The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 184

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Side Story 7

“…But you can only make a wish once a year, so wouldn’t Elder Brother’s wish be too precious to waste?”

Soya asked in a worried voice, suppressing her tempted heart.

“Not at all. Our Soya’s wish is Elder Brother’s wish.”

At Sanyu’s immediate response, color returned to Soya’s face.

“Um, well then, Elder Brother…!”

Soya carefully took out her tree leaf letter and showed it to Sanyu.

Seeing her face turn slightly red, it seemed she was a bit embarrassed to show him her wish.

Sanyu, who had been looking down at it with gentle eyes, suddenly paused.

“…Ah.”

A short sigh flowed from between his teeth.

【Please protect Sanyu Elder Brother so he can take his time coming back without getting hurt and stay healthy.】

Until just recently, she had been heartbroken about him leaving.

Yet her wish, more important than him returning quickly, was for him not to get hurt.

“….”

Sanyu’s throat painfully trembled at his little sister’s beautiful heart.

“Our Soya’s wish is for Elder Brother not to get hurt?”

“Yes! This is Soya’s wish!”

“You said you wanted Elder Brother to come back quickly. But it’s okay if Elder Brother takes his time?”

“I’ll miss Elder Brother a lot. But if Elder Brother just stays healthy without getting hurt, everything will be fine for Soya, hehe.”

Soya smiled sweetly, scrunching up both her eyes.

“You know, Elder Brother. Soya can wait. Even if it takes a very long time, it’s okay.”

“….”

“So Elder Brother, please don’t get hurt and come back safely.”

“…Wow, really?”

Sanyu asked in an exaggerated voice, somehow struggling to open his mouth.

“Yes! Really!”

Soya smiled brightly and held out her pinky finger.

“Please promise Soya that you’ll come back safely without getting hurt. You must.”

“….”

Sanyu quietly stared at his little sister’s tiny, tiny pinky finger.

“Yes. I promise, Soya. Elder Brother will definitely come back healthy without getting hurt….”

Soon he hooked his finger with Soya’s finger and spoke.

“So Soya shouldn’t cry too much from missing Elder Brother, and must grow up healthy and strong. Understand?”

“Yes!”

Soya giggled and pressed her thumb firmly against Sanyu’s thumb like a stamp.

Soya and Sanyu went to get one more fresh tree leaf.

It was a tree leaf to write Sanyu’s wish on.

“Then shall we send our wishes to the Dragon God now?”

Sanyu, who had finished completing his tree leaf letter, asked Soya.

“Yes, Elder Brother!”

Soya nodded with an excited face and led Sanyu to the stream.

After Soya floated her tree leaf first, Sanyu floated his tree leaf beside it.

“Dragon God, please grant Soya’s wish and Sanyu Elder Brother’s wish.”

Soya, who had been watching the tree leaves floating down side by side, suddenly paused as if remembering something.

“Oh my.”

Soya looked around and soon found what she was looking for, smiling broadly.

It was the very, very large tree leaf letter with crooked writing and a baby bird drawn on it that she had momentarily forgotten.

“And this wish too. Please don’t forget and grant it.”

After floating the remaining tree leaf, Soya stood in the same spot for a long time, watching until the tree leaves were no longer visible.

Until yesterday, she had been very sad about having to part with Sanyu Elder Brother, but now it seemed she could spend the remaining time with Elder Brother while smiling.

Leaving behind the babbling stream, Soya took Elder Brother’s hand and hopped down the mountain.

【Please protect Sanyu Elder Brother so he can take his time coming back without getting hurt and stay healthy.】

The wish of a kind baby bird worried about her elder brother….

【Hello, Mr. Stork. I’m Gayul. Baek Gayul. I live in White Tiger Palace….】

The wish of a baby tiger living far away in the Western Lands.

And…

【I hope I can return healthy and meet Soya again, and that Soya can grow up smiling brightly as she does now.】

The wish of an elder brother who especially cherishes his young little sister before departing for war.

The precious hearts floated down together through the glittering ripples reflecting the sunlight.

1-2. Before Baby Bird Built Her Nest, Ga Hyeon’s Story That Gayul Doesn’t Know

The month of rising waters.

Late afternoon on the day before the Awakening of Insects, when animals that had slept through the long winter would awaken.

A small boy with a bob cut reaching his chin quietly stared at what was placed on his desk.

This boy, who gave a particularly gentle and soft impression due to his chubby cheeks that hadn’t lost their baby fat, was none other than the second young master of the White Tiger Family, Baek Ga Hyeon, who had now turned eight with the new year.

Though contrary to his gentle appearance, he possessed a rather prickly and sensitive temperament inside.

Ga Hyeon stared blankly at the tree leaves covered with half-written words.

His expression, which had been quietly observing them, gradually turned sulky….

Rustle―

Soon Ga Hyeon swept all the tree leaves into the jar for trash.

‘I’ve already made wishes to the point of being sick of them. But not a single one was granted.’

Ga Hyeon turned around and headed toward the bed.

Making wishes to the Dragon God was something only fools who believed in superstitions would do.

Like his youngest brother Yul, that foolish tiger who had been singing about wanting a sibling recently.

He’s only one year younger than me, yet why is he so naive?

How can he call himself direct lineage of the White Tiger Family like that?

He’s truly a disgrace to the family.

‘But….’

Ga Hyeon, who had been quite harshly evaluating his brother, suddenly turned his head to glance at the jar containing the tree leaves at a sudden thought.

‘If there really, really is a Dragon God by any chance… And if he’s just been a bit busy and couldn’t grant my wishes until now….’

When such a thought occurred to him, he became a little scared.

If that were really the case, he couldn’t just sit here doing nothing.

When he should be writing letters faster than other children and sending them to the Dragon God, if he had been hesitating like this alone….

Moreover, today was the last day before spring came, the day before the Awakening of Insects.

If he didn’t send a letter to the Dragon God before today passed, his wish would fail to come true once again.

Ga Hyeon jumped up and turned the jar upside down, shaking it vigorously.

However, the tree leaves were already crumpled and covered with dust, completely ruined.

‘Wh-what should I do?’

Ga Hyeon’s soft face, like a well-made rice flour doll, became tearful.

Whoosh―

When he turned his head to look outside the window, the sky had already begun turning red.

The sun would set before long.

While White Tiger Palace had many trees, to find leaves large enough to write a letter on, he would need to go to Horim Mountain.

But it wouldn’t be right for a young beast-human who hadn’t even achieved First Growth to climb the mountain alone at night without the adults’ permission.

But going to the adults and telling them he needed to pick leaves to write a letter to the Dragon God was a bit… embarrassing.

Actually, even that ink stick he was using to write on the leaves had been secretly taken.

“…”

After pondering for a moment, Ga Hyeon came outside and looked for the adults.

Just then, Yeonjeong, who was passing by, spotted Ga Hyeon and approached him.

“Oh my, Little Young Master. What brings you out at this hour?”

“Well, I… to Horim Mountain…”

He mustered the courage to speak, but his words gradually trailed off.

“Ah, never mind. It’s nothing.”

Ga Hyeon pressed his lips shut and returned to his room with a huff.

After closing the door and being left alone in his room, Ga Hyeon hung his head with a dejected expression.

“So stupid…”

Feeling foolish for letting his pointless pride get in the way and accomplishing nothing, Ga Hyeon pulled the blanket over himself and curled up underneath it.

Sniffling sounds leaked out from under the bulging blanket.

When the sun had completely set and darkness descended outside the window.

Creak―

The sound of the door opening was followed by someone’s footsteps padding closer.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————