The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 179

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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 179
“So there was someone trying to harm Tiel…….”
Illum’s brow furrowed. His weathered face was clouded with concern.
Eberard’s Arcadia lay at a great distance, making news travel slowly, and between attending to Eberard’s rehabilitation and Arcadia’s reconstruction, such reports had not reached them.
Thus both Illum and Karl heard for the first time that someone had attempted to harm Tiel, and was presumed to be currently hiding in Nestian.
Karl set down the documents he had been holding and looked up at Illum with a question.
“So they’re heading to Eberard now?”
“No, sir. It appears they’ve turned toward somewhere else.”
“They entered Arcadia but aren’t coming to Eberard first?”
“Many houses still view Eberard’s rehabilitation unfavorably. Nestian is likely among them.”
Illum’s words rang true.
Karl had come of age last year, but had not yet held his Coming-of-Age Ceremony.
This was because the other houses looked unfavorably upon Eberard ruling Arcadia once more.
Once Karl underwent his Coming-of-Age Ceremony and formally became Head of Household of Eberard, restoring the house’s standing, the others would never again be able to covet Arcadia—but their interference had prevented Karl from holding the ceremony thus far.
And because that fact had brought Karl both shame and a sense of insult, he did not care to hear such talk.
“I don’t care for it. Where does Rowen Nestian intend to stay during the festival?”
Karl slipped naturally into formal speech. The old habit of calling Illum “Uncle Illum” and following him around in childhood remained.
Illum had told Karl many times not to use formal speech, and to address him with the deference befitting Karl’s noble station and rank, but whenever they were alone, Karl would slip back into the old familiar tone unprompted.
Illum seemed to have given up correcting him, and responded to the question naturally.
“It seems a mansion has been rented for her lodging. One cannot pitch tents during the festival season, after all. However, we haven’t secured accommodations for Rowen Nestian herself…….”
Illum rolled his eyes, considering what space remained.
During the festival, Eberard had temporarily constructed additional mansions and estates to receive guests visiting Arcadia.
These had been distributed among the houses that had expressed their intent to participate.
But no allocation had been set aside for Nestian. Illum hmmed in thought before continuing.
“Well, if they need something, wouldn’t they come ask first?”
It was hardly a kind sentiment.
Ever since hearing that “the one who tried to harm Tiel” seemed to be hiding in Nestian, both Illum and Karl harbored hostile feelings toward the house.
Tiel meant that much to Arcadia, to Illum, and to Karl.
Karl too waved his hand dismissively, as if the matter deserved no further concern.
“They’ll manage well enough. I won’t trouble myself with it. Instead, strengthen the guards around Tiel during the festival so that no one seeks to harm her.”
“I shall obey your order.”
“Fortify the guards near where Tiel stays, and assign Eberard’s elite knights as her escort throughout the festival—ensure that no one can harm her.”
Eberard’s elite knights were currently under Illum’s command, forming Karl’s personal guard.
Ordinarily, they would need to guard the Head of Household during the festival, but Illum nodded without objection.
Karl of Eberard’s Ability was Water.
His Ability, should he wish it, would flow at the fastest speed and devour all his opponents.
Illum harbored not a shred of doubt about Karl’s power, and thus readily agreed to guard Tiel throughout the festival.
“And while Tiel stays here, see that she wants for nothing. Have the servants carefully tend to her chambers, and it would be good to change the variety of flowers and let them drift into her room. If only one kind keeps coming, it will grow tiresome.”
“Hmm, about those flowers. There seem to be quite a lot, sir. If this continues, the water channels might become clogged…….”
“Yellow flowers would suit the color of Tiel’s eyes well, or perhaps blue flowers like the dress she wore.”
Karl paid no attention whatsoever to Illum’s remark.
Illum gave up attempting conversation with Karl and simply replied that he would do as commanded.
The discussion between Illum and Karl stretched deep into the night. A round full moon illuminated Arcadia, once the “Land Without Sunrise,” with clear brilliance.
The day of the festival drew near.
***
“Rowen, what brings you here?”
The High Priest offered tea to Rowen with a gentle voice.
Rowen regarded the steaming cup once, then the High Priest once more.
“Nestian cannot be absent from a festival praying for light to return to Crasion.”
She spoke without so much as bringing the cup to her lips.
It was a somewhat presumptuous attitude to take before the High Priest, yet the High Priest made no point of remarking on it.
“God Lysette will be pleased. If you were to demonstrate your Ability that day, it would be nothing short of delightful.”
Ferdi of Asterian, Clemens of Arne, Olivier of Wolfgang, and Karl of Eberard had already expressed their intention to open the festival with their Abilities.
If Rowen Nestian joined them, it would be an unprecedented opportunity to display the Abilities of five houses alongside the Child of Light Ability.
Rowen smiled at those words, drawing up the corners of her mouth.
The expression seemed confident, or perhaps as though she were mocking someone.
“Yes, I came specifically to demonstrate my Ability before the citizens of Crasion and show them God Lysette’s ‘true’ power.”
At Rowen’s words, the High Priest’s brow narrowed.
“……’True’ power? Rowen, what are you saying?”
Rowen removed her silk gloves and set them on the table.
There was the faintest hint of darkness at Rowen’s fingertips, but the room had already grown quite dim, so it was invisible to the High Priest.
Rowen removed her gloves and used her Ability.
Small ice crystals gathered in the palm of Rowen’s hand.
“……?”
The High Priest narrowed his eyes, watching Rowen use her Ability.
That is Nestian’s Freezing Ability.
‘But…… something seems different.’
The High Priest had once watched Thender Nestian use his Freezing Ability up close.
Moreover, Rowen Nestian had already demonstrated her Freezing Ability at Luminarie.
The ice sculptures she had created then did not last long before they melted from the Flame created by Asterian…….
But now.
“……Hmm?”
Small light began to emanate from the ice crystals in Rowen’s hand.
Because it was dark, it was clearly visible. What seeped from between the ice crystals was unmistakably light.
As Rowen furrowed her brow and wielded her Ability more powerfully, the ice crystals in her hand shifted and clacked together, transforming.
Then.
Burst of light—!
A brilliant flash erupted, and Rowen’s ice crystals transformed into gleaming fish.
They had exactly the same shape as the fish that always circled Tiel when she used her Ability.
The High Priest’s eyes widened in disbelief, his mouth falling open.
“……This, this is……?”
“The Light Ability,” Rowen said confidently.
The High Priest gathered his wits and shook his head as if it were impossible.
“Only one child is born with the Light Ability. There cannot be two suns in this world……. ……And besides, what you used seems closer to the Freezing Ability than to the Light Ability, does it not?”
“But…… High Priest, think about it.”
Rowen withdrew her Ability and dropped her hand. The light vanished in an instant, and darkness returned to the chamber.
Even the candles that had been illuminating the room flickered out, leaving the High Priest unable to see Rowen’s face clearly.
What expression she wore.
Rowen spoke slowly.
“If light disappears, then wouldn’t what I possess become the only light there is?”
“……What are you saying?”
“Wait and see at the festival. Which is the ‘true’ power of God Lysette, and which is the power to change the world…….”
Rowen laughed softly in the darkness. The High Priest said nothing, frozen in place.
Until Rowen left, pushing off from that spot.
The teacup that had been steaming no longer rose with steam.

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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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