Side Story 11
Translator: RaidenTL
Side Story 11
“…….”
Ga-ya was utterly speechless.
“There’s no proof that I attacked you first, Young Lord Ga-ya. Isn’t that right?”
The flames flickering around San-yu began to swell, their heat intensifying.
“And really, I feel quite wronged. To say I’m trying to kill someone… Why would I ever kill you? I’m simply… trying to fix a naughty beast’s bad habits.”
The moment San-yu finished speaking, his flames lunged toward Ga-ya once more.
Ga-ya narrowly dodged the relentless onslaught, his mind racing.
That guy…
Jeok San-yu, the eldest son of the Vermilion Bird Clan, appeared to be nothing more than a refined young lord with a face as gentle as spring sunshine, but…
He’s out of his mind. He’s a lunatic. A total, utter madman.
Ga-ya bit his lip, judging San-yu to be the most deranged person he had ever encountered—which was saying something, considering Ga-ya himself was surprisingly sane, aside from his self-centered streak.
If that’s how he wants to play it, I have no choice but to get serious.
Ga-ya slowly drew upon his supernatural ability.
Leaping into the air, he clawed through the atmosphere and charged straight at San-yu.
K-boom—!
With a violent roar of displaced air, their energies collided with massive force.
The shockwave completely leveled their barracks.
* * *
Though they were only twelve-year-old boys who had just completed their First Growth, they were the heirs to two of the Four Great Clans that propped up the Empire.
The site where their barracks once stood was left in a state more disastrous than a duel between most grown men.
Ultimately, the two boys were summoned by their superiors and punished.
It was now the fifth day of their penalty: pulling night watch duty for the unit.
Ga-ya could feel the other boy soldiers stealing glances at them. He glared back, his face twisted into a fierce scowl.
Terrified, the other boys scurried away.
Seeing them flee only made Ga-ya’s expression sharpen further.
Why do I have to look so pathetic doing this?
Just then, he heard the sound of humming from beside him.
Unlike the irritated Ga-ya, San-yu seemed to be in an excellent mood. Even though their barracks had been blown to bits, he had managed to safely recover his younger sister’s letters and gifts.
“What a relief. They’re a bit wrinkled, but thankfully, everything is intact.”
“…….”
Ga-ya stared at him, dumbfounded.
At the very moment their energies had collided and created a massive vortex, San-yu’s eyes had suddenly gone wide. He had instantly ceased his attack and scurried off somewhere.
Then, he had crouched on the dirt ground, shielding himself with his own body as he bore the full brunt of the clashing energies.
[You, what the hell are you—?]
Ga-ya had watched in bewilderment, only to realize the boy was huddled on the ground protecting those items. Specifically, those precious letters from his younger sister.
And of course, that was the exact moment people had come running, alerted by the commotion.
It was obvious how the scene looked to them: San-yu crouching on the ground and Ga-ya standing over him, demanding to know what he was doing.
Baek Ga-ya was already known for his cold impression and his icy indifference toward everyone but himself.
In contrast, Jeok San-yu was always graceful and kind, possessing an appearance as warm and gentle as a spring day.
Though no one said it aloud, they all secretly assumed Ga-ya had picked a fight and was bullying San-yu.
Ga-ya fumed inwardly. Everyone was being fooled by that bastard’s "good boy" face.
The sun had fully set. Once darkness fell, it was their duty to patrol the forest near the barracks, relying only on torches.
“Don’t you feel like we’re getting used to this, now that we’ve stood watch a few times?”
San-yu, holding a torch, tried to strike up a conversation again, but Ga-ya kept his mouth shut and jerked his head away.
He had no intention of exchanging a single word with the guy.
If I ever talk to that lunatic again, I’m not even a tiger.
“Oh? Young Lord Ga-ya, could it be… are you sulking?”
What? Sulking?
How dare he use such a "cute" word.
I just can’t stand the sight of you.
Of course, Ga-ya only shouted this in his head. He had sworn not to speak to him, after all.
“Young Lord Ga-ya, you really are a selfish, narrow-minded, no-good tiger.”
San-yu let out a deep sigh and shook his head.
“No-good tiger?”
Unable to resist the provocation, Ga-ya finally snapped.
“You flaming chicken-head.”
“Flaming…”
A hairline fracture appeared in San-yu’s perpetually gentle smile.
“What an interesting expression. I’ve never heard that one before.”
The corners of San-yu’s forced smile trembled minutely.
Ga-ya, with his keenly developed senses, didn't miss it. His mood instantly brightened at the thought of having landed a blow.
“Wow, really? I’m so glad. For the sake of the roommate I share a barracks with, I can give you an even more interesting one. Fire-head.”
“Fire… head…”
San-yu muttered the words back to himself before suddenly bursting into laughter like a madman.
“Ha, haha, hahaha!”
“……?”
“Good things should be shared between roommates. How about I turn you into a flaming tiger, Young Lord Ga-ya?”
“You? To me?”
Ga-ya snorted, looking down at San-yu with an arrogant expression.
“Why? Do you think I can’t?”
Despite the smile, a chilling aura settled over San-yu’s face. Simultaneously, the torch in his hand flared up, the flames swelling and roaring.
The two boys radiated a fierce intensity, looking as if they were about to lung at each other at any second.
Then, they froze.
Sensing a sudden presence, Ga-ya and San-yu stopped their bickering and turned around at the same time.
Grrr…
Growl…
Snarl…
A pack of demonic beasts had appeared out of nowhere, surrounding them while dripping saliva.
“What are those things?”
“They look like demonic beasts.”
Both boys looked displeased at having their argument interrupted.
“Let’s take care of these first.”
“For once, I agree with you, Young Lord Ga-ya.”
A murderous glint flashed in the eyes of the two boys as they took up combat stances. The demonic beasts instinctively flinched at the bleak, violent aura the children emitted.
The battle began when San-yu hurled his torch, piercing the torso of the lead beast. Before long, the wretched screams of demonic beasts echoed through the forest.
“Insignificant pests, getting in the way,” Ga-ya muttered, wiping a splash of beast blood from his cheek with the back of his hand.
“That’s the last one.”
San-yu watched as he burned the final living beast alive, then scanned their surroundings. The area was littered with the carcasses of demonic beasts.
The situation seemed to be settled.
“Now then, Young Lord Ga-ya, shall we finish what we were talking about—”
“Wait, behind you…!”
At the sight of Ga-ya’s hardened expression, San-yu instinctively turned around.
“ROAR!”
A massive demonic beast that had been hiding lunged at him.
“Ugh…!”
Caught by the surprise attack, San-yu couldn't dodge in time. Just as the beast pinned him down and unhinged its long maw—
Bam!
Ga-ya, having undergone beast transformation into a massive tiger, slammed into the beast. He pounced on top of it and struck its eyes with his forepaws.
“SKREEEE!”
The blinded beast began to thrash in agony.
Now!
Taking the opening, San-yu rolled away and escaped from under the beast. Ga-ya remained clung to the thrashing creature, his body being tossed back and forth.
Why…?
San-yu stared at Ga-ya with confused eyes. Ga-ya could have easily finished the beast off in an instant with his supernatural ability…
Ah.
Then, a realization hit San-yu like a blow to the back of the head.
Was it because I might have gotten hurt?
San-yu blinked blankly for a moment before snapping out of it. This was no time for dazing. He had to help Ga-ya finish the beast.
Ga-ya and the beast were too close. If San-yu used his ability recklessly, Ga-ya might get caught in the crossfire—just as Ga-ya had held back his own ability while San-yu was pinned.
San-yu calmly drew his bow and notched an arrow.
Swish—!
The arrow flew true, piercing the beast’s heart. At the same moment—
Whoosh!
Flames erupted from the arrowhead, incinerating the beast’s heart from the inside.
“Gurgle…!”
The beast writhed in pain before going limp, its life extinguished.
“Phew…”
The tension finally snapped. San-yu tried to stand up but let out a pained groan, clutching his leg.
There was a wound on his right leg. The flesh was exposed and raw, looking hideously corroded—he must have been injured by the beast earlier.
The wound is…
It didn't look like he could stand on his own.
What should I do?
San-yu’s expression grew serious. Just then, a shadow fell over him.
He looked up to see Ga-ya, who had already released his beast transformation, looking down at him.
“What a pain.”
Ga-ya scowled and turned his back.
“Haha.”
San-yu let out a dry laugh at the cold response.
I wasn't expecting much anyway.
Just as San-yu resigned himself to being left alone in the forest, the boy who had turned away suddenly lowered his stance.
“Get on.”