ORPDRL Chapter 11

 Episode 11

"Indeed. I apologize for doubting you, miss."

Lorik scratched the back of his head awkwardly, avoiding the piercing, indignant gaze of Letty.

'A panda, they said—a plant-eating bear found only in the eastern continent. What a peculiar-looking creature.'

Lorik de Fox, the eldest son of the prestigious Red Fox family who had long served the Grizzly household, was admittedly a bit naive.

THUMP!

Even so, Letty's stance that proved her identity as a panda was overwhelmingly confident.

"The divine detector also confirms she's a panda. It seems she really is one."

As Lorik murmured this, Letty puffed out her chest proudly, nodding as Tinker had advised her.

"Yes! Letty is a panda!"

"The young miss has been identified as a panda bear! The Grizzly's curse is now broken, everyone!"

Following Lorik, the priest who examined the box shouted, silencing the gathered crowd.

"Does this mean the dreadful curse binding the Grizzly family has finally been lifted?"

At someone's exclamation, the Grizzly's retainers, including the extended family, collectively covered their mouths.

"No longer having to endure the calamity—"

Everyone began recalling the oracle that spoke of a priestess who could break the curse that had plunged the Grizzly Grand Duke's family into a pit of suffering and despair.

‘But Letty can’t break the curse...’

Under the gleaming eyes of the crowd, Letty drooped her previously confident shoulders.

According to [Panda Daughter-in-Law], as Tinker had shown her, the girl destined to lift the Grizzly family's curse was not a red panda but a genuine panda bear beastman named Tierra. She was the sole key to resolving the Grizzly's curse, which brought ruin and devastation.

‘But Letty has to cure Letty's first.’

If she could leave this Grizzly territory before Tierra arrived, she wouldn't interfere with Tierra breaking the curse.

‘So please forgive me for lying.’

Suppressing the sting of her guilty conscience, Letty nervously glanced at Lorik before swallowing hard.

‘No one must find out I’m not a panda bear but a red panda!’

If the Grizzly beastmen discovered her deceit, they would undoubtedly feel disappointed, and in their anger, they wouldn't let her go unscathed. Imagining her chubby limbs being torn apart by the massive hands of Grizzly beastmen the size of pot lids made her tremble uncontrollably.

"Wait! The priestess' verification is not yet complete!"

Just as Letty had been acknowledged as a panda, a man parted through the crowd and raised his hand, speaking loudly.

‘Oh no, what are they asking for now?’

Letty nervously wiggled her toes, fearing her secret of not being a panda bear might be exposed.

"If it’s a test of strength, I’ll do it."

At that moment, Brunhardt, the one who had brought Letty to the Grizzly Grand Duke's estate, stepped forward.

All eyes in the crowd turned to him at his declaration.

"Are you sure, Elder?"

From the corner, murmurs questioning the fairness of subjecting a young girl to such a challenge arose.

Though Brunhardt had retired from active duty, he was once an imperial knight renowned for his unmatched prowess and a hero of war. Moreover, he held the highest position in the Grizzly Grand Duke's household after the Grand Duke himself.

"Elder, is it necessary for even you to get involved?"

Lorik, glancing at the small Letty who barely reached his waist, spoke with concern in his voice.

"She's still just a child. Surely, as a fox, I can handle the strength test for her."

"Have you forgotten the weight of the Grizzly, Lorik?"

Brunhardt shook his head sternly.

‘Indeed. Even if we accept a daughter-in-law from another species, strength is a fundamental requirement to become part of the Grizzly family!’

The gathered Grizzly beastmen all nodded in agreement, sharing the elder's sentiment.

The Grizzly Grand Duke's family ruled over a territory of grizzly bears—predators known for their unparalleled ferocity, even among bears.

A true Grizzly beastman would smash boulders before learning to write and, whether a civil servant or not, should be able to defeat three or four knights from other houses barehanded.

"To survive in the Grizzly, even a four-year-old would need more than ordinary strength."

"Surely, Elder Brunhardt has his reasons. I support this!"

With the crowd's agreement shifting towards the elder, Lorik reluctantly stepped back.

"Come along."

Without understanding what was happening, Letty blinked in confusion as Brunhardt picked her up and strode towards the back of the conference hall.

'Taking a child to the Trial Room...!'

The murmurs of the crowd suggested the elder was serious about the verification.

The Trial Room was a place where past family heads had held meetings with their retainers, bringing dissenting subordinates to a consensus—through some means.

Although not far from the podium where Letty had stood, the room was enclosed with thick tapestries, making it impossible to hear or see what was happening inside from the outside.

Only their shadows, faintly visible on the fabric, gave any hint of what was going on.

✦ ✦ ✦

"Grandpa, what are we supposed to do here?"

Sitting neatly on a sofa in the center of the Trial Room with her knees primly together, Letty widened her eyes in curiosity.

"I’m going to see how strong you are."

From what she'd overheard, it seemed to be a test or trial of strength. When it came to strength, Letty had some confidence.

‘Even those stubborn kitchen stains are no match for me when I put my back into it.’

At the very least, she was stronger than Feyrin, who often lamented her slender wrists weren't up to the task of scrubbing off stubborn grime.

"Alright. Do you have a special move, young one?"

At Brunhardt's question, Letty hummed thoughtfully.

A special move... a special move.

Her mother had told her about something like that before.

[Mom, when can Letty use special powers?]

A younger Letty had often envied other beastmen who proudly showcased their unique abilities.

For example, the chameleon beastman kid next door could change their hair color at will.

[Special powers will come to you as you grow older. But there are abilities red pandas can use even now.]

Letty's mother had stroked the pointed ears of her sulking child as she listed the abilities Letty possessed.

[Letty, red panda beastmen have many abilities. One of them is…]

‘Raising both arms to intimidate the opponent!’

The red panda's scare tactic was said to be so intimidating that it left the opponent frozen in place.

Recalling her mother's words, Letty sprang up from the sofa.

"I have one. A special move."

"Then, let's see it."

Though Brunhardt kindly urged her, Letty hesitated, scrunching up her round nose in thought.

"But... Letty doesn’t want to hurt Grandpa."

It was thanks to Brunhardt that she had entered the Grizzly territory safely and met the Grand Duke without issue.

‘What if I scare him too much, and Grandpa starts hating me?’

Letty wanted to maintain a good relationship with Brunhardt.

"Oh dear. Child, don't worry about me. Just try your special move."

Finding her concern endearing, Brunhardt chuckled warmly. As she gazed at the laughing elder, Letty straightened her posture after some deliberation.

"Grandpa, be careful!"

"Alright, alright."

At Letty's confident warning, Brunhardt placed his hand on his sword's hilt with a serious expression.

‘If this child truly is the key to breaking the curse mentioned by the oracle, she might have some extraordinary ability.’

Although he doubted it.

The red panda before him appeared too insignificant and small, but recalling the oracle, Brunhardt waited for Letty's special move.

"Grandpa, I’m really going to do it now!"

"Alright, go ahead!"

At Brunhardt’s response, Letty focused her strength and began moving.

‘Fluff up the tail fur as much as possible.’

Poof.

The striped fur of the child’s plump tail stood on end as if charged with static electricity.

‘Raise both arms, plant the feet firmly!’

Thud!

Letty straightened her back as much as possible, planting her legs firmly on the ground.

‘And above all, the most crucial part!’

The secret technique of the red panda: the roar!

The baby red panda’s jaws opened wide in a ferocious display. Brunhardt flinched as he caught sight of the tiny fangs no larger than a pinky nail.

“Rawr!”

“……?”

“Roooaaarrrr!!”

“……!”

The roar was as overwhelming as a summer typhoon.

Unable to cover his ears or look away from Letty's fierce glare, Brunhardt clutched his chest with one hand.

"Ugh…."

Thud.

The elderly man, well past the age of becoming a grandfather, lost his strength and collapsed forward.

He was felled by a heart attack from the shock.

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