”
‘…’
“How on earth did you find a mage with such power?”
Pallas’s golden eyes seemed to pierce straight through Ber’s heart.
Yet Ber had anticipated this question from her.
‘I’m not entirely sure myself. I happened to see the child treating someone in the street, and I saw a radiance in the child’s hands. And I simply understood—that the child was using magic.’
It was a lie. In truth, she’d seen nothing at all. But perhaps she could get away with it.
A rabbit imbued with Eostre’s Power. If it was me, it wouldn’t be strange if I perceived things Pallas couldn’t see.
“…Hmm. Well, explanations weren’t strictly necessary. I’ll be able to judge for myself once I see.”
With that, Pallas peered down through the skylight.
After observing Anya intently, Pallas nodded.
“It’s true. The radiance in her hands eludes me, but that is most certainly magic.”
At Pallas’s words, the rabbit’s small paws swept across her slightly swollen chest. Relief was fleeting, however, as Ber pressed on with the main topic.
‘I want to help her.’
“What?”
‘That child has a power similar to mine, doesn’t she? Someone might try to exploit her. The reason the Family Head and you told me to conceal my Spring Power was precisely because of that—because someone might covet my ability and harm me.’
“…Yes. That’s certainly possible.”
Having readily conceded the point, Pallas spoke with firm resolve.
“But it’s beyond your capacity. You’re already stretched thin just protecting yourself. This is not something you can do alone.”
‘I know. That’s why I’m asking for your help.’
The caracal turned to regard the rabbit with an expression of exasperation. Yet the rabbit’s eyes remained unwavering.
‘I’ve survived this long only because of the Family Head, the matriarch, you, and my brothers. Without their help, I’d have died long ago, I’m certain.’
Ber’s voice remained bright, speaking of such a matter-of-fact truth.
‘I know it’s dangerous. That’s exactly why, if you and the Family Head would help me, I’d feel truly assured.’
The rabbit’s small paw rested gently upon the caracal’s own.
‘I want to protect that child too.’
The rabbit’s eyes turned toward the skylight. Through the opening below lay the clinic. A brown-haired girl conversed with an elderly man of considerable years. When the old man patted her head with evident pride, the girl laughed—radiant as dazzling sunlight.
‘A child who has family as precious as mine.’
Pallas did not answer.
She merely gazed down through the skylight for a moment longer before turning her head away.

And so the Arctic hare and caracal descended from the rooftop, slipped beneath the brush, and transformed into human form behind the trees.
After adjusting her clothing and pulling her hat down, Ber took a moment to observe the clinic once more.
She examined the building’s sides, its back, even the roof, but found no trace of Kaien anywhere.
‘Which means, as I suspected…’
I must have completely cured Kaien’s lung disease.
Then the original story’s kidnapping arc involving Anya would never happen. That’s fortunate, but…
‘If Anya isn’t being treated, then could it be…’
That I’m the one Kaien becomes obsessed with?
That’s really something I’d prefer to avoid. Just reading about it terrified me—the thought of receiving that fanatical obsession myself.
“Phew…”
Ber shuddered, her skin crawling. It was then that Pallas, following behind her, spoke.
“Third. I shall inform Theodore of today’s events on my own authority.”
“Really? You will?”
Ber’s eyes widened and she thrust her face toward Pallas, who frowned in response.
“Only speak of it, mind you—only speak. You know better than anyone that Theodore is overprotective of you.”
“Well, yes, that’s true.”
Since she knew that much, she’d simply send a letter and push her case from there.
“Thank you anyway, Pallas. Do take care on your way!”
Ber offered a brief, shallow bow of gratitude and farewell, causing Pallas’s eyes to narrow.
“Third. You don’t know how to entertain a guest properly, it seems. The Capital’s visited you after so long. Shouldn’t you be inviting me to at least share a meal?”
“Oh… I thought you were busy, so… well, let me show you the way then!”
Under Pallas’s piercing gaze, Ber quickly took the lead.
As they walked, she suddenly posed a question.
“You’re treating, aren’t you?”
At her bold remark, Pallas let out a small laugh.
“If the food is tasty, I’ll consider it.”
“Oh, you promised!”
As Ber confidently retorted and burst into laughter, Pallas watched her departing figure and reflected.
She’s fully adapted to life at the Academy. Despite Theodore’s worries.
‘Don’t worry, Theodore.’
Your daughter has already grown.

***

After sharing a delicious lunch with Pallas and strolling through the Capital’s streets, Ber didn’t return to the Academy until evening had fallen.
Since Academy students were required to wear their Academy Uniform when outside for safety, she’d changed clothes in between.
She needed to hurry back to her room and write a letter to the Family Head. With that thought, Ber headed toward the dormitory building.
The fastest route from the Academy’s front gate to the dormitory was through the Garden. The setting sun cast its amber glow, painting the fallen leaves in deeper shades of crimson.
While admiring the Garden and hastening her pace, Ber suddenly came to a halt.
“Hah…”
Why was this happening? Her breath caught.
Not only did breathing become difficult, as if her chest had seized up, but her head began to throb as if it might split. Ber sank to the ground.
With one hand clutching her chest and the other pressing against her temples, her eyes shut tight, a fever seemed to wash over her.
Her body began to glow white, and before long she transformed into her Beast form. Clawing her way free of her clothes, Ber whimpered in pain.
‘Why is this happening all of a sudden?’
Could it be the Spring Power? She’d thought she’d been controlling it well through training.
‘I need to hide, fast!’
Ber seized her clothes between her teeth and dragged them to the base of a nearby tree in the Garden. Once hidden, she lacked even the strength to crawl. Finally, grasping her shoes in her front paws, she rolled into the undergrowth beneath the tree.
Only after catching her breath in the bushes could she take stock of her surroundings.
A student walked past in the distance, but passed right by the shrubs where Ber lay hidden, apparently not having witnessed the glow of her transformation.
Relief washed over her briefly, but soon Ber began rolling her body in the dirt. As autumn turned toward winter, the dried grass jutting through her fur felt harsh and sharp.
With each roll, her vision spun and her skin ached, yet she pushed through the discomfort and began searching.
‘I need to find someone, anyone to heal quickly.’
I have to find someone injured.
Closing her eyes and concentrating, she felt the familiar urge. The Spring Power surged outward, clamoring to break free.
If she kept rolling like this…!
Summoning her last reserves of strength, she rolled once more.
Thud—and something blocked her path. She could go no further.
Cautiously opening her eyes, she saw a figure silhouetted against the deep crimson sunset.
An Imperial Academy Uniform. Dark gray jacket and dark gray trousers. Gray eyes that matched the uniform’s color perfectly. Jet-black hair. Sharp gaze and a jawline chiseled as if by knife. A beautiful face with a cold expression.
The description matched exactly what she’d read in the novel.
Standing above her was Kaien Nuarel, the secondary male lead of Gildrou.

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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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