The Baby Bear of the Black Fox Mansion - Chapter 42

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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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Chapter 42
He let out a sigh.
“So why did you bring the child along? Tell me now.”
“The Boundary.”
“The Boundary?”
“You’re aware there’s a Boundary surrounding this world. You received Successor Education too.”
Zerous stood with his arms crossed, his brow furrowing as he nodded.
“Well…”
“It seems a crack has formed. That’s why, long ago, when the Emperor had just ascended to the throne, he made a prophecy that a Child of the Boundary would be born before long.”
At Valen Noctis’s words, Zerous nodded uncertainly. He was hearing this for the first time himself.
“What’s a Child of the Boundary?”
“A being that can seal the crack.”
“You’re saying that little bear cub is that being?”
“Who knows. According to the Forbidden Book that only the Emperor can read… that being is described like this.”
Valen Noctis continued speaking.
“A resolver belonging to neither side, one who touches the Spirit Realm and hears the stories of those within it.”
“A resolver…?”
“Before such a being, all lies lose their meaning. Because they see everything.”
Zerous’s face twisted as he listened quietly.
“What kind of cornball setting is that—the sort of drivel you’d write in a teenage novel? Honestly. How’s a tiny pipsqueak like that supposed to resolve anything? The most we can hope for is she doesn’t get lured into a trap by honey on the road and kidnapped.”
“Zerous Nordik.”
Valen Noctis rose from his seat, clasping his hands behind his back as he gazed through the window at the moonlit night.
“What.”
“A child doesn’t remain a child forever. Eventually, they grow.”
“There’s no need for her to grow up so soon.”
“That’s exactly why adults are necessary.”
Valen Noctis placed his hand on the forehead of the child sleeping soundly on the bed, then stopped short.
There was a very fine crack running across the stone on her forehead. Valen Noctis narrowed his eyes and opened his mouth.
“This child belongs to House of Berneau. It’s fitting that they should care for her.”
“But that’s exactly why she ran away from there herself—because they weren’t caring for her. What good will sending her back do?”
“They didn’t understand the child’s worth. Urss probably had little interest in family matters anyway.”
Valen Noctis, referring to the current Duke of House of Berneau, Urss Berneau, quite casually, looked at Zerous.
“That. Is. Pre. Cisely.”
Zerous Nordik furrowed his brow.
“How could you entrust the child to people who’d change their attitude once they realize her worth, sir?”
A sharp gaze was directed at him.
“If they’d built a proper family foundation from the start, when it was revealed that the child was special, then at least they could reap what they’d sown. But if they only gather her in once they know the reward is coming—what’s the point?”
“That’s unusually protective of you.”
“Well… the kid looks so gentle and trusting, it’s hard not to get attached.”
“…Even so, there’s no reason for you and me to squabble over this.”
As the conversation threatened to grow longer, Valen Noctis cut it short.
“Let’s get some rest.”
He snuffed out the softly glowing candle and lay down to Miel’s right.
The bed was spacious enough that two adults and one child could sleep comfortably, with room for another person besides.
‘I suppose he was thinking of it as grandfather, father, and granddaughter.’
Though he wasn’t thrilled about it, the eldest among them had already approved, so there wasn’t much he could say.
Zerous, too, finished the bottle and lay down.
* * *
“This is…”
“You’ve never seen little panda here before, right? This is…”
“The Tomb! Right?”
He paused.
Zerous glanced at Miel, whom he was carrying in his arms.
Halfway up the mountain, in a sunny spot where the light fell brightly, tombstones were planted at regular intervals.
“…It’s not a place the little one should know about, but you picked it up somehow.”
“There’s one in front of Miel’s house too, so I know.”
“…What?”
Zerous’s face darkened sharply.
The child’s living situation suddenly became clear, and words failed him.
A young child living near tombs—that could only mean she hadn’t even lived in the main residence.
Their expressions hardened.
But they couldn’t afford to show it openly to a child who was already finding something suspicious about all this.
“Those worthless, good-for-nothing bastards…….”
Of course, that didn’t mean Zerous could hold back the curses bubbling up in his throat.
A low growl escaped from deep in his chest.
Every time he heard what the child had endured, something hot and terrible kindled inside him.
Miel drew a sharp breath.
‘Swarming…… swarming everywhere.’
It truly was swarming.
‘More spirits…… so many of them.’
The gravestones and tombs were crowded with translucent figures passing the time in boredom.
There were foxes, people with fox ears, and people without them.
At least it wasn’t night, and Miel wasn’t alone, so it wasn’t quite as terrifying.
Still, with nowhere safe to look, Miel glanced downward.
“We’re not staying here. We’re going deeper inside.”
Valen Noctis strode between the tombs with long steps. Zerous followed at his heels.
Among the countless graves stood one that was monstrously large.
Compared to the other mounds, it was enormous.
‘I think a hundred Miels could fit inside it……!’
And this massive tomb even had an entrance. Miel’s mouth fell open at the sight of the stone doorway.
Valen Noctis raised a finger lightly, and whoosh—! flames kindled into being.
They were gray flames drifting lazily through the air.
“Fox Fire.”
“Fox Fire?”
“Only foxes can use it.”
The Fox Fire rapidly heated the stone door at the entrance, and it creaked open with a heavy sound.
Grind, grind, grind—
As the three of them stepped inside the tomb, the surroundings grew dim.
[Oh, who’s this?]
Grind.
The moment the tomb door closed behind them, a voice echoed from above, and Miel’s head snapped up reflexively.
Their eyes met.
Spin.
A man with long, flowing hair hung upside down in mid-air.
[Ha ha, has it really been that long? The little bear’s come to visit.]
Right in front of them.
“Ahhhhhhh!”
The brave little bear Miel let out a shriek, his face drained of all color.
[Huh? Why, why are you screaming……?]
The figure in the darkness, eyes gleaming, jumped back in surprise.
“Why? Why, little one. Is it too dark? Sir, could you light something? The child’s going into shock.”
Zerous patted Miel’s back reassuringly, murmuring that everything was fine.
Whoosh—!
The braziers inside the tomb began to ignite one after another. Zerous hesitated.
“Uh, isn’t gray fire a bit much?”
It was brighter now, but the pale glow made the interior barely distinguishable.
“……Fox Fire always matches the color of the fur.”
“Even so, I’d have brought a torch if I’d known it would be like this. Heavens, the poor child’s turned to stone from fright.”
Zerous continued patting Miel’s back.
But Miel was genuinely shocked. The man’s hair was extraordinarily long, trailing all the way to the floor.
‘My heart’s pounding so hard…….’
Miel shuddered.
Anyone would be startled if a person suddenly appeared hanging upside down in mid-air with hair stretched long beneath them—there was no way to avoid it.
[Ah. Did I appear too suddenly? Is that why you got scared?]
Whoooosh—!
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.
The flames in the braziers shrank sharply, then the color of the fire shifted and began burning brightly again.
“……?!”
“Oh, well. You can change it, can’t you.”
“I didn’t change it.”
“……?”
At Valen Noctis’s words, Zerous’s eyes moved slowly across the chamber. A single coffin sat solitary in the center.
Four stone pillars rose like small towers at the cardinal points of the tomb.
That was all. Nothing else. No one here.
Or rather — not a soul, not even a rat.
Zerous swallowed hard.
“……Then who?”

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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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