The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 106

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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 106

 

“Huk, heo-eok…”

 

Hyeon Rabaek breathed roughly as he felt his body decaying.

 

This was a side effect of accepting evil into his spirit core.

 

Even knowing his body had reached its limits, he had drawn out even more evil.

 

The Dragon Emperor’s Bride.

 

He knew that if he could just eliminate the protagonist of that oracle who would awaken the ancient Four Divine Beasts, his plan to cover the Empire in evil would become even more perfect.

 

However, he was struck down in a moment of hesitation.

 

Through his blurring vision, he could see Soya examining the fallen boy.

 

But his gaze was directed not at Soya, but at the boy with black hair and ash-colored eyes.

 

He didn’t know why the child was alive, but…

 

It was certain. It was ‘that child.’

 

“Seolyeo. Are you okay? I’ll use purification… Why won’t the flame’s power…”

 

Soya’s voice could be heard intermittently.

 

He wanted to take in more of the boy’s appearance, but Soya was blocking his view.

 

As he felt his breath gradually fading and struggled to keep his eyelids open against the hazy darkness that threatened to close them.

 

‘That is…’

 

Suddenly, the teal hair ribbon dangling from Soya’s head caught his attention.

 

‘Am I seeing things?’

 

Perhaps this was happening because death was approaching.

 

‘Why do I see her belongings on that child?’

 

Hyeon Rabaek let out a hollow laugh.

 

‘That can’t be… Keuuk…’

 

But what actually flowed from his mouth was a dark red clot of blood.

 

“Cough, cough.”

 

Soya, supporting Seolyeo, stood before him as he coughed up blood.

 

The black shell that had covered his entire skin was peeling away and his body was beginning to decay – even if left alone, his breath would cease before long.

 

Soya knew.

 

If she used the purification flame she possessed, she could extend this man’s lifespan by at least a little.

 

However, Soya did not do so.

 

She did not want to.

 

She had no intention of extending a hand of mercy to this man who had hurt and tormented so many people.

 

Even if he had some circumstances.

 

So Soya was about to turn and leave when.

 

“The Imperial Family…”

 

A raspy voice caught Soya’s footsteps.

 

“Be careful of the Imperial Family. They always… they’re the type to stab you in the back like that…”

 

Hyeon Rabaek opened his parched lips and barely managed to squeeze out the words.

 

“I don’t know why you have the Imperial Dragon’s orb, but…”

 

With those final words, his head dropped with a thud.

 

Though she had defeated countless demon beasts with Father on the way here, this was the first time she had witnessed a human’s death.

 

Soya was frightened by the first death she had witnessed, but she stood firm in that spot without backing away.

 

And finally.

 

Soya, having accepted his death, turned around with Seolyeo.

 

“Seolyeo, are you okay?”

 

Seolyeo also seemed to be seeing human death for the first time, wearing a solemn expression.

 

“…Yeah, I’m fine, Soya. Let’s go back now.”

 

“Okay.”

 

It was when Soya was nodding her head.

 

Plop.

 

Something cold and sticky dropped onto her face.

 

Soya slowly lifted her head.

 

Black mud was dripping from the cave ceiling, and then…

 

Kurrung―!

 

The underground palace began to shake.

 

“Soya!”

 

Seolyeo immediately transformed into a large wolf, holding the shield in his mouth and carrying Soya on his back.

 

Then he began running on all fours toward the cave exit.

 

Kurrrrrung―!

 

Along with the sound of the earth’s axis shaking, black mud continuously dripped from the air.

 

Seolyeo ran hard and harder, avoiding the falling mud.

 

But when Seolyeo reached the entrance to the underground palace.

 

“Seolyeo, the entrance…!”

 

Black mud had piled up, blocking the entrance.

 

While they were unable to do anything and panicking.

 

Kurrrrrrung―!

 

Another tremendous roar arose and the entire world shook.

 

Soya and Seolyeo’s bodies were buried in the black mud.

 

* * *

 

When Soya regained consciousness.

 

“Peep…?”

 

Blink, blink.

 

Blinking her eyes several times and looking around, Soya realized this was outside the underground palace.

 

The first evidence was that the black water surface of the underground palace that had been rippling up to ankle height was nowhere to be seen.

 

And the second evidence was that where she had regained consciousness held the scenery of the Northern Lands she had seen before entering the underground palace.

 

That is, the desolate black earth where no life could be found.

 

“Peep…”

 

As Soya slowly raised her body, she suddenly realized her body was very small.

 

Glancing down, she saw her reflection as a very small baby bird in a puddle on the ground.

 

Her appearance, with even the red feathers gone, was like her childhood form before the first growth.

 

“Peeeek!”

 

It was when the shocked Soya cried out in surprise.

 

―Do not be alarmed, Baby Bird.

 

“Peep? (Divine Beasts?)”

 

―While escaping the underground palace, your spirit core simply sealed part of itself again to protect you from the remaining evil energy.

 

“Peep?!”

 

―But do not worry, Baby Bird. It is temporary and will return to normal in just an hour or two.

 

“Peep…”

 

Relieved by this, Soya relaxed her puffed-up body.

 

As a result, her bottom fell into the puddle with a splash, soaking her tail feathers.

 

‘But the problem is…’

 

Soya’s expression became somewhat serious.

 

Because part of her spirit core’s power was sealed, she couldn’t return to human form.

 

Moreover, perhaps she had injured her wing while escaping the underground palace, as her wing joint was sore and stiff, making flying seem difficult too.

 

‘This is trouble. I need to find Father and Seolyeo.’

 

Getting up, Soya shook her tail feathers to shake off the water, then tried walking diligently along the path visible before her.

 

However, with a baby bird’s short legs, even walking diligently with quick steps didn’t get her very far.

 

Moreover, didn’t transformed Soya resemble a wren, famous for having short legs even among birds?

 

‘Sigh. I can’t find anyone like this. It would be better to just wait until my strength returns.’

 

It was when Soya was thinking this and letting out a small sigh.

 

“Baby Bird…?”

 

At the sound of someone’s voice from above her head, Soya’s body stiffened in surprise.

 

“I thought I heard bird sounds from the Northern Region a few days ago.”

 

It was the voice of someone Soya knew well.

 

“I wasn’t hearing things after all.”

 

At the same time, it was also a voice that felt strangely unfamiliar.

 

“Hello, pretty little bird. How did you end up lost alone in this frightening northern land?”

 

A man with flame-like glittering red hair bent down toward Soya as he asked.

 

‘Sanyu Elder Brother…?’

 

It was Jeok Sanyu, the first son of the Suzaku Family.

 

Soya was so startled that she tumbled backward and fell on her bottom.

 

“Chirp, tweet…!”

 

“Hmm? Now I see you’ve injured your wing. Poor thing.”

 

His eyes drooped sadly as he looked at Soya’s wing.

 

“Wait just a moment, little bird.”

 

“…?”

 

As she stared blankly, he took out some ointment from his pocket and applied it to the wound on Soya’s wing joint.

 

Each time his fingertips touched the wound, Soya’s small body trembled.

 

‘He doesn’t recognize me. He doesn’t seem to know I’m a beast-person either.’

 

Soya thought as she looked at Sanyu’s face concentrated on her wound.

 

Thanks to her spirit core being sealed, fortunately he seemed unaware that she was a beast-person.

 

“Chirp…”

 

Soya deliberately made chirping bird sounds, pretending to be a real bird so he wouldn’t discover she was a beast-person.

 

After carefully applying medicine to each wound, Sanyu tore off part of his sleeve and wrapped it around Soya’s wing as a bandage.

 

“You’ll have to bear with it being a little uncomfortable.”

 

He gently comforted her as he tied a knot at the end of the bandage.

 

“There.”

 

“Chirp…”

 

Though the bandage wrapped around her wing joint was uncomfortable, Soya found the current situation of being with him even more uncomfortable.

 

‘Now that I’ve received treatment, I should be able to leave, right?’

 

Just as she was hesitantly backing away, eager to quickly escape this situation.

 

Swoosh.

 

In an instant her view rose higher as her small body was lifted onto his palm.

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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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