The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 30

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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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Chapter 30

It was at that moment.

“Kying! Kyng!”

Seolyeo raised its tail stiffly and bit at Ga Hyeon’s shoes.

“That thing….”

Ga Hyeon’s eyes narrowed thinly upon discovering Seolyeo.

Although its appearance seemed to mimic a tiger, it was clearly not a mountain beast.

If that were truly a mountain beast, there was no way he, a direct lineage member of the White Tiger who governed Horim Mountain, wouldn’t recognize it.

“A demon beast…?”

The black demon beast possessed the same aura as that barrier that had been spread out as if protecting someone.

Could it be that the barrier from earlier was created by this creature? But from what, and whom was it trying to protect?

It was when Ga Hyeon harbored such suspicions.

“Th-this child isn’t a bad one, Young Master! Really!”

Soya was startled and quickly lifted Seolyeo, pulling it away from Ga Hyeon.

“The mountain beasts attacked me, but it saved me….”

“The mountain beasts attacked you?”

Ga Hyeon, who had been examining Seolyeo, suddenly raised his head and asked back.

“Yes… Su Ri told me to stay close to the Youngest Young Master, but suddenly mountain beasts appeared, so….”

Soya told him everything about the violent mountain beasts and how she had to flee deep into the forest to escape them.

Worried that he might not believe her, Soya glanced at Ga Hyeon’s expression.

“You’re not hurt anywhere, are you?”

Ga Hyeon asked with a pale face while examining Soya’s body.

“Were you bitten or scratched anywhere? Did you fall while running?”

Upon hearing that Soya hadn’t simply gotten lost, Ga Hyeon felt dizzy.

“Yes, I’m fine. Sanho lent me a wind orb… Ouch!”

It was when Soya was explaining in a calm voice to reassure the Young Master who seemed even more shocked than herself.

Suddenly, her legs gave out and Soya collapsed to the ground.

Although the Blue Wolf’s wind orb had strengthened her legs and ankles, it had pushed her physical abilities to their limits, putting strain on her body.

Meeting Ga Hyeon had put her at ease, and only now did the tension leave her rigid body.

“Kying!”

“Soya!”

Ga Hyeon quickly supported her.

Seolyeo, who had bounced out of her arms when Soya collapsed, circled around her and Ga Hyeon.

“Still, it’s fortunate. That you had the wind orb.”

Ga Hyeon let out a sigh of relief. Without the wind orb, something truly terrible might have happened.

“You must have been very scared.”

The beasts of Horim Mountain were under the White Tiger Family’s control, making them gentle and harmless to people.

Yet they had tried to attack Soya.

And coincidentally, on the very day Father was away.

‘Did someone deliberately target Soya? But why?’

It might be too much of a leap.

But the situation was too coincidental, and as Ga Hyeon’s suspicions solidified, he quickly shook his head.

First, they needed to get down the mountain.

The night air was too cold.

Ga Hyeon bent his knees and turned his back toward Soya.

“Get on.”

“What? But….”

“I’m worried you might step on a stone and fall in the dark path. So just get on, Soya.”

To ride on the precious Young Master’s back felt somewhat burdensome. More than anything, the Second Young Master….

‘He must find me uncomfortable.’

Soya hesitated, recalling how Ga Hyeon had treated her so far.

‘What if I’m bothering him again.’

Soya, who was more perceptive than anyone when it came to negative emotions, was well aware that Ga Hyeon found her presence unwelcome.

“Come on, Soya.”

However, at his repeated urging, Soya carefully climbed onto Ga Hyeon’s back.

Ga Hyeon’s small back was firmer than she had expected. It was a solid back that seemed like it would protect her.

Soya recalled having seen such a kind and solid back before.

The broad, solid back of some adult man who had appeared fluttering white silk and protected her.

‘Ah, that’s right. Little Young Master’s back resembles Saeon’s back.’

With that thought, her uncomfortable feelings seemed to gradually fade.

Recalling Ga Hyeon’s urgent voice as he searched for her, his pale expression, and his wavering eyes made her feel strange.

She had vaguely hoped that someone might come looking for her, but she never thought the Second Young Master would come searching for her.

But thinking that Ga Hyeon had searched for her with such eyes and such an expression gave her a very strange feeling.

That was because Ga Hyeon seemed to greatly dislike her being here.

‘From the first day, I had been bothering him….’

Soya glanced at Ga Hyeon.

Since she was on his back, she couldn’t see what expression he was making.

However, she remembered that when he appeared calling her name, his hair was damp with sweat and stuck to his forehead and cheeks, and there were small scratches visible through tears in his clothing.

‘Did he get hurt while looking for me?’

If that were the case, she would feel terrible.

“…Yesterday.”

Ga Hyeon, who had been walking silently for a while, spoke to Soya.

“You misheard.”

“What?”

“When I said ‘trashy pebbles,’ I was referring to that stupid Ho Jeoka’s head. I absolutely wasn’t talking about those stone talismans you were holding.”

“Ah….”

“The stones you had in your hands yesterday, those are mine, right?”

Soya nodded, then realized he couldn’t see her and immediately answered aloud.

“Yes.”

“Thank you. The stone talisman you gave me before was getting lonely by itself, but now it has a companion.”

“Um… you didn’t throw that away…?”

“Why would I throw it away? You gave it to me.”

“But last time….”

Soya trailed off, recalling when she had been picking up stones in the garden and encountered Ga Hyeon.

[Coming to pick up trash from the garden and secretly leaving it behind. Such mischievous pranks are a bit troublesome. It’s also unfair to those who come to clean the room.]

Ga Hyeon also realized what Soya was remembering and quickly offered the excuse he had prepared.

“Back then, Ho Jeoka didn’t tell me they were talismans, so I didn’t know! I said that because I didn’t know!”

“Ah….”

However, having said that much, Ga Hyeon suddenly felt ashamed of his behavior.

Suddenly, he stopped walking and hung his head low.

“Young Master…?”

When Ga Hyeon remained standing in the same spot with his head down for a long time, Soya called to him carefully.

“…I’m sorry. What I just said was all excuses. The truth is, I ignored your sincerity. Please forgive me.”

At Ga Hyeon’s apology, Soya was startled and waved her hands.

“Forgiveness? Please don’t say such things to me.”

“If anyone does something wrong, it’s only natural to apologize and ask for forgiveness.”

However, Ga Hyeon spoke with a firmer voice.

“I’m sorry for making you uncomfortable when you first came to an unfamiliar place and felt awkward, for ignoring your sincerity and speaking harshly even though I knew it would hurt your feelings.”

“….”

Soya’s lips pressed together.

Wrong.

Soya thought his words were very strange.

It was only natural for people to dislike her.

She was a wicked little bird unworthy of love, and hating or tormenting her could never be considered wrong.

That was the logic Soya had learned during her three years with the Vermillion Bird Family.

Moreover, Ga Hyeon had never hit or pinched her, never locked her in the storage room or pushed her down.

Yet he was apologizing to her for the second time.

“And whether you accept my apology or not is up to you to decide.”

“….”

“Not right now, but when you feel better… forgive me then, Soya.”

“….”

Ga Hyeon began walking again.

After a long while, Soya spoke to him in a very small voice.

“I wasn’t upset.”

“Huh…?”

Ga Hyeon suddenly stopped and turned his head toward Soya.

“Really…?”

His questioning voice trembled slightly, unlike his usual self.

“Um… yesterday I was a little, just a little sad, but now I’m fine. Really!”

“….”

“You came running to rescue me like this.”

Soya said with a bright smile.

“…!”

Ga Hyeon’s eyes widened before gently curving.

“I’ll have to come running more often then.”

He smiled softly and turned his head forward again, beginning to descend the slope.

With each step he took, the basket hanging at Soya’s side swayed gently.

Squeak, squeak!

The black baby beast hopped along, chasing after them.

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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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