BLTF 07

Chapter: 07

“……A wound of glory?”

“Exactly. It’s a proud mark showing Mongchungi beat up the hyenas!”

Sirka was dumbfounded at the unexpected reason for the wound.

Baria’s sparkling eyes shone as Sirka and Tailrin clapped at the same time.

“Amazing. You went around beating up the hyenas like that.”

“You’re incredible, Miss. There’s no cat greater than you.”

“Right. I am a bit great.”

Baria placed her hands on her waist and puffed out her chest proudly.

Sirka finally understood why Baria had never been caught by the hyenas until now.

She had been beating hyenas until her fists were scarred.

The child’s temperament was truly extraordinary.

“Can I pet your head, little one?”

Baria didn’t like the title much but nodded anyway.

“Go ahead. I washed clean, so I don’t smell anymore.”

Tailrin glared sharply at Sirka as if to say, Did you just say that to the kid?

It was a misunderstanding. Sirka hadn’t meant that she smelled bad, just that her pheromone scent was unique.

Right now, with the strong scent of the bath product, nothing could be detected.

“Thanks.”

Sirka gently stroked the child’s head.

Baria’s hair was stiff, as if proving that her life up to now had been far from easy.

How on earth had Baria survived until now?

Even now, her eyes were wide open, wary that Sirka might harm her.

Her caution was stronger than that of tiger beastmen.

‘No wonder all hyena brats deserve to die.’

Whatever they had done, it was probably all their fault anyway.

As long as Bayden and Sabrina were alive, all hyenas were doomed, and hopefully that would give some comfort to the little one.

They hated hyenas more than anything in the world.

Baria returned with Sirka to the living room where Bayden and Sabrina were waiting.

The instant she opened the door, the sweet aroma made her eyes widen.

“Hmm, it’s much better after washing.”

Sabrina spoke curtly, but Baria didn’t hear her.

The living room table was filled with desserts emitting every kind of sweet aroma.

“If you want to eat, don’t worry about it, just go ahead.”

Sabrina slid a plate of macarons toward her, and Baria immediately dashed to the table and plopped down.

“Now, a little lady should sit on the sofa.”

Sirka lifted Baria and placed her on the sofa.

Then, taking the strawberry macaron for her short-armed daughter, she handed it over.

“……!”

Baria bit into the macaron and shivers ran through her entire body.

The insane sweetness wrapping her tongue was unlike anything she had ever experienced.

“My tongue, it’s tingling!”

Could such an amazing flavor even exist in the world?

It felt like holy bells were ringing in her head.

“Is it delicious?”

“Yeah. It’s a mind-blowing taste!”

At Baria’s enthusiastic reaction, the three tigers bit their lips tightly to prevent laughing.

“You can eat as much of the other stuff as you want.”

After quickly devouring the macarons, Baria took a bite of the vanilla éclair.

This time it felt like lightning had struck her brain.

She had always thought meat was the most delicious thing in the world, but here was something equally amazing.

Baria’s face turned serious.

“I’ve been living without knowing this… my cat life has been wasted…”

The past ten years felt utterly unfair.

“Then just eat a lot from now on. Calm down and try the other foods.”

Sirka was right.

She just had to eat a lot to make up for what she hadn’t known!

Baria’s eyes sparkled as she began sampling everything one by one.

“I can’t eat any more…”

Clutching her full stomach and struggling to breathe, Sirka burst into an incredulous laugh.

“You ate it all.”

“You have to eat it when it’s there.”

If you don’t eat it, it gets cleared away, never to return.

That was the law Baria had learned from the hyena family.

“……Right, well done.”

The three of them just nodded instead of saying that she no longer needed to worry.

It was better to experience it firsthand.

Here, no one would take Baria’s food, and they would wait until she finished everything.

“Then let’s write the contract.”

At Sabrina’s words, Baria’s eyes lit up.

This was not the time to lose herself in sugar.

They had to address the most important matters first.

“All three of us, including me, must sign the contract. And I also want it notarized properly.”

In other words, she wanted a formal contract with the entire Caliph family.

“If it cannot be accepted, I cannot make the contract either.”

The conditions were important, but the notarization was non-negotiable.

That was the only way her safety could be guaranteed.

“We’ll have it notarized by the Aldros family, who handle beastmen law.”

Sabrina answered as if it were obvious, dispelling any tension.

There were a few notarizing authorities, but the Aldros family, who managed legal affairs and records for the beastmen world, was the most reliable.

Baria could trust them, of course.

“Good.”

“Then we’ll proceed with the notarization.”

Sabrina pulled out a blank sheet of paper.

“Can you write?”

“Yes.”

“Then write the conditions you want.”

Baria immediately picked up a pen and began writing.

It had been three years since she last wrote, so it felt more awkward than speaking, but she wrote as neatly as possible.

1. Protect Baria Bell from all dangers, including hyenas, until she reaches the age to live independently.

“Age to live independently… does that mean until adulthood?”

Sirka asked, and Baria frowned as if she didn’t understand.

“Even at fifteen, I can live on my own.”

What was fifteen?

Honestly, a mature and adult-like beastman like Baria could live well on her own at thirteen.

But since she was being chased by hyenas, fifteen was safer.

As Baria tried to write “fifteen” for her age of independence, Sirka immediately intervened.

“No one knows what will happen in the future. Don’t change it, leave it as is.”

“……O-okay.”

Baria seemed displeased but nodded.

Sirka secretly sighed, thinking of the legal adult age of eighteen.

There was no moment to let her guard down with Baria.

2. Provide minimum support for Baria Bell’s proper growth, including lodging and meals.

2-1. Especially for meals, provide fresh meat at least once a week. Failure to do so allows the contract to be terminated.

This was the second most important point.

The foolish tigers still treated her as a cat, so they might forget to give her meat.

Since she didn’t plan to reveal that she was a wildcat in case she had to escape again, this had to be clearly stated.

To fight hyenas properly, she needed to grow strong and eat well—meat was essential.

“……Once a week. Hah, fine. I’ll tell the chef.”

Sirka sighed and covered her face.

Giving meat once a week might still be excessive.

Even the hyena family didn’t always have meat for her and her mother.

‘Even if I feel sorry, I cannot be weak.’

This was non-negotiable!

Baria continued to write the third condition.

3. Actively assist Baria Bell if she fights hyena beastmen.

“Good, we’ll do that.”

The first reasonable condition, and the three immediately nodded.

Honestly, they themselves were more likely to rush out and handle the hyenas before Baria did.

4. Do not ask anything about Baria Bell.

Writing the fourth condition, Baria looked slowly at Bayden, Sabrina, and Sirka.

“Simple questions are okay. I’ll answer what I can, but don’t ask for details. We are allies with a common enemy, not close friends.”

Her clear brown eyes were transparent, yet surprisingly revealed nothing.

Even though they were facing her, an invisible thick wall separated them.

How could a ten-year-old hide her thoughts so perfectly?

In some ways, she seemed like a child, but in the parts where she should act like a child, she was startlingly mature.

“……Understood. Anything else you want?”

Baria picked up her pen for the final time.

5. All the above conditions are valid only during the contract period, and this contract automatically terminates when Baria Bell leaves the Caliph family.

This was in case she needed to escape.

“This is everything I want.”

Her safety, health, secrecy, and revenge were all perfectly secured in the contract.

“Agreed. Now I’ll state our conditions.”

Sabrina skimmed the neatly written contract.

Baria tensed.

If they gave unfair conditions, she would refuse, and if they didn’t cooperate, she would run.

“Eating well and growing well here is a given, so I won’t list it as a condition. There is only one thing you must do in the Caliph family.”

Despite her preparation, Sabrina wrote only one line.

6. When Baria Bell leaves the Caliph family, she must inform Bayden Caliph, Sabrina Caliph, and Sirka Caliph before departing.

It was a completely unexpected condition.