The Little Baby Snake of the Vermilion Bird Family - Chapter 34

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

Episode 34
Jeokryusan was located a bit further south from the Vermilion Bird Family Estate.
Unlike the harsh borders where snow fell all year round, the weather at Jeokryusan was exceptionally warm.
Moreover, perhaps because it was the place where the power of the Divine Vermilion Bird flowed strongest next to the Vermilion Bird Family Estate, there wasn’t much Contamination.
The entrance to Jeokryusan.
Baeksa’s eyes widened when she saw the countless beast-kin who had already gathered.
Among them, bird beast-kin were overwhelmingly numerous, but there were also plenty of other beast-kin as well.
‘A truly diverse variety of beast-kin live in Namto.’
Ju Jeokseo had told her that Namto had taken in most of the beast-kin exiled from the Capital.
Which meant it was a place where beast-kin abandoned by the Emperor gathered to live.
In a place like this, was it really alright for her, the daughter of the Emperor, to receive a name?
Baeksa’s palms grew damp with sweat.
Ju Jeokseo had told her there was no need to be nervous, but she couldn’t help it.
Just stepping onto Jeokryusan made her feel as though she had committed some sort of wrong.
As if sensing her distress, Ju Jeokseo warmly took hold of Baeksa’s hand.
And before long, the carriage came to a halt.
They had arrived at the site of the Divine Beast Festival.
“Come, let us step down.”
He carefully helped Baeksa down from the carriage.
Baeksa held onto her clothes gingerly to keep them from getting dirty as she stepped onto the ground.
At that exact moment, the gazes of everyone gathered at the festival grounds shifted toward Baeksa.
“Is that child…”
“I heard the Divine Lord took in a child of the Imperial Family’s bloodline, so is that her?”
“She is still such a young child, did the Emperor truly cast away someone so little?”
Faint whispering voices drifted into Baeksa’s ears.
Terrified, Baeksa squeezed Ju Jeokseo’s hand tightly.
“It is alright.”
Ju Jeokseo soothed the child gently, then led her by the hand as he walked slowly toward the seats prepared in advance.
Hwaryeong, Doeui, and Ahee followed behind him in turn.
Right beside Ju Jeokseo’s seat, a chair had been set up for Baeksa.
He settled Baeksa into her seat first before taking his own.
Following his lead, Hwaryeong, Doeui, and Ahee took their seats one after another.
Ahee’s seat was placed slightly apart from the others, making her look both like she was part of Ju Jeokseo’s group and yet not quite a part of it.
“Has everyone arrived?”
Ju Jeokseo slowly scanned his surroundings.
Before anyone knew it, the nobles of Namto had gathered in one place, bowing their heads before the Divine Lord as they awaited his orders.
Behind them, the rest of the beast-kin were all craning their necks to look this way.
The entirety of the massive Jeokryusan was packed to the brim with the beast-kin of Namto who had come to watch the Divine Beast Festival.
“Since everyone is here, let us begin.”
The moment Ju Jeokseo’s command fell, the high priest officiating the Divine Beast Festival stepped forward.
He then signaled the commencement of the festival by lighting a fire in a massive incense burner.
It was the beginning of a grand ritual.
***
Though it was called a ritual, the Divine Beast Festival was practically no different from a banquet.
The Divine Vermilion Bird was offered food arrayed on a grand table, and the Vermilion Bird Divine Lord, Ju Jeokseo, would step forward to offer wine to the divine beast.
After that, once the black wood symbolizing evil was burned away with the flames of the Vermilion Bird, the vital procedures were mostly complete.
From then on, everyone ate, drank, and enjoyed the festival like a party.
In such a remarkably free atmosphere, Baeksa sat in her chair with wide eyes, taking in the scene.
“Is it fascinating?”
Hwaryeong asked softly.
Baeksa nodded her head.
“Yes, everyone looks so happy.”
“The Divine Beast Festival is an occasion to thank the Divine Vermilion Bird for watching over us, but it is also an event where the beast-kin of Namto pray for peace over the next five years and enjoy themselves.”
“To be precise, they are asking to prevent the Contamination from spreading further, because the beast-kin of Namto believe that human joy can suppress foul energies like the Contamination.”
Doeui added to the explanation.
He spoke again.
“That is why they eat, drink, and make merry.”
So that was why, Baeksa thought, nodding her head.
Then she stole a glance at Ahee.
An immense crowd had already gathered in front of Ahee, showing great interest in her.
In fact, from the moment Baeksa and Ahee first appeared, everyone’s attention had been focused on Ahee rather than Baeksa.
A young child who looked exactly like the vanished White Vermilion Bird.
Although she had not been recognized as a biological daughter yet because a Spirit Treasure had not acknowledged her.
“My goodness, she truly resembles Myeongyeong…”
“How can they look so alike? She is the spitting image of Myeongyeong’s childhood!”
“Then where have you been living all this time?”
Ahee resembled Ju Myeongyeong so closely that anyone would let out those words in admiration, so it would have been stranger if she didn’t draw attention.
The girl seemed to enjoy the spotlight, dangling her legs as she sat surrounded by the other beast-kin.
Baeksa envied Ahee’s ability to approach anyone so amiably.
Sitting side by side with her, Ahee sparkled like a finely polished jewel.
‘I hope the Spirit Treasure responds quickly.’
That way, the Family Head could accept that child into the family and rejoice with a lighter heart.
‘You are my family too.’
Suddenly, the warm words Ju Jeokseo had spoken came back to her.
Baeksa gently pressed a fist against her thumping heart.
Her heart had been beating rapidly from nervousness ever since she arrived, but remembering Ju Jeokseo’s words seemed to calm her down a little.
But just then.
“Then, the Emperor’s bloodline…”
“What could the Divine Lord be thinking?”
Snippets of conversation about Baeksa herself drifted over from here and there. Baeksa cast her gaze down, staring at her toes.
The reaction of the Namto beast-kin was only natural.
It felt like a sin to even feel sad or upset over such things.
It was right when Baeksa was trying her best to put on a brave face and enjoy the rest of the festival.
Ju Jeokseo, who had been watching the beast-kin’s reactions, rose from his seat.
“I have something to declare to everyone present.”
The King of Namto, Vermilion Bird Divine Lord Ju Jeokseo.
At his majestic voice, everyone instantly stopped chattering and looked up at him.
Ju Jeokseo waited a moment until the gaze of every single beast-kin was fixed on him, then slowly began to speak.
“Not long ago, I found a tiny baby snake at the border of Namto.”
Baeksa clasped her hands tightly together.
Ju Jeokseo continued speaking.
“In accordance with the law of Namto that a young child must never be abandoned under any circumstances, I intend to protect this child at the Vermilion Bird Family Estate.”
The beast-kin murmured at Ju Jeokseo’s words.
However, that only lasted for a moment.
“She is still just a child, it is better for the Divine Lord to protect her.”
“Indeed, if she carries the Imperial bloodline, it is only right for the Divine Lord to watch over her rather than other nobles.”
The reaction of the Namto beast-kin was surprisingly favorable. That was likely because most of them were beast-kin who had been ‘abandoned’ before.
This was a land where those who were cast away gathered to live.
They were generous to anyone who had been abandoned. Even if that person happened to be the daughter of their enemy.
“However, since this child has no name, I intend to give her a new name right here, following the ancient tradition of the Bird Clan.”
As Ju Jeokseo gestured, the attendants who had been waiting in advance marched in carrying a large Moon-White Jar.
It was a jar that the Vermilion Bird Family had used since ancient times to determine the names of children.
Currently, every member of the Vermilion Bird Clan had chosen their name through this jar.
Those words practically meant that Ju Jeokseo was accepting Baeksa as a member of the Vermilion Bird Family.
A few beast-kin looked as though they wanted to voice their complaints, but lacking the courage to object right to Ju Jeokseo’s face, they kept their mouths shut.
When Ju Jeokseo gestured again, numerous slips of paper tied with red strings were poured into the jar with a rustling cascade.
Ju Jeokseo, Hwaryeong, Doeui, Jo Yeong, Yo Nyeong, Sirang… These were names carefully written and submitted by everyone who knew Baeksa.
One of those would become her name.
As the papers tumbled in, Baeksa’s heart pounded wildly as if it were tumbling down right along with them.
The realization that she was truly about to receive a name filled her with a mixture of joy and trembling anticipation.
‘What should I do? My hands won’t stop shaking.’
While Baeksa was politely holding her trembling hands together, someone suddenly took a firm hold of them.
When she looked up, she saw Doeui’s face.
Having noticed her trembling, Doeui had taken her hands to tell her not to be afraid.

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