The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 201

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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 Episode 24

Until coming to the White Tiger Palace, there had been no one by Soya’s side.

Only after coming to the White Tiger Palace was Soya finally able to form normal human relationships.

Among them, Seolyeo was the first friend Soya had ever made.

During the past 5 years spent at the White Tiger Palace, Seolyeo had always been with Soya.

When studying, when running around Horim Mountain, Seolyeo had been there for all those moments.

Perhaps that’s why the empty space left by Seolyeo’s sudden disappearance felt particularly large.

Since this was her first time experiencing separation, Soya, who wasn’t prepared to face this unexpected farewell, still couldn’t get used to the fact that Seolyeo was no longer at the White Tiger Palace.

‘I still… can’t bring myself to read it.’

After hesitating several times, Soya turned her gaze away from the wooden box containing the letter.

She had smiled with such a clear face, saying it was fine as long as nothing dangerous had happened to Seolyeo.

‘But actually, I’m not fine. I’m upset.’

She was a little upset that Seolyeo had disappeared without saying anything even to her.

No. Not a little – she was very upset.

This wasn’t a feeling of resentment or disappointment. It was sadness.

Long ago, Soya had also tried to leave the White Tiger Palace.

She remembered the sad feelings she had harbored back when she was young.

Thinking that Seolyeo had also left with sad feelings like hers back then – that was what upset her the most.

And the fact that she couldn’t be there for her closest friend when she was sad also made Soya feel sad.

“Seolyeo was always there for me when I was lonely, but I couldn’t help at all.”

“Chirp, chirp.”

At Soya’s murmuring, Chirpy approached and cried out.

“Chirpy. Are you upset too that Seolyeo disappeared?”

“Chirp…”

Chirpy hung his head low with a dejected expression.

“Chirp, chirp…”

Chirpy seemed very upset too.

Soya, Seolyeo, and Chirpy had always gone around together.

Just then, the sound of tapping on the window frame could be heard.

There was only one person at the White Tiger Palace who would visit Soya’s room in this manner.

“Gaya Elder Brother?”

Soya turned toward the sound.

Without entering the room, Gaya was perched on the window frame, waving his hand back and forth at Soya.

“Somsom. Are you busy?”

“No, I was just taking a break. But what’s the matter, Elder Brother?”

“You remember the promise you made with Elder Brother, right?”

He asked with a grin.

“Want to go shoot some arrows?”

* * *

After Seolyeo left.

Gayul visited Soya every single day.

He had his own justification of comforting her as she had fallen into despair after losing her childhood friend, but the problem was that he was noticeably being overly conscious of Soya.

Gayul, who unnaturally kept stealing glances at Soya, was clearly being overly conscious of her condition for anyone to see.

Soya acted as if nothing was wrong, just like usual.

But there was no way the quick-witted and clever Soya wouldn’t notice that Gayul was being conscious of her.

Unable to watch any longer, Gaya grabbed Gayul by the scruff of his neck and dragged him to a secluded spot.

“Youngest tiger. If you show that you’re worrying and being conscious like this, Somsomi will become more troubled.”

“But I’m Cotton Ball’s elder brother. I have to make sure Cotton Ball can always smile.”

However, Gayul argued back against his elder brother’s words and explained.

“Cotton Ball doesn’t smile as well as before these days. But when I go and play around, she laughs.”

“…”

“I made a resolution long ago. That I’d make Cotton Ball laugh happily every single day. So don’t interfere.”

Gayul said with a sulky expression.

Gayul, who always seemed to act without thinking, had apparently been having such admirable thoughts on his own.

Gaya had similar thoughts too.

About wanting to protect Soya’s smile for a long, long time – thoughts like that.

Meanwhile, unlike Gayul, Ga Hyeon treated Soya with the same attitude as usual.

It was around the time when letters and gifts were steadily arriving at the White Tiger Palace in preparation for the Mountain Lord Festival that Gaya discovered Ga Hyeon’s strange behavior.

“What are you doing?”

“Ah, Elder Brother.”

Ga Hyeon, who had been standing in front of the furnace, turned around with a gentle smile.

“Just now, wasn’t that something that came for Somsom?”

Gaya frowned as he looked at the letters thrown into the furnace.

The recipient written on the paper scorched by fire was clearly Soya’s name.

“Yes, there were things mixed in that wouldn’t be good for Soya to see.”

Ga Hyeon explained with a calm expression as he threw the remaining letters into the furnace.

“Letters asking about that child Seolyeo’s well-being.”

Every year at this time, various families would send letters and gifts, and quite many letters had arrived for Soya too, who had built friendships with young beastmen from the Western Lands through five Mountain Lord Festivals.

And some of them were sent by young girls from the Western Lands who admired Seolyeo.

“Don’t worry too much, Elder Brother. I carefully selected and burned only the meaningless ones for Soya.”

“Just because of that, you burn letters as you please?”

“I’m just making Soya’s fence more solid. So that Soya won’t cry again like last time. It’s better than Soya reading those things and becoming dejected thinking of Seolyeo.”

Ga Hyeon spoke in a voice without a trace of remorse for his actions.

“We shouldn’t have taken in that beast at the White Tiger Palace from the beginning. When I think of how Soya cried…”

His expression suddenly turned coldly rigid as he trailed off and clenched his fist tightly.

It was a face that seemed to be suppressing anger.

That had been yesterday’s incident.

Gaya pondered over his younger brothers’ words.

Gayul who said he’d make Soya laugh every single day, and Ga Hyeon who said he’d eliminate everything that made Soya cry.

Of course, Gaya also preferred it when Soya didn’t cry and smiled.

When Soya cried, his heart ached, and when Soya smiled, his heart was colored with a warmer hue.

‘But…’

However, Gaya found it difficult to fully agree with his younger brothers’ words.

‘How can a person not cry and only smile. Every single day at that.’

Whoosh―!

Just then, the arrow Soya shot hit the target.

“Wow…!”

At Soya’s admiring voice, Gaya immediately snapped out of his thoughts.

“Elder Brother! Did you see that just now?”

At the sight of Soya’s joy, a smile quietly bloomed on Gaya’s lips.

“A direct hit.”

The arrow that had left the bowstring was stuck precisely in the center of the target.

It was amazing skill that was hard to believe for someone shooting a bow for the first time today.

“Amazing. You’re the most incredible Somsom I’ve ever seen.”

Gaya grinned and patted Soya’s head.

He realized once again that Soya was indeed of Suzaku’s direct lineage.

Even though he hadn’t corrected her posture many times, Soya shot the bow quite well.

That sight briefly reminded him of Jeok Sanyu he had seen on the battlefield.

Blood cannot be deceived, they say. That incredible archery skill must be innate.

“Then this time, let’s try shooting with your special ability, Somsom.”

“Yes, Elder Brother!”

Soya answered with a spirited voice.

The bow with red feathers in her hands was something Sanyu had sent as Soya’s birthday gift.

Initially, Gaya’s offer to teach Soya archery was meant to interfere with Sanyu.

Sanyu had entrusted this bow to him, saying he would come find Soya later to teach her archery himself, but…

‘How could I just stand by and watch that.’

How much it had irritated him when that bastard Jeok Sanyu bragged about flying alone with Soya.

Unable to let them create another memory just for the two of them, he had stolen Sanyu’s opportunity, planning to torment that bastard this time.

But today, it wasn’t such childish competitiveness that had brought Soya out.

For the past few days, Soya had unconsciously avoided outdoor activities and stayed cooped up indoors.

Even Gayul, who always took Soya outside to play, couldn’t easily draw her out of White Tiger Palace.

Ball games, tag, hide and seek, running…

Whatever they tried to do would likely remind her of Seolyeo.

Hearing this, Gaya remembered his previous promise to teach Soya archery.

It had been a good choice.

Soya’s expression was very bright as she came outside wearing active clothes for once.

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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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