Chapter 41…………………………………………….
However, Theodore’s answer remained unchanged.
“I am aware.”
“Then naturally—”
“My niece will receive our family’s blessing. The head of the house would have decided the same.”
“…Is that so.”
One of the priest’s eyebrows twitched under its previously smooth arch.
Regardless of the fact that many people were religiously devoted to the Holy Nation, the Pegasus family consistently treated them merely as another family.
But having a Holy Nation envoy bestow blessings at such an important event as the successor’s ability ceremony was practically an acknowledgment of the Law King’s absolute authority.
The temple officials had expected that the Acting Head, not a member of the Pegasus family, would need their support to lend authority. Instead, they were met with an unexpected refusal.
The priest, unwilling to see his assumptions as the cause, silently regarded Theodore with a look that clearly said he would remember this incident.
“….”
Of course, Theodore’s indifferent expression remained unaffected.
The fox priest, whose smile had faltered briefly, regained composure and addressed Lin one last time.
“It’s unfortunate for you, young lady.”
“Hmm?”
Lin, puzzled, looked up at Theodore again.
“Unfortunate for me?”
“Of course not.”
Seeing her uncle smile as if nothing had happened reassured Lin.
“Lin, you’ll do well in the ability ceremony. Don’t worry—just follow your practice.”
“Yes! I’ll do my best!”
Nodding with complete trust in her uncle, Lin stepped onto the stage.
Pein, hidden among the Pegasus family members, watched Lin’s confident strides nervously.
If she uses the wind ability like before…
Pein’s hands, clutching his parents’ legs, trembled.
If the broken successor suddenly becomes competent, what will happen to me?
A fear gripped Pein—the fear of becoming useless, just like the mutant he had once looked down upon.
He stared at Lin on the stage with a desperate gaze.
Please… let the ability ceremony fail miserably.
The boy silently prayed more fervently than ever.
The stage prepared for the ability ceremony was visible to everyone.
“Good.”
As Theodore, Acting Head of the House, announced the start of the ability ceremony, all conversation in the hall ceased, and all eyes turned toward the stage.
First, transform into the beast form.
Following her practice, Lin transformed into her beast form as all eyes focused on her.
“Wow!”
“Oh my!”
Gasps of surprise arose at the sight of her unfamiliar beast form.
It’s okay.
Everyone was watching her.
With a slight wobble on her thin legs, Lin steadied herself and held her head high.
The small pink nose on her tiny head pointed toward the ceiling.
Being observed by so many adults brought a certain pressure, but Lin shook off the tension and presented herself even more confidently.
I’m not just a mutant—I’m a sacred beast.
Her gaze briefly shifted across the banquet hall.
On a cushion atop a nearby table, she spotted a familiar plush companion.
Though the others remained still, pretending it was just a doll, Lin knew Caligo was watching her from inside it.
Yes! I can do this.
Lin recalled her practice sessions with Caligo in her mind.
Not only her proud ability, “precognition,” but also the way Caligo wielded divine power as if it were her own hands, lessons she had learned.
And the incident earlier when she skillfully retaliated against Pein trying to bother the nanny.
Feeling her friend’s gaze from the plush, Lin’s confidence swelled further.
Thump!
She stomped her front hooves firmly, straightened her chest, and opened her mouth.
“Kyuuuu!”
Mom and grandfather, come back!
The wind did not respond.
Instead, Lin’s forehead glowed with a form of precognition that no one could understand.
More precisely, a tiny horn on her forehead emitted a gentle light.
“Oh my, indeed. Is this an emitting ability?”
“She still manifested her power well.”
Although it wasn’t the wind ability symbolic of the Pegasus family as some had mistakenly expected, everyone applauded the young successor who had successfully completed her ability ceremony despite doubts about her health.
Excited, Lin cried out once more.
“Kyuuuung! Kyu kyuuuu!”
Grandfather, come back! Mom, wake up!
Though it wasn’t the same ability as the other Pegasus beastfolk, Lin was satisfied with her power.
It had shown her the scene she most wanted to see.
Feeling happy about the results, Lin cried out several more times.
By now, it didn’t exhaust her to the point of collapse.
Since no one else possessed the same sacred beast form as Lin, no one could truly understand the cries she made in beast form.
Unlike the speech common to all beastfolk, cries made in beast form were only understood by the same kind. In other words, only fellow beast forms could comprehend each other.
Looking back at the clapping audience with excitement, Lin spotted a tall, handsome boy.
Her benefactor—Kaidan.
For some reason, he looked surprised as he watched her.
Huh? Did I… shout too much?
Embarrassed by the boy’s astonished expression, Lin stopped crying and returned to her human form.
“Lin, congratulations on manifesting your power. You performed admirably.”
“Uncle Theo!”
Lin beamed, watching Theodore approach with a joyous face and place a medallion engraved with the Pegasus emblem around her neck.
A sense of fulfillment washed over her for completing such an important ability ceremony successfully.
After the successor received the Pegasus family medallion from the Acting Head, the past Elder Council members looked on with displeasure at the seemingly close uncle-and-niece duo.
The priest, who had intended to assert authority at the party, was also nearby.
He observed the pair with a smiling mask, but behind it, his twisted resentment slipped into a mocking tone.
“Well… if choosing punishment over reward is the believer’s decision, there’s nothing that can be done.”
The fox-eyed priest stepped back, his gaze icy, though he did not push further.
As an envoy of the Holy Nation, he had no need to intervene directly; his role was simply to observe.
He twisted his eyes to hide his emotions, surveying the Elder Council members.
“Unbelievable. A medallion for the legitimate bloodline of the Pegasus family, and yet it’s placed on a lowborn bear wandering the streets!”
“What about rejecting the chance to receive the Law King’s blessing? Surely he sabotaged it out of jealousy, thinking he wouldn’t get it himself.”
“Miss Lin must have learned wrongly because of him. She should have had proper guidance from a real protector like us.”
Watching Lin laugh and chat with the Acting Head and key knights nearby, the council members gritted their teeth.
For this faction of the Elder Council, the outside beastfolk loyal only to the mercenary king were an even greater thorn in the side than anyone else, as they felt their family privileges had been taken.
“This environment can never nurture true faith. Look, there’s a mixed hodgepodge of non-noble beastfolk, not even carnivores, mingling with the lordly family.”
“This is a serious problem. Isn’t it, priest? I fear our precious Pegasus heir might fail to maintain proper faith and be tainted by corrupt ideas.”
The elders firmly believed their status was divinely determined by birth.
Thus, they expected the envoy from the Holy Nation, preaching a doctrine of pureblood hierarchy, to support their views.
And to some extent, they were right.
