The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 179

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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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Side Story 2

“Grrowl, sniff! Grroowww…! (So this is all Father’s fault! Because of Father, I couldn’t hide my claws and my clothes got torn!)”

At Gayul’s whining as he sniffled, Saeon smiled and patted him gently.

“Sorry, baby tiger. Papa isn’t busy anymore, so shall Papa teach you how to hide your claws tomorrow?”

Pat, pat.

Under those soothing touches, Gayul’s startled heart gradually calmed down.

“Grrhuff…”

After stopping his crying, he felt a little embarrassed.

To think that he, the magnificent third son of the White Tiger Family who had even completed his First Beast Transformation splendidly, would show tears in front of so many people.

Feeling embarrassed, Gayul buried his head deep into his father’s embrace and hid.

Of course, since only his head was hidden, his plump bottom and fluffy tail were still raised high toward the people.

Seeing this, Gaya burst into laughter, and Ga Hyeon frowned and shook his head.

Gayul was carried somewhere while nestled in his father’s arms.

Still with his head buried deep, the fragrant smell of food wafted to Gayul’s nose.

‘Huh?’

Gayul sniffed and peeked his head out slightly.

‘Delicious smell!’

Realizing they had arrived at the Banquet Hall, the baby tiger jumped out of Saeon’s arms with a bounce.

Thump!

Gayul, now in human form, quickly claimed the seat next to his father.

Then he flashed a triumphant smile at his elder brothers seated across from him.

With an expression that seemed to say ‘Elder Brothers are slower than me, right?’

However, his elder brothers paid no attention to Gayul’s triumphant expression.

Instead, they spoke to their father, whom they were meeting again after a long time.

“Father, are you back for good now?”

“Yes.”

Saeon answered Ga Hyeon’s question with a broad smile.

But Ga Hyeon couldn’t smile as brightly as his father.

Seeing this, Gayul tilted his head.

‘If Father has returned, that’s a good thing, so why does little elder brother have that expression?’

However, during the meal that followed, Gayul’s questions flew far away.

Perhaps because Father was here, the table was filled with even more delicious food than usual.

‘Meat! Meat!’

Gayul, who had been fidgeting at the sight of meat, shouted “Thank you for the meal!” as soon as Saeon picked up his utensils and began eating.

“Gaya, did you take good care of your younger brothers during this time?”

“Don’t even get me started. Especially that youngest tiger, I became covered in dirt every day trying to catch him when he’d run off to Horim Mountain instead of studying.”

Gayul, who had been excitedly tearing into meat, blinked his eyes at those words and asked.

“Why does big elder brother take care of me?”

“Because I’m the elder brother and you’re the younger brother.”

Gaya casually wiped the meat sauce stuck to Gayul’s mouth as he replied.

“Elder brothers are supposed to protect and look after their younger brothers.”

“…!”

At Gaya’s nonchalant explanation, Gayul’s eyes suddenly sparkled.

Protect and look after!

That sounded incredibly cool.

“I, I want to do that too! Protecting and looking after!”

Gayul turned to Saeon with an excited voice and shouted.

“I can do it well! Make me a younger sibling too, Father!”

“Uh, huh?”

Just as Saeon hesitated in confusion at those words.

“Too bad, youngest tiger. You can’t have a younger sibling just because you want one.”

Gaya answered instead, raising the corner of his mouth diagonally.

“Why not?”

“Because storks bring younger siblings. Only to cool tigers like me.”

“Storks do?”

“But storks can’t bring younger siblings to baby tigers who haven’t grown up yet.”

“N-no! I’m not an ungrown tiger either, I’m a cool tiger! I have sharp teeth and pointy claws too!”

Gayul roared like a roaring tiger, but Gaya just snorted lightly.

“So what. You’re still a milk-smelling baby tiger who can’t even hide his claws.”

“Do I smell fishy?”

Gayul sniffed himself to check his own scent.

He had been rolling around in the grass field all day, so he smelled of grass and earth, but there was no fishy smell.

“I don’t think I smell…”

Just as Gayul was whimpering and pouting his lips.

“Why don’t you have a younger sibling, Yul. You have one too, a younger sibling.”

At Ga Hyeon’s gentle words with a smile, Gayul’s ears perked up.

“I have a younger sibling too…?”

“Yes. A cute and lovable younger sibling you need to protect. You must have forgotten.”

Ga Hyeon muttered as if feeling sorry.

To think he had a younger sibling.

Though it was the first time hearing this, Gayul gradually came to believe it due to Ga Hyeon’s quite serious expression and voice.

“I, I guess I forgot like elder brother said.”

Gayul answered, his face slightly reddening.

“It’s okay. That can happen. You’re a baby tiger after all.”

Ga Hyeon nodded with a casual voice.

Gayul swallowed hard, forgetting even to eat the meat in front of him.

His heart began to pound.

“Shall I let you meet your younger sibling?”

“…!”

Innocent Gayul had momentarily forgotten.

That whenever his second elder brother spoke in such a gentle and affectionate way, very mischievous things always followed.

* * *

After finishing dinner, in Saeon’s room.

“Is there really no other way for the Spirit Core, Family Head?”

Jeok Yeong, who had followed, asked with a worried voice.

“Unfortunately not.”

“…”

“It’s fine. You don’t need to look at me with those eyes, Jeok Yeong. Thanks to it, I got to come home like this, which is good.”

The Various Families that protected Taehwa Kingdom had a duty to guard the Empire.

Therefore, the Family Heads of each family had to serve the Emperor for a certain period from their successor days to receive official recognition.

Because he became Family Head at the early age of eighteen and got married without fulfilling that entire period, Saeon was drafted for this war.

However, even after completing his service period, he couldn’t easily leave the battlefield due to the prolonging war, until he suffered a major injury to his Spirit Core and was able to return home like this.

“Don’t worry too much. As long as it’s not a night when the full moon rises, I can manage reasonably well. More importantly, the children have grown a lot.”

Saeon changed the subject with a broad smile.

“I wonder who they take after, they’ve all grown into very clever and magnificent tigers.”

While he was away, Gaya had led the White Tiger Palace well as the family’s successor, and Ga Hyeon had grown up as dignified as his elder brother despite his young age.

And even youngest Gayul, who had successfully completed his First Beast Transformation despite his parents’ absence.

How grateful he was for the three children who had grown up safely.

And how much he loved them.

“However, Family Head.”

At that moment, Jeok Yeong spoke up with a somewhat serious voice.

“Now that the Family Head has returned from the battlefield, there will soon be movements suggesting we should welcome a new mistress to White Tiger Palace.”

He paused.

Saeon’s eyes hardened slightly.

“The mistress position will remain vacant. And so will the room where she stayed.”

Saeon spoke decisively, as if there was no need for reconsideration.

“The furniture and belongings in the mistress’s room must also be preserved untouched until their owner returns. Just as it has been until now.”

“Family Head… you believe that Lady Cheongha will return someday.”

“Why. Are you dissatisfied with this decision of mine?”

Saeon’s voice asking this was somewhat stiff.

Ho Jeokyeong, who had become Saeon’s aide at a young age as the eldest son of the Red Fox Family, always prioritized the White Tiger Family’s interests above all else.

Saeon thought that perhaps he might consider his choice unreasonable.

Because this was a choice that prioritized personal emotions over the family’s interests.

“Not at all. I actually like this side of you, Family Head.”

However, Jeok Yeong shook his head and answered.

“This side?”

“The aspect that someone who appears colder and more rational than anyone else shows that is not like that.”

Jeok Yeong smiled slightly as he explained to the questioning Saeon.

“I think it’s truly wonderful that the Family Head is my superior.”

“…”

At the sincere words from Jeok Yeong, who always grumbled at him, Saeon stared at him blankly for a moment.

Then he soon raised the corner of his mouth playfully and asked.

“What. Are you confessing to me right now?”

“Wh-what?”

Saeon spoke mischievously to Jeok Yeong, who stammered in confusion.

“That would be troublesome. As I said, I plan to keep the White Tiger Palace mistress position vacant forever.”

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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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