The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 105

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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 105
“Before I hear your story, I should write a letter to Grandfather. He’ll be terribly sad to learn that Tiel has begun her first molting in Arne, but there’s no helping it.”
Ferdi spoke as he received pen and paper from the servants of Arne. Clemens nodded in agreement.
“Yes, all tasks have their priorities. Of course, notifying the Duke’s house about Miss Tiel’s molting is the most important matter.”
Tiel watched quietly as Ferdi dipped the nib deep into the inkwell, then, resting her chin on the desk, she looked up at him and spoke.
“Brother, please write that I miss Grandfather and Father very, very much!”
“All right, I’ll write that you miss them both dearly. And what else?”
“Olivier and Clemens were saying that on the day someone begins their first molting, they have a party with their family. Since we couldn’t do that this time, please write that they should have a party with me when I return.”
“Understood. I’ll write it down.”
Ferdi smiled lightly and began writing everything Tiel had said. Then he looked up at Ludian and Olivier, his expression seeming to ask whether they had anything to add.
“Now look here, Ferdi—I’m not asking you to treat Tiel and me as equals out of conscience… but what’s with that dismissive look?”
“You’re asking us to contribute while looking like you won’t write it down anyway. What kind of game is this?”
“So you two have nothing to add. Understood.”
Ferdi breezed past Ludian and Olivier’s complaints and continued writing the letter in neat penmanship.
Once finished, he spread it out on the desk to allow the ink to dry properly. In a short while, the servants of Arne would fold it carefully and seal it with wax before sending it to Asterian.
After completing the letter, Ferdi turned his attention to Clemens.
“Now I’d like to hear about the Land Without Morning. We haven’t exactly had much leisure time, as you know.”
“……But we do have time right now?”
“Quiet, Olivier.”
“Tch.”
“What would you like to know? I’ve already agreed to guide you there, but do you need more explanation about the route?”
Clemens asked carefully. Ferdi nodded.
Iandros, who had been watching Ferdi and Clemens, added his own comment.
“It would be wonderful if you told us everything you know.”
“Well, then… I think we should go to the library of ancient books first. There are many materials there, and that’s where I studied and learned about all this.”
Clemens turned and began walking, gesturing for them to follow. Ferdi rose from his seat. Ludian naturally picked up Tiel and cradled her.
“The library of ancient books is located in the basement of the tower on the north side of Arne.”
The children followed Clemens toward the library. Along the way, the servants they encountered smiled brightly at the sight of them.
The overall atmosphere of the Arne estate was similar to Asterian. Thanks to this, Tiel was able to relax easily despite being in an unfamiliar place.
Leading the children toward the northern tower, Clemens gave a light nod to the knights guarding it.
The knights bowed to Clemens and stepped aside, opening the door that led into the tower.
“Please come in. It’s dark, so be careful,” Clemens said.
Clemens took a lantern from one of the knights and cautioned the children. Ferdi was the first to step inside, followed by Iandros. Ludian carefully descended the stairs while still carrying Tiel. Olivier followed behind them.
“Brother, I can walk down on my own…”
“What if you fall and get hurt? It’s very dark here, so your brother will carry you down the…”
Ludian paused mid-sentence, his expression becoming oddly peculiar.
“Wait, now that I think about it…”
“…Yes.”
It seemed that Ludian, Ferdi, Olivier, and Clemens had momentarily forgotten what Tiel’s Ability was.
Tiel shyly nodded and reached out her hand. From the tip of her small fingers, a glimmer of light emerged.
The light was like a small droplet of water, and it seemed far too tiny to illuminate the dark, gloomy tower. But…
That droplet-like light swiftly multiplied, pouring down like a river of brilliance into the dark tower. The dim interior became bright in an instant. Tiel wrapped her arms tightly around Ludian’s neck.
“It’s not dark anymore, is it?”
“This… is actually better than I thought?”
Ludian murmured as he fiddled with Tiel’s small hand. Olivier, who had been following the boy down the stairs, struck him on the shoulder.
“Don’t treat your sister like a lantern!”
“When did I treat her like a lantern? I just said it’s better than I thought!”
Ludian protested his innocence and held Tiel even more tightly. Eventually, Tiel gave up the idea of walking on her own feet and remained cradled in Ludian’s arms.
Thanks to Tiel’s Light Ability, the tower became so bright that they could descend comfortably without needing the lantern to light their way.
“The Light Ability really is remarkable… I wonder if the light could perhaps also serve the role of sunlight?”
“The role of sunlight?”
“Yes, Arne engages in cultivating plants, and lately the sun doesn’t shine well, so the Ability often cannot be used properly…”
“The Ability can’t be used properly if there’s no sun?”
“Didn’t you know? It’s quite a well-known fact. Using Divine Verdure requires sunlight. On cloudy days, the Ability cannot be used properly.”
Clemens smiled and opened the door to the library. The children slowly stepped inside. The library was as dark as the corridor outside.
Clemens set down the lantern she had brought onto a small side table and spoke.
“Miss Tiel, I’m sorry to ask, but if you’re going to use your Ability, could you use it more gently? Some of the books here are very old, and strong light might damage them…”
Tiel nodded at Clemens’s words.
“Yes, I’ll try not to use my Ability as much as possible.”
“Good. First, then… how much do you know about the House of Everard, which was exterminated?”
“Everard?”
Olivier tilted her head quizzically.
“Everard? That’s a family that was exterminated ages ago—they used the Water Ability! But why would the story of Everard suddenly come up here?”
“Because long ago, Arcadia was the domain of Everard.”
“Arcadia, then…”
Olivier’s voice trailed off. Iandros, standing beside Olivier, turned and answered.
“Another name for the Land Without Morning.”
“Yes, though it’s no longer called that…”
Clemens walked softly toward the bookshelf and pulled out a volume that was plainly very ancient.
‘It looks incredibly old…’
Tiel thought as she watched the book in Clemens’s hands. The leather binding was so worn that the color had not merely faded but abraded away, and the cord binding the pages seemed ready to snap at any moment.
It was remarkable that it had survived this long without breaking. Yet Clemens opened it as if this were nothing serious.
“Long ago, Arcadia was the territory of Everard. At that time, Everard was said to be such a powerful family that it stood as an equal to Asterian.”
Clemens pointed to a page. There was an illustration of water springing forth, and a landscape that appeared exceedingly fertile.
“But…”
Clemens turned the page. However, the next page was torn away. Tiel’s eyes widened at the sight of the missing section.
‘It’s been torn…’
Or rather, it looked less like a tear and more like the gnawed marks of insects. Clemens traced the ragged edge with her fingertip and laughed sadly.
“Someone erased all the records from that time, so now almost no one knows what really happened… but according to the remaining records, there were those in Everard who worshipped the Evil God Orpheo. That’s when the battle between light and darkness broke out in Arcadia.”
“…Orpheo?”
At the mention of a name she had never heard before, Tiel tilted her head in confusion. Clemens gestured to the next page and smiled.
“Yes, see here? This is a depiction of Orpheo. Orpheo is a god of darkness. Unlike Lucette… he is an Evil God who desires to shatter the balance of this world.”
At the point where Clemens’s fingertip touched, a hideously black figure was drawn…
Tiel caught her breath as she gazed upon that form.
‘Why? It feels as if I’ve seen this somewhere before.’
Though it was impossible that she had ever encountered him, it felt as if she had seen him somewhere. Tiel carefully touched the place where the Evil God Orpheo was drawn.
For some reason, a tingling sensation ran through her fingertips.

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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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