The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 191

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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 191
A limb of the Evil God Orpheo.
The Calamity God Sek.
No one knew why it appeared to Tiel after spanning centuries. Ferdi and Ludian didn’t know either.
What was certain was only this: the snake that had ceaselessly swallowed Tiel’s fish, and the fish that fled from the snake yet never left Tiel’s side—both symbolized something.
“The conflict between Lucet and Orpheo…….”
Tiel’s fish were creatures she had fashioned with her Light Ability.
In other words, Tiel’s fish represented the brightest and warmest light in the world.
And truly…… if that serpent-shaped form swallowing Tiel’s fish was indeed the Calamity God Sek.
“The boundaries will collapse, and calamity will strike again…….”
Ferdi muttered.
Long ago, Lucet and Orpheo had clashed. Because of some fool of Eberard who shattered the Balance of Day and Night and summoned Orpheo to this land.
Arcadia was cursed because of that, and all the water-dwellers living there nearly faced extinction—only saved by Tiel’s action in the nick of time.
Without Tiel, they would all have perished.
Ferdi and Ludian exchanged words without taking their eyes from the parchment on which Sek was drawn.
“It’s strange. A child born with the Light Ability after hundreds of years. And…….”
“The heir of Eberard appearing on this land once again.”
The puzzle pieces were fitting together.
An event strikingly similar to something from the past was being reenacted across Crasion’s lands.
Ludian turned to look at Ferdi.
“But I’m hearing of ‘Sek’ for the first time. The fact that such records exist makes clear that Sek did exist—so why don’t we know of it?”
“The records were lost.”
Ferdi spoke matter-of-factly.
“With the passage of time, records were lost. All records concerning the Evil God Orpheo were deleted or destroyed. A few remain in Arne’s archives, but even those are only fragments.”
“Were the records deliberately erased?”
“That…… I don’t know. But if records are this difficult to find, it’s safe to assume someone deliberately destroyed them for some purpose. I can’t say why, though.”
Ferdi continued.
“And what we saw in Tiel’s room was probably not Sek’s true form. The Calamity God Sek would not have manifested in so insignificant a shape. It’s more fitting to consider it a fragment of Sek’s consciousness.”
“So Sek, which had been annihilated by Lucet leaving only its strong consciousness behind, has returned. Then the unraveling of the Balance of Day and Night means…….”
Ludian looked at Ferdi.
Ferdi nodded.
“Yes. The Evil God Orpheo has returned.”
***
“Tiel!”
Alpheus suddenly swept Tiel into his arms.
Tiel, who had been sitting on the bed contentedly eating neatly cut fruit, widened her eyes at being abruptly embraced by Alpheus.
“G-Grandfather?”
“Yes, yes. My dear…… there’s nothing to worry about. Your grandfather will protect you.”
Tiel realized then that Alpheus had rushed in after hearing all about both the matter concerning Rowen and the matter concerning the snake.
Knowing her distress and running to embrace her, her grandfather was so dear to her that Tiel’s cheeks flushed slightly.
The fish drifting about nearby seemed to shimmer in response to her emotion.
“Grandfather, I’m all right.”
“I’m not all right! Nestian, you cursed wretches! Whatever you’ve done, we’ll root it all out and——”
Alpheus tucked Tiel’s hair behind her ear as he spoke. At his touch, Tiel closed one eye briefly, then opened it again.
“I’m fine, Grandfather. But what about the festival? Is it being canceled? Are we to return to Asterian now?”
To Tiel’s question, Alpheus answered in a regretful tone.
“I wish to take you back to Asterian at once, but circumstances are not favorable, Tiel.”
“Circumstances are not favorable?”
“Yes, in fact…….”
Alpheus hesitated for a moment.
The child had only just begun to recover a little strength.
Moreover, had he not heard the report that she was startled upon waking and immediately seeing that snake-like form?
If he were to add to that the matter concerning Rowen, Tiel’s energy might weaken further.
Before being Crasion’s duke who must judge coldly, Alpheus was Tiel’s grandfather, and he wished to keep this truth hidden from her.
He wanted to resolve all these matters in a place where Tiel wouldn’t see, and only after everything was settled, to tell her casually, “Such a thing happened,” so she would not be alarmed.
‘But that won’t do.’
Tiel was the party involved, and the rightful Head of Household of Asterian. She had a need to know all of this.
If Tiel had not yet reached adulthood, it might be different, but she was an adult now. It meant he could not cradle her forever.
“Tiel, while you were sleeping, an Oracle came down from the Temple.”
Alpheus began.
“An Oracle…… you say?”
Had an Oracle not failed to come down for several years now? The voice of Lucet had been silent for a long time.
Yet an Oracle?
“Then shouldn’t this be a cause for joy?”
An Oracle had come down after so long. It meant that Lucet remained strong. Yet why…… did Grandfather seem troubled?
‘No, rather…….’
He looked troubled.
Tiel then realized that the content of that Oracle was no ordinary matter.
“……Tiel, the thing is…….”
Alpheus spoke.
“An Oracle came through the Temple. It spoke of restoring the balance of this land through Rowen.”
“……Through Rowen?”
It made no sense.
Rowen possessed the Frost Ability. It was distinctly different from the Light Ability she possessed. Yet through Rowen, how could this be?
Wait…… hold on.
Was what Rowen possessed truly the Frost Ability?
When Rowen used her Ability, Tiel herself could not use hers.
As if some force were forcibly blocking her, or as if Rowen were using her power ‘instead’.
“The sky cannot hold two suns…….”
It was a phrase long used to refer to children bearing the Light Ability.
Yet……
If it was truly as the saying went, and when Rowen used her Ability, Tiel’s own was blocked because the sky cannot hold two suns?
If what Rowen possessed was truly the Light Ability?
Tiel was confused. She could not understand why such a thing had happened to her.
Yet…….
“Grandfather.”
Tiel called to Alpheus. Alpheus, tucking his granddaughter’s white hair neatly behind her ear, answered.
“Yes, Tiel.”
“If Rowen is a water-dweller bearing a new Light Ability, can she restore this phenomenon?”
“……What?”
Yet what Tiel asked was unexpected. Alpheus narrowed his eyes.
“The Balance of Day and Night has shattered, and the water-dwellers of the Crasion Empire are suffering. If Rowen can restore this balance…….”
Tiel smiled faintly.
“Then we should support her……! There’s no way around it, is there?”
Tiel truly believed this.
If her own aptitude was insufficient and Lucet had withdrawn her Ability to give it to Rowen, then it would suffice for Rowen to faithfully fulfill that divine will.
Tiel herself was not important. What mattered was the greater good. It didn’t matter who did it, so long as the Balance of Day and Night was restored.
Of course, in that process, countless water-dwellers would gnaw at the inadequate Tiel, and she would be wounded, but such a thing was bearable.
‘For Crasion’s sake.’
Tiel nodded.
She had worked hard thus far to bring no shame. That was what mattered. Nothing else was important.
Even if this led to Rowen being elevated as the true Child of Light, and Tiel herself lived a life more wretched than death, it would be acceptable.
Of course, reaching this conclusion had required much anguish.
Tiel herself had suffered greatly.
But it was the water-dwellers living in Crasion who mattered, not herself…….
Yet.
“Oh, if you would just——!”
The maidservant standing guard outside spoke in an embarrassed tone. Alpheus and Tiel turned their heads toward the sound simultaneously.
Bang.
The door opened, and Iandros stepped into the room.
Iandros looked once at Tiel, who had grown haggard in the meantime, and once at Alpheus standing protectively at her side.
Then he spoke.
“That’s absurd.”
Tiel’s eyes widened.

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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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