The Baby Bear of the Black Fox Mansion - Chapter 47

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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 47
* * *
A few days before Miel’s departure.
The man who had been pacing anxiously rushed his informant the moment he heard the news he’d been waiting for.
“You found her?”
“Yes, sir. After inquiring among those who deal in forest creatures, it appears the Fox Tribe took her.”
“The Fox Tribe?!”
Gares Vernear.
His eyes narrowed sharply, his voice rising.
How could they dare spirit away a child of another race without so much as asking permission? It was absurd.
‘Or is this actually fortunate?’
He rubbed his jaw.
Perhaps it was. He could always claim it was the Fox Tribe’s doing, not his own carelessness.
‘That foolish brat is easy enough to deceive with a few lies.’
The girl swallowed whatever he told her without question.
It wouldn’t be difficult to mislead her. Besides, few would take a child’s word seriously anyway, no matter what she said.
“Should I bring her back?”
He narrowed his eyes.
“Do you know where she is now?”
“Our last confirmed sighting places her with House Noctis, though…”
Gares Vernear’s brow furrowed.
“House Noctis?!”
Now that made sense.
He’d heard recently that House Noctis had come seeking help—something about their situation.
Apparently, the sudden climate shifts had left them short on supplies and their people were fleeing the territory in droves.
‘So they kidnapped a child from another race on top of all that?’
In the south, the black fox’s reputation was already poor, and they were only making it worse.
‘A lucky fool who inherited a title only because he had no brothers.’
If he’d been in that position—if his elder brothers didn’t exist—he would have inherited easily.
Some were fortunate enough to inherit titles without lifting a finger, while he could never inherit his, no matter how hard he worked.
“If you pay an additional fee, I can look into those details as well.”
“Do it. Find out where she went and where she’s headed next!”
“I’ll send you the supplementary invoice today. The information will be ready within three days.”
“Right. I’ll need to make it look like I’m heading south to search for her.”
“Understood.”
The man threw himself out the window.
Caw—!
The falling figure vanished, replaced in an instant by an enormous black raven that soared upward into the sky.
“Money-obsessed lot, every one of them.”
But they delivered the information he needed with satisfying speed and accuracy.
The price was steep—that was the only drawback.
‘Still, at least I can see a way out of this.’
If he blamed House Noctis, his father wouldn’t fault him too harshly.
He exhaled softly, a measure of relief settling over him.
‘First I’ll go through the motions of searching…’
For that, he’d need to travel to the Noctis Territory.
‘I should pack heavier clothes.’
It would be winter there, after all.
The irony of packing thick winter coats for a trip to the Southern Territory was not lost on him.
“These lucky fools always crumble in the end.”
He remembered Zerfeon Noctis from his Academy days and let out a quiet laugh.
The misfortune of others had always brought him satisfaction.
After packing what he needed, he set out toward the Southern Territory the next day.
He learned of Miel’s visit to House Linden two days later.
* * *
On the road to House Linden.
Miel made no effort to hide her delight as she read the Grumpy Bear Cub—the book she’d carefully packed—until its pages were worn thin.
She’d already read it until it frayed, and now she was reading it again.
“So.”
Zeros Nordic, who’d naturally settled Miel onto his lap, gently stroked her fluffy hair and narrowed his eyes.
“You stayed up all night and didn’t come back to your lodgings, you and your brother both have eyes all puffy from it, but that aside.”
“…….”
“…….”
At Zeros Nordic’s words, the two men turned silently to gaze out the window.
“Why have you suddenly added one more person to the group?”
“I simply invited him home after all this time.”
Valen Noctis replied in a somewhat subdued voice.
Whether it was from lack of sleep or some other reason, I couldn’t quite tell.
“Goodness, how much did he cry, anyway?”
“He cried?”
“That’s what they say.”
“I see.”
Miel nodded along solemnly.
“Adults cry too. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
At Miel’s matter-of-fact words, Valen Noctis laughed.
He, seated beside her, slowly reached out and stroked Miel’s hair.
“Thank you, little one.”
“……Yes?”
“Because of you, I was able to set down something that had clung to me for such a long time…… Yes. For such a very long time, I carried it like a heavy burden.”
Miel gazed intently at Valen Noctis.
‘That heavy darkness that was clinging to grandfather—it’s almost completely gone.’
Miel’s eyes grew wide.
It was as if the sluggish, murky things that had been stuck to him were now waving farewell to her.
“For the first time in ages…… I didn’t have any nightmares.”
“That’s a relief.”
“Indeed. If there’s anything you need, tell me. I’ll do everything I can to help.”
“The same goes for me. Don’t forget that I stand behind you.”
The dark fox gentleman across from them spoke as well. Though Miel wasn’t entirely sure what he meant, she nodded again anyway.
In any case, they all looked bright and didn’t seem sad at all!
“We should arrive soon.”
At Valen Noctis’s words, Miel poked her head out the window. The blowing wind sent her hair fluttering every which way.
“Baby panda, don’t stick your head out so far.”
“Yes, yes.”
Beyond the rapidly passing scenery, a small and cozy-looking village came into view.
* * *
A village where pandas gathered, centered around House Linden.
The small panda village at the very edge of the southern lands of the empire, being a place where a minority species dwelt, appeared remote, quiet, and not particularly welcoming to outsiders.
The surroundings were enclosed by bamboo, and the air felt slightly humid.
Held in Zeros Nordic’s arms, Miel shuffled her feet restlessly.
‘We’ve finally arrived!’
Miel too had finally arrived after going through so many adventures!
“…….”
Miel, pressing her racing heart down with her palm, caught sight of the pandas watching them from a distance and suddenly froze.
“…….”
And for good reason—the pandas all looked remarkably similar to one another.
Most had hair that was half white and half black, all mixed together. Every single one of them was identical.
Round faces, plump figures, pale skin, and dark patches beneath the eyes—though varying in intensity from panda to panda, each looked as though they hadn’t slept in ages. It was as if they were all wearing makeup.
“We received word from the head of House Noctis.”
Between the suspicious gazes, someone stepped forward.
It was an elderly panda with hair divided precisely in half—black on one side, white on the other. The dark patches under their eyes were particularly pronounced.
“So this is the child…….”
“Yes. The child was so eager to visit the panda village that we decided to come. I’m sure our sudden request must have been quite an imposition, and I’m grateful for your warm welcome.”
“You’ve been most generous in allowing us to use part of your territory.”
The elder, whose expression was quite gentle, nodded smoothly as they spoke.
They approached Miel and bent slightly at the waist.
“This is our first meeting. I am Tao Linden, head of House Linden, who governs this panda village.”
“……Yes, hello to you.”
Miel, whose fingers fidgeted, bowed her head slightly.
At the sight of the child’s evident disappointment, the elder stepped back.
“Please, come inside. We’ve prepared a feast for you.”
“That’s right, little one. You need to eat something good.”
Zeros Nordic spoke to Miel as if to lighten the mood.
“……Yes.”
Miel nodded softly, her fingers fidgeting as she bowed her head low.
Feeling her eyes grow hot, Miel pressed her lips together.
Zeros Nordic watched her quietly for a moment, then swept the child up and hoisted her onto his shoulders.
“Ah?!”
“Come on, then. Pretty high up, isn’t it?”
Before Miel could do more than gape in surprise at finding herself perched on his shoulders, Zeros strode purposefully into the compact Linden Manor.

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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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