I Became the Emergency Food Supply of the Bear Family - Chapter 7

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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 7

Na Bom’s face, covered in white fur, went even paler.
She twisted her body and barely managed to back away. But soon her rear pressed against the mansion wall, and there was nowhere left to run.
As a last resort, she was just about to open her mouth wide and scream.
—You alright?
The unexpected voice made Na Bom freeze.
Theodore’s voice resonated directly in her mind—so gentle, so kind, that she felt tears might spill at any moment.
A voice of pure concern directed at her, something she had never heard in this lifetime.
Perhaps that was why.
—You hurt anywhere?
At Theodore’s question, Na Bom shook her head before she could think.
A sigh, exhaled from his mind, reached her ears.
—I see.
Then came a short reply tinged with relief.
It was strange.
Why was this beast so relieved over such a trivial fact—that she was unharmed?
Did the bear clan also follow the Eostra Faith, like the white wolves? Perhaps they believed that by consuming a fattened rabbit, they could gain the Spring Power.
Without such a reason, the situation made no sense whatsoever.
—Let’s go.
Theodore extended his hand.
When Na Bom looked up into his eyes, Theodore spoke again, his tone gentle and coaxing.
—Come on. Let’s head back.
‘…….’
Na Bom quietly climbed onto his palm. Besides, as prey, she had no choice. She no longer had the strength to flee.
Theodore lifted her carefully into his arms and rose to his feet. The world spun suddenly, and she felt dizzy. Na Bom buried her face in his thick fur.
As he held her, Theodore examined her hind legs and spoke.
—I’ll change your Bandage for you.
When Na Bom nodded, Theodore began walking slowly.
—Sorry for startling you.
Theodore seemed to say something more, but it was drowned out by voices from nearby.
“Found her!”
“The lord has found the Emergency Food Supply!”
People who had been searching began approaching one by one when they spotted Theodore holding the Arctic rabbit.
“A snow rabbit?”
“Snow! You’re safe!”
The servants, Anna, Rui, and Ferdi all smiled with relief, but Na Bom neither saw their faces nor heard their voices.
She had just realized something crucial.
‘What.’
I just answered Theodore twice.
I’m done for.
My cover’s blown—I’m clearly not an ordinary rabbit.

***

After returning to human form, Theodore genuinely changed Na Bom’s Bandage. With his own hands, no less.
Fortunately, nothing like him suddenly announcing “So you’re an Arctic rabbit bearing the Spring Power—good catch! I’ll eat you now” actually happened.
Despite his reputation as the Beast-form Humanoid who tears apart his kind, the knot Theodore tied in the Bandage was absolutely flawless.
After that, Theodore gave Anna instructions about something.
Anna then began carrying Na Bom from place to place around the mansion, directing the servants as she went.
Soon Anna set Na Bom down on a soft Bed in one of the rooms where servants had been busy at work.
“Snow. From today on, you’ll be staying here.”
Na Bom stared blankly, her eyes wide. She couldn’t believe what lay before her.
A desk. A Bed. A wardrobe. Even a bathroom—the room had it all.
More importantly, everything was small.
It looked less like furniture for a Beast-form Humanoid capable of taking human shape, and more like furniture made for a small animal.
‘……What is this.’
It couldn’t possibly have been made in such a short span of time.
Na Bom slowly placed her front paws on the Bed rail.
Though it was well-maintained and showed almost no signs of wear, it was clearly a Bed that had been made some time ago.
As Na Bom tilted her head in confusion, Anna began murmuring.
“The lord and lady would feel lonely if we left it empty forever.”
Anna’s mouth twisted bitterly for a moment, but then she smiled again.
“Now this room belongs to Snow.”
Yet Na Bom could only look bewildered.
What kind of beast gives a room to prey it brought back as an Emergency Food Supply?
‘It’s less a room than…….’
Watching the wooden bars—no, the guard rails—surrounding the Bed, Na Bom narrowed her eyes.
A prison, surely.
Just then, Na Bom’s body trembled slightly, and she frowned.
That signal!
“Snow?”
Na Bom patted her belly with her front paws to demonstrate, but Anna didn’t understand and asked again.
This time Na Bom pointed her front paws toward the bathroom.
“Oh! I understand. I’ll take you right away.”
Anna lifted Na Bom from the Bed with a beaming smile.
Anna wasn’t surprised at all that I could express myself. Did she already know I wasn’t an ordinary rabbit?
“I’m so glad Snow can finally communicate with me. I was embarrassed about talking to myself all this time thinking she was just a normal rabbit.”
……When exactly did she figure me out?
Despair was short-lived—the moment Anna set her down in the bathroom, Na Bom’s belly began to ache gently.
As she tried to settle into the small bathroom, clearly made for animals, she kept feeling eyes on her from behind.
When she turned, Anna was staring at her intently.
Startled, Na Bom leapt up where she stood.
“Oh my, Snow, your wound isn’t even fully healed. Jumping like that is dangerous.”
Well, how can I not be startled when you’re watching like that!
Whoosh, whoosh!
Na Bom frowned deeply and pointed her front paws toward the door.
“Yes, I’m leaving now.”
Anna’s shoulders drooped as she turned away.
“The way Snow curls up into a little ball while doing her business is probably adorable…….”
Anna murmured incomprehensibly as she left the room.
With the door closed, Na Bom could finally relax and concentrate.

***

After emptying the grass that had been weighing heavily in her belly, her swollen body returned to normal.
Na Bom resolved firmly as relief washed over her.
From now on, moderation. I’ll eat only enough to survive.
But sadly, this room was a place where temptation visited every single day.
“For a rabbit, surely Hay is best. Snow, here’s some Hay!”
“What are you saying? Of course it’s Carrot Leaves. Come now, Snow, try these.”
Two men came by again today and offered her greens from beyond the Bed rail.
Her small nose twitched as she moved toward the leaves. Unable to resist the fragrant grass scent, Na Bom snatched up both the Hay and Carrot Leaves at once.
Crispy and crunchy sensations danced across her tongue.
As Na Bom’s chubby cheeks puffed up to the sky, the faces of both men watching the small rabbit brightened.
“Snow, there’s more!”
“Here, there’s plenty more!”
The burly men offered more greens with nasal whimpering sounds. But Na Bom showed no response. Soon her shoulders sagged.
‘I’ve fallen to temptation again.’
Typical of a count’s household—even the greens were of the finest quality.
Whether they planned to eat her themselves once fattened or send her to the imperial court, one thing was certain: Theodore’s plan was working perfectly.
“Hmm. You were eating so delightfully—why have you suddenly stopped?”
“These days, Snow’s appetite seems a bit off.”
“Really? Is she otherwise healthy?”
“Yes. She still eats a reasonable amount every day, so it’s fine.”
“And her hind legs? Are they improving?”
“They’re getting better each day, so don’t worry.”
The two men patted their chests at Anna’s answer.
“Well. Snow is certainly brave. See here? She even left a wound on my arm with her front paws.”
The Captain held out his muscular forearm to show them. It was barely more than a scrape—you had to squint to even see it.
“Is that worth boasting about? When Snow fully recovers, she’ll surely leave you a much bigger wound!”
“What?”
“Honestly, the next victim is most likely to be me, wouldn’t you say? As you know, I’m Snow’s direct maidservant.”
“Anna, don’t talk like that!”
“In any case, what’s certain is that nothing like that day must happen again.”
At the word “that day,” uttered briefly by Anna, all three people’s expressions darkened instantly.
“The Grizzly Countess Household has only burly Beast-form Humanoids like us.”
“Right. Snow is a herbivore and so small. We were ignorant and lacked consideration.”
After the incident in which Na Bom fled the Great Hall in terror, a stern decree came down from the lord of the Grizzly household.
When visiting the Arctic rabbit, no more than two people at a time. Never meet her in unfamiliar surroundings. If you wish to see her, go directly to the rabbit’s own room.
And never call her an Emergency Food Supply again.
The lord’s tender hobby—bringing injured animals to nurse them back to health before releasing them—those warm intentions had inspired the term, but if it caused Snow any distress, it had to stop.
“It was the first time we’d been invited to a meal like that, so we were probably just too excited.”
“It means Snow is a very special person to everyone.”
“Yes. That’s why we must care for her well.”
As Anna looked at Na Bom with gentle eyes, the two men also gazed at her quietly. Soon they waved their hands in farewell and turned to leave.
But Na Bom continued grooming herself without so much as glancing back.
Fine. I’m special, sure. Whatever you say.
If you’re delusional about me bearing the Spring Power, then naturally you’d feel that way!
“Snow.”
At Anna’s gentle voice, Na Bom slowly turned around.
“Everyone at Grizzly Castle wants to meet you.”
Na Bom looked at Anna with a sullen expression, tilting her head. There’s supposed to be an explanation, isn’t there? Why would they want to see me?
“Because Snow is so ador…….”
Anna’s face lit up with remarkable brightness. There was no doubt she was about to say something wonderful that would give Na Bom hope.
But right then.
Knock knock—a knock sounded, followed by a booming voice.
“Snow! I came to see you!”
Na Bom brought her front paws down hard on the Bed.
Protect the rabbit’s right to peace and quiet!

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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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