Chapter 12
5
Somehow, we ended up catching the big ones.
‘Wow… it really hits you how imposing they are when they’re together.’
After breakfast, had they gone out for a quiet stroll together?
Seeing my father and mother riding their colossal divine beasts, bathed in a halo of light, made them look even more majestic and awe-inspiring.
Then, it seemed they had spotted us too. The white divine beast ahead shifted its direction toward us first.
Boom!
The massive divine beasts landed one by one.
My mother, the La Bellica Emperor, rode a creature resembling a winged wolf—the divine beast Titara. My father, Rokshan, rode a horned, blue bird-shaped divine beast—the divine beast Murien.
Margaret bent her knees, holding me in her arms, and bowed.
“May the eternal light of Demetea reside with the supreme sun, Rozantina.”
“Raise your head.”
Mother, the La Bellica Emperor, descended from her divine beast as she received Margaret’s greeting.
An overwhelming aura instantly spread across the surroundings.
“Adel, out for a stroll, I see.”
Father followed, scattering an air of gentle clarity behind him.
Seeing them together, they weren’t just metaphors—they truly resembled the sun and the moon.
Then… whoa.
I noticed an accessory that enhanced Mother’s already commanding presence.
It was the same white color, so it hadn’t stood out at first—but as Mother dismounted, she was holding the massive, pitifully limp body of a great beast in her hand.
“E-Your Majesty… but what is…?”
Margaret looked confused too, her eyes darting between Mother and the beast.
Mother spoke in a languid voice that almost seemed bored.
“This one appears to be the leader of the white monstrosities.”
Gasp.
So this wasn’t just a stroll after breakfast—they had gone out to hunt the white monstrosities.
Mother casually mentioned it as if she’d just snapped a chicken’s neck, but judging by the enormous body and the brilliant red mane, it was clear, as the La Bellica Emperor said, that this was the king of the white monstrosities.
And yet, Mother held it so effortlessly in one hand that it almost looked like a plush toy shaped like a beast rather than a real creature.
“I-I see.”
“All the nuisances I left alone until now have been insolent. They should be taught their place, shouldn’t they?”
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
Behind Mother, Father nodded gently in agreement, as if dealing with a mere fly.
Ah… as expected of my mother and father.
Yesterday, she had already predicted the extinction of the white monstrosities, and yet here she was acting with lightning-fast efficiency.
Then, Mother’s gaze suddenly fell on me.
I had been staring blankly at the limp giant… white monstrosity, when I felt her piercing gaze and lifted my head.
“You’re not afraid of beasts after all.”
With eyes as intense as sunlight, she scrutinized me as if she could pierce me through. She hummed thoughtfully for a moment, then suddenly thrust the hunted white monstrosity toward me.
“Do you want it?”
“Huh?”
“I picked it up on the way.”
“…!”
I was stunned by Mother’s abrupt, almost comic-book-like line.
“It was originally meant to be displayed in front of the protective stone, but if you want it, take it.”
I doubted my ears, but she didn’t seem to be joking.
“It seems like something Rokshan’s child would enjoy.”
“Your Majesty…”
Father, suddenly having his taste questioned, made a subtle, puzzled expression.
Mother didn’t flinch and continued.
“If you place it in a white crystal, you could admire it for a long time. It would also be fine as a decoration in the corner of a playroom.”
Margaret flinched slightly, imagining what Mother meant.
“Or, if you’re practical, you could skin it and make a cloak.”
Mother examined the beast’s corpse as if measuring its length.
I stared dumbfounded at her.
Then, when she turned her gaze back to me…
“W-wow…!”
I instinctively clapped my hands and praised her.
“Wow, amazing! The beast is amazing! I love it! Really, can Adel keep it? I really, really like it…!”
Of course, my cool, indifferent mother didn’t so much as twitch an eyebrow.
“I love it! Mother, you’re the best! Mother, you’re awesome! Thank you, Mother!”
I felt a cold sweat trickle down but tried even harder to act enthusiastic.
Mother’s face betrayed no emotional reaction, but she did show rare kindness again.
“If you just want the hide, it’ll be cumbersome to move. I can dismantle it for you now.”
“Oh, no! Whole…! Just as it is now! I want to take it like this!”
Damn it.
I had absolutely no interest in watching a flashy live beast-dismantling show.
“Princess, wouldn’t it be better to just take the hide?”
“No, it looks better big!”
I desperately insisted on keeping the white beast intact, and Mother seemed to nod in agreement.
“Since it was hunted with barely any damage, it’s fine to leave it as is.”
“Your Majesty, if you give it to me, I’ll transport it to the palace without a single flaw.”
“Very well, take it.”
Father stepped forward and respectfully took the white monstrosity with both hands.
“Thank you for Your Majesty’s grace.”
“You flatter me,” Mother replied, tilting her head slightly.
Her languid hand lifted Father’s jade-like chin.
“There’s no need for such formal thanks between us.”
Wow…
Mother is definitely an alpha.
No wonder so many readers loved stories about Asphodel’s parents’ generation. Even casual words from Mother somehow sounded magnificent.
I mentally noted it—might use it later.
‘Hmph, though I don’t know if I’ll get the chance…’
“Your Majesty…”
Father, perhaps feeling ticklish at her words, blushed faintly and shut his mouth.
Again, Father is that composed, icy beauty…
Especially his appearance—clear and cold as frozen winter water. Seeing such a dignified man’s cheeks flush red was a delight.
Of course, I included.
Even though my heart leapt, it didn’t matter in the presence of such divine artistry.
“Since you’ve been to the beast’s nest since morning, you must be tired. Step back and rest.”
Mother glanced at me once more, then left with her divine beast.
I stared blankly at the white beast in Father’s hands.
What just happened?
Did the cold, indifferent La Bellica Emperor really just say that famous “picked it up on the way” line to me?
No, no!
But Mother…
Even after I’d thrown all my pride aside and been excessively affectionate, she’d never given me a line like that before.
‘…Maybe she likes that I’m not afraid of beasts?’
Come to think of it, she’d already said something like this twice in the last two days.
‘Could it be Mother’s secret strategy I didn’t know about…?’
“Adel, I’m sorry.”
While I was still dazed, Father suddenly apologized.
“I had no idea what our daughter’s tastes were, even though she’s five.”
He looked a bit sullen.
His next words made my neck tingle.
“If I’d known you’d love beasts so passionately, I’d have seriously considered them as your birthday gift.”
No, that’s not it…!
“But don’t be too disappointed. Next time, I’ll prepare the perfect magnificent beast for our daughter.”
No, that’s not it!
“Let’s see… what would suit our Adel’s taste? If you like the white monstrosity, maybe a similar white beast, or one with wings? Or something completely different for variety?”
Father didn’t care that it wasn’t me; he excitedly muttered, seriously pondering habitats across the continent.
“Perhaps a Maracus with a lush tail would work too…”
Damn…
I might unintentionally become known as a beast slayer in this life.
The white monstrosity that Mother had given me ended up destined to be encased in crystal, just as she said.
Since it was hard to find a crystal large enough for the entire beast, we used a freezing mana stone to prevent decay. The palace staff busied themselves polishing the Emperor’s gift.
I hid the black mana stone I had picked up in the herb garden deep in my room.
By now, the black mana stone had lost its name’s flair and turned gray, as the faint aura inside had been partially purified when I held it.
