Chapter 136
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 136
At the same time.
Hwa-yu, who had not been chosen by Ri-ri, was walking alone through the front courtyard of the pavilion.
He had intentionally refrained from joining them, fearing that the awkward tension between him and his brother would ruin Ri-ri’s boating trip. They had been such affectionate brothers when they were young; he wondered how they had ended up like this.
A sigh escaped him, born of a bitter heart.
Of all times, why did she have to reappear now…
Hwa-yu frowned as he thought of So-ya.
So-ya, whom he thought was dead, had appeared before them alive. San-yu had taken her side, venting his rage at the family. And then there was Ri-ri, who somehow knew about So-ya’s death—a secret that was supposed to have been shared only with their father and eldest brother.
A series of inexplicable events and unresolved questions made his head throb.
As he pressed his temples to soothe the pain, he spotted his father, Ah-yun, lost in solitary contemplation further inside the grounds.
“Father.”
At the call, Ah-yun lifted his head and looked at his son.
“You look troubled. Is it because of that girl, So-ya?”
Hwa-yu knew that as soon as his father had heard his report this morning, he had rushed back to the White Tiger Clan to find her. Seeing him return with such a heavy expression, it seemed he had gained nothing for his efforts.
Then again, she treated Father and the rest of us like total strangers yesterday.
It wasn't likely that a child like that would suddenly turn affectionate just because a single night had passed.
“If you don't pull yourself together, Father, it only makes things harder for Ri-ri.”
“……”
“So-ya… that girl has eaten well and grown up fine with those people. That should be enough,” Hwa-yu said, his voice cold. “Didn’t she say so herself? That she has a new family now. She told us we don't need to concern ourselves with her anymore.”
As he spoke, Hwa-yu’s brow furrowed slightly. Strangely, recalling the moment she said those words made his chest feel heavy and the back of his throat turn scratchy. However, he ignored the sensation, as he always did, and continued.
“She is a child we no longer need to worry about.”
“……”
But Jeok Ah-yun remained silent, his lips pressed into a thin line.
He had been in a state of confusion ever since he faced So-ya the previous day. Even after going to see her again this morning, the confusion persisted.
[What exactly is it you want to apologize to me for?]
Indeed. What was it he had wanted to apologize for?
It was a question that had caught him off guard. He had vaguely thought he needed to apologize for the past, but because his thoughts were so disorganized, he hadn't been able to reflect on each individual wrong he had committed against the child.
[Are you talking about stealing my Spirit Core and sending me to the Cold Palace? Forcing me to live like a ghost for three years? Or are you apologizing for making me Ri-ri’s servant, forcing me to watch you give her the affection you once gave me?]
When she was nine, despite being ignored by her family for three years in the Vermilion Bird Mansion, So-ya had never once spoken of her unfair treatment in such a manner. Instead, she had lived with bated breath, keeping her head bowed as if it were only natural for her to be hated and shunned.
Perhaps that was why he had assumed it was okay.
Because So-ya… was so young back then.
And because so much time had passed since those events.
He had hoped that perhaps the child had outgrown those wounds as she matured…
But he was wrong.
The child remembered those childhood wounds—and exactly what they had done to her—with perfect clarity. That fact tormented Jeok Ah-yun’s heart.
What was even more painful was that he had failed to properly apologize for those past sins.
So-ya had said: If you are truly sorry, return the norigae that Ri-ri took from me.
Perhaps that had been the opportunity for atonement she was offering him. But the reason he couldn't seize that chance was…
Because on the day Ri-ri first crossed the gates of the Vermilion Bird Mansion, he had vowed to devote his entire being to her.
A "sacred sanctuary" that could not be touched. So-ya had seen through the very essence of how he treated Ri-ri with terrifying precision.
To him, Ri-ri was a child so pitiful and precious. A child he had allowed to wander outside the mansion, not even knowing who her father was until she was nine years old. A poor child whose Spirit Core had been damaged because of that, leaving her unable to perform a proper Beast Transformation. A child his deceased wife had left behind at the cost of her own life, yet one he had failed to protect… a child living with countless scars because of his failures.
For those reasons alone, no matter how much of his everything he gave to Ri-ri, it would never feel like enough.
And yet, that untouchable sanctuary of his had begun to tremble with minute cracks at some point.
He had only clearly realized it after So-ya appeared, but he knew now. Those tiny cracks, which had bloomed like fine hairlines one day, had been shaking him from much earlier.
Jeok Ah-yun could not remember the last time he had truly laughed. He always wore a tender smile in front of Ri-ri, but the moment the child was out of sight, that smile vanished instantly.
He also knew. That the tender smile he showed Ri-ri… was actually a very well-crafted mask.
After the three years he had spent living like a madman, he met Ri-ri and thought he had found happiness again. But it was strange. He should have been happy, yet he wasn't.
When was the last time he had felt true happiness?
It was already eight years ago.
On the morning of her sixth birthday, ahead of her first Beast Transformation, So-ya had woken up earlier than usual. She had come to his dark room while it was still far too early, waking him up with a face full of excitement…
The time they spent talking, as she barely touched her food, chattering away about how she was going to become a magnificent baby firebird…
The moment he had finally burst into laughter, unable to watch her struggle with her spoon any longer, and fed her himself—watching her open that tiny mouth like a bird’s beak to eat…
Yes, that was the last time. The last moment he had felt truly happy and laughed from the bottom of his heart.
“……”
As his thoughts reached that point, Jeok Ah-yun closed and opened his eyes in agony. The child he had cast away with his own hands would never return. Neither would those happy times.
His heart tightened painfully.
And yet, for Ri-ri’s sake, this was the right path. Hwa-yu was right. If he didn't stay steady, Ri-ri would only become more anxious.
No, is this really right?
A sudden doubt sprouted within him. Simultaneously, Ri-ri’s face—which shared not a single resemblance with his deceased wife—floated into his mind.
Why did Ri-ri not resemble his wife at all? Not her face… not her personality… not a single thing…
“C-Clan Head! Young Master!”
Just then, a servant of the Vermilion Bird Clan came running in a panic.
“A D-D-Demonic Beast…! They say a Demonic Beast has appeared in the Imperial Palace pond!”
“What…?”
“Fortunately, the generals who served in the recent war are holding it back, but a plant-type Demonic Beast appeared from underwater, of all things…!”
Jeok Ah-yun’s expression froze.
*
The Lotus Demonic Beast that had lunged out of the pond looked a bit different from the typical demonic beasts So-ya had seen before.
It was her first time seeing a "plant-type Demonic Beast."
So-ya held her breath and stared at the creature.
“W-What is that? It’s disgusting!” Ri-ri screamed, her face contorted in horror.
So-ya glanced back at Ri-ri. Judging by her reaction, this beast appearing in the pond was definitely not something Ri-ri had expected. The appearance of a demonic beast in the middle of the Imperial Palace wasn't Ri-ri’s doing. Above all, Ri-ri hadn't used any evil arts yet.
Then whose doing is this?
So-ya watched, not moving hastily. The black petals, which had transformed into dozens of hand-like shapes, were indeed hideous, just as Ri-ri said. Dozens of long, black hands extending like vines from the beast’s body lunged at the boats carrying the people.
Crash! Boom! Snap!
Boats were smashed, and people screamed. It was then—
Swish—!
A long sword severed the black hands that were stretching out like vines. It was Sa-eon.
Not only Sa-eon, but many of the young generals who had participated in the war were gathered there. Having experience dealing with demonic beasts during the long conflict, they began suppressing the creature and rescuing the people.
Fortunately, So-ya and Ri-ri’s boat was outside the Lotus Demonic Beast’s immediate reach.
So-ya kept her eyes on the beast as it attacked. The black hands growing from the lotus petals grew back no matter how many times they were cut.
I was told they can't be killed just by cutting them.
So-ya recalled what she had learned about demonic beasts during her martial arts lessons with San-ho.
[Plant-type demonic beasts don't die when cut; they just grow back. Unlike animal-types, you can't defeat them with a sword.]
[They grow back even if you cut them? Isn't that a big problem?]
[Hehe, don't worry too much, my cute Young Lady. Plant-type demonic beasts have a very major weakness. It’s fire.]
Right on cue, San-yu fired an arrow imbued with the Ability of Flame. His arrow struck the beast’s body, but as the creature thrashed, a massive spray of water erupted, instantly extinguishing the fire.
Because this plant-type beast was in the water, it couldn't be defeated by ordinary means.
This isn't going to solve the situation. We have to find another way.
Sa-eon and the other generals surely knew this as well. However, for the moment, they were preoccupied with rescuing the victims from the pond.
Meanwhile, as Ga-hyeon moved quickly to lead the remaining clan members in tending to those who had made it out of the water, Ga-yul and Seol-yo tried to charge toward the pond to help. Ga-ya grabbed them both by the scruffs of their necks.
“No babies allowed. Wait here,” Ga-ya said, dragging the two children back.
“No! I have to protect So-ya! So-ya is on that boat!”
“That’s right! I have to protect Cotton Ball! I decided to do that the moment she first came to the White Tiger Palace!”
Seol-yo and Ga-yul shrieked in protest.
“If you jump into the pond now, the one in danger won't be Som-som, it’ll be you two,” Ga-ya countered.
“I don't care if I’m in danger!”
“Me neither! I don't care! So let go of me!”
Ga-ya raised an eyebrow. “You might not care, but I do. If you two get hurt trying to save Som-som, our Som-som will be heartbroken.”
“……”
“……”
At those words, Seol-yo and Ga-yul finally shut their mouths. However, despite their silence, the two children’s eyes were still filled with restless anxiety, desperate to save So-ya.
Fortunately, So-ya was quite a distance away from the Lotus Demonic Beast. Since she was out of the beast’s range, she shouldn't be in any danger, but Ga-ya figured it would be best to bring her back quickly to calm Ga-yul and Seol-yo down.
“I’ll bring Som-som back safely, so don't worry and—”
But then.
“So-ya!”
“Cotton Ball!”
Seol-yo and Ga-yul screamed simultaneously.
Sensing something through pure instinct at their cries, Ga-ya whipped his head around toward the small boat where So-ya had been.
Splash!
With the heightened hearing of a White Tiger beastkin, he heard the distant sound of someone falling into the water.
“Som-som…!”
Ga-ya’s face turned deathly pale in an instant.
On the boat where So-ya had been just a moment ago, only the boatman and Ri-ri remained.
So-ya had fallen into the water.