The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 56

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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 56

 

“That’s right. I’m maintaining my health with the medicinal herbs that Sara sends, but that alone can’t completely heal that child’s spirit core.”

 

“But if you give that to the Young Lady… will you be alright, Family Head?”

 

“What wouldn’t be alright about it? It’s only natural for a father to give the best thing he can to his daughter. If anything, it makes me happy.”

 

Saeon spoke in a tone that suggested it was no big deal.

 

However, Jeok Yeong’s voice in response was filled with worry.

 

“But wasn’t that Dragon Blood Herb the only hope for treating your spirit core, Family Head? Even now, on full moon nights, you stay up all night in your office…”

 

‘…!’

 

Thump!

 

In an instant, Soya’s heart sank.

 

“It’s fine. I’m an adult, aren’t I? I’m strong. I can endure it. But Cotton Ball is still young.”

 

“Still…”

 

Saeon and Jeok Yeong continued their conversation, but Soya could no longer hear it.

 

‘What I consumed was the only way to treat Saeon’s spirit core?’

 

Soya’s eyes shook mercilessly as she mulled over what she had heard.

 

She didn’t know the details, but it seemed Saeon’s spirit core was in great pain.

 

And the only way to treat it was the herbal medicine she had consumed today, which meant Saeon had forever lost his method of treating his ailing spirit core.

 

‘I… without even knowing…’

 

I consumed it without even knowing, gulping it down so well.

 

I was so excited, thinking it was a gift from Saeon, and consumed it so well.

 

‘Like a fool…’

 

A surge of overwhelming emotion rose up.

 

I wanted to be helpful to Saeon and the family. I wanted to repay his kindness quickly.

 

Instead, I made things even harder for him.

 

‘What should I do? What can I do? Because of me…’

 

Why do I always cause trouble for Saeon?

 

I wanted to be a good and admirable child.

 

I wanted to be a helpful child.

 

As Soya stomped her feet in frustration, she suddenly looked down at her palm as a thought crossed her mind.

 

[Try not to use this flame and save it. Unless it’s absolutely necessary.]

 

Irim told me to save this flame. But…

 

‘An absolutely necessary moment. That’s right now.’

 

Soya steeled her resolve and left her spot.

 

She couldn’t let people notice, so Soya waited in her room until the night grew very deep.

 

Soya, who had been pretending to sleep under her blanket, immediately got up after Yeonjeong turned off the lights and left.

 

Then she secretly took the White Tiger Sword and quietly slipped back out into the corridor.

 

She passed Gayul’s room, passed Ga Hyeon’s room, and arrived at Saeon’s darkened bedroom.

 

Soya very carefully opened the door and went inside.

 

Drawing the White Tiger Sword, Soya looked at her palm and swallowed nervously.

 

‘It’s going to hurt terribly.’

 

Even though she had made up her mind, she couldn’t help but feel scared when the moment actually came.

 

After all, I was a coward who cried over even the smallest wounds.

 

‘How did Irim manage to do it…’

 

Fortunately, it didn’t seem like a lot of blood was needed.

 

‘Last time when I got hurt, it was just a tiny scratch but it still purified Seolyeo.’

 

Soya squeezed her eyes shut and pricked the tip of her index finger with the sword’s point.

 

“Ouch.”

 

As a drop of blood formed on her fingertip, Soya dropped the White Tiger Sword.

 

At the clanging metallic sound, Saeon’s eyes snapped open.

 

“Cotton Ball…?”

 

“Ah, Saeon. I…”

 

It was when Soya was frantically trying to make some excuse.

 

Flash—!

 

A small flame bloomed above Soya’s palm.

 

Instantly, Soya’s face lit up.

 

“Fire…?”

 

Soya directed the Purification Flame toward the bewildered Saeon.

 

The flame that floated up into the air seeped into the area around Saeon’s heart.

 

“What in the world is this…”

 

“It’s my special ability. Actually, it’s not purification but borrowing a different power. This is called the ‘Flame That Purifies All Things’!”

 

To the confused Saeon, Soya explained while omitting only the part about using blood as a medium.

 

“It’s a power that can heal all painful things!”

 

But something was strange.

 

Saeon’s expression, which would normally praise her as an admirable Cotton Ball, grew increasingly serious.

 

Whoosh—!

 

Suddenly he grabbed Soya’s wrist.

 

This exposed Soya’s hand, revealing the wound on her fingertip and the bright red drop of blood pooled there.

 

Startled, Soya tried to quickly hide her hand but failed.

 

“Cotton Ball, you.”

 

Though the wound wasn’t large, it was clearly made by stabbing with a sword.

 

Saeon, who had grasped the situation by looking at Soya’s wound and the White Tiger Sword fallen on the floor, asked in a frightening voice.

 

“What is this wound? Don’t tell me you made it yourself?”

 

“Ah, well…”

 

Soya hesitated and watched Saeon’s expression before confessing.

 

“Actually, my special ability isn’t perfect yet, so I have to use blood as a medium…”

 

“Why did you do that?”

 

Saeon hardened his expression and cut off Soya’s words.

 

Soya’s heart sank.

 

This was the first time Saeon had spoken to me with such a frightening face and stern voice.

 

Until now, no matter what I did, he always praised me saying I did well, but now he was speaking with such a scary face that I felt a little hurt.

 

“Why, why are you speaking with such a scary face?”

 

I did it for Saeon’s sake.

 

So I wouldn’t be a burden to Saeon.

 

And to protect Saeon.

 

To repay Saeon’s kindness.

 

I did it for that reason.

 

“Saeon gave up the Dragon Blood Herb for me. I also wanted to be helpful to Saeon, to repay his kindness, so I did it.”

 

A voice mixed with resentment came out without my realizing it.

 

“Kindness?”

 

As if he had heard something he shouldn’t have, Saeon’s face contorted sharply.

 

Saeon was originally someone with a cold and chilly impression.

 

When such a person removed the smile he always wore in front of Soya and contorted his expression, he looked very menacing.

 

Just as Soya unconsciously took a hesitant step backward.

 

“No one ever told you to repay any kindness.”

 

Saeon spoke in a voice that seemed to chew on his anger.

 

“You’re a child. You’re still a child. You’re the kind of child who should be loved just for existing, without having to do anything.”

 

Normally, Soya would have lowered her head at those words.

 

However, Soya couldn’t do that. No, she didn’t do that.

 

I should be loved without doing anything because I’m a child?

 

But that wasn’t the case until now.

 

Even when I didn’t do anything, everyone just hated me.

 

Of course, that wasn’t Saeon’s fault. It wasn’t Soya’s fault either.

 

Everything wrong was with the people of the Vermillion Bird Mansion, hadn’t her ‘real family’ told her so.

 

But even so, Soya’s voice rose with resentment, even though she knew she shouldn’t.

 

“Why don’t children have to do anything?”

 

Ah, this isn’t right.

 

“Just like how you protected me, children can protect adults too!”

 

I shouldn’t raise my voice to Saeon like this.

 

“I can protect you too!”

 

Saeon isn’t at fault. I shouldn’t get angry at him like this.

 

“Why are you saying I don’t have to do anything for you!”

 

How long had it been since she raised her voice like this. Soya was breathing heavily.

 

A brief silence flowed.

 

As her heavy breathing gradually calmed down, Soya suddenly came to her senses and froze completely.

 

What did I just do?

 

I yelled at Saeon.

 

Even though Saeon did nothing wrong, even knowing that, I yelled at him.

 

In an instant, a fearful emotion bloomed across the child’s face.

 

Far from repaying his kindness, I’ve only been a burden every time, and now I’m even yelling.

 

Wh, what should I do?

 

I, I need to apologize quickly. If I don’t, he’ll, he’ll… even Saeon will come to hate me.

 

No.

 

I don’t want that.

 

I don’t want to be hated by Saeon.

 

Soya, who had fallen into a panic in an instant, stammered out an excuse with trembling breath.

 

“S, Saeon. Just now, that wasn’t me trying to yell…”

 

It was then.

 

“Soya.”

 

Saeon knelt down to meet Soya’s eye level, then wiped the corners of the child’s eyes with his fingertips.

 

“Don’t cry.”

 

“…?”

 

At those words, Soya raised her hand to feel her own face.

 

It was wet.

 

“Hic…!”

 

Only then did Soya realize she was crying and sucked in her tears with a ‘hic!’

 

“You asked why you don’t have to do anything for me.”

 

Saeon spoke with a pained voice to Soya’s reddened eyes.

 

“Because I’m your father.”

 

“…!”

 

Soya’s throat, which had been trying to swallow her tears, trembled strongly at those words.

 

“There’s no father anywhere who wishes for his daughter’s sacrifice. Not just me, but all fathers in the world are like that.”

 

“…”

 

“There’s no father who wants his daughter to hurt, and no father who wants his daughter to harm herself. Gratitude? Even without such things, even if a child does nothing, loving unconditionally is what real parents do.”

 

“But, sob, that person…”

 

At Soya’s tearful voice, one of Saeon’s eyebrows shot up crookedly.

 

“That’s why that person is fake.”

 

Saeon said firmly and added.

 

“I’m real.”

 

“Hic, sniff, you’re right. Everything you say is right.”

 

Soya nodded while biting her lower lip hard to keep from crying.

 

However, she couldn’t help the sobbing sounds that kept leaking through her teeth.

 

“So Soya. Never use that power again. If it’s a power you can only use by hurting yourself, it’s better not to have it at all.”

 

“Then, sniff, what can I do for you?”

 

At Soya’s tearful question, Saeon smiled broadly and answered.

 

“Call me father. It would be even better if you called me dad.”

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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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