Cub 049: The First Crown Clan to Knock Himself Out Pulling His Own Halo

This isn’t right, is it?

This really isn’t right, is it?

Feeney clearly didn’t care much for his appearance—even going so far as to deliberately grow out his beard; between his beard and hair, most of his expression was hidden, but it couldn’t disguise his inner shock.

What—is he doing?!

Amos came up behind him and glanced at the little cub gnawing vigorously on the psychic sword.

Back when the little one first started eating the Crown Clan’s psychic weapons, they worried it might have side effects, and always tried to keep the cub from doing it, but after rounds of experiments and checks…

It was basically confirmed that little Chu Zao chewing these psychic weapons did not burden him. His own unique psychic conversion trait seemed to bit by bit replenish the special psychic energy he’d used.

So Amos stopped stopping him.

Feeney looked at the little one hugging and chewing the sword, then at Amos, then at the sword hilt in Amos’s hand, dotted with little tooth marks.

“Ah? Ah???”

Feeney’s body gave a twitch, and he took a staggering step backward, caught by Anya and Frey as they came in.

Sitting in the shadows, having successfully given Feeney a scare, the little cub swallowed the crisp mouthful of psychic energy, blinked his eyes, and crawled up, hugging Amos’s psychic sword.

He emerged from the shadows, soft black hair, adorable little face, all unusually polite: “Third Uncle.”

Nothing at all like the wide-eyed, psychic-eating ‘devil’ Feeney had seen a second before.

The contrast was too much, Feeney was a little dazed.

“Is that how it is?”

“It is.”

Frey patted his shoulder.

Feeney, just beaten up by Amos, winced at that touch.

“Just ignore it.”

Anya added.

At first, they too struggled to accept it, but after seeing it so much, they became numb. Sometimes, seeing Amos and Meilun holding psychic weapons covered in bite marks—and Amos’s coronet—they even felt bizarre envy.

Seriously, too bizarre!

Feeney’s focus was unique.

His first time seeing the kid gnaw on Crown Clan psychic weapons, all creeped out, he still managed to ask, “So… what do psychic weapons taste like?”

The little cub blinked.

“They’re different, but all smell nice, just a bit sweet, mostly crunchy—”

Originally having stopped chewing, Chu Zao, prompted by the question, blankly took another bite, smacked his lips.

“Baba’s tastes like strawberry, Grandpa Meilun’s… like honeydew? Zao Zao doesn’t remember.”

Everyone: …

Did it need to be so specific?

How is this both weird and funny?

So Amos is—strawberry flavor?

Amos: …

Amos looked at the cub cheerfully munching his sword, now slapping the ‘strawberry’ label on him—feeling maybe he should give Feeney another beating.

This topic really needed to end.

Even Frey couldn’t take it, shivering, but quickly remembered their real purpose, his expression turning serious.

“Amos, the capital star’s fleet has arrived—Uncle Meilun and Uncle Kaman are here. It’s time to make a decision, together with Teacher Hel.”

The mood turned grim instantly—whether they were going into the heavily contaminated zone, or facing that half-year-old video.

These were all problems difficult to handle.

“Mm.”

Amos put away his psychic sword and picked up Chu Zao.

Although the cub hadn’t seen the video, Amos had told him in passing—inside the heavy pollution zone, there seemed to be a Crown Clan elder, with a coronet already completely shattered, yet still alive under harsh conditions.

And that coronet was completely gone.

Chu Zao obediently clung to Amos’s neck, waiting for Uncle Frey to bring his Ghost Bear.

Meilun and Kaman had clearly heard already; even before Amos reached them carrying Chu Zao, he could sense Hel’s nearly breaking-down emotions.

The area was locked down by Holy Cas military; Amos led the way in quickly.

Inside, Meilun and Kaman were holding down Hel, whose eyes had at some point turned blood red.

Nearby, the splintered remains of tables and chairs—the aftermath of Hel’s psychic outburst.

“Hel, calm down, we’re going to investigate now, your coronet is unstable, your body’s in bad shape, you can’t—”

Meilun and Kaman struggled to restrain him; when they heard footsteps, Meilun quickly called out.

“Your Majesty Amos!”

Amos put the cub down and used his daunting psychic pressure to forcibly restrain Hel.

Hel was forced down, his eyes still dazed, red as if about to bleed.

“No way—not possible? Morlo… is still alive? Then what… what have I done…? I left Morlo there and made him stay there all this time…”

Hel’s body shivered.

Morlo’s broken wings, countless wounds—Morlo’s shattered halo.

How could it be…?

Mentioning Morlo used to leave his mood stable—no, maybe just numb.

Now calm’s shell was stripped away; Hel, who’d tried so hard to leave Zao Zao with a good image in his last days, broke completely.

He always thought being loved was pain, always suffering in flesh and spirit—but the Morlo left behind—how much more pain must he have felt…?

“It was my fault—all my fault…”

Hel whispered, stunned.

“Our investigation ship couldn’t enter … the new anti-contamination ship has arrived, all materials and repairs are almost ready, we’ll set out in half an hour. Teacher Hel, whatever the outcome, Morlo is our kin, our brother—if we can’t save him, at least we’ll give him rest. Hel, you can’t break down now, Morlo is already far too tired.”

Amos said.

“He’s still waiting for you. You have fifteen minutes to gather your things.”

Morlo still waiting—

Hel finally, in all his collapse, grabbed onto that shred that let him pull himself together, stumbling to his feet.

Amos paused, then spoke again.

“The Crown Clan lost many kin during the spread of contamination, countless coronets shattered, star systems divided. They’re truly gone, and we—even as strong as we are—are helpless.”

Compared to those, Morlo’s disappearance and broken coronet, all pointed to death. Before Chu Zao’s arrival, Crown Clan was so unstable they could not enter the deep contaminated zone.

They’re a powerful race in the stars, but not gods who command everything.

“Teacher Hel, this wasn’t your fault.”

Hel sank to the floor.

Childhood companions who became partners, then were torn apart, only to suffer apart—perhaps the hardest thing is when the calmest people are left crying blood.

Dazed, Hel seemed to see their old lives together.

Back when they were both teenagers, feelings unspoken, Morlo bullied him, but he always ended up giving in; Morlo, goofing and leaning his chin in his hand, smiling up at him: “No way, no way? Are you really crying? The future imperial tutor, you want me to coax you?”

Plip—plip—

Hel’s unstable psychic energy steadied, his halo vanished, and he finally sobbed aloud.

All present were silent, then left.

Amos carried Chu Zao at the front.

The little cub hugged Ghost Bear, grabbing at Amos’s clothes, head resting on Amos’s chest, still glancing at Hel’s door.

The soft boy held tight to Amos.

No one else spoke.

Expressions were grave.

“Meilun and Kaman stay to sort out things on the neutral planet; the rest prepare to leave soon.”

Amos ordered.

He carried the cub back to their room.

Amos himself had nothing to pack.

But the little one had a few things to sort—a bear to sleep with every night, and the treasures he’d accumulated, taken out to look at from time to time.

The cub quietly sat on the bed, watching Amos pack.

It was his first time seeing an adult cry like that; from then on, he clutched his bear tight, remaining silent.

Amos, after finishing, came closer, crouched in front of him.

“Zao Zao, listen, you need to obey Baba on this trip.”

The cub looked up at Amos.

Half his face was hidden by Ghost Bear; he nodded.

“Baba—”

His little face looked sad.

“Teacher Hel… is really sad. Can Zao Zao help?”

He looked at Amos, hopeful.

“Can Zao Zao help? Fix halos—make that grandpa come back—Baba said Zao Zao could help.”

“Morlo’s halo is already shattered. That’s the heavily contaminated zone. Zao Zao must be good.”

Amos looked at him seriously.

It was clear none of them could ask Zao Zao to risk anything here—not even Hel, for all his knowledge of the cub’s unique powers.

So none ever mentioned it.

This trip was probably to put Morlo to rest, finally.

They had long since accepted Morlo’s passing—only, who could have expected this?

Zao Zao, could not help.

“Baba… Zao Zao wants everything to turn out good.”

The cub’s soft voice came again.

It seemed for the first time, he was speaking to Amos not by psychic halo, but just face-to-face about the past.

“But Zao Zao always feels he can’t do it—The old archangel told Zao Zao, Zao Zao is a little angel by accident, nobody wanted to raise him, but he’d be given a chance to fit in—he had to be softer, never aggressive, accept being a mutant, try to fit in, try to act more like an angel, wait until everyone got used to it, and then grown-ups would dote on him—”

But it never happened. No matter how hard he tried, he was always the outcast, even though he thought he’d succeeded and become a strong little angel, he got none of the promises, none of the recognition.

Now, just when it seemed he could finally help—for family, for teachers, for a place he wanted to protect.

But he still felt powerless.

“Was it just like the archangel said… Zao Zao just hasn’t tried hard enough?”

He looked up, confused, clear eyes on Amos.

It wasn’t just about wanting to fit into the angels; he was led down that path, and then squashed, until all those disappointing moments filled his memories.

If that was so, it was even worse than they thought.

If he’d just been abandoned outright, at least he wouldn’t have suffered this—those people, that race, were molding Chu Zao into a weak, indecisive, fearful little nothing.

Archangel, huh?

Amos’s hands clenched. If only he could find them—

But before the cub, Amos kept his composure.

“He’s talking nonsense.”

Amos looked at the little one.

“Does Zao Zao believe him or believe Baba?”

Chu Zao blinked. “Believe Baba.”

“Right, Baba says, he’s full of nonsense.”

Amos looked at the small bowed head.

“Zao Zao’s already done great. Don’t listen to anything like that.”

Chu Zao, seeing Amos’s serious face, was picked up and slumped softly into his father’s arms, gazing blankly upward.

He actually didn’t believe it any longer—those words had just burrowed so deep that, at a moment when someone like Teacher Hel broke down crying, those attacks just sprang up again. But now, those images were gradually fading.

Chu Zao hugged Amos’s neck hard, nodding.

“Mm.”

Half an hour later, the starship set out for the Holy Cas Third Army’s position.

Hel was sent for constant monitoring in the medical bay.

With Hel gone, the Crown Clan were still tense, but more relaxed than before.

Feeney eyed the little cub by Amos, full of curiosity.

He had strongly opposed bringing the cub along—a five-year-old Crown Clan cub, what could he do in a heavily contaminated zone?

Then he’d heard the cub could fix halos.

Oh, he could not only chew psychic energy, but fix halos too…

So what could he actually do?

Feeney’s face was all confusion, and he even asked the others directly if they’d ever been ‘fixed’ by him.

Getting a negative answer, Feeney was only more confused.

And anyhow, he was just a cub.

By Feeney’s experience, that shouldn’t be possible.

Did he have some magic?

He watched, not understanding Anya and Feiman’s jealous rivalry over the cub—or the intrigue of a boy being mistreated by some race.

Feeney had never seen the angel’s weird attitude, nor those flashbacks.

Frankly, he didn’t feel anything particular; he was simply curious about the cub’s strange powers.

So now, he circled the cub.

The little one, after being circled left and right, looked up, puzzled. “Third Uncle?”

“I heard you can fix halos?”

Feeney’s eyes were wide, full of curiosity, and he was so bold as to stand right under Amos’s death glare, leaning in close to the cub, eager for answers.

Right, aside from his odd mind and cursed luck, Feeney was also an expert at courting disaster.

Chu Zao nodded blankly.

Feeney was a bit too close; the cub instinctively took a few steps back, but Feeney quickly crept in again.

He now stared at the cub’s halo.

“Hey, come to think of it, I’ve never seen a halo like this before—golden, and… is that more dark gold now?”

The others also glanced at the cub’s customary exposed halo.

The dark gold edges did seem a little larger.

But the cub swiftly zipped behind Amos.

Round eyes wide.

“Baba, don’t let Third Uncle come near Zao Zao.”

The little one, with soft firmness, stated his position.

Amos reached out, a finger on Feeney’s dazed head.

“Hear that? Back up.”

Feeney looked at the cub. “Wait, why?”

He’d clearly seen Feiman and Anya get that close—why was it different for him?

Why—discrimination!

Then the cub whispered, “It pokes my face.”

“Hm?”

Feeney reflexively asked.

Everyone glanced at his beard—

Feeney, realizing, paled as if struck by lightning.

Pokes… face?

“No, look again! Don’t you think it’s unique, has that rugged charisma?”

The cub didn’t answer, removing his halo to check the dark marks.

“Baba, looks like there’s more now.”

Amos patted his head: “We’ll check when we’re back.”

By now, seeing the little one ‘remove his brain’ had become routine—only Feeney staggered and fell.

“Wait—wait—what is that—this thing—”

Feeney stared at his own halo appearing over his head, pointing at it.

“This thing comes off???”

Huh???

His worldview was shaken.

He reached out in amazement, gripping his own halo.

Just as expected.

Plenty of Crown Clan, even Amos, had secretly tried this after discovering Chu Zao could remove his.

Anya eyed him.

“Third Brother, only Zao Zao’s comes off.”

Feeney gripped, held his breath, and yanked.

“Don’t pass out yanking on that…”

It was the psychic coronet halo, can’t be, can’t come off.

So far, only Chu Zao’s could.

But Feeney showcased his unreliability to the full.

Normally, at the sheer agony of trying to yank a coronet, any Crown Clan would stop.

Not Feeney.

Ten seconds later, Feeney, clutching his coronet halo, toppled over slowly.

Everyone: …

Anya kicked him. “Okay, Third Brother, experiment’s over, just get up…”

No response; Feeney lay peacefully.

Dead—oh, not really.

Anya, shocked: “Wait, did you really pass out???”

Amos coolly observed: “He’s an idiot, isn’t he?”

Feiman grabbed her brother’s arm.

“I’ll drag him to the med bay.”

Finally, a laugh broke out in the heavy atmosphere.

A new legend was born.

The first Crown Clan to knock himself out pulling his own coronet halo.

*

On the other side of the stars, Boel Alliance was in total chaos.

Both rebel army and government army were now leaderless.

The whole former Boel domain plunged into turmoil.

Shenghua sat aboard a starship headed for Boel.

With the funding from a certain organization, she was looking through all the latest Boel data.

“We starting in Boel Alliance?”

Her minion, bought with the organization’s money, looked on curiously.

“Mm.”

Shenghua answered.

“Didn’t that group say they’d help me?”

The minion looked at her in confusion: ?

“We’re almost at the trouble zone.”

Shenghua’s husky voice replied, her youth still obvious.

“It’s dangerous here, we need a lot more stuff.”

“So?”

Shenghua waved: “Tell them, extra resources needed.”

More money!

*

Another half day went by.

With the Holy Cas military traveling fast, only half a day’s journey remained.

Hel was kept under constant watch, even sedated, but still not resting easy.

Chu Zao had finished his milk.

A little full, the cub hugged his Ghost Bear and went for a wander outside, looking at the surrounding starlight, trying to calm his nerves.

He wondered how Teacher Hel was doing.

He looked at Hel’s psychic thread hanging in the air, now so dim it was barely visible.

The cub lowered his head, rubbing his bear.

From a nearby shadow, someone watched and, seeing the cub, stepped forward and cornered him.

The cub looked up in confusion.

And met Feeney’s eyes.

Having knocked himself out pulling at his own halo, Feeney finally woke up.

Now, with a rather serious look, he closed in on the cub. Not too close—since the cub’s comment about poking, he kept a bit more distance, but he wanted the cub to see his face.

“Third Uncle?”

The cub jumped in surprise, looking in confusion at Feeney.

“Come on, Zao Zao, don’t you feel Third Uncle’s beard is especially manly? Doesn’t it make me stand out? Take a good look, hmm?”

Feeney still wanted approval.

He couldn’t accept just a “pokes-face” for all his effort.

Did he know how long he’d grown it for? How long he’d admired it himself?

So hurt, cub!

The cub retreated a step or two.

Mainly, Chu Zao wasn’t used to Third Uncle yet.

He blinked his big eyes, and when Feeney tried coming closer once more—Feeney’s vision blurred.

He blinked and watched a fluffy little white ball dash past him—the cub shifted to his bundle form, ghost bear in his mouth, hurrying away on four short legs toward Amos.

“Awooo~!”

It really—just—poked his face—

He was close to the room where Chu Zao and Amos stayed.

Feeney watched the little one scamper off dragging his ghost bear, honey-colored eyes wide, letting out a soft “awooo”.

Inside, Amos was reading his files, but hadn’t yet realized the cub had turned into his fluffy form.

He heard the sound, kept working, and gave a warning: “Feeney, stay away from Zao Zao.”

At the same time, Amos, still processing paperwork, palmed a piece of candy from the wrapper beside him, and passed it backward.

Candy!

Chu Zao, initially focused on Feeney, was instantly distracted by Amos’s candy, so eager that his little dragon tail wagged as he stood up.

Amos realized—was that the first “awooo” he’d heard in a while? He glanced back.

His hand was at just the right height for human-formed Chu Zao, but a bit high for the fluffy cub.

The little one stretched up as straight as a stick to snatch the candy from Amos’s hand.

Zao Zao: Eh? Why am I retrieving candy like this…

Amos: Ah… that’s a long cub.