Chapter 101
Chapter 101
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: An Unlikely Cure
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It felt strange to suddenly have to eat a poisonous herb after taking the medicine Hestia sent me every day.
It still hadn’t sunk in that poison didn’t affect me.
"Kaide, still, don't you think giving Aileen the Chill-venom Herb is a bit much? Even if poison doesn't work on her..., it might not affect her, but it can't be good for her body."
"I know that."
"Then?"
Kaide gestured for the Chill-venom Herb, having already explained his reasons.
Dante reluctantly handed over what was in front of him.
Kaide took the cloth containing the herb and spoke with a hint of smugness.
"The physician said the best thing would be to find a Su-in who can neutralize her pheromones."
"And you went for the Chill-venom Herb because you can't find a trustworthy Su-in right away."
"That's right."
Kaide affirmed. Dante spoke, still unsettled.
"If you give that herb to the physician, won't he learn the secret?"
Kaide glanced at the Chill-venom Herb, then shrugged.
"I don't plan on entrusting this to him."
"Then?"
"There are many who cannot see or speak."
"...Right, this is who you are. I'd forgotten for a moment."
Dante shook his head as if he was throwing in the towel.
Kaide had no intention of telling Hestia about this either.
My heart grew heavy.
I couldn't even begin to fathom how Kaide must feel, having to keep such a secret from his own clan.
I felt I had to avoid causing any harm to the family, no matter what.
Seeing my expression darken, Dante smiled warmly.
"Don't worry too much, Aileen."
"...Okay."
"What's there to worry about? Your father is Kaide Astrofel. And if things get rough, you can always use me."
"I'd appreciate that."
"You don't even hesitate to accept."
Dante burst into loud laughter.
Then, looking at Kaide and me sitting side by side, he mumbled as if it were a curious sight.
"I didn't really notice at first, but you two have a strange resemblance. It's like Aileen is starting to take after you."
"She was born and raised here. Who else would she resemble?"
"...That's a fair point."
I smiled softly to myself at the comment that I looked like Kaide.
"I like looking like Papa."
"Just don't resemble him too much. That might be a little dangerous, Aileen."
"They say a daughter takes after her father."
Pleased with my words, Kaide asked for the source.
"Who told you that?"
"Um, Rosaria did!"
That’s what Rosaria had said. There was an old saying that daughters resemble their fathers. It was just a superstition, but I liked it.
Because I wanted to be just like Kaide.
"I'll have to reward Rosaria."
Kaide smiled with satisfaction.
Dante, who had been narrowing his eyes and clicking his tongue, opened his mouth as if he’d just remembered something. "Ah."
"Speaking of which, doesn't the Kiraas clan in the North have ice-attribute pheromones?"
"..."
"I seem to recall Aileen befriended the little one from the North."
"Sage?"
Kaide remained silent. I, on the other hand, happily called out Sage's name.
"Is the heir's name Sage?"
"Yes. That's right. Sage."
"That little one could help neutralize your pheromones. The Kiraas clan is a bit unique."
"That's enough, Dante."
"Why?"
Dante's eyes widened. Kaide, who was now exuding a chilly aura, scowled.
"That little one is trouble."
"Is this really the time to be picky?"
"He invited Aileen to the North."
"...Well, I'll be."
Dante's lips twitched.
"How long has she been born for him to be inviting her to his territory already?"
Dante looked displeased. Kaide waved his hand dismissively.
"And that kid is too young. There's no way Muhella would willingly hand over her heir."
"That's true."
So Sage has the power to neutralize my pheromones. But his hand felt cold when I held it.
Doesn't that mean his pheromones should be warm, not cold?
"Papa, how can Sage's pheromones be cold?"
"Because the Kiraas clan is strange."
"What's strange about them?"
"The Kiraas are a clan that defies explanation from start to finish. They always have to be explained as an exception."
"...Why?"
"They possess a cold energy, and their bodies are among the coldest of all Su-in. What can you say when they can also command the cold of the North?"
...Isn't that a total cheat?
Even as young as I was, I could understand that much.
I had learned that a Su-in's body evolves to handle the energy of their pheromones.
That was why the Black Mambas were said to have low body temperatures.
But to maximize the use of one's pheromones, a higher body temperature that matched the energy would surely be more advantageous.
However, that would put a severe strain on the body.
But the Kiraas had shattered that established theory.
Dante nodded.
"They are a difficult clan to understand. You've made a good friend, Aileen."
He grinned and gave me a thumbs-up.
My lips curled into a smile at the mention of having a good friend.
I hadn't seen him since the banquet, but I remembered our time playing together vividly.
And he felt even more special because he was a friend who seemed to be around my age.
Though Kaide seemed to disapprove of Sage.
It looked like he was still holding onto the fact that Sage had invited me to the North.
"Yeah, that's right. And Sage is nice."
"Is he?"
"Yeah! When we played together, he even let me catch him."
"...Did he?"
The nuance between the first "Is he?" and the second "Did he?" was vastly different.
Dante, who had been listening with interest while resting his chin on his hand, let his arm slip.
"Did you hear that, Dante? She says he *let* her catch him."
"..."
"Most of the games those kids play are related to hunting. They think getting caught means death."
"..."
"And he let himself be caught. How can I not be furious?"
"He really left his mark, didn't he?"
Dante chuckled in amusement. I pouted. Kaide was overreacting.
He probably only let me catch him because we became friends.
He did say he wouldn't get caught next time.
"Still, Kaide, you should consider sending Aileen to the North. The head of the Kiraas family would welcome it."
"On what grounds?"
"Who would pass up such an opportunity? It's a chance for the next heir to build a relationship with the Astrofel family."
"..."
"And you can't just rely on the Chill-venom Herb forever. You have to think about Aileen's body, don't you?"
But it would be difficult for him to rashly send me to the North.
From Kaide's perspective, he would feel more at ease with me in the South.
After some thought, Kaide answered.
"I will consider it."
* * *
Dante decided to stay for a few more days.
Having come all the way from the West, it seemed he wanted to take the opportunity to chat with Kaide about various things.
And for the time being, I was forbidden from having any more pheromone lessons.
We couldn't risk messing up the pheromones I had just barely managed to balance.
I was told they would be replaced with theory lessons for a while.
Not that my lessons in the forest would stop completely.
"Today, we will learn about various Su-in. You are aware of the general characteristics of each clan, correct?"
"Yes, I know."
Although not many clans had absolute traits like the Astrofel family, there were common characteristics.
Just as the Astrofel family had black hair and red eyes, the Kiraas family of the North had blonde hair and blue eyes.
The lion clan of the West, the Kashmere family, had golden-brown hair and gold eyes.
The wolf clan of the East, the Miat family, had gray hair and silver eyes. The jaguar clan, the Artban family, had silver hair and black-purple eyes.
As I listed off what I had learned, Kasana nodded in agreement.
"You remember well. That is correct. And in fact, there were a few other races on the continent besides the Su-in."
"...Other races?"
"Yes, humans are a prime example. Though you can't see them now. But the legacy they left behind is still in use."
"What's being used?"
"The age chart is one, and the very expression 'to humanize' was taken from them."
Indeed, I'd heard that many aspects of our current lifestyle were passed down from humans.
Things like using utensils, sleeping in beds, and wearing clothes.
After all, Su-in had no need for such things when in their true forms.
I was told that Su-in originally disliked humanizing at all.
But to foster amicable relations between clans, they created a common language and interacted in their human forms.
Although humans could no longer be found, their traces were everywhere.
"Humans were exceptionally intelligent. A significant portion of today's advanced technology was invented by them."
"Yeah, I heard."
In place of pheromones, they used their superior intellect and technology as weapons to interact and live alongside the Su-in.
"Even the Marinet clan, which currently possesses the most advanced technology, had to take a step back before the human race. That's how brilliant they were."
Why did such beings go extinct?
"There was a family that maintained a close relationship with those humans."
"I know! You're talking about the Marinet clan, right?"
I answered confidently.
But Kasana immediately shook her head.
Not the Marinet clan?
My eyes widened. Then which clan was it?
I had understood that the Marinet clan was the only one that had maintained a friendly exchange with them.
"I only mentioned the Marinet clan, but in truth, there was one more. A clan that claimed the position of a leading family because of it."
"Where is that?"
"It is the Artban family."
"...Artban? But they're..."
They're at odds with the Miat family, aren't they? But they used to be a leading family?
With the help of humans?