Chapter 287: Kuma

Chapter 287: Chapter 287: Kuma

At dusk, on the rugged path leading to the church.

The afterglow of the setting sun dyed the sky a warm orange-red.

Ginny was like a happy little sparrow, skipping along in front, humming a tuneless song, her small face overflowing with pure joy.

Today, Kuma had chopped more firewood and exchanged it for more Berries than ever before. They hadn’t just bought enough black bread; they had even luxuriously purchased a small piece of dried salted fish! To them, this was practically a feast!

"Bear Cub is su—per amazing today!" Ginny turned back, giving a thumbs-up to Kuma, who was carrying a large bag of food behind her, her eyes curving into crescent moons with her smile.

Kuma smiled honestly, his massive frame casting a long shadow in the sunset.

Seeing Ginny so happy, he felt that all his hard work was worth it.

Even though Ginny was the older one, most of the time, he, the "younger brother," was the steady and reliable one.

Talking and laughing, the two pushed open the familiar, dilapidated church doors.

"We’re back—!" Ginny’s cheerful voice came to an abrupt halt.

Inside the dim church, an exceptionally tall figure stood with their back to the door, hands clasped behind them.

The sunset’s glow slanted in through the high, broken windows, outlining the figure’s exaggerated curves and loose pink-purple hair, as well as a massive presence that radiated an unignorable sense of power even while standing still.

Ginny instantly entered a state of high alert. Like a cat with its fur standing on end, she lunged in front of Kuma and shouted sharply:

"Who are you?! Why are you here?!"

Hearing the commotion, the figure slowly turned around.

In the backlight, Charlotte Linlin’s face was somewhat blurred, but those purple eyes shone with startling brightness.

She looked at the tiny tot at the door who was acting as if facing a great enemy, and the large Kuma holding the bag of food behind her. Her face showed no expression, but those familiar with her could sense that she was... not very happy right now.

After Kuma saw clearly who it was, the vigilance on his face instantly dissolved into heartfelt joy, and he called out honestly:

"Au... Auntie! You’ve come!"

"Aunt—ie—?!"

A vein seemed to throb on Charlotte Linlin’s forehead, and a crack appeared in her perfect expression.

She hated that title! Hated it! Especially being called that by a half-grown child!

Ginny was also stunned when she heard Kuma’s form of address, but she quickly reacted. She turned her head to look at Kuma and whispered for confirmation:

"Bear Cub, is this... the one you mentioned before? The Auntie who helped you on that terrifying island and later saved you at the seaside?"

"Yes," Kuma nodded vigorously.

Ginny’s eyes darted around. She stepped forward a few paces and gave Charlotte Linlin a very serious bow, her tone quite sincere: "Auntie, thank you for saving Bear Cub."

After straightening up, she immediately switched back to the stance of a mother hen protecting her chick. She puffed out her small chest, tilted her neck back as far as it would go to look Charlotte Linlin in the eye, and spoke loudly and firmly:

"But! Gratitude is gratitude! There’s no way I’m letting Bear Cub leave here with you! We’re going to live here!"

"Pfft... Hahaha!" A sudden, uncontrollable burst of laughter came from the shadows beside Charlotte Linlin.

Only then did Kuma and Ginny notice a boy standing there, slightly taller than Ginny, with black curly hair and small eyes.

He had heard Ginny say "Auntie" this and "Auntie" that, and seeing Charlotte Linlin’s visibly darkened face, he really couldn’t hold it in.

"Hahaha, Auntie? Pirate, it seems they don’t want to go with you~"

Charlotte Linlin slowly turned her head, her purple eyes narrowing as she locked onto Kuzan. Her voice carried a dangerous chill:

"What... did you just call This lady?"

Kuzan felt a jolt go through his body. He reflexively stood at attention, his head shaking like a rattle, as he spoke quickly in an unprecedentedly respectful tone:

"No, nothing! otousan! I didn’t say anything just now! otousan, you misheard!"

This string of "otousan" came out incredibly smoothly, clearly the result of "rigorous training."

Only then did Charlotte Linlin give a cold snort. She turned her gaze back to the two brats in front of her and said with an unfriendly expression:

"So, you should know what to call me now, right?"

Kuma was intimidated by the pressure Charlotte Linlin was currently radiating. Combined with seeing Kuzan’s "demonstration," his honest brain hadn’t quite processed it yet. Subconsciously, with a bit of confusion and uncertainty, he whispered along:

"O... otousan?"

"Bear Cub!! What are you shouting!!" Ginny jumped up in anger. A sense of déjà vu—as if her silly younger brother was being kidnapped right in front of her—surged within her, making her both anxious and furious.

She suddenly turned to Charlotte Linlin, her small face flushed red. Forgetting her fear, she pointed at Charlotte Linlin and questioned loudly:

"And you! You’re clearly a woman! Why do you make people call you (otousan)?! This makes no sense at all!"

Charlotte Linlin raised an eyebrow. She seemed to find Ginny’s bristling and questioning quite amusing. She crossed her arms and said in a matter-of-fact tone:

"Because I want to. I like it. Is that a problem?"

"What a terrible hobby!" Ginny stomped her foot in anger, but she also knew it was useless to reason with someone who was clearly so ridiculously strong. She turned back and grabbed Kuma’s arm, shaking it hard.

"Bear Cub! Say it! You won’t go with her, right? We’re staying here!"

Kuma looked at Ginny’s urgent eyes, then at Charlotte Linlin’s calm face, feeling very conflicted.

He was grateful for Charlotte Linlin’s help, but Ginny was his family. He had promised to protect her. Although living here was hard, the two of them relied on each other.

If he left, what would happen to Ginny alone?

After hesitating again and again, Kuma mustered his courage, looked at Charlotte Linlin, and said in a voice that was not loud but clear: "O... Auntie, I’m sorry. I’m very grateful to you. But I... I want to stay here, with Ginny. However, I will definitely repay your kindness in the future!"

Hearing this, Ginny breathed a sigh of relief. She gave Kuma a "good job" look and then looked back at Charlotte Linlin like a victorious little rooster.

Charlotte Linlin watched these two brats perform their "deep sibling bond" in front of her and gave a soft "Heh."

"To use the twisted logic of a certain troublesome Captain of mine..." She slowly stood up, her massive shadow instantly enveloping the two children. Her tone was flat but carried a sense of absolute power.

"In the presence of the strong, the weak... have no right to choose."

She had been waiting here for ages and was getting hungry. She had no interest in continuing this game of "you plead, I persuade."

Ginny’s face changed instantly. "Bear Cub! Run—!!"

She shrieked, while simultaneously trying to bolt for the door.

Although Kuma didn’t understand why the "Auntie" who had helped him was suddenly turning on them, he had absolute trust in Ginny.

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