The Baby Bear of the Black Fox Mansion - Chapter 50

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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 50
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“Come on, this way.”
“Mm.”
Miel was led along by Yao Linden, a young panda whose head came up another level taller than her own, their footsteps crunching softly.
The patriarch of the Panda Clan had suggested she tour the village and assigned his grandson to be her guide.
“This is the forest where we grow bamboo—our main staple.”
“Wow…”
Miel’s mouth fell open at the sight of bamboo so densely packed it was nearly invisible to the eye.
It was a world apart from the few stalks that grew at Honey Sweet Place.
“Impressive, isn’t it?”
“Mm.”
Miel nodded readily enough.
Pleased with himself, Yao Linden held her hand firmly and continued forward with his bouncy stride.
His grandfather had told him to keep a tight grip on the child’s hand, since she was still small and might easily get lost.
‘She’s so tiny.’
Yao Linden stole a glance at Miel.
Her face was even perfectly round—adorably so, he thought.
“Miel.”
“Mm?”
“Is it true you came here wanting to live in Panda Village?”
Yao Linden asked about what he’d heard from his grandfather.
“This child is looking for a place to stay. Treat her kindly.”
“So she’s going to live in our village?”
“If the child wishes it. So show her around properly.”
“But our village can only be inhabited by pandas, can’t it?”
“Preserving tradition matters, but neither is it the duty of adults to cast aside a small child with dreams simply because she isn’t one of us.”
His grandfather’s words were always difficult to grasp at first, but… it seemed, in any case, that she might become family.
“Yeah.”
Miel nodded.
If her mother and father had been here, she would have lived in Panda Village.
‘But now I have to go to Half-Moon Bear Village.’
Lost in thought, Miel was walking when she suddenly stopped.
Something pure white flashed across her vision.
Miel’s eyes widened slightly. When she turned her head, there stood a pure white bamboo stalk.
“Hm?”
Yao Linden, still gripping her hand tightly, noticed the child’s movement only a beat later.
“What is it?”
The boy followed her gaze and froze.
“Oh, that’s the Guardian Tree.”
“The Guardian Tree…?”
“Yeah. There’s a story that it turns black when danger threatens the village.”
Miel blinked and slowly tilted her head.
A translucent, tiny panda cub tapped—pat-pat—at the base of the white tree while looking in Miel’s direction.
‘A ghost panda…?’
As her gaze lowered, she saw the base was pitch black.
Miel’s eyes went wide as saucers.
“It’s dark down there.”
“What?”
Miel pointed with her finger at the base of the white bamboo.
Yao Linden crouched down, then lay flat to peer beneath the stalk—and his eyes flew open.
“You’re right.”
He drew a sharp breath.
“This has never happened before.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I need to tell Mother and Grandfather. Thank you. Your eyes are incredible.”
Miel’s eyes went round, and her little nose tilted up proudly as she bobbed her head with great satisfaction.
“Half-Moon Bear eyes.”
“What?”
Though he didn’t know why she’d said it, Yao Linden could see the child was pleased, and he let out a small laugh.
“Miel, what if you stayed in our village? You could live in our manor.”
“Hmm?”
“The manor is spacious, so I could prepare a room just for you. And we have the finest bamboo delivered fresh every day.”
Bamboo…
In an instant, Miel’s eyes transformed into those of a drowsy bear cub, round and gleaming.
“No, wait. Miel’s going back to adventuring.”
The truth was, bamboo tasted absolutely dreadful. Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise.
Miel pouted and glanced away.
“That’s too bad.”
Yao Linden had thought he might look after her the way one would a younger sister.
He smacked his lips ruefully at the disappointment.
Just as the two of them emerged from the Bamboo Forest and stepped back into the village, a booming voice erupted at the entrance.
“You wretches! Do you know who I am, blocking my path like this?”
A loud voice rang out near the village’s gate.
At the sound of that familiar voice, Miel’s head snapped toward it of its own accord.
“Minority races living off Verneer’s charity, and you dare—”
“That’s precisely why we hadn’t received any prior notification. We were going to inform the village chief.”
“Why should I need the permission of insignificant creatures like you!”
An arrogant tone.
A voice tinged with irritation.
An unmistakable disdain.
‘That uncle again.’
Miel’s eyes widened slightly.
“What’s all this commotion? Miel, would you wait here for a moment?”
Miel hesitated, then gave a small nod.
Yao Linden set Miel aside and strode purposefully toward the entrance.
“What seems to be the matter?”
“Ah, young master. This man calling himself Gares Verneer says he needs to find something and demands entry at once…”
One of the villagers began explaining to Yao Linden but trailed off mid-sentence.
“This place requires prior permission before any outsider may enter. I will inform my grandfather of your arrival, so please wait a moment.”
“Ha, these panda brats really…”
Gares Verneer raised his hand as if to strike, then froze as he sensed a gaze fixed upon him from one side.
When he turned toward where the gaze came from, Miel stood there, motionless.
Eyes like golden honey, gleaming and luminous.
‘…’
Gares Verneer’s movements halted reflexively. For reasons he couldn’t explain, he found himself overwhelmed by that gaze.
But the man soon realized the identity of the figure staring back at him so intently, and his eyes flew wide.
“You!”
Gares Verneer pointed an accusatory finger at Miel.
“You, you brat!”
As he raised his voice, Miel’s body flinched violently.
Every time Gares Verneer had raised his voice like this before, he had scolded her terribly.
“That’s enough. Hand it over. I came here to retrieve it.”
Gares Verneer shoved Yao Linden aside roughly and strode toward Miel.
As the bulky man approached with heavy footfalls, Miel swallowed hard, her whole body taut with dread.
“Ow!”
Gares Verneer grabbed Miel roughly by the scruff of her neck and hoisted her up.
Miel squirmed and screwed up her face as her nape was seized.
“You—who gave you permission to run away from home like that?”
“Ow! Let me go!”
“Tch! Hold still, will you!”
Gares Verneer raised his voice and clicked his tongue in annoyance.
When he thought of what he’d endured because of this one creature, fury boiled within him.
‘At least Father won’t scold me any further.’
He could frame it as having successfully retrieved her from those fox tribe barbarians.
As for silencing her—he’d handle that thoroughly on the way back.
“Mark my words, you’re going to be in trouble. Now let’s go home.”
“…!”
Miel’s eyes went wide as saucers.
The child shook her head frantically, her face etched with terror.
“Don’t go! Don’t turn back!”
Miel was in the middle of an adventure to find her mother and father. She couldn’t possibly give up here.
“What do you mean, don’t turn back.”
If she went back, she’d never find them.
That was unbearable.
Miel twisted her body with all her strength. The small form thrashing about suddenly went pop—and became a baby bear.
As her size shrank abruptly, Gares Verneer, who had lost his grip, stumbled back.
“Hey, you——!”
Miel had just shut her eyes tight and was about to bolt on all fours when it happened.
Thud!
“Squeal!”
The little creature had collided with something hard and tumbled over.
“You little——!”
As Miel rolled across the ground, she snapped her eyes open at the shadow stretching over her head.
She tried to scramble away, but her body lifted into the air.
“Yelp, yelp!!”
Caught in someone’s embrace, Miel thrashed about before she froze.
“It’s all right, it’s all right!”
The hand stroking her fur was remarkably gentle, and the voice—familiar and tender—came through clearly.
It was certainly different from her youngest uncle, who was always rough as anything.
“Who dares bother my baby bear!”
‘……Honey, or rather, Lisarh?’
Miel’s eyes went wide.
A crackle of flame.
Lisarh, floating dark Fox Fire in rings around him, held Miel close in both arms while his tail fluffed up and bristled, a low growl rumbling from his throat.
“What’s with this brat?!”
“Lisarh, come here.”
“But——!”
“Now.”
Lisarh withdrew behind Jerpeon with a sullen face, though he did so at once.
He kept the baby bear clutched firmly in his arms.
As if someone might snatch her away.
“It’s been a long time, Gares Verneer.”
“You——!”
A pause.
At the sight of Jerpeon’s face, Gares Verneer’s expression hardened.
Neat features, refined and elegant.
A soft voice and courteous speech.
Yet beneath it, contempt ran deep.
The man who first taught him that one could dismiss another even through formal politeness.
“……Jerpeon Noctis?”

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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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