The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 205

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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 205
[Tsk…….]
From the darkness came a voice that was heavy, viscous, and terrible, resonating through the void.
In the darkness stood a princess with golden hair and emerald eyes, stiff as a puppet on strings.
Yet something was different from before—where the old princess had seemed like a puppet truly devoid of ‘self,’ this time…….
[I buried it so deep. Why has it awakened?]
The darkness, blackest and most terrible thing in all the world, stretched forth an enormous hand and struck the princess’s brow with a flick.
From that point sprang a single thread of the darkest shadows.
But the darkness dissipated quickly, and where it had vanished, small fragments of light fell away.
Those fragments were swallowed by the darkness and consumed, but the one who stood there clearly saw a tiny, insignificant shard of light devouring its own darkness.
[Grating…… so it was because of this.]
The darkness realized that what obstructed its plans was a product of Ruysset’s creation—an entity called Tiel Asterian.
In truth, there was nothing new to realize. In this world, only two things could hinder its design: Ruysset and Tiel.
Ruysset.
That irritating thing, fashioned from the purest light in all existence.
It was the darkness’s absolute antithesis. Merely by ‘existing,’ it became an obstacle—without lifting a finger.
[Just as now…….]
The darkness struck the princess’s brow again. The puppet-like princess stumbled backward helplessly.
At the same moment, a Record fell from her embrace. With its vast power, the darkness perceived the book’s contents without opening its cover.
[Only because of this did part of what I had buried surface? How humiliating…….]
As the darkness reached out, the only Record concerning the princess, which had been kept in Eberard’s cellar all this time, crumbled to ash and vanished.
But the princess did not resist even once—she simply stood there, like a doll that knew not how to rebel.
[Well, it matters not. The preparations are complete. On the night all things are perfected, you shall become a perfect god…….]
The darkness caressed the princess with a hand that was almost gentle and tender. From its edge, a thread of black shadow stretched forth and pierced through the princess’s brow.
It resembled a long serpent, or perhaps a thread so thin as to be nearly invisible…….
Slither.
After convulsing several times, it vanished completely into the princess’s mind. Afterward, not even a trace of its presence remained.
[The preparations are done.]
A form emerged from the darkness.
That form was now almost solid—at first glance, it resembled the shape of a person, with a head, torso, and limbs.
It drew near to the princess.
And it pressed its face close before the princess, who stood there with a pallor like death.
Then, as if about to devour her, it opened its great maw and whispered.
[I am the great god, Orpheo…….]
Orpheo laughed, a terrible sound.
[Nothing can thwart my design. Ruysset and Ruysset’s little woman shall soon be destroyed…….]
It was both a prophecy and a curse, delivered by the great Evil God Orpheo.
The darkness stirred in response, writhing.
And then the princess’s emerald eyes flashed briefly with light, before that radiance faded.
***
“Tiel, this won’t do. We’re returning to Asterian. Prepare yourself—we’re going home.”
Cassius spoke. Tiel’s eyes widened in surprise as she replied.
“But Father, if we leave now…….”
“Let Rowen Nestian play at being a Child of Light, if that’s what Nestian desires. But I cannot bear to watch you endangered any longer.”
It was Cassius Asterian’s decision.
As the second-ranking power of the Black Leopard Clan and Tiel’s father, he had made this choice.
“Tiel, such trivial things hold no value to me. But had you wanted them, I would have moved heaven and earth to obtain them for you.”
“Father…….”
“But this doesn’t feel right. You look far too exhausted, Tiel.”
Tiel could say nothing, for there was something sorrowful in Cassius’s gaze.
What was he feeling right now?
A sense of helplessness—that there was nothing he could do?
Cassius Asterian had lost his lifelong Bonded Partner, Rena Nestian, long ago.
And for seven years he had not known whether his daughter, born of that union, lived or died. Now countless things threatened her very life.
For Cassius, this was a situation he could not simply stand by and accept.
That he had endured this long was solely because Tiel had wished it.
She wanted to shoulder responsibility befitting the power she possessed, to care for the Beast-kin of this land, to speak the word of the Divine Representative to them as the Divine Representative herself.
But what if Tiel were wounded?
What if she were hurt or even died? What good would any of it be then?
To Cassius, nothing mattered more than his daughter’s safety. And now that safety was threatened.
“Tiel.”
Cassius pulled Tiel into an embrace. She blinked in his arms, then reached up to hold him in return.
“I cannot bear to see you in danger any longer. Let’s go home. I will place you somewhere absolutely safe, and I will protect you thoroughly.”
Cassius whispered. His voice seemed to tremble.
Tiel swallowed hard.
How many moments had Father endured to say this to her?
Since when had he wanted to speak these words?
Since the moment he decided to abandon all Asterian affairs and follow her to this distant land?
Or since the moment Rowen Nestian revealed her Ability to the world?
Or perhaps…….
‘From the beginning.’
From the very beginning, Father has wanted to protect me…….
From that day when seven-year-old Tiel came to the Asterian Mansion.
With her hair tangled beyond measure, wearing clothes like rags, her body curled up and trembling, begging to be allowed to stay here even if she could have no food…….
He had wanted to protect her with all his might.
Tiel understood his heart. He had never, not for a single moment, wished for her to be special.
He would have wished for her to live ordinarily and happily, to remain forever under his protection.
But the fate given to Tiel was cruel and merciless. At merely seven years old, she had manifested the Light Ability and became the Divine Representative of Ruysset.
And from that moment, there had never been a single instant of peace in Tiel’s life.
Looking back, it was truly so. Then how much must Cassius have suffered, watching from beside her?
How much heartache must Father have endured?
No parent wishes for their beloved child to fall into danger day after day, to be tested endlessly.
And Cassius was a man who had already lost a daughter and a wife once before.
He would have wanted desperately to protect Tiel.
But Tiel did not wish for that, and desired instead to prove herself to the world, so he had let her go.
As she thought this far, Tiel came to understand anew how great her father’s love for her was.
And she could not refuse him.
‘I was going to search for more records of the princess—if there’s nothing in Eberard, I would go to Arne, and if nothing there, I would try other houses…….’
But how could she ignore Father’s desperate plea when he spoke like this?
Tiel had no confidence she could, nor any desire to.
There was no need to rush the investigation into the princess. It could be done after returning to Asterian.
She need not go herself—she could simply order the elite knights of Asterian to conduct the search in her stead.
“I understand, Father. We’ll go home. We’ll return to Asterian.”
Tiel wrapped her arms around Cassius’s neck with all her strength, just as she had when she was very small, clinging to him at seven years old.
Iandros watched in silence, though Tiel knew he would respect her decision.
“Right. If the Oracle is true, we’re no longer needed anyway.”
Ludian stated it simply and plainly.
Not long ago, the High Priest had announced that an Oracle had come down.
‘Through Rowen, the balance of this land shall be restored.’
According to that Oracle, there was no place for Tiel.
Whether the Oracle was false or true did not matter. What mattered was that it was an Oracle proclaimed by the High Priest of the Temple of Ruysset, and it was the only Oracle that presently existed.
“So let us depart. I too agree with Father’s words—I cannot bear to see you endangered further.”
Ludian, the second son of the Asterian Family, spoke with resolute determination.

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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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