The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 74

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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 74

 

Saeon’s party rode hard for a long time before arriving at the village where the problematic epidemic was said to be spreading.

 

“Thank you for making this precious journey, Master of the Western Region. I am Nokseo, the village chief of this village.”

 

A deer beastman with long horns greeted Saeon’s party.

 

Soya secretly hid her curious feelings while stealing glances at the village chief’s horns.

 

She had heard that some beastmen living close to nature retained animal characteristics even in their human transformation, but this was the first time she had seen it directly.

 

“Where are the sick ones?”

 

“Please come this way.”

 

The village chief led them to the large central building in the village.

 

The moment she stepped inside, Soya was startled.

 

Countless people were lying on the floor due to lack of beds, crying out in pain.

 

Some of them had skin that had turned completely black.

 

Seeing this, Soya unconsciously grabbed onto Father’s sleeve.

 

“It suddenly began breaking out some time ago, but we couldn’t understand what was happening at all. We reported it as an epidemic, but upon investigation, it turned out not to be contagious.”

 

“….”

 

Saeon’s eyes deepened as he looked down at the patients.

 

The moment he saw their condition, he could understand why the Emperor had sent him to this place.

 

‘This is demon poison.’

 

Saeon had also been afflicted by demon poison ten years ago in the Northern Lands.

 

‘The Four Fiends, Qiongqi.’

 

Saeon recalled that wicked demon beast that had spread demon poison and contaminated the spirit cores of beastmen in the chaotic battlefield.

 

‘Is this its doing?’

 

More precisely, it would be the work of the poison insects controlled by Qiongqi, one of the Four Fiends.

 

Qiongqi’s poison insects burrow into people’s skin, spreading poison throughout their bodies and contaminating their spirit cores.

 

At that time, many of those who had gone to the battlefield with Saeon had died with the poison spreading black like this.

 

Even Saeon, who had managed to prevent the demon poison from spreading by cutting away the contaminated flesh the moment the poison insect burrowed in, had to stay awake all night on full moon nights, unable to endure the yin energy.

 

It was such a terrible demon poison.

 

‘The problem is… why are these symptoms appearing here, so far from the battlefield?’

 

Saeon’s brow furrowed.

 

Qiongqi’s poison insects were weak to light and heat.

 

While they might survive in the Northern Lands covered in black fog and cold air, on ordinary land they would quickly die from even the smallest amount of light and heat.

 

“Where else are there villages with epidemics in the vicinity?”

 

Saeon asked while spreading out a map.

 

“Including our village, there’s Windflower Village above us and Green Moss Village below us…”

 

“…They’re all situated around a mountain.”

 

He muttered with a furrowed brow as his eyes scanned the points the village chief was indicating.

 

All three villages were situated around one mountain.

 

The people here were all ordinary folk who lived by farming.

 

In spring, they would climb the mountain to gather wild vegetables to save food…

 

It was about time for shepherd’s purse and wild chives to bloom, so they would inevitably have climbed the mountain.

 

‘First, I should investigate this mountain.’

 

As he thought that far, he suddenly noticed small hands tightly gripping his sleeve.

 

Soya had a dejected expression on her face.

 

Soya felt terribly upset and sorry that she had only harbored excitement about vaguely following Father, without thinking deeply about the sick people.

 

‘If only I could use purification power, I could help the sick people.’

 

Soya recalled her power that had healed Saeon’s spirit core three years ago.

 

Soya still hadn’t found the owner of that voice, and therefore couldn’t use that power without a medium.

 

‘I came all this way but can’t be of any help.’

 

It was when Soya was looking down at just her toes with an upset heart.

 

Pat—.

 

A thick palm settled on top of Soya’s head.

 

Soya raised her head to look up at Saeon.

 

Saeon lowered himself to meet the gaze of the child whose face was full of dejection.

 

“I can see exactly what you’re thinking written all over your face, Baby Cotton Ball.”

 

“I didn’t know people were suffering like this. I feel so sorry for being excited about following Father.”

 

“That’s understandable. I didn’t explain that it was such a frightening disease.”

 

“Father, what if I…”

 

“That won’t do.”

 

Saeon cut her off sharply, having guessed what Soya was about to say.

 

“But if I use purification power…!”

 

“Even if you treat them that way, it would only be a temporary measure. Are you planning to wound your body every time someone else’s spirit core gets contaminated?”

 

“That’s…”

 

As if she hadn’t thought that far, Soya’s voice grew small.

 

“Baby Cotton Ball’s heart wanting to help people is very admirable. But you can’t save everyone that way.”

 

Saeon said in a firm voice.

 

“This isn’t a naturally occurring disease, but one that someone with ill intentions deliberately spread. We came here to find that source.”

 

“….”

 

“So let’s first find that cause, and then think about the method Baby Cotton Ball thought of afterward.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Soya nodded, convinced by Saeon’s persuasion.

 

Of course, Saeon also knew.

 

If this really was Qiongqi’s demon poison, there was no clear way to heal contaminated spirit cores.

 

But on the other hand, if this really was the work of the Northern Lands, he couldn’t expose Soya’s power to them.

 

“Father will find the cause that made people sick together with the adults, so if Baby Cotton Ball is really worried, how about helping people in other ways?”

 

“Other ways?”

 

At those words, Soya looked around to find work she could help with.

 

‘Work I can do…’

 

Then she noticed young beastmen who had been left behind because their parents were sick.

 

‘I think I found it!’

 

Strength returned to Soya’s fists that had been hanging limply.

 

* * *

 

While Saeon led the attendants to investigate the mountain.

 

Soya remained in the village with Gayul and Seolyeo to comfort and play with the young beastmen.

 

“This is a game called handkerchief passing.”

 

The young beastmen who were initially wary began to show interest in the games Soya taught them, gradually becoming absorbed.

 

Soon the children’s giggling laughter echoed around, and Soya’s mood improved along with the children’s brightened expressions.

 

‘When I first came to White Tiger Palace, Yul Elder Brother played with me like this too.’

 

Soya thought of Gayul, who had played ball games and hide-and-seek with her whenever she felt dejected.

 

She didn’t realize it then, but perhaps Yul Elder Brother had been with her with this same feeling.

 

It was when Soya smiled brightly and turned to look at Gayul.

 

Gasp!

 

Gayul was startled and immediately turned his head away, pretending not to notice.

 

‘Huh? Why is Elder Brother acting like that?’

 

Gayul’s behavior was strange.

 

It was certain. While pretending otherwise, he kept stealing glances at her.

 

‘He’s been like that since we were at the White Tiger Palace.’

 

Come to think of it, it wasn’t just Gayul who had been acting strange.

 

‘Hyeoni Elder Brother was strange too. Ever since that day we ran into each other at the library, he’s been constantly watching me.’

 

Ga Hyeon thought he was hiding it well without showing it, but to Soya’s rather perceptive eyes, that awkward attitude was all too obvious.

 

“The Elder Brothers seem a bit strange.”

 

Soya muttered with a deliberately serious expression.

 

For the past few days, the two of them would make serious faces, then when she approached them, they’d startle and pretend nothing was happening.

 

Or they’d pretend not to while stealing glances at her, almost like they were monitoring her…

 

“Those tigers were always strange, weren’t they?”

 

Seolyeo tilted her head as she thought of Ga Hyeon and Gayul.

 

Seolyeo had never seen such strange kids before.

 

Most children would scream and throw stones when they saw her.

 

But there was Gayul, who got excited upon seeing her, saying it was his first time seeing a demon beast and pestering her for a duel.

 

And there was Ga Hyeon, who subtly pressured him not to bother Soya too much.

 

‘The tigers of the White Tiger Palace are all strange without exception. But the strangest of all is that man who brought me here.’

 

It was when Seolyeo’s thoughts gradually reached Saeon.

 

“Did the Elder Brothers make a secret between just the two of them, leaving me out?”

 

Soya muttered in a hurt voice.

 

“Then shall I tell you another secret that those tigers don’t know?”

 

Seolyeo, who had been watching her for a moment, asked as if to comfort her, and Soya immediately showed interest.

 

“Another secret? What is it?”

 

“Over there, that man smells strange.”

 

Seolyeo said, pointing to one of the physicians caring for the patients.

 

“A strange smell?”

 

“Yes! The smell of the Northern Lands!”

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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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