Chapter 76
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Chapter 76
"Jjak Jjak!"
Jeok Soya cried out in alarm and quickly grabbed Jjak Jjak.
"Chirp?"
Jjak Jjak tilted his head in confusion.
His expression was innocent and guileless, as if he had no idea what he'd just done.
"Jjak Jjak, are you alright?"
"What's the matter, miss?"
"Oh, San Ho. What should we do? Jjak Jjak swallowed a poison beetle."
"A poison beetle?"
At San Ho's exclamation, people crowded around Jjak Jjak.
"He swallowed a poison beetle and seems perfectly fine?"
"On the surface, there's nothing particularly unusual, but..."
"Jjak Jjak, are you really okay?"
Jeok Soya asked with a worried expression.
"...This won't do."
Sayeon regarded Jjak Jjak with an intentionally grave expression, then untied his own hair ribbon and used it to bind Jjak Jjak's body.
"Squawk!"
Jjak Jjak thrashed about, trying to escape.
"I'll have to keep you with me for the rest of the day."
Sayeon effortlessly subdued Jjak Jjak and cradled him in his arms.
"Chirp! Squawk! Chirp chirp!"
"No, Jjak Jjak. Listen to your father."
Jjak Jjak fluttered his wings toward Jeok Soya with glistening eyes, but she too spoke with deliberate firmness.
"Chirp..."
In the end, Jjak Jjak drooped his head weakly and settled obediently into Sayeon's embrace.
* * *
Once the incident was resolved and they descended to the village, Baek Gayul came rushing over and demanded answers.
"Cotton ball! Where did you go! I looked everywhere because I couldn't find you!"
"Older brother Gayul, are you angry?"
At his overly sensitive reaction, Jeok Soya blinked her eyes.
"Angry? Why would I be angry..."
Baek Gayul quickly softened his tone and cleared his throat awkwardly.
When I stared at him directly, he averted his gaze—which was indeed suspicious.
'It seems like my older brothers are hiding something from me...'
Jeok Soya remained skeptical but soon followed Father's footsteps.
Sayeon informed the villagers that all the poison beetles on the mountain had been eliminated, so there would be no more plague victims.
However, despite eliminating Gunggi and the poison beetles, those whose spiritual cores had been contaminated still suffered greatly.
There was no adequate medical treatment to cure them.
Jeok Soya approached Sayeon and tugged at his sleeve.
"Father. We've found the cause of everyone's suffering now, haven't we? So...."
"Cotton ball."
Sayeon cut off Jeok Soya's words and lowered his body toward the child.
"The Indigo Wolf Clan just left for Baek Ho Palace to bring Sara here."
"Aunt Sara?"
"Yes. So when my sister arrives tomorrow morning, we'll check on everyone's condition, and if there's truly no other way, then. Let's discuss your idea again at that time."
"But you said earlier that we should think about it after finding the cause."
"Yes, I did."
"Then why...!"
Jeok Soya's voice rose without her realizing it.
When Baek Gayul completed his first growth stage and learned about the duties of direct lineage, Jeok Soya studied alongside him.
How heavy the name of "direct lineage" carried among the Four Great Families.
There were many privileges enjoyed as a ruling family, but the responsibilities to bear were equally immense.
Though Jeok Soya did not share blood with her father, she still considered herself a direct lineage member of the Baekho Family.
She had sworn that whenever she could help the family, and whenever she could protect the people, she would step forward.
Her eldest brother, whom she had never met, had left Baek Ho Palace at a young age and gone to the battlefield—was that not all to fulfill the family's duty?
'Then why am I exempt from the duties of direct lineage?'
This was land under the Baekho Family's influence, so if I could help the people through sacrifice, it was surely the duty of direct lineage to do so.
"Because I'm not a tiger...."
Jeok Soya gripped the hem of Sayeon's robe tightly and looked up at him.
"Is it because I'm not a tiger like Father and my brothers?"
"That's not it, cotton ball."
Sayeon, who had uncannily perceived Jeok Soya's thoughts, wrapped her small hand warmly in his and spoke.
"Whether you're a tiger, a baby bird, or anything else—Father taught you long ago that such things don't matter."
"...."
"This is because Dad is a bad adult. Because I hate seeing my little cotton ball hurt, because I'm a selfish adult who hates even the tiniest scratch on my little cotton ball's hand, that's why."
"...!"
Jeok Soya's hand, gripping Sayeon's robe, trembled softly.
"I didn't know my little cotton ball was thinking such things. Dad is sorry. I didn't consider your heart."
"...."
With the warmth transmitted through the caress of her hand, Jeok Soya felt ashamed and sorry for her earlier petulance.
'That's right. I knew Father was worried about me, yet I acted like a child and pouted like this.'
"I'm sorry, Father. I was being difficult."
As Jeok Soya apologized with a slightly flushed face, Sayeon burst into laughter and ruffled her hair affectionately.
"When my sister arrives tomorrow, let's ask her to check everyone's spiritual cores and see if Jjak Jjak is alright too. And if treating the people requires only that method, then I'll do as my little cotton ball suggests."
"Yes."
Jeok Soya nodded obediently and turned to leave.
Yet despite getting the answer she wanted, her expression seemed troubled.
She wanted to help the people, but she didn't want to upset her father.
'If I get hurt, Father will be very upset, won't he?'
I remember the time three years ago when I deliberately wounded myself to use that power.
It was the first time Father showed me a frightening expression and spoke in a terrifying voice in response.
Jeok Soya slowly spread both hands open.
Then I closed my eyes tightly and tried to concentrate on my spiritual core, but....
'It won't work. I can't hear anything at all.'
Jeok Soya exhaled a long sigh and walked out.
Then I spotted Jjak Jjak tied to a perch in front of Sayeon's quarters.
"Jjak Jjak!"
Jeok Soya rushed toward Jjak Jjak.
The lark, thoroughly sullen, turned its head away in a huff.
"I'm sorry, Jjak Jjak. Just be patient until Aunt arrives."
"Chirp chirp!"
"That's why you can't just eat anything like that. From now on, be more selective about what you eat, Jjak Jjak. You're not a baby anymore...."
As Jeok Soya and Jjak Jjak conversed, a young Sparrow Suin who happened to pass by found their exchange curious and asked.
"How are you able to talk with the lark, big sister?"
"Huh? Can't all bird-humans communicate like this?"
Jeok Soya tilted her head in confusion, and the Sparrow Suin waved her hands dismissively.
"That can't be right. Even our parents can't do that."
At those words, Jeok Soya blinked in surprise.
'Now that I think about it....'
Even when I lived at the Jujak Family Estate, I don't recall ever seeing beast-humans conversing with birds like that....
* * *
That evening, in the quiet hours when everyone was preparing for sleep.
Standing by the window, Sayeon lay awake alone, gazing up at the dark sky.
Sayeon was thinking of Jeok Soya.
'The little cotton ball seemed quite upset.'
My heart felt heavy.
What the cotton ball said was right.
She was a direct descendant of the Baek Family, and at twelve years old, it was only proper that she fulfill that duty.
But Jeok Soya had not yet undergone her first transformation.
Knowing that she was distressed by this fact, I deliberately avoided mentioning it....
Yet in beast-human society, the thought of such a small child still in her childhood willingly sacrificing herself for others did not sit well with me.
And yet....
'I never thought my overprotection would lead the child to think such things.'
I recalled Jeok Soya's face as she asked if I wasn't a tiger, and my eyes twisted painfully.
Cotton ball. Do you know.
How much this father worries about you and loves you.
Even the smallest wound of yours makes my heart always flutter with concern.
When you become sad and cry, my chest aches even more deeply.
Sometimes I even harbor violent fantasies about destroying everything in this world that has made you cry.
'It seems I've upset you this time, my little cotton ball.'
Sayeon shook his head with a soft chuckle.
The child continued to grow, yet he could not hold her in his arms forever, cocooning her in protection.
And yet, whenever he saw her, his heart grew weak regardless.
It was at that moment.
Flap, flap, flap—!
At the sound of the lark's wings beating outside, the gentle smile that had lingered on Sayeon's face vanished in an instant.
"Jjak Jjak!"
Followed by Jeok Soya's scream, Sayeon rushed outside without hesitation.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org