The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 202

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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 25

“White Tiger beastmen don’t use weapons when facing demon beasts. They have fangs and claws with greater destructive power than weapons.”

Gaya explained in a monotone voice.

“But it’s different when facing people. If you don’t control your special ability more delicately, you might seriously injure your opponent.”

“Yes.”

Soya nodded earnestly with an attentive expression.

“Using weapons allows you to control your special ability efficiently and delicately. There’s the disadvantage of reduced power, but it’s much more stable.”

Gaya picked up a tree branch of appropriate length and stood in front of a rock.

“But that’s not a weapon, it’s just a tree branch, isn’t it?”

“Whether it’s a wooden sword, a sword made of steel, or a tree branch picked up from the road – such things aren’t really important, Cotton Ball.”

At Soya’s question, Gaya grinned and threw the tree branch into the air before catching it again.

“If you can properly channel your special ability into it-“

A blue-silver aura began to gather around the tree branch he held.

“Even a tree branch rolling on the ground can become an effective weapon.”

Swoosh!

Gaya swung the tree branch straight at the large rock in front of him. Then, with the sound of refreshing wind…

Crack. Crackle-

Boom!

“…!”

Soya’s eyes widened like saucers.

In an instant, the large rock had split into two pieces!

“Amazing, Elder Brother!”

“Well, it’s nothing special.”

At Soya’s admiration, Gaya wore a proud expression.

“White Tiger beastmen prefer swords. They have the advantage of maintaining some destructive power compared to other weapons because the distance between the ability user and weapon is close.”

“And the Azure Dragon family uses spears, right? When I was nine, Mother gave me Hwageuk as a gift!”

Soya boasted that she could also wield a spear.

“That’s right. Using long spears allows Azure Dragon family members to maximize their innate plant abilities.”

Gaya said while stroking Soya’s hair approvingly.

“For example, your mother, Cotton Ball. Every time she swings her spear, plant stems bloom from the spear tip to attack enemies.”

“I saw that too! When Mother punished that half-moon bear woman!”

At Soya’s reaction, which showed some excitement, Gaya let out a laugh.

“And what the Vermillion Bird family chose is this – the bow.”

He said, pointing to the bow in Soya’s hands.

“Flame abilities spread greatly even with the slightest deviation. Arrows are the most delicate weapons. But if you don’t hit properly, it can become more dangerous, so skilled proficiency is needed.”

“Yes, Elder Brother.”

At the mention that it could become dangerous, Soya nodded with a rather tense expression.

“Well, there’s this crazy fire turkey beastman I know who shot abilities at innocent beastmen barehanded without any weapons.”

Gaya grumbled as he added this, then pointed to the target and said to Soya.

“Now, shall we try putting your special ability into the arrow you’re holding, Cotton Ball?”

Soya nocked the arrow on the bowstring and drew it back as Gaya had taught her.

Putting her special ability into the arrow didn’t work as well as she thought.

As Soya concentrated hard with her brow furrowed, the divine beasts appeared around her with ‘Pop! Pop! Pop!’ sounds.

-You can do it, Baby Bird!

-Destroy the target with your steel ability!

-Put flames into the arrowhead and shoot!

The divine beasts clenched both fists with expressions even more tense than Soya’s, shouting frantically.

While concentrating and staring at the target among them, Soya suddenly felt her special ability extending from her fingertips.

“Ah…!”

A fresh and clear aura gently spread around the arrow she was holding.

Whoosh-!

Soya released the bowstring.

The moment the flying arrow hit the target, a small sprout popped up from the wooden target.

“I succeeded!”

Soya shouted with a bright smile.

“A sprout…?”

“Yes, it’s the power of wood that Dragon God lent me.”

At Soya’s explanation, unlike Cheonghae Yongsin who wore a proud expression, White Tiger Mountain Lord and Vermillion Bird Heavenly Lady grumbled that they hadn’t lent their powers.

“How fascinating. A special ability that borrows the power of divine beasts.”

“Oh, it’s nothing special. This isn’t even my power, it’s power the divine beasts lent me.”

Soya said this because she felt embarrassed receiving such praise in front of the divine beasts, who were the true owners of the power she borrowed.

However, to Gaya, who couldn’t see the divine beasts, it just seemed like words of modesty.

Although Soya said it was nothing special, this was an amazing power that no one else possessed.

Gaya remembered clearly.

That day when the Imperial Palace fell to the evil demon beast, the red light that purified Jeok Sanyu who had undergone demonification and was attacking him, and enveloped the entire Imperial Palace.

“Still, it’s really amazing, Cotton Ball. It’s impressive that you learned archery in just one day, and you even succeeded in imbuing it with your special ability.”

“It’s all thanks to Elder Brother teaching me so well. I want to show off to Sanyu later too.”

At the mention of Sanyu’s name that Soya brought up with a small smile, Gaya instantly bristled.

I’m your elder brother, that guy is now a fake elder brother, so why do you want to show off to him, he wanted to say but…

‘Saying that would be too childish.’

Soya already secretly considered him on the same level as Gayul anyway.

Gaya tried to calm his mind with deliberate coughs.

Then he spoke to Soya with a deliberately benevolent expression.

‘Yes, let’s show that Jeok guy later too, Cotton Ball.’

“Don’t show off to that guy, Cotton Ball. I’m your elder brother.”

Oops. While trying to show unprecedented mercy to that Jeok guy, he accidentally said what should have stayed inside and what should have been said out loud backwards.

“Huh?”

“I-It was a mistake, Cotton Ball! My words came out backwards!”

Gaya hastily explained.

But Soya had already caught his true feelings.

“Gaya, are you perhaps… jealous of Sanyu?”

“Jealous? No way! Why would I be jealous of that fire-head who’s inferior to me?”

“Oh my. You shouldn’t use such mean words about friends, Elder Brother. You should get along well.”

“Friends? Me, with who?”

Gaya was appalled at the word ‘friends.’

“Ahaha, Elder Brother, when you make that expression, it really seems like you hate Sanyu.”

However, once again considering it her elder brother’s amusing joke, Soya burst into rare laughter.

At that clear laughter, Gaya also paused, then chuckled along with Soya.

* * *

Gaya, transformed into a large tiger, carried Soya on his back as they descended the mountain.

“How is it, Cotton Ball? Doesn’t this feel like flying with your elder brother too?”

Gaya asked as he nimbly leaped between peaks.

Since returning from the Imperial Palace, Gaya had shown an obsession with flight.

It was all because of Sanyu’s teasing.

[Prince Gaya has no wings, so he wouldn’t know the joy of flying with his sister. How pitiful.]

He was so annoyed by Sanyu, who smugly rolled his eyes and bragged about flying with Soya.

However, Soya, who could never imagine that the always kind and mature Sanyu would tease Gaya in such a way, only tilted her head in confusion.

‘Is Elder Brother Gaya envious that I can fly? Last time he also said he tried to fly but failed because he didn’t have wings, talking about such strange things.’

Soya was seriously pondering how to tell her elder brother that tigers can’t fly without hurting his feelings.

Suddenly.

Soya, who had casually turned her head, stiffened her body for a moment.

Gaya, who keenly noticed this, gradually slowed his steps.

“What’s wrong, Somsom?”

“Oh, well.”

Soya hesitated for a moment, then smiled as if nothing was wrong and answered.

“Over there, it’s a place where we all used to play together. Passing by here after so long brought back memories.”

The place Soya pointed to was none other than the path leading to the secret hideout.

It was also a place she hadn’t set foot in even once since Seolyeo left.

Gaya felt a surge of emotion at Soya’s words, delivered with a clear smile.

Of course, he too, like his younger siblings, wanted Soya to always be smiling.

But…

“Don’t smile like that.”

Gaya, who had released his beast transformation at some point, poked her nose bridge and said.

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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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