Chapter 112
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 112
“Pardon?”
So-ya looked at Sa-eon with an expression that clearly said, How could you use such a violent method?
“Wait. Don’t misunderstand, Cotton Ball. Daddy isn’t that bad of a person,” Sa-eon added hurriedly, seeing her face. “I didn’t use my hands, and I didn’t use my feet. I only used my eyes.”
“...?”
“It’s true. I just put a little strength into my gaze, and those chick—... those bird-headed fellows who live on the ground were so weak they just fainted.”
In the middle of his frantic excuse, Sa-eon almost let a curse slip. He quickly corrected himself, remembering Jeok Yeong’s words from earlier.
No, but those guys really are chicken-heads, aren’t they?
Why do I have to use such nice words for those bird-brains who deserve to be fried?
But... what if I use bad words and my Cotton Ball starts copying me?
My Cotton Ball is brilliant just like me, so she picks up everything instantly.
It would break my heart if those pretty lips started saying things like ‘chicken-head’ or whatever.
“Oh, please. What beastkin wouldn’t faint when the King of Beasts glares at them? That’s basically the same as knocking them down on purpose,” Jeok Yeong whispered, raising his voice just enough for Sa-eon to hear while holding his hand up as if speaking only to So-ya.
“Th-then, is knocking people down with your gaze also Father’s supernatural ability?”
“It’s not exactly an ability... but well, it’s similar.”
“My goodness. To think Father has been going around knocking people down with his ability.”
“Don’t even get me started, Young Lady. When the Clan Head was younger, he was far more violent than he is now—”
“Ho Jeok-yeong. What kind of nonsense are you feeding my daughter right now?”
Unable to watch any longer, Sa-eon snapped at him.
Regardless, So-ya did not possess the ability to suppress others with her gaze. No matter how much she strained her eyes and glared, such a power would not manifest. Her father’s advice didn’t seem particularly helpful.
“In short, I just need to move around without being noticed, right?”
“Yes. It seems my feathers are a bit too conspicuous.”
So-ya was a master of hide-and-seek within the White Tiger Palace. When she walked stealthily in her small beast form, no one could find her. Of course, there were times when people purposely pretended not to see her for her sake, but that was beside the point.
However, ever since her red feathers began to grow, she was frequently caught despite her small size because of the color. It would be even more noticeable in the Southern Land, where the color red was considered sacred.
Hearing So-ya’s concern, Jeok Yeong came up with a good plan.
“I know a fox who is a genius at transformation arts. Shall I introduce you?”
“Transformation arts?”
“The introduction fee will be ten handkerchiefs hand-embroidered by our Cotton Ball Young Lady. How does that sound?”
“I’ll do it!”
So-ya struck a deal with Jeok Yeong using the handkerchiefs.
“What? Ten? I only have two! You’re giving that fox ten of them?”
Sa-eon, who had been listening quietly, fumed and gritted his teeth.
“Father. I am giving these to Jeok Yeong fairly, so you mustn’t steal them. Understood?”
“What...?”
Sa-eon looked truly wronged.
“Cotton Ball. I’m really hurt. Do you really think your daddy would just... take other people’s things...?”
As Sa-eon appealed to her in a way quite unlike himself, So-ya burst into a peal of laughter.
“I was just joking, of course.”
“Our baby Cotton Ball has certainly grown mischievous.”
Seeing So-ya laughing so hard her eyes turned into crescent moons, delighted that she had flustered her father, Sa-eon chuckled. He played along, pretending he hadn’t realized it was a joke at all.
* * *
“This is a Transformation Bead from the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan, Young Lady.”
A few days later, Jeok Yeong visited So-ya and handed her a transparent bead.
“If you shake it like this...”
He held the bead in one hand and shook it rapidly.
“Ta-da! It becomes soft and fluid like a liquid!”
“Whoa...!”
So-ya stared at the melted Transformation Bead with wide, curious eyes.
“What’s with that unfitting ‘ta-da’? It’s creepy,” Yeon-jeong remarked from the side, her arms crossed.
“Anyway, the effect doesn’t last very long, so you must return within a full day.”
Ignoring Yeon-jeong’s comment, Jeok Yeong continued explaining how to use the Transformation Bead.
“Yes, Jeok Yeong!”
So-ya took out one of Jjaek-jjaek’s feathers she had prepared in advance. Then, she dropped the feather into the liquefied Transformation Bead. The bead turned brown and clumped back into a round shape.
“It’s a success...!”
“Now, hold it in your hand and try using it.”
So-ya squeezed the bead tightly in her palm.
Poof!
In an instant, So-ya’s body shrank, and she turned into a tiny sparrow.
“Ppi-yat?!”
Jjaek-jjaek, who had been dozing on the windowsill, jumped in surprise at the sight of So-ya, who now looked exactly like him.
“Ppi-yat, ppi-yat, ppi-yaat!”
So-ya let out a laugh as she watched Jjaek-jjaek flutter his wings and spin around in circles.
“Jjaek-jjaek. It’s me, So-ya.”
“Ppi-it?”
“How is it? It’s a perfect disguise, isn’t it?” So-ya asked, lifting a wing.
“Ppiya?” Jjaek-jjaek tilted his head, still confused.
“Wow, it really is perfect, Cotton Ball Young Lady. You look like an ordinary sparrow to anyone’s eyes.”
“What is this old fox talking about? How does our Young Lady’s transformed state look like an ‘ordinary’ sparrow? She’s the cutest, most lovely sparrow in the world.”
“Oops, you’re right. Our Cotton Ball Young Lady has transformed into the most wonderful sparrow in the world, and I made a slip of the tongue.”
Jeok Yeong replied with a good-natured smile at Yeon-jeong’s sharp rebuke.
Even though her reflection in the mirror was that of a sparrow identical to Jjaek-jjaek, So-ya felt bashful at their praise and wiggled her tail feathers.
Yeon-jeong made a small bundle out of a handkerchief, placed the Transformation Bead inside, and tied it securely to So-ya’s back.
“Then, Young Lady, please be careful on your way.”
She pushed the window wide open and bid So-ya farewell.
“Yes, Yeon-jeong. I’ll be back safely.”
Stepping out onto the windowsill, So-ya also said goodbye to Jeok Yeong and Jjaek-jjaek.
“Jeok Yeong, please give my regards to Father. Jjaek-jjaek, keep a good watch over the White Tiger Palace for me. I’ll be back soon.”
Then, she spread her wings wide and soared toward the southern sky.
* * *
The Southern Land, where fertile red soil stretched out boundlessly.
At its heart, after climbing three thousand stone steps, the Heavenly City—built high up by the bird beastkin to chase the altitude—reveals itself.
And located at its innermost point was a neat, antique mansion.
The Vermilion Bird Main Palace of the Heavenly Ancient Mansion, so named because it was an ancient residence in the heavens.
It was also the place where So-ya had lived a long time ago.
Standing before the main gate of the Vermilion Bird mansion, a place she once thought she would never return to, So-ya gazed up at the nameplate.
The mansion’s name had always used the character ‘Jeong (正),’ meaning ‘correct’ or ‘righteous.’
However, her father had told her: the place she had belonged to was a wrong world.
[Because the world you lived in until now was a mistake.]
[That’s why, from now on, I’m going to show you the right world.]
And her father had kept that promise.
So-ya could now distinguish between what was wrong and what was right. Because of those teachings, she was no longer afraid to step into this mansion that had left her with nothing but sad and painful memories.
“Oh, Father—! Ri-ri did...!”
Just then, the sound of bright laughter drifted from inside the walls.
“Oh dear, Ri-ri. You have to be careful.”
“I think Brother should give our Ri-ri a hug, then.”
The affectionate voices of Jeok Ah-yun and Jeok Hwa-yu followed.
So-ya spread her wings and fluttered up onto the wall. Sitting atop it, she saw Ri-ri and her family, looking as harmonious as ever.
As she watched them, So-ya’s heart was far more peaceful and composed than she had expected. When she was young, she always had to repeatedly tell herself she was okay while watching such scenes.
But she didn’t have to do that anymore. She no longer envied that distorted world.
Suddenly, So-ya grew curious.
How would they act if they found out Ri-ri wasn’t the real daughter?
Would they cast her aside coldly, just as they had done to her? Or...