Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: A Fateful Connection
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Did this baby snake really just talk?
“Dada, do divine beashts talk?”
“That’s the first I’ve heard of it.”
It would have been nice if Heuk Birang, who knows a lot about divine beasts, was here. Hmm. So, that’s a no?
-Found. Connection.
I heard it again. A strange sound, like a stiff voice, yet also like that of an innocent child.
The baby snake buried its head in my palm.
-Smell like me.
I froze in surprise.
-Did you… save me? Where? Tell me.
What was it talking about? Did that mean…
-Can’t talk anymore. This is the last.
“A-A long time ago!”
I grew frantic.
“A long, long time ago, I saved you. We were only together for thwee days, but…!”
The baby snake looked up at me, its head still resting on my palm.
Its eyes were incredibly clear.
-I see.
The snake rolled its eyes. It looked dejected, its head drooping.
-Used up all the power Mom gave me.
-Goodbye.
What? Wait, hold on. Where are you going? Just as I was about to tighten my grip, I heard a faint voice.
-Please take care of… me.
The strength drained from my hand.
“Ah, Dada…! Water, get me some water! The one over there!”
Thankfully, my father moved quickly.
The water canteen flew through the air. I poured the water onto my hand. The droplets floated in the air.
The snake lifted its head and absorbed the water.
Its once-white eyes gradually turned green.
They were the same color as my own.
“It has imprinted.”
The moment those words of confirmation were spoken, my strength gave out and I collapsed.
A firm hand caught me.
“Ugh… I almost dwopped it.”
I had instinctively felt it needed water, but I never imagined this was for imprinting.
-…Soul.
A very faint voice lingered by my ear before scattering.
I didn’t understand what had happened, but the Dokgaksa that had become my divine beast could talk. And that seemed to have been its last word.
But I had heard the snake’s final words clearly.
…Words that had pierced right through me.
“…Dada, isn’t Biyu amazing?”
I lifted my head. Since he was supporting me, my father’s face appeared upside down.
He replied with a completely unfazed expression.
“Yes, you are.”
Whatever. I beamed.
“Then praise me.”
How trivial.
To think that all I wanted after getting parents was to be praised.
* * *
Dada had asked if I was trying to build an animal farm at home.
*I guess he wasn’t wrong.*
That hadn’t been my intention, but seeing the scene before me, I had a fleeting thought that it might just turn out that way.
-Peep! Peep!
-Peeeeep?
“Kyang!”
After naming the baby fox and becoming a divine beast wielder by being chosen by the Dokgaksa…
Not even an hour later, my cousin Gyewon came to visit.
*This big brother… did he really sleep in the bushes?*
I was so startled to see leaves stuck all over his hair.
*Wait, does that mean Eldest Uncle was serious when he said he might kidnap me in the middle of the night?*
A shiver ran down my spine.
In any case, Gyewon didn’t come alone; he brought his lightning beast with him.
But at that very moment, he came face to face not only with the baby Dokgaksa coiled around my hand, but also with the baby fox, Raon, who had just woken up and was now in my arms.
And that brought us to the present.
-Peep! Pee-pee-peep! Peep!
“…What are they doing?”
“…Isn’t it laying down the law?”
The lightning beast—no, the chick-like furball—was flying in the air.
The baby Dokgaksa and the baby fox were listening quietly to its cries, chirping back every so often.
For the record, I had named the baby Dokgaksa ‘Baem-Baem’.
“It really looks like it’s establishing the pecking order. Is this a show of dominance?”
“Hah.”
Gyewon looked dumbfounded.
“I’ll say something to it.”
“No, no. It’s okay. It doesn’t look like they dislike it.”
I stopped Heuk Gyewon.
“Your family grew in a single day.”
“Yep, it’s getting crowded, huh?”
“So… does this mean you won’t come to our house anymore?”
I paused. My cousin’s face was crestfallen.
“Big Bwother, you should just live here too. There are lots of spare wooms.”
He seemed tempted, but only for a moment.
“I don’t think Second Uncle would allow it.”
I agreed.
I had realized it later, but for some reason, my father had a strange sense of possessiveness over this house.
Even while he was sick, he absolutely refused to let my uncles stay for more than a certain amount of time.
*‘Just let him be. Your Eldest Uncle is a magnanimous older brother, after all.’*
*‘Just let him be. Your Eldest Uncle is a magnanimous older brother, after all.’*
My uncles seemed to know why, but they didn’t ask.
It seemed to be related to the memories my father had lost.
*I’ll listen when he remembers someday.*
I patted my cousin’s shoulder.
“When Eldest Uncle goes to the warehouse, you can sleep at our house.”
I was a little surprised by how naturally the words ‘our house’ came out.
My father, who was standing a short distance away, also looked surprised.
What, you were listening? I felt a little amused.
“We’re family, after all.”
Heuk Biwon, my eldest uncle, would have another bout of madness eventually. It would be good to be together then.
If Dada said no, I’d have to persuade him somehow. And if that didn’t work, I could just go to them.
As I said this, my cousin’s face brightened.
“What about Eldest Uncle and Uncle?”
“They went to the main estate.”
It was still morning since we had woken up early. Besides, weren’t those two banned from going out?
“…This early in the morning?”
“Yes. They said they were staging a raid.”
“…Hmm. It’s twoublesome when a patient causes twouble.”
Heuk Gyewon smiled faintly.
“I know. But they’ll try their best not to trouble you. Father even said he was ‘going to support the head of the family.’”
“What in the world does that even mean…?”
That just makes me more anxious.
I was about to say something else when a strange cry made me snap my head up.
*A bird?*
In the sky, a bird made of crimson flames was swooping around.
-Keeeeeeek!
It let out a peculiar cry.
“What is that…”
“I know! It’s my guest!”
It was a bird I was familiar with.
*Jeok Yunha’s divine beast!*
Jeok Yunha had a divine beast, too. I had to pretend it was my first time seeing it, so I couldn’t call it by name. What should I do?
“Dada, hold me, no, lift me up!”
I had a capable father, after all.
As if on cue, my body floated into the air. Below, the lightning beast, Baem-Baem, and even the baby fox Raon were in an uproar.
*Are they trying to protect the house? How admirable.*
Once I reached a certain height, the circling bird turned its attention to me.
“Come here.”
The bird landed on my arm, but…
Ugh, so heavy…!
*Hey, you need to consider your own weight!*
It had been a while, but it was still as thoughtless a bird as ever.
Regardless, the burdensomely large firebird flapped its wings as if protesting that my arm was too small.
“What a rude bird.”
A large hand snatched its wing and held it up. It was my father, floating in the air just like me.
“There’s a message tied to its ankle. Is it a carrier pigeon?”
“Yep, probably. It’s from Jeok Yunha!”
My father held me as he descended to the ground.
*I knew she would contact me like this.*
The contents of the letter were also as I had expected. It felt like time had flown by while I was taking care of my father.
Three days had passed since I treated Tak Minjae. This meant the child’s body was completely healed and all traces of poison were gone.
*That is, if he wasn’t fed any other poison.*
It also signaled the beginning of another stroke of good fortune.
[…Thus, I wish to repay your kindness and ask a favor. I would like to respectfully inquire if you would be able to help us.]
[…Thus, I wish to repay your kindness and ask a favor. I would like to respectfully inquire if you would be able to help us.]
Excellent.
*My future medicine costs are covered!*
I was thrilled. I was grinning from ear to ear as I turned my head.
*Huh?*
I gasped in shock. My father was holding the bird by its neck.
The firebird was choking.
“Ah, Dada, what are you doing?!”