The Dragon Family’s Beloved Baby Cat - Chapter 82

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 82

***

At the same time, the Imperial Palace.

The Emperor was completely mad with rage.

His stomach had been burning for days.

He had no appetite and couldn’t sleep.

When he closed his eyes, the same thoughts tormented his mind.

Goseol was with Danhwi.

That fact wouldn’t leave his mind.

“…Kugh.”

The Emperor clutched his solar plexus.

His stomach felt like it was being carved out with a knife.

The Taeeui said it was a stress-induced illness.

He told him to keep his mind at ease.

But how could he possibly be at ease?

‘If that bastard responds…’

The Emperor’s hands trembled.

Goseol.

The spirit beast that should have been his.

The being that should have been his power.

But that creature had never once submitted to him.

It always raged madly, trying to bite and tear at him.

It was only natural.

Goseol had never been his spirit beast to begin with!

That memory came flooding back.

The moment just before his father collapsed, when he declared abdication to his youngest son Danhwi.

It was his father’s last desperate struggle after discovering the treason.

Abdication required two conditions.

First, the Emperor must sincerely report to the Heavenly Deity at the Celestial Altar.

Second, a contract where the new Emperor and spirit beast look at each other and acknowledge one another.

As soon as his father heard news of the rebellion, he immediately rushed to the Celestial Altar.

‘Even while being stabbed, he declared the abdication. How tenacious…’

He called out the name of that young child and died bleeding.

‘What exactly was I lacking?’

The Emperor ground his teeth, wanting to desecrate the corpse of the Previous Emperor who had already passed.

Even while dying, how sincere was his report?

The Heavenly Deity immediately sent down a spirit beast from the heavens.

A massive bird with black feathers and blue eyes.

It was the moment Goseol was born.

But Danhwi wasn’t there.

Because his father died too hastily, the contract ceremony couldn’t be performed.

The Emperor exploited that gap.

Using forbidden arts, he clouded Goseol’s perception so it couldn’t recognize its true master, and blocked it from approaching Danhwi.

If the contract wasn’t completed, no one would know the truth.

That’s how he seized the imperial throne.

It was perfect.

‘It should have been perfect.’

But Goseol never acknowledged him in the end.

The abdication stolen through persuasion, threats, and forbidden arts didn’t work on the Heavenly Deity.

Goseol always raged madly, trying to kill the current Emperor.

It was because of its instinct to find Danhwi and complete the contract.

‘It would have been better if I could have just killed Hwi.’

Though he possessed both intellect and physical prowess, heaven only granted him meager divine power.

The duty he absolutely had to perform as Emperor was supplying divine power to the sacred formation that the Heavenly Deity had supposedly bestowed, located at the Celestial Altar.

If that sacred formation disappeared, the peace and prosperity of the Dan Empire that had lasted over a thousand years would end.

This was something that couldn’t be solved with forbidden arts.

In the end, young Danhwi, without knowing what had happened, was confined to the Abandoned Palace and reduced to the role of offering divine power to him.

That position and peace had been obtained through such means…

“How dare you escape?”

The Emperor growled lowly.

Goseol had broken its chains and flown away.

Taking Danhwi with it, of all things.

To Jinryongseoga, of all places.

‘If those two form a contract.’

The Emperor’s complexion turned pale.

Whether from stomach pain or from unthinkable imaginings, cold sweat poured down his pale face like rain.

Goseol was the only spirit beast in the Imperial Court.

A being bestowed by the Heavenly Deity to the Emperor.

For such a Goseol to respond to Danhwi meant.

‘That I’m not the real Emperor…’

Would be revealed to the world.

That he had stolen the throne from his father.

That he had intercepted the spirit beast meant for his brother.

All of that truth.

Moreover, Jinryongseoga was the most powerful clan among the Twelve Families, one he had prioritized trying to bring down first.

Because-

They had the right to lead gatherings by hosting the Twelve Families Council through Jinryongnyeong’s authority, bringing together all the Guardian Spirits and heads of the other Twelve Families.

Furthermore, with the Unparalleled Under Heaven present, he couldn’t simply crush them with military force.

“Eunuch!”

He shot up to his feet.

A twisting pain surged through his stomach, but he ignored it.

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“Has there been a reply from Jinryongseoga?”

“Not yet…”

“Not yet?!”

The Emperor shouted.

He had sent messengers multiple times.

To return the Crown Prince. To bring him back immediately.

But Jinryongseoga remained silent.

As if mocking him.

“How dare they.”

The Emperor’s eyes became bloodshot.

“How dare they ignore me?”

The combination of Danhwi and Goseol was the Emperor’s reverse scale.

Something that would drive him mad the moment it was touched.

Something that could destroy everything he had.

“I can’t wait any longer.”

The Emperor’s eyes blazed with madness.

***

Meanwhile, at Jinryongseoga.

Moa chattered for a while before becoming tired and gradually falling asleep.

It was natural since her fatigue hadn’t fully recovered yet.

Danhwi lay on his side and watched Moa sleeping peacefully.

It was a peaceful face.

The sight of her sleeping comfortably without any worries. This was the first time Danhwi had spent several hours so carefree as well.

‘…Cute.’

A smile spread across Danhwi’s lips.

Just then, a sound came from beyond the window.

-Coo…

It was Goseol.

Goseol was stretching his neck from the window, looking at Danhwi.

His blue eyes were filled with worry.

“Go… seol.”

Danhwi called out quietly.

Since he had only thought of him as Moa’s friend, somehow his feelings were strange.

Goseol responded by slightly folding his wings.

Danhwi carefully sat up.

Pain surged from his back, but it was bearable.

He slowly approached the window and looked at Goseol.

Just then, Goseol lowered his head so Danhwi could touch him.

Danhwi carefully reached out and stroked Goseol’s head.

Soft feathers touched his fingertips.

-Coo…

Goseol closed his eyes.

He looked very peaceful.

“…Thank you for saving Moa.”

Danhwi said quietly.

Then, vaguely sensing that Goseol seemed somewhat dissatisfied, he added another word.

“For saving me too.”

-Coo.

Then Goseol cried as if answering.

It seemed like he was saying ‘Of course.’

‘Why is that.’

Danhwi felt strange as he looked at Goseol.

An inexplicable bond.

Even though they were clearly meeting for the first time, somehow it felt like he had known him for a long time.

‘Strange.’

Danhwi tilted his head.

Every time he saw Goseol at the Imperial Palace, a corner of his heart strangely tingled.

Longing.

And relief.

It felt like he had found something he had lost.

It even seemed like he only realized what he had lost after finding something he didn’t even know was missing.

“…Strange.”

Danhwi muttered.

Goseol opened his eyes and looked at Danhwi.

The moment their eyes met, Danhwi’s heart strangely stirred.

“Why do I feel so glad to see you… and at ease?”

Even though you’re a spirit I’m meeting for the first time.

Perhaps Goseol’s presence was felt even faster than when he had opened his heart to Moa.

As if he had flown in through an open window.

“Brother…?”

Suddenly, Moa, who had been completely knocked out, finished her short nap and sat up abruptly.

She seemed to have woken up from the cold air coming in from the side.

Moa discovered Danhwi at the window and hurriedly ran over.

“Brother! You’re still hurt, why did you get up!”

“It’s okay. Just for a moment…”

“No! You should be lying down!”

Moa tried to pull Danhwi’s hand.

But when she saw Goseol, she stopped moving.

“…Huh?”

Goseol was pushing his head toward Danhwi.

As if asking to be petted more.

“Goseol is…”

Moa’s eyes widened.

“Acting spoiled with brother!”

“Acting spoiled?”

“Yeah! Goseol sometimes does that with me too! He must want to be friends with brother!”

Moa looked back and forth between Goseol and Danhwi with curiosity.

“…Friends?”

Danhwi asked back.

“Yeah. Goseol seems to like brother. How about you, brother?”

Moa said while stroking Goseol’s beak.

“Right, Goseol? You’ll be friends with brother, won’t you?”

-Coo!

Goseol cried out vigorously.

Danhwi looked at Goseol for a moment.

Being friends with a spirit felt strange.

But.

“…Alright.”

Danhwi slowly nodded his head.

“Friends… Let’s be friends, friend.”

At those words, Goseol’s eyes sparkled.

‘Huh? That look in his eyes is…’

Moa suddenly saw in Goseol’s eyes the same vivid sky-blue color that had intensely swirled when he had turned her into a cat before.

Soon after.

-Coooooooo-!

A resonant sound came from Goseol’s mouth, and a golden thread shot out from his chest toward Danhwi.

‘That’s…!’

Moa’s eyes widened with joyful shock as she watched.

Goseol flapped his wings happily, and Danhwi felt an instinctive shock and opened his mouth wide.

“You are…”

Transparent teardrops formed in his eyes.

“Were you my spirit all along…?”

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