The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 98
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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 98
After hearing about Hyeonmu and ‘evil’ from the Divine Beasts, Soya pondered deeply about how to get to the Northern Lands.
‘Just getting to the border is already a challenge.’
To reach the Land of Hyeonmu, she would have to pass through the Northern Border of the Empire guarded by the Imperial Army.
However, without an imperial decree, she couldn’t even reach the border.
Moreover, even if she reached the border, breaking through it to cross into the Northern Lands could be considered treason.
While walking through the garden lost in thought, Soya quickly turned her head at sounds coming from the main gate.
It was a messenger bringing letters and supplies to First Elder Brother at the border.
‘If I could slip in among them, I might be able to go north.’
But secretly mixing in with the messengers would obviously get her caught quickly.
‘Ugh, this won’t work! I need to tell Father!’
After much deliberation, Soya went to find Saeon.
‘That’s what Hyeoni Elder Brother said. Because we’re family. When there are difficult problems, we solve them together.’
Then she spoke confidently.
“To awaken Hyeonmu, I need to go to the Northern Lands. Please help me, Father.”
At Soya’s words, Saeon wore a thoughtful expression for a moment, then soon answered.
“Alright, Cotton Ball. But Father will go with you.”
He immediately brought paper, brush and ink and wrote a letter to the Emperor.
“If Father says he’s going to visit his son, His Majesty will surely grant permission.”
Knowing Father would come with her, Soya felt very reassured.
Soon after, the Emperor granted permission quite readily.
The official purpose of Saeon’s northern expedition was to deliver supplies from White Tiger Palace and boost morale.
The fact that Soya was going along was kept secret both inside and outside White Tiger Palace.
Taking a young girl to such a dangerous battlefield would be perfect for arousing suspicion if it reached the ears of the Evil Beasts.
* * *
Finally, the day Saeon was to depart for the Northern Lands arrived.
Soya transformed into a small bird and hid snugly in Saeon’s embrace.
While the White Tiger Palace workers loaded supplies onto carts, Saeon departed first, telling them he’d meet them at the border.
When people’s gazes were no longer visible.
“Chirp!”
Soya poked her head out from Saeon’s embrace and cried out.
“Success, Father!”
“Baby Cotton Ball, weren’t you stuffy hiding like that?”
“Not at all! It was so fun, like playing hide-and-seek.”
Soya giggled cheerfully.
Saeon patted Soya’s head once, then immediately picked up speed toward the Northern Lands.
As they gradually approached the border, the desolate northern region’s black sandstorms came flying.
“Kiiiiiiiiiek!”
At the appearance of a pack of Demon Beasts shaped like black creatures, Soya pointed at them with her short wings and shouted.
“Father, it’s Demon Beasts!”
“Stay back for a moment, Cotton Ball.”
Saeon immediately drew his sword and charged at the Demon Beasts.
Soya flapped her wings in the air, cheering enthusiastically for Saeon.
Soya was amazed at Father’s ability to annihilate dozens of Demon Beasts with a single movement.
However, they soon encountered a problem.
A Centipede Demon Beast with many legs appeared.
Saeon’s face, which had been fiercely slaughtering Demon Beasts until just moments ago, suddenly turned pale.
Every time Saeon cut down a Centipede Demon Beast, he squeezed his eyes shut as if in agony.
“Father, are you okay?”
“Too many… legs…”
“I’ll help you!”
Unable to bear watching this, Soya released her beast transformation with a ‘pop!’ and stood in front of Saeon.
Then she took the White Tiger Sword and defeated the Centipede Demon Beasts one by one.
When the Demon Beasts were mostly dealt with, Soya turned to Saeon and said.
“It’s all done now, Father!”
“…Thank you, Cotton Ball.”
Saeon answered with a face that had grown haggard in the short time.
Soya couldn’t understand why Father was afraid of these small Centipede Demon Beasts when he had easily defeated much scarier ones.
“…Cotton Ball, aren’t you scared of Centipede Demon Beasts?”
“No! You just defeat them like this!”
Soya answered while finding Centipede Demon Beasts that were still alive and wriggling, stabbing them with the White Tiger Sword going ‘stab! stab!’
Each time she did this, Saeon flinched as if he himself had been stabbed by the sword.
“Baby Cotton Ball is so brave. Defeating even those horrible Centipede Demon Beasts…”
It seemed Father was really, really afraid of Centipede Demon Beasts.
Seeing how he found it painful to even look at the already dead beasts’ legs twitching.
“Father, please rest here.”
Soya had Saeon sit leaning against a tree trunk, then went to find a stream to fetch water.
It was fascinating to discover that Father, who was always so reliable, also had things he was afraid of.
‘Oh my. I’ll have to protect him.’
Following the sound of trickling water, Soya soon found a stream.
As Soya crouched down in front of it to fill her water pouch.
Rustle.
At the sound coming from across the way, Soya reflexively looked up.
Then in an instant.
“…!”
Soya’s eyes widened as she discovered a young man frozen in front of her.
Hair as white as snow. Eyes as blue and clear as if they contained the sky. And though he had a somewhat cold impression…
The young master before her eyes resembled someone Soya loved very, very much.
Father, Baek Saeon.
‘Could it be…?’
Soya somehow felt like she knew who this person was.
Soon both Soya’s and the young man’s mouths opened simultaneously.
“Gaya… Elder Brother?”
“Cotton Ball?”
* * *
Saeon was resting against the tree trunk. He felt nauseous from seeing too many centipedes.
“Baby Cotton Ball is amazing too. How does she kill centipedes… so well.”
Recalling Soya drawing the White Tiger Sword and charging at the Centipede Demon Beasts saying she’d save him made him smile a little.
“To think she’d step forward so bravely saying she’d protect Papa. Our Baby Cotton Ball has really grown up.”
As he chuckled and recovered his condition.
“Father! Father!”
From far away came light footsteps along with Soya’s voice, sounding somehow excited.
Casually lifting his head, Saeon discovered a young man walking alongside Soya, holding her hand.
“…!”
Saeon’s eyes widened slightly, and he suddenly sat up straight.
His trembling pupils soon curved warmly with emotion.
“I met Elder Brother just ahead!”
“Father.”
The first son of the White Tiger Family, Baek Gaya, stood before Saeon.
“Gaya.”
Saeon pulled his son into a tight embrace and exchanged greetings.
“You’ve grown well, my son. I’ve missed you all this time.”
“But you saw me last year too?”
Gaya replied as if finding it strange.
In truth, Saeon had visited the border region last year and the year before that too, making various excuses.
“Yes. I saw you last year too.”
However, Saeon simply burst into laughter despite his son’s lukewarm reaction.
It was customary for the heirs of the Four Great Families to leave their clans after completing their First Growth and carry out the Imperial Family’s commands.
So for Gaya, he was simply fulfilling his natural duty as the family’s heir.
Saeon had also considered it natural at that age, but now that he had become a father, he understood.
How precious each and every moment of watching a child grow was.
How moving it was to face a child who had grown so much during their time apart, and how regretful it was that he couldn’t be present for every moment of the child’s growth.
Though his son, who looked at him as if finding it all strange, didn’t seem to understand this feeling.
Saeon grinned and ruffled his son’s hair.
* * *
Gaya guided the two to the Imperial Army barracks.
Soya had to transform into a small bird again to avoid being spotted by people.
While Saeon spoke with the person in charge of this place, Gaya took Soya and strolled through the forest near the barracks.
“I was always curious since I heard I had a little sister.”
Gaya said, looking back at Soya perched on his shoulder.
“You’re much smaller and rounder than what Baek Gahyeon told me.”
“Chirp?”
“Thanks for the handkerchief, little Cotton Ball.”
He grinned and pulled out the handkerchief Soya had given him as a gift not long ago.
Seeing it, Soya’s face brightened cheerfully.
“You’ve been keeping the handkerchief I gave you?”
“Yeah. It looks like a tiger that got half-made, but it’s grown on me and looks cute now.”
At those words, Soya burst into giggles.
Since there was no one around Soya who spoke that way, Gaya’s words sounded like amusing jokes to her.
“But why do you call me Cotton Ball?”
“Everyone calls you Cotton Ball, right? I don’t like being the same as others. This is cuter too, Cotton—.”
“…?”
Soya couldn’t readily understand Gaya’s words and tilted her head.
‘He seems like a rather unique person. But still….’
“Elder Brother Gaya seems like a gentle and good person, just like Father.”
Soya truly thought so.
Her first elder brother, whom she was meeting for the first time in her life, was such a gentle and good person that he treasured a gift from his youngest sibling whom he had never even seen.
“Hmm.”
At those words, Gaya made a meaningful expression.
“I don’t think so?”
“…?”
Seeing Soya blink her eyes, he curved his eyes with a grin and said,
“I’m a more gentle and good person than Father. Remember that, Cotton Ball.”
Soya burst into giggles once again.
Just as a soft smile was about to bloom on Gaya’s lips at the young bird’s innocent laughter,
‘Huh?’
Soya, who had been on Gaya’s shoulder, spotted a man walking in the distance and froze.
‘That person is…?’
The brilliant red hair that blazed like flames was a characteristic that appeared in the direct lineage of the Suzaku Family.
Soon, Soya instinctively darted into hiding within Gaya’s collar.
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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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