Chapter 576 - 76. Grandfather and Granddaughter
Chapter 576 of "Demi-human Girls Completion Manual" opens with dynamic events: "There, I still remember, my home used to be over there, very close to the... Read on for more!
"There, I still remember, my home used to be over there, very close to the harbor... Every time my father and I returned from the sea, it was always very late, and I was so tired, but it didnât take long to get home after disembarking... In the past, there were many of our kin at this port..."
Ilois leaned against the edge of the elevator, looking down at the bustling guests and staff in the harbor below, but she could no longer see the Moon Rabbits with their long ears atop their heads and soft fur on the sides of their faces.
The same snow, the same winter, now that she was back, it felt all the more foreign to Ilois.
Ilois seemed a bit downhearted, and no one else responded. Just as Valentina was about to speak, Fisher, who was standing behind Ilois, gently patted her shoulder and said to her,
"I heard long ago in Nali that the harbor of the Nebalon Kingdom was operated by the demi-human. Back then, Nebalonâs finances were scarce, and it was only through the sea trade of special fish by the demi-humanâs merchant ships to other countries that they found a way out, and it was for this reason that the people of Nebalon, who heeded the teachings of the Phoenix, always treated the Moon Rabbit Species as their own kin..."
Fisher glanced at the pair of elongated rabbit-ear sculptures hanging on the building in front of the harbor, which bore crescent moon-shaped notches, symbolizing the significance of the Moon Rabbit Species to this harbor and the nation.
Below the rabbit-ear sculptures, in places not yet covered by Frost Snow, there were many offerings of food and alcohol laid out, clearly not provided by the nearly extinct Moon Rabbits themselves...
Coexistence and harmony, humans and demi-humans living together under the protection of the Frost Phoenix, could probably only be seen in the Northern Realm covered by ice and snow, right?
"The Moon Rabbit Species is a part of the Nebalon Kingdom. Your arrival will prove once more their past existence, and everyone will see in you every Moon Rabbit they once knew or heard of... Ilois, to the Nebalon Kingdom, you are not an orphan, but the only one."
The elevator slowly descended to the ground, the loud steam and mechanical noises filling the air, drawing the attention of many guests and staff at the harbor. As soon as their gazes accidentally swept over, they couldnât look away, the reason being none other than Ilois, whom Fisher slowly pushed to the front of the elevator door.
Her golden hair swayed in the wind over her thickly clothed robes, and from the tips of her snow-white rabbit ears atop her head, wind and snow occasionally fell through the crescent-shaped notches.
"Moon... Moon Rabbit?"
"Are there still living Moon Rabbits from Nebalon overseas?"
"The Frost Phoenix reveals itself, the Frost Phoenix reveals itself..."
Ilois opened her mouth slightly, the gazes of the surrounding humans continuously shifting onto her, slowly overlaying the slight feelings of estrangement and desolation that had arisen in the elevator, while also gradually firming up her determination to find and confront those who had harmed her Moon Rabbit kin.
She exhaled, and the breath immediately took shape in the cold weather. She turned around to glance at Fisher and smiled, saying a soft "Thank you."
Fisher nodded and followed her out of the elevator into the Frost Snow that filled the Northern Realmâs sky. His robe and the black hair on his brow quickly became flecked with snow.
"Tch, this guy sure knows how to sweet-talk a young girl..."
"Call me that again, youâll get a kick!"
Balzac curled his lip and followed, muttering probably what Emhardt would have said, only for Philis to kick him in the backside from behind. This caused him to nearly slip and tumble. He just managed to steady himself and was about to turn around with a scowl when he saw Valentina, still sitting in her wheelchair with an expressionless face, in the elevator.
Balzac had no choice but to swallow his anger and let it go, merely giving Philis a fierce glare before he adjusted his robe and followed suit, nearly making Philis burst into triumphant laughter.
Inside the elevator, Valentina rubbed her ring and kept her pale silver eyes fixed on the tall Nali man with a book perched on his shoulder, her gaze flickering with contemplation. She didnât snap out of it until Helldor, who was behind her, spoke up to remind her,
"Zzz...Valentina, what are you thinking about?"
"Nothing much, just...I actually have a good understanding of the relationship between the Moon Rabbit Species and the Nebalon Kingdom. If I could have told Ilois that sooner, it might have been more helpful for the action. However, since heâs said it, heâs inadvertently done me a favor. What did you say to him last night to get him to deliberately offer me this help?"
Helldor looked down at Valentina in her wheelchair and shook his head, replying,
"Zzz...Iâve told you before, since Fisher is Helsonâs student, he must be a person of goodness. His words were merely to comfort Sister Ilois, I doubt he had any intention of helping you. Indeed, I did say such things to him last night, but his response was casual and indifferentâhe obviously wouldnât intentionally help you."
"Who knows, maybe his comforting Sister Ilois was out of his lust for her beauty. He could also want to show off in front of me to make me fall for him and pay attention to him."
Valentina joked, and Helldor also couldnât help but let out a silent laugh, the steampunk-like exhalation of steam silently easing the slight disagreement they had that morning.
In actuality, their relationship was like that of a grandfather and granddaughter. Ever since his advanced age when he began instructing Valentina, from the first time the young Valentina had called him teacher, he had come to regard her as his own family.
"Zzz...He may not have that intention, but itâs still right for you to be cautious. Heâs not suitable as a companion; heâll break your heart eventually. Iâve heard that during his school days, the current Empress of the Nali risked great danger to offer him a âuniversal requestâ for marriage, showing how much she adored him at the time. Yet now, sheâs put up a hefty bounty to capture him aliveâwe donât know what happened between them... So, it would be best to handle his protection strictly as Turand Family business."
Valentinaâs silver eyes flickered slightly as she looked up at Helldor behind her and spoke without words,
"I was only joking, and yet you respond with so many serious matters. Donât you think I know all this?"
Helldor slowly exhaled steam, not missing a beat in joining the joke,
"Zzz...Then perhaps, Valentina, you should read less of the Nali romance stories."
This made Valentina laugh, covering her mouth with one hand while gently tapping the mechanical body of Helldor behind her with the other. She looked outside and said,
"Push me out, letâs get going. If we reach the Moon Rabbit Shrine faster, we can set up earlier, and tonight I must obtain the Moon Rabbit Seal."
"Zzz...Yes, Valentina."