The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family

Episode 72

The Day of the Competition.

The carriages, each bearing the crest of a noble family, arrived once more at the grand plaza.

As the passengers disembarked, they naturally stood in front of their respective family platforms.

The heads of each family ascended the platforms, standing tall, while their family members took their places behind them.

Thus, with the exception of the House of Everard, all five noble families were gathered.

“Everyone is here,” the Emperor said, looking around at the five families. Just as at the start of the festival, tens of thousands of imperial citizens surrounded the plaza to watch the competition.

However, unlike at the festival’s beginning, the Emperor was seated some distance away from the platform this time.

The Emperor of the Krasion Empire does not interfere in the hierarchical disputes among the noble families.

This has been an ancient tradition of Krasion, one that no one has broken until now.

Thus, even in this competition, which was akin to a battle for hierarchy among the families, there was no place for the Emperor.

As the Emperor stepped back and took his seat, the heads of the families looked around at each other.

Alpheus of Asterian.

Zender of Nestrian.

Stefano of Wolfgang.

Cloud of Iker.

Iris of Arne.

The five heads surveyed each other with sharp gazes, but none seemed to mind.

Perdi and Lucian, seeing Cloud standing tall at the head of the Iker family, with Sterling behind him, whispered to each other.

“I bet everything that he won’t challenge us.”

“I was thinking the same, so you pick another bet, Lucian.”

Listening quietly to her brothers’ conversation, Thiel finally realized something, her small mouth forming an “oh.”

‘They’re betting…!’

They already knew that Cloud would not dare to challenge the two ducal families in this competition.

But it wasn’t because Cloud was a coward or that his power was pathetically weak.

The existing hierarchy among the five families had been maintained for a very long time.

Breaking this hierarchy would be akin to making enemies of all four other families.

Thus, while it was theoretically possible for the rankings to change due to the ability battles and fights, it had rarely happened in practice.

At that moment, the heads of the families simultaneously swung their hands.

From Alpheus’s hand, flames ignited.

From Zender’s hand, sharp ice crystals formed.

Around Stefano’s hand, powerful winds gathered.

In Cloud’s hand, a small lightning bolt sparked.

From Iris’s hand, beautiful and elaborate flowers blossomed in abundance.

However, instead of aiming their abilities at each other, they extended their hands forward and used their abilities towards the center of the plaza.

Flames, ice, wind, lightning, and foliage all combined, creating a massive storm in the center of the plaza.

“Ugh…”

Thiel squinted her eyes against the strong wind, unable to open them properly.

At that moment, Cassius lifted Thiel and used his large hand to shield her forehead from the wind.

Thanks to Cassius, Thiel could keep her eyes open and watch the scene in the plaza.

The storm of combined abilities grew larger and larger, seemingly about to engulf the five heads of families, when suddenly,

Bang-!

It exploded without swallowing anyone.

There were no challengers.

There were no victors.

For the next three years, until the next Luminari, the five families would hold their positions.

The heads of the five families descended from the platform without any lingering feelings, as if it was all over.

“It’s done,” the Emperor said, looking around at the five heads.

None of them showed any expression, making it impossible for others to know what they were thinking.

The Emperor glanced around the empty platform before gesturing.

“Step forward.”

As soon as the Emperor spoke, Perdi stepped out from his position. Thiel, still held by Cassius, widened her eyes and watched Perdi.

“Is Perdi going out?”

“Yes, Perdi is the heir of our family,” Cassius replied calmly.

Perdi walked out confidently, standing tall on the platform symbolizing Asterian.

Heirs of each family took turns stepping onto the platform.

Olivia stood on the platform for Wolfgang.

Sterling Iker, who they had seen yesterday, stood on the platform for Iker.

A young but resolute-looking girl, Clemens, stood on the platform for Arne.

And finally, on the platform for Nestrian, stood a girl Thiel knew all too well, with silver hair and cold blue eyes like ice crystals—Rowan Nestrian.

The children who would one day inherit the family heads’ positions gathered.

Though Rowan and Perdi had Cornelia and Cassius as the current heads, this competition was meant for the children carrying the future of each family, so no one minded.

The five young boys and girls, with still somewhat youthful faces, examined each other.

Perdi and Olivia looked relaxed and composed, as if they were just out for a stroll, while Sterling glared at Perdi, seemingly still upset from being scolded by his father yesterday.

Clemens from Arne was murmuring something with her eyes closed, while Rowan Nestrian, lips tightly shut, glared at Asterian.

To be precise, she glared at Thiel, who was held in Cassius Celeste Asterian’s arms.

“…”

Thiel did not avoid Rowan’s gaze.

She no longer felt the need to be afraid of Rowan.

In front of her were Perdi and Lucian, behind her stood Alpheus, and Cassius was holding her.

With so many people protecting her, there was no reason to fear Rowan.

When Thiel didn’t avert her gaze, Rowan, clearly angered, turned her head with a huff.

That rude action made Zender’s expression harden for a moment, but only for a moment.

“All the heirs of the families are gathered,” the Emperor said, drawing everyone’s attention.

The young boys and girls standing on the platform looked up at the Emperor.

“You know the nature of the competition, right?”

The competition for the young heirs differed from that of the family heads.

Instead of directly competing with their abilities, they created summons with their powers and raced them around the capital.

The first to return to the plaza would be the winner, and there were knights stationed at each checkpoint to prevent any tricks.

Since this competition involved children, it was mostly symbolic and did not affect the family rankings.

Instead,

“Win, and I will grant you one wish of your choice,” the Emperor declared.

The Emperor had the authority to grant the winning heir one wish, as long as it did not directly harm any family or other individuals.

The heirs of each family nodded.

Each had a determined expression, except for Perdi and Olivia, who looked as calm and composed as if they were out for a stroll.

“Let’s begin.”

As soon as the Emperor finished speaking, light fireworks went off, and colorful confetti fluttered high into the sky.

The atmosphere was markedly different from the competition of the family heads.

Paah-!

The heirs of each family used their unique abilities.

From Perdi’s hand, flames roared to life and transformed into a leopard the size of an adult man.

Rowan, not to be outdone, used her freezing ability to create a snow leopard, though it was much smaller than Perdi’s leopard.

Even worse, Rowan’s summon kept melting next to Perdi’s flaming leopard, causing her to grit her teeth and move her snow leopard away.

From Sterling’s hand emerged a foal made of the land’s lightning.

Clemens’s hand produced a beautiful small bird made of flowers and leaves.

From Olivia’s hand came a swift, white, and translucent wolf made of wind.

The summons created by the heirs stood ready in front of the platform.

It was time to start the race.

“On your mark,” the Emperor announced.

The young heirs focused, their summons tensed and ready to spring into action.

“Get set.”

The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation, the crowd holding its breath.

“Go!”

With the Emperor’s signal, the summons dashed forward, each powered by the unique abilities of their creators.

Perdi’s flaming leopard led the charge with a burst of speed, its fiery form lighting the path.

Rowan’s snow leopard followed closely, its icy breath leaving frosty trails.

Sterling’s lightning foal galloped with electric precision, zipping past with crackling energy.

Clemens’s flower bird fluttered gracefully, its wings leaving a trail of petals.

Olivia’s wind wolf ran with fluid speed, almost invisible against the backdrop of the city.

The race was on, and the heirs watched their creations with bated breath, each hoping for victory and the chance to have their wish granted by the Emperor.