Tempest on the Southern Frontier
The southernmost reaches of the Empire were drenched in a suffocating tension that felt as though a storm was about to break at any moment. Natives of the savage lands had taken up position, their presence heavy enough to make the air itself tremble with anticipation.
“You idiots… you said that if we only got that bug to cooperate, we could take the southern part of the Empire for ourselves.”
The chieftain of the barbarians, a woman with flaming red hair and a body draped in tiger pelts, ground her teeth together while snarling.
The killing intent radiating from her eyes slashed through the air inside the tent like a blade drawn in anger.
“You fools claimed you’d solved the problem with that cursed bug, yet you’ve gained nothing. Not a single inch of land.”
Her furious gaze swung to the man wrapped in a deep black robe.
*… Even as a savage chieftain, she still carries real power.*
He clicked his tongue silently and studied her.
“We haven’t even claimed one tiny domain. Your pathetic little plan has only turned our warriors into fools who wasted their lives.”
She was so furious she looked ready to draw the axe at her waist and slit the man’s throat on the spot.
“What are you going to do about the lives of our brothers who died so unjustly?”
The man did not flinch in the face of her overwhelming killing intent. He simply stared back at her with cool, dry eyes.
“…The Tower Master defending the south was far more capable than expected. That woman’s magic was fast and ruthless.”
“Say what?”
“And most of all… we never accounted for the interference of a Divine Beast.”
The moment the word “Divine Beast” left the man’s lips, the chieftain’s brow furrowed sharply, deep creases forming across her forehead.
“Are you still making excuses for something so minor?”
*Crunch.*
The chieftain bit down on her jaw as though crushing a stone.
“Blame your problems on a single whimsical beast cub and a human mage? Do you want me to tear you apart with my own hands right now?”
“A single beast cub…”
He finally allowed the corners of his mouth to lift into a mocking smile as he looked at her.
“There is still time.”
*Swish.*
The man reached into his robe and, with careful fingers, tossed something small onto the floor.
*Clink.*
What he pulled out was a black scale the size of a palm.
A sinister scale that gave off a burning aura thick enough to make anyone who looked at it feel their very soul grow heavy and unclean.
“Touch this scale… and press it directly onto the Divine Beast cub.”
“What kind of scheme is this?”
“If you manage to get even a single drop of this onto the Divine Beast, the Empire will face the most terrible destruction imaginable. I swear it on my blood.”
With nothing more than that sentence, the robed man vanished into the tent like thick fog.
*Swish.*
…
…
…
Empty tent.
The chieftain remained alone, staring silently at the black scale lying on the ground.
*Tsk.* This really is the only way?
She picked up the scale with obvious distaste.
---
“Kyaaah… Aah, I’m really tired after playing around.”
Rosalia’s room had been so bright with red light that she’d run around chasing it, leaving her body pleasantly heavy and ready for sleep.
*It was more fun than I expected. I must have gone overboard.*
Instead of fighting the drowsiness, I threw myself onto Rosalia’s bed and let my eyelids close.
When I opened my eyes again—
*Whoosh—!*
A cool, refreshing breeze brushed across my cheek.
My paw pads felt the soft, cushiony touch of fresh snow.
I had arrived in the dream at the pristine snowy mountain where Grandpa stayed.
*Thud… thud… thud.*
Heavy footsteps shook the ground from far away.
I looked up and saw a white tiger the size of a mountain walking toward me, radiating an overwhelming presence.
*Grandpa has always been cool.*
*When I grow up, will I be like that too?*
*It would be great… but I probably couldn’t sleep in Kailian’s arms anymore. Still, it feels nice to imagine.*
Even now he looks majestic, but once he reaches that size… he would be completely overwhelming.
Mother turns human, Lumia and Gumiho turn human and move around, so I’ll probably turn human too by then.
I pushed the thought aside and dashed straight toward Grandpa.
“Kyaa! Kyaaah!”
Grandpa! I’m here!
I immediately rubbed myself against Grandpa’s soft front paw, giving him a joyful greeting.
My body was smaller than one of Grandpa’s claws, but nothing felt as warm and comfortable as his fur.
“Ho ho ho, there you are, my clever grandson.”
Grandpa smiled kindly and welcomed me.
His large jaw gently rubbed my forehead, and the affection made my chest swell so much I flopped onto my belly and let out my Purr Song.
*Rumble… grrr.*
“Kyaa! Kyaaah!”
Have you been doing well, Grandpa? I sent you bread every day—did you eat it all?
“Mm hm, mm hm. That bread you keep sending me day after day. This old man ate it all up beautifully.”
Grandpa gave my back a gentle push with his nose and showered me with praise.
“Your paws have grown bigger. Just a little more and I’ll be able to keep up.”
“Kyaa.”
No, that’s not right.
I answered honestly, staring at Grandpa.
To catch up to Grandpa’s size, the mountains would have to change hundreds of times.
“Kyaa.”
Still, it’s good that Grandpa enjoys eating it so much.
“Your mother seems to live off that bread every day. Our clever grandson is already acting like a filial son.”
My shoulders puffed up with pride at Grandpa’s words.
I stretched my front legs and puffed out my chest, showing off with all my might.
“Yes, yes! Look at our smart grandson strutting around so proudly. This old man couldn’t be happier.”
Grandpa blew a soft breeze of wind against me and stroked my head with his enormous paw.
His touch was as warm and steady as Mother’s.
“Kyaaah…”
While receiving Grandpa’s strokes, I closed my eyes halfway and lowered my head, then suddenly lifted it and looked around.
“Kyaa? Kyaaah?”
Grandpa… where is Mother?
When I tilted my head curiously, Grandpa suddenly wore an extremely awkward expression and let out a long, deep sigh that seemed to suck the ground right out from under us.
“Haa… your mother.”
“Kyaa?”
Is she sick?
Does the white tiger get colds too?
I looked up at Grandpa while nuzzling his fur, and he clicked his tongue and shook his head.
“Since you left, she hasn’t shown her face at night—she says she can’t show her face to you.”
“Kyaa?”
Really?
My eyes went wide at Grandpa’s words.
*Really? Did Mother really cry all by herself?*
…Even I don’t cry that much, but if Mother cries like that, what am I supposed to do?
Hearing those words, I felt both disbelief and a strangely pleasant feeling, and I let out a “kyaa” laugh.
“Kyaaah.”
Mother is such a handful. People would think she’s dying.
“…You don’t cry much either.”
“Kyaa!”
Grandpa.
I glared at Grandpa, and he turned his head and started coughing.
*That was just a little cough.*
I never made a fuss about it.
“Kyaa! Kyaaah!”
Then don’t force yourself out. We’ll see each other soon.
“Our grandson is much better than your foolish mother. How admirable and deep your heart is.”
Grandpa stretched out his huge tongue and gently rubbed my forehead and head with affection.
“Kyaaah.”
Hehe, that tickles.
While we were happily rolling around and playing, something suddenly happened.
Grandpa’s tongue paused mid-air. His eyes, which had been kind just moments ago, suddenly turned incredibly serious.
The gentle old man from before disappeared, replaced by the heavy, oppressive aura of a Divine Beast that crushed the snowy mountain.
“Blanc.”
“Ky, kyaa…?”
Grandpa, why are you like this…?
I tried to curl my tail in panic, but Grandpa looked straight at me and spoke calmly.
“If, while you’re staying in the lower world, you see a black scale somewhere… never, under any circumstances, touch it or keep it near you.”
“Kyaa?”
A black scale?
What is it?
“It is the strongest poison for a young one like you. Never, under any circumstances, touch it out of curiosity.”
“Kyaa.”
I don’t care about things I can’t eat anyway.
I don’t even know if I can eat that scale. I’d rather eat meat and worry about it.
…Did people start eating pufferfish because of me?
At my words, Grandpa erased his heavy aura and laughed with a “kyaa.”
“Yes, remember this old man’s words well,”
“Kyaa!”
Yes!
I answered cheerfully and began nibbling on Grandpa’s whiskers.