The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 109
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Chapter 109
Soya, who had been quietly listening to that explanation, asked.
“Then will the war end now too?”
“Taowu hasn’t died yet and remnants of the demon beasts remain. But since their power has weakened, the war will soon come to an end.”
“…!”
Soya’s face brightened cheerfully.
Relief and touching emotions surged through her at the thought that defeating Hyeon Rabaek hadn’t been in vain.
“Baby Cotton Ball, no, our fully grown Cotton Ball has done something truly great. Really amazing.”
Saeon said while stroking Soya’s head.
Soya also curved her eyes into crescent moon shapes and giggled happily.
Saeon, who had been following his daughter’s gaze, took a few more steps before suddenly becoming serious.
“And Soya.”
He spoke in a somewhat more solemn voice.
“Until now I said we had to hide your power to protect you from Hyeon Rabaek, but now we don’t have to do that anymore.”
“Ah….”
“If you want, I’ll report to His Majesty about this incident and reveal everything that happened with the evil beasts.”
Saeon had been thoroughly hiding Soya’s abilities until now.
So even the White Tiger Palace People could only vaguely guess at Soya’s special ability without knowing it clearly.
“But if they learn you’re the master of the oracle, I don’t know how the Imperial Palace and the world will react. Of course, I’ll protect you from being oppressed in any situation, but….”
Soya seemed to vaguely understand what Saeon was worried about.
Dragon Emperor’s Bride.
That had long been a term referring to the Emperor’s companion, so he must be worried that her future might flow in an unwanted direction because of it.
“But I don’t want to hide you against your will just to protect you. So Papa will follow your decision.”
“….”
Soya fell into thought for a moment.
“I….”
And a little later, Soya’s mouth opened.
* * *
At the same time, the Imperial Palace.
Tae Irim, who had been sitting on the long throne turning through documents with an expressionless face, suddenly stopped his hand.
He slowly rose from his seat and walked toward the window.
Then he carefully raised his head to look up at the sky.
The sky was clear without a single cloud.
Then suddenly the sky flashed, turned pitch black, then brightened again repeatedly.
The sounds of startled palace attendants bustling about reached even here.
Then a little later.
“…The evil has fled.”
Looking at the sky that had cleared again, Irim muttered as if he had foreseen that situation.
Glance.
A lonely light appeared in his eyes as he looked toward the northern sky.
He had been standing at the window like that for a while.
“Your Majesty. Are you alright!”
His guard sought him out with an urgent voice.
“There was a strange phenomenon in the sky just now. Is there anywhere you feel unwell….”
“If you’re worried about my safety, isn’t it too late?”
At Irim’s retort, the guard bowed his head with an ashamed expression.
“Don’t worry. I won’t easily give up this life. I still have many things to protect in this lifetime.”
Irim turned from the window and headed to his seat.
The eyes of the guard who had been bowing his head twitched.
He had discovered black scales that had fallen where Irim had passed.
“Your Majesty. Your dragon body is still not well.”
Irim, who had paused for a moment, looked at it with an indifferent expression, then resumed walking.
“Who do you think I am?”
“….”
“You’re probably the only one in this Imperial Palace who worries about the Imperial Dragon’s wellbeing like this.”
He chuckled and shook his head.
Ever since he had gone alone to the Eastern Lands during the last Dragon God Festival, leaving his guard behind, his guard had shown particular concern.
The flames that had fallen decorating the dark night sky that day were Irim’s work.
He had moved the time of the Firework Stick back to before it got wet.
The symbol of authority and harmony, the Imperial Dragon.
‘Time’ was one of the few powers granted to the Imperial Dragon, but it was also one of the foundations that made up this world.
Since he had wielded that forbidden-like power, he had to pay the appropriate price.
The black scales that had festered and fallen off from burning pain were the price he had to pay.
The reason he had acted so forcefully was because of a promise he had made with that child long ago.
The promise that when she recovered healthily, they would definitely go see the spring festival together next time.
That child probably doesn’t remember, but that promise I can never forget.
At some point, Tae Irim could no longer believe in promises that promised ‘next time’.
It was because he had broken far too many such promises while crossing countless veils of time.
In his memory, the very first promise he had broken was that one.
[Don’t be too disappointed. I’ll come back soon. And when I come back….]
[I want to take you to the Imperial Palace. If you, would allow it.]
That promise to come back soon.
That promise to take her out of that hellish estate.
But he ultimately couldn’t keep that promise.
Because when he went to get Soya again.
Soya was already dead.
* * *
Unfortunately, Soya had to say farewell to Gaya.
Though the evil had fled and Taowu had lost power, weakening the demon beast army as well, that didn’t mean they had annihilated them all.
Gaya had to remain here to finish the war.
“I’ll be back soon, so even if you miss Elder Brother, you can’t cry, Somsom.”
“Yes, Elder Brother. I’ll wait bravely without crying until you return safely.”
“Hmm?”
At Soya’s brave answer, Gaya raised one eyebrow as if something didn’t please him.
“Where’s the sense in that? Even if I tell you not to cry, you should cry.”
“What?”
He grinned at Soya, who was blinking in confusion.
“I think I’ll cry because I miss Somsom.”
“Oh my, Elder Brother isn’t even a baby, how can you cry?”
At that playful retort, Soya burst into laughter.
“Hmm. I’m being serious. Somsom seems to treat my words as amusing jokes.”
Gaya, who had been pretending to be sulky, soon chuckled and stroked Soya’s head.
“I’ll really be back soon, so I hope you don’t grow up too much in the meantime.”
“Why? Wouldn’t it be better if I grow up bravely and well?”
Soya tilted her head, unable to understand Gaya’s words.
“There are things like that that babies don’t understand.”
“The baby isn’t me, it’s Elder Brother. Even if you miss me, you can’t cry too much. Understand?”
When Soya giggled and retorted, Gaya replied in a sulky voice.
“I don’t want to. I’m going to cry. A lot too.”
“That won’t do. Then I’ll send you lots and lots of handkerchiefs. You have to wipe your tears well with them.”
“Oh. A handkerchief that Somsom is sending? That’s not bad at all.”
Only then did Gaya relax his deliberately sulky expression and smile brightly.
After finishing her farewell with Gaya like that.
Soya returned to the White Tiger Palace hidden in Saeon’s embrace, just as she had when coming here.
Soya’s daily life after returning to the White Tiger Palace continued peacefully once again.
She ate delicious food, took walks in the warm sunlight, and studied diligently.
Going through the Swamp of the Dead to the Underworld Palace felt exactly like a dream.
Some demon beasts still remained, and the war wasn’t over yet.
However, whenever such thoughts occurred to her, Soya would look at the black shield placed in a corner of her room.
It was the Hyeonmu Iron Shield that Seolyeo had brought back.
‘It would have been better if I could have awakened Hyeonmu.’
Remembering how she couldn’t awaken Hyeonmu at the last moment, Soya felt a little regretful.
“But Divine Beasts.”
Soya, who had been staring at the shield intently, suddenly asked the Divine Beasts about a thought that came to mind.
“What happened to the evil that escaped?”
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
beneatheaven
Why do I get the feeling that the evil that escaped had went to Seolyeo 😓