Chapter 18: The fast-moving, climbing, fearless, face-pouncing brown creature is…

Chapter 18: The fast-moving, climbing, fearless, face-pouncing brown creature is...

The snow was letting up.

Outside, the Imperial Guard clearing the roads were swiftly withdrawing.

It wasn’t until the new shift arrived and they left the royal court that they finally relaxed.

"Really strange, what’s going on today? Butler Mori rarely gives specific orders for us to clear the roads early."

"Yeah, the Emperor's back—could that be it?"

"Come to think of it, it’s unusual. Except for the Third Prince and Fourth Prince not being on the Imperial Star, the First Prince and Fifth Prince actually returned early yesterday."

"These past few days, the Crown Clan princes have seemed a bit off—can we even talk about this?"

"You’ve already said it. But what could be wrong? It can’t be—like, a new Young Highness appearing in the Crown Clan, right?"

"If there really were a Young Highness, that’d be great… I’ve heard my grandfather say that the Crown Clan’s little princes were especially adorable as cubs, but none of us in recent generations have ever seen one."

Not far from this group of off-duty Imperial Guards loitering outside the royal court, a few ten-year-old boys walked along the opposite road, faintly catching a few words.

They were also dressed in military uniforms, still carrying a hint of childishness, yet already exuding a vigor uncommon for boys their age. An assortment of weapons were strapped to their backs.

Their boots crunched through the snow.

"Tsk, so envious. If only I could join the royal guard in the future."

One of them adjusted his military cap and shrugged.

"I heard that once you’re in the royal guard, you’ll end up fighting alongside the Crown Clan princes. Every single one of them is special ops—decked out in medals, how impressive would that be? We’ll take out all those who dare threaten the Saint Cas Empire! That’d be satisfying."

The others laughed along.

"Yeah, dream on. We’re just a few screenings away from getting in, right? Decked out in medals? Maybe in your dreams… Right? Hey, you animal, I told you to hold back in training today. Look how hard you hit me—my mom'll freak when I get back."

He then nudged the boy beside him with his shoulder.

The one who was bumped staggered slightly. He had been staring ahead, expressionless, but the contact seemed to flip a switch in him.

Lifting his head, he became all sunshine and smiles—the stiff black uniform unable to suppress his grin. A simulated gun was slung across his back, the military belt cinching his waist, making him appear slender and long-legged. He was also the tallest among the ten-year-olds.

His light beige eyes held a gentle warmth, and his smile was handsome, but his words always carried a teasing, almost mocking tone.

"Teacher said we should respect our opponents. Can’t disrespect you now, can I?"

"Cut it out, Chao Huangmu. I think you’re still holding a grudge because we used to call you a poster boy. Now you just take every chance to beat us up."

The Saint Cas Empire’s royal court wasn’t far from the Empire’s First Military Academy.

Due to constant external turmoil, pollution, and the threat of mutant beasts—along with countless terrorist organizations and dangerous individuals—the entire population maintained combat readiness. Children of this age, though still in regular schooling, were sometimes specially selected to enter the Empire’s Military Academy’s elite classes, receiving combat training and mental conditioning.

Despite their ten-year-old appearances, if thrown into real battles against other planets, they’d outperform many planets’ regular armies.

"But the atmosphere lately has been a bit odd—"

"Word is there’s a major spatial fluctuation near the Imperial Star. Recently, the Crown Clan princes have been dealing with it, and the Emperor seems to have returned early. Must be serious. Who knows which mutant beast horde this spatial fluctuation will bring."

Since the arrival of the pollution, aside from scattered mutant beasts, many powerful ones had also occupied corners of the universe, forming organized, army-like forces. The pollution made them savage and aggressive, while their tough hides allowed them to traverse dangerous spatial fluctuations unharmed. What was once just a natural disaster had become a mutant beast calamity, leading to the downfall of many planetary kingdoms.

"Wonder if we have any arrangements this time—Top Student, you're the best in our special class, didn't the teacher give you any hints?"

Chao Huangmu merely glanced toward the palace, his light beige eyes expressionless, yet his smile remained radiant: "Dunno..."

*

Inside the palace.

"Aowu!" Ah! So cold!

Xiao Chuzao, now wrapped in several layers of plush clothing, finally got to step outside and see the snow. He extended his tiny paw, cautiously touching the white snow on the leaves.

One touch, and he jerked back from the chill, his eyes widening slightly. Then he tried again, flinching once more, his eyes growing even wider.

Finally, Xiao Chuzao looked down at his little pink paw pads—now reddened from the cold.

Quietly, he tucked his paws back into the warm, fluffy fabric of his outfit.

Now, Xiao Chuzao resembled an even bigger ball of fluff.

His clothes had been hastily altered from the warmest plush fabric in the palace—light brown, slightly oversized, and not perfectly fitted. In the rush, there hadn’t been time to tailor the outfit snugly around his wings, so they were completely wrapped inside, leaving only his fuzzy little head exposed. Even his halo had shrunk from the cold.

Chu Zao twitched his damp little nose, sniffing the snowflakes—icy fresh, like his papa’s scent.

The light brown fluffball took a couple of steps back, then launched himself forward, shaking the snow off the leaves. A few flakes landed on his head, and the little one strained with his stubby paws to pat his head—to onlookers, it looked like he was waving his little arms at them.

"Aowu!"

Although it was freezing, Zao Zao loved the snow!

Frey and An Ya stood watching from a distance, while Mei Lun stayed close by, the once-dispirited Crown Clan member now beaming like the sun.

His mind was consumed by one thought—he’d seen a cub, he’d seen a cub! After a hundred years, he’d finally laid eyes on a living cub again! Ah, so adorable! His heart was melting. This generation of the Crown Clan truly had no appreciation!

Ugh, no class at all!

An Ya kept staring at the light brown fluffball, feeling a strange sense of familiarity.

The little one clearly was a tough little cookie. After adjusting slightly to the unfamiliar surroundings, he could keep himself happy just fine without needing their constant supervision.

Yet no one moved.

Only Amos hadn’t joined them outside. He was on the third floor, buried under a mountain of paperwork that had piled up over the past few days, driving him up the wall.

Between files, he glanced out the large window beside him, spotting the now more noticeable cub in his light brown plush outfit.

Amos confirmed the little one’s location, took a sip of tea, and quickly returned to his paperwork.

Behind Xiao Chuzao, Mei Lun was particularly attentive. Though he’d been frustrated earlier when the cub messed with his halo, he now followed the little one with a smile, ready to catch him as he zoomed around.

"Whoa there, Zao Zao, slow down! Don’t fall!"

The ground was slippery, and with his wings currently unusable, his energetic antics, while delightful, were also a bit heart-stopping.

"Aowu~"

Zao Zao is great at climbing trees!

Xiao Chuzao had his paws—his tail was also bundled up now, wagging behind him—and he clung to the tree trunk, shimmying up without using his wings.

This wasn’t an innate skill, though. Xiao Chuzao used to live up in a tree. When he was very young, his wings had been injured when he was being chased and bullied, leaving him unable to move for a long time. He’d often climbed up and down on his own, and after a few falls, he’d gotten really good at it—hardly ever took a tumble now.

This is a tall persimmon tree, bare of leaves in winter but adorned with cheerful orange-red fruits, their hues dusted with snow-white, creating a mix of warmth and quiet.

The little one's target is clearly the orange persimmons on the branches.

His sense of smell is sharp, catching the sweet fragrance in the air.

He looks like a small brown furball with only his fluffy white head peeking out, clinging determinedly to the trunk, grunting with effort as he scrambles upward with surprising speed.

The Crown Clan’s way with the little ones has always been to let them explore safely. They all have wings, so even if the cub climbs high, they can keep him safe from below. No one stops him—only Mei Lun hovered close, hands half-raised, smiling warmly.

“Oh my, Zao Zao is so amazing! Does Zao Zao want to eat persimmons? Grandpa Mei Lun can pick them for you! Just be careful not to fall!”

“Brother, isn’t Uncle Mei Lun being a bit too… over-the-top?”

An Ya stared at Mei Lun, observing his current demeanor. She felt that previous generations of the Crown Clan had been wrapped around the little ones’ paws, while their generation was different. Yet, watching the cub, she sensed something odd and muttered under her breath.

“What’s going on? I’m getting this weirdly familiar feeling.”

Frey glanced over. Though he didn’t understand what An Ya meant by “weirdly familiar,” he hesitated before replying, “I’d advise you not to say anything.”

Then they watched as the little cub clamped the stem of a persimmon, a ripe fruit dangling from his mouth as he dashed down. An Ya and Frey weren’t far away, and when he reached the last branch, he held a grudge—his hind legs kicked off, sending snow showering down, right onto An Ya.

An Ya: ???

Frey, who barely dodged the snow: …

He silently took a step to the side.

Meanwhile, Xiao Chuzao had already hopped down. After this playtime, the cub had never experienced someone fussing over him—“Zao Zao, be careful! Zao Zao, don’t fall!”—like the other lucky little angels. Not Zao Zao.

“Meow!” [like a kitten]

Grandpa Mei Lun!

Now quite comfortable with Mei Lun, the cub hugged the frozen fruit and called out excitedly.

Mei Lun knelt, smiling as he asked, “What is it, Zao Zao? Do you want Grandpa Mei Lun to peel it for you?”

He held out his hand.

Sure enough, the cub placed the persimmon in his palm.

But it wasn’t what Mei Lun expected.

The cub’s voice was tiny and earnest.

“Meow.” [like a kitten]

Grandpa Mei Lun, this is for you. When Zao Zao hurts, eating something sweet makes it hurt less.

Mei Lun went still.

His smile-crinkled slits slowly widened. He gazed into the cub’s big, trusting eyes—soft, gentle—and for a moment, his heart gave a thump.

Over on the side, An Ya brushed snow from her shoulders and suddenly whacked her palm with a fist.

“I know why this feels familiar now!”

Frey: ?

"Quick, climbs everywhere, not afraid of people, lunges at faces, brown—yeah, it's just like that thing we saw on that planet before—it's giving me that vibe—cockroach?" Though he spoke quietly, the Crown Clan had sharp senses.

Frey, growing increasingly agitated: ??? Why the hell did you say that out loud? And it's not even similar, okay?!

Mei Lun, startled and quickly turning his head: ???

The little cub in a brown fleece who also knew what a cockroach was: ????!!!

"Meow, meow?"

Co...cockroach?

Furious crying.jpg

An Ya suddenly realized something and sharply lifted his gaze. The once-confident Crown Clan member instantly became flustered, despite having been outsmarted by the cub earlier and trying to get revenge.

"Author's Note"

Frey: Why did you say that out loud?

Mei Lun: Why did you say that out loud?

An Ya: Am I insane? Why did I say that out loud?

Zao Zao: Fur standing on end! "Takes aim with his little bow"

*

Someone's digging their own grave chasing the cub [Let me watch]

The love interest is innocent-looking but secretly possessive, five years Zao Zao's senior, but still underage—no dating yet, just here for a quick appearance~