Chapter 103
Chapter 103
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: The Molting
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* * *
In a southern region, surrounded on all sides by wetlands.
It had already been three days since the two heirs of the Astrofel family entered the cave to molt.
Orca spoke anxiously as he watched the cave, its entrance sealed by a massive boulder.
"Lord Durias, the entrance still hasn't opened. Shouldn't we go in?"
"Oh, is that a new method of suicide?"
"......."
"If so, then you may enter."
During their transition into adulthood, Black Mambas poisoned everything that approached them with their venom.
It was to protect their defenseless selves.
Orca's brow furrowed.
"I understand it doesn't usually take this long."
"You should be preparing to get far away from the cave, Orca."
"......Pardon?"
A smile played on Durias's lips.
"Because the Doryeonnims will be coming out soon."
"What do you mean......!"
The moment Durias finished speaking, a threatening pheromone began to erupt explosively.
Orca flinched and quickly backed away.
Even though they were a considerable distance from the cave, the pheromone was spreading with incredible speed.
"You've been making a racket out here. Don't you think the Doryeonnims are annoyed?"
Durias grumbled. It was no longer possible to get close enough to check on the cave.
Rumble.
The sound of the boulder blocking the cave entrance moving could be heard.
"One of them has emerged."
"......Which Doryeonnim could it be?"
"I don't know. You're being unusually foolish today, Orca."
Durias said venomously, a bright smile on his face. Orca's face twisted in a scowl.
They had traveled together from the family estate, but he still wasn't used to this.
Orca spoke, his voice tinged with displeasure.
"It doesn't seem to be Doryeonnim Arban's pheromone."
"Then it must be Doryeonnim Set."
"But...... was Doryeonnim Set's pheromone always this irritable?"
The pheromone was indiscriminately coiling around its surroundings. It was a completely different feeling from his usual calm demeanor.
"Isn't it natural for one's true nature to emerge upon becoming an adult?"
Still, this is a bit.......
Orca nodded reluctantly.
Soon, the heavy sound of another sealed cave entrance opening echoed.
As soon as the way was clear, a presence approached with frightening speed, making Orca tense up.
Sometimes, a famished Black Mamba would immediately go hunting after molting.
If he were to become a target.......
"He's certainly fast."
Durias glanced nonchalantly to his left.
Presently, Arban, with his captivating aura, came into view.
His instantly mesmerizing appearance seemed to embody the Black Mamba's fatal venom.
Orca stared blankly at the fully grown Arban.
No trace of his childhood self remained.
Arban, who had casually thrown an outer garment over his body, looked at Orca and asked.
"How long has it been?"
"About three days, sir."
"Already?"
Arban's fine brow furrowed.
Rustle.
A cool presence could be felt from the opposite side.
Arban moved only his red eyes, shifting his gaze toward the source of the presence.
"It's been three days?"
Set, who had also arrived in a hurry, was fastening the buttons on his sleeves as he approached.
"Then we'd better get going."
A faint smile touched Set's previously expressionless lips.
"Because I promised Aileen I'd be back soon."
* * *
"My brothers are coming?!"
"Yes! Lady Aileen. A messenger arrived this morning. You'll be able to see them in two days."
"But I have to wait two whole days?"
I pouted. Rosaria let out a small laugh.
In her hand was the letter that had been tied to the messenger bird's leg.
"Are you excited for the Doryeonnims to arrive?"
"Yes, I want to see them right away!"
"They'll all be so surprised when they see you, Lady Aileen. You've grown so much!"
"......Have I grown that much?"
I started to worry a little. What if I've changed so much they don't recognize me!
While I had been jumping for joy at my rapid growth over the past few days, now my heart was pounding with the fear that Set and Arban wouldn't recognize me.
I quickly went to the mirror.
A child who now looked to be about nine years old was on the verge of tears.
"Rosaria, I think I've grown too much. What if my brothers don't recognize me?"
"...Pfft, no. There's absolutely no chance the Doryeonnims won't recognize you, so please don't worry."
"You think so?"
"Of course."
Phew, that was a relief. I read the letter Rosaria handed me over and over again.
It was a short message stating that since they had both safely completed their transition to adulthood, they would be returning from the South.
So they're really adults now. It felt strange.
"If they come in two days, they'll be able to see Uncle Dante before he leaves."
"I'm sure they will. I heard he postponed his schedule after hearing the news."
Is it okay for him to be away from his family for this long? It feels like he's staying for a very long time.
As I fiddled with the glass vial around my neck, Rosaria's expression darkened.
"Lady Aileen, the medicine is depleting faster."
"......Is it?"
"It's already down to half."
I held up the glass vial.
Compared to this morning, when the potion made from Frostbite Herb had been full, it was now half-empty, the liquid sloshing inside.
"It's okay, Rosaria. You don't have to worry so much."
"Are you certain it isn't a medicine that's straining your body?"
"Yes!"
Actually, I wasn't sure about that.
I was told I was immune to poison, but no one knew how long that would hold true.
I went out into the garden with Rosaria.
"Aileen?"
"Uncle!"
"Her growth rate is truly astonishing."
I saw Dante as soon as I entered the garden. His eyes widened the moment he spotted me. He seemed surprised that I had grown even more since he saw me yesterday.
Kaide was with Dante.
"Dad!"
"...Her growth rate is still increasing."
Kaide's brow furrowed as he looked at the glass vial of medicine.
He didn't say it out loud, but I knew what he was worried about.
Dante marveled under his breath.
"It seems the balancing of her pheromones has accelerated her growth."
"I think so, too."
"At this rate...... it won't be enough, will it?"
Dante trailed off, conscious of Rosaria standing behind me.
Kaide was looking at me with an unreadable expression. After a long moment, he called my name.
"Aileen."
"Yes?"
"Just for a little while......."
He sighed, as if the words wouldn't come out easily.
He was clearly reluctant. What was he trying to say?
I waited for Kaide to continue. Soon, he spoke again.
"......It would be best for you to visit the North for a while."
"Gajunim!"
Rosaria cried out in shock.
Dante, too, blinked slowly, as if he hadn't expected Kaide to make such a suggestion.
But the most surprised person of all was me.
"You want me to go to the North?"
"Yes."
"......What about my brothers?"
No matter how difficult the situation was, I wanted to see them before I left.
Kaide shook his head.
"Who knows how much you'll grow while you wait?"
"......."
"I heard the vial had to be replaced twice yesterday alone."
"......I can just take a little less."
"I doubt that's something you can control."
Kaide was right.
Lately, my pheromones had been falling out of balance at a rapid pace.
Hestia said the medicine's effect was balancing my pheromones, which in turn was promoting my growth.
And paradoxically, the strengthened pheromones that resulted from this were becoming unbalanced again, creating a cycle where I needed to take the medicine.
I had expected to go to the North eventually, but this was too soon.
If I go to the North, when will I be able to come back?
Reading my expression, Kaide gently reassured me.
"Even if you go to the North, you can return whenever you wish, Aileen."
"......Can I really do that?"
Kaide laughed as if he had just heard something amusing.
* * *
The Kiraas family estate in the North.
Muhella's lips curled with interest at the unexpected letter.
Her blue eyes glinted sharply.
"Arisa."
"Yes, Lady Muhella."
"What does it mean to send a child one adores so terribly to a foreign land?"
"Pardon?"
Arisa looked puzzled by Muhella's sudden question.
"What are you talking about all of a sudden? Who's being sent where?"
"A very precious child, to the North."
Muhella, who had been resting her chin on her hand and gazing out the window, narrowed her eyes.
"Especially when it's snowing like this in the North."
Kaide Astrofel couldn't possibly be unaware of that.
Muhella's muttering only made Arisa tilt her head in confusion.
It was a string of incomprehensible statements.
"Could you explain a little more simply, Lady Muhella? It's always snowing in the North, isn't it?"
It either snowed sporadically every few days, or it snowed for days on end.
And right now, it was the latter.
Muhella placed the letter in a drawer as she spoke.
"They intend to send a child who hasn't even reached adulthood to the North. From the Astrofel family, no less."
"......What?"
"Don't you think it will be interesting?"
"......What part of that is interesting?"
The color drained from Arisa's face. Muhella, on the other hand, looked delighted.