The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 176

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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 176

Just moments ago, the battle between the judge who descended from the Heavenly Realm and Irim had sent great shockwaves throughout the entire world.

The massive collision caused the curtain of time to flutter, and in that process, Seolyeo had touched the crack in time that was revealed.

“Aaaahhhhh!”

Seolyeo, who was sucked into the crack of time, was so startled that he squeezed his eyes shut.

His body continuously descended downward.

It was when he was keeping his eyes tightly closed out of fear from the sensation of endless falling.

[Oh my, Seolyeo. You can’t do that.]

‘Huh? This voice is…’

Seolyeo hesitated at the familiar voice.

‘Soya’s voice…?’

When he carefully lifted his eyelids slightly, various scenes were flashing by before his eyes.

His eyes spun round and round, making him feel dizzy as if he might get motion sickness.

In the midst of this, Seolyeo saw two familiar faces.

[It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness the Princess. I am Saeon of the White Family, tutor to His Highness the Fifth Prince.]

[Oh, hello, Lord Saeon. Thank you for saving me.]

[Not at all. But have you ever been told you resemble Cotton Ball?]

[Pardon?]

It was Soya and Saeon!

‘Soya…!’

Just as Seolyeo was about to approach the two with a delighted expression, the scene suddenly changed again.

[Your Majesty, I have a wish. This spring, I really want to go outside the palace… and watch the falling flower festival.]

[Very well. I promise. I will promise you that. I will definitely keep that promise.]

This time the faces he saw were Soya and Irim.

But Soya’s condition seemed a bit strange.

Her complexion was pale as if she might collapse at any moment, and there were red bloodstains on the front of her jeogori.

As if she had just coughed up blood.

[Get well soon. My princess…]

‘Soya is in pain…?’

It was when the startled Seolyeo reached out his hand toward her.

Whoosh—!

In an instant, the world spun around, and along with a dizzying sensation, everything flashed bright white.

Seolyeo carefully opened his eyes and looked around.

‘Where is this…?’

It was familiar terrain.

Seolyeo thought he knew where this place was.

‘It’s Horim Mountain.’

It was deep inside the valley of Horim Mountain where he had lived alone in hiding before meeting Soya.

Seolyeo, who couldn’t trust people, had escaped White Tiger Palace and lived here alone, picking fruits to eat and playing in the valley water.

However, after he began living at White Tiger Palace with Soya, this was a place he had never returned to.

Coming here brought back lonely memories of the time he lived alone.

Compared to when he was stoned by humans and chased by Magical Beast Hunters, it was a much more comfortable life, but there was nothing he could do about the loneliness that suddenly came over him.

Having delicious mountain fruits all to himself, swimming in the valley water and startling the fish.

It was only fun at first, but it wasn’t enjoyable alone.

This became even more true after meeting Soya and learning the joy of doing things ‘together.’

‘Why did I end up coming here?’

He had definitely been in the rear garden of White Tiger Palace just moments ago, so it was puzzling.

Seolyeo began walking aimlessly to go down the mountain.

Then he spotted Soya playing and picking flowers on the mountain slope.

‘Soya…!’

It was when Seolyeo was running toward Soya with a delighted heart, calling out her name.

“Grrrrr…”

Instead of his familiar voice, something that sounded exactly like a demon beast’s cry flowed from his mouth.

‘Huh…?’

While the flustered Seolyeo hesitated.

Gayul, who had jumped out after hearing that sound, blocked Soya’s path and shouted.

“Be careful, Cotton Ball! This isn’t a wild animal, it’s a demon beast!”

‘I’m not a demon beast, I’m Seolyeo…!’

It was when Seolyeo was urgently shaking his head and crying out.

“Grrrrrrr…!”

At the demon beast cry that came out again, Seolyeo was so startled that he froze in place.

“Oh my, it’s dangerous, Young Master! Looking at how that demon beast is raising its tail straight up, it’s definitely threatening you and the Young Lady!”

At Su Ri’s shouting from the side, Seolyeo hurriedly lowered his tail.

“Grrrng…”

Seolyeo was stepping back hesitantly when he suddenly realized he had been walking on all fours.

“…!”

When he looked down, he saw thick black front paws.

They were the front paws of a demon beast with sharp poisonous claws hidden.

Oh no.

Before meeting Soya, Seolyeo used to deliberately transform into the most frightening appearance to protect himself from the beasts of Horim Mountain and chase away the wild animals.

This appearance of his must have been threatening to them as well.

Poof!

Seolyeo quickly attempted to shapeshift into the cute baby tiger form that Soya liked.

“I-It sh-shapeshifted!”

“Gasp! I-It really is a demon beast!”

However, contrary to Seolyeo’s expectations, Gayul and Su Ri’s wariness only grew stronger.

“Grrrng… Kiiing…”

It was when the frightened Seolyeo was cowering in the confusing situation.

“Wait a moment!”

Soya, who had been peeking out from behind Gayul, jumped out and approached Seolyeo.

“S-Cotton Ball!”

“Young Lady!”

“It’s okay. This child doesn’t seem like a bad child.”

Gayul and Su Ri shouted simultaneously, but Soya paid no attention and crouched down toward Seolyeo.

“Hello.”

Then she carefully extended her hand.

Seolyeo, who had been whimpering while cowering, looked at the small hand extended to him and secretly hoped.

‘Does Soya recognize me?’

His heart pounded with excitement thinking it was indeed her, but.

“Hello. I’m Soya.”

At Soya’s following words, realizing that she didn’t recognize him, he drooped both ears down.

“Um, just a moment ago. You were trying to run toward me, right?”

Seolyeo timidly nodded his head.

“Were you trying to hurt me?”

“Kying, kyng…!”

How could you ask if I was trying to hurt you when I’m Soya’s closest friend and the warrior who protects her!

Seolyeo felt wronged.

So he squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head vigorously.

“Then you wanted to play with me?”

At Soya’s gentle follow-up question, Seolyeo’s eyes widened into circles.

“Kyuung, kyuk!”

Seolyeo quickly nodded his head up and down vigorously.

Then Soya’s expression brightened.

“Look at this! This child says he wanted to play with me!”

Su Ri still had a disapproving expression, but Gayul showed genuine curiosity toward Seolyeo who understood Soya’s words.

And so Seolyeo came to be held in Soya’s arms and brought to the White Tiger Palace in a slightly different way than he remembered.

But something was a little strange.

Soya called the Baek Brothers not Elder Brother but Young Master, and called Saeon not Father but Lord Saeon.

Moreover, when Seolyeo first met Soya on Horim Mountain, she was definitely nine years old, but now Soya said she was ten years old.

Though he was puzzled by the completely different situation from the memories he knew, anyway Seolyeo came to watch Soya grow up closely in the White Tiger Family.

“I’m already ten years old but still can’t do Beast Transformation. I’m really stupid, aren’t I, Seolyeo?”

“Kying, kyng…!”

‘No, Soya! You can do it! I saw it, you soaring more magnificently than anyone!’

Some days he would send unreachable comfort and encouragement to Soya who looked dejected for not being able to do Beast Transformation.

“Kyiing….”

‘I want to comfort Soya too….’

But he would also become gloomy about his own heart that couldn’t reach her, trapped inside the demon beast’s shell.

“Ppya, ppyaa? Piyaa!”

“Kyng, kyng! Kyng! Grrrowl!”

‘See, Soya! What did I tell you! I said you could do it!’

Then when he saw Soya spread her small wings and soar up, he got so excited that he hopped around the entire White Tiger Palace.

And on another day… he would secretly watch Irim who was watching Soya from afar.

‘Why doesn’t he approach Soya and just watches like that.’

Seeing Irim unable to approach Soya made Seolyeo feel a little strange.

‘That kid must like Soya just like me.’

Seolyeo was certain.

Because Irim couldn’t take his eyes off her whenever Soya’s laughter could be heard, and though he was expressionless in front of others, he would smile slightly when he saw Soya.

Since Soya likes friends, having more friends who like her would definitely be a good thing.

But Seolyeo didn’t understand why he disliked Soya having many friends so much.

And after Irim visited that day.

Late in the evening, Soya, who had gone to see Saeon at his summons, returned with her eyes all red.

“Kying!”

Seolyeo, who had been lying by Soya’s bedside in baby tiger form and dozing off, jumped up in surprise.

‘What’s wrong, Soya? Did you fight with the Great Tiger?’

Seolyeo circled around Soya with a worried heart.

“Seolyeo, I….”

At this moment, Soya opened her mouth with a meaningful expression.

“Kying, kyng!”

“I became real family with Lord Saeon!”

Soya said with a bright smile.

“…!”

Seolyeo became happy as if it were his own matter.

“I’m going to be really helpful to Lord Saeon! To the White Tiger Palace People too!”

Soya said while clenching both fists tightly.

Perhaps because she was more excited than usual.

Soya couldn’t fall asleep until late in the evening and sat crouched under the bed with Seolyeo, chattering about her stories.

“Now His Majesty is also facing the final battle. So after he returns from this battle, I’ll go to the Imperial Palace too. Lord Saeon said he’ll go with me!”

Soya said with an extremely happy expression.

“But I still find it a little difficult to call Lord Saeon Father. I want to be sure to call Lord Saeon Father before His Majesty returns… If I practice more, will I be able to do it well too?”

‘Yes, of course, Soya! You can do it well! I saw everything!’

Seolyeo rubbed his head against Soya’s palm and made kyng kyng sounds.

“Oh, are you cheering me on?”

Then Soya burst into a small laugh and hugged Seolyeo tightly.

“Thank you, Seolyeo.”

“Kying….”

It was a little disappointing that he was trapped in a demon beast’s shell and couldn’t become human, but still… he didn’t dislike this aspect.

Seolyeo glanced up at her face while being held snugly in Soya’s arms.

These past few days, she had smiled more often than ever.

Seolyeo felt good because Soya seemed happy.

‘But what does going to the Imperial Palace mean?’

He didn’t know well, but it must be a good thing.

‘They said true friends should celebrate when good things happen!’

Seolyeo climbed up Horim Mountain, picked lots of flowers that Soya liked, held them in his mouth, and came down grinning.

While hopping down, Seolyeo suddenly discovered a black puddle ahead.

It had rained this morning, so it must be a puddle formed then.

Seolyeo glanced down at his reflection in the puddle.

A handsome baby tiger was holding flowers in his mouth.

It was when he was raising his front paw to groom the black fur that stuck out annoyingly from his head.

Plop.

One of the flower blossoms he was holding fell down.

“Kyng!”

‘No!’

Seolyeo quickly raised his front paw and touched the puddle.

And at that moment.

Kuwoong―!

Along with his heart shaking violently, a strange voice was heard.

―Why… is such a strong body… trapped inside a demon beast’s shell….

Seolyeo tried to step back in surprise, but his body wouldn’t move.

―Perfect…. This body is now… mine!

Suddenly, black energy shot out from the puddle and clung to Seolyeo.

‘What, what is this. I don’t like it!’

Seolyeo tried to shake off the strange energy clinging to him, but it wouldn’t work as he wished.

The demon beast’s shell surrounding his body arbitrarily accepted that strange energy.

Seolyeo knew this unpleasant sensation.

Not long ago. The day he found Soya’s light orb in the Imperial Palace pond.

That day too, he had felt this unpleasant and strange feeling….

Ping―!

With that, Seolyeo’s memory went black.

Having lost control of his body in an instant, Seolyeo went berserk and attacked the White Tiger Palace.

Whenever he briefly regained consciousness, the faces of the White Tiger Palace People looking at him in shock flashed by.

Saeon’s face blocking him flashed by….

“Lord Saeon…!”

The collapsed Saeon and behind him, Soya’s face filled with terror flashed by.

Soya had frozen with that very expression full of fear.

Because she had died.

Because I had killed her.

Thump…!

Seolyeo’s heart dropped.

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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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