Chapter 08
“It’s not that we’re telling you not to leave.”
So that Bariya wouldn’t misunderstand, Sirka spoke firmly.
“If a situation comes where you have no choice, you can leave. We have no intention of restricting your freedom. All we’re asking is that if you do go, you at least tell us first. Don’t disappear without a word like you did this time.”
Bariya looked down at the contract.
The five conditions she had written, and the single condition requested by the Kalif.
It didn’t even say she could never leave. It didn’t require permission either.
This was an overwhelmingly favorable contract for her.
“…Is this really okay?”
“Of course. There’s only one thing you need to do here at Kalif—grow strong enough to take down a pack of hyenas on your own.”
That was exactly what Bariya wanted most.
She neatly wrote her name at the bottom of the contract and signed it.
The three members of Kalif also signed, quietly letting out sighs of relief.
“Alright, with this, the contract is complete. We look forward to working with you, Bariya Bell.”
Sabrina extended her right hand.
Bariya straightened her posture like a proper young lady and shook her hand.
“I look forward to it as well.”
After Bariya left with Tyren,
the three leaders of Kalif sat staring at the contract on the table, deep in thought.
“She’s definitely not an ordinary child.”
At Bayden’s words, the other two nodded.
Facing hyenas in the body of a kitten was one thing.
But boldly demanding a contract in front of the three rulers of Kalif—people even fierce beastkin avoided making eye contact with?
Clearly stating the terms she needed with precision.
And on top of that, the strong aura she naturally gave off.
“Her way of speaking and handwriting are that of a ten-year-old, but her actions and intelligence are anything but,” Sabrina said, tapping the contract.
When she had asked for meat just once a week, it had been almost absurd.
And yet she subtly watched their reactions, worried they might refuse.
What on earth had those hyena brats done to that child?
The more they observed her, the clearer it became—she was no ordinary girl.
How should they put it? Calling her just a ten-year-old felt… off.
“Sirka wasn’t even like that at ten.”
Beastkin children matured quickly, and Sirka, as an heir, had been exceptional even among them.
He had inherited the powerful blood of Sabrina, the strongest tiger beastkin of the current era.
But even Sirka had never dared act so boldly in front of Bayden and Sabrina at that age.
Yet this was just a cat beastkin, meeting their gaze head-on?
She was anything but normal.
“She likely possesses a ‘Divine Ability,’” Sirka said.
“Even if we can’t be certain, it’s the most reasonable assumption,” Sabrina agreed.
A Divine Ability.
A special power granted only to a very small number of chosen beastkin.
But not just anyone could obtain one through luck alone.
There was a prerequisite: one had to inherit the blood of a “spirit beast.”
Spirit beasts were born in places rich with natural spiritual energy.
Every spirit beast possessed a unique ability—called a Divine Ability—and lived far longer than beastkin.
Unlike instinct-driven beastkin, they were rational and gentle, often living in nature. However, some had married beastkin and had children.
Among those descendants, a very small number would awaken abilities similar to spirit beasts.
Bariya might be one of them.
“If we assume that, then it explains how she put Tyren to sleep and escaped Kalif unnoticed.”
“We just don’t know what kind of ability it is,” Sirka said.
Divine Abilities varied greatly, and even now, not all types were known.
“If it were something simple like ours, it’d be easier to figure out.”
Sabrina lightly clenched her fist.
There was nothing in her hand—but if there had been, whatever it was would have been crushed to pieces.
Her family, the Frost lineage, carried the blood of the White Tiger spirit beast.
Sabrina was the strongest White Tiger beastkin in generations.
And Sirka, who inherited her blood, also possessed a Divine Ability.
“Either way, if she has one, it makes sense why those hyena bastards are after her,” Bayden muttered. “They’re obsessed with gaining such power.”
He clicked his tongue.
Among countless beastkin families, only a few carried spirit beast blood.
Even among tiger clans, the Frost family was the only one.
Hyena beastkin, on the other hand, had never been chosen.
Naturally, they had no Divine Abilities—and that became their inferiority complex.
After Kalif’s leader married Sabrina, who possessed immense power, that resentment only deepened.
Their rivalry completely broke down after that.
“In the end, the child is just a victim caught up in pointless pride and conflict,” Bayden said, frowning.
Bariya had said she lived in filthy clothes among the hyenas.
Had they kidnapped and imprisoned her in hopes of obtaining her power?
“That’s probably why she told us not to ask about her past,” Sirka said. “She can’t be sure we’re any different.”
He clenched his fist, anger rising.
No matter how much they desired power, how could they treat a ten-year-old child like that?
He couldn’t understand it at all.
“She’s being chased, and she’s still young—yet she doesn’t look for her parents. That likely means they’re gone,” Sabrina said.
Bayden nodded immediately.
“I’ll look into cat beastkin families with spirit beast blood. She might have relatives left.”
Partly to find her family—but also to protect them, in case they were being targeted.
Spirit beast blood was precious.
It must not fall into the hands of the greedy.
“Let’s keep it to ourselves that we suspect her ability,” Sabrina said.
“Yes.”
“Understood, Mother.”
She was already wary—if they brought it up, she might run away again.
It didn’t matter if she didn’t trust Kalif.
They wouldn’t beg for that.
That was her choice.
But letting her wander outside and fall into the hands of those insane hyenas?
That, they would stop—no matter what.
After signing the contract, Bariya became an honored guest at Kalif.
News quickly spread throughout the mansion that instead of a fearsome tiger, a cute ten-year-old cat beastkin had moved in.
“Greetings, Miss!”
Jake, one of Sirka’s subordinates who had helped bring Bariya in, rushed over as soon as he heard the news.
But when he saw her crawling out from under the bed, his eyes widened.
“W-Why are you coming out from there? Did the young master forbid you from using the bed?”
Jake shot Sirka—who was lounging comfortably on the sofa—a glare.
Sirka looked dumbfounded.
“Anyone would think she’s your master, not me.”
“Of course the younger child’s safety comes first!”
At Jake’s loud declaration, Sirka had nothing to say.
…He wasn’t wrong.
“Ah, I forgot to introduce myself. We met yesterday—do you remember me? I am Jake Gillian, a knight serving Sirka Kalif.”
Bariya, brushing dust off her skirt after crawling out, nodded.
“I remember. The jerky man. It was tasty.”
She had been caught because of that jerky—but in the end, it led her to this contract and protection.
“I was kinda mad before… but since things worked out, I’ll forgive you.”
She held out her hand, and Jake, deeply moved, carefully shook it.
“I’m Bariya Bell.”
“That’s a beautiful name. It suits you very well, miss.”
“I know. My mom gave it to me.”
Sirka’s ears perked up at the mention of her mother.
But unfortunately, Bariya didn’t continue.
“But why were you under the bed?” Jake asked.
“This is my room now. I was checking everything to see what’s here. There might be something weird.”
“She even climbed on top of the cabinet,” Sirka added, gesturing.
She really was something else.
“Ah, I brought what the young master mentioned.”
Jake placed a box on the table. Bariya, who had been looking around, immediately grew curious and approached.
Inside were balls, feathered strings, sticks, and all sorts of things.
“What’s all this?”
“Toys for you to play with starting today.”
“Hey! Stop calling me a baby! I’m not a kid who plays with toys!”
What do you take me for?!
“I guarantee—you’ll love it.”
Grinning, Sirka picked up a stick and looked at her.
Sensing something suspicious, Bariya took a step back.
Then Sirka suddenly swung the stick.
