Home/I Became the Emergency Food Supply of the Bear Family/ch44

Chapter 44

The atmosphere had completely deflated. At this rate, joining them would be impossible. Having assessed the situation, Ber let out a small sigh.

"Alright. It's disappointing, but I suppose there's no helping it."

She answered in a subdued voice, then slowly bowed her head and added:

"Then have a safe trip, Father. Ferdinand."

Without pressing further, Ber turned cleanly away.

With her hand on the doorknob, she added:

"From now on, I won't show you two my rabbit form again."

With that final, resolute statement, she turned the knob.

At that moment—

"Wait."

"Wait!"

Theodor and Ferdinand shouted simultaneously.

Ber's lips slowly curved upward.

Operation successful.

---

That night.

Pallas suddenly appeared in Theodor's bedroom.

"So you were awake after all."

Theodor, seated on the bed, greeted Pallas. Moonlight slanted through the gap in the curtains, falling across Theodor's face.

"You truly wear a face full of worry. You're that anxious, yet you're taking her outside the estate?"

"......"

"I can't believe it. Even after all my warnings, she's been running around Grizzly Castle all this time, hasn't she?"

He deliberately used provocative words, but Theodor gave no answer. Pallas shook his head and sighed.

"She seems to know how to handle you better than I do."

No doubt she'd called him Father and hugged him. Or declared a boycott of her animal form. To think he'd fallen this easily.

Pallas chuckled in amusement—then his gaze grew heavy.

"Her fever. It's getting worse, isn't it?"

Theodor's brow furrowed slightly as he met Pallas's gaze. He soon looked away. Pallas let out a short sigh.

"I told you before—to understand an unknown power, you have to use it."

"......"

"Until now, it's only been a mild fever—but from now on, anything could happen. You should be prepared."

At that, Theodor met Pallas's eyes again. Pallas added emphatically:

"Before it's too late."

"...I know."

Closing his eyes, Theodor clenched his fist and answered.

---

A large carriage stood before the main gate.

One by one, they began boarding. Louis got on, and Ber was about to follow—when she spotted someone and turned.

"Countess!"

Rib was approaching the carriage with Anna. Ber ran over to them.

"Her Ladyship came to see you off, young lady."

"Thank you, Anna. Thank you, Countess!"

She bowed her head—and when she looked up, Rib's face came into view.

Rib's gaze seemed to waver. Her eyes were filled with anxiety and worry.

Her adopted daughter, traveling a long distance by carriage.

Perhaps she was seeing Koko in her.

Rib hesitated, unable to stroke or embrace the girl—so Ber reached out. She hugged Rib and buried her face in her chest.

Her head, which once barely reached Rib's stomach, now came up to below her chest.

"I'll be careful, so please don't worry."

"......"

"Mother."

At the clear voice from within her arms, Rib's eyes widened.

"...Yes."

She answered, and embraced Ber in return.

Slowly stroking Ber's head, Rib looked at Theodor, who had already boarded the carriage. Meeting her eyes, Theodor nodded solemnly.

With Ferdinand's help, Ber climbed aboard.

Accompanying them to the entrance ceremony were Theodor, Louis, Theodor's aide Demi Rune, one knight as escort, and Alexei.

Inside the carriage, Theodor, Ferdinand, Louis, and Demi Rune were already seated. As Ber hesitated over where to sit, Demi Rune spoke as if waiting:

"Young lady, your seat is over there."

He pointed to Theodor—more precisely, to Theodor's lap.

"...That's too cramped. Rune, wasn't there a larger carriage? We could switch to another one now."

"Oh! Look at the time. If we don't leave now, we'll be late!"

"Ah, fine! Hmm... it's cramped, so I'll animalize. Can you handle my clothes?"

At Demi Rune's urging, Ber nodded quickly and her body dissolved.

From beneath the dress that fell on Theodor's lap, a rabbit's hind legs emerged. Her small tail wiggled with each backward step. After confirming Demi Rune had retrieved the dress, Ber leaned against Theodor's stomach.

Startled, Theodor's eyes went wide—but he firmly held the rabbit with both arms. At the same time, the carriage departed.

The rabbit's head turned toward the window. The wind blew, rustling the curtain. As the rabbit stretched her front paws and fidgeted, hands reached from both directions—Theodor and Ferdinand had simultaneously drawn the curtain aside.

"You want to see outside, don't you?"

Ferdinand, seated in front, smiled faintly—as if he knew everything about her.

...How did he know?

She hadn't even tried to express her wishes. Even Ferdinand—who had understood her the least when she was a rabbit—could read her so well.

She was happy, but also a little scared.

The rabbit pulled her face back, pressing deeper into Theodor's embrace.

"......"

Her white ears twitched beneath Theodor's gaze. Soon, the corners of his mouth softened.

Seeing his smiling lips, Demi Rune let out a soft chuckle. Hearing him, Theodor glared at him. Demi Rune cleared his throat and bowed his head.

Choosing a four-seater carriage was worth it.

Demi Rune's lips also curved upward.

Once they left the North, the vibrant autumn leaves gave way to green foliage. In the lower regions, the air still carried the warmth of late summer.

As they neared the Empire's central region, the roads widened, and carriages and horses passed more frequently.

After three days—excluding overnight stays—they had traveled a full two days and finally arrived.

「Ruaalbero」

The large letters on the capital's northern gate came into view through the curtain.

We've arrived!

Excited, the rabbit fidgeted—Theodor stroked her ears and said shortly, We're here.

The carriage stopped before their lodging.

Everyone disembarked one by one, leaving only the small rabbit and Theodor inside.

Hup.

The rabbit leaped from Theodor's lap and landed on the front seat. Picking up the neatly folded dress in her mouth, she dragged it and spread it out.

Theodor, watching blankly, belatedly began to help. He lifted the rabbit and tucked her inside the dress, then turned away so she could dress.

With his eyes closed, Theodor reflected on the past two days.

Ber's condition had been good. Just as she'd said, her fever hadn't come. With one knight and one apprentice as escort, the journey had been so peaceful that he felt they'd hardly been needed.

And two days had passed more quickly than expected.

"Father."

Ber's voice came, and Theodor turned around.

"W-was I very heavy?"

Fully dressed again, Ber's face flushed red as she looked at Theodor's legs. A laugh escaped him before he could help it.

"No."

Rising from his seat, Theodor braced one hand against the carriage ceiling and lifted Ber with the other.

"...!"

Startled, Ber wrapped her arms around his neck.

Theodor alighted from the carriage without assistance and set Ber down with the lightest of motions.

"You should eat more."

Ber's face turned crimson. She grumbled that she could get down by herself—as if asking not to be treated like a child. Her pouting lips were adorable.

"Two days is shorter than you'd think. Don't you agree, Father?"

At Demi Rune's teasing remark, Theodor's expression instantly cooled.

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