The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 102

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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 102

 

Soya, who had instantly grown up, looked at the woman and clenched her fists.

 

―The problem is the illusions of the dead. They try to bewitch visitors and trap them in the swamp.

 

―Many fall into the swamp after being caught in illusions, so you must be careful, Baby Bird.

 

The words the Divine Beasts had spoken earlier echoed in her mind.

 

‘Illusions of the dead….’

 

This woman before her eyes was an illusion of someone already dead.

 

When she was young, Soya had always been curious about this woman and wanted to see her.

 

But even with her young heart, she couldn’t easily show it, fearing that her family would be sad if they knew she longed for her mother.

 

So all Soya could do was secretly hold the things her mother had left her under the blanket and fall asleep.

 

“Soya?”

 

Sensing the change in Soya’s atmosphere, the woman smiled awkwardly and reached out her hand toward her.

 

However, Soya took a step back.

 

Because of this, the woman’s hand couldn’t reach Soya and dropped down.

 

Looking straight at the woman who hesitated for a moment, Soya spoke in a clear voice.

 

“The mother who gave birth to me left worrying about me until the very end.”

 

She knew that the moment she spoke the next words, the illusion before her eyes would disappear.

 

Now she knew it was an illusion, but….

 

“What’s wrong, baby…. Did Mother make a mistake?”

 

The worried expression of the woman who looked at her with sadly drooping eyes.

 

That expression made Soya’s heart sad as well.

 

If she had really been alive, would she have made such an expression while looking at me?

 

The touch that stroked my hair and the warmth of the embrace that held me tight were so cozy and warm.

 

As cozy and warm as Soya had wished for so long.

 

So even as an illusion, it would be this heartbreaking.

 

“So you who are trying to trap me here….”

 

Now I won’t be able to see you again, even as an illusion.

 

But even knowing that, Soya had to say it.

 

Because….

 

Papa is waiting outside.

 

My fence, the most beloved and most reliable in the world.

 

Even at this moment, he’s fighting against the pouring hordes of demon beasts and waiting for me.

 

“You are not my mother.”

 

At that moment, the woman’s eyes wavered greatly, and then….

 

Thud.

 

Splat. Splatter.

 

The woman’s body melted away, turning into black mud.

 

As she watched the black mud falling like tears, she heard the sound of rushing water.

 

Swoosh―

 

The black swamp that had risen to her head flowed downward, finally revealing the hidden view.

 

―Baby Bird, are you alright!

 

―Baby Bird!

 

―Baby Bird!

 

Immediately, she heard the anxious voices of the Divine Beasts calling for her.

 

“Divine Beasts?”

 

―We kept calling you but couldn’t hear your answer, so we were worried, Baby Bird.

 

They must have been very worried while I was captivated by the illusion of the dead.

 

Unlike the other two Divine Beasts, even Cheonghae Yongsin, who usually doesn’t express emotions much, had called for me with such a worried voice.

 

“Thank you.”

 

Feeling her slightly empty heart being warmly filled again, Soya stared straight ahead.

 

Above the black water surface that rippled at ankle height, a palace of modest scale was built.

 

“This place is….”

 

―The Black Tortoise Clan Palace. You’ve overcome the illusions of the dead and arrived here well.

 

The palace that the Black Tortoise Clan hid beneath the black earth with the water authority passed down to their leaders, the Dark Earth Underground Palace.

 

The Black Tortoise Clan that ruled the Northern Region was different from the other Three Great Families, formed by several tribes coming together as one clan.

 

Among them were seven ruling tribes, and the strongest among the seven tribal chiefs would take turns becoming the next leader of the Black Tortoise Clan.

 

And the palace where that leader lived was right here, the Dark Earth Underground Palace.

 

The other name of Hyeonmu, the divine beast of the north, was ‘The Devourer’.

 

So his power constantly tried to devour living things, and the Black Tortoise Clan hid their palace beneath the black earth so that the creatures living in the northern lands wouldn’t be affected by it.

 

Soya looked at the panoramic view of the cold and desolate black palace.

 

Just like outside, she couldn’t feel any human presence at all.

 

Until just over ten years ago, countless beast-people had lived in the northern lands.

 

However, when Hyeon Rabaek, who had allied with evil, summoned demon beasts, the beast-people were all either killed or driven south.

 

Hyeon Rabaek didn’t stop there and personally executed the fleeing beast-people of the seven tribes with his own hands to cut off the direct lineage.

 

According to rumors, among them were even his wife and children….

 

‘How could he do such a thing.’

 

No matter what, to harm even his own children with his own hands.

 

‘Then that child died by the hand of the father who gave birth to them.’

 

I remember being very angry at that terrifying and horrible story.

 

“But where is Seolyeo…. Seolyeo!”

 

Soya, who had been looking around for Seolyeo, spotted him and ran over quickly.

 

Seolyeo was sitting blankly on the ground with his beast transformation undone.

 

“Seolyeo, are you okay?”

 

“….”

 

“Snap out of it!”

 

She grabbed his shoulders and shook him, but Seolyeo couldn’t regain his senses like someone whose soul had left their body.

 

‘The illusion of the dead is holding onto Seolyeo. If this continues, Seolyeo will be in danger….’

 

Gasp.

 

Soya’s face hardened as she unconsciously lowered her gaze.

 

The black swamp rippling at ankle height had transformed into the shape of human hands and was grasping Seolyeo’s ankles.

 

Soya quickly ignited the Purification Flame and burned it.

 

Then the black hands touched by the flames melted into mud and fell down.

 

“…!”

 

Seolyeo’s eyes, who suddenly regained consciousness, widened.

 

“Seolyeo! Are you okay?”

 

“Soya…?”

 

Seolyeo’s face as he looked up at Soya was filled with terror, as if he had seen something frightening.

 

Poof!

 

Seolyeo, who had been whimpering, soon transformed into a small tiger and jumped into Soya’s arms.

 

“Soya…!”

 

“Seolyeo?”

 

Seolyeo’s body was trembling.

 

“What’s wrong, Seolyeo. Did you see something very scary?”

 

“….”

 

Seolyeo couldn’t answer and squeezed his eyes shut as he burrowed into Soya’s embrace.

 

Large teardrops formed around the baby tiger’s tightly closed eyes.

 

“It’s okay, Seolyeo. What you saw wasn’t real. It was an illusion shown by the swamp of the dead.”

 

Soya patted Seolyeo’s body to comfort him.

 

“So you don’t need to be afraid.”

 

“….”

 

Seolyeo looked up at Soya with moist, ash-colored eyes.

 

Soya, who was weak against tigers, felt sorry seeing Seolyeo’s frightened appearance.

 

“Seolyeo. If you’re scared, I’ll go alone, so do you want to wait outside?”

 

“Kying, kyung…”

 

Seolyeo pressed her lips tightly together and shook her head back and forth.

 

“Alright, alright. Let’s go together, Seolyeo.”

 

Soya patted Seolyeo as she gripped her hem tightly with her thick front paws, as if she would never leave her side.

 

Feeling Seolyeo’s trembling gradually subside, Soya glanced at the Black Palace visible before her eyes.

 

Through the desolate and silent air, the occasional cries of demon beasts could be heard mixed in.

 

‘I need to find Hyeonmu’s divine artifact inside there. To do that…’

 

Soya looked down at Seolyeo, who had now calmed down, and asked.

 

“Listen, Seolyeo. Then by any chance…”

 

* * *

 

Meanwhile, deep within the Underworld Palace, a pale-faced man with long black hair flowing down to his feet sat upon a throne.

 

“Taotie… is harboring other thoughts.”

 

With an indifferent face, he tapped the armrest and tilted his head slightly as he muttered.

 

“Perhaps he’s trying to find a new master, taking advantage of my weakened state.”

 

For some time now, his connection with Taotie had grown dim.

 

He already knew that Taotie was expressing dissatisfaction with him.

 

“Well, it doesn’t particularly matter.”

 

The corner of the man’s mouth curved up crookedly.

 

“Whoever becomes the vessel to harbor evil. As long as this world can be destroyed.”

 

His purpose was only one thing – to destroy this world.

 

Even if it would bring about his own annihilation.

 

“You think so too, don’t you, Siyeon?”

 

Suddenly, he smiled gently and asked toward the empty air.

 

Naturally, no answer came, but his eyes curved even more roundly.

 

Just like someone who had something precious right before their eyes.

 

However, at the sound of water that followed, his expression stiffened eerily.

 

His ash-colored eyes, glancing down at his feet, turned sharp.

 

“…Intruder.”

 

The black water surface that had risen to ankle height was trembling finely as if warning him.

 

“A rare guest has come to the Underworld Palace.”

 

* * *

 

The quiet and desolate Underworld Palace where no living beings remained, only demon beasts.

 

And stepping into the Black Palace, one demon beast whose gait seemed somewhat awkward, unlike the other demon beasts.

 

Between the fluffy black fur, a small bird poked its head out slightly and looked around the interior of the Underworld Palace with bean-like eyes.

 

Then quickly hid at the sound of a passing demon beast’s footsteps.

 

This suspicious combination of a small bird and black demon beast was none other than Soya and Seolyeo.

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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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