The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 187

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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 187
Ferdi and Ludian, Iandros—they weren’t the only ones to witness that light.
Every Beastman in Arcadia saw the brilliance erupt from Lysset Temple with their own eyes.
Some called it Tiel’s light; others spoke of it as the radiance that burst forth alongside the birth of a new Beastman bearing the Light Ability.
Though their words differed, their thoughts aligned perfectly.
What was pouring from the Temple now was the Light Ability.
The power of the Lysset God.
Olivier and Clemens, upon confirming the light, made for the Temple, as did Karl, who had been at the Eberard Mansion.
That day, every Beastman in that land converged before Lysset Temple.
“What on earth is this…?”
“What’s happened?”
“What’s going on? Is Tiel all right?”
The Beastmen murmured among themselves. Still, brilliant light continued to pour from within Lysset Temple.
Yet none of them dared to set foot inside.
Without the High Priestess’s permission, no one could enter the God’s Temple. It was a law that had been upheld for ages.
To honor the ancient custom, they stood motionless outside, their eyes fixed on the radiance that surged forth.
But they couldn’t remain outside forever. Moreover, by now the High Priestess and her attendants should have emerged.
‘They haven’t come out.’
Why not? Ferdi tilted his head in confusion.
Something was clearly happening inside the Temple.
Tiel had only just returned home—so that light couldn’t be hers.
Then it had to be Rowen’s light. But what in the world was unfolding in there?
“We need to go in.”
Ferdi moved first. Ludian didn’t try to stop him; instead, he fell into step beside him.
That was when—
“That won’t be necessary.”
Iandros seized Ferdi’s wrist. Ferdi turned to him with a puzzled expression.
Iandros didn’t spare him a glance, his gaze fixed on a single point as he jerked his chin toward it.
“Look there.”
Ferdi and Ludian turned their heads to follow where Iandros indicated.
“…!”
Rowen stood there.
Rowen Nestian.
Her silver hair fell in undulating waves, and her eyes—a clear, icy blue—pierced through every Beastman assembled there.
For a moment, Olivier thought Rowen’s face bore a striking resemblance to Tiel’s.
Of course, they were cousins, so some likeness was natural, but there was something more fundamental they shared.
Rowen’s gaze turned toward one specific point. Olivier, Clemens, Ferdi, Ludian, and Iandros all followed the direction of her stare.
At the end of Rowen’s gaze stood Cornelia Nestian—Rena’s younger sister, the ill-fated Snow Leopard who would never become Head of Household—and Rowen’s mother.
She stood there watching Rowen with a smile playing at her lips.
As though she knew exactly what Rowen was about to do.
“What scheme is she plotting?”
Ludian growled. Iandros and Ferdi echoed his sentiment. There was no telling what her true intentions were.
‘What is she trying to do while Tiel sleeps?’
Iandros’s thoughts turned to Tiel, presumably resting at the Eberard Mansion by now.
At the same time, he felt a strange gratitude that Tiel was asleep. At least she was spared witnessing this.
“Hmm? Did I use my Ability too much?”
Rowen spoke with arrogant pride. The Beastmen stirred at her words, their whispers rising. They all understood which Ability she meant.
Rowen was speaking of the Light Ability.
Which meant this tremendous light had been created by Rowen herself.
There was no doubt whatsoever that Rowen possessed the Light Ability.
The Beastmen of Arcadia gazed at her in bewilderment, while those from other territories who had long resented Tiel erupted in cheers, celebrating the birth of this new wielder of Light.
But not everyone could celebrate. Ferdi, Ludian, Iandros, Clemens, and Olivier could not.
“That’s absurd!”
Olivier’s sharp words silenced the crowd at once. Every Beastman stopped talking and turned to stare at her.
Rowen’s gaze fixed on Olivier too. The grey-haired woman, her locks twisted up in a knot, spoke with wide eyes.
“Your Ability is Ice Crystallization, Rowen Nestian! I’ve never heard of a single Beastman possessing two or more Abilities!”
“Then I’m the first… aren’t I?”
“You can’t be serious—”
“But you all saw it clearly just now, didn’t you, Olivier? My use of the Light Ability…”
Rowen finished speaking and created a small Ice Fragment in her palm.
Light bloomed within that frozen shard, shimmering and illuminating the surroundings. Though it was deep night, Rowen’s light banished all shadow.
“You must have done something!”
“And what might that be?”
Rowen replied with supreme composure and shamelessness. Her perfectly curled lashes fluttered as she continued.
“Tell me—how could I have done it? Can the Light Ability be imitated simply because one wishes to imitate it?”
Olivier was furious and aggrieved, but she had no refutation.
The Light Ability was not something that could be counterfeited on a whim.
If it were, thousands upon thousands would have claimed to possess it by now, impersonating Tiel.
Because Olivier knew this truth well, her frustration only deepened.
And thinking of Tiel’s startled face from earlier this afternoon made it worse still.
There had to be some trick involved. Tiel’s power had definitely been stolen. But how?
Without proof of the method, she couldn’t prove anything. Olivier felt the breath catch in her throat.
Understanding her turmoil, Ferdi approached and grasped her wrist.
“Olivier.”
“…”
“Right now, Rowen Nestian’s words are correct. We should withdraw. Your defiance won’t help Tiel.”
Ferdi spoke with cold reason. Olivier made no further protest.
Yet she refused to watch Rowen preen any longer—she snorted derisively and left the square with Clemens Arne.
Rowen made no effort to hide her sneer at their departure.
Ferdi and Ludian’s eyes narrowed to feline slits of displeasure.
“It seems everyone came to find out what I did in the Temple.”
Ignoring the two, Rowen surveyed the assembled Beastmen as she spoke.
Her tone and voice carried something subtly unsettling, though the Beastmen couldn’t quite pinpoint what troubled them about it.
Rowen, unbothered, continued.
“I received an Oracle in the Temple just now.”
She spoke the words.
Everyone held their breath.
“An Oracle… you received one?”
“But it’s been ages since an Oracle descended!”
“Wasn’t it because no Oracle came that this festival even took place in the first place?”
“Does that mean the Temple has regained its power?”
“No, wait—if what she says is true, then Rowen…”
The Beastmen’s whispers swelled like a tide, uncertainty and suspicion sweeping over all who stood there.
Rowen had masterfully planted seeds of doubt and anxiety in their hearts.
And those seeds, sown in that moment, were now sprouting and winding around the Beastmen’s bodies.
Rowen observed their confusion for a moment, then turned and spoke.
“The High Priestess will tell you whether my words are truth or lies.”
Every eye turned to follow Rowen’s gaze. From the Temple emerged the High Priestess, moving as though in a trance.
The other priestesses emerged beside her, equally dazed, walking unsteadily through the throng of Beastmen.
Iandros noticed the High Priestess’s state was not her usual self.
But he couldn’t rush forward to seize her arm and question her condition, not with all these eyes upon them, so he remained still and silent.
“High Priestess! Is it true?”
A man among the crowd spoke. Ferdi and Ludian recognized him—they’d seen him at social gatherings before.
They couldn’t quite recall which house he belonged to, but he was clearly from a respectable family. He must have come to Arcadia to see this ‘festival’ as well.
The High Priestess walked toward them as though in a daze and took her place beside Rowen.
Then she opened her mouth.
“What Rowen said is… correct.”
“…!”
“An Oracle… has descended.”
As the High Priestess finished speaking, the murmuring ceased. The gathering fell silent once more.
A quiet night.
Only the cry of an owl 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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