The Youngest Daughter of the Snake Family - Chapter 52

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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 52
Elvin’s mouth had gone completely dry.
The moment he reached his adult form, the new Clan Head had deposed the previous one and seized the throne—and he possessed such formidable ability that he had single-handedly reversed the tide of the territory dispute that had left them at a disadvantage—but.
At the same time, he possessed an extraordinarily cruel disposition.
Elvin opened his mouth with difficulty, anxious lest he say something to offend him.
“If I may be so bold, might it not be wise to withdraw now?”
“Why? Are you frightened?”
“It may well be a matter upon which the future of our entire Clan depends.”
“I understand. But doesn’t this game seem to be unfolding most entertainingly?”
He rose from his seat, his voice touched with amusement.
As his form solidified, a man emerged—silver-haired, his eyes a deep violet.
Elvin tensed as the distance between them narrowed.
The man who had drawn so close smiled faintly and spoke.
“It seems Ella’s mission was not a complete failure. Half of it appears to have succeeded, at least.”
“I beg your pardon, but what do you mean?”
“An egg hatched in the Astrropel Family, I’m told. And they treasure it beyond measure, it would seem.”
Though at that time he had not yet been Clan Head, so he hadn’t witnessed it with his own eyes.
Was that all? They even arranged a special introduction at a banquet, he’d heard.
They granted the child the Astrropel name itself, no less.
A flicker of intrigue danced across the man’s eyes, then vanished.
Seeing the Clan Head’s expression, Elvin gasped and hastened to speak.
“To move against the Astrropel Family would be far too dangerous.”
“Who said I would move against them directly? I have someone else to do that for me.”
The Clan Head’s brow furrowed as his interest seemed to cool. Elvin realized his mistake and fell silent.
The man, seeming lost in thought for a moment, smirked and returned to his seat, murmuring.
“When you have a remaining piece to play, isn’t it only proper that you use it?”
“Surely you don’t mean the Roysar Family?”
“They’ll want their heir returned safely, so I imagine they’ll obey quite readily.”
“……”
“You understand what I’m saying without my having to explain it, don’t you?”
Of course he understood perfectly.
The first thing the man had done after seizing the throne was to seize the heirs of every surrounding house as hostages, leaving not a single one behind.
It had laid waste to the region, and most of the territories had fallen beneath his feet.
The Clan, weary from generations of territorial disputes, had cheered at the Clan Head’s relentless advance—but.
Elvin could not bring himself to rejoice.
“Then I shall take my leave, Diel.”
“Do so.”
Elvin stepped backward. The great doors swung open on either side.
Creak.
Click.
Having finished his report and emerged, Elvin released the breath he had been holding.
Was this truly all right, continuing as things stood?
He walked through the silent Corridor, his eyes half-shut.
If only someone could stop the Clan Head’s advance.
If that were to happen, it wouldn’t matter who it was.
“……Where exactly is the Roysar heir being kept?”
The current Roysar heir would be enduring the humiliation of confinement in a cage right now.
All of it was at the Clan Head’s command.
Even as Elvin moved to carry out his orders, he could not conceal the heaviness in his heart.
* * *
Grrrugh. Gruuuugh.
The second day of lessons in the forest.
I was concentrating hard, trying to move the pheromone that wouldn’t budge.
“You’re doing well. Try concentrating just a little harder.”
It’s so hard!
I’d tried spreading pheromone across my entire body the way Arban had shown me, but it didn’t work as simply as it sounded.
When I actually attempted it, nothing would move.
The pheromone I couldn’t properly control was bubbling and leaking out of my body.
My impatience made it worse. This isn’t working. I need to take a break for a moment.
“Casana. Can we rest for a bit?”
“Understood. Let’s take a brief rest.”
“Thanks.”
I pulled out a water bottle from my bag and took a drink. The ice hadn’t fully melted yet, so it was refreshing.
As I leaned against a tree for a moment, Casana watched me with concern.
“What?”
“If you’re exhausted, wouldn’t it be better to call it a day?”
“No, I’m not tired at all. I can keep going.”
I couldn’t give up now. I’d only just taken my first steps as a Beastkin, and I didn’t want to make excuses.
I pushed myself up to my feet. Right. I’ve rested enough—let me start fresh.
Just as Casana explained, I’d slowly imagine the pheromone circulating throughout my entire body…. Transform one part at a time, I thought to myself.
Uggh.
I clenched my fists tight. All I wanted was for even one small part of me to change.
She’d said that once a portion of the body transforms first, the sensation becomes easier after that.
I was concentrating hard, gradually shifting the pheromone within my body, when Casana’s eyes suddenly widened as she noticed something.
“…Miss Aileen.”
“Hmm?”
“You’ve succeeded in transforming a part of your body.”
“What? Really?! Where? Where?”
So that’s why Casana looked so startled!
I jumped up from the spot, bubbling with joy.
But where exactly changed? No matter how carefully I examined myself, I couldn’t see any difference.
I felt my face—it didn’t seem to have changed. My arms and legs, which I could see, were still the same.
Could Casana have lied to me just because I seemed to be pushing myself too hard?
I spun around to face her suspiciously.
“Where did I change? Nothing looks different at all!”
“Well, that is…”
“Nothing changed at all.”
“You’ve grown a tail.”
Casana pointed behind me.
…A tail? Of all things, a tail?
I turned around unhappily and looked back. I could see the shape of a tail jutting out sharply. I would have preferred wings, honestly.
Still, at least I’d managed to change part of my body, so it wasn’t entirely bad.
“But Casana.”
“Yes, miss?”
“How do I get rid of this?”
“Simply withdraw the pheromone back inward, and it should disappear.”
Withdraw it back inward?
Ughhh.
I put all my strength into the tail. I felt it twitch and move.
I couldn’t walk around like this, so I really hoped it would vanish before class ended.
How long I wrestled with that tail, I’m not sure.
I collapsed onto the ground with a grimace, having squeezed out every last bit of pheromone I could.
“How… how do I…”
The tail hadn’t disappeared at all.
Suddenly, Set’s words came flashing back to me.
“You can’t lose focus when you’re transforming into your true form. If you do… only part of your body might transform permanently, and you’d have to live like that forever.”
Oh no. Was his warning actually coming true?
Panic washed over me. I grabbed Casana’s arm urgently.
“Casana!”
“Yes, Miss Aileen?”
“What do I do…? Am I going to have to live like this forever?”
As I asked anxiously, Casana smiled gently and reassured me.
“Don’t worry, miss. This situation happens quite often. It should resolve naturally with time.”
“But Set said he succeeded on his first try, didn’t he?”
“Well… yes, he did.”
“What about Arban?”
Casana fell silent. It seemed Arban had succeeded on his first attempt too.
And yet she called this a common occurrence? It didn’t seem common at all.
I decided to cover my tail with my bag and head back.
If I slung it over my shoulder and let it hang down, I thought I could hide it somehow.
“Miss Aileen, don’t lose heart. You’ve managed to execute part of the Beastification technique.”
“Casana’s right.”
She was, technically. But I felt utterly drained, and with only the tail showing, there was something distinctly embarrassing about the whole affair.
I emerged from the forest with my bag hanging limply at my side.
I mustn’t let anyone find out. Especially not Arban—I’d have to keep this hidden from him at all costs.
“You can go the rest of the way alone from here.”
“Very well. I hope you return safely without being discovered, Miss Aileen.”
“Mm!”
Buoyed by Casana’s encouragement, I nodded and turned toward the Garden entrance.
But my resolve didn’t last long.
I ran straight into an enormous obstacle. And that obstacle was…
“Hello, Miss Aileen.”
“…Faymon?”
“I thought you might be hungry, so I brought some snacks. But why is your bag hanging like that?”
“Oh…?”
“If it’s heavy, let me carry it for you.”
Faymon, who’d been waiting at the entrance, had caught me completely off guard.
Seeing him hold out his hand for the bag, I instinctively retreated a step.
“No, it’s not heavy at all. I can carry it myself.”
“Then you should wear it properly on your shoulders. Carrying it like that will hurt your arms.”
Faymon nodded in acceptance, but his expression remained puzzled.
This was a disaster.
How was I supposed to make it back to my room without being found out?
I stood frozen in place, glancing around, when suddenly I felt an overwhelming presence beside me.
A large, intimidating-looking man with a powerful build was staring down at me.
“It seems the young lady is quite fond of that bag.”
“Not particularly.”
“Then why?”
“It seems more like you’re trying to hide something.”

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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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