Chapter 120
Chapter 120
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 120
Chapter Title: Northern Barbarian Lands
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North, the Barbarians' Land
“...Hold on.
Helen.
Stop right there.”
“Yes, Young Lord.”
“So, to clarify, the Myoeun clansman currently staying at your merchant house is Lia’s—no, the Winnie you’ve been looking for—her father?”
Helen nodded at Sion’s question.
She added, ‘He claims to be an ordinary Myoeun clansman, but judging by the number and quality of his escorts, he’s clearly no ordinary one.’
“...”
It was inevitable.
No, it was certain.
Even if Lia appeared to be an utterly ordinary cat girl, she was still a princess of the Myoeun Clan.
And a child chosen by lightning, no less.
‘And if he’s Lia’s father, then he’s the leader of the Myoeun Clan.’
A big shot, through and through.
Among the beastkin, the Myoeun Clan boasted the largest scale, so their leader held a status roughly equivalent to a human king.
And this man had secretly approached the Heiness Merchant House, requesting passage to the Claussen Margrave Territory.
“Where is this Myoeun clansman now?”
“...I’m sorry, Young Lord Sion.”
“You’re not telling me everything up to now was a lie and you didn’t actually bring him here, right? I want to believe that.”
Helen fell silent.
He’d wondered why she’d reveal the man’s identity without demanding any compensation. Turns out, this was the reason.
“Whew.”
Sion let out a sigh and ordered her to bring the Myoeun clansman to the reception room immediately.
He also rang the bell to summon Risicida, instructing her to have Lia come down to the reception room as quickly as possible.
A short while later, Lia entered the reception room, her light blue hair swaying.
She rubbed her cheek affectionately against Helen’s, whom she hadn’t seen in ages, as a sign of closeness.
Then, without the slightest hesitation, she leaped up with a hop!
And claimed her spot on Sion’s lap.
“...You’re heavy.”
“Nyaooong.”
So what? she seemed to purr leisurely.
Sion couldn’t bring himself to push the cat off, so he gently stroked her chin, making her rumble contentedly.
“More importantly, Lia, looks like you have a guest.”
“Nyaang?
My guest?”
“Yeah.
Probably someone pretty familiar to you.”
No sooner had Sion finished speaking than a knock sounded at the door.
Likely someone from the Heiness Merchant House, who had come with Helen, escorting the Myoeun guest.
At that moment, Lia’s ears perked up, and she let out a questioning ‘Nyaang?’
The footsteps and presence outside the door felt extremely familiar.
“This is...”
Before Lia could finish, the door opened, and a man stepped inside.
Any ordinary guest would bow to Sion, the master of this villa and heir to the Claussen Margrave Territory, but this man strode in without a moment’s pause.
“Nyaang?”
“Eek?”
He locked eyes with Lia, who was sprawled contentedly on Sion’s lap, basking in his touch. Suddenly, he let out a sigh, rubbed his eyes, shook his head as if that wasn’t enough, and began smacking his own forehead.
Thwack thwack!
“...”
“...”
Sion and Helen alike were utterly dumbfounded.
Lia blinked innocently, tail swishing as if to ask what the problem was, then rubbed her cheek against Sion with a demanding gargle for more pets.
Seeing this, the man who’d been thwacking his head recoiled in shock and shouted Lia’s old name.
“Wi, Winnie Portable!”
“What, you idiot dad.”
“Is that any way to speak to the Great King of the clan?!”
“The Great King of the clan went off gallivanting again, didn’t he?
That makes him an idiot.
Oh, should I stop calling you ‘dad’ now?”
“N-No, that’s not it!”
Eh?
Eeeh?
Eeeeek?
Helen panicked in confusion, but Sion had half-expected it.
The fact that it was Lia he’d come for, and calling himself her father—it had clicked then.
Still, he hadn’t imagined the Myoeun Clan’s leader would venture out on such a dangerous trip just for his daughter.
‘Beastkin leaders suffer greatly if they die once.’
With that thought, Sion tickled Lia’s side.
She twisted with an ‘Aheung!’ on his lap, so he gently pushed her off and stood.
“Pleased to meet you, leader of the Myoeun Clan.
I’m Sion Claussen.”
“...I’ve heard the gist.
My escorts said you’re the human noble who saved my daughter.”
“That’s right.”
“I know human etiquette well enough.
Introductions first.
I am Gers Koehnitz.”
Fortunately, the escorts who’d protected Lia had returned home safely and reported everything accurately.
Gazing at Gers the Great King, who showed no particular hostility, Sion tilted his head.
He couldn’t fathom why the man had been smacking his own head.
“More importantly, Winnie.”
“It’s Lia.”
“What?”
“Lia.
That’s my real name now.”
Gers blinked at his daughter, then turned to Sion with a flustered look.
He strode forward in an instant.
Up close, his frame was massive.
Like a bulked-up kingly cat.
‘...He’s not about to lunge at me yelling, ‘How dare a human steal my daughter! I’ll kill you!’ is he?’
Grab—
“You’re a hero!”
“Pardon?”
“You, I mean!
A hero with truly magnificent spirit!”
“...?”
What the hell is this?
Hidden camera?
His chest swelled so much it felt like he’d been shot in the head.
Suddenly grabbing his hand and calling him a hero?
“No male in our clan could ever tame that girl so thoroughly!
Giving her a name means you’ve become her mate, doesn’t it!
Hm, she’s not fully matured yet, so I’m a bit uneasy, but please take good care of my daughter!”
In typical novels, wouldn’t it be the cliché: ‘How dare a mere human touch my daughter! I’ll kill you!’?
He’d never imagined such enthusiastic joy.
“Hmph.
Dad.
That sounds just like you’re dumping your mess on Sion.”
“As if!
It’s just that a son-in-law has appeared who can rein in my unruly daughter, who ignores her father. How could I not be thrilled!”
Son-in-law already, not even prospective.
Just how handful had his daughter been?
“Ahem.
Anyway, Young Lord Sion.
It seems you saved my daughter and even allowed her into your embrace.”
“That’s about the size of it.”
“Thank goodness.
I thought she’d live as a spinster till adulthood, then die old and alone.
You’ve lifted a huge weight off my shoulders.”
“Dad!”
“Whoops.
Look at her.
A princess of the Myoeun Clan, acting like that!”
What is this banter session?
Sion glanced at Gers, then at Helen sitting beside him.
His silent question—Did you foresee this?—earned a troubled smile.
She hadn’t expected such a lighthearted man.
“Nyaaaang!”
“Nyaang!
Haak!”
Sion clutched his forehead, watching the father-daughter catfolk trade meow punches.
He’d braced for a headache from the clan leader’s visit, but not this migraine-inducing feline duo.
“Excuse me, uh.
Calm down, both of you...”
“Nyaaaang!”
“Nyaaaang!”
“Lia.
Keep ignoring me, and I’ll never pet you again.”
At Sion’s threat, Lia snapped to attention with a hiss!
Then dashed over, planting herself beside him, as if that were unthinkable.
Gers, watching his daughter, looked relieved rather than jealous.
“You look shocked by my unexpected reaction.”
“Honestly, yes.”
“Don’t remind me.
My wife’s temper is fierce enough, but this daughter of mine outdoes her mother, serving two queens at home.”
“Ah, aah...”
Sion let out an involuntary sigh of sympathy.
What good is being Great King? At home, he’s just husband and father.
He could picture the two women mercilessly nagging and clawing at him.
‘Father-in-law.’
‘Son-in-law!’
A spark of male understanding passed between them.
“Nyaang!
Dad!
Stop blabbering nonsense to weird out Sion and just tell me why you showed up out of nowhere!”
“Isn’t it obvious?
I came to see my daughter.
Didn’t expect you’d found a mate before even maturing.
You know that’s strictly forbidden among the clan, right?”
“Urgh...”
“Of course, I’m not here to punish you for it.
Your mother’s drilled ‘Love knows no borders, no races’ into my ears till they’re callused.”
Then why are you here? Sion thought.
“Then why are you here?” Lia voiced it for him.
“Isn’t it obvious?
You’re about to mature, but you still can’t control that mark properly, so I’ve come personally for special training.”
“Mark? You mean... oh, this?”
At Gers’ words, Lia fiddled with the lightning-shaped scar on her forehead.
Come to think of it, Trisha with her holy mark freely unleashed flames, while Lia hadn’t shown any yet. Sion felt a twinge of regret.
“I’d planned to teach you after you matured and found a mate, but seeing you with such an excellent son-in-law already puts my mind at ease.
So, how about I stay in the human world a bit and teach you to wield that power?”
“...How would you even know how, Dad?”
“When you become clan leader, the first thing you’re taught is how to guide a ‘child chosen by lightning.’
It can manifest in any Myoeun.”
Gers turned to Sion to speak, but glanced back, noticing something.
There sat Helen, forgotten as mere wallpaper, looking awkward.
“You’ve heard everything, I take it.”
“Eh?
Oh, don’t worry.
I can keep a secret, despite appearances.”
“...Young Lord Sion.
You know this pointy-eared woman?”
“She’s trustworthy.
No need to worry.”
Gers nodded with a hum at Sion’s instant reply. Helen blinked, then smiled gratefully at Sion.
“If my son-in-law vouches for you, then no issue.
More importantly, mind if I borrow Winnie—no, Lia, was it?
Good name.
Anyway, may I take my daughter for a bit?”
“Eeeh?”
“Oh, Lia, you mean?”
“Yes.
That scar may seem minor, but it’s the mark of one granted great power among Myoeun, and I have a duty to impart at least basic instruction.”
Sion didn’t fully know the power of a ‘child chosen by lightning.’
In the novel, Winnie—now Lia—with that mark died shortly after maturing.
‘Ho.
Then this is an untapped lottery ticket. At least third prize guaranteed?’
Recall Trisha’s might from the novel and recently.
Though not a full awakening then, her holy mark half-dormant, she’d effortlessly dismantled Lucia’s magic.
“Nyaaaang!
Why, why now of all times?!
That means I have to leave Sion!”
“Don’t worry, girl.
A month at most.
If you’re ready, maybe a week.”
“No way!
I’ll do it later!
Later!”
“You think I have time to spare?!”
“Then I’ll do it when I get back!”
“You little—!
You, clinging to your mate mewling away, you’ll come visit your mom and dad?
Enough chatter—follow me!
I don’t want to drag my disobedient daughter around forever either!”
“Haaak!
You say the cruelest things to your own daughter!
You’re the worst, Dad!”
“Argh!
You’re the one with no filter for your father!
Haaaaak!”
“...”
Quite the cheerful pair.
Sion sighed, eyeing the two cats flanking him, yowling away. He’d have to step in.
“Lia.
Go with your father.”
“Oh, son-in-law?”
“S-Sion!”
“A week at shortest.”
“You said a month at worst!
A whole month without Sion!
No touching!
No ear scratches!
No pets!”
“I’ll give you plenty when you’re back.”
“N-No!
I don’t wanna leave Sion!
Nyaang!
Nyaaaang!”
She wailed, clinging to him, flailing meow punches—but careful not to scratch, let alone hurt.
Sion decided to deploy his proven negotiation tactic from before.
“Lia.”
“Nyaang?”
Scooping her up lightly, he nipped her ear and mumbled to focus her.
Then whispered so only she’d hear.
“You’re weaker than Trisha right now, aren’t you?”
“N-No!”
“Really?”
“Uh, ugh... Y-Yeah, I am.
Nyawoong...”
“Yeah.
You’re weak.
So get stronger than Trisha.
That’ll give me a real reason to dote on you more.”
“Nyaang... A r-reason to dote more...”
“Yeah. And when I dote...”
Sion’s hand slyly grazed her side, belly, chest, then slid to her thigh.
Creeping upward toward her crotch, her face flushed crimson, body quivering in desperate arousal.
‘As if, you fatty.’
He withdrew his hand slyly. Lia sighed ‘Aaaah!’ in deep regret.
True to her beastkin nature, she heated up far quicker than others.
“Got it?”
“Mm.
Yeah.
I-I’ll work hard.
But...”
“Come back stronger.”
Lia nodded.
She slipped from his arms cautiously and approached Gers.
“Let’s go, Dad.”
“Hm?”
“Make it quick.
I bet three days’ll do, not even a week.”
Her eyes blazed with uncharacteristic fervor.
Gers blinked at her, glanced at Sion, and flashed a thumbs-up.
‘Amazing son-in-law!’
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―――――――Author's Note―――――――
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