A Baby Cat Who Commands the Dog Clan - Chapter 257

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Side Story, Episode 3
At that, Nam Goong Baek’s lips curved into an elegant smile.
“If I am to attend to a female swordmaster of Hong Seol’s caliber, would it truly be a problem for the Young Master of the Nam Goong Family to carry a mere Tangpa Blade? If anything, it falls short of what is fitting.”
Je Gal Hyeop’s words, intended to provoke Nam Goong Baek’s pride, had instead become a slight against Hong Seol—and Nam Goong Baek had elegantly twisted them back.
Simultaneously, he had subtly praised his own betrothed.
Je Gal Hyeop, astounded, turned his gaze toward Hong Seol.
“Hong Seol, did you teach the Young Master rhetoric? When did that three-inch tongue of his become so smooth?”
‘I… I’m not entirely sure myself, General Commander.’
Hong Seol lifted her shoulders slightly in a gesture of bewilderment.
Yet somehow, her mood was not unpleasant.
Seizing the moment, Nam Goong Baek drove his point home.
“I shall attend to the young lady with utmost care, so please set your mind at ease, General Commander.”
“Tch.”
Je Gal Hyeop turned his head away sharply, and Eon Soo Ryang spoke to Hong Seol in his stead.
“Your fatigue from travel has not yet lifted. Go rest now. The steward will guide you to your quarters.”
He paused, then fixed Nam Goong Baek with a direct gaze and added a final word.
“For your information, the two young swordmasters will have separate quarters.”
Eon Soo Ryang himself was a father with a daughter. It was the bare minimum of paternal instinct.
Nam Goong Baek seemed slightly disappointed, but he bowed respectfully.
As the atmosphere in Cheonmu Hall settled, Hong Seol carefully opened her mouth.
“Before that, might I ask what task has been entrusted to me? The letter only mentioned something about an investigation…”
At her words, the eyes of Eon Soo Ryang and Je Gal Hyeop met.
Presently, Je Gal Hyeop spoke in a tone far heavier than before.
“An investigation into illegal narcotics.”
* * *
Hong Seol walked alone through Infinite Street, lost in thought.
Nam Goong Baek followed like a shadow, maintaining a respectful distance as befitted a servant.
Perhaps it was because Hong Seol had not spoken to him for quite some time.
His lips pouted slightly, yet the preoccupied Hong Seol remained oblivious.
Hong Seol’s mind was consumed by a single concern.
‘The illegal narcotic known as Beast Soul Essence.’
According to rumor, if a beastkin drank it, they would be forcibly transformed into their beast form.
‘An illegal drug that forces beastkin transformation… why would anyone need such a thing?’
It was at that moment Hong Seol tilted her head in puzzlement.
A young man dressed in fine silk approached her.
With a rather handsome face, he gazed intently at Hong Seol’s features.
‘What is this? An assassin?’
The thought crossed her mind to twist his wrist using the Nam Goong Family’s Capture Hand technique, the Nineteen Forms of the Great Expansion.
Then the man shyly parted his lips.
“If I may be so bold, young lady, would you care to join me for tea at the Tea House…?”
“Ah, well….”
Before I could even finish my refusal, a dark shadow fell across the man’s face.
It was Nam Goong Baek, who had been following at a distance like a servant.
Already displeased, he opened his eyes wide and emanated an aura as if he would crush his opponent to death.
In an instant, beads of cold sweat broke out across the man’s forehead.
“Ah, you have companions. My apologies for the intrusion.”
With those words, he swiftly retreated from us.
“…What a dull fellow.”
I stared blankly at his departing figure before suddenly turning to Nam Goong Baek with a question.
“Where was that tavern you mentioned hearing about from the Martial Arts Alliance, Elder Brother?”
“Straight ahead that way.”
Nam Goong Baek pointed the direction with his long fingers, and I began walking in that direction.
Nam Goong Baek then walked behind me again, and I soon found myself lost in thought once more.
‘Soul Essence Liquid, was it? Someone wants to reveal another’s hidden identity…?’
But my thoughts didn’t last long. Another man blocked my path.
“Young lady, if you haven’t eaten yet, would you perhaps….”
And that was only the beginning.
“There’s a tea house just ahead with exceptional tea.”
“Would you care to enjoy an evening boat ride with me?”
Before I could take ten steps, men appeared from all directions trying to engage me in conversation.
Of course, most of them had to retreat when faced with Nam Goong Baek’s chilling aura that followed close behind.
But one man proved unusually persistent.
“Why not share a drink with me at the tavern instead, young lady?”
“No. I have companions.”
“Come now, don’t tell such lies. The sun will set soon, and the moon will rise. Wouldn’t it be lovely to enjoy some refined pleasures together?”
“I can enjoy refined pleasures well enough with my companions….”
As I crossed my arms and shook my head, I suddenly felt something amiss.
‘Wait. Now that I think about it, why isn’t Elder Brother interfering this time?’
With an ominous premonition, I spun around.
As expected.
Nam Goong Baek was surrounded by five or six women.
They were all young ladies with elaborate makeup and rouged faces that were utterly infuriating to behold.
“Kyaa, young master! Look over here.”
“Where did such a magnificent young master come from?”
“Come play with us this evening, won’t you?”
“That’s fine with you, isn’t it, young master? Right?”
“…It is not!”
My firm voice cut through as I barely squeezed between Nam Goong Baek and the women.
The disappointed women surrounded me with hostile intent. Most of them were a head taller than me.
“What did you say, you pumpkin?”
“What! Ho, Hobnob?”
Indignant, I drew upon my inner energy without thinking, channeling it to its fullest.
At this ominous surge of power, screams erupted from all directions.
“Kyaaah!”
“How crude!”
The young ladies, huddled together like a herd of animals, cast sidelong glances at me.
Furious, I linked my arm through Nam Goong Baek’s without thinking and cried out.
“This young master is my betrothed!”
Perhaps it was the overwhelming sense of injustice.
Words I would never normally speak tumbled from my lips.
“We’ve shared countless meals and tea together, and these past few days while traveling, we’ve spent every moment except sleep in each other’s company!”
I lifted my chin proudly and poured out the words.
“Moreover, I know what fragrance he uses, which quilts he prefers, when his mood lifts and falls—all of it intimately! And there are things only I in this world know, and when we kiss….”
In that instant, realizing I’d said far more than I should have, I clamped my own mouth shut.
“…Really? What is it, Seol Ah? When I kiss you… what is it like?”
Nam Goong Baek’s voice clung to my ear, warm and teasing.
I didn’t need to turn around to know. Baek Elder Brother was clearly delighted.
‘What, what on earth did I just say!’
Suddenly, mortification flooded through me. I pressed my lips firmly shut.
“It’s, it’s nothing!”
I tried to pull my arm away, but Nam Goong Baek tightened his grip and wouldn’t let go.
More than that, he lowered his head and brought his face close to mine.
When those jade-like blue eyes sparkled mere inches away, my mind scattered entirely.
He whispered softly against my ear.
“Tell me this secret of mine that only you know. I’m curious too.”
“I, I don’t know!”
I squeezed my eyes shut.
Nam Goong Baek, wearing a faint smile, couldn’t tear his gaze from my flushed face.
His demeanor was unmistakably that of a man utterly smitten with his beloved.
“My goodness….”
“Let’s go. We’ve wasted enough time here.”
The young ladies, who had been clicking their tongues at the sight, soon withdrew like dejected butterflies, their skirts fluttering.
“There, they’re all gone.”
Only then did I open my eyes. Nam Goong Baek was still grinning before me.
For some reason, I found him irritating.
“…Go away.”
Slightly sulking, I walked ahead alone once more.
“Seol Ah.”
Nam Goong Baek called my name from behind, but I had no desire to speak with him now.
The image of him flustered and surrounded by those young ladies remained vivid in my mind.
In truth, it had been but a fleeting moment, yet in my mind, the memory kept twisting and distorting itself.
‘Now that I think about it, Elder Brother seemed to be smiling back then. Could he have actually been enjoying that situation?’
A surge of resentment welled up from deep within my chest.
‘When he was young, he was so cold and distant in front of girls!’
“Have you heard? The blacksmith was caught having an affair with the general store owner’s wife. It seems men in their prime simply cannot help themselves.”
“That’s right. They say there’s not a single man in this world who can resist temptation.”
The words that Mae Ran and the other servants had been chattering about came flooding back, and I felt tears threatening to spill.
I kept my eyes fixed ahead and walked on.
Even as I did, Nam Goong Baek faithfully continued calling out my name.
“Seol Ah.”
….
“Seol Ah!”
“Why do you keep calling me?”
I spun around. My cheeks were still flushed with powder.
Seemingly delighted by even this version of me, Nam Goong Baek smiled broadly without a care.
Then he extended his smooth hand forward.
“Your hand.”
“Pardon?”
“Give me your hand. I want to walk through Infinite Street holding hands with you.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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