The Baby Bear of the Black Fox Mansion - Chapter 32

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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 32
“SHRIEEEEK!!”
Miel, who had been wound tight as a spring, jolted at that thunderous cry and bolted from the cave, dragging Lisar by the hand.
“Miel?!”
“AAAAHHHHH!!”
Lisar scrambled after her, half being pulled along as she wailed.
[Wait—and I’m suddenly losing strength…….]
The form of Dril, who had been following the two out of the cave, began to fade.
Soon he dissolved into a wisp of light and seeped into the Heart that Miel was holding.
* * *
Several hours before that moment.
Noctis Family Estate.
“……The children have vanished, you say?”
“Yes, my apologies. The two of them are usually so occupied with their own affairs that I didn’t think to seek them out, but when I went to inquire about this evening’s supper menu, neither appeared. When I searched, I found……this.”
Jerpeon took the paper the maid offered.
It was a letter written on torn notepaper. After reading its brief contents, his face darkened.
<There’s something I need to look into, so Miel and I are stepping out for a bit! It’s supposed to be in the mountains beyond the Rear Mountain. We’ll be back before supper!>
Crunch.
Jerpeon instinctively crumpled the letter and rose abruptly from his seat.
“Dispatch the soldiers at once!”
He dressed quickly and headed straight to Miel’s room.
Lisar usually kept close to Miel’s quarters, after all.
‘Is there anything else left behind.’
After checking Miel’s room and making another pass through Lisar’s, he swept his hair back roughly.
He’d sent out the soldiers, but it seemed he’d need to search in person.
‘……Beyond that Rear Mountain.’
The territory beyond that mountain had a cooler climate than the gentle southern weather, and it was where the Wolf Tribe made their home—so wild wolves prowled the area in considerable numbers.
The wolves had long ago settled there because they preyed on foxes, and their presence had since become entrenched.
That was why wolves and foxes were never on good terms.
He strode out swiftly, crossing the corridor toward the entrance.
“Jerpeon, what’s all this commotion?”
……
It was Valen.
He must have seen the soldiers hurrying out in the dead of night.
“Huh? What’s this about. Everyone heading out for a meal?”
Zeros asked, scratching his tousled hair and ambling over with lazy, dissolute steps.
“Tsk.”
Jerpeon clicked his tongue.
“Hey now, you can’t just do that to someone’s face…….”
Zeros frowned in displeasure and came to stand beside Jerpeon.
“So what’s the matter?”
“The children are missing.”
“Children? Who? Don’t tell me it’s the baby panda?!”
“Both of them.”
Jerpeon flicked the letter he’d been holding toward Zeros.
He read it and his expression soured.
“Mountains beyond the Rear Mountain? There’s a place like that?”
“The Mountain Range extends further. There are other peaks beyond the gorge.”
Jerpeon spoke without bothering to hide his exasperation.
“However, that region is Wolf Tribe territory. Their main settlement lies further up, requiring passage through another range, but you’ll encounter a good many wild wolves just crossing the first.”
“……Will they be alright?”
“Do you think they will be?”
He clicked his tongue and brushed past the two men.
“I’m going to search as well.”
“I’m coming too.”
“You should rest, sir. What could you manage at your age?”
Zeros said with a chuckle.
Valen ignored him and headed out of the estate.
“That won’t be necessary.”
He paused.
At Jerpeon’s icy voice, Valen of the Noctis Family turned slightly backward.
“Whether my child lives or dies hardly matters to you, does it? After all, he’s a black fox—something you despise.”
…….
“I know exactly what you’d do with this opportunity. I know you’d kill my son—” He choked. “Ugh.”
Thud!
At the heavy blow, Jerpeon’s head snapped forward violently.
The servants hurrying frantically through the crisis froze in place. Not a single breath could be heard.
He’d been struck hard across the back of the head.
“……Do you want to die?”
“Jerpeon, we’re short-handed enough as it is. Stop being so stubborn—you’re not a child.”
“What are you—!”
“I don’t know much about your family affairs.”
Zeros Nordic rubbed the back of his head and spoke flatly.
“But while you two are squabbling like this, what happens if something goes wrong with the children? Your wife is recovering in bed, and if she hears the news, she’ll throw a fit demanding to go find your son. Then what?”
Flinch.
The fierce gleam in Jerpeon’s eyes subsided in an instant.
“You always lose your head the moment I’m involved. Is fighting with me really what’s urgent right now?”
…….
Jerpeon’s face twisted sharply before he finally clamped his mouth shut.
He acknowledged his own lack of composure. With a frustrated sweep of his hand across his face, Jerpeon turned away.
Then he walked past both of them, pretending not to see.
Whoosh!
Beneath the night sky, seven lustrous black tails unfurled.
His ears pricked up sharply.
“Well, well, what’s this? You’ve grown two more tails.”
Jerpeon glanced at Zeros Nordic, then vanished in a swirl of black flame in the blink of an eye.
Watching the black fire recede rapidly, Zeros Nordic shrugged.
“Hot-tempered as always. Will you be going, sir?”
“A foolish question.”
“Come on. A simple word about worrying for your grandson wouldn’t hurt, would it?”
Behind Valen of the Noctis Family, five silver-gray fox tails and ears appeared.
He too vanished in fox fire, just as Jerpeon had.
The two trails of fox fire soared into the distance and accelerated rapidly.
‘Seven tails……’
Among the fox folk, as magical power accumulated and mystical arts grew stronger, the number of tails increased.
According to legend, there was talk that a being with nine tails in total ruled over all fox folk.
“Though apparently none existed save the first Family Head.”
He performed a light stretch.
“Tch, I envy those who can use mystical arts.”
Crack, crackle.
“Some of us have to run on four legs ourselves.”
His chest swelled greatly, and then with a soft boom, the man transformed into a massive four-legged beast the size of a building.
A low growl rumbled forth.
The enormous snow leopard stamped the ground with a thunderous impact.
In the next instant, the snow leopard was gone.
With a single bound, it had already vanished into the distance.
* * *
“Hic, hic.”
After running for some time through rough mountain paths, Miel finally stopped, breathing hard and sniffling.
From colliding with things along the way, her cheeks bore scratches and her clothes were in tatters.
“Miel, are you all right?”
Lisar looked at her with concern and gently rubbed her cheek.
Miel gave a small nod and glanced around. Fortunately, there were no more phantom-like creatures.
But all around them, it was pitch black.
“Why did you run so hard?”
“……There were so many ghosts.”
“……Huh? Wh—”
A chill ran down his spine.
The belated wave of dread made Lisar’s entire body tremble.
He nodded in agreement.
“You must have been terrified. You did well.”
“Mm. But… where are we?”
“…I’m not sure.”
Lisar answered while swallowing a sigh. Miel had bolted so wildly that they’d completely lost their bearings.
On top of that, they seemed to have ventured deeper into the mountains than he’d expected.
“For now, let’s get out of here as quickly as we can.”
“Mm.”
Sniff-sniff.
Miel’s nostrils flared as she caught a scent.
“This way.”
Following the faint trace of her own scent, Miel pointed in a direction.
“Oh? You picked up a trail?”
“Mm. If I smell it, I can find my way back.”
Miel announced this with unmistakable pride.
“…Ah, I see.”
He’d heard before that bears possessed extraordinarily keen noses.
“Then let’s go. This time, don’t run off on your own. If you spot a phantom, tell me right away. We have to stay together.”
“…Mm.”
Miel gave a small nod.
Pad-pad-pad.
The two children walked along the mountain path, hands clasped tight. They walked and walked and kept walking.
Yet even after covering the distance they’d run, they hadn’t arrived anywhere.
“…Miel, I think we’re going in circles.”
“Huh?”
Miel blinked.
Tilt.
She tilted her head.
She was following the scent’s direction, so why wasn’t it working?

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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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