The Youngest Daughter of the Snake Family - Chapter 21

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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 21
“Arban, why are you hiding out here all alone?”
“I’m not hiding.”
“Then what?”
I trailed after Arban as he stepped deeper into the Garden.
Exasperated, he kept glancing back over his shoulder as we ventured into the thicker growth, as if checking whether I was keeping up.
The way he pretended not to care while looking out for me made my lips twitch. Maybe he doesn’t actually hate Airing. I thought he would, after that fight.
“Hey! There’s a stone there.”
“Got it. Airing will be careful!”
“What’s so funny?”
When I giggled, Arban flinched and turned his head away sharply. Then he cleared an entire tangle of branches from the path ahead, making it easier to walk.
Though they called it a hothouse garden, the deeper sections were arranged to support living creatures, so there was some environment established there.
Walking was a bit awkward, but each time Arban looked out for me, I had no trouble keeping pace.
This time too, I scurried along the path he’d made for me.
“Airing loves you!”
“Wh-what are you saying!”
Arban’s face flushed crimson as he hurried ahead. Even the tips of his ears, visible between his sleek black hair, had turned a deep red.
“So you don’t hate Airing?”
“Of course I do! You fool.”
Hmph. Does he really hate me that much?
I let my shoulders droop, my mood sinking.
Waddling on my plump feet, I worked hard to keep up with Arban when suddenly water splashed across my sandals.
“Huh?”
I called out to Arban urgently.
“Arban!”
“What.”
“This is really really amazing!”
I have to show him something incredible right now! If he doesn’t look, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life!
When I made a fuss, Arban reluctantly showed interest and turned back.
“What is it?”
“Airing can really really jump!”
I pointed at the puddle formed from watering the garden. Then I hopped right across it.
Watching from start to finish, Arban’s expression grew bewildered.
He looked like he couldn’t quite figure out what reaction he was supposed to give.
“So now Airing can jump over puddles too? How impressive.”
Successfully jumping the puddle lifted my mood back up. My lips curved into an uncontrollable smile. My cheeks swelled with unbridled joy, but then Arban let out a scoff.
“Impressive? You just hopped over a puddle.”
“Airing did really well!”
“You could just go around it instead, you idiot.”
“…Airing is not an idiot. You’re just a bird who doesn’t understand anything.”
Because you’re not a bird, you don’t understand!
Feeling hurt that Arban wouldn’t acknowledge my feelings, I thrust my lips out in a pout.
Now I didn’t have to fear falling into puddles anymore, and I could easily avoid stones blocking the way — it was all so wonderful.
I no longer had to wander anxiously through the meadows, worried I’d get lost like I used to.
All of it became possible once I underwent Humanization.
When I pressed my lips together, Arban panicked, unsure what to do.
“Hey, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Airing is sulking!”
Stomp, stomp, stomp!
I stamped my feet loudly as I walked past Arban, and I could feel him hurrying after me a moment later.
Keeping my eyes fixed ahead, pretending not to notice, I spotted a long red flower swaying gently on one side of the path.
“Oh?”
It was the nameless flower I’d seen with Rosaria before. The flower that had seemed to reach toward the sky now appeared smaller than me.
As I gently patted the flower, Arban, who had been staring at me from beside me, spoke hesitantly.
“That flower’s smaller than you now.”
“I know. It’s smaller than Airing!”
“Hey, this one’s smaller than you too.”
“Is it really smaller than Airing?”
My lips kept rising higher and higher. If I got any happier, my tail might pop right out.
“You’re my big brother, Arban.”
“What, what?”
Arban startled and stumbled backward. Seeing my confusion, he cleared his throat awkwardly and straightened his posture before asking again.
“What did I say?”
“Arban.”
Did he dislike being called that?
When I lowered my voice tentatively, Arban’s lips trembled as if suppressing a smile.
Standing with arms crossed in an arrogant pose, Arban tilted his chin upward.
“Fine. If you want to call me that, I’ll allow it.”
“Does Airing not like it?”
“That’s up to you.”
Arban looked up at the glass-covered sky. The sun was already setting. It seemed like we’d just arrived this morning. Time had slipped away so quickly.
“Let’s go now.”
“Where to?”
“Where else? Classes are over, so we should head back. You don’t want Rosaria to scold you for returning late.”
Wait—had Arban skipped class? He’d said earlier that he was hiding, not avoiding his instructor, but it seemed he’d actually been dodging the teacher.
I blinked at him, and Arban ruffled his hair irritably.
“Anyway, do what you want. I’m leaving!”
“Let’s go together!”
We’d ventured so deep into the Garden that everything felt unfamiliar.
How had we gotten this far?
I’d been so focused on following Arban’s back that I hadn’t noticed. Afraid of losing sight of him as he walked quickly ahead, I called out urgently.
“Arban!”
He stopped.
“Wait!”
“Why do you keep calling me?”
“Airing wants to go with you… Airing is scared…”
The Garden was growing as dark as the world outside. If I got lost here, I wouldn’t be able to move an inch until tomorrow morning.
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
“Give me your hand.”
“Why should I!”
“Hmph.”
My calves ached from walking so long. Panic seized me—what if Arban just left me here because I was being annoying? My eyes stung with the threat of tears.
“Hey, why are you suddenly like this?”
“Airing is tired. Carry me?”
“Just from walking a little, your legs hurt!”
Arban grumbled, then bent forward and turned his back to me. Uncertain what he meant, I stood there blankly until he urged me on.
“Get on.”
“…But Airing is big now. Airing is heavy.”
“As if you weigh anything. Hurry up and get on.”
Carefully, I climbed onto his back. I wrapped my arms around his neck and held on, and as he steadied himself to carry me, my perspective suddenly rose with a lightness that surprised me.
“Wow. You’re amazing!”
“Hmph. You’re light enough.”
“You’re so cool!”
“…Cool?”
“Yes! You’re the coolest person in the whole world!”
“You think I’d be happy just because someone like you says I’m cool?”
Arban cleared his throat and began walking the way we’d come. I puffed out my cheeks.
“But Airing means it.”
“…Am I really cool?”
“Yes! You’re like a prince riding a white horse!”
Wait—Arban’s ears were red again!
So he didn’t dislike me. He wasn’t really upset at all.
Delighted, I swung my legs playfully. When I got back, I’d have to tell Rosaria that Arban carried me.
* * *
In the southern borderlands where the Astropel Family held sway.
A man with deep indigo hair stood on the pinnacle of the fortress known as the Black Fortress Wall, gazing down at the world below with unmistakable boredom.
Of late, the border had been far too quiet.
With a grand Banquet scheduled soon, the clans sharing the borderland were treading with exaggerated caution, terrified of offending one another.
“How tedious.”
This always happened at such times. He wished someone would start trouble—anything to break the monotony.
The man murmured a hope that could never come to pass.
He felt he could do anything if only he could escape this tedious existence.
Of course, if he could avoid meeting whoever was lurking downstairs, he would prefer to stay cooped up in his room without complaint.
His face twisted with irritation.
“Not a shred of courtesy in that one.”
Before he could finish speaking, the door swung open.
“Karma!”
“What is it?”
Karma, the man bearing that name, asked with familiar ease.
Living at the border, he had long grown accustomed to his private space being violated.
When Karma showed his displeasure at being disturbed, the intruder laughed sharply.
Black Mambas typically valued their personal space, but this one was clearly a mutant.
Though Karma cast an irritated glance his way, his uninvited guest Peyman, as always, cleanly ignored his gaze.
“Orders came down from the Family.”
“…Orders?”
“You’re to return for the Banquet.”
Return.
It was a unilateral summons from the patriarch himself.
The seal belonged to Baon, the Family’s second-in-command, but he always moved at the patriarch’s word.
“Has something happened to the Family? I don’t recall this ever occurring before.”
It was beyond Karma’s understanding why Kaid, who always stationed manpower at the border at maximum capacity, was now ordering a recall.
The Gatekeepers, including Karma, were organized separately from the clansmen stationed at the border, and yet there had never been a sudden movement order without warning until now.
“No, nothing’s happened. Well, actually… something might be about to.”
Peyman handed over the missive he’d been holding.
“It’s an order to guard the young lady.”
“The young lady?”
“You didn’t know? The Family has a youngest daughter.”
What is he talking about? When was this?
Hearing this for the first time, Karma’s brow furrowed deeply.

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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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