The Strongest Daughter-In-Law Of The Black Lion Family [EN]: Chapter 77

#77.

Besides, right after Cherchia returned to her human form, a fleeting but very sweet scent lingered.

It was fainter than when he stopped Zacharias’ rampage, but the essence felt the same. Zerachiel asked Ivan, who was still tilting his head, puzzled.

“Didn’t you smell anything?”

“Smell? Not at all.”

Ivan shrugged, seemingly oblivious. Seeing that Ivan didn’t perceive what he did, Zerachiel surmised that the mating bond heightened their sensitivity to each other’s pheromones.

‘What could it be?’

As his mind swirled with questions, Cherchia muttered as she walked by.

“That fox… it turns out she invited me intending to target me.”

“…What?”

“She admitted it earlier. Apparently, there are many who are after me. She disguised me as a fox to make it easier to kidnap me…”

Crack.

Cherchia stopped mid-sentence, her eyes widening slightly. The armrest Zerachiel had been gripping had crumbled into dust in an instant.

Ivan, also noticing Zerachiel’s sudden shift in demeanor, retreated behind Cherchia. But even then, he wasn’t even half-hidden due to his height.

“That son of a bitch was after you?”

“Ahahaha.”

“He had a death wish.”

Zerachiel smiled grimly. How could that usually sleek face become so terrifying? He truly was a handsome, strong beastman.

Cherchia, sweating slightly, said, “You’re not going to kill her, are you?”

“What’s stopping me?”

“That won’t do! First, we need to set an example to discourage this from happening again. First, extract the fox bead from her mother’s belly [a source of magical power or essence], then threaten Rodenga to empty her pockets, and then slowly drive her into a corner and torment her…”

It was typical of Cherchia to find a way to screw someone over without resorting to killing them, if possible. Of course, she didn’t seem to realize that her methods were often more cruel than a swift death.

Looking at her, she seemed gentle, but she was as merciless as the mistress of Jabisi [referring to Cherchia’s ruthless side, comparing her to someone known for their cunning and power in Jabisi].

Zerachiel smiled brightly and said, “That’s a given.”

“Ah.”

“I’ll spare her for now.”

Zerachiel smiled, and then disappeared in the direction Kira had gone, moving with incredible speed.

Zerachiel was here, and now he’s gone.

Cherchia and Ivan exchanged blank looks. After a moment, Ivan nudged Cherchia’s side and said, “That means he’s going to kill her.”

“I thought so, too, right?”

Cherchia sighed, as if resigned. Next to her, Ivan asked with a sly look, “Then shall we prepare for the funeral together?”

“I’ll pass.”

Cherchia refused firmly and slumped down in her seat.

She looked remarkably calm, even though her husband had just stormed off to beat up another beastman. It seemed that her life in Jabisi had toughened her.

Ivan, seeing Cherchia, who didn’t even bat an eye unlike before, muttered with a touched expression, “Chichi-nim has become Jabisi all of a sudden.”

It was like a father observing his child’s growth, but Cherchia just shrugged.

“You have to adapt to survive.”

“That’s a very desirable attitude.”

Ivan clapped his hands as if he was genuinely impressed. At this, Cherchia stretched her neck and said, “Ahem, this is nothing.”

She had already perfectly adapted to Jabisi. Of course, she wasn’t sure if that was necessarily a good thing.

Good is good.

That’s how Cherchia tried to avoid confronting the fact that she might appear just as unhinged as Zerachiel in the eyes of others.

* * *

Meanwhile, Rachel had been feeling dazed a lot lately. She felt constantly sleepy and had no strength in her body.

‘When did it start?’

Yes. It seemed to be after Zerachiel’s wedding reception.

After hearing that bastard Zacharias tell her to get along with Erhaden, she went home in a fit of anger.

Then Erhaden followed her….

‘Ah, annoying.’

Rachel shook her head, frustrated that her memory was hazy. It was difficult to think clearly, as if her mind was shrouded in fog.

It was around the time when she became dazed again.

“Woof!”

Rachel woke up to the sound of a lion’s roar and raised her head, witnessing an absurd sight.

‘Zacharias?’

That was definitely Zacharias. But she felt a strange sense of incongruity. Rachel tilted her head, belatedly realizing that his fur color had changed.

“What is he doing?”

Was he already senile? [referring to the possibility that Zacharias is losing his mind]

He suddenly dyed his fur yellow and wagged his tail as if he was begging her to eat him.

Looking at him indifferently, Zacharias jumped up and down and even shook his mane, continuing his pathetic provocation.

He seemed a bit… lacking compared to the Zacharias she knew.

‘Is he telling me to follow him?’

Rachel narrowed her eyes and stared at Zacharias. As if he misunderstood that she was trying to hunt him, Zacharias suddenly started to run away.

“Huh?”

Instinctively, Rachel chased after him. She couldn’t just stand still when prey was running away in front of a beast.

As the chase continued.

“Stop right there!”

Rachel, unable to chase him any longer, nervously shot an arrow imbued with pheromones.

Whoosh—!

The arrow hurtled towards Zacharias with a loud noise. It was just a warning shot, assuming he would easily avoid it.

But for some reason, Zacharias didn’t avoid it, and the arrow struck his hind leg accurately.

Crack—!

With a chilling sound, Zacharias cried out and rolled on the ground.

“Woof!”

“Gasp!”

Rachel gasped at the unexpected hit. She hurriedly ran to Zacharias, not even considering how illogical it was for a huge lion to be incapacitated by a single arrow.

“Zacharias!”

The limping Zacharias stared at Rachel with pitiful eyes. Surprised, she supported his head and shouted, “Why didn’t you avoid it?”

“Woof.”

“What’s with the lion appearance?”

“Growl.”

Zacharias dropped his head and let out a lion’s roar. Rachel, who couldn’t understand him, said with a serious face, “If you don’t turn into a human right now, I’ll roast you as you are.”

At that moment, Zacharias flinched and transformed into a human. Zacharias, now a blond, handsome man, covered the leg with the arrow still embedded in it and met her gaze.

As he gently tilted his head, his yellow blond hair slipped down smoothly. The image of a burly yellow lion vanished, replaced by a delicate and somewhat decadent handsome man openly using his charms. Rachel unknowingly swallowed.

Zacharias said, “Why do you think I came in this state?”

“How would I know…”

“Because you wouldn’t meet me otherwise.”

“…….”

“So I just wanted to see you, no matter what I had to do.”

Zacharias murmured sadly and reached out his hand. The hesitant hand slowly approached Rachel.

“I finally see your face.”

Zacharias smiled and touched Rachel’s cheek. When Rachel didn’t refuse, he mustered a little more courage and stroked her cheek.

At this, Rachel stared at Zacharias with a stiff face. Her voice naturally became sharp.

“What are you doing now?”

She felt unfamiliar and uncomfortable with her ex-husband, who had only pushed her away, now flirting with her.

“You told me to get along with Erhaden.”

Her voice trembled slightly. Clearly, until a few days ago, she didn’t even want to see him and didn’t want to face him again.

But seeing his pitiful face, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of weakness. Zacharias, sensing Rachel’s agitation, closed the distance and whispered, “It was a lie.”

“…….”

“So don’t meet that bastard. Let’s start over.”

Just as Zacharias was whispering softly and trying to close the remaining distance, Rachel’s eyes suddenly turned crimson, and she pushed Zacharias away.

“Why should I?”