The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family

“...That’s right! I stood in the light, and I was fine, Uncle!”

Karl suddenly raised his hand, as if he just remembered. Illum and Eren looked at him with doubtful eyes.

“You were fine?”

“Yes, I was perfectly fine!”

“It’s because you’re still young...”

“Couldn’t the Light Ability have some special power? Like in the legend...?”

Illum, who had been looking at Karl with subdued eyes, gestured for Eren with a tilt of his chin.

“Take him outside for a moment.”

“Yes. Karl, come here.”

Eren quickly picked Karl up and carried him out. He looked like an uncle taking his nephew out. Ian Dross, who had been watching the scene, asked.

“Is the man named Eren a relative of Karl’s?”

“Yes, Karl is my and Illum’s nephew.”

Illum nodded. At Illum’s words, everyone in the room was slightly surprised. This was because Karl and Illum didn’t resemble each other at all.

Karl had water-colored hair and sea-colored eyes, while Illum had white hair with black stains and black eyes.

Even though the glowstone light was weak, it was still visible. However, it was clear that Karl and Illum did not resemble each other at all.

After sending Karl out, Illum cleared his throat and cautiously spoke.

“Is the reason you’ve come to this land... because of the Light Legend?”

“That’s right.”

Ferdie nodded and answered without hesitation. Illum, as if expecting this, looked at the boy.

He then slowly shifted his gaze to the small girl. A fragile, tiny girl resembling a white foam.

A girl who appeared so small and fragile that it was unimaginable she possessed such a great ability...

The people of this land had once longed for this girl to come here, for the light to reach this far.

But now...

“As the representative of the beastkin in this land, I ask you, please do not bring morning to this land.”

Illum lowered his head. The children looked at each other in confusion. From time to time, murmurs like “Why?” and “Didn’t this man eat something strange?” were heard, but Illum deliberately ignored them.

“Karl must have told you, but we are suffering from an unknown disease or curse.”

“...”

“With this curse, it’s possible that all the beastkin here will die soon. But there’s one thing we know for sure.”

Illum continued.

“We can no longer live under the light. Our bodies have adapted to the darkness over time, so it’s natural.”

“That’s not certain...”

Ludian interjected.

Illum responded.

“No, we know. Even the glowstone light hurts our eyes if we are exposed to it for too long. What do you think will happen if we stand under the sunlight? We’ll probably hide in the darkness, unable to endure even a minute of it.”

This was the very concern that Tiel had worried about earlier, spilling from Illum’s mouth.

“So, I kindly ask, dear one who has manifested the Light Ability, please allow this land to remain in darkness.”

Illum had sent Eren and Karl away for a simple reason. It was obvious that Eren and Karl would ask her to bring morning here using the Light Ability.

But Illum knew. The beastkin here could no longer live under the light. The moment morning arrived, it would be the end of this land.

If destruction was inevitable, perhaps... it could be delayed just a little longer. That was Illum’s thought. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Tiel understood Illum’s words. The other children also understood him. Ferdie and Ludian were thinking whether they should go back now, while Olivier and Clemence were already contemplating their return.

At that moment, Tiel quietly spoke.

“Um, I’ve had a similar experience. I’ve seen dark, pitch-black stains, or something like a living creature...”

When she met Ian at Luminarie, in that carriage. And... in Ian’s subspace.

“They all disappeared when exposed to my light. So, maybe the darkness that’s gnawing at the beastkin here might be the same. Could you show me just once?”

Tiel’s golden eyes gleamed brightly as they caught the glowstone’s light. Even though this place was dark, Tiel’s eyes should have lost their brilliance, but for some reason, they were clearly shining.

However, she couldn’t sacrifice the lives of the beastkin, who were like family, just for an ‘experiment.’ So, just as Illum was about to refuse...

Bang!

The door was slammed open. The children turned around in surprise. There, standing tall, was Karl, who had gone out with Eren.

“Uncle Illum!”

“Karl, what’s wrong?”

Though the other children couldn’t see Karl’s expression clearly, Illum could see Karl’s face vividly. Karl stood in the doorway, his face pale.

“Herod’s condition is strange. Soon... soon...”

Karl’s voice trembled.

Illum clenched his eyes shut. Herod was like Karl’s older brother, and Illum’s... son. His condition had deteriorated rapidly in recent days, and he had been placed in his house for care.

Karl had gone to Illum’s house to bring the good news that the child with the Light Ability had arrived, only to discover that Herod’s condition had worsened dramatically.

Illum, with a grim expression, apologized to the children.

“I must go. Please wait here for a moment. We’ll talk later...”

“Wait.”

Ferdie interrupted Illum’s words. After glancing between Illum and Karl, he spoke with a relatively calm expression.

“We also wish to accompany you. We promise not to use our abilities. We wish to examine the condition of the beastkin here, but if it’s inconvenient, you may refuse.”

Illum hesitated for a moment before nodding. He couldn’t let the beastkin meet anyone freely, but Herod was his son.

And from Karl’s words, it seemed that Herod’s end... was near. It wouldn’t matter much to show him the final moments.

“Very well. I will guide you.”

Tiel took Ferdie’s hand and followed Illum, watching his back.

Illum seemed calmer than expected. Was it because he had witnessed the deaths of many beastkin up close? Or was it... because he had been preparing for everyone’s death for so long?

Tiel, still young, couldn’t quite understand which one was the true reason.

***

“Herod!”

Karl flung the door open and entered. It was too dark to see clearly, but she could vaguely make out someone lying on the bed, with Eren standing nearby.

Illum carefully closed the door to prevent any light from seeping in.

“...Herod.”

Illum walked closer to the bed and called out his son’s name. The man lying on the bed weakly turned his head.

“...Father...”

His voice cracked. Tiel could tell from just the sound of his voice how much of a lonely battle he had been fighting.

‘...It seems like he’s going to die soon.’

Herod’s breath, though still present, was so faint and weak that it seemed like it could stop at any moment if she turned her gaze away for even a second.

“Yeah, yeah. It’s alright, Herod. Father is here.”

Illum comforted his son. Tiel noticed that his voice was slightly cracking at the end.

Illum was also sad.

He couldn’t remain composed in the face of his son’s death, someone he had raised with all his heart throughout his life. Tiel briefly thought of Chender Nestian. Would he have been this sad when he discovered I had died?

‘...No, he wouldn’t have.’

The grandfather she knew wouldn’t have reacted like this. Tiel moved a little closer to the bed.

At that moment, Herod weakly reached out and grasped Illum’s hand with trembling fingers.

Most of his body had already turned black. Only his face still retained its original color, but even that would soon turn as well.

In other words, Herod’s end was near...

Illum gently brushed his son’s face. It felt rough.

Herod, with his faltering breath, spoke.

“I... I heard from Karl... that someone with the Light Ability... has arrived...”

“...Yes.”

Illum held his son’s hand, indicating there was no need to say more. Herod smiled faintly, using his last strength.

“I want to see... just once...”

“....”

The moment Herod was exposed to the light, his life would end, and his breath would stop. Illum knew this well.

Even so, he couldn’t refuse his son’s last request...

“...Tiel.”

Illum turned to Tiel. The girl nodded.

“...May I ask for a favor? He said he wants to see. Please, look after my son. And... show him the light for the last time.”

Illum asked.

Tiel nodded, then stepped closer.

Without hesitation, she used her ability.

Fwwww-!

The warmest light in the world bloomed from the small palm of Tiel’s hand.

A land where both light and name had been lost.

For the first time in a long while, light returned to this land.