The Camellia Tattoo - Chapter 68
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⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
this book is completely translated on luna kofi (advanced chapters for the website will follow)
Hoping that someone from them would bring her an answer, Amber listened.
“That kid is strange.”
“Right. That’s why we can’t be close friends with them.”
The children chattered, finishing their own little deliberation
“They’re always looking up at the sky.”
“They even lied about knowing when and where a gate would open.”
“But they were wrong.”
“Yes, wrong.”
Amber managed to hide her surprise as she listened.
‘Claims to know when and where gates will open?’
Such a claim meant an extraordinary ability. Something beyond mere talent. It would be called a blessing.
‘It might be something like the curse of regret passed down my maternal line.’
If the child’s boast wasn’t just a bluff but the truth, there could only be one reason it ‘missed’ its mark.
Her presence, having regressed and altered the future!
‘I want to meet them. I want to hear their story…’
Whether true or not, she decided the child must be brought to the castle.
As she pondered this, the girls shared more about the child.
“They don’t have a mom! Or a dad.”
“It’s not because of the recent war; they never had them.”
“They say they were born after eating their mom.”
“I’ve never seen their dad!”
This was probably something the adults around had casually mentioned. After all, children mirror the adults.
The thought of how hard it must have been without parents pained her heart. But then Nicholas, with a suddenly serious tone, spoke up.
“Did the adults say that? They shouldn’t talk like that.”
“!”
“I had a good impression of this village, but now I’m disappointed.”
Nicholas stood up, intending to confront the village chief, but Amber quickly stopped him.
“Wait, not yet. Let’s find the child first. Then we can address this.”
“Ah.”
“Wait, Nick. We’re in the middle of searching for the child.”
With her plea, Nicholas calmed down and stopped.
“Understood. I’ll help look too.”
“Then please focus on bushes or places where a child might hide or be locked away.”
Nicholas is very empathetic. He would likely take great care of the child after discovering the harsh words they grew up with.
Though she was unsure of the child’s condition when she found them, it seemed unlikely they’d be found unharmed.
“Does anyone know where that child is?”
Despite her belated question, the already frightened children clamped their mouths shut, refusing to answer.
‘I joined their play and approached slowly for this reason.’
With a soft sigh, Amber gently patted each child on the head.
“Even if adults say such things, good children know not to repeat them.”
“Yes…”
The disheartened children glanced around before scampering away. Amber let them go and hurried after Nicholas.
It was then she heard it.
“Isn’t it just a little thing? It hasn’t done anything wrong!”
Nicholas’s shout reached her from somewhere.
Surprised by the urgency and force in his voice, Amber was surprised.
‘What happened?’
She quickened her pace, arriving to find a tense standoff.
* * *
“How can you think of killing a cub? Come on, say something!”
The naive plea seemed endless.
Igmeyer, on the other hand, was growing increasingly annoyed.
Following Amber’s instructions, he had been thoroughly searching the empty houses when a soldier came running, reporting they found a monster.
The name of the monster is ‘Gato de la Sombra’, or Shadow Cat, for simplicity.
This creature, though among the weaker monsters often preyed upon by others, always hides in shadows to move about. Its weakness is sunlight, so it sleeps in tall grass or dark interiors during the day and becomes active at night.
Despite its weakness, a monster remains a monster, preying on humans—particularly targeting the seemingly vulnerable: the elderly, women, and children.
By Igmeyer’s standards, it was a despicable creature.
Yet, this Shadow Cat had another peculiar trait.
It could appear small when disadvantaged and grow larger when preying.
‘To defend it just because it looks small… He could end up being eaten.’
He deserved to die because he was foolish, but unfortunately, he was Amber’s guest. Moreover, Amber was present at the scene.
Had she not been there… Well, as a lesson in ignorance, letting him lose an arm might have seemed fair. A bit of malice could be warranted, right?
Igmeyer wouldn’t have let him go as far as death. Not for that man’s sake. But because he dreaded how long Amber might mourn and remember him if he died in the North.
“Tell me. Doesn’t anyone feel pity for this small animal?”
While Nicholas continued his loud protest, Igmeyer sorted through his thoughts. The people of the North, knowing full well how dangerous this seemingly cute creature could be, kept their mouths firmly shut.
Even if they thought him naive, they could not presume to instruct a noble.
Fortunately, someone was there to step in.
The villagers subtly shifted their gaze, unanimously turning their attention to Igmeyer.
