Little Chu Zao had wanted to say it for a while.
Even if his dad tricked him into eating sour fruit, even if he confiscated his candy and snacks.
Dad was not bad at all.
On the bed, one blanket was spread out soft and wide—where the cub had just slept. There was also a blanket belonging to Amos, still neatly folded. The little cub stood upon it, gaining a bit of height, but still looking tiny, his wings unfolded, looking at Amos with utmost seriousness.
He told Amos very seriously—
You’re the best Baba in Zao Zao’s eyes.
All the other Crown Clan looked over.
Watching this little one.
“So, so——”
He said in his soft babyish voice.
“Baba has to know this.”
He didn’t want Amos to have even a trace of doubt because of this.
“That’s all.”
It was too quiet around. When the cub finished speaking, his big eyes glanced around and, not getting any reaction, he hesitated, scrunching his toes on the blanket—hmm? Did Zao Zao do something wrong just now?
Or maybe it wasn’t right to stand on the blanket?
Chu Zao remembered Grandpa Mori had told him—the Crown Clan were the most elegantly aristocratic race he’d ever met.
But now, he didn’t feel all that elegant?
The cub hesitated, bent his little body, crawled down from the blanket, and sat back among the soft bedding. His little wings trembled twice, like a delicate little toy doll.
Anyway, that was all.
He had finished speaking.
There had never been a cub like this in Crown Clan history.
So it was hard to describe what all the Crown Clan, including Amos, were feeling at that moment.
A sensitive, pitiful, strong little cub, who clearly lacked a sense of security himself, yet would bare everything wholeheartedly to you, trying to give you a sense of security.
So understanding… it was heart-aching.
In the end, Amos picked the cub up into his arms.
It was truly amazing.
Such a little one.
If you gave him your love, he would try to give you so, so much love in return.
Chu Zao was held down to eat.
Due to the need for nutrition and all sorts of elements, his main food was still cub milk, supplemented by meat and vegetables, and all kinds of after-meal fruit.
Hel stood up and waved to Amos—
“Your Majesty Amos, I’m going outside for a walk.”
Amos nodded.
Hel opened the door, looking out at the much-changed neutral planet since his last visit. From behind came the voices of Anya and Feiman.
“Brother Amos, if you want to laugh, just laugh.”
“Favorite dad… Eh, I don’t care that much either, honestly, even if it were me. Wanna try giving it to me, Brother Amos?”
Anya’s personality was awkward and brash—nothing nice ever came out of his mouth.
Feiman was odd, too. Only caring about what she was interested in, and ignoring the rest.
Clearly, Amos, with his darling little cub, was now the object of envy, and Chu Zao the one who mattered most to the whole Crown Clan.
After their place of habitation was wiped out and they’d been dragged down by fate, the Crown Clan now had room to breathe, new vitality.
Hel tried to fit in.
But he could not—no matter how much anger made him lose reason, or how much his own powerlessness made him cry, he still felt a distance from the current Crown Clan.
Losing his wings, losing his lover—he was like a bag with a hole; no matter how much power you put in, it would leak out.
He just wanted to do his best to teach Chu Zao everything a Dwight must learn.
If only none of it had happened.
Hel thought—though they had founded Holy Cas, if none of these tragedies had happened, their home world would not have been destroyed by pollution, all the Crown Clan wouldn’t have been devastated, they would have lived well on their home planet, with loved ones, friends, peace, and harmony, then use their spirit power to have a cub of their own…
If all this suffering had been just a dream—that would be so good.
An intense pain came from the spot where his wings had been.
Hel expressionlessly fished out painkillers with familiar hands and swallowed them.
Without the little cub nearby, he didn’t care about the taste.
He walked to where he and his lover Morlo had gone before.
Crown Clan’s quarters.
Chu Zao was glugging down his milk bottle, leaning against Amos. His hair had been combed, wings spread, as Amos carefully smoothed his feathers.
Once full, Chu Zao, holding Ghost Bear, hesitated for a while after removing his halo, then put it back on.
Feiman, the last one present who hadn’t known about that trick, looked unsettled—she and Anya had just been scolded by Amos, and at this, her body shook.
Anya was used to it, though.
Especially since it was Chu Zao who had often pulled Hel out of his dark moods, always coming over with his little halo off to talk to Hel.
This ability should work on all Crown Clan nearby, but he seemed to use it only with Hel.
But over these days—it was actually very useful.
Hel’s overall state looked much improved.
He even seemed more energetic.
So Anya asked, “What’s up? Not going to talk to Teacher Hel?”
Chu Zao happened to be picked up by Amos just then; he shook his head gently.
“Teacher Hel probably… wants to take a walk with someone from the past at times like this…? Zao Zao shouldn’t disturb him.”
The sensitive little cub noticed Hel’s emotions as he left.
He hugged Amos’ neck.
“…Mmm.”
Amos replied.
“Tomorrow Papa has a meeting, and Uncle too. What does Zao Zao want to do?”
The little one spoke sweetly, “Zao Zao will wait here for Baba.”
“Don’t want to go out and explore?”
Feiman cut in.
She looked at Amos, perhaps without realizing it.
It had been a long time—Chu Zao rarely left Amos’ side.
Hel had discussed this with them before.
Amos seemed calm but was actually still in high alert, keeping too close an eye on Chu Zao, maybe a bit overprotective.
Of course, the Crown Clan’s instinct to protect cubs was hard to shake—especially after the cub had faced danger, that emotion would explode, making them want to destroy all threats around.
But usually, young Crown Clan would resist, struggle, challenge the older generation as a signal of growing up, becoming independent.
Chu Zao was different, a child Amos had gained unexpectedly, which roused his protective parenting instincts.
He was sensitive to adults’ emotions, and always accommodated them in his own way.
It seemed like Amos was always protecting Chu Zao, but actually he was being cared for by the little cub, too.
Amos heard Feiman’s words.
He just looked at the cub for a long time, then stroked his soft, fluffy black curls.
“Zao Zao, want to go out and look around? Tomorrow Papa and Uncle have work, so let’s not disturb Teacher Hel—how about you go with Auntie and Uncle?”
The little cub, always so good, now widened his eyes in surprise.
His soft baby voice was full of delight.
“Can I?”
“Of course.”
Amos considered a moment.
“The multi-nation conference isn’t just for politics, but also business, agriculture, energy—lots of things we don’t have on Holy Cas.”
The little one was clearly curious about all this, so even going out with Anya and Feiman was fine.
“But you have to put away your wings and crown.”
Chu Zao’s eyes sparkled. Hugging Amos’ neck: “Okay!”
*
Night fell quickly.
Chu Zao, full of anticipation for the next day, went to bed a bit late, restlessly, his halo flickering at intervals.
Hugging Ghost Bear, his little body curled closer to Amos for warmth.
Amos effortlessly adjusted their positions.
—After what happened, Chu Zao usually slept with Amos.
Amos closed his eyes.
Before sinking into deep sleep, he saw more of Chu Zao’s memories.
—By now they had pieced together a lot themselves.
It was that forest and grassland.
The Angel Realm.
The Angel Clan lived in splendid buildings as the masters of that place, with the most resources and stability.
But that didn’t include the little cub.
Back then, Chu Zao was dazed and bewildered.
He always lived in his own little nest, having nothing, tiny and keeping his head down as he walked, always sticking to the wall.
At that moment, Chu Zao held a little leaf pouch, filled with plants he’d gathered.
On the angel streets, such things could be exchanged for supplies.
Critical, because he had no family and had to provide for himself.
But he was too little then.
The public lessons for Angel cubs had ended, and he wasn’t allowed in the new ones, nor had he found a teacher.
He didn’t recognize many plants, and those he knew looked very similar, plus there were problems with how he picked them.
No matter how smart, most of what he brought was rejected.
“These are all.”
The shopkeeper behind the counter brought out a paper bag, with some loose nuts and the biscuits angels ate daily.
The shopkeeper seemed not to like Chu Zao either; his attitude was perfunctory, as if watching for the moment this kid would get upset and turn into a white little monster.
“And the ones we can’t take, you have to handle yourself.”
The tiny cub put the paper bag away, nodded, and timidly replied, “Okay, thank you.”
He hugged the unwanted herbs, his wings drooping, and walked out.
After he left, Chu Zao blinked, looking at what he was holding.
“No… today I should be happy, today I get nut biscuits.”
To other angels, this food was boring, but to Chu Zao, used to eating wild fruit, it was precious.
But with his unwanted herbs, before he’d walked far on the street, a group of angel cubs just out of class flew past and glanced at him.
“What’s that?”
“Weeds that look like useful plants.”
“Was he trying to scam them, mix in the weeds to cheat?”
“Eh? That’s awful.”
“Or maybe he just couldn’t tell, maybe he’s just dumb?”
Chu Zao stopped, then spun round.
“No! Zao Zao’s not bad, and not dumb!”
The little angels, startled, quickly called to their friends.
“Come on, let’s go——”
“Dad said if he gets upset, he becomes a white little monster, and might affect us.”
“So why leave him in the Angel Realm? Wouldn’t it be better to send him away?”
“The Archangel said—well, it was about keeping unstable factors under watch. Isn’t he doing fine here anyway? Grown-ups’ business, let’s just go.”
The little angels quickly flitted away.
Their voices faded.
Chu Zao was just about to throw away what he held, but hesitated.
He was too young, too weak, with no family, no friends—just like the weeds in his arms.
Here, he was an island.
The cub stood there a while, then carried the weeds home.
He disposed of them.
The cub curled in his little nest, munching nut biscuits, cheeks bulging.
Finally, his wings and eyelids drooped in hurt.
“Zao Zao… not dumb, not bad either…”
Zao Zao just—but just hadn’t learned enough.
No one ever taught him what to do.
Not a soul.
Zao Zao’s not bad…
They’re the ones who are bad.
Chu Zao knew too well how it felt to be called bad.
He never wanted those he cared about to feel that way, so he would tell Amos sincerely, “You’re the best dad in my heart.”
And the cub, wings drooping, nibbling biscuits in his little corner, started to cry, in little hiccups.
“Wuu… wuwuu… Everyone… Everyone bullies Zao Zao… wuuu…”
As the little cub whimpered, Amos snapped awake.
He opened his scarlet eyes.
He looked at the cub in his arms.
The little one was dreaming—restless, halo flickering, suddenly glowing bright, and his eyes shot open. In the pitch-black room, his breath was heavy, he sniffled, huddled even closer, trying to sleep again.
“Click——”
The bedside lamp was gently switched on.
Chu Zao froze.
“Baba?”
Amos leaned over and gently brushed away the tears at the corner of the cub’s eyes.
The cub instinctively nuzzled at his hand, still groggy with sleep.
“Zao Zao didn’t live well before meeting Papa, did you?”
Amos asked softly.
Before, the Crown Clan had always agreed—not to let the kid recall the past, to collect the wrongs done to him, find the culprits, and settle accounts themselves.
That wasn’t for the wronged cub to worry about.
But he would still have nightmares, and just from a passing word, recall past sorrow.
But that wasn’t the real issue—the real thing was how naturally and obediently he suppressed his sadness, quieting himself to sleep.
“Angel Clan.”
Amos said, as the cub stared blankly.
“They shouldn’t exist anywhere in the galaxy.”
Chu Zao looked at Amos.
“Baba… why… why…”
The cub’s breaths grew heavy, his voice trembling, tears ready to fall just at the mention.
“How did you know?”
“Papa told you, didn’t he? If you’re sad, tell Papa, and Papa will coax you.”
Amos looked at him.
“Though Papa isn’t good at coaxing.”
“Papa will settle it—”
Amos said softly, big hand stroking Chu Zao’s back.
He’d never wavered.
The Crown Clan didn’t play fair in matters like these.
He was just considering how best to pay them back in kind—but until now, he’d been able to hold back, even if Chu Zao was an obvious Crown Clan child by birth, ending up in another race’s territory. For those emotionally cold races, wariness and surveillance felt routine.
But there was no excuse for making a tiny cub suffer hope and despair over and over, posturing righteously as though what they’d done was correct, hanging that banner high.
Chu Zao was under five at the time.
“But… but—Zao Zao heard them say suffering is something you’re supposed to endure… Enduring it brings good in the end… Zao Zao didn’t believe it, but then Zao Zao met Baba.”
As the little one spoke, the tears finally fell, sniffling as he wiped his eyes.
“Suffering is not something you’re supposed to endure.”
Amos gathered him into his arms.
The aggrieved little one was even smaller now, a baby who needed his parent’s arms; sprawled against Amos’s chest, wings drooping like a wronged little white bird, fingers tangled in Amos’ shirt, head on his father’s heartbeat, hearing its strong, steady thump.
“Suffering is just suffering. It scars the soul and can’t be mended. Zao Zao should believe in yourself, because you could always stand up again—like all the Crown Clan before you, who never gave in.”
Amos held the cub curled up in his arms.
“It’s okay, Zao Zao—you heard the voices of all those Holy Cas civilian ships, you’re one of the Crown Clan, even stronger than you think. It’s not suffering that’s strong—it’s Zao Zao who is.”
The cub, eyes full of tears, looked up: “Is Zao Zao strong?”
“Yes. But until you’re truly grown up—Papa is still here, you can… rely a bit more on Papa. Or rather, Papa wants you to lean on him more.”
Especially at times like this.
They were piecing together the cub’s story. Crown Clan so rarely made “vengeance” their central theme—they just wanted the cub a bit more at ease.
Amos soothed the wronged cub to sleep.
Amos’ heart was breaking.
*
Early the next morning.
The cub woke and was tidied up by Amos.
The nightmare from last night seemed to have changed nothing.
But maybe it had changed something—the little one seemed steadier.
Before, when he worried his origins were unclear to the other Crown Clan, he never said much, and a hint of anxiety would linger.
Now—
Chu Zao had tucked away his wings and halo, put on scarf, gloves and hat.
The neutral planet was cold, in autumn-winter. The cub lifted his mittens, squishing his black curls under the fluffy cap, and breathing out a puff of white air. He watched it fade, little legs swinging, full of expectation.
Baba knows everything now.
But Baba said Zao Zao is strong.
And Baba likes Zao Zao!
He sat by the door, waiting for Anya and Feiman.
Anya and Feiman were getting a stern talking-to from Amos.
After last night—
Amos almost changed his mind, wanting to keep the little cub inside his own psychic shield.
But seeing how eagerly the little one waited, Amos finally, with a pained expression, gave the same instructions to the equally excited pair.
Feeney was still missing, with no news.
Reports from informants said Boel Alliance revolutionary leader Lin Yuan seemed to have mysterious ties with the Hymn Organization.
The key: his obsession with wiping out the Spirit Eye Race at all costs—which was typical of gutter rats like Hymn.
But Holy Cas was fully prepared.
The Ninth Army’s ships would wait nearby in unconfined space, reserves would sweep the star domain of beast armies, and could be on hand at any time.
Amos knew there’d be trouble at the conference.
He was also rather arrogant by nature.
His casualness in handling previous dangers for the cub showed he’d grown used to crisis—a hallmark of this generation of Crown Clan.
If not for Chu Zao, Amos would still have come alone.
But now, he couldn’t be sure things wouldn’t go beyond expectations.
So, all the Crown royals except Feeney were present.
Chu Zao’s safety was more than assured.
Feiman nodded eagerly, peering outside: “Alright, alright, Second Brother, we know. You and Big Brother go have your conference.”
“Yeah, at least we’re not as unreliable as Third Brother, right?”
Anya chimed in.
Hel, about to leave too, nodded at that.
Feeney’s weapon was somewhat like Chu Zao’s, but he himself was just too unreliable.
Hel hadn’t imagined Feeney would still have disappeared at this point.
His Majesty Amos’s hesitation wasn’t misplaced.
Amos finally nodded.
Allowing them to take Chu Zao out.
The little cub, all bundled up, jumped off the chair, trailing after Auntie and Uncle like a little tail, wobbling off in thick clothes.
They had barely left the door when—
Chu Zao, from a distance, saw the Holy Cas civil rest area, where they were handing out stickers and pins of the Holy Cas Empire flag.
Many people had the stickers on their faces and the pins on their caps.
Chu Zao’s eyes immediately went wide.
Feiman and Anya glanced over.
“Want one of those?”
Feiman looked down at the cub.
So tiny, with sparkling eyes, looking up as he nodded: “Auntie, I want one.”
He called me auntie!!!
Feiman kept a calm face, but strode quickly that way.
“Zao Zao, wait here for Auntie.”
Leaving the cub and Anya behind.
The two looked at each other. It was tiring to look up that high, so the cub glanced around, chose a step, and sat down.
“Uncle?”
“Ahem…”
Anya finally coughed.
“Well, about that…”
His eyes darted around.
“About what I said before, it was my fault. I apologize.”
The cub shook his head.
Anya: …
“You won’t accept it? Then I’ll… wait for another time…”
“Apologies are for forgiveness,” Chu Zao smiled at him, “Zao Zao forgave Uncle a long time ago.”
Anya froze.
At that moment Feiman returned, Holy Cas merchandise in hand, just about to speak when she saw Amos right behind them.
Amos glanced at them, his brows slowly furrowing.
Anya, Feiman: …?
That’s odd… why do they feel a chill down their spines?
The next second, the cub sitting on the cold steps was picked up. The careless aunt and uncle each got a smack.
How to rile Amos enough to hit you?
Answer: Don’t notice Zao Zao’s sitting on freezing steps.
Anya, rubbing his head: “Got it, got it…”
Not really their fault.
Chu Zao had almost never been out; every time, Amos carried him.
What Crown Clan ever cared about cold steps? They just sat anywhere.
They’d never even thought about it before, okay?
Feiman, holding the merch, naturally toppled over.
Anya: ?
What?
The little cub peeked out, just in time to see Feiman raise a hand—voice calm as ever, but saying: “Zao Zao, save me, help me.”
Auntie can’t do it.
Only Zao Zao can.
So pitiful.
The little cub always fell for it. He had Amos set him down, reached out, and pulled Feiman up: “It’s not Auntie’s fault, Auntie didn’t see Zao Zao, Zao Zao chose to sit there himself.”
Feiman turned her head, giving Anya a look.
Anya: …?
She looked quite pleased with herself.