The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 108

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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 108
“Leaving tonight? Isn’t that rushing things a bit?”
Iandros, who had been listening quietly to the two of them, spoke up.
“Preparations have been completed long ago, so there should be no problem with our departure.”
“Hmm……. What do you think, Ferdi?”
“I have to listen to the Head’s word. No one knows that land better than Arne, after all. I myself only just learned there are only two ways to cross that river.”
“I agree with Ferdi’s point, too. I think it would be best to listen to the Head of Household’s judgment. We’ve come here to ask for the Head’s help, after all.”
Tiel nodded in agreement, and Ludian followed suit with a bow of his head. Clemens and Olivier exchanged glances with one another, then gave light nods. Iandros, in turn, finally yielded with reluctance.
“We depart tonight. Until then, please do rest…….”
With those words finished, Iris left the room with light steps.
The children gathered in the bedchamber that had been assigned to Tiel opened their mouths with worried expressions.
“Do you think this will really be all right? Clemens?”
“If Mother says so, then that is how it is…… Besides, Arne’s knights are always watching the changes in the Osian River, so if the Knight Commander said it, then it shouldn’t be wrong.”
“I have a question.”
Iandros looked at Clemens. Clemens nodded as if inviting him to ask whatever he wished. Iandros’s emerald eyes moved back and forth between Clemens and Tiel.
“If the passage closes while we’re still in that land, what happens then?”
“We must come out before that happens…….”
“That’s exactly it—the river could close at any time, you said. So you’re rushing us through. What if it closes while we’re still inside?”
At Iandros’s words, the children fell silent. None of them had thought that far ahead.
They all understood vaguely that the Osian River was difficult to cross, but they had not imagined there might be times when the passage opened and closed.
Had they known beforehand, they might have reconsidered the journey itself for fear of danger. Ferdi, who had been thinking for a moment, pointed at Iandros.
“Can’t you do it with your Ability? Subspace Creation—you can make subspaces that connect to other spaces, can’t you?”
“It’s impossible. I can’t pinpoint the location precisely enough to create one. If I mess up, we’ll fall into the river.”
“Ugh, should we turn back now? I don’t like dangerous things.”
Olivier suddenly pulled Tiel into his arms. Tiel carefully gripped the arm wrapped around her.
“But if they’re willing to send us, doesn’t that mean it should be all right? Besides…….”
Tiel’s eyes flickered toward Clemens without her noticing. Clemens Arne—the Heir of Arne who will come after Iris.
Clemens Arne is accompanying us on this journey. So there’s no reason Iris Arne would put so many heirs in danger. Ludian, understanding what Tiel meant, nodded his head.
“That’s true. Arne hasn’t only observed the Osian River for a day or two. They must be confident we’ll be safe until we return.”
“There are signs that appear before the Osian River closes. When we cross, a few knights will stay behind to watch the river. The water won’t close immediately, so even if such a situation comes, we’ll be able to escape safely…….”
Clemens answered. Iandros still looked unsatisfied with something, staring at Clemens for a moment before suddenly turning on his heel and leaving the room.
“Wait a moment.”
Ferdi chased after Iandros.
***
“Iandros, what’s wrong with you?”
Ferdi grabbed Iandros’s wrist suddenly. Iandros raised his eyebrows and then lowered them, avoiding Ferdi’s gaze. The boy shook his captured arm.
“What do you mean? Let go and talk.”
“Your words aren’t wrong, but you’ve been acting unusually sharp. You’ve seemed on edge ever since before. Am I imagining things?”
“You’re imagining it, Ferdi. It’s never happened.”
Iandros replied. Ferdi gave a hollow laugh in response.
“Iandros, have I only known you for a day or two? If something’s bothering you, talk openly about it. That way we can think about what you’re worried about together.”
Ferdi faced Iandros with a grave expression. Looking at Ferdi’s face with clear displeasure, Iandros let out an annoyed sigh. The boy leaned his body against the wall roughly.
“Why does the departure have to be at night?”
“Suddenly?”
“According to what she said, the river doesn’t flip overnight. So why leave at night instead of during the day?”
At Iandros’s question, Ferdi tilted his head thoughtfully for a moment, then answered.
“Maybe because we need to leave at night to arrive during the day. Crossing the river at night isn’t as good as leaving at night and crossing during the day.”
“I’m saying, that is…….”
Iandros gazed into the distance with narrowed eyes. The boy recalled the time of their first camp not long ago.
‘The road that was definitely on the map had disappeared by the time we arrived.’
And the children had to face such situations again and again. The problem was that all of it had only happened in the evening before they entered the village.
As if someone deliberately wanted the children to sleep outside. As if there were a reason the children had to sleep out in the open.
Fortunately, nothing had happened, but Iandros still couldn’t shake off an uncomfortable feeling. Could all of this really just be his anxiety?
“It’s strange, Ferdi. The truth is, the road we were planning to take has been disappearing as we came this far.”
“I noticed. It wasn’t a direct threat, so I didn’t mention it.”
“After experiencing something like that five or six times, I’m starting to doubt even this…… What about you—is Iris Arne really someone we can trust?”
“I don’t trust Iris. I trust me, and you, Olivier and Ludian, and Tiel.”
Ferdi pointed to himself and Iandros, smiling brightly.
“For now, we won’t end up trapped there. Clemens Arne and Arne’s elite knights are traveling with us. Just as Tiel said, Iris Arne is not the kind of person who would put her own daughter in danger.”
“That’s true.”
“So the river shouldn’t be a concern…… And I suppose your next worry is that there might be people targeting us. But who would dare target us?”
“Mm.”
“Grandfather and Father are no fools. If we were in danger, they wouldn’t have sent us in the first place.”
For words spoken by eleven-year-old boys, they were rather arrogant. It was as good as saying that other noble families weren’t even in their league.
Yet in truth, unless one of the houses other than Asterian and Wolfgang threw their full force at them, there was no one in the entire Crasion Empire who could stand against Ferdi and Ludian, Olivier and Iandros.
Ferdi patted Ludian’s shoulder lightly.
“So don’t worry and try to rest. We’ll be departing soon.”
“Ferdi.”
Iandros looked at Ferdi. The emerald eyes and the burning golden ones met in the air.
“What I’m worried about isn’t you, me, Olivier, or Ludian.”
“Mm.”
“What I’m worried about is Tiel. No matter how sharp our night vision is, if we’re attacked at night, we might not be able to protect her. Fighting while protecting someone else is always harder than just keeping yourself safe.”
It was something Alpheus and Cassius had once told Ferdi. For a moment, Ferdi saw Alpheus and Cassius overlapping in Iandros’s face.
Iandros had, in other words, the face of a guardian, not a friend.
“Iandros, you worry too much. That girl has the Light Ability. Darkness is no match for light.”
Ferdi smiled gently and removed Iandros’s hand. Iandros still wore an expression lost in thought.
“And even if such a situation comes…… there’s no way you and I could fail to protect Tiel.”
Ferdi’s voice was full of trust. After finishing his words, the boy turned and walked back to the room they had just left.
But Iandros could not easily agree with Ferdi’s words. Iandros traced the Mark on his neck with his fingertips.
Iandros Crasion had already failed to protect Tiel Asterian once before.
That fact lodged in his throat like a large thorn, pricking his windpipe each time he swallowed.

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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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