The Strongest Daughter-In-Law Of The Black Lion Family [EN]: Chapter 146

#146.

“I’ve never seen a bug like this before.”

Merina muttered quietly, watching the bug wriggling in the glass bottle.

The bugs from Nahid and Eve’s bodies were sent straight to Merina.

In the meantime, Merina had been in charge of pheromone research and tracking down the Butterfly Gang with Jabesi’s support.

But this was the first time she had received a live specimen like this. And such unheard-of bugs, at that.

“Have you finished the analysis?”

“It’s definitely not a normal bug. It’s incredibly resilient and seems to grow by eating pheromones.”

The bugs extracted from Nahid and Eve were of different types, but they all parasitized by sucking pheromones and blood. Their bodies contained condensed pheromones that they had been sucking up.

“It’s also possible that they were initially used to collect pheromones needed for pheromone manipulation. It seems they can store quite a large amount of pheromones in their small bodies.”

When Merina tapped the glass bottle, the bug squirmed and moved.

Zerachiel’s gaze shifted to the glass bottle.

“Why is it doing that?”

“These bugs seem to have a homing instinct.”

“Homing instinct?”

“Look at this. It keeps leaning to one side, right? It seems they were trained to gather at a specific location as soon as they get out of the body.”

As Merina said, the bugs struggled to move forward, with their heads buried against one side of the glass bottle. A bizarre sight, like salmon returning to their spawning grounds.

“There must be a scent that’s guiding them.”

Usually, insects find their way home with a unique scent. Perhaps these bugs were trained in a similar way.

Merina exclaimed with a flushed face.

“If we trace the scent, we might be able to find the Butterfly Gang’s base!”

“How much time do you need?”

“I need to analyze it, but it won’t take too long. Please give me some time.”

“Find out as soon as possible. Report to me as soon as you find anything.”

“Yes, I will.”

Merina, having finished her business, stared intently as if she had something more to say. Zerachiel gestured with his chin. Merina mustered her courage and asked.

“How are you feeling? Are you still uncomfortable when you see Lady Chersea?”

“Yes. My head is throbbing because of that.”

“If you could tell me specifically what your symptoms are, it might help with the treatment.”

At Merina’s suggestion, Zerachiel pondered. Immediately after the onset of his madness, Zerachiel’s head ached from the flood of pheromone scents rushing toward him.

It was especially difficult to be near Chersea.

An unknown sweet smell emanated from her. Even a good smell can become unpleasant if it’s too strong.

Zerachiel felt nauseous and had a throbbing headache whenever Chersea was near.

It was as if he didn’t know what he would do if he lost consciousness even for a moment.

He found it easier to talk through Ella, who had no pheromones.

Merina said,

“At first, I thought you were showing signs of obsession with Ella.”

“It’s just that she was comfortable because she didn’t have pheromones.”

“You called her often for someone who felt that way.”

“That’s….”

It was true that Zerachiel was particularly clingy to Ella. It was because he smelled something familiar from her.

He just approached her to find out what it was, but he was often more annoyed by Ella’s horrified reaction.

“Anyway, until my condition improves, I want to avoid that ferret.”

“That’s something the old Zerachiel would have cried about.”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

“If the smell is too strong, maybe you shouldn’t avoid her, but stay close and see why it’s happening.”

“My nose feels like it’s going to be paralyzed if I get close.”

“If it’s only happening with Chersea, there must be a reason. As you know, Chersea’s pheromones are strong enough to cure Zakari’s madness. Maybe the madness feels threatened and is deliberately making you avoid her.”

“……”

“Of course, it would be a problem if you act threateningly towards Chersea.”

“I’ll take care of that.”

Zerachiel retorted irritably and stormed out of the room.

It was when he had just arrived at his room. Zerachiel frowned involuntarily when he smelled the white ferret’s scent filling his room.

His gaze naturally turned to the bed.

“Hi?”

There, Chersea was waving her hand, dressed in her pajamas.

“……What are you doing here?”

“I don’t think this will do. It’s a request for an interview.”

Chersea patted the spot next to her, urging him to sit down. But Zerachiel just stood at the door, holding his nose.

“Talk from there.”

Zerachiel frowned at Chersea’s words. He didn’t know why such a small female ferret was so confident.

Even lions would tuck their tails and run away in front of him, so it was truly amazing.

Just as Zerachiel was slowly heading to the bed, Chersea, who suddenly lit up her eyes, pulled him close.

“!”

Thud!

How could a white ferret be so strong?

Zerachiel looked up in astonishment at the white ferret who had unknowingly taken over him.

Chersea tightly wrapped her legs around his waist, lest Zerachiel run away.

“Don’t move.”

“…….”

“If you run away this time, I really won’t see you again.”

Zerachiel didn’t answer, even at Chersea’s threat.

In fact, it was closer to being difficult to answer.

At the suddenly close distance, his nose was already paralyzed and his head was spinning.

Before he knew it, his eyes were languidly unfocused, and he finally looked like the usual Zerachiel.

Chersea mustered her courage and grabbed his collar.

“I don’t want to sleep alone tonight.”

Tomorrow was the ritual. Chersea pretended not to be, but she was quite nervous.

It was now the limit for the reliable Zerachiel to ignore her.

She had never slept alone since coming to Jabesi Castle. Because there was always Zerachiel, who clung to her tenaciously.

But after Zerachiel’s madness manifested, Chersea had to sleep alone all the time.

She pretended to be fine because she had said in the past not to treat her like a child, but in fact, she often had trouble sleeping at night.

She had realized painfully in the past few days that she had unknowingly been relying on Zerachiel. Chersea, who longed for his embrace, mumbled with a tearful face.

“I won’t do anything, so stay by my side.”

“Are you saying you want to sleep with me?”

“Yes. Just sleep.”

Chersea bit her lower lip and turned her head. Judging by her slightly reddened earlobes, it was obvious what she was imagining.

‘What a lewd ferret.’

Zerachiel burst out laughing at the sight. How dare she come into his bedroom, take over his body, and then react so innocently.

Looking at her trembling hands, it was easy to be misunderstood as if he had dragged her into the bedroom.

‘Amazing.’

Zerachiel found it difficult to even blink at the unfamiliar sensation of his body losing strength.

His current appearance looked just like the beastmen who had been affected by his pheromones.

Meanwhile, Chersea, who had confirmed that Zerachiel was not refusing, wriggled and lay down next to him.

She leaned firmly on his arm and whispered as she looked up at him.

“Good night, Riki.”

I told you not to call me by that nickname.

Zerachiel wanted to say those words, but only a faint breath came out of his mouth. That’s how stimulating Chersea’s pheromones were to him.

“I’ll do well tomorrow.”

Chersea, who blurted out words she hadn’t even been asked, closed her eyes. After a while, her breathing was soft.

* * *

The carriage carrying Chersea headed towards the beach where the deep-sea cave was located.

‘I will have it arranged while the Sarban family head is away from the castle.’

Zerachiel and Ivan decided to stay at Sarban Castle. After all, it was decided that only direct descendants could enter the successor ritual site.

Ella and Heathcliff decided to go ahead to the entrance of the cave where Ebensev’s Stone was presumed to be.

Chersea agreed to join Ella and Heathcliff as soon as Jabesi’s soldiers captured the Sarban family head.

Chersea looked at Eve, who was sitting next to her. Originally, she had told her to stay out of the way with Nahid, but she stubbornly insisted on coming along.

‘Who knows what your father will do there? I can’t send you alone.’

Eve, who stubbornly demanded to come along, even took the antidote to avoid the Sarban family head’s suspicion.

Now, she was sticking close to her side, looking like a mother protecting her child. Chersea smiled softly, feeling warmed.

Before she knew it, the sea was visible outside the carriage. The beach was peaceful, unlike the predicted danger.

She was enjoying the peaceful sea for a moment when suddenly the carriage stopped.