Chapter 107
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 107
So-ya swallowed hard and stared up at him.
W-what! Why, why!
Looking into the baby bird’s bead-like eyes, which were shaking violently, San-yu gave a soft smile.
“Come with me, pretty little bird. I’ll take you somewhere safe.”
“Peep...!”
Absolutely not!
So-ya was about to shake her head in a firm refusal when a sudden thought gave her pause.
If she were a bird like Jjaek-jjaek, who had interacted with humans for a long time, it might be different. But she realized that an ordinary bird wasn't supposed to understand human speech.
With her wings injured, she couldn't fly away, nor could she voice her protest. Left with no choice, So-ya ended up going along with San-yu.
“Peep...”
When her face fell and her body went limp with dejection, San-yu let out a small chuckle.
“Why the long face? Do you really dislike coming with me that much?”
San-yu chuckled again, stroking the baby bird’s tiny head.
“Even if you hate it, bear with it for a little while. This place is far too dangerous for a tiny bird like you to wander alone. This land is crawling with demonic beasts.”
As he spoke in a calm, steady voice, he suddenly raised his head and looked off into the distance.
“Though for some reason, the demonic beasts have suddenly lost their strength and started fleeing...”
The demonic beasts lost their strength?
So-ya’s ears perked up at his serious murmur.
It’s because The Evil fled!
Curiosity got the better of her, and she fidgeted restlessly. She wanted to find her father and brothers as soon as possible to hear exactly what had happened.
“But we can’t let our guard down. You’re just a tiny baby bird, after all,” San-yu said, flashing another grin at So-ya.
Hmph. You don't need to worry about me.
So-ya snorted inwardly and turned her head away.
“Where is your family, little bird?” San-yu asked in a gentle tone as he began to walk again.
Naturally, since he took her for a bird and not a beastkin, he wasn't actually expecting an answer.
“Now that I think about it, what kind of bird are you? I’ve never seen one like you before... You’re small and plump, a bit like a crow-tit...”
I’m small and plump, so what? Did you give me any birdseed?
Responding petulantly in her head, So-ya pretended not to understand a word he said, spinning around and acting distracted.
“Your downy feathers look just like snowflakes. They’re very pretty.”
Huh?
So-ya, who had been feigning indifference, perked up her ears at that.
“Have you ever seen snow? It doesn't snow in the Southern Land where I lived, so I only saw it for the first time after coming here.”
Unaware of So-ya’s reaction, San-yu continued his story calmly.
“I heard my younger sister had beautiful white downy feathers just like yours.”
“...?”
“Ah, I never saw it for myself. I was always looking forward to her becoming a magnificent bird, but I was away at the battlefield and couldn't be there for her first beast transformation.”
“....”
Suddenly, his voice sank with sorrow.
“And I suppose I never will. She eventually passed away... while I was gone.”
“....”
So-ya stared at him blankly for a moment.
For a brief second, she couldn't understand his words. The people of the Vermilion Bird Clan had always wanted her gone. So, she had disappeared just as they wished...
But why was he saying that?
With that face.
With that voice.
As if... as if he were sad that she was gone.
“Ah, sorry, little bird. Did I make you feel gloomy too?”
Snapping out of it, San-yu smiled, trying to change the mood.
“Sorry for being so serious. Anyway, it really feels like you understand what I’m saying. You’re quite clever.”
Oh, right! Act like a bird! Act like a bird!
So-ya chirped and sang, pretending she hadn't understood a thing. At that, he burst into laughter again.
“Your singing skills are quite terrible, though.”
Wh-what’s wrong with my singing?!
The people of the White Tiger Palace always praised her singing, calling it adorable. So-ya was fuming, but she couldn't show it. Instead, she pecked at his palm with her beak, pretending it was an accident.
It was just as Jeok San-yu was chuckling, saying it tickled.
Whish—!
The sound of something slicing through the air struck their ears. San-yu quickly pulled So-ya into his chest and leaped backward.
...?
For a moment, So-ya froze, not knowing what had happened. Snow-white hair fluttered before her eyes. And through the strands, she saw blue eyes filled with murderous intent...
K-killing intent?!
So-ya blinked in shock. It was a chilling aura, as if he were ready to tear his opponent apart at any moment. And the owner of that aura was none other than...
Brother Ga-ya...!
Recognizing him belatedly, So-ya’s beak fell open.
Then that sound just now was...
Whish—!
Before So-ya could finish her thought, another attack flew in.
CRASH—!
The tree where San-yu had been standing just moments ago collapsed from a single blow from Ga-ya. He had brought down a tree with his bare hands.
“Lord Ga-ya, have you lost your mind?” San-yu snapped, dodging the attacks. He couldn't counterattack properly because he was holding So-ya.
If he had been even a second slower, blood would have been spilled. The killing intent in Ga-ya’s eyes was genuine.
“You’re the one who stole what’s mine first,” Ga-ya said, tilting his head at a sharp angle.
“Stole? What on earth are you talking about!”
“Give her back. My Som-som.”
“...?”
“The bird in your hand. Give her here. She’s mine.”
He pointed at the tiny baby bird peeking out from San-yu’s hand with her bead-like eyes.
“Ha. Now you’re just making up ridiculous excuses to be difficult...”
“Cheep! Ppyat!”
At that moment, So-ya began flapping her wings toward Ga-ya. San-yu looked at her in bewilderment.
“Wait, little bird. Your wings haven't healed yet, it’s dangerous to—”
“Ppyat! Ppyat!”
“Whoa, little bird. Hold on. Just calm down for a second...”
“Ppy-aaaaa!”
San-yu tried desperately to soothe her, but So-ya struggled even harder, chirping at the top of her lungs.
“See? I told you she’s mine.”
Baek Ga-ya stood before San-yu with an arrogant smirk. He then reached out his hand toward So-ya.
So-ya, who had been squirming in San-yu’s grasp, hopped up and landed perfectly in Ga-ya’s palm.
“Peep, ppy-aaa.”
So-ya rubbed her head against Ga-ya’s palm and chirped softly. At this, Ga-ya’s blue eyes, which had been so fierce just moments ago, curved into a gentle smile.
“Som-som. Did you miss your brother?”
“Ppyat! Ppyat!”
“Right. I missed you too.”
“Cheep, cheep!”
“Hmm. I can’t tell what you’re saying since you’re only chirping. Are you saying your brother is the coolest person in the world?”
“Ppi-iii!”
Baek Ga-ya, who usually swept through battlefields with a cold, expressionless face, was now attempting to hold a conversation with a baby bird with an uncharacteristically warm smile.
It was truly an unbelievable sight. If anyone else had seen it, they would have been horrified, thinking, “The long war has finally driven Baek Ga-ya insane!”
“....”
San-yu watched the scene blankly. His hand felt strangely empty now that it was suddenly void of the bird’s weight.
Was she really his bird?
The way Baek Ga-ya and the baby bird interacted looked so familiar, as if they had known each other for a very long time.
Ga-ya, who had been talking to So-ya, glanced up at San-yu. He let out a cold, mocking laugh and turned away. Then, he simply walked off, taking the chirping baby bird with him.
“...Som-som. When did he even give her a name?” San-yu muttered to their retreating backs, a sense of futility washing over him.
“Still, after all that... I even treated her injuries.”
San-yu gave a bitter smile as he remembered how the baby bird had struggled with her two hurt wings to get to Ga-ya the moment he appeared.
“I guess she likes that side better. She didn't even look back.”
His bitter voice drifted away into the quiet air.