Chapter 43
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Chapter 43
Sayeon secured the palanquin firmly to Seol Yo's back, then lifted Jeok Soya onto it.
Soon the North Gate of Baek Ho Palace swung open, and the mountain beasts carrying the children and palanquin bolted up the mountainside like arrows.
Seol Yo raced toward the mountain faster than anyone else.
At that wind-like speed, Jeok Soya squeezed her eyes shut in fear.
"Soya! Open your eyes and look ahead!"
At the sound of Baek Gahyun's voice from beside her, Jeok Soya cracked open her eyelids.
A refreshing breeze caressed her cheeks as the panoramic view of the mountain unfolded beneath the crystalline autumn sky.
"Wow...!"
Jeok Soya gasped involuntarily.
"How is it, Soya? Refreshing, isn't it?"
Turning to look beside her, I saw Baek Gahyun perched atop a mountain beast rather than in a palanquin, smiling brightly at me.
Jeok Soya beamed back at him and answered.
"Yes! It's truly wonderful!"
Her clear voice echoed through the valley.
Last time, I had been too frightened running through the dark mountain paths and too worried about whether I could expose Siyo's misdeeds to fully appreciate how refreshing the mountain breeze felt against Seol Yo's back.
We soon passed the mountainside where I had once wandered with Baek Gayul and climbed all the way to the peak.
Jeok Soya and Seol Yo arrived first.
Seol Yo bent his knees and lowered himself, and Jeok Soya leaped nimbly down from beneath the palanquin.
"Thank you, Seol Yo."
As I stroked his fluffy black fur, Seol Yo made soft snuffling sounds.
Soon, not only the tigers of the Branch Family but also the most distinguished clans of the Western Lands gathered in one place.
Sayeon, wearing a white tiger mask, stood before a grand altar and began the ceremonial rites to open the Mountain Lord Festival.
Wielding a sword and bell in both hands, he performed a sword dance before the altar.
"Wow...!"
Jeok Soya couldn't tear her eyes away, marveling at his graceful movements.
After completing the ceremonial rites, Sayeon introduced Jeok Soya to the retainers and publicly announced her registration into the family.
Those who already knew of Jeok Soya's existence let out polite coughs, while some retainers who learned the news for the first time at this gathering widened their eyes in surprise.
Over the past few days, I had gradually come to feel that I was becoming part of Sayeon's family, but being acknowledged before so many people made me feel both shy and warmly content.
"Now then, let us begin the Mountain Lord Festival."
Ho Jeok Young handed a large jar to Sayeon.
Sayeon placed his hand over the jar's opening and closed his eyes.
Brilliant white light burst forth from the jar, transforming into hundreds of phantom beasts.
The illusory creatures prowled the clearing as if they were real mountain beasts, then dashed swiftly into the shrubland.
"The young beast-human who hunts the most phantom beasts shall become this year's 'Mountain Lord.' All hunting scenes of the young beast-humans will be recorded by the phantom beasts. However, if you harm a real mountain beast, you will be disqualified, so please be careful."
The children cheered at Ho Jeok Young's explanation.
"Show us the valor of the brave tigers!"
"Heh, the Mountain Lord title is mine this year!"
Baek Gayul and Arang also shouted excitedly among the cheering children.
Pwooooo―
Soon, the loud blast of a horn echoed across the grounds, and the Mountain Lord Festival began.
Baek Gayul and Arang immediately transformed with a sharp 'pop!' into their beast forms.
The other children likewise transformed and bolted into the forest like arrows.
It was then that Jeok Soya, unable to transform, hesitated alone.
"Soya, come with your older brother."
Baek Gahyun said, taking Soya's hand.
"But... if I go with you, won't I just slow you down?"
Unlike last time, Soya didn't have a wind orb, and had never received any martial training whatsoever.
On top of that, unable to transform, she worried she'd only be a burden to Baek Gahyun.
Understanding her hesitation, Baek Gahyun smiled softly and squeezed her hand with reassurance.
"It's fine. I won the Mountain Lord Festival last year, so I know what I'm doing. Since this is your first time, your older brother will help you. Let's try catching even just a small creature together."
"Yes, older brother!"
At his words, Soya smiled brightly and nodded.
"Sorry, Seol Yo. I can't take you from here. But I'll be back soon."
Soya gave Seol Yo, who was whimpering that he wanted to go too, one last pat before dashing into the forest with Baek Gahyun.
"Look, there's a rabbit!"
The first creature they spotted was a small rabbit.
"You don't need to use weapons. Just strike the vital point. Approach carefully and grab it—like when you played tag with Gayul."
"Yes!"
Soya was creeping toward the rabbit when—
Snap!
A snow-white tiger cub suddenly snatched the rabbit by the scruff of its neck.
"Older brother Gayul...!"
Baek Gayul glanced at Soya, then struck the rabbit's vital point with his plump front paw.
Pop!
In an instant, the rabbit scattered into white light.
"Roar, roar! (Sorry, fluffy, but I won't give up the Mountain Lord seat, not even for you!)"
Baek Gayul's pink nose twitched mischievously as he let out a triumphant laugh, then bounded away into the opposite shrubland.
"That's not fair."
Soya watched the spot where Baek Gayul disappeared, her expression disappointed.
"Soya."
From a short distance away, Baek Gahyun lowered his voice and called to her in a hushed whisper.
In the spot he pointed to, a small field mouse was hiding among pale yellow flower buds.
With a determined expression, Soya crept toward the field mouse.
The moment the field mouse's ears perked up at her approach and it lifted its head—
Grab!
Soya caught the field mouse with both hands.
The field mouse then scattered into white light with a 'pop!'
Soya's face lit up brilliantly at the sight.
"I did it!"
"You did well, Jeok Soya."
Jeok Soya's confidence grew a little.
"Becoming a Mountain Lord will be difficult, but I still want to work hard so I won't bring shame to Sayeon's name!"
"That's right, your older brother will help you."
At the sight of Jeok Soya clenching both fists and steeling her resolve, Baek Gahyun burst into laughter.
"Oh? There's a blue squirrel over there! I'll go catch it!"
Having spotted the blue squirrel beneath a tree trunk, Jeok Soya scurried off in a rush.
With newfound confidence, Jeok Soya managed to catch the blue squirrel entirely on her own this time.
As Jeok Soya watched the blue squirrel vanish in a white light with a satisfied expression, it happened.
"The family head, honestly. Taking in someone of unknown origins as a direct member."
She froze.
Jeok Soya, who had been about to return to Baek Gahyun, became rooted to the spot.
"I heard she's supposedly a flying creature from the Southern Lands..."
"Isn't the real problem that she can't transform into human form? A beastkin who can't transform—how could such a thing even..."
"They say the rules of the Mountain Lord Festival were changed because of that child..."
Jeok Soya's expression darkened as she unintentionally overheard the servants' whispered gossip.
'What do I do? It sounds like Sayeon is hearing bad things because of me.'
She recalled Baek Gayul's words that one could only participate in the Mountain Lord Festival after transforming into human form.
'Instead of repaying Sayeon's kindness, I've only caused him trouble and made him hear criticism because of me.'
Jeok Soya returned with a disheartened expression.
"What's wrong, Jeok Soya? Did you lose the squirrel? Don't be so upset—if you try again..."
"Um, older brother Gahyun. Is it really true that Sayeon changed the Mountain Lord Festival rules because of me? Because I can't transform into human form, and..."
"Who told you that?"
"..."
Baek Gahyun immediately understood what had happened.
"Whatever you heard, it's all meaningless talk. So don't let such words weigh on your heart, Jeok Soya."
"..."
"It doesn't matter if you can't transform into human form. So what? That doesn't change the fact that you're my sister or that we're family."
"..."
Jeok Soya couldn't answer immediately. The scene from the nightmare she'd had the night before came to mind.
'But it did change back then.'
At the memory of that day when everything that made her whole had changed in an instant, Jeok Soya, uncharacteristically stubborn, clamped her lips shut.
At her reaction, Baek Gahyun recalled Jeok Soya's past that he'd heard not long ago.
That night when Jeok Soya had hesitantly confided in Sayeon about what she'd endured in the Jujak Family, Baek Gahyun had been there as well.
He'd been so angry. And so full of regret.
He was furious at the Jujak Family for abusing this small child, and regretful of his own actions in ignoring and dismissing the child's wounds.
Though he couldn't undo what had already been done, he could at least help new flesh grow over the child's scars.
"Jeok Soya."
Baek Gahyun bent his knees and lowered himself to look up at Jeok Soya's bowed face.
"You said you were fake, but you're not. The fake ones are them, not you."
"Older brother...?"
"A true family doesn't abandon each other over something so trivial. Let's cast aside that fake family of yours and become a real family together instead."
"...!"
Jeok Soya's eyes, which had been drooping listlessly, suddenly widened in surprise.
"I want to become a true family with Soya. Regardless of what form we take—whether we're winged beasts or earthbound creatures—I want to be a real family that protects and cherishes you unconditionally."
"..."
"I promise you, I'll be an unchanging shelter that guards you for life. Because I'm Soya's true older brother."
"Gahyun... older brother..."
Those words—that he would never change—stirred something deep within Jeok Soya's heart.
"This won't do, our Soya. Your older brother needs to make you a Mountain Lord."
Baek Gahyun spoke with deliberate playfulness, a soft smile spreading across his face as he watched Jeok Soya's tear-streaked expression.
"Don't lose to that brat Gayul. Let's catch plenty of phantom beasts so our Soya can become a Mountain Lord. That way, everyone who said you couldn't transform because you're a winged beast will see just how valiant our little bird truly is."
Jeok Soya felt her chest swell with warmth and broke into a radiant smile.
"Yes, older brother! Let's go catch lots and lots of phantom beasts. I won't lose to older brother Gayul!"
Baek Gahyun smiled contentedly, relieved to see Jeok Soya smiling again.
Reinvigorated, Jeok Soya resumed her spirited phantom beast hunt.
The two moved in tandem—Baek Gahyun herding the smaller phantom beasts toward her while Jeok Soya captured them.
Jeok Soya panted and perspired, yet her joy was unmistakable.
And Baek Gahyun's face glowed with pride as he watched her.
"Caught it!"
With Baek Gahyun's assistance, Jeok Soya had successfully captured even a large doe drinking from the Spring, and as she lifted her head with a brilliant smile—
"Huh?"
Jeok Soya suddenly realized the surroundings had grown unnaturally quiet.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org