The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 180

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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 3

“Are, are you insane!”

Jeok Yeong jumped up with a horrified expression.

“Don’t say such terrible things! At this rate, my marriage prospects will be ruined! While the Family Head was away, I’ve been helping Elder Brother manage White Tiger Palace and haven’t even had time to date!”

“I don’t think you couldn’t date because of me. Blaming your superior for your lack of popularity with women is cowardly and petty, Jeok Yeong.”

“What are you saying? I’ll have you know I was the most popular fox back in my hometown!”

“Hmm… Sure, let’s go with that.”

Saeon nodded as if generously humoring the indignant Jeok Yeong.

“Just you wait! I’ll show you that I’m telling the truth!”

Watching Jeok Yeong grumble as he finally left, Saeon laughed heartily for a long while.

‘When was the last time I laughed so carefree like this?’

It truly hit him that he had returned to White Tiger Palace.

In truth, he had missed it greatly too.

This peaceful and beautiful White Tiger Palace where he was born and raised.

‘But a little sister…’

Saeon recalled Gayul who had thrown a tantrum saying he wanted a little sibling too.

Gaya had a nature that centered everything in the world around himself, and Ga Hyeon, with his somewhat sensitive temperament, preferred solitary contemplation over mingling with others.

For a baby tiger who loved people and enjoyed playing together with others, they probably fell a bit short of being the caring older brothers he needed.

Perhaps it was because of the parts his brothers couldn’t fill that made him yearn even more for a younger sibling, and somehow a bitter smile bloomed at that thought.

But now that he had returned to White Tiger Palace.

He would stay by the children’s side and fill in the parts that were lacking.

‘But what was Hyeon thinking when he said that?’

To Gayul who wanted a younger sibling, he suddenly said that he too had a sibling and would be able to meet them soon.

“It’s not like he picked up some sibling I don’t know about from somewhere…”

The puzzled murmur circled around the room before dispersing.

* * *

After hearing Ga Hyeon’s words that he would soon be able to meet a younger sibling, Gayul counted the days waiting only for the day he would meet his sibling.

“What are you practicing so diligently, Young Master?”

Su Ri, who was passing by, asked upon seeing the baby tiger glaring fiercely at his front paws and concentrating all day long.

“Grr, grung… (I’m practicing hiding my claws.)”

“Hiding claws? But you’re already good at it without practice, aren’t you?”

“Grwaang! (I need to teach my sibling, that’s why!)”

In the meantime, Gayul learned how to hide his claws from Father, and also learned how to swim and catch fish at the stream.

He diligently reviewed everything, planning to teach his sibling what he learned from Father when they met.

“Grwang, grwang! Grwaang! (I’m different from my brothers! When I meet my sibling, I’ll play ball together, and play hide-and-seek and run together. And I’ll teach them how to hide claws that I learned from Father!)”

Gayul spoke with a proud expression, shrugging his shoulders.

He was told that younger siblings are very small and precious, so you have to protect and take care of them.

So when he meets his sibling, he’ll definitely treat them preciously.

He’ll protect them from getting hurt, and play with them so they won’t be bored.

And he’ll always stay by his sibling’s side.

Because unlike his brothers, he’ll become a ‘really cool big brother’ to his sibling.

But the sibling he had been waiting and waiting for, of all things…!

“Why, why is she my younger sibling!”

Gayul, who had rushed out at the news that his sibling had arrived, screamed in shock.

Where he pointed, Arang with her brown hair rolled up was jumping down from under the palanquin.

“What’s wrong, Yul? By blood relation, she’s a sixth cousin and a relative who shares the same great-great-grandfather, so Arang is also your family and younger sibling.”

Ga Hyeon patted Gayul’s shoulder and said.

Just then, Arang, who had jumped down from the palanquin, looked up and spotted Gayul.

Arang and Gayul’s eyes met.

“Oh? Baek Gayul! You succeeded in Beast Transformation this time, right? I succeeded last time!”

Arang waved her arms vigorously and shouted loudly.

In an instant, Gayul’s pupils shook violently.

For Arang, it was a greeting given out of joy at meeting after a long time, but to Gayul it felt like spiteful teasing.

“I, I don’t want to!”

That brown tiger who was only loud and not cute at all—and even though she was a year younger than him, she had succeeded in Beast Transformation faster—was his younger sibling!

“I don’t want to! Absolutely not! I really don’t want to! I hate it so much! I won’t be her big brother!”

“It’s not big brother, it’s Elder Brother, Yul.”

To Gayul who was vehemently refusing like throwing a tantrum, Ga Hyeon explained in a gentle voice.

“Elder Brother…?”

At the unfamiliar word, Gayul blinked his eyes.

“That’s right, Elder Brother. Little sisters call you Elder Brother.”

“…?”

“Wow, Elder Brother. I’m really envious of our Yul.”

Toward Gayul who was looking at him with a bewildered face, Ga Hyeon smiled brightly and spoke in an exaggerated voice.

“…N, no! I’m not Elder Brother!”

Gayul, who had been making a blank expression at the unfamiliar title, suddenly came to his senses and denied it.

“I don’t want to do that, Elder Brother. I don’t want to be Elder Brother.”

Finally, Gayul grabbed onto Ga Hyeon’s sleeve and shook his head vigorously.

However, Ga Hyeon kindly removed Gayul’s small hands that were clutching his sleeve like a lifeline, one by one, and smiled.

“Then our Yul should become a wonderful Elder Brother and take care of his little sister.”

Ga Hyeon smiled brightly and pushed Gayul’s back.

Arang, who saw this scene from a distance, approached Gayul suspiciously, confronting him.

“What’s this, Baek Gayul? You were talking behind my back, weren’t you?”

“G, go away! Don’t come near me!”

Gayul raised his voice shrilly and started running away to avoid Arang who was approaching him.

At this, Arang transformed into a small brown tiger and chased after him.

“Grrr! (Where are you running!)”

“Uh, eek…!”

Gayul, who started running in surprise, realized that a tiger’s four legs were faster than human’s two legs and quickly performed Beast Transformation.

“Grwang, grwaang! (Don’t follow me!)”

The baby tiger’s cry that sounded exactly like sobbing echoed loudly.

‘Now he won’t be whining about wanting a sibling for a while.’

Ga Hyeon, who had been quietly watching that scene for a moment, turned his steps away, leaving behind the sight of the two baby tigers bickering.

‘…How foolish. Siblings aren’t something you can have just because you want them, nor are they brought by storks.’

Although he was still a seven-year-old young tiger who hadn’t even undergone First Growth, Ga Hyeon, who was smart from reading many books, knew.

Siblings aren’t brought by storks, but are born by mothers.

If there’s no mother, there are no siblings either.

Father said that Mother left because she had very important business, so she would definitely return later.

But Ga Hyeon had seen Mother’s name disappear from the family register in Father’s office.

Mother wasn’t coming back.

‘…’

Thinking that far, he suddenly felt melancholy.

However, Ga Hyeon soon shook his head and pulled himself together.

‘Never mind. I’m not an underdeveloped baby tiger like Yul. Besides, having siblings would just be bothersome anyway.’

Just as Ga Hyeon was thinking that and about to turn his steps away spiritedly again.

“Don’t bully the youngest too much.”

At the voice he heard, Ga Hyeon glanced up his head.

Gaya was leaning crookedly against the wooden pillar on the opposite side.

“You’re going to make the baby tiger cry.”

Having apparently watched the entire scene from earlier, he approached while making that remark to Ga Hyeon.

“Tormenting him? Why would I torment Yul? I’ve never done such a thing, Elder Brother.”

Ga Hyeon answered in his usual gentle voice, feigning complete innocence.

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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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