It’S A Cat, Adopted By A Wolf Family? [EN]: Chapter 129

Many beastkins [human-animal hybrids] wondered why the Blue Moon, a sacred relic of the Goddess, had appeared in the Leopard territory.

Unlike Gridwolf’s Bow or Polly’s Mirror, the Blue Moon had a negative impact on the beastkins, so they believed there must be a reason.

Research had barely progressed due to a severe lack of related data, but Kitty discovered something strange through Polly’s Mirror.

‘The timing doesn’t match.’

After glimpsing into the past through Polly’s Mirror, Kitty began to suspect a connection between Delta and the Blue Moon.

It seemed odd that the Leofid family members had promised to grant Jerian immunity even before the Blue Moon appeared.

‘It’s like they knew the Blue Moon was going to appear.’

Before the Blue Moon appeared, there was no logical reason to recruit someone with immunity.

Jerian was just a dull cat, useless without the immunity he stole from Dad and his brother.

The logical sequence would be: the Blue Moon appears, someone is needed to control it, and then they approach Jerian.

‘But the leopards were seeking immunity even before the Blue Moon manifested.’

What if the leopards knew about the Blue Moon’s appearance in advance and were preparing for it?

The hypothesis began there.

‘If they knew the Blue Moon would disrupt the world, they should have warned everyone to prepare.’

However, the Leofid family members only shared important information amongst themselves. Considering how many leopards died because of the Blue Moon, it was an incomprehensible decision.

‘Unless they had a reason to keep the news of the madness-filled jewel’s appearance a secret.’

Kitty pondered this reason throughout her journey back to the Gridwolf mansion from the Bear territory.

Lying, knowing the sacrifice will be great, is an action taken to protect something you don’t want to lose.

‘It was hard for me to admit that Mom touched Jerian’s food storage to feed me.’

She feared that revealing this would damage her love for her mother.

She had no personal interactions with the leopards, so she didn’t know what they valued, but thinking from the Leofid family’s perspective, the answer was simple.

‘Eden said so. The leopards elect the strongest as their successor.’

And Delta was the strongest of all the Leofid family heads. She remembered his story being featured prominently when he became the head of the family.

The Leofid family members would have valued the strong Delta the most.

Once she made that assumption, the next step was clear.

‘If revealing that a jewel that drives beastkins to madness is related to Delta, they risk losing him…’

Delta Leofid’s birth or life is closely tied to the Blue Moon.

Kitty decided to use Ann and Marie to test the waters first.

Even if Sigma laughed at how absurd it was, she thought it was worth a try.

“Ann, Marie. Who did you hear that from?”

Sigma’s voice was much sharper than before.

Clearly, someone from the Wolf family was observing nearby, but right now, it was crucial to get an answer from Ann and Marie.

Her reasoning faltered at the thought that an important secret had been leaked.

Ann and Marie’s legs trembled at Sigma’s murderous aura, but they had no choice but to answer as the Gridwolf brothers had instructed.

“O-of course, we heard it from Jerian. He was blabbing about all sorts of things.”

“You know that some of the elite leopards were secretly corresponding with him, right?”

“…….”

Sigma was about to threaten them but stopped. The situation was evolving unexpectedly, and she couldn’t get a handle on it.

‘There’s a traitor among the elites?’

The elites had all sworn allegiance to Delta.

Sigma’s expression hardened, not realizing she had taken the bait.

‘……Did the elites already know that the Leofids sacrificed my parents?’

If so, the cold gaze from before and the talk about cooperating with Jerian made sense.

No, even knowing that the Leofids killed their parents, they still carried out that dangerous operation in the Bear territory?

‘Damn it, what the hell is going on!’

It would be best to remain silent and still, regardless of what Ann and Marie revealed.

Kitty was sharp and wouldn’t miss a single change in expression and would analyze it.

‘But she’s the only one who will see it.’

Sigma lowered her head, concealing her face.

How many people lamented the Blue Moon’s appearance in the Leopard territory, which drove so many leopards crazy?

‘If they knew that the Blue Moon was a jewel that came from Delta, the Leofid family would be finished.’

Sigma still remembered when she first met the young Delta.

It was a drizzly day.

She was holed up in a remote laboratory, meticulously analyzing smuggled beastkin specimens.

The organ specimens that filled the laboratory gleamed with every flash of lightning.

She secretly created them to satisfy her academic curiosity about the goddess’s magic and the bodies of beastkins.

Knock, knock—

The neat knock came just then.

Someone coming to this remote place was a bad sign, so Sigma hid under the desk.

“Sigma. I know this is your place.”

“……!”

The familiar yet unfamiliar voice belonged to the previous Leofid family head.

It was the voice that sentenced her to 20 years in prison for dissecting beastkins and possessing their organs.

“I’m sorry for coming all the way here after you deserted. But you need to take a look at my son.”

The Leofid family head placed a small boy in front of Sigma, who crawled out from under the desk.

Sigma placed her hand on the forehead of the feverish child.

Was he four or five years old?

He was too small to guess his age.

Judging by his clothes, he seemed to have been born in Leofid, well-fed and cared for, but his emaciated appearance was strange.

“What’s his name?”

“Delta Leofid. My son. A strange power is dominating this child’s body.”

Sigma easily recognized that fact.

A powerful force she had never felt before was swirling in Delta’s small body.

Even when she killed a fox beastkin famous for his high magic power and made him into a specimen, she had never felt this much power.

“Delta’s body can’t handle the power that’s coming from the inside. What on earth did you do?”

“…….”

The previous Leofid family head hesitated, then spoke after she offered him expensive alcohol and ice.

“It seems my child has been chosen by the goddess. Leopards are also felines, so it’s not that strange.”

A happy face that was hard to believe from a father who brought his son to a fugitive because he was worried.

The madman’s energy in that face excited Sigma.

She willingly decided to help the head of the family, who had sold his soul to maintain power and authority.

“I will condense and extract the power flowing in his blood. If he was fully chosen, he would be able to do that himself, but it seems Delta can’t.”

“But he’s strong.”

Sigma connected a long tube to Delta’s slender wrist and heart. One end was connected to a flask.

Whether he resembled his father, the young Delta bit his teeth instead of crying or running away.

“If you take him to the mansion and draw blood for a week, Delta’s symptoms will improve noticeably.”

“I won’t forget your efforts. Take her away.”

“…….”

The leopard knights immediately subdued Sigma and threw her into prison. This time, the crime of touching the head of the family’s son was added, resulting in a life sentence.

Sigma spent her time in prison without complaint.

Until Delta Leofid, born with madness, quickly rose to the position of head of the family and took her out of prison.

The former head of the family, who used and abandoned her, had died because of the Blue Moon’s madness.

‘Who told you to use me?’

Sigma curled up, resting her head on her knees, and didn’t move. Kitty watched her, who seemed to be deep in thought, and left.

* * *

I went straight to the office where Karis and Jackal were waiting.

Using Polly’s Mirror, I showed them Sigma’s reaction in the interrogation room.

Jackal frowned, as he always did when he learned something unexpected.

“……Judging from Sigma’s reaction, it seems the Blue Moon really appeared because of Delta.”

“It would be nice if someone who knew the inside story would confess.”

Karis’s voice was also tense.

‘Well, it’s a miracle they haven’t broken Polly’s Mirror a long time ago.’

Sigma was the one who interfered with the birth of Theo and Deon, so their anger was understandable.

I slipped the mirror into my arms and said.

“If the Blue Moon appeared by borrowing Delta’s body, then Delta is the evil that killed the leopards and the target of the beastkins’ curse who fear the Blue Moon.”

If I revealed this, not only the other beastkins but also the leopards would curse the Leofid family.

Then there was no reason to wait.

“I think it would be good to visit the Leopard territory where Cleed and Hogwood are.”

“It seems the time has come.”

Jackal confirmed my words. Karis stroked my hand and said sadly.

“……Will I be able to go to the place where Diel is buried this time?”

“…….”

Theo and Deon’s stillbirth was a similar tragedy.

After the stillbirth, Karis tried to visit her daughter’s burial place several times.

But she repeatedly failed at the Leopard territory border, and each time, Karis became emaciated, losing her will to live.

Malang—

I held Karis’s hand tightly.

“This time, definitely, for sure.”

“Baby…….”

Karis held my hand tightly, speechless.

I held back my tears and tried to smile.

“I’ll help you with all my might, too.”