Chapter 154
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 154
Poof!
So-ya underwent her beast transformation right in front of San-yu.
In an instant, her body turned into a tiny, precious bird.
San-yu stared at So-ya’s red wing feathers, speechless for a moment. Then, seeing her fit perfectly into the palm of his hand, he let out a soft smile.
“I thought so before, but you really are the prettiest baby bird I’ve ever seen.”
“I’m not a baby bird. I’ve already completed my First Growth,” So-ya huffed, flapping her wings indignantly. “I’m just… I’m just a little small even after growing up.”
San-yu chuckled at the sight of her pouting with her dainty yellow beak.
“Sorry, sorry. My dear So-ya. Your brother made a mistake. Our So-ya isn’t a baby, is she?”
He soothed his sister in a gentle voice, stroking her head feathers. Perhaps because they were both bird beastkin, he knew exactly where to pet a bird to make them feel good.
Though, of course, So-ya was definitely not a baby bird.
“You should transform too, Brother.”
“Alright.”
San-yu nodded with a bright smile.
San-yu’s beast form was gargantuan. When he spread his two wings, he was nearly as large as an adult tiger. He was big enough to carry four or five people on his crimson back.
“You look much bigger than the last time I saw you!” So-ya chirped in admiration at the size of the Vermilion Bird’s wings, having completed his Second Growth.
When he had visited her in his beast form before, he certainly hadn't been this large.
“If I spread my wings in my normal form, I’d end up intimidating the other birds. That’s why I use the lineage ability to shrink my appearance during ordinary times.”
“But the brothers at the White Tiger Palace couldn’t do anything like that.”
“It’s a secret technique of the Vermilion Bird Clan, unknown to the tigers,” San-yu explained with a grin. “But today is the day I get to fly with my lovely sister. I have to spread my wings properly.”
Well, come to think of it, the Vermilion Bird Celestial Maiden was also very large…
So-ya accepted this immediately and spread her own wings wide beside San-yu. Unfortunately, even at full stretch, her wings were barely the size of San-yu’s foot.
Nevertheless, So-ya bravely beat her wings and soared into the air.
San-yu flapped his wings as well, positioning himself beneath So-ya to match her pace.
Together with San-yu, So-ya climbed the high mountains behind the Imperial Palace and pierced through the clouds, flapping her wings vigorously to reach heights she had never visited with Jjaek-jjaek.
It felt wonderful to fly with her brother while feeling the cool breeze.
So-ya’s happy chirps and laughter echoed clearly through the bright spring sky.
After flying for a long time, the two folded their wings on a high roof of the Imperial Palace and released their beast transformations. They looked at each other and burst into laughter.
“Eat this, So-ya. Snacks always taste best after a flight.”
San-yu handed So-ya some jerky.
“Wow, it’s delicious!”
So-ya marveled as she accepted the snack from her brother, looking much like a baby bird being fed.
“How is my sister so good at flying? You’re truly wonderful and amazing.”
She hadn't even been taught how to fly by parent birds, yet she soared so magnificently. San-yu felt such pride and heartbreaking affection for his sister that he had to repeatedly swallow the lump forming in his throat.
He couldn't show her his tears again, not in front of such a spirited sister.
“Actually, at first, I kept falling and landing on my bottom. But when I took my first flight, Father told me the same thing. He said I was a very brave and wonderful baby bird,” So-ya added with a giggle.
“The father you’re talking about… that’s Baek Sa-eon, right?”
At the mention of Sa-eon’s name, So-ya’s eyes crinkled into beautiful crescents.
“Yes! He’s the coolest, most precious father in the whole world.”
So-ya’s voice was filled with pride and deep affection as she spoke of Sa-eon.
“I’m so glad.”
“About what?”
“That you found a real family who loves you.”
Strangely, his voice sounded sad again. So-ya stared at San-yu quietly before speaking firmly.
“You’re my real family too, Brother.”
San-yu flinched. His eyes widened at her words. Soon, he looked at So-ya with an overwhelmed expression.
“Brother?”
Seeing his eyes redden, So-ya called out to him in a worried voice, fearing he might cry again.
San-yu replied, his eyes curving with deep tenderness. “Thank you, So-ya.”
“It’s not something you need to be particularly thankful for. I just… I just said what’s obvious.” So-ya gripped his sleeve tightly. “You’ve always been my brother, ever since a long time ago.”
“…”
“Did you… did you think I didn't consider you family?”
“Not at all.” San-yu shook his head gently. “I have always been So-ya’s brother. From the moment baby So-ya was born from our mother’s womb, to now, when you’ve grown into such a wonderful young lady. And I will be in the future, too.”
Hiding the painful tightness in his throat, San-yu smiled radiantly.
“From now on and forever, I will always be your brother.”
“Me too. I’ll be your sister for the rest of my life.”
So-ya beamed back at him. A warm spring breeze brushed softly past the two siblings.
*
Hwa-yu, who had returned well past midnight the previous night, had stayed holed up in his room all day.
He hadn't slept or eaten, spending the night wide awake, curled up in a corner. With his head buried between his knees, his complexion was ashen and his eyes were bloodshot, as if he had seen a ghost.
“It can’t… be…”
His parched lips muttered the same words incessantly.
“There’s no way…”
However, contrary to his repeated denials, Hwa-yu realized the truth more clearly than anyone.
So-ya. That child was his sister.
“So-ya is… my sister… My real sister… There’s no way…”
She wasn't a child who had been swapped, nor was she a child born of his mother’s infidelity.
She was his real sister… with brilliant red feathers like a flame.
“It can’t… be…”
A single tear rolled down his hollow cheek.
“Young Master.”
At that moment, a family servant cautiously approached him.
“I apologize. But neither the Clan Head nor the eldest Young Master can be found…”
The servant stood hesitantly before him and delivered the news from outside.
“Last night, Lady Ri-ri—no, the Cuckoo—was discovered near the Yellow Dragon’s bedchamber. I don’t know the details, but it seems she’s been implicated in an attempted assassination of the Yellow Dragon…”
Hwa-yu froze. At the mention of Ri-ri’s name, he slowly lifted his head.
“Young Mas—! Gasp!”
Encountering Hwa-yu’s face, the servant recoiled in shock. His bloodshot eyes held an eerie energy, as if he were on the verge of doing something drastic.
“Where is she now?”
“Pardon? Oh, yes!”
The servant, who had asked back blankly, realized he was asking about Ri-ri and answered immediately.
“Ah… if you mean the Cuckoo, she has been moved to the Imperial Palace’s underground prison, where those guilty of high treason are kept…”
Hwa-yu stood up. Forcing his trembling body to stand straight, he walked outside.
“I am Jeok Hwa-yu of the Vermilion Bird Clan. I wish to see the prisoner.”
Arriving at the entrance of the underground prison, he spoke to the guard.
“That is not permitted. This area is only for those charged with high treason—”
The guard was about to block him when the other guard beside him nudged his colleague with an elbow and whispered.
“Hey. His Majesty said to allow visits if the prisoner’s family comes looking.”
The guards whispered in very low voices, but there was no way those words would escape the ears of a direct descendant of the Vermilion Bird.
Family.
At that word, which pierced his ears like a blade, Hwa-yu clenched his fists tightly.