Chapter 112
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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Chapter 112
"Pardon?"
Jeok Soya looked at Sayeon with an expression that seemed to ask, 'How could you use such a violent method?'
"Wait. Don't misunderstand, my little cotton ball. Father isn't such a terrible person."
Sayeon hastily added those words upon seeing Jeok Soya's expression.
"I didn't use my hands, and I didn't use my feet. I only used my eyes."
"...?"
"I'm serious. I just exerted force through my gaze, and those bird-brained... those creatures living in the bird-headed ones' lands were so frail they simply collapsed."
As Sayeon earnestly made his excuses, he nearly let slip an unbecoming word before quickly catching himself, recalling what Jeok Young had said moments before.
But really, weren't those creatures bird-brained anyway?
Why should I have to refer to those fried-chicken-looking bird-brained fools with such polite language?
But... what if my little cotton ball picks up such crude language and mimics it?
My cotton ball is so clever and resembles me—she learns everything so quickly.
If she were to use such words with that pretty mouth of hers... I'd feel absolutely heartbroken.
"Well, when the King of Beasts fixes his gaze upon you, what creature wouldn't collapse? That's practically the same as deliberately striking them down."
Jeok Young brought his hand close to Jeok Soya's ear as if whispering, but deliberately raised his voice so Sayeon would hear his conspiratorial remarks.
"Then... is striking people down with one's gaze also Father's ability?"
"Not quite an ability, but... something similar, I suppose."
"Goodness. So Father was going around striking people down with his ability."
"Please don't say such things, young lady. The Household Head was far more violent when he was younger than he is now..."
"Ho Jeok Young. What nonsense are you spouting to my daughter?"
Unable to bear watching any longer, Sayeon bristled and interjected sharply.
In any case, Jeok Soya did not possess the ability to subdue others with her gaze.
No matter how much force I exerted through my eyes or how wide I opened them, such an ability would never manifest.
Father's advice seemed hardly useful at all.
"So in essence, I must move about without drawing attention?"
"Yes, my feathers seem far too conspicuous, I'm afraid."
Jeok Soya had become a master of hide-and-seek within Baek Ho Palace.
When she walked stealthily in her small beastkin form, everyone overlooked her.
Of course, there were times when some deliberately pretended not to notice her, but we shall set that aside...
But once her crimson feathers began to grow, despite her still-small frame, the vivid coloring made her increasingly conspicuous, and she was discovered far more often.
Especially in the Southern Lands, where red was considered sacred, she would stand out even more.
Upon hearing Jeok Soya's predicament, Jeok Young offered a clever solution.
"I know a fox among my acquaintances who is a master of transformation magic. Shall I introduce you?"
"Transformation magic?"
"As an introduction fee, how about ten handkerchiefs embroidered by the young lady herself?"
"Wonderful!"
Jeok Soya made the bargain with Jeok Young regarding the handkerchiefs.
"What? Ten? I only have two myself. You're giving that fox ten?"
Sayeon, who had been silently listening to their conversation, ground his teeth in frustration.
"Father. I'm giving this to Jeok Young fairly, so you mustn't steal it. Understood?"
"What...?"
Sayeon's expression turned genuinely aggrieved.
"Cotton ball. I'm truly wronged. You really think your father would just... take someone else's belongings...?"
As Sayeon made an uncharacteristic plea, Jeok Soya burst into delighted laughter.
"It was just a jest."
"My little cotton ball has grown quite mischievous."
Watching Jeok Soya laugh with her eyes crinkling into crescents, thrilled at having flustered her father, Sayeon pretended he hadn't noticed her prank at all and chuckled softly.
* * *
"This is a transformation orb from the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan, Miss."
Several days later, Jeok Young sought out Jeok Soya and handed her a transparent orb.
"If you shake it like this..."
He gripped the orb in one hand and shook it rapidly.
"Behold! It becomes liquid and malleable!"
"Wow...!"
Jeok Soya gazed at the transformation orb with wonder as it melted into a liquid state.
"What's with that ridiculous 'behold'? It's unsettling."
Yeon Jeong interjected from beside them, arms crossed.
"However, its effect doesn't last long—it must revert within a single day."
Ignoring Yeon Jeong's remark, Jeok Young continued explaining the orb's usage.
"Yes, Jeok Young!"
Jeok Soya retrieved a feather from Jjak Jjak that she had prepared beforehand.
She then dropped the feather into the malleable transformation orb.
The orb stained brown and reformed into a perfect sphere.
"It worked...!"
"Now grip it in your hand and try using it."
Jeok Soya grasped the orb and channeled her power into it.
Pop!
In an instant, her body shrank, transforming into a small lark.
"Chirp?!"
Jjak Jjak, who had been drowsily blinking on the windowsill, was startled to see Jeok Soya transformed into an identical form.
"Chirp, chirp, chirp!"
Watching Jjak Jjak flutter about in circles, Jeok Soya laughed with joy.
"Jjak Jjak. It's me. Jeok Soya."
"Chirp?"
"How is it? Truly flawless?"
Jeok Soya raised her wings as she spoke.
"Chirp?"
Jjak Jjak tilted her head in confusion.
"My, it's truly flawless, Miss Cotton Ball. Anyone would see nothing but an ordinary lark."
"What nonsense is this old fox spouting? How does our young lady's transformed appearance look like an ordinary lark? She's the cutest and most adorable lark in the entire world."
"Oh my, you're absolutely right. Our little cotton ball has transformed into the most magnificent lark in the world, and I misspoke."
At Yeon Jeong's jab, Jeok Young chuckled good-naturedly in response.
Though my reflection in the mirror showed the exact same lark form as Jjak Jjak, I felt bashful at their praise and wagged my tail feathers.
Yeon Jeong fashioned a small bundle from her handkerchief, placed the transformation orb inside, and secured it firmly to my back.
"Then our young lady must be careful on your journey."
She pushed the window wide open and bid me farewell.
"Yes, Yeon Jeong. I'll be careful."
I stepped one foot out through the open window and said goodbye to Jeok Young and Jjak Jjak as well.
"Jeok Young, please give my regards to Father. Jjak Jjak, guard Baek Ho Palace well in my stead. I'll be back soon."
Then I spread my wings wide and soared toward the southern sky.
* * *
The Southern Lands stretched endlessly with fertile crimson soil.
Ascending the three thousand stone steps at its center revealed an artificial celestial city that the bird-folk had created, chasing the heights of the sky.
And nestled at its innermost point stood an elegant ancient residence with an air of antiquity.
A residence in the heavens—thus it was called the Cheongsang Ancient Residence, the Jujak Vermillion Palace.
Long ago, it was also a place where I had lived.
Before the gates of the Joojak Residence, which I once thought I would never return to, I gazed up at the estate's nameplate.
The character used for the estate's name meant "correct" or "righteous."
But Father had told me something different. He said the world I had belonged to here was wrong.
[The world you've belonged to until now was mistaken.]
[So from now on, I will show you what is right.]
And Father kept that promise he made to me.
Now I could distinguish what was wrong and what was right.
Because of his teachings, I was no longer afraid to set foot in this residence that had left me only with sorrowful and painful memories.
"Oh my, Father! It's Riri...!"
Just then, a bright, cheerful laugh echoed from within the compound.
"Now, Riri, you must be careful."
"Older Brother should hold our Riri!"
Followed by the affectionate voices of Jeok Ahyun and Jeok Hwayou.
I spread my wings and fluttered up onto the compound wall.
Perched atop the wall, I could see Riri and her family, still appearing harmonious.
My heart, observing them, was far more serene and composed than I had anticipated.
When I was younger, seeing that sight always forced me to repeat reassurances to myself countless times.
But now, I no longer needed to do that.
That wrong world no longer stirred any envy in me.
I found myself suddenly curious.
If they learned that Riri wasn't their real daughter, how would they behave?
Would they cast her out coldly, as they had done to me? Or perhaps...
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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