The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 111

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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 111

 

Meanwhile, Seolyeo was walking alone, thinking about what he had seen in the swamp that day.

 

The Swamp of the Dead sometimes showed sweet fantasies that were hard to escape from, but at times it also trapped visitors by showing them visions filled with intense shock and terror.

 

In Seolyeo’s case, it was the latter.

 

The head of the Black Tortoise Clan, Hyeon Rabaek.

 

That man who had awakened evil and threatened Soya…

 

‘He was my biological father who gave birth to me.’

 

Seolyeo squeezed his eyes shut and opened them again.

 

His revealed ash-colored eyes were trembling violently.

 

He had seen all of his sparse old memories in that Swamp of the Dead.

 

That man who had accepted evil sought to cut off all remaining direct lineage of Hyeonmu, and Mother fled with me to escape him.

 

But on the day when that man finally caught our tail.

 

Mother, who was the chief of the Black Serpent Tribe, covered my body with demon beast hide to save me.

 

Then she used the tribe’s special ability ‘Seal’ to firmly seal the hide so it couldn’t be removed, hid me in the wardrobe, and faced that man alone.

 

Seolyeo had to watch through the small gap in the wardrobe as that man threatened Mother.

 

He wanted to rush out to Mother immediately. He wanted to scream at him not to torment Mother.

 

But he couldn’t.

 

Strangely, no strength would enter his body and no voice would come out.

 

The man who killed Mother set fire to the estate.

 

He thought he would die like this, but he didn’t die.

 

The thick demon beast hide protected him from the hot flames.

 

[It’s okay. Seol Yoya. What you saw wasn’t all real. It was a fantasy shown by the Swamp of the Dead.]

 

Soya said this in a gentle voice, but…

 

No, Soya. That wasn’t a fantasy. It was real.

 

That man was my biological father.

 

[So you don’t need to be afraid.]

 

I am afraid, Soya. So very afraid.

 

I’m so, so afraid that you’ll hate me if you learn my secret.

 

Seolyeo, who had lived as a demon beast rather than a beastkin for a long time, didn’t know much about the world of beastkin.

 

However, he knew that Hyeon Rabaek, that man, had started a war and because of that, sad things had happened to Soya.

 

He knew that the reason Soya couldn’t stay with the woman who gave birth to the white tigers, and the reason she had to face threats from evil beasts several times, was all because of that man.

 

It was all because of his biological father.

 

‘If Soya learns this fact… if she finds out that I’m that man’s son, will she hate me?’

 

Seolyeo bit down hard on his lower lip.

 

‘That would be too frightening…’

 

He applied so much force that red droplets of blood beaded up on his lip.

 

“Seolyeo. Young Lady is going out. You should prepare too.”

 

Seolyeo, who had been walking in a daze, snapped to attention at the words delivered by a worker from White Tiger Palace and headed to Soya’s room.

 

Just then, Soya, who had finished preparing to go out and was coming outside with Yeonjeong, spotted Seolyeo and asked with a bright smile.

 

“Seolyeo. You were resting, but you didn’t come here in a hurry because of me, did you?”

 

“…”

 

For a moment, Seolyeo was completely speechless.

 

Although Seolyeo still didn’t know beastkin society well since he had lived as a demon beast for a longer time, he now vaguely understood.

 

Soya was a young lady of the family clan, and he was a warrior who served the young lady of the family clan.

 

Of course, the large white tiger who had picked him up had said he was a nominal guard and could live comfortably, but even so, he vaguely knew there was an insurmountable wall of status between Soya and himself.

 

But Soya always treated him with such a kind smile and warm manner of speaking.

 

Seolyeo loved that gentle aspect of Soya so much.

 

“What’s wrong, Seolyeo? Are you feeling unwell?”

 

Soya asked worriedly at Seolyeo’s lack of response.

 

“…No. I’m fine.”

 

Seolyeo shook his head back and forth as he answered.

 

“That’s a relief. I’m going to the city with Yeonjeong. Su Ri is busy, so please come with us, Seolyeo.”

 

“Yes, y-yes!”

 

Seolyeo quickly nodded his head.

 

“Then shall we go?”

 

Soya smiled brightly and headed outside.

 

Seolyeo followed behind Soya, who was walking briskly while holding Yeonjeong’s hand, and thought.

 

Soya was a kind person.

 

However, Seolyeo remembered the expression Soya had shown in front of Hyeon Rabaek’s death.

 

Actually, Seolyeo had been a little worried then.

 

‘What if Soya takes pity on that man.’

 

Since Soya was a gentle child, she might extend her hand even to that wicked man.

 

Or she might feel heartbroken seeing that dying man.

 

So he had to protect Soya’s kind heart from being hurt.

 

‘Because I am a warrior who protects Soya.’

 

Seolyeo, who had recovered his body and stood up with Soya’s help, stood beside her and looked at Hyeon Rabaek.

 

‘I’ll execute that man in Soya’s place.’

 

Even though that man was the man who gave birth to me…

 

‘I can do it. This is protecting Soya.’

 

With such firm resolve, Seolyeo gulped and prepared to step forward if necessary.

 

However, in front of that man, Soya showed an attitude he had never seen before.

 

Soya didn’t get angry or say harsh words, nor did she raise her voice toward that man.

 

She simply stared quietly at that dying man.

 

The reason she felt slightly different from usual was probably because of that attitude of drawing a line without any room for compromise.

 

When he thought about it carefully, Soya had always been like that.

 

She was a child who offered kindness with hands as warm as spring sunlight, but if she decided something wasn’t right, she would withdraw it as sharply as a blade.

 

After realizing this, Seolyeo’s fear deepened even more.

 

He hadn’t known that the moment when that kindness he wished he had never known from the beginning would be withdrawn would be this frightening.

 

Seolyeo hoped that this kindness Soya gave him would never disappear forever.

 

‘So I will never let Soya find out that I’m that man’s son. I’ll hide it completely.’

 

—Well. Do you think that will go according to your wishes?

 

At this moment, Seolyeo was startled by a voice that suddenly reached him and looked around frantically.

 

However, the voice didn’t come again.

 

‘That voice just now…’

 

Seolyeo stood there blankly and blinked his eyes.

 

“Seolyeo, what are you doing! Come here quickly!”

 

Soya, who had gone ahead, looked back at Seolyeo and waved her arms vigorously.

 

“I’m, I’m coming!”

 

Seolyeo erased the strange voice he had heard earlier from his mind and chased after Soya.

 

* * *

 

Soya, who had gone to the city with Yeonjeong, bought pretty silk fabric at a fabric shop.

 

Soya, who had become quite skilled at embroidery over the past few months, succeeded in embroidering a large white tiger and lily of the valley flowers.

 

“What’s this, Cotton Ball? Is it a gift for Father?”

 

“No, it’s a bribe!”

 

Saeon, who had been looking at the handkerchief Soya had embroidered with a seemingly pleased expression, raised one eyebrow at that spirited answer.

 

“A bribe?”

 

“Yes! Please teach me how to steal!”

 

“What?”

 

“Father is good at stealing things. That’s how you stole me and stole Seolyeo too!”

 

“Huh…?”

 

Saeon looked at Soya with an expression of disbelief.

 

“What are you planning to use such skills for, you thief Cotton Ball?”

 

“There’s something I absolutely must retrieve. It’s important to me, but it was stolen.”

 

Now it was time to carry out the task she had temporarily postponed while awakening the Divine Beasts.

 

None other than retrieving her mother’s relic that had been stolen by Lili.

 

“Since I’m Father’s daughter, wouldn’t I be good at stealing too?”

 

“….”

 

Saeon quietly closed his mouth.

 

“That’s what you get for stealing all sorts of things.”

 

Jeok Yeong burst out laughing with a “Pfft” and added his comment.

 

“…Well, it’s not like that. I properly got permission and picked things up. Cotton Ball, you gave permission too, when I stole… Ah…”

 

Saeon, who had been protesting in a somewhat aggrieved voice, let out a short sigh only after the word ‘stole’ had already left his mouth.

 

“Parents are originally mirrors for their children. You have to be careful with every word in front of kids.”

 

“I’m regretting it, so stop nagging.”

 

Saeon made a “Ugh…” sound while holding his forehead with a troubled expression.

 

“Father, you’re so tall, so how did you sneak into the Land of Suzaku and steal me?”

 

Soya clung to Saeon’s desk and asked with her eyes sparkling brightly.

 

Saeon wasn’t just tall, but also had extremely handsome features that made him very conspicuous.

 

Especially those fine white hair and blue eyes that shimmered like blue jade were unmistakably characteristics of the White Tiger Direct Line.

 

She had been young at the time, and various incidents had occurred afterward, so she hadn’t thought deeply about it.

 

But looking back, Soya found it amazing that such a conspicuous Saeon had wandered around the Land of Suzaku without being caught by anyone.

 

There must definitely be a very special secret technique that only Father knew.

 

“…It’s very simple.”

 

Saeon spoke with lips that barely parted.

 

“I just hid my presence, and knocked out anyone who made eye contact with me.”

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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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