The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family

"Big trouble!"

At that moment, the door burst open and a woman with a frantic expression rushed in. She had tied her hair tightly and appeared to have a rather haughty demeanor. She paused for a moment as she entered, startled.

There were unfamiliar faces in the room.

She had been with the patients and hadn’t heard that outsiders had arrived. Moreover, she hadn’t heard that one of the outsiders was a child with the "Light Ability." She hesitated and stepped back.

“What is this light?”

Yunis muttered in bewilderment.

“Yunis! What’s the matter with you, bursting in without knocking?”

At that, Illum sharply scolded Yunis, who was still staring blankly. But after a brief shock from the light pouring in, Yunis quickly pointed toward the outside with urgency.

“We’re in big trouble! The patients’ conditions are critical! Their conditions have worsened suddenly! If we don’t do something, they’ll all!”

Yunis poured out her words in haste. She had never seen proper light before, so it was natural that she would be shocked by the light that now filled the room. Yet, Yunis didn’t stay startled for long.

‘The patients are in danger!’

For her, there was something more important than the light. Right now, informing Illum about the rapidly deteriorating condition of the beastkin was far more urgent than the light itself.

The spots spread slowly and gradually across their bodies. At first, they didn’t interfere with daily life.

However, as the spots grew larger, taking over most of the skin, the beastkin would lose their strength, their eyesight would fade, and their limbs would become immobile.

This process usually took a year, or at least six months, but now the spots were rapidly spreading at an incredible speed, overtaking the bodies of the beastkin. The speed was unlike anything before. It was as if someone was rapidly draining their life force. Even as they spoke, the beastkin were dying.

If things continued like this, they would all die.

Yunis deliberately left her sentence unfinished, but the others could already guess what would come next. At Yunis’s words, Illum let go of Herod’s hand and stood up abruptly.

“What do you mean their conditions are worsening? What does that mean? Speak slowly... No, never mind. I’ll go there right now.”

Illum said.

“Yes! Hurry!”

Yunis nodded quickly and stamped her feet in a rush. Illum didn’t have time to observe Herod’s condition any longer; he had to move.

Tiel, startled by the sudden situation, widened her eyes and clasped her hands together. The timing was coincidental.

Just moments ago, most of the spots on Herod’s body had disappeared due to Tiel’s ability.

And now, the spots on the bodies of the beastkin were rapidly spreading all over their bodies? Tiel’s complexion darkened. Something didn’t feel right.

A small unease bloomed in her chest, wondering if this was happening because of her. She didn’t want to think like that, but the timing was too coincidental. She suddenly recalled the words that the beastkin had said: "They can no longer live under the light."

‘It’s like... my ability triggered a reaction.’

Perhaps, using her ability here somehow affected them.

Anxiety made her stomach churn.... But Tiel didn’t become discouraged. She clenched her fist firmly.

‘No, it’s okay.’

Since she had already eradicated the spots on Herod’s body, perhaps she could heal the other beastkin as well. Just as Tiel was about to tell Illum that she wanted to go with him, Illum turned to look at Tiel.

“...The young lady with the Light Ability.”

“Yes, Illum-nim!”

“Would you come with me? Perhaps you will be needed by them as well.”

Tiel nodded without hesitation.

“I’ll go with you.”

She wanted to see the situation for herself. Perhaps, just like with Herod, she could heal the other beastkin!

Upon Tiel’s decision, the other children silently nodded in agreement.

“We were planning to ask the military doctor to check their conditions anyway, so we’ll go too,” Ianthros said.

Illum nodded.

***

“Ah, aaah-! No!”

“My goodness, this can’t be happening!”

“Damn it! Open your eyes!”

It was chaos.

The sounds of wailing echoed through the room. Tiel took a deep breath at the scene in front of her. It was too dark to see properly, but she could tell that there were a tremendous number of beastkin lying in one place.

The patients had been laid down together in one area for easier care. Since even a small light would be highly toxic to them, they had been placed in the darkest corner.

The military doctor first checked the condition of the patients closest to him. When the beastkin who had seen Illum arrive saw him, they rushed over to grab him.

“More than twenty have already died!”

“It’s strange, it’s strange. It’s different from before. Their skin is necrotic, their flesh is withering, and all the blood is gone from their bodies as they die!”

Illum hurriedly examined the corpses of the deceased. The others were right. They were indeed withered, as if they had been drained completely. Illum quickly blocked Tiel and the other children from approaching the bodies, fearing they might be shocked.

“Your Highness, it’s not a sight you should see. Please, please turn away for a moment.”

The Crown Prince... the heir of Asterian, the heir of Wolfgang and Clemence... the child of light from legend.

What use is all that? For those who had lived in isolation from the imperial family and the five great houses for so long, they were just children. And for children, it was not a sight that should be seen. Illum regretted bringing the children here.

The only fortunate thing was that this place was so dark that outsiders wouldn’t be able to properly see what was happening in this darkness.

Of course, they, too, were beastkin, so they could make out some differences even in the darkness, but they couldn’t fully see the state of the corpses. That was the only blessing.

Even now, many were still dying. Illum had to make a decision. Would he watch the people who were like family die, or would he ask Tiel to use her ability one more time, even if it was shameless?

Illum knew something about her abilities. He wasn’t completely ignorant. He knew that the amount of ability one could use in a day was limited, and that a child’s capacity was very small.

But even knowing that, he couldn’t ask her to use it for so many people. Illum hesitated, unable to bring himself to ask Tiel.

“...”

Tiel looked at the chaotic scene. It was so dark she couldn’t even see properly, but she could tell that countless people were rushing around, wailing in confusion.

The only fortunate thing was that, having just used her ability on Herod, Tiel now knew that she might be able to heal them too.

The girl closed her eyes for a moment and gauged the range of the sounds of crying. Since she couldn’t see clearly, she had no choice but to use this method.

Pong-!

Small ears popped out of Tiel’s head. The ears twitched, trying to measure the distance. How far did it go? How far did she need to use her ability?

Even Tiel’s ability had its limits. Moreover, Tiel had never used her ability for an extended period. To illuminate all these people, she would have to use strong power for a long time....

‘It’s too wide....’

The little ears drooped as they tried to measure the distance. How many patients were there? She couldn’t even estimate. It looked like there were so many patients packed tightly together, covering an area as large as the Asterian estate.

Most of the beastkin still living in this land were gathered here, so it made sense.

“Tiel, do you think you can do it?”

Ferdie asked with a worried voice. Ianthros lightly placed his hand on Tiel’s shoulder. Tiel looked at Ferdie and Ianthros and asked,

“Do you think I can do it?”

“Definitely.”

Ianthros answered.

“That’s enough of an answer. Even if I can’t, I’ll make sure I try....”

Tiel nodded and lightly clenched and unclenched her fists.

Her voice, despite being that of a young girl, was filled with determination.