The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 197

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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 197
“You said you were looking for records?”
Illum blinked and repeated the question. Tiel nodded, and Karl, who had been dragged along by Tiel, Iandros, Ferdi, and Ludian and now stood beside them, nodded as well.
“We need some very old documents.”
“If I knew what you were searching for, I could help you more easily.”
“We need records about the princess of Crasion who possessed the Subspace Ability.”
Tiel spoke. Illum scratched his head as though troubled. If it was a princess of Crasion who wielded the Subspace Ability, wasn’t she the one they called the Mad Princess?
Even children knew of the Mad Princess. The princess who had failed to properly control her Ability and nearly devoured more than half of Crasion’s Beastkin.
And wasn’t it the next Emperor of Crasion who killed her and saved the realm? This was something all Beastkin of Crasion knew.
But suddenly they needed records about that princess? Illum blinked, evidently uncomfortable.
“Most of those records have already been lost. There’s likely nothing remaining in the Everard archives either. However… if it’s the place where Lord Karl was sleeping, there might just be some related materials left.”
“The place where I was sleeping?”
This time it was Karl who showed interest. When he was very young, right after realizing he was the son of Renato Birhillio Eberard, he had once asked Illum to show him ‘the place where he had been kept.’
But Illum had refused. He said Karl was far too young to see that place directly.
“However, there is a problem. Only Direct Lineage and Vassal House Successors of the Everard are permitted to enter.”
“I thought as much. There’s no way the security of such a place would be lax.”
Similar mechanisms existed in other houses as well. It was common practice to install a Bloodline Verification Mechanism so that only the house’s heirs could enter places where the family’s secrets or treasures were hidden.
Much less would Renato Birhillio Eberard, who had traded his own Life Force for his son’s sake, have left even this much unguarded.
“Then couldn’t you go in and bring out the materials for us?”
“I’m afraid not. All objects in that place are bound by a Binding Curse—they cannot be removed. However, there is a way to enter that place.”
Illum looked at Karl.
“With the Head of Household’s Ability, while you couldn’t bring everyone here along, you should be able to take about three people, including Lady Tiel.”
“My Ability?”
“Yes. To reach that place, you must cross water, but one cannot simply swim across by normal means. The Eberard Ability is necessary.”
Illum continued.
“If you wrap Lady Tiel with your Ability, you can deceive their senses for a time. It will also make entering the water easier. Will you do this?”
“Then of course…”
“However, you must keep this in mind. That place contains all the secrets of the Everard recorded within it. It is not a place just anyone may enter, nor should it be easily revealed… Please decide carefully, Head of Household.”
Illum finished speaking and bowed his head. Karl looked at them.
The heirs of Asterian. Those who had inherited the bloodline of Asterian, which wielded the greatest power in Crasion. If such people were to betray and spread the secrets of the Everard…
“If you find it difficult, you don’t have to take us in.”
Tiel whispered as though understanding Karl’s heart.
“From what I hear, it sounds like a really important place, and I keep asking you to let us in. I’m sorry. Lord Karl, if it troubles you—truly, you don’t have to take us.”
Karl looked at Tiel.
Would any of this have existed at all without Tiel?
If Tiel had not come to Arcadia that day. If she had not saved the Beastkin of Arcadia. If she had not returned what Arcadia had lost…
None of this—not himself, not anything in this place—would exist. The Everard would have vanished into history, and both Illum and Karl would have become ash and disappeared forever.
Karl made his decision. There was too much he had received from Tiel to weigh such things. It was clear he would never fully repay this debt, even if he spent his entire lifetime trying.
“I will take you in.”
Karl spoke to Tiel.
“I will show you the Eberard Secret Chamber. If you wish.”
Illum nodded as though understanding Karl’s heart. Perhaps he had known his master’s mind all along, having raised him with his own hands for so very long.
“…Thank you! Lord Karl, thank you. I will never forget this kindness.”
Tiel laughed brightly and grasped Karl’s hand.
***
“This is it.”
Illum led them before a massive Stone Gate. It was hidden in the deepest part of the Everard manor.
The Everard crest was carved into the Stone Gate, worn and weathered from ages past, yet its majesty remained wholly intact.
When Illum placed his hand on the Stone Gate, it responded.
The great door felt his warmth and slowly opened. Tiel watched with wide eyes as it moved.
“It’s such a massive and heavy door, but it opens so easily…”
“Yes, it recognizes me and opens for me. It is the power of Lord Renato that remains in this place.”
Illum continued, his tone melancholy.
“But I do not know how much longer it will open. Lord Renato’s power has nearly faded. This is likely because it sensed your awakening, Lord Karl. Once his power is completely gone, this door will never open again.”
Following Illum through the open door, Tiel, Iandros, and Ferdi stepped forward. Ludian remained outside, as Illum had said he could take only three people with him.
Ludian hadn’t stayed because he wished to—rather, he had been left behind at Iandros’s insistence, noting that Ferdi’s memory far surpassed Ludian’s in that regard.
But only Tiel seemed to mind leaving Ludian behind. Yet even Tiel soon became absorbed in the secrets of the Eberard chamber and thought of him no more.
Once through the door, a very long corridor appeared. Walking down it, they encountered another massive door.
It was an endless repetition—a labyrinthine structure. Tiel marveled continuously as she followed behind Illum.
She had heard that the Abilities of Beastkin from ancient times were far more powerful and extraordinary than those of modern Beastkin,
and the power of Renato Birhillio Eberard, dead for centuries yet still controlling and maintaining this vast secret chamber, proved it.
After passing through several doors and corridors, something changed. When the door opened this time, no long hallway appeared.
Instead, a small pond came into view.
Crystal-clear, transparent, and pristine water lay still. Illum bowed his head and offered a gesture of respect to the pond.
Karl, Tiel, Iandros, and Ferdi, standing behind, mimicked the gesture.
And then.
Bang.
Illum, transformed into his animal form, appeared before them. His animal form was a very large turtle.
He slid smoothly into the pond as though to show them the way in.
“We’re going in there?”
Ferdi narrowed his brows, looking down into the pond with displeasure.
But only Ferdi’s reflection was visible in the water—nothing else could be seen.
“This is my first time as well.”
Having finished speaking, Karl used his Ability as Illum had taught him before.
Droplets of the Eberard Ability appeared and enveloped Ferdi, Iandros, and Tiel.
They found themselves encased within small water droplets in an instant. Curious, Tiel reached out and lightly tapped the surface of her droplet. Gentle, transparent ripples spread outward.
“If you are ready, I will proceed.”
Karl did not transform into his Beastkin form and simply slid into the pond. As an heir of the Everard, he had no need to transform into his animal form as Illum had.
Soon after, the water droplets enveloping Ferdi, Tiel, and Iandros rose and floated upward.

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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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