"Love," they say, "is what makes us human."
What a load of horseshit.
Love doesn’t make you human—it makes you stupid. It turns perfectly rational beings into poetic idiots with no self-preservation instincts. Suddenly you’re writing cringe filled letters and chasing doomed dreams.
And when that fragile fantasy inevitably shatters?
Poof. Welcome to the real world.
Your heart breaks, your brain short-circuits and even if you’re a crimson-furred Alpha Bear, you stand in stunned silence while your supposed mate hugs your supposed best friend right in front of your very much resurrected face.
My assumption—mind you, the very assumption that started the legendary war between me and these petty murder-bears—was correct.
Turns out, she was indeed cheating on him... Or maybe the Alpha was just hopelessly delusional and mistook a polite smile for a lifetime of love.
For a glorious thirty seconds, I had thought the chaos had finally ended.
The setting sun filtered through the trees in that cinematic and soft-focus kind of way.
And that should’ve been my warning. Because trauma is like peace’s clingy friend which always arrives uninvited.
And no matter how much you complain, it just laughs, makes itself comfortable and wrecks the place before leaving you emotionally bankrupt.
Exactly what happened to my poor assistant. He stood frozen just a few steps ahead of me with wide eyes.
We had just reached the bear settlement a few minutes ago.
Some of the residents had growled and started to approach me but a single roar from the Alpha shut them up real fast.
See, unlike monsters, beasts could be reasoned with—sometimes.
That’s why they were even allowed to stay in this forest which was part of Ashborn Estate.
Beasts were the resident animals of this world, evolved through generations of slow exposure to mana.
Monsters, on the other hand, were beings of pure chaos. They had intelligence at higher rank... but they didn’t like humans even a bit. They had crawled out from dungeons and towers since long ago.
You could talk to a Beast. You could make a pact or maybe even a friend.
But a Monster? The moment it saw life, it wanted death.
Still... that wasn’t important right now.
What was important was the tall and once fearsome Alpha Bear in front of me, staring ahead as if questioning the reality itself.
I followed his gaze. And there she was. The she-bear. The one he had charged into battle because some human (me) had insulted her honour.
She was currently curled into the arms of another bear. Not just any bear. His best friend. The one who had fought and died beside him.
I turned to look at the Alpha Bear again. He didn’t move. Didn’t growl. Didn’t roar.
But I swear, if heartbreak had a sound, it would be the silence he had at this moment.
Then, without a word, he turned.
"I’m ready now, my liege."
I didn’t know what to say to the poor guy.
"Don’t you want to say goodbye to anyone?" I asked. "Your father or anyone else?"
I mean, we would be going on a long journey and I wasn’t an insensitive jerk. If anything, I was a pure, innocent, and generous soul.
So, I didn’t want him to rush his emotional moment... and say proper goodbye to his friends and family.
...Okay. Fuck. I admit it.
I wanted to witness drama. I wanted him to throw a punch at his best friend, maybe break his nose before walking off into the sunset.
But alas, this insensitive jerk of an assistant has no consideration for my feelings.
He simply shook his head.
"There’s no one to say goodbye to."
Then, in a quiet voice that barely matched his size, he added.
"Judging from how my father isn’t here... he probably doesn’t want to see my face either."
He paused, then smiled which was anything but a happy one.
"I just wanted to see her face one last time. But... it seems she’s already found her happiness too."
"So I’m h–happy as well."
His voice cracked on the word slightly.
Then, he looked up at the sky, blinking.
"And why is it raining so hard today, my liege?"
I couldn’t help the twitch that passed across my face.
This... this fucker bear was literally crying while trying act like it didn’t hurt him.
The "rain" he spoke of? It was literally his own damn tears.
I wanted to scream that. I wanted to call it out. But again—I wasn’t an insensitive jerk.
So I stayed quiet and just walked towards him and patted his shoulder.
"Maybe the heavens are jealous of your good looks and decided to cry about it."
This was all I could say to console a bear with a broken heart. Even if it was a lie.
My friendly, sadistic instructor walked out of nowhere, perfectly calm, wearing that annoyingly serene smile like he hadn’t just vanished for hours during the most chaotic moment of my week.
All the bears around me froze instantly.
Even the Alpha—who had been weeping his heart out not five minutes ago—immediately moved to stand in front of me like a loyal bodyguard. Probably trying to protect me.
But I waved a hand casually. "It’s fine. I know that human. You guys can go back to whatever you were doing."
The Alpha translated my words with a low growl... the poor guy was still not over his heartbreak and still had to act as a translator.
And to my utter lack of surprise, those shameless little furballs blinked once—then returned to their lives like someone multiple ranks higher than them hadn’t just walked out casually.
"It seems you’ve made quite a few friends, Young Master," Razek said, his voice filled with amusement. "And unless my memory’s been cursed, wasn’t that Alpha dead a few hours ago?"
"Oh? I don’t know what you’re talking about, Razek. Must be your imagination," I said, completely straight-faced. "And don’t bother asking anything else. Whatever I have to say, I’ll say it to my father."
I mean, why would I waste energy explaining myself to some peasa—ahem, I mean... a very competent subordinate in my father’s employ.
"Of course, Young Master." Razek bowed slightly, still smirking. "So, shall we go back now?"
I glanced at the Alpha Bear.
He looked at me, his eyes still tired but clearer now.
Then, with a solemn nod, he stepped forward and stood by my side like a loyal knight.
Through it all, his so-called lover hadn’t even spared him a glance. And yet... he didn’t waver. The poor guy was stronger than he looked.
I gave Razek a look. "Yeah... let’s go."
And just like that, we left behind the awkward heartbreak and the dramatic love triangle.
Meanwhile, far beyond the borders of the Human Domain... And even the limits of visible reality itself—
In a court where stars hung as silent spectators, watching with ancient and indifferent eyes...
Twelve figures sat around a table carved from the remains of a dying planet.
Their faces were veiled by shadows. They existed more as a concept than a being.
And yet, each of them turned their gaze toward the center.
"A NEW SUCCESSOR OF ▒▒▒▒▒ HAS APPEARED."
A ripple spread through the space as the name which even reality rejected was spoken...
But not a single god said anything as even they could not find what ’HE’ had hidden.
___________________________
And with this, the Bear Butler Arc has officially come to a tear-stained and heartbreakingly wholesome close.
Next up: The Academy Arc begins in full swing—expect chaos, schemes and probably a few "accidental explosions" (definitely not Rael’s fault... probably).
Also... don’t be stingy, yeah?
Rain down some Power Stones, Golden Tickets, Gifts and maybe even a Super Gift on the poor Bear... (Definitely not being shameless... okay maybe just a little).
Your support helps me feed my inner chaos and write even wilder Chapters.