The Baby Bear of the Black Fox Mansion - Chapter 53

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Episode 53
* * *
“What are you doing out here, little one?”
Zeros Nordic, who had come to Miel’s room, looked down at Lisar crouching miserably in front of the door and asked.
Normally the boy would squint his eyes sharp and complain like his father, but today he seemed oddly compliant.
“… Miel said she wanted to be alone. She looked so sad, but I couldn’t say I’d stay with her.”
“…”
A soft chuckle escaped him.
Zeros Nordic crouched down in front of Lisar with an amused smile.
“A real man stands firm by her side even in those moments.”
“… But what if Miel hates me for it?”
“Who do you want to see you cry?”
Lisar shook his head quietly. He hated the thought of being seen like that.
“But wouldn’t you feel reassured if someone came and held you?”
“… Yes.”
“It’s the same thing. Even if you don’t want to show your weakness, people feel lonely when they’re alone. Are you going to stand by and watch the girl you care about cry by herself?”
Lisar’s shoulders trembled.
The boy slowly lifted his head to look at Zeros Nordic. His face had flushed a deep crimson, and bewilderment flickered across his features.
“N-no! I, I, I don’t, don’t like her like that! I just, that smelly bear brings good fortune and… and she’s my benefactor… so… maybe a little, a little cute, but…”
“Oh, then I’ll go comfort her. You wait outside.”
It was the moment Zeros Nordic started to stand.
Thump!
Lisar clung to Zeros Nordic’s leg and shook his head firmly.
A burst of laughter shook through his shoulders.
“I, I’ll be the one to comfort her!”
“Why? Let me do it. It’s awkward for me to comfort a girl I don’t even like.”
“I found the bear first, so she’s my bear!!”
Lisar pushed hard against Zeros Nordic’s leg and let out a sharp cry before dashing into Miel’s room.
Click.
He locked the door firmly behind him.
“Well, well.”
Zeros Nordic, robbed of his turn, scratched the back of his head.
Perhaps children working things out among themselves was sometimes better than having adults interfere.
He was just turning to leave.
Tap, tap.
Tap, tap.
Something knocked against the window.
Zeros Nordic’s eyes widened as he turned his head.
A raven with a yellow beak stared at him intently.
A yellow-beaked raven.
A messenger of the Nordic Family.
‘More work,’ he thought.
He clicked his tongue briefly and opened the window.
Zeros Nordic untied the paper bound to the raven’s leg with a red string and unfolded the letter.

A red string.
It meant urgency. It meant there wasn’t even a day to spare.
He clenched his fist lightly, then released it. As he waved his hand gently, the raven took flight.
“My elder brother really does push people too hard.”
But in exchange for this, he had gained his freedom. There was no room to complain.
“Half-Moon Bear Village, though…”
He sighed and stood staring at the firmly closed door for a long time before he turned away.
‘I’ve stayed here long enough,’ he thought.
It was time to leave.
* * *
Click.
Lisar, who had entered Miel’s room and locked the door in response to Zeros Nordic’s provocation, leaned against it and let out a long breath.
“Sniffle, sniffle.”
Miel, clutching the Fairy Tale Book, was huddled beneath the bed.
Lisar hesitated for a moment before slowly approaching her.
“Miel, is it okay if I stay here?”
“Hic, sniff….”
“……Why are you crying?”
“Hic. Miel, wanted, to be alone, hic, but…….”
“Yeah. But…….”
Lisar hesitated for a moment, then quietly moved closer and sat down beside Miel.
He reached for her hand, but seeing both her arms hugging the Fairy Tale Book, he pressed himself a bit nearer instead.
“Sometimes when you cry alone, it just makes everything sadder. I know because when I cry alone, my tears won’t stop either.”
“Hic, sniff.”
“Why are you crying? Did that mean bear say something to you? Once I get stronger, I’ll beat that nasty bear down for you.”
Miel shook her head slowly.
“Hic, does Lisar think… that Miel… Miel is a baby of House Bernier?”
He froze.
Lisar watched Miel in silence, his fingertips fidgeting nervously.
If he said yes, Miel would clearly be hurt; if he said no, the Forehead Jewel…….
“Huh?”
Lisar’s eyes widened as he studied Miel.
The boy leaned his face in close to her forehead.
Miel’s eyes went wide at Lisar’s sudden approach.
“Lisar?”
“Hey, Miel. There’s a crack in your forehead!!!”
“A… crack?”
“The jewel has a crack in it! What do I do! Is it supposed to crack like this?!”
“No, no, no?! It can’t crack like this?!”
Miel jumped up and slapped her palm against the jewel on her forehead.
“Does it hurt?! No, the crack…… What do I do about this?!”
“I, I don’t know…….”
Miel scrambled up onto the chair in front of the vanity in her room.
Standing on the chair, she climbed onto the vanity and pressed her face right up to the mirror.
Her small fingers traced over the jewel.
And then Miel saw it.
Crack—there really was a crack running through the jewel!
And it was a very large one, running all the way across.
“Noooooo!! This can’t happen!”
Miel jumped down from the chair and bolted out of her room, shrieking all the way.
“What do I do, what do I do! Miel is—?!”
“Wait, Miel! I’m coming with you!”
Miel ran wildly through the corridor, then decided to find an adult and dashed toward Jerpeon’s office.
The office door was slightly ajar.
“…which is why I’m not going back to Noctis. I’m leaving tonight or first thing tomorrow morning.”
“Very well.”
“Tch, don’t you feel the least bit sorry? You’re cold as ice. Anyway, the reason I came is because of that baby Half-Moon Bear back then… the Bear Core. I wanted to ask what you think about it.”
A serious conversation was taking place inside the office.
“Sir, please help me!!”
Regardless, Miel stamped her feet and shouted.
The office door was very large and heavy, making it difficult for her to open.
Bang-crash-bang!
Something inside seemed to break, and then the door swung open.
“What’s wrong?!”
Zeros Nordic immediately scooped Miel up into his arms and looked around.
But there was no one nearby. Except for Lisar.
Miel whimpered, her eyes puffed and bloodshot from crying.
“M-Miel…….”
“What?”
“Miel’s jewel has a crack in it……!!”
Covering her forehead with both hands, Miel broke into a wail.
“No, please, stop crying. Oh my.”
Zeros Nordic hastily began to bounce the child gently, trying to soothe her.
When she cried like this, it felt as though his heart was plummeting.
“Why, why? Where’s the crack, where?”
“Y-yes, here…”
Miel pointed at the Forehead Jewel on her own brow with one finger.
Zeros Nordic halted mid-step and thrust his head forward, narrowing his eyes.
“It really did crack. Wait—if this cracks, that’s supposed to be bad, isn’t it?”
“You have quite the gift for asking obvious questions so foolishly.”
At Zeros Nordic’s words, Jerpeon drew Lisar closer and approached him.
“Does it hurt? Little cub?”
“N-no… it doesn’t hurt much.”
“Come inside for now.”
At the voice from within, Lisar glanced sideways at his father.
His brow furrowed slightly, but without another word, he turned and entered readily.
“Ah, hello, Grandfather.”
Lisar bowed his head carefully, gauging the atmosphere.
Valen Noctis, who had been watching Lisar in silence, slowly inclined his head.
“Yes.”
“…!”
Lisar’s face brightened just a fraction.
Jerpeon regarded this with what appeared to be disapproval, though he made no move to restrain the child.
“It’s cracked far more than when I saw it last.”
“…?!”
Miel’s eyes widened at Valen Noctis’s words.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————