The Baby Bear of the Black Fox Mansion - Chapter 44

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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 44
When my words were relayed through the child’s mouth and twisted into an entirely different meaning, Nox Noctis’s expression flickered with embarrassment as he hastily waved his hand.
[No, that’s not it.]
He shook his head urgently.
[I mean, this child should still be growing up in the shadow of Bernier, learning this and that from Bern. That way he’ll grow quickly and be able to solve problems for either household. Time is short. But it’s not so short that I can’t wait for him to grow. Do you understand?]
As the words poured out rapid-fire and unbroken, the light drained from Miel’s eyes.
Miel simply nodded his head reflexively.
“Huh?”
Nox Noctis’s words tumbled through Miel’s mind in a tangle.
Bernier, shadow, child, grow fast, solve problems, time is short.
The words that had been spinning in circles through Miel’s head scattered and evaporated the moment he parted his lips.
“Um, no time…… .”
What remained was only one phrase that had lodged in his ear at the very end.
“What? But this kid’s only five years old……!”
Zeros Nordic leaped up as if it were his own concern.
[Ah…… .]
Nox Noctis pressed his fingers to his forehead, realizing hardly a word of what he’d said had gotten through.
Firing words at a five-year-old like a machine gun and expecting him to understand was indeed pushing it.
Especially a child of the Bear Clan, whose development was already slow.
And the Bear Clan had always been creatures inclined more toward brute strength than intellect.
[Little one.]
He bent at the waist slightly, bringing himself to eye level with the child nestled in Zeros’s arms.
“Yeah.”
Miel nodded his head.
[Will you relay what I’m saying exactly as I say it?]
With his lip pushed out petulantly, Miel tilted his head and spoke with clear displeasure.
“I guess so…… .”
Then he paused and broke into a small smile.
[There was an error in the message relay.]
Nox Noctis said only that much.
Then he gave a knowing look. Miel nodded his head.
“There was an error in the message relay.”
Zeros’s eyes widened slightly.
[The urgent matter isn’t on this side.]
He patted Miel’s head approvingly and added his words again.
“The urgent matter isn’t on this side.”
[Exactly.]
[First, meet Bern Bernier.]
At Nox Noctis’s words, Miel quickly opened his mouth.
“First, meet Bern Bernier.”
“Bern Bernier, you say…….”
“The name of the first head of House Bernier. Didn’t you study history?”
Valen Noctis rebuked Zeros. Zeros Nordic frowned and rubbed the back of his neck.
“What’s the use of studying such tedious things? It’s not like it’s useful for anything.”
Zeros replied carelessly while patting Miel’s back.
Miel, who had been staring blankly at the lip protruding from his face, suddenly pushed it back in with the heel of his hand—smack!
Zeros let out a small laugh.
“But how are we supposed to meet someone who’s already dead?”
“He might exist in a form similar to the first head of House Noctis.”
“Ah, a ghost.”
Zeros Nordic shuddered.
He’d never truly believed ghosts existed in this world, but finding out they did was unsettling nonetheless.
“Bern Bernier would be…… in the Bernier Territory, wouldn’t he?”
“I suppose so.”
Zeros Nordic’s brow darkened. He really didn’t like the idea.
“I’m sorry, but our little panda has been mistreated, so I can’t send him back there.”
He waved his hand dismissively at empty air. Nox Noctis’s brow furrowed.
[Mistreated…? So you still haven’t met Bern?]
Miel nodded his head.
Miel did not know who this person called Bern Bernier was. Naturally, he had never seen anyone with such a name before.
‘This is awkward. He’s not the type to sit still.’
A brief silence fell.
‘I’ll think about it myself, so go on home for today. It’s best we meet again after you’ve undergone your Awakening.’
At his conclusion, Miel blinked.
Creak—
Nox Noctis gestured lightly, and the door swung open. It was close to a command for them to leave.
Valen Noctis sensed this easily enough and took a step back.
“Well then… shall we head out?”
“And just like that, we’re leaving?”
“The door’s open. Seems like he’s telling us we can’t stay any longer.”
Nox Noctis smiled with satisfaction.
‘Go well, little bear.’
Miel gave a small bow.
“Yes, farewell to you.”
He chuckled softly and nodded.
Thud.
The three departed, and the door closed behind them.
Flicker-flicker.
The light extinguished, and in the gathering darkness, only silence remained. He slowly extended his hand toward the Stone Pillars positioned around the Tomb.
Dim-pulse. Dim-pulse.
The Stone Pillars flickered weakly, as though straining to squeeze out what little power remained.
‘This needs to hold on a while longer. What on earth are the others doing to have let the balance crumble like this?’
Nox Noctis exhaled heavily.
* * *
The three emerged into torrential sunlight and squinted against the glare.
“Oof…”
Hearing Miel whimper at the brightness, Zeros covered the child’s eyes with his large hand.
“All right?”
“Mmhm…”
Miel, eyes shielded, nodded.
After some time had passed, Miel found it uncomfortable and pulled Zeros’s large hand down with both of his own.
Zeros readily withdrew his hand.
“Shall we leave now?”
“…Yes, we should. But let’s stop by one place first before we go.”
Valen Noctis walked between the tombs and came to an abrupt halt at a particular spot.
It was someone’s grave.
Three tombs lay side by side. Miel tilted his head in curiosity.
“Whose are these?”
“My family, child.”
Miel looked up at the gravestones and froze.
‘That spiky grandfather I saw in that dream before.’
Three gravestones.
The stone in the center bore the image of that spiky grandfather, and before the gravestone to its left lay some withered flowers, and above them was the gentle face of a middle-aged woman.
‘If they’re family… the grandfather’s mother and father?’
And the third gravestone…
‘No one there.’
Miel’s already round eyes grew even rounder.
Valen Noctis drew a long breath.
“Little bear, is my family here too?”
“…”
Miel, whose eyes had been blinking, met the gaze of the middle-aged woman.
When she smiled gently, Miel hesitated, then gave a small nod.
“Yes.”
“…Then, there. Perhaps…”
Valen Noctis’s words trailed off.
He couldn’t bring himself to continue and slowly closed his mouth.
“No, never mind. Let’s go. I forgot to bring flowers. I’ll have to bring some next time I visit the graves.”
In the moment Valen Noctis turned away, changing the subject abruptly—
Miel, gazing steadily at his receding back and the writhing black mass beside him, opened his mouth.
“No one there.”
Thud.
“Grandfather, my brother isn’t here.”
Valen Noctis froze in place.

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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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