The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 265

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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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Special Side Story 15
The Salamander truly would not leave Runa’s side.
“Come here.”
……
“I said come here.”
Even when Cassius commanded it, the creature refused to listen, clinging steadfastly to Runa. Cassius tilted his head in puzzlement and snapped his fingers.
At that, several smaller Salamanders—belonging to Runa—appeared in a rush and circled around the larger one.
Tilt. Tilt.
Tilt. Tilt.
And at the same moment they all cocked their heads, as though asking: “Why does this one look so strange?”
“It seems like it’s become Runa’s pet now.”
Tiel laughed awkwardly, watching the scene unfold. Cassius nodded in agreement.
“Indeed. The creature has finally found its master. It wouldn’t listen to me and just kept wandering about on its own…….”
“But won’t it be all right? Runa doesn’t have an Ability. I’m worried what might happen if she can’t control it…….”
Tiel lowered her voice so Runa wouldn’t hear. Cassius made a thoughtful sound and studied Runa and the Salamanders in turn.
With a normal Salamander, there would have been no danger to Runa.
But this Salamander hadn’t merely borrowed Cassius’s power—it had grown its body on its own.
And in doing so, its strength had naturally increased. As he’d said, it had grown into an independent entity.
Which meant the risk of danger couldn’t be entirely ruled out. After all, Asterian had only escaped “that curse” less than twenty years ago.
“But.”
Cassius tapped the armrest of his chair lightly with his fingertip.
“You’re there, so it will be fine, Tiel. If its power runs away with itself, you’ll be right beside her to calm it. You’re the mother who can soothe her.”
Of course, what would happen after that couldn’t be guaranteed.
A Salamander made from fragments of an Ability developing a sense of self and choosing its own master was an unprecedented occurrence, so there was no knowing what it would become in the future.
It might lose its consciousness and return once more to being part of Cassius, or it might live as it did now—Runa’s Salamander, forever by her side.
Whatever the case, there was no way to know for certain right now.
Cassius spoke in a lowered voice.
“Tiel, children with Abilities have a higher chance of dying young than other children.”
Though of course, this too was a tale from long ago.
In this day and age, such things had become rarer, but nonetheless, Beast-kin children with Abilities were still not born easily.
First, when a Beast-kin with an Ability becomes pregnant, she loses her power for the duration of the pregnancy.
After birth, she recovers, but her strength weakens during pregnancy, so her body naturally becomes frail as well.
And second.
The power of an Ability is usually so immense that a small child’s weak body often cannot contain it all.
In most cases, the child suffers a few bouts of illness when young and then recovers, but if the power is too much to bear, death can result.
So an Ability is something you must accept with risk from the moment of birth.
“That’s why parents must care for such children meticulously when they’re young. But Runa has no Ability, so she never went through that process…….”
“You’re saying that now she must be cared for meticulously from this point forward, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
The Salamander used its Flame Power only the slightest bit when Runa commanded it.
Which meant the Salamander’s power had become Runa’s power.
So she would need to watch over her far more carefully now. Tiel nodded.
“Yes, Father. I will watch her closely.”
“For a small child to have a Salamander is certainly a burden of risk, but…….”
Both Tiel and Cassius’s gazes turned toward Runa, who laughed happily among the Salamanders.
She held her newfound companion close, beaming with joy.
No one could tell that joyful face: “Don’t be with the Salamander—it’s dangerous.”
“Perhaps it will turn out to be a good opportunity. At the very least, it seems it will ease Runa’s heart.”
“Yes, I think so too.”
Tiel’s gaze reached the smiling girl and then fell away.
She smiled softly.
“I think so as well.”
***
“Young one.”
Ludian tapped Raven’s shoulder. He ruffled the boy’s hair carelessly.
“Why do you look so downcast? You were beside Runa when she fell in the water, weren’t you? Is that why?”
……
“Won’t you talk to me?”
To Ludian, Raven was far more than a mere knight-in-training.
In Ludian’s Knight Order, Raven was someone’s youngest sibling—perhaps an elder or younger adopted son.
And so the relationship between Ludian and Raven was somewhat different from that of an ordinary knight and squire. It leaned more toward the bond between patron and the boy he looked after.
That was why he had come.
‘That little one seemed frightened too.’
When Ludian heard that Runa had fallen in the water, he was shocked—but how shocked must Raven have been, who was right there?
Besides, knowing Raven’s nature, it was obvious he was now blaming himself for failing to protect Runa.
So the moment Ludian confirmed Runa was safe, he came to check on Raven’s state.
Then.
“Um, Ludian.”
Raven opened his mouth.
“Oh! I’m listening.”
Ludian crouched down to meet Raven’s eyes.
“Tell me.”
“What do I have to do to become a wonderful knight?”
“Hmm?”
Though Ludian had brought Raven here because he’d expressed a desire to become a knight, the boy was still young and didn’t seem particularly interested in such things.
But at this moment, asking this question—
‘He’s serious.’
Raven was serious. Serious in a way that couldn’t be dismissed as mere child’s talk from a seven-year-old.
“You suddenly had this thought?”
“Yes.”
Raven answered with flushed cheeks, hanging his head shyly.
“You had this thought because of Runa.”
!!
Raven stammered in fright, hastening to add:
“N-no, that’s not a betrayal of Asterian! I want to live for Asterian, it’s just……!”
“I know, I know.”
Ludian, handling the boy with practiced ease, nodded.
Everyone’s life has a turning point, after all.
Those who had smooth childhoods sometimes encounter their turning point late, while those whose childhoods were turbulent meet theirs early.
Like Raven.
And all those who resolved to become knights had such turning points.
Or perhaps a catalyst.
It had come to Raven. Though Raven was just a seven-year-old child, Ludian knew his words were no jest.
Ludian had raised that tiny wisp of a boy.
So how could he not understand?
‘And sometimes, a motivation born this early becomes the very foundation upon which a man builds his entire life.’
In fact, not a few knights had become so because they met again—or caught even a distant glimpse—of a first love they’d encountered or seen in their youth, and wished to protect them.
So Raven’s motivation, wrung from him now in troubled thought, was a very common one in the Knight Order.
‘If word gets out, he’ll get teased.’
Those who doted on Raven would undoubtedly tease him mercilessly.
But such teasing too sprang from affection, so Ludian paid it little mind. Affection was something Raven would have to bear.
Ludian stroked Raven’s head. Black strands of hair jutted up between his large, rough fingers.
“If you wish to become a knight, Raven.”
Ludian smiled slightly.
“Then never forget the feeling you hold right now.”
Then one day, you will become a knight.
And you will be able to protect someone.
Ludian spoke slowly, with clear and measured words. With each word Ludian uttered, Raven’s eyes grew wider.
Given that Raven was ordinarily not a child prone to excitement, this reaction was extraordinary.
“Yes, Ludian!”
Raven answered vigorously. The young raven’s eyes shone like jewels.
Ludian gazed upon him with satisfaction and added:
“And don’t be picky with food.”
!!
“Wake up early in the morning.”
Raven nodded.
Though these didn’t seem particularly important, if Ludian said so, then that was how it was—or so his face proclaimed.

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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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