Star Child's Parenting Diary - Chapter 36

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

Episode 36
Chapter 7. If You Wish Hard Enough (5)
The fever that wouldn’t subside even under the Headmaster’s Bitter Medicine, and the Ether that raged so savagely.
Bel called for Shusu and asked her to look after her brother’s condition, and it was then that Shusu first told her of a small seed’s existence.
A Wish-Granting Flower that bloomed brilliantly only beneath the Moonlight.
Only the Star Clan could make this flower bloom, or so she said.
‘The flower won’t open because there’s no moon.’
Then wouldn’t it work if she made the moon appear again?
She’d been told that the moon only appeared when it was dark.
“Darkness.”
Night sky would come if she called for it.
Bel rolled away and freed herself from Aspe’s arms.
“It’s too much to wish for anything more right here, miss. You need to rest, you do.”
“No.”
I won’t rest.
Aspe stood helplessly before Bel, who stubbornly refused to yield.
“Moon.”
I need the moon.
For the moon’s light to shine, there must be darkness.
Bel’s prayer had changed.
“Darkness.”
Please let the Moonlight shine clearly again.
* * *
I need you now.
The small call swelled in clarity, expanding steadily.
Help me.
I need your help.
The black mist that had been rippling began to spread gradually outward.
That current soon became as steady as a great river, churning into an enormous whirlpool.
Bring the Moonlight for me.
The flow of black mist came to an abrupt halt.
Then, within it, crimson eyes flickered to life.
[I’ll come now.]
The rapidly rotating whirlpool vanished in an instant.
Where it had disappeared was surrounded only by quiet, pallid silence.
* * *
The color drained from Aspe’s face as he watched the murky black mist roll toward them.
‘This is the Calamity……!’
The nightmare from three years ago played automatically in his mind.
“Miss!”
He rushed to embrace Bel, hastily tucking her inside his clothing.
It was an effort to protect Bel from the Calamity that had come rushing down.
But Bel herself refused that protection.
“It’s dangerous! We must return to the Orphanage!”
“No!”
No, it’s all right!
The moon will rise when there’s darkness!
Bel tore free from Aspe’s embrace with stubborn determination and stood confidently before the Sprout Bed.
Then she stretched her small fingers wide and pointed up at the sky.
“Moon!”
Black matter spread like mist across the world, staining the bright blue daylight sky completely black.
And in its center, a great moon rose up, round and full.
“Darkness! Moon!”
But Aspe screamed as if he couldn’t see that moon at all.
“Miss! Behind you, no, noooo! This can’t be!”
“Huh?”
Aspe’s form, tearing at his own hair and reaching out toward Bel, was engulfed by the black matter and vanished.
“Aspe.”
Bel tried to search for Aspe within the black mist.
“Aspe. Are you there?”
But Aspe was nowhere to be seen.
Worse, the black substance now writhed as though reaching to swallow her as well.
Billowing tendrils gathered around Bel’s hands.
“Hee.”
Bel wiggled her fingers, trying to touch the black material.
It felt exactly like touching the clouds in the night sky.
Then it happened.
[You called for me?]
Bel turned at the voice, and someone was standing there.
A boy emerged slowly from the darkness, his head peeking out cautiously.
[Right?]
“Mmm?”
[You called for me?]
Rather than answer, Bel studied the boy carefully.
He was as tall as the older brother at the Orphanage.
His hair was jet-black, covering his brows entirely, and his eyes were dark as pitch.
Within those night-sky eyes, a faint red glimmer reflected back at her.
They sparkled like precious gems.
Indeed, his entire body clung with black clouds so thickly that she could not even distinguish the separate parts of his form.
Yet there was one reason he frightened her not at all.
“…Star?”
At Bel’s question, the boy’s eyes widened slightly.
[A star, you say?]
“Mm-hmm.”
[No. I’m not a star.]
The boy frowned sharply and shook his head.
Hearing that answer, Bel fell silent in thought for a moment.
“Hmm.”
Then, behind the boy, she glimpsed an enormous white moon hanging in the sky.
And the one who had made that moon appear was surely…
“Dark?”
Bel cupped her hands together and made a gesture of scooping up the black substance.
“Dark.”
[…Yes, that’s always with me.]
This time the boy too found himself agreeing with Bel’s assessment.
[Then am I darkness?]
“Mm-hmm.”
Perhaps that was it.
Bel nodded in that sense.
Then the boy, who had been silent for a moment, murmured softly.
[…Useless then.]
“No.”
Bel quickly denied his words and pointed to the moon in the sky.
“Moon!”
[Yes. The moon.]
“Moon. Dark. See?”
The moon only appears because it’s dark. Like this.
“No bad. Words. Not right.”
So you’re not useless.
Don’t say bad things.
“Hurt.”
It hurts my heart.
The boy’s eyes widened further, as if he had somehow grasped Bel’s meaning.
The two children’s gazes began to intertwine slowly in the darkness.
In Bel’s eyes, which gleamed white as they caught the moonlight, the boy’s form was gradually etched, as if in resonance.
The same was true on the other side.
Bel’s pale figure, shining brilliantly in the moonlight, was engraved in his dark eyes.
Vividly and distinctly.
[So you were the one who called me.]
“Mm-hmm.”
[Moonlight is needed to make the flower bloom.]
“Coo.”
Bell pointed at the grass swaying beneath the moonlight.
Buds were forming in little clusters along the stems.
“There, Little One.”
I made a wish. For the flower to bloom.
Bell extended her hand to the boy.
But the boy hesitated.
[You shouldn’t touch me. Probably.]
“Huh?”
[The truth is, I don’t really know either.]
The boy’s shoulders began to tremble as he shook his head.
He twisted his face in anguish, cradling his own head in his hands.
[I don’t even know who I am. I just heard your voice. You made a wish, didn’t you? Since the moon’s essence needs to dwell in it, I thought darkness would be necessary. That’s why I came—and found you here.]
“Mm-mm…….”
What is he saying?
Bell’s eyes darted about in confusion, unable to grasp the boy’s meaning.
[You called me.]
The boy was crying now.
His black eyes and expressionless face grew wet with tears.
[Who are you? Who am I?]
“Ah, I’m a baby star!”
I’m a little star!
“Star.”
You’re a star.
Bell pointed to herself and the boy in turn.
[Me… a star?]
“Yes.”
That’s what I see.
At Bell’s certainty, the boy’s tears ceased.
Bell offered her hand again, and the boy gazed at it for a moment before carefully taking hold.
“Little One.”
Gripping the boy’s hand firmly, Bell approached the Sprout Bed and crouched down.
The boy did the same.
Bell brought both of his hands down to the soil near the sprouted grass.
“Moon Lady, Little One. Coo.”
[How should I make my wish?]
“Dear Moon.”
Bell made her wish to the moon with earnest yearning.
The boy, who had been watching her solemn face intently, soon closed his eyes and followed her lead.
[I’ll wish for your wish to come true.]
As the boy’s wish took hold, darkness rippled outward.
Deeper and deeper, as if ready to swallow everything whole.
As if only the two of them remained in this world.
Yet still the moon hung pale and clear above, and its light descended untouched upon Bell’s seedlings.
The tightly bound buds began to unfurl gently.
[So, even if your wish comes true, promise you’ll call me again.]
Inside the opening buds, petals of pure white stretched delicately awake.
Bathed entirely in moonlight, the flower gleamed with a soft radiance—as if it were a star itself.
The unfurling petals were so fresh they seemed ready to ascend to the heavens at any moment, and the reflected white light held more mystery than any hidden treasure.
Bell, who had been making her wish with eyes pressed shut, cracked open one eye.
“Coo!”
It bloomed!
At last, the Wish-Granting Flower had blossomed.
“Yay!”
Bell threw both hands up in the air and bounced with joy.
‘This is wonderful!’
“Dear Moon!”
Setia will be all better now!
“Star, thank you.”
Thank you for helping me.
Belle held the boy close, pouring all her sincerity into the embrace.
[You’ll come find me again, won’t you?]
“Yes.”
[Promise?]
“Yes!”
At the boy’s question, Belle readily extended her pinky finger.
She sealed the promise with their linked pinkies, shaking them up and down solemnly, and broke into a radiant smile.
“Bye-bye!”
See you next time.
The boy gazed at Belle’s face as if committing it to memory, then his lips curved upward in the faintest of smiles.
[Will you tell me who I am next time?]
“Huh?”
[I want to know. Your name and mine.]
The darkness began to recede.
The bright moonlight grew pale.
The boy’s form too grew hazy like mist, dissolving into the air itself.
“Bye-bye.”
[I’ll come back.]
“Yes.”

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