The Baby Bear of the Black Fox Mansion - Chapter 17

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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 17
“Why, why are you crying…?”
Zeros crouched down and met the child’s eyes, asking gently.
“It ta… tastes…”
“Tastes…?”
“Tastes bad… *sniff*… waaaah…”
……
Fussiness over food…?
No, of course — this wasn’t a herbivore, so it made sense that bamboo wouldn’t taste good.
“If it tastes bad…”
He licked his lips.
“Then just don’t eat it, little one. Simple as that.”
He’d been about to say it the natural way, but managed to soften his words at the last moment.
“Can’t… can’t stop…”
……
Tears as round as the child’s own face rolled down its plump cheeks, splashing down pitter-patter-pitter.
It looked so miserably sad.
He was almost ready to ask why it had to eat bamboo at all, to such a degree.
“Miel, but Miel’s a panda… *sniff*… waaahhh…”
“A panda…?”
But its ears were brown.
…A rare subspecies, maybe?
“Pandas… they eat bamboo, that’s what they said…”
“Well… that’s true enough.”
Pandas did subsist on bamboo.
That’s why those massive Panda Tribe creatures never lived in the Bear Tribe’s territory—they made their homes in that damp corner of the Southern Territory, where bamboo grew thick and endless.
‘But all those panda bastards have coal-black patches around their eyes.’
This one didn’t have that either.
“Hmm?”
And that stone embedded in its forehead…?
If there were Beastkin born with stones set in their foreheads, among all the tribes, only the Bear Tribe—specifically the Berneir—had that mark.
And Berneir were definitely not pandas.
‘Doesn’t seem to be a panda at all.’
After turning over these various thoughts, Zeros rubbed the back of his neck with one enormous hand.
“Hic… hic…”
“You might not actually be a panda, you know.”
“No… but I am… *sob*… waaahhh…”
Crunch, crunch.
Despite claiming it tasted bad, the child kept eating it with persistent, earnest effort.
“I really am a panda…”
Munch, munch.
Whimper…
The expression on its face looked like it had swallowed something foul, which rather undermined that claim.
……
“Miel… *hic*… has to go to the panda village and… *hic*… find Mama and Papa like Mama said… waaahhh…”
“…Mama and Papa?”
“*Hic*, *hic*…”
Miel nodded vigorously.
“Mama and Papa… Miel… *hic*… I think I forgot they exist… so I’m going to find them… but if I can’t eat… *hic*… what if… Miel’s dumb… waaahhh…”
No—just because you can’t eat bamboo doesn’t make you dumb.
Why does this one look so pitiful? It’s breaking my heart.
“Ah, yeah.”
He scratched his head.
“I’m searching for family too, so it looks like we little ones are in the same boat.”
At those words from the crouching man, Miel’s eyes went wide.
“Little bear cub—where are you?”
A child’s voice called out.
“Honey pastry…”
“Honey pastry…?”
What in the world was Jerpeon doing in this manor?
“Oh, a baby bear…….”
The boy who emerged from between the bamboo stalks froze the moment he saw him.
Miel, weeping pitifully.
A large man of unknown identity.
Miel, her eyes swollen from sorrow.
Miel, her eyes reddened.
Miel, her tender face trembling with tears as she gazed at him pleadingly…….
Lisar’s expression turned fierce in an instant.
Jet-black tail and ears sprang forth. His eye corners sharpened to points, and hostility radiated from every inch of his body.
“You……!”
“That’s not what happened, kid.”
Zeros let out a sigh, raised both hands to show they were empty, and stepped back slightly.
“What did you do to my bear!!”
Lisar rushed forward in a heartbeat and planted himself in front of Miel.
“Look, you understand the situation was what it was, right? But I’m telling you, that’s not it.”
“Miel, are you all right?”
“Huh?”
“Did that person do something to you?”
Miel tilted her head in confusion.
He had said Miel might not even be a panda, after all.
‘Knowing nothing about it.’
Miel pouted her lip slightly.
At that, Lisar’s expression grew even more savage.
Whoosh—!
Black Fox Fire erupted around Lisar.
Zeros took another step back.
“Kid, if you don’t tell him it wasn’t that way, how am I supposed to clear up this misunderstanding?”
Hic, hic.
Miel grabbed at the hem of Lisar’s clothes.
Miel shook her head slightly, choking back her sadness and tears.
“It’s okay…… Miel, hic. Because you said…… Miel’s a fake…….”
“What?”
A pause.
Both Lisar and Zeros froze, each for entirely different reasons.
“No, wait—that explanation doesn’t work, does it? The explanation’s all wrong, isn’t it? You’ve cut out all the context, haven’t you, kid?”
Lisar’s small, dark Fox Fire flickered menacingly around him, growing larger as it flared.
“All I said was that the panda might not be who he claims to be.”
“Who do you think you are, telling me what to do!”
“That’s right—usually arms bend inward.”
Zeros nodded slightly, his expression oddly serene.
Straining his mind to avoid crude language in front of a child had left the veins at his temples standing out prominently.
“Never mind that. Where’s your father? Jerpeon Nocti. That bastard.”
“…… Who are you.”
Lisar’s eyes grew even sharper.
Lisar gripped Miel’s hand firmly and fixed a fierce gaze on his opponent without bothering to hide it.
“Your father’s friend.”
The moment he answered with a brief sigh.
“Who says you’re my friend?”
A pause.
A voice as relaxed and gentle as could be came from behind.
Zeros’s expression turned savage.
“You summon me out here, and I don’t even get a proper welcome?”
As he turned around, a man with a far more comfortable bearing stood looking at him, his head tilted rather awkwardly.
“Long time no see, Jerry.”
“Don’t call me that. It gives me chills.”
Jerpeon retorted and strode forward, scooping Miel into his arms.
“And yes, you did call me here, but I’m afraid the matter’s settled now, so I won’t need to stay. Thank you for your time.”
“Huh……?”
Zeros’s face crumpled at once.
* * *
One week.
In just a week, the Nocti Territory had returned to its former peace.
Even the servants who had acted strangely came forward with pallid faces, saying they couldn’t remember why they’d behaved that way, and bowed their heads in apology.
Jerpeon, who had gifted Miel several bamboo stalks based on the claim that pandas must eat bamboo, gently rubbed the puffy-eyed child’s eyes with his thumb.
“Why were you crying? Little bear.”
“…Sniff.”
Miel pouted and shook her head weakly.
She couldn’t bring herself to admit the shameful truth—that though she was supposed to be a panda, she couldn’t actually eat bamboo.
‘Miel, a panda….’
She’d given up fish, and now she was supposed to eat bamboo.
“Little bear, don’t cry. Would you like some honey?”
“Honey…?”
“Yes, I found some honey. Here!”
Lisar extended a small jar and wagged his tail back and forth.
‘How cunning.’
Zeros’ eyes narrowed as he watched the young fox’s artful behavior—he’d trailed after Jerpeon into the mansion, following the sly creature.
“Next year, you’ll be able to eat honey from our own territory too.”
“Honey….”
Miel’s eyes drooped at the corners.
“Pandas don’t eat honey….”
She faltered.
Lisar’s eyes rolled about.
Then he smiled brightly, swished his tail, and opened his mouth as if it were nothing.
“No, pandas are bears too, so they eat honey.”
“…!”
Miel’s eyes went wide.
Her perked ears fluttered with delight. She looked so happy.
“Really?”
“Yes, really. You’re not going to eat it?”
“I will!”
Miel answered at once, her red eyes gleaming.
Watching the girl bounce on her feet, Jerpeon chuckled softly and set her down gently.
“Little bear, you need to eat dinner too, so you can’t have too many snacks.”
“Yes.”
Miel answered halfheartedly.
Her gaze was already fixed on the honey jar in Lisar’s hands.
Lisar tucked the jar under his arm and extended his hand.
“Let’s eat in the garden. The flowers are starting to bloom.”
“Yes!”
Miel grasped Lisar’s hand firmly.
A faint blush crept across Lisar’s cheeks.
“Um, ah. Shall we… go?”
“Yes.”
Lisar cleared his throat several times, then walked forward with Miel’s hand clasped in his.
Jerpeon watched them walk away hand in hand and smiled softly.
“Just like you were at his age. Your son. The boy hasn’t even dried the blood from his ears before he’s already fawning over girls.”
Zeros spoke with a wry expression.
Jerpeon passed by without bothering to hide his annoyance. Zeros walked leisurely alongside him.
“So, why did you suddenly call for me?”

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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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