The Strongest Daughter-In-Law Of The Black Lion Family [EN]: Chapter 28

#28.

― Heh.

Tavy chuckled, swimming around me. Each time Tavy moved, bubbles formed in the air, creating a sensation like waves rippling through water, almost as if I were underwater.

― I knew if I waited, you’d come.

Tavy murmured to herself, gently poking my cheek.

― I didn’t expect such a bold child to come. Besides, even wild beasts would find this scent hard to resist. It’s so sweet.

“Jerakiel also said I smell sweet.”

― Jerakiel?

“Yes, the Black Lion’s little master.”

― Oh dear, and it had to be the Black Lion…

Tavy trailed off. I already knew my life was very tangled, so it didn’t really affect me.

More important was obtaining the power of the sacred object needed for my future escape plan. I already knew from the original story that Ella’s unique pheromones caused wars.

“That’s why I need your power. If I wander around like this, I’ll become everyone’s target.”

― Just hiding your power won’t solve anything, will it?

“At least it’ll buy me time.”

Until I clearly recognize the ability of my pheromones and can use them skillfully.

In the original story, countless families tried to use Ella’s power. If I don’t develop my own strength, I won’t avoid Ella’s ending.

But right now, I don’t even know exactly what my power is. I’ve just transformed into a human, making me, in a way, a delicious prey exposed to danger.

Tavy, who had been quietly watching me, said,

― Indeed, the sweeter things are, the more dangerous they are.

Initially, all I wanted was to survive the harsh and bitter winter. I was too busy surviving in the face of the immense reality I encountered barehanded.

But that was when I was a beastkin who couldn’t transform into a human.

Now, I had to find a direction to move forward. If I just go with the flow, I might repeat my previous life.

The power to protect myself had to be found on my own.

“I don’t want to live a life controlled by someone else anymore.”

When I recall my past life, there were more painful and sad memories than happy ones.

The things I loved and the moments I was happiest were often taken away from me suddenly and unwillingly. Also, the things I desired seemed to come close as if they would be given to me soon, but then disappeared without a trace in an instant.

It was hard enough to stand on my own, but there were so many people shaking me.

‘You can do this much for me, right? How good have I been to you all this time? You only have me as a friend because you’re always like that.’

‘I knew we shouldn’t have taken in an orphan. Look at her glaring at adults? No manners!’

Knowing that I craved affection more than anyone else, my friend who used that as a weakness to exploit me, and the relatives who were after my grandmother’s insurance money, all just shook me.

The most terrible thing was that I had the foolish belief that they were friends, only to be betrayed in the end.

I won’t live like that anymore.

“I’d rather be the one doing the controlling.”

I’ll pluck the nose hairs of anyone trying to take advantage of me first, and burn all the hair on their body!

Tavy laughed at my furious response.

― Yes. With the power you possess, you might be able to have wild beasts at your feet.

“What power do I have?”

― I can’t tell you yet. It would be defying the rules.

The rules.

Guardians were beings who saw the past, present, and future simultaneously. She probably scanned my past, present, and future entirely by now. Maybe even the memories of my past life.

But just because they see it doesn’t mean they can put it all into words. There were unbreakable rules for them.

Unless the time comes, you can’t get any future information from a Guardian.

― So, you think running away is the best option?

“For now.”

― I don’t think that’s a good idea, dear. If you run away like this, you’ll really be in danger.

I couldn’t ignore what a Guardian was saying. When I just blinked, Tavy said,

― Right now, it’s safest to stay in that Black Lion’s den. From what I see, that little master of the Black Lion seems quite obsessed with you.

Tavy tapped my wrist, where the carving of the Javisi flower was engraved.

I rubbed my wrist for no reason. I had just learned the meaning of this tattoo through Heathcliff, so my thoughts were complicated.

Once you have the tattoo, it’s hard to completely escape from him.

I was a little afraid that I would become unhappy like Ella in the original story.

“What if I get eaten?”

In any movie, the person who lets their guard down dies first.

I knew how ruthless Jerakiel was in the original story. Even if the Jerakiel in front of me was just a young boy, I couldn’t let my guard down.

The anxiety of ‘What if he turns dark someday?’ kept rising. Then Tavy clearly presented the answer.

― Didn’t you say you were going to control everyone? If you can’t even control that Black Lion, you should just get eaten. What else can you do?

That was hardly encouraging.

I clicked my tongue at Tavy’s answer, which had zero empathy. But soon, I had to admit it.

How can I act like before when I said I would live differently? After all, the only one who can protect me is myself.

This was literally a jungle. If a weak white ferret like me was to live in a world full of wild beasts, I needed to be prepared.

That’s right. I was a white ferret beastkin who even chewed on the Black Lion’s paws. If they try to eat me, I’ll bite them first. There’s also the saying, ‘A preemptive strike is always victorious.’

“You’re right. So, help me so I can control them properly.”

Tavy lightly replied to my outstretched hand.

― As much as you want.

With those words, a silver glow rippled from Tavy’s entire body. It was the light signaling the start of the contract.

* * *

Splash―!

With a thunderous noise, spring water poured out like a burst from the well that was said to be dried up.

Jerakiel blankly stared at the absurd scene, then chuckled when he discovered a familiar figure.

It was Chichi, surfing on top of the burst well.

It was very ridiculous that she was balancing on a board she didn’t know where she picked up. It was like she was surfing.

‘Anyone would think she was a seal in her past life.’

She was truly someone who would never let you be bored if you kept her by your side.

Heathcliff was also surprised by Chichi’s unusual appearance.

“Jerakiel?”

Then Chichi called his name and slowly stepped out of the well. She looked very shabby as she was soaking wet, but that was cute in its own way.

Jerakiel quickly took off his coat and wrapped it around Chichi’s body. He even put the hood on her, wanting to keep her perky ears to himself, and Chichi avoided his gaze and made excuses.

“Thank you, I lost my hat anyway…”

“Did you want to swim this time?”

“The water tastes good.”

“Oh, is that so?”

Jerakiel kept laughing at her unpredictable answers.

The surroundings, which had been filled with tension until just now, had long been overshadowed by Chichi’s flamboyant appearance.

“So, is this the end of your runaway?”

“Call it an outing.”

“You disappeared without a word, so it’s a runaway.”

Jerakiel smiled brightly and said it as if stamping a seal, and Chichi puffed out her cheeks. She was grumbling something, but nothing was heard properly.

Jerakiel tilted his head, not feeling any discomfort for a while. The sweet scent that he felt from Chichi was no longer smelled. It was as if she could control it herself.

Her pheromones seemed very stable, not just because of the tattoo.

Jerakiel instinctively stared at the well. Come to think of it, he heard that the well had already dried up hundreds of years ago, so how did she burst it?

Just because Chichi went in and came out, the dry well was gushing out so much that it made the surroundings wet.

He thought something was scurrying inside, so was she doing secluded training? Whatever it was, it was certain that Chichi did it herself.

“It wasn’t just a simple runaway.”