The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 49

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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 49

 

Soya wasn’t the only one who couldn’t immediately understand the situation.

 

Seolyeo blinked with a dumbfounded expression, then lowered her head to look down at her own palm.

 

What she found there wasn’t the paw pad of a beast covered in black fur, but a soft human palm.

 

Realizing this, Seolyeo’s body stiffened with a start, and then…

 

“Ahhhhh!”

 

Seolyeo screamed in surprise and tried to get up, but fell back down with a thud, landing hard on her bottom.

 

“Seolyeo!”

 

Hic!

 

When Soya quickly grabbed her hand, Seolyeo froze in surprise.

 

“You, you… are you really Seolyeo?”

 

Soya leaned toward her and asked.

 

“Yes…”

 

Seolyeo nodded, her earlobes turning bright red.

 

“…!”

 

At her honest affirmation, Soya’s mouth fell open.

 

‘Seolyeo really became human!’

 

Even though she had asked the question herself, Soya was equally shocked and froze.

 

* * *

 

The cold and dry Northern Lands.

 

A man with black hair flowing down to his feet sat upon a throne.

 

It was Hyeon Rabaek, head of the Black Tortoise clan and Lord of the Northern Lands.

 

With a bored expression, he had been resting his chin on his hand when he suddenly lifted his head.

 

“Chaos is dead.”

 

The connection with Chaos, which had been growing faint recently, was now completely severed.

 

However, his attitude toward his subordinate’s death was utterly indifferent.

 

The place where Chaos’s last traces disappeared was the Western Lands ruled by the White Tiger Family.

 

He had given Chaos only one command.

 

[Disrupt the Three Great Families. Prevent them from producing any more Dragon Emperor’s Brides.]

 

The Dragon Emperor’s Bride.

 

To erase that detestable name from the continent’s history forever.

 

“But why did his traces end at the White Tiger Family?”

 

Hyeon Rabaek frowned as he pondered the command he had given.

 

It was strange. As far as he knew, the White Family of the Western Region had no female heir of direct lineage.

 

The Azure Dragon Family Head was still unmarried, and he had severed all direct lineage of the Black Tortoise clan with his own hands.

 

Therefore, the most likely candidate for this generation’s Dragon Emperor’s Bride was the youngest daughter of the Suzaku Family, the only legitimate daughter among the Four Great Families.

 

Of course, branch family daughters could also become candidates at any time, but it was strange that Chaos had headed to the Western Lands instead of dealing with the Suzaku Family’s youngest daughter first.

 

“Shouldn’t he have eliminated the Southern Region’s daughter first, rather than the Western Region?”

 

Chaos was a clever demon beast, excellent at mimicking humans and discerning situations.

 

He must have seen something in the Western Lands.

 

It seemed necessary to investigate why Chaos had gone to the Western Lands and what he had been doing there when he died.

 

And if possible…

 

“The White Tiger Family keeps interfering.”

 

Hyeon Rabaek muttered with a slight frown.

 

Baek Saeon, head of the White Family.

 

He had been an irritating existence long ago, and still was now.

 

“It would be best to deal with him as well, if possible.”

 

Having made his decision, he pulled thread-like black strands from his Spirit Core.

 

The black strands writhed and clumped together, then transformed into human shapes and knelt before him in submission.

 

“Go to the Western Lands and investigate Chaos’s death. If anyone interferes, you may kill them all.”

 

The puppets created from his soul bowed their heads deeply, then disappeared.

 

Hyeon Rabaek slowly shifted his gaze to ask the man in black robes kneeling beside them.

 

“What’s the situation at the Imperial Palace?”

 

“A bloodbath seems imminent. Fifth Prince Tae Irim has drawn his sword.”

 

Pause.

 

For the first time, Hyeon Rabaek’s expression hardened, showing a noticeable reaction.

 

Fifth Prince, Tae Irim.

 

The bloodline of the Imperial Family he despised.

 

And at the same time…

 

The child who was ‘her’ only remaining trace.

 

“There are already rumors that the Fifth Prince has seized military control of the Central Region. At this rate, a new Dragon Emperor will be born soon.”

 

“…I see.”

 

Hyeon Rabaek muttered in a dry voice.

 

Her child’s movement was an unexpected variable.

 

However, the plan would not change.

 

To destroy the Empire and annihilate all the vile seeds of the Imperial Family. He had become the evil of this world for that purpose alone.

 

Even if the one he had to destroy was her child.

 

Then suddenly, he thought of another child who would be around the same age now if still alive.

 

The small boy who had inherited the blood of the Northern Lands, whom he had severed with his own hands.

 

* * *

 

The White Tiger Palace was turned upside down by Seolyeo’s sudden transformation into human form.

 

Even Baek Sara, who had been holed up in the Sacred Hall, came out to see Seolyeo after hearing the news.

 

Sara closed her eyes and placed her hand on top of Seolyeo’s head, muttering something, then opened her eyes wide and spoke.

 

“Definitely. This one isn’t a demon beast, but a beastkin. I can feel the Spirit Core’s energy.”

 

“…How strange. For someone who wore the guise of a demon beast for seven years to suddenly shed that skin.”

 

Saeon looked down at Seolyeo with his arms crossed.

 

He had found Seolyeo seven years ago in the contaminated Northern Lands.

 

The tiny creature had been limping on one leg, attacked by demon beast hunters, looking ready to starve to death.

 

Though she bared her teeth fiercely at him, he didn’t sense any intent to harm.

 

Somehow concerned, he couldn’t just ignore her.

 

But when he brought her to the White Tiger Palace, she ran straight to the mountain and made her nest there.

 

He had thought she was just a slightly unusual demon beast that didn’t harm people, but she was actually a beastkin.

 

“It seems someone contaminated what was originally a beastkin. But the contaminated energy has disappeared, leaving only the original pure energy. It’s as if someone ‘purified’ this child.”

 

“Th-that’s right, Aunt!”

 

Soya, who rarely raised her voice, interrupted Saeon and Sara’s conversation with an excited shout.

 

“Suddenly flames burst from my hand with a whoosh, and Seolyeo became human! Like this… No, definitely like this… That’s strange, why isn’t it working…”

 

Soya went “Hngh…” and tried to focus energy into her fingertips, but no flames appeared like before.

 

At that moment, Sara’s laughter rang out from above Soya’s head.

 

“Oh my. Hey, little Cotton Ball. That seems to be your special ability.”

 

“…!”

 

“Congratulations on awakening your special ability, little one.”

 

“Is turning Seolyeo into a human my special ability?”

 

“This child was originally not a demon beast but an ordinary beast-person. Your special ability is the power to cleanse what has been corrupted.”

 

“Cleanse…?”

 

“Yes, it’s called ‘Purification.'”

 

Soya blinked her eyes a few times, then asked what she had been curious about.

 

“Then does my special ability help the family clan too?”

 

“Of course it helps. Once you learn to handle your ability well, you’ll be of great help to the family clan.”

 

“…!”

 

Soya’s face brightened with joy.

 

* * *

 

While Saeon and Sara continued their conversation, Soya came outside with Seolyeo.

 

Soya sat crouched by the flower bed in a daze.

 

‘I really awakened a special ability.’

 

Her heart had been pounding with excitement since earlier.

 

She had secretly given up, thinking she might never grow or awaken an ability in her lifetime.

 

Her Spirit Core was too damaged, and until recently, she hadn’t even dared attempt Beast Transformation.

 

Soya recalled people’s reactions when she had saved Ga Hyeon during the recent Mountain Festival.

 

‘Everyone said I was amazing.’

 

Soya wanted to be helpful to the people of White Tiger Palace and repay their kindness.

 

‘I’ll definitely learn to handle my ability well and become someone White Tiger Palace needs.’

 

As Soya burned with determination, she looked over at Seolyeo crouched beside her.

 

Even though he had become human, the way he crouched with both hands on the ground was exactly the same as when he was in wolf form, making her laugh.

 

“Thank you, Seolyeo. Thanks to you, I awakened my special ability.”

 

“…?”

 

Seolyeo just tilted his head.

 

The wounds on what used to be Seolyeo’s front legs had also disappeared when he became human.

 

‘Does cleansing mean it also heals wounds?’

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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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