I Became the Emergency Food Supply of the Bear Family - Chapter 80

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

Chapter 80

She had never heard a story like this before.
Even during all this time together, she had been too cautious to ask.
Did it matter that their blood wasn’t connected? Were they still a family anyway?
It was a single sentence that melted away such anxiety, yet Ber could find no joy in the terror flooding Perdi’s eyes.
“I only learned today. That you healed Mother’s curse, Ber. It’s such an incredible debt, one I could never repay even if I offered everything I have—and yet… I resented you for it.”
……
“The Power of Eostre, of all things—why did such a dangerous force have to settle into you? I wish it had been someone else. If someone other than you were the Divine Incarnation, I wouldn’t be this afraid.”
Perdi, his voice half-strangled, looked toward Louie with wavering eyes.
“Louie, can I do this? Can I protect Ber going forward? Can I avoid losing her this time?”
Crack—Perdi had seized Louie’s arm with sudden strength.
Louie, watching his trembling grip, soon let out a soft laugh.
“I think I’m beginning to understand you a little better, older brother.”
At those cryptic words, Perdi’s head snapped up just as Louie pulled him into a sudden embrace.
“Wh—what are you doing? Don’t be gross and surprise me like that!”
“Don’t push me away. Whenever I thrash about, you calm me down like this, don’t you?”
“That was ages ago.”
“Just listen like this, then. I’ll tell you what your real problem is.”
……Your problem?
Curiosity began to color Perdi’s voice, and Louie answered.
“That’s right. Trying to carry everything alone. That’s your biggest problem.”
……
“I’m here. Father and Mother. Pallas and Anna, Demirun, Nook, Olsen, Alexei, and even Heinz—we’re all here together. We’re all going to protect her with our combined strength.”
At Louie’s bright words, Perdi’s golden eyes, wavering with anxiety, slowly stilled.
Right. Why had he forgotten?
“Do you understand? It’s not just you who can protect Ber.”
What he wanted to protect as ‘Grizzly’ was not Ber alone.
Grizzly was formed by each and every one of them coming together as family, and so the desire to protect Ber belonged not to him alone, but to every member of that family.
“……You’re making sense for once.”
“Huh? Ow! Don’t push so suddenly!”
“Ber’s waiting. We should go.”
After pushing Louie away with all his strength, Perdi set off toward the castle without hesitation.
“We can’t starve our youngest, can we?”
Perdi, having returned to his usual expression, smiled wryly.

***

“You’re awake. Are you alright?”
The first thing Ber saw upon opening her eyes was the face of the School Nurse.
“This is……?”
She had been on the grass just moments ago—had Louie carried her to the Infirmary? As Ber looked around to make sense of things, the School Nurse began to explain.
“There was an accident during Magic Training where the Auditorium ceiling collapsed. You seemed to panic thinking Grizzly—I mean, your brother had been hurt, and fainted. There’s nothing wrong with your body, so don’t worry.”
“P-Perdi… How is my brother?”
“I’m right here.”
A voice came from the right, and when she turned, Perdi was lying on a bed beside hers.
“A-Are you okay now?”
“I’m fine, so you stay lying down. Getting up suddenly makes you dizzy.”
“Who’s worrying about whom right now?”
“He’s right. Just rest.”
This time Louie’s voice came from the left. When she turned, Louie stood beside her bed with Kaien.
The moment Ber and Kaien’s eyes met awkwardly, the School Nurse spoke up.
“It was a serious accident, but fortunately no one suffered major injuries. I’ve treated the worst of the abrasions, and the rest are minor enough to heal on their own with just medication. I’ll head to the Auditorium now—there may be other injured students. You all rest a while longer here.”
After briefly explaining Perdi’s condition, the School Nurse hurried out of the Infirmary.
Looking around, Ber was relieved to find no one else there. She posed her question at once.
“Severe abrasions? What do you mean? Your shoulder wound was completely healed, wasn’t it?”
“The ceiling fell, so if I hadn’t been hurt at all it would’ve been strange. I pulled my hands away before the healing was complete so it would look believable. That’s why some of the wound remained.”
“I… see.”
Only then did Ber’s shoulders relax, and Louie continued the explanation.
“Magic Training’s been cancelled. They’ve put up a strong Barrier so the Auditorium won’t collapse further, but everything’s still in chaos.”
“Enya and Sylva—they weren’t hurt, were they?”
“They’re safe.”
At that quiet voice, Ber turned in surprise as Kaien answered with a slight smile.
“I checked on them myself.”
“Ah……”
Ber shifted slowly to sit up, leaning against the bed’s headrest as she bowed her head toward Kaien.
“Thank you so much. For looking after Enya and Sylva, and for helping us. Without you, things would have gotten much worse.”
Ber spoke her gratitude somewhat stiffly but with genuine politeness, and Kaien looked quite—rather, extraordinarily pleased.
“I’m the grateful one. I’m just happy I could help.”
“Ber.”
Then Perdi, who had been watching the two of them, called out to her.
“What you said on the day of the sword competition—that was a lie, wasn’t it?”
……
“Explain. What’s your relationship with him?”
She knew from the looks both men fixed on her that Perdi and Louie had certainly pieced together a good deal of the situation.
She hadn’t expected to confess under these circumstances, but she could hide it no longer.
“The day you enrolled, I healed a Beast Person without realizing it. That Beast Person was Kaien.”
“When did you find out?”
“……A while ago.”
“Why haven’t you said anything about something so important until now?”
“I didn’t want to worry you for nothing.”
“Ah. So what you’re saying is that me worrying about you is pointless?”
“N-no, brother! Ber didn’t mean it that way—”
“Her intent doesn’t matter.”
Perdi cut off Louie’s words with resolute finality.
“It seems you still don’t understand, so let me be clear: worrying about you is not pointless. It’s the most important thing there is. Because you’re my family, Ber. Do you understand?”
At Perdi’s passionate words, Ber’s eyes widened. The glimpse she had seen of Perdi’s past returned to her mind.

“Whether our blood is connected or not doesn’t matter. You’ve been my sister for years now.”
“Can I protect her going forward? Can I avoid losing her this time?”

The trembling form of Perdi, consumed by that fear, as well.
“…… Yes. I understand. I’m sorry, Perdi.”
“Good. That’s all I needed to hear.”
As Ber readily acknowledged her fault and apologized, a smile returned to Perdi’s lips. But then—
“Kaien Nuarel.”
When Perdi turned to face him, his eyes had grown cold once more.
“I’m fully aware that it would be rude to treat a life-savior this way. But to be honest, I wish you weren’t here.”
……
“I remember perfectly. You’ve been quite curious about our Ber for some time now. Having seen what happened today, you must have some idea already. About the power she possesses.”
“W-wait, just a moment, Perdi! Why would you say such a thing—?”
There was no need to bring up the ‘power’ she possessed like that. But Perdi shook his head, silencing her.
Silence fell.
Perdi’s piercing gaze did not waver, and Kaien did not look away. He slowly nodded, then spoke an answer to the question that wasn’t quite a question.
“My lung disease, diagnosed as incurable, was cured completely in an instant. If such a thing is possible, there’s only one power that could do it. The Power of Eostre.”
At Perdi’s words, Ber’s eyes clenched shut. He had already known that……?
“As I suspected. You were already certain. Then let me ask directly: why did you save me?”
“W-wait, brother. That’s just—”
At Perdi’s merciless question, Louie’s voice rose.
No matter what, that just now was too harsh. Reacting with such speed to throw himself forward and save him—there couldn’t possibly be any other motive behind it.
But Kaien simply raised a hand gently to stop Louie.
“It’s natural to be cautious. It’s an incredible power, after all. There would be many who’d want to misuse it. So I understand you can’t easily trust me, but please let me explain.”
Kaien spoke while meeting Perdi’s gaze with clear, steady eyes.
“That day, I was saved by Ber. It’s a debt I could never repay no matter what I do. That’s why I want to help her in any way I can. That’s all.”

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