Chapter 2: He couldn’t possibly have too much tenderness for a cub… ouch, really.

Chapter 2: He couldn’t possibly feel too much tenderness toward a cub… Hmph, seriously.

The tiny cub remained sprawled on the ground. After spreading its little wings, it cautiously extended its small tail—a white, dragon-like tail with a tuft of faintly pink down at the tip—swaying it twice like an obedient little animal.

See? The tail matches too!

And also—

The little cub thought for a moment, then tried to pull off its halo to show it to Amos in front of it.

The little one’s eyes sparkled with hidden hope for family.

Thinking of raising a cub?

Why not take this one?

A genuine little angel!

But before it could manage to pull off its tiny halo, the enormous figure before it suddenly vanished.

Xiao Chuzao peered around bewildered, slowly widening its eyes as it looked from side to side.

“Meow?”

Huh? What’s going on?

Then, the next second, the little white ball crouched on the ground was picked up by a slender hand gripping the back of its neck and lightly lifted up.

This was a tall man, nearly two meters in height. He wore a black military uniform, and due to psychic disturbance wreaking havoc on his body, he carried the metallic tang of blood. His face was strikingly handsome, radiating arrogance and aloofness, while a pair of terrifying crimson eyes studied the tiny being.

“You… where did you come from? What species are you? Why are you here? Are you…”

This was the ancestral land of the Crown Clan, their tainted homeland. The Saint Cas Empire had marginalized this place for self-preservation, resisting contamination. In this era, cubs were cherished treasures among every special race—no race would abandon a cub in such a place—not even the most savage beasts—unless that species had gone crazy.

Amos held the little one up, examining it for a long while. He thought his psychic disturbance must have caused him to hallucinate.

Otherwise, why did this cub look more and more like one of his own kind?

…Had he gone crazy instead?

But the Crown Clan hadn’t had a cub in centuries. Their cubs’ birth relied on spiritual energy and habitat. After the cosmic contamination event, their homeland was destroyed, and the already sparse Crown Clan was driven to near extinction.

Amos was the last surviving member of the Crown Clan after the pollution.

So, a cub? Impossible. Absolutely impossible!

This has to be some mistake—maybe the crown-like halo, the angel wings on its back, or the little dragon tail…

How was it completely flawless??

The more Amos looked, the more he questioned his sanity. He even reached out and pinched that little tail.

It was real—soft—and the little one, displeased, squirmed to tug it free.

Amos’s aristocratic features drew closer and closer until he was nearly nose-to-nose with the cub.

It seemed he really… had actually found a cub…

Wait— Huh???

The little white fluffy bundle, who had been a bit nervous at first, relaxed slightly when he sensed the other's scent.

This person smells just like the big fluffy bundle from earlier.

They really are the same.

Xiao Chuzao thought to himself, even finding familiarity in Amos's slightly curly, soft black hair—he finally wasn't an outsider anymore.

He had kin.

It’s just that this position wasn’t very comfortable.

"Meow~"

Xiao Chuzao’s tail swayed slightly as he let out a soft, childish protest, his tiny paws lifting to press against Amos’s face, trying to push him back.

Holding me like this isn’t comfy, daddy.

I wanna get down.

Is he calling me… dad?

For a moment, Amos, the usually calm and composed Emperor of the Saint Cas Empire, wore a serious expression—his mind went blank.

"Where did you come from? Are you from the Crown Clan? How did you survive in the habitat? Just how—"

"Meow!"

Holding me like this isn’t comfy, daddy!

The little one struggled, his voice louder this time, swaying midair and nearly slipping.

Amos snapped back to reality and changed his grip, scooping up the little one into his arms.

His body lifted and then settled—not on the ground, but against something unfamiliar but secure.

The tiny paws instinctively tightened their grip; it was a brand new feeling for the little one.

Carefully, he lifted his head, glancing at Amos’s stiff jaw before carefully nestling his small head in the crook of his arm.

Oh!

The little one’s pupils dilated like a feline’s, taking up most of his wide eyes, his tail giving a gentle flick.

This feeling…

So, that thing called "System" was right—this is his daddy.

The one holding him was clumsy and stiff, yet moved with extreme care.

It was a slightly cold embrace with a hint of blood. The metal buttons on Amos’s military uniform were under the cub’s paws. Tilting his fluffy little head, his little white ears pricked up gradually, his big eyes full of wide-eyed wonder. Now that he was being held, he resembled a curious little animal, his tiny claws lightly hooking onto a button, playing with it. His nails tapped the metal, making a soft sound.

Amos glanced down.

So small.

No bigger than his hand.

His whole body stiffened, wondering how their ancestors long ago had managed to raise such delicate little ones. But this was all so strange. Was this really a Crown Clan cub?

Ruled by the Crown Clan, the Saint Cas Empire has made countless enemies. Schemes against them never cease, and Saint Cas's fragmentation and downfall are what many nations and races eagerly await to see.

As the last generation of the Crown Clan, he had too much to do. At a time like this, he needed to be especially cautious about unexpected situations.

Yet this feeling was beyond words.

At last, Amos felt grounded.

Oh, it's a cub.

He thought.

This place isn't safe for a child. Amos took off his coat and bundled the little thing up.

Whatever traps or tricks awaited, getting out came first.

The Crown Clan had terrifying psychic strength—so powerful that it inevitably goes haywire. In the past, their habitat helped regulate it, but after its destruction and the loss of its stabilizing force, as seen now, the Crown Clan's psychic energy had begun to spiral out of control, their crowns slowly cracking apart. They had to regularly vent the pressure to slow the shattering of their crowns.

When the crown fully shattered, a member of the Crown Clan would die.

Each time he needed to release this pressure, Amos chose to return here.

This time was no different. He flew solo in a small starship.

Still somewhat dazed, he felt as though he were holding a tiny bundle—so light it might have been an illusion. Amos slowly unfurled his snow-white wings and lifted into the air, shielding the cub while contacting the royal court of the Saint Cas Empire.

Within the Saint Cas Empire's royal court, the mood was tense.

Their Emperor, Amos Dwight, had left for the habitat when his psychic powers started raging. Seven full days had passed without any word from him.

Then, just moments ago, a message arrived from the distant cosmos.

The room erupted as a group of statuesque men and women moved forward.

"Has His Majesty sent word?"

"Where is Second Brother now? Is he coming back soon?"

"How is he? Is his psychic power stable?"

"Why aren’t you saying anything?"

The young man who had read the message was equally tall and handsome, his hair slightly tousled, revealing a broad forehead. His face twisted in confusion.

"Wait—Second Brother says... he found a cub?"

"Huh?"

"What?"

"...Second Brother says he picked up a cub. The cub can't handle warp jumps yet, so he'll be back within seven days. He wants the steward to prepare a nursery and basic checkups."

The remaining Crown Clan members in the galaxy were few, and a small group had gathered here, looking utterly baffled.

"What cub? Whose cub?"

"...Is His Majesty seeing things because of his psychic storm?"

"Exactly! Where would a cub come from? Did he find some alien kid?"

That's what they said, but the group couldn’t help themselves—they jostled to get a look inside.

"Let me see—"

"Didn't you say His Majesty was hallucinating? Why are you squeezing in?"

"I need to see clearly to judge His Majesty’s current condition, don’t I?"

I mean, come on? Their clan hadn’t seen a youngling in centuries. Though they were a mythical long-lived species, each member hundreds of years old, time was merely a concept to them. But when their Alpha Sovereign, the Emperor of the entire Saint Cas Empire, went out without servants or guards and hadn’t returned for seven days, they had to figure out His Majesty’s situation, didn’t they?

No way—this couldn’t just be about some inexplicably mentioned youngling, could it?

Seriously… Your Majesty, could you please explain what this youngling is all about?!

The Crown Clan, tormented by Amos’ one-way communication, was losing their cool, huddling together and staring intently at the communicator as if staring hard enough would make it talk.

But—one-way communication!

Seven days!

Your Majesty, do you know how we’re supposed to endure these seven days?!

*

Meanwhile, Xiao Chuzao was curled up inside the small starship.

He opened his large amber eyes, curiously surveying his surroundings.

The fluffy little thing naturally crouched low in the unfamiliar environment.

After setting the starship’s navigation, Amos turned around to see this scene.

The little one blinked his round, bright eyes, small and low to the ground. He was surprisingly adaptable—despite being so small and fragile, he had quickly adjusted after clinging to Amos. His fluffy white tail, tipped with a faint pink, resembled a little pom-pom. Though he lay on the ground, the tip of his tail perked up, swishing side to side behind him, while the small golden halo above his head bobbed along.

Oddly enough, the Crown Clan’s psychic halos weren’t supposed to float above their heads constantly. The brighter and more intricate the halo, the more powerful the Crown Clan member’s psychic energy.

And before this, no member of the Crown Clan had ever possessed a golden crown.

"Awoo?"

Xiao Chuzao lay on the floor, locking eyes with Amos.

The little one’s tone shifted from confusion and uncertainty to growing conviction.

His babyish voice was barely intelligible—Daddy!

Ignoring the "Daddy" bit—

Amos snapped back to reality, staring at the soft little ball of fluff before him.

He prided himself on being unshockable, having seen and handled everything with ease. But faced with this tiny being, Amos was stumped.

His psychic energy had spiked suddenly, and he’d rushed off, only bringing a small starship. The communication was one-way, and there wasn’t even a medbay. Encountering such a peculiar youngling, he could only crouch before him and ask sternly, "Where did you come from? How old are you? What’s your name? Why were you there? Did you see anyone else before arriving?"

He needed answers. The sovereign knelt before the little youngling, lowering his gaze as he questioned.

It had been so long since they’d seen a youngling. Even if this truly was one of their own, he didn’t think he’d make any exceptions.

The Crown Clan was notorious for their cold ruthlessness. Amos barely remembered his own childhood, but one thing was certain—he’d been put through brutal drills as a youngling. He would never go easy on one…

The little youngling tilted his head. The little furball blinked his big eyes. So many questions—Zao Zao had no clue.

The little cub stretched out its tiny paw: "Mew~!"

Papa! Zao Zao doesn't understand!

Amos froze, staring at the little furball.

He absolutely wouldn't show much tenderness toward a cub. Thinking this, he reached out with a stern face and picked up the fluffy little bundle.