Vol 4. Chapter 84: A Clue About the Eldest Daughter

“BOOM!!”

Accompanied by an earth-shaking explosion, brilliant flames suddenly erupted within the eastern region of the Great Winter Forest, which was blanketed by a raging blizzard.

A terrifying crimson pillar of fire abruptly shot up from the ground, surging majestically straight into the clouds!

In an instant, it dispersed the violent blizzard.

An overwhelmingly powerful and terrifying aura of Shadow of Silence Power spread wildly outward with the pillar of fire at its center, carrying an indescribably oppressive presence.

Wherever it passed, every Abyss Demon instinctively prostrated itself on the ground, while the magical beasts involuntarily trembled all over, anxiously staring toward the towering pillar of fire.

And what spread in every direction together with that intense aura of Shadow of Silence Power was not only a scorching gale, but also the miserable “screams” of two girls......

“AAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!! I DON’T WANT TUTORINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!”

The girl’s voice was hoarse from screaming,

filled with tragic despair.

......

Naturally, there was no way a sound like that could escape Miss Yumo’s ears.

Since the Black Rose carriage convoy under Saiboke-Baniya’s command had not yet traveled very far from the eastern core region, the aura erupting from the core area, along with the screams of her two daughters, were unsurprisingly captured by Miss Yumo’s exceptionally keen senses.

And so,

Yumo, who had been quietly sitting inside the carriage with her eyes closed as she rested, slowly opened them and thoughtfully glanced through the window toward the towering pillar of fire in the distance.

“Little Na has started teaching her younger sisters?”

Yumo murmured softly.

Although Liyu and Shuoyue’s pitiful pleas for mercy had already reached Miss Yumo’s ears, the usually softhearted Miss Yumo had no intention of stopping Karina this time.

Over the past several hundred years, countless children had grown up within the Great Winter Forest, near the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons.

Because Miss Yumo was gentle, tolerant, and loving, the Lord of the Abyss Demons rarely lost her temper with the children. Most of the time, she also couldn’t bear to harden her heart enough to discipline them harshly.

Of course, if a child was too naughty, that was another matter.

When she really encountered one of those unbearably troublesome little brats, it was no longer a question of whether or not to discipline them.

It became a question of whether or not to bring out the feather duster.

Because Yumo couldn’t bear to be too harsh with the children, over the past few hundred years, Karina had taken on the role of strict teacher, educating the children in Yumo’s place.

Whether it was those little Demon King-class ancestors or the adopted human children, all of them possessed an extraordinary level of fear and respect toward Karina.

After all, when Karina taught someone, she was nowhere near as softhearted as Yumo.

No wonder Liyu and Shuoyue had let out such miserable screams after being dragged off by Karina for tutoring.

Although Miss Yumo instinctively felt a pang of heartache, after shaking her head, she revealed a resolute look.

Clearly, just like in the past, Karina’s decision to educate her younger sisters had Yumo’s tacit approval.

“Study properly under Little Na. It’ll be good for you.”

......

And just as Miss Yumo was murmuring to herself, a certain little pink-haired girl who had been foolishly sleeping with Miss Yumo’s snow-white thigh as a pillow seemed to be gradually pulled out of her dreams by the nearby vibrations.

She slowly opened her sleepy heterochromatic eyes.

“Wum? Mama?......”

“Mm?”

Naturally, the movements of the little pink-haired ball on her lap drew Yumo’s attention.

The black-haired girl withdrew her gaze from the distance and returned her attention to the carriage, gently raising a hand to stroke the little girl’s head.

“Are you awake, Yuan’er?”

“Mm~”

The pink-haired girl replied in an adorably soft voice, slowly rubbing her drowsy eyes with her little hands.

“Mama, did something happen outside?”

“It’s nothing. You don’t need to worry about it. You can keep sleeping.”

As she spoke, Miss Yumo casually snapped her fingers.

Crimson Shadow of Silence Power immediately enveloped the carriage, directly blocking out the waves of scorching heat and pitiful wails continuously coming from outside.

However,

Yuan’er no longer seemed sleepy.

As the little girl gradually became fully awake, she immediately threw herself into Mama Yumo’s embrace and affectionately enjoyed the warmth of her hug.

“No need, Mama. Yuan’er isn’t sleepy anymore.”

“Alright. Then what does Yuan’er want to do now? Do you want Mama to tell you a story?”

“Enmmm, stories are for bedtime tonight! Right now I want cake! Strawberry cake!”

Yuan’er blinked her large watery eyes and looked expectantly at the black-haired girl.

At that, Miss Yumo smiled and indulgently nodded.

“Mm. We’ll do what Yuan’er wants.”

As she spoke, Miss Yumo opened the refrigerated cabinet inside the carriage and took out an exquisite frost strawberry cake from among the countless desserts stored within.

It was Yuan’er’s favorite dessert.

Sometimes, Yumo truly admired Saiboke-Baniya.

He had prepared everything incredibly thoroughly.

Although the carriage was not particularly large, he had managed to fit all kinds of food, wine, drinks, and daily necessities inside through extremely clever arrangements.

“As expected of Saiboke-Baniya......”

Looking at the beautiful pink cake in her hands, which looked almost like a work of art, Miss Yumo couldn’t help sighing inwardly in admiration.

Meanwhile, the moment Yuan’er saw her favorite food, her face immediately lit up with delight.

Then, under Mama Yumo’s doting feeding, the little girl happily began enjoying her delicious afternoon tea.

...

“Wum, it’s so yummy.”

After thoroughly savoring a mouthful of strawberry cake and swallowing it, Yuan’er excitedly waved both hands.

Seeing this, the black-haired girl could only smile helplessly and carefully wipe the cream from Yuan’er’s face with a towel.

“Honestly, you’ve turned into a little messy kitten.”

“Hehe (?˙︶˙?)～”

Yuan’er smiled sweetly.

At the same time, the little girl’s gaze unconsciously shifted toward the snowy scenery rapidly passing outside the window.

Looking at that sight, Yuan’er finally became fully aware that she was leaving the Great Winter Forest together with Mama.

Scenes from the past few days naturally surfaced in her mind.

She had to admit that during these past few days spent with Mama and her older sisters, Yuan’er had been extremely happy.

Even so, the little girl still felt a faint trace of regret in her heart.

After brooding for a moment, Yuan’er slowly turned her head and curiously looked at the black-haired girl beside her.

“Um, Mama......”

“Mm? What is it, little girl?”

“This time, when we came back......”

“Mm? What about coming back?”

“Why...... why didn’t I see Big Brother Piere?”

“Piere? Uh......”

“Big Brother Piere...... Does he not like Yuan’er, so that’s why he didn’t come back?”

“This......”

Hearing Yuan’er’s words, Miss Yumo revealed a faintly helpless expression.

Yumo understood what Yuan’er was thinking very well.

After all, before they came back, she had told this little girl quite a lot about her older brother—that brat Piere.

After hearing Yumo’s descriptions, little Yuan’er had naturally become extremely curious about Piere, her one and only older brother.

She had undoubtedly hoped to finally meet him properly when they returned to the Great Winter Forest this time.

Yet who could have expected that brat Piere to have completely disappeared without a trace recently......

A new home opening, a new little sister returning—

such important events, and that brat Piere still didn’t come back?

What the hell was that brat so busy doing outside?!

Now he had gone and made little Yuan’er so disappointed......

Forget it.

When he came back, she would properly teach him a lesson.

What could possibly be more important than meeting his little sister?

Noticing the disappointment in Yuan’er’s heterochromatic eyes, Yumo couldn’t help cursing her foolish son a few times in her heart.

Then, the black-haired girl warmly pulled Yuan’er into her arms and gently stroked the back of the little girl’s head.

“What are you thinking about, little girl? Big Brother Piere doesn’t dislike Yuan’er. He’s just been very busy lately and hasn’t had time to come back.”

“R-Really?”

“Really. So Yuan’er doesn’t need to worry about it. Maybe the next time we come back, you’ll be able to meet Big Brother Piere?”

“Mm-hmm!”

After enjoying another dose of Mama Yumo’s affectionate caresses, Yuan’er obediently nodded.

The disappointment in her heterochromatic eyes gradually vanished completely under Yumo’s loving care.

However, although the disappointment was gone, a hint of confusion appeared in the girl’s eyes instead......

That confused look naturally did not escape Miss Yumo’s notice.

“What is it, little one? Do you still have another question?”

“Enmm...... Mm......”

Yuan’er nodded slightly.

“Then what is it?”

“Mama, I’m just...... a little curious......”

“Curious about what?”

“Why...... why didn’t Big Sister Youlan come back either?”

Yuan’er’s voice was innocent, soft, and melodious.

However,

the instant those words entered her ears, Yumo’s hand, which had been stroking Yuan’er, abruptly froze.

The black-haired girl’s entire body suddenly trembled.

Her crimson eyes contracted sharply, and a grave, complicated emotion gradually surged within those jewel-like pupils......

“You...... You...... Youlan? Yuan’er...... how...... how do you know that person’s name?”

“Hmm? Th-That person? Mama, do you mean Big Sister Youlan...... Huh?!!”

However, before Yuan’er could finish speaking,

Miss Yumo abruptly pulled the little girl out of her embrace and gripped the pink-haired girl’s shoulders with an incomparably serious, faintly anxious expression.

“Yuan’er, you’ve met that person, haven’t you?”

“If...... if you mean Big Sister Youlan...... Mm...... I have.”

“Where did you meet her? Did she do anything to you?! Did she hurt you? What did she say to you?! Did she tell you what she plans to do now?! ......How...... how is she now?”

“Huh?”

Faced with Mama Yumo’s barrage of questions, Yuan’er blankly blinked her eyes, revealing an adorably bewildered expression......

“Ma...... Mama?”