The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family

Episode 68

‘…Wilhelm!’

Alpheus ground his teeth. He glared at the emperor standing tall before his granddaughter.

The emperor’s intentions were excessively transparent.

Luminari is a festival for the god of light, Lusset, celebrated by the beastfolk.

By presenting Thiel, who had manifested the power of light, he intended to make it clear to everyone that she was a fitting companion for the crown prince.

‘Wilhelm, you dare…!’

Disregarding Thiel’s wishes and the Asterian family’s intentions, purely driven by his own ambition!

Alpheus’s face contorted with rage. In contrast, Cassius appeared calm and composed, his expression betraying nothing.

But Alpheus knew all too well that Cassius’s calm demeanor was the most dangerous of all.

His son was capable of overthrowing the emperor if left unchecked.

Seeing the murderous glint in his son’s eyes, Alpheus quietly turned his palm behind him to signal Cassius to calm down.

‘No.’

Cassius glanced at Alpheus and then slowly nodded. It was a promise not to intervene.

Everyone’s attention was focused on Thiel Asterian, the small girl at the center of it all.

Lucian still seemed confused, his eyebrows raised, while Ferdi had grasped the situation and was glaring narrowly at Iandros.

And then.

“…Me?”

Thiel, standing with her back to the Asterians, looked up at the emperor and asked.

She knew it was quite rude to stare at the emperor for so long, but she couldn’t take her eyes off him.

Alpheus and Cassius had assured her that she would not have to step forward at Luminari.

They promised that if such a situation arose, the Asterians would prevent it.

But now…

‘What is happening…?’

Fortunately, Thiel quickly grasped the situation.

The Asterians’ silence indicated they too were unable to act easily.

Thiel rolled her large eyes to look at Iandros.

Iandros, with a hardened expression, stared at the emperor, but when his eyes met Thiel’s, he blinked as a greeting.

Seeing Iandros made Thiel feel slightly more confident.

“Hurry up.”

The emperor urged the girl. Thiel’s large golden eyes fixed on Emperor Wilhelm Durand Krasion.

She nodded and carefully turned around.

Countless citizens of the empire were staring at her alone.

Facing hundreds, thousands of eyes made her heart drop.

Even seasoned generals swallow hard when standing before a crowd. How much more so for a seven-year-old girl like Thiel?

Moreover, Thiel had never seen such a large crowd before. Startled, she blinked several times and then clasped her hands together.

‘Can I do this?’

She had never used her powers in front of so many people and felt a sudden surge of fear.

However, Thiel quickly shook off her doubts.

She had practiced countless times. She could do this.

In front of Thiel stood the snow leopards of Nestian who had ignored and abused her.

On the other side stood the Asterian family, who had promised to believe in her and protect her until the end.

Thiel’s eyes slowly closed.

Paaah-!

A faint light emanated from the small palms of the girl.

It was so small that it was barely noticeable up close.

“……”

“……”

Silence fell over the square.

‘Is something happening?’

A murmur could be heard from somewhere.

‘Shh! Be quiet!’

Someone else silenced the speaker by hitting his arm.

In her cupped hands, the warmest light in the world gathered and filled to the brim.

Thiel slowly opened her eyes.

Her eyelids lifted, revealing the gleaming golden eyes of the black leopard, shining even more brightly in the light.

And then.

“…!”

The faint, small light gathered in Thiel’s hands began to grow.

Everyone saw it clearly. The light bloomed from the small hands of the girl as if blossoming.

“Look at that…!”

A voice cried out in surprise from somewhere. But Thiel did not retract her power.

Like the birth of life, the shimmering light fragments slowly circled around the girl.

Long trails of light decorated the dark surroundings magnificently.

“Begin!”

At the emperor’s command, the heads of each family unleashed their abilities.

From Nestian’s hands came sharp, ornate ice crystals.

From Wolfgang’s hands emerged a massive, sweeping wind.

From Iker’s hands, sparks of lightning that almost looked like light.

These powerful displays of abilities surrounded Thiel’s blossoming light, creating a breathtaking spectacle that mesmerized all who witnessed it.

From Arne’s hands emerged a lush sapling, promising to bear fruit soon.

And from Asterian’s hands came intense, fierce flames, seeming as if they could burn everything in their path.

The five abilities blossomed simultaneously. Each of the five different powers bloomed like flowers, decorating the night sky.

Then.

“Look, look at that!”

Someone shouted, pointing at the small girl. At that voice, everyone turned to look at her.

The light fragments that had been swirling around Thiel were gradually taking shape, transforming into fish.

“…!”

Six small fish were born from Thiel’s hands, swimming around her as if recognizing their master.

Soon after.

Paah-!!

The fish swam through the night sky, positioning themselves in front of each of the families using their abilities.

The fish swirled around the ice crystals, the mighty wind, the lightning, the sapling, and the flames.

As if they knew exactly what they had to do.

Thiel didn’t need to do anything else.

She just had to use her ability. The rest would be taken care of by the light fish.

One fish remained above Thiel’s head, absorbing light and growing larger.

Then.

“!”

It shot up, taking its place in the center of the night sky.

As if to drive away the darkness.

At that moment, the heads of each family unleashed their abilities simultaneously.

Thiel’s fish burst into stars in the night sky, raining down like stardust over the people.

It was perfect.

A truly perfect opening ceremony.

Thiel’s power clearly announced to everyone that the master of light had returned.

There was no longer any place for darkness on this land…

“Let Luminari begin!”

Before the echo of the moment could fade, the emperor shouted loudly. A great cheer erupted from all around.

The light that had sparkled in Thiel’s hands disappeared. The girl, with wide eyes, looked at the cheering crowd.

“Thiel.”

“Ah! You scared me…”

Iandros placed a hand on Thiel’s shoulder. She jumped, then relaxed when she saw his face.

“Ian! Did I do well?”

“Yes, you did excellently. Now go to your brothers.”

Iandros almost pushed her away. Thiel, puzzled, let herself be pushed but tilted her head in confusion.

‘Did I do something wrong?’

Ian was not usually this harsh!

Normally, he would have patted her head and praised her.

But now, he seemed eager to get her away from the scene. Thiel, still being pushed, rolled her eyes.

Then.

“Wait.”

The emperor’s voice called from behind her. Thiel turned around in surprise.

“Your Majesty…?”

“Thiel, you did a great job.”

Wilhelm approached with a kind expression. Though Thiel was slightly scared, she nodded without backing away.

“Yes, thank you, Your Majesty.”

“I heard you had manifested the power of light, but I didn’t expect it to be this magnificent.”

At that moment, Alpheus suddenly appeared and placed a hand on Thiel’s shoulder.

“Grandfather…!”

Thiel looked up at Alpheus. His face was stern and rigid.

Seeing her grandfather’s angry face for the first time, Thiel sensed something was amiss and held his hand tightly.

“Thiel, go to Cassius.”

“But, Your Majesty…”

“It’s okay, you may go,” the emperor permitted.

Thiel nodded and ran straight to her father and brothers who were waiting for her.

Watching her, Wilhelm slowly began to speak.

“Alpheus.”

“Your Majesty.”

Alpheus interrupted the emperor.

Ordinarily, such an interruption would be intolerable, no matter how powerful the Asterian family was.

But neither the emperor, Alpheus, nor anyone else paid it any mind.

Alpheus looked the emperor in the eye and said.

“I told you my granddaughter is not to be involved.”

His voice was so clear that even Thiel, who was running towards the Asterians, could hear it distinctly.