The Little Baby Snake of the Vermilion Bird Family - Chapter 19

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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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Chapter 19
“U-Um, hello…!”
Baeksa greeted, her eyes widening as she looked up at Do-ui.
At that, Do-ui awkwardly released her from his embrace.
The little snake slinked out of his arms and looked down at her ankle, then back at the pond.
It had happened in a mere flash, but something had definitely surged out of the water to grab her ankle.
Just when she thought she was going to be dragged under without a fight.
‘Watch out!’
Do-ui had appeared and saved her.
Baeksa hurriedly offered her thanks once more.
“Um, thank you for rescuing me.”
“What… are you?”
“P-Pardon?”
“Why are the ghosts glaring at you like that?”
Ghosts?
Her eyes wide, Baeksa swallowed hard.
‘Ghosts?’
Did that mean the thing that had snatched her ankle just moments ago was a ghost?
The girl, who had almost been captured by a spirit and dragged into the depths of the pond, froze and gripped her skirt tightly.
“It’s fine.”
Seeing her reaction, Do-ui quickly appended.
“I’m here, so you’re fine. They won’t be able to approach you for the time being.”
Responding nonchalantly, the boy took hold of Baeksa’s shoulders and turned her around.
He then guided her back toward the Residence, speaking as they walked.
“But it would be best if you didn’t come out alone for a while.”
“Ah, wait, just a moment!”
Realizing something a beat too late, Baeksa frantically patted her clothes.
Then, with her eyebrows drooping, she scanned her surroundings.
‘It’s gone!’
Her scale and her silk pouch were missing.
Losing the scale was fine since it belonged to her anyway, but Sirang had poured her heart into making that silk pouch…
As Baeksa’s face puckered up, Do-ui asked astutely.
“Did you lose something?”
“Ah, y-yes, um, my silk pouch is gone…”
“The one you were playing with earlier?”
At Do-ui’s casual remark, Baeksa felt her ears grow hot for no reason.
‘He saw everything.’
She thought she had been playing all by herself without anyone noticing, but the truth was he had been watching the entire time.
Yet now was not the time to be embarrassed. Baeksa asked, her brows slanting downward.
“I am terribly sorry, but could I look around for just a moment? It is truly precious to me.”
“No need, it’s right here.”
Having spotted Baeksa’s pouch in the darkness, Do-ui strode over, picked up the silk pouch, and returned.
After checking to ensure the scale was safely inside, he handed it over to Baeksa.
“It seems like a treasured item, so you’d better take good care of it.”
“Wow, thank you so much.”
Baeksa smiled brightly and bowed her head. The child carefully tucked the silk pouch away.
The scale and the pouch were both completely intact. Once she confirmed nothing was lost, Baeksa’s face lit up.
Only after safely escorting Baeksa to her door did Do-ui turn away, as though his task were finally complete.
Arriving at her door, Baeksa glanced back at the pond before looking up at Do-ui.
“Um, thank you so much for saving me. But by any chance… who might you be, my benefactor…?”
She mustered the courage to ask.
The boy who saved her had black hair.
Since she had heard the young masters of the Vermilion Bird Family possessed red hair, he wasn’t one of them.
If so, who could this boy be? Curiosity filled Baeksa’s face.
“Benefactor?”
At that, Do-ui let out a faint chuckle.
He seemed amused by Baeksa’s choice of words. The boy answered immediately.
“My name is Do-ui. I don’t have a surname.”
“Ah, Master Do-ui!”
Baeksa smiled broadly as she softly repeated Do-ui’s name under her breath.
Staring intently at her, Do-ui asked.
“What’s your name?”
“Pardon?”
“Since you heard my name, it’s only fair that you tell me yours.”
“Ah, my name is Baeksa.”
As Baeksa offered a silly grin, Do-ui, still staring at her, questioned further.
“Baeksa?”
“Ah, yes, it means white snake…”
“That’s your name? You don’t have any other name?”
Baeksa nodded gently.
“Um, the Family Head did say he would bestow a name upon me soon…”
“Ah, then you’ll get a new name in no time. The Family Head never breaks a promise.”
Do-ui nodded silently.
Trust in the Family Head was clearly written across the boy’s face.
“Let’s hear your name again then. Go on in and sleep now.”
Do-ui nudged Baeksa into the room. Swept inside on impulse, Baeksa looked back out through the doorway.
“Goodnight, little snake.”
Do-ui’s figure was visible through the half-open door before vanishing entirely.
Then the door clicked shut.
Baeksa stared at the closed door with a dazed expression, fingering her silk pouch.
“Goodnight, Master Do-ui.”
She quietly offered a parting greeting that wouldn’t reach him.
Her voice was so small and faint that it felt as though no one could possibly hear it.
Yet it was distinct enough for someone standing right outside the door to catch.
However, there shouldn’t be anyone lingering outside to listen to her.
Therefore, it was certain this voice would reach no one at all.
***
“Strange.”
Do-ui muttered.
He opened and closed the hand that had touched Baeksa.
As the boy raised his head, he could see dark silhouettes shimmering like waves.
They were all ghosts.
Even though they couldn’t unleash their energy fully inside the Vermilion Bird estate, Do-ui could see them raging with all their might.
Even now, the eerie wails of spirits echoed incessantly in his ears.
And yet.
‘When I touched that girl…’
For a brief moment, the noise had ceased.
It was a sound that had never once stopped since the day he was born.
Because of that, Do-ui couldn’t be entirely sure.
‘Was it just an illusion?’
Whether it was a mere trick of his mind, or if the noise had truly halted for a fleeting instant.
And if it were the latter.
‘I need to verify this.’
Do-ui clenched his fist tightly.
***
It was the following morning when Baeksa crossed paths with Do-ui once more.
Ju Jeokseo had come to Baeksa’s Residence accompanied by Do-ui and Hwaryeong.
Delighted by the news of Ju Jeokseo’s arrival, Baeksa rushed outside, only to freeze upon spotting one unfamiliar and one familiar face.
“Family Head…!”
“Baeksa, did you sleep well?”
Baeksa nodded.
“Thanks to your care, I slept very well. But these two…”
Baeksa stole a glance at Do-ui and Hwaryeong.
The one with long, flowing black hair was Do-ui. She recognized him since she had seen him the previous night.
However, the boy grinning broadly beside him was a face she had never encountered before.
Yet the moment she set eyes on him, she knew he was the second young master of the Vermilion Bird Family.
‘Red hair, red eyes.’
Furthermore, his face was the spitting image of Ju Jeokseo, as if stamped from the same mold.
“I hadn’t intended to introduce them like this, but things turned out this way. Greet her, this is my son, and this is the boy I raise like my own.”
Ju Jeokseo lightly nudged Hwaryeong and Do-ui forward, positioning them in front of Baeksa.
The two boys were tall enough that Baeksa had to tilt her head all the way back to look up at them.
“They are three years older than you. Both are ten. This is Hwaryeong, and this is Do-ui.”
“Ah, hello. I am Baeksa.”
Baeksa hurriedly bowed her head in greeting. At that moment, a mischievous voice drifted down from above.
“Hey there! You’re Baeksa? You’re really cute. I’ve heard a lot about you from Father.”
Hwaryeong smirked and extended his hand.
After a brief hesitation, Baeksa carefully took his hand, and he shook it vigorously.
“Wow! Your hands are tiny too! Hello, hello! Nice to meet you!”
When Baeksa’s eyes widened in surprise at his antics, Do-ui stepped in to stop Hwaryeong.
“Hold on! You’re startling the kid!”
“Huh? Startling her? I can’t even do this much?”
“Of course not, be careful.”
While Do-ui scolded Hwaryeong, Baeksa awkwardly tried to soothe Do-ui.
“I am fine, really…!”
“Both of you, stop troubling the child.”
Ju Jeokseo swiftly scooped up Baeksa, who was awkwardly caught between Hwaryeong and Do-ui.
After turning Baeksa around, he calmly explained the situation.
“I heard about last night from Do-ui. He said a ghost emerged from this pond and attacked you.”
“Ah, yes.”
“This pond is not a place where things like ghosts appear. The same goes for the quarters where you reside. However, since I heard a ghost showed up, I came to investigate. So you don’t need to worry, you may go inside.”
“Um, would it be alright if I stay here and watch?”
Baeksa asked timidly. As the tiny child inquired with sparkling eyes, Ju Jeokseo’s lips twitched.
“It might be dangerous…”
“Sure! Of course! You totally can! Wow~ you can stay here and watch with me. Baeksa, come over here.”
Hwaryeong grabbed Baeksa and pulled her three steps away from the pond.
Suddenly forced to retreat from the pond alone with Hwaryeong, the girl clutched the edge of his sleeve and watched his expressions nervously.
“That brat…”
“Family Head, it would be best to examine the pond first.”
Ju Jeokseo and Do-ui shook their heads in resignation and inspected the pond.
Originally, ghosts were entities formed when human malice and lingering regrets took physical shape.
For that reason, they were born in places overflowing with negative energy and were frequently sighted in ominous locations.
Yet, a ghost harming a beast-kin inside this Vermilion Bird estate, which was bursting with positive energy?
While Ju Jeokseo waited, Do-ui thoroughly examined the pond.
Since Ju Jeokseo couldn’t perceive ghosts, it was only proper for Do-ui, who possessed the sight, to investigate. The boy scanned even the smallest details meticulously, careful not to miss a thing.
However, the ghost that had attacked the little snake yesterday was nowhere to be seen.
“There’s nothing ho—”
It happened just as Do-ui was about to straighten his back.
Deep within the murky water, he spotted something shimmering.

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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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