The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 122

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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 122
***
“Tiel!”
Ileum rushed out to meet Tiel and the children, along with the knights. Thanks to the sunlight shining brightly upon them, they could see those approaching from a distance without the aid of Luminous Stones.
“Wow, Ileum!”
Tiel laughed brightly from within Iandros’s arms. Iandros held her all the more firmly to keep her from slipping away.
Ileum swallowed hard as tears welled up at the sight of the girl’s radiant smile. The rims of his eyes reddened. His wrinkled eyes trembled faintly.
There was much he wished to ask this miraculous girl, but first there was something he needed to say.
“Tiel, I truly… thank you.”
Ileum bowed his head deeply. Several Beast-people who had rushed to meet Tiel in his wake all bowed together with him.
These were those who had held dying Beast-people in their arms just moments before.
It was self-evident whose grace had rekindled the dying sparks of life flickering in their embrace.
As countless Beast-people all bowed together, Tiel—slightly flustered—stirred a little in her embrace.
Iandros steadied her well in his arms and whispered softly to her ear, his voice so quiet that only she could hear.
“In moments like this, you simply smile once and give a nod.”
“A nod…?”
“Yes.”
Tiel nodded as Iandros instructed and asked cautiously.
“What happened to the sick Beast-people? Are they still… not doing well?”
The Beast-people who had been bowing finally straightened. Ileum answered on their behalf.
“Many have… passed away, but thanks to you, many lives were saved.”
“…Ah.”
“Had you not come, we would have all perished. We are… truly grateful to you.”
Ileum’s voice trembled slightly. Tiel gazed at him for a moment, then carefully extended her hand.
Ileum regarded her hand hesitantly before laying his own upon it.
‘Is she asking for my hand?’
Judging from the fact that Iandros, who was holding Tiel, said nothing, it seemed she was indeed offering her hand.
Tiel grasped Ileum’s wrinkled hand with both of hers and gently caressed it as she spoke.
“I’m glad I could help… I’m truly relieved. And thank you so much for your hard work.”
Tiel had seen clearly during her time here—how much Ileum cared for the Beast-people of this land, how tenderly he cherished and loved them.
A single hot tear finally fell from Ileum’s wrinkled eyes.
It was a tear of relief and joy. Ileum wiped the tear away with his other hand and continued muttering his gratitude.
Iandros, observing the scene quietly, spoke.
“The Imperial Palace will send people soon. They will help stabilize this land.”
The Beast-people of this land had lived in darkness for a very long time. So those who had suddenly come to live in light needed aid.
Moreover, countless Beast-people had died in this affair, and their bodies needed to be collected.
The knights Iandros had brought and those from Arne were already performing that work, but it was woefully insufficient. Stabilizing this land required much manpower, much time, and much money.
And naturally, the Crasion Empire would undertake that role. Ileum bowed deeply to Iandros.
“I am grateful for Your Highness’s grace.”
“It is only natural.”
Iandros smiled lightly, his bearing truly that of one for whom this was ‘only natural.’ He glanced once at Tiel and Carl, then once at Ileum, before speaking.
“Still, there is something I wish to discuss, but this place does not seem fitting for it.”
Iandros tilted his head.
“Please follow me. I shall guide you to a quieter place.”
At Ileum’s words, the other Beast-people dispersed.
He led Iandros, Tiel, Ludian, and Ferdi to his home.
However, Olivier and Clemens said they had no interest in what Iandros had to discuss and would look around instead.
Clemens was curious whether she could revive the dead plants of this land through her Ability.
Since Iandros shared her curiosity, he permitted them to explore the land.
And.
“You there, come here as well.”
Iandros quietly called back Carl, who had been quietly drifting away with Olivier and Clemens.
“…Me?”
“Yes, you come along too.”
Carl looked to Ileum. Ileum gestured for him to come. The boy followed without hesitation.
“Please come in.”
The place Ileum led them to was where they had first conversed, but thanks to the daylight, it felt entirely different.
Ileum offered them log sofas to sit on and took his own seat. Iandros sat first and placed Tiel beside him.
Ferdi and Ludian sat beside them, with Ileum and Carl across from them.
“I’ll be blunt—I know that boy is Everard’s heir.”
“…….”
Ileum turned silently to look at Carl. The boy startled and quickly raised his hands in denial.
“I-I didn’t use my Ability on purpose…”
“You need not make excuses, Carl. I have no intention of reproaching you.”
Ileum regarded the boy with warm eyes. A large hand settled upon the boy’s head.
Carl closed his eyes slightly. Ileum gently stroked Carl’s water-blue hair.
In the sunlight, Carl’s hair gleamed a vivid azure. The pale-sky-colored locks fell gently through Ileum’s palm.
“I suspected you would have learned of this.”
“Since when?”
“Since the water began to flow through the channels.”
“…Uncle.”
Carl looked up at Ileum. Ileum smiled warmly at the boy, then turned to regard Iandros.
“Do you know why Everard was exterminated?”
“Broadly.”
“There is far more about Everard and Arcadia that remains unknown than is known. My family has, for generations long past, been a Vassal Family devoted to protecting Everard.”
Ileum spoke calmly. Carl, hearing this tale for the first time in his life, opened his eyes wide and listened intently. Tiel did the same.
All turned their attention to Ileum’s words. He began speaking steadily.
“The reason Arcadia was robbed of Light and robbed of its name is because of the one who bore Everard’s surname.”
“Yes, I know that.”
“…However, that was not the fault of all of Everard. Everard did their utmost. To remedy the wrong. And they paid the price. Through their Extermination.”
This had all occurred before Ileum was born. Because it was so long ago, little emotion colored his voice.
His tone was dry, as though reading from a book. Yet despite that, his voice was stern, unburdened by the slightest doubt of these facts.
“The problem is that the Beast-people of this land do not know this truth. They believe Everard destroyed this land. That losing Light and losing their name were both… because of Everard.”
“How could they think otherwise? After all, it was someone bearing Everard’s name who summoned the Evil God.”
“However, for this land to exist, Everard is absolutely necessary. All the Beast-people who live here are those who live under the Power of Water.”
Ileum gently drew Carl closer and gathered him into his embrace. The small boy folded into Ileum’s arms.
“That is why Everard’s final Head of Household left his son behind as the Succession Method. The method passed down through generations in the House of Water, Everard.”
“…What?”
“Carl is the son of Renato Birhilio Everard, the final Head of Household of Everard, which fell to Extermination centuries ago.”
***
[Better than expected… I had not thought Everard’s heir still remained.]
A voice hummed in the darkness. Yet the voice held no anger. The deepened darkness scattered and reformed repeatedly.
[However, the objective has already been achieved. What was lost is regrettable, but there is nothing to regret.]
The darkness scattered and reformed, taking the shape of a massive hand. A hand made of darkness traced over pale, bloodless skin.
In the darkness, a corpse-like woman stood.
A woman with brilliant golden hair and eyes of emerald green.
Her sharp eyes and firmly set mouth bore the air of noble upbringing, and though her colorless cheeks were gaunt and hollow, she was beautiful nonetheless.
She gazed with unfocused eyes into the pitch-black darkness. The darkness that traced her cheek spoke with a sated voice.
[You will need time to gather your strength. We were unable to kill the small child, but that is no matter. Once you fully accept your power, that little one will be no match for you….]
A ripping laugh echoed through the darkness.

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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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