Side Story 9
Translator: RaidenTL
Side Story 9
While Ga-hyeon was still pondering his father’s riddle, they arrived halfway up the mountain.
The wild beasts that had been prowling along the forest paths at night lowered their bodies the moment Sa-eon appeared. Then, as if in a display of absolute submission, they pressed their bellies to the ground and lowered their tails.
Clinging to his father’s arms, Ga-hyeon’s eyes grew round as he took in the wondrous sight. Unlike his surprised self, his father remained composed, looking as though this display were only natural.
Ga-hyeon had heard since he was a child that the White Tiger Clan, the Guardians of the West, were the masters of Mt. Horim, but…
‘So this is what it means to be the master of the mountain.’
Ga-hyeon was inwardly struck with admiration.
Just then, a large bear approached Sa-eon. Ga-hyeon couldn’t hide his startle and froze stiff. He had only ever seen bears in books; this was his first time seeing one in person. Although there was a Bear Clan among the Baek Clan’s retainers, there were no bear beastkin in the White Tiger Palace.
The bear rubbed its head against Sa-eon’s feet as if acting cute. Ga-hyeon’s eyes widened even further.
“Hyeon-ah. Why don’t you try greeting the animals? I’m sure they’ll like it.”
Sa-eon spoke as he set the frozen Ga-hyeon down on the ground.
“They’ll… like it?”
“Yes.”
At that, Ga-hyeon cautiously reached out and stroked the bear’s head. The bear let out a delighted purr-like rumble. Ga-hyeon’s face brightened instantly.
Watching from behind, a smile naturally formed on Sa-eon’s face at the sight of his son acting like a normal eight-year-old boy.
“Hyeon-ah, Papa has to step away for a moment. Can you wait here for me?”
“Yes!”
Ga-hyeon nodded quickly, as if he had been waiting for the chance. After telling the beasts to guard Ga-hyeon well, Sa-eon left the area.
Left alone with the animals, Ga-hyeon looked around for a moment. Then, he spoke briefly to the beasts.
“You guys, turn around for a second.”
The animals nodded and turned their bodies away.
“Don’t look back. You absolutely must not.”
“Grrr, purr.”
At the sound of their rumbling responses, a look of relief spread across Ga-hyeon’s face. He stole a glance at them before approaching a tree on the opposite side.
Thump, thump.
His heart was pounding. Carefully rising onto his tiptoes, he plucked a leaf. It was a large leaf, bigger than his two palms put together.
He laid the leaf down on a wide rock and, using the moonlight as his lamp, carefully wrote down his wish.
‘I hope this letter reaches the Dragon God this year.’
In truth, even last year, after telling Ga-yul in a biting voice that "only a stupid tiger like you would believe in the Dragon God," he had secretly sent a leaf letter to the Dragon God by himself. Of course, it was a secret he could never tell anyone—especially not Ga-yul.
“Dragon God. Please grant my wish.”
Ga-hyeon whispered as he set his wish afloat on the stream. The leaf carrying the young tiger’s hope drifted slowly away, riding the dark currents that sparkled under the moonlight.
Meanwhile, a short distance away.
Hidden in the dark shadows, Sa-eon watched the leaf letter floating down from upstream. His son’s neat and tidy handwriting was admirable, but it also made him feel a bit sad, as if the boy had grown up too early.
Sa-eon watched for a long time to ensure his son’s leaf didn’t lose its way before returning to Ga-hyeon.
“Hyeon-ah.”
Ga-hyeon, who had been chatting away with the mountain beasts, turned back to him with a bright smile.
“Father!”
“Shall we head back down now?”
Sa-eon asked, pretending not to notice the ink stains on his son’s fingertips.
“Yes!”
Seeing the usually calm Ga-hyeon looking a bit excited, a warm smile bloomed on Sa-eon’s face as well.
Unlike their ascent, Sa-eon and Ga-hyeon walked slowly down the mountain path, escorted by the beasts. Their tightly held hands swung together with every step they took.
*
1-3. Before the Baby Bird Builds Its Nest: Ga-ya’s Story. And San-yu’s Story.
The day Ga-ya was to leave for the battlefield drew near. Unlike the worried Sa-eon, Ga-ya remained consistent in his attitude, acting as if there was nothing to worry about.
Finally, the day of the departure ceremony arrived. Ga-ya arrived at the Imperial Palace accompanied by his father and younger brothers, who had come to see him off.
After the ceremony ended, Ga-ya was resting in his assigned pavilion when he raised his head at the sound of soft snoring. There lay Ga-yul, fast asleep in his baby tiger form.
‘Hmm. I heard the Vermilion Bird Clan’s youngest sister followed her brother and cried her eyes out because she didn’t want to be apart from him…’
Far from worrying about his older brother going to war, his own youngest brother had simply gobbled up all the delicious food in the palace and was now taking a nap while patting his plump belly.
Ga-ya furrowed his brows slightly and thought of his two younger brothers with a mock-serious expression.
‘Well, they’re both cute in their own way, but…’
There was Ga-hyeon, who considered himself an adult now that he was eight. And then there was Ga-yul, who was still a spoiled baby even at seven. Both brothers had their charms, but Ga-ya couldn't quite imagine them crying for him.
Baby tigers clinging to his pant legs and wailing for him not to go? It seemed like it might be a bit unsettling…
‘I guess younger sisters are different.’
Ga-ya sat lost in thought, idly poking the sleeping baby tiger’s belly fat, before eventually standing up.
‘It’s not like I want them to cry for me anyway. It would just be noisy.’
Dismissing the thought with a bored expression, Ga-ya headed toward the Imperial Palace Garden to take a walk. As he walked alone, he spotted a red-haired boy about his height under a tree across from him.
He knew instinctively: that boy was the heir of the Vermilion Bird Clan.
The boy from the Vermilion Bird Clan was holding a tiny girl, not even half his size, and comforting her.
‘I guess he’s saying goodbye to his sister.’
Ga-ya thought with an indifferent face. The boy held the child so protectively in his arms that her body was barely visible.
Ga-ya thought of his brothers again. He really couldn't imagine Ga-hyeon or Ga-yul snuggling into his arms like that. If it were Ga-hyeon, he would likely show a look of blatant displeasure while being held, and if it were Ga-yul, he would surely struggle to escape and end up tearing Ga-ya's sleeve.
‘I guess sisters really are different.’
It was while he was thinking such idle thoughts that San-yu, who had been comforting the sobbing So-ya, looked up as he sensed someone nearby.
For a moment, their eyes met. However, Ga-ya simply let out a light snort and walked past. That was the first meeting between Ga-ya and San-yu.
Their second meeting took place right after they had officially deployed.
After the march, Ga-ya had arrived at the border and was resting in his assigned barracks. Sensing someone entering, he raised his head, thinking, ‘This must be the guy I’m sharing the tent with.’
“Ah…”
The red-haired boy faltered upon seeing him, but then his eyes curved into a lazy smile as he offered a greeting.
“You are Lord Ga-ya of the White Tiger Clan, correct? It is a pleasure to meet you. I am San-yu of the Southern Jeok Clan.”
“…”
Instead of answering, Ga-ya stared at him with a sullen expression. When Ga-ya didn't respond, San-yu tilted his head before speaking with a look of realization.
“Ah. It seems Lord Ga-ya is quite shy—”
But before he could finish his sentence, Ga-ya stood up and brushed past him like a cold wind.
Setting aside his natural tendency to be indifferent toward others, Ga-ya simply didn't like San-yu. There was no specific reason. He just disliked the guy.
He didn't like that kind-looking face that was so different from his own. He didn't like how the guy kept trying to talk to him even though he was being ignored.
And…
“Ah, this is something my younger sister sent to me.”
He especially didn't like how the guy would constantly brag about his sister, as if he were teasing, “You don’t have a sister at your house, do you?”