Side Story 13
Translator: RaidenTL
Side Story 13
“A younger sister…”
Ga-ya stared at the word written in the letter for a long time, muttering it under his breath.
A younger sister.
Soft, fluffy, squishy—a younger sister.
The way the word rolled around in his mouth felt strange, sending a ticklish sensation through his chest.
She was nine years old.
Her name was So-ya. Baek So-ya.
She shared the ‘Baek’ of their family name and the ‘Ya’ of his own name. Baek So-ya.
And to top it off, she was a baby bird.
It was obvious she wouldn't have sharp teeth or pointed claws.
Then… I have to protect her, don’t I?
“Well, now.”
A smirk played on Ga-ya’s lips.
“I just found another reason to end this war quickly.”
His mood soaring, Ga-ya let out a series of chuckles as he began to walk. Usually, he wore a sullen expression, looking as if everything in the world bored him. Now, he was wandering through the camp grinning like a fool, drawing the bewildered stares of every beastkin he passed.
“Hey, did you see that? Baek Ga-ya is smiling.”
“Lord San-yu looked like he was in a bad way after getting a letter from the mansion earlier, but Lord Ga-ya… he’s acting even weirder.”
The beastkin whispered as they avoided him, but Ga-ya didn't hear a word. The four syllables of ‘younger sister’ were etched into his brain.
According to the letter from his father, his younger sister was the ‘kindest, cutest, and most precious baby bird in the world.’
Well, she’s my sister, so of course she’s the kindest, cutest, and most precious.
Her wings might be small, but she supposedly flew higher than anyone else, and when she sang with that tiny, adorable beak, everyone clapped.
Isn’t that amazing? How can she be so clever and admirable?
It was as Ga-ya was walking along, grinning to himself, that it happened.
Thump—
He bumped shoulders with someone.
Ga-ya turned his head casually, only to freeze when he saw who it was.
The boy staggering past was none other than Jeok San-yu.
“…?”
Ga-ya blinked.
Was it just me, or did his expression… look strange?
San-yu’s face was devoid of its usual smile.
No, it wasn't just the lack of a smile… he looked like the life had been drained out of him.
He didn't even seem to realize he had bumped into someone. If he had noticed Ga-ya, there was no way he would have just walked past like that.
Ga-ya watched San-yu’s retreating back with a puzzled look before shaking his head.
“Nah, no way. I must have seen wrong.”
A Jeok San-yu who didn't smile? He definitely misread the situation. Even when the guy was attacking him, he would throw flames with a bright, flowery grin on his face.
Ga-ya slowly turned back around. His steps were light and airy, even though he wasn't trying to make them so. Seeing as his mood kept lifting until he was humming to himself, it seemed having a ‘younger sister’ really was as incredible as Jeok San-yu had told him long ago.
It had already been three years since he left home.
His beloved hometown, the mountain fortress of the White Tiger Mountain Palace.
He heard a tiny, cute baby bird, like a little cotton ball, had made her nest there…
Thump, thump—
“I want to meet her soon, too. The little Cotton Ball.”
A baby bird had nested in the White Tiger Palace.
And now, a tiny nest had formed in Ga-ya’s heart as well.
*
2. So-ya, Autumn of her Ninth Year. Ga-yul’s Story.
Baek Ga-yul. Age ten.
The third son of the White Tiger Clan and the coolest tiger in the Western Land.
He had woken up rubbing his eyes to his father’s touch early in the morning, only to hear the most shocking words of his short yet long ten-year life.
“So, Yul. From now on, So-ya is your younger sister.”
Sa-eon was explaining to Ga-yul that So-ya had become part of their family.
“…!”
Ga-yul’s eyes grew wide and round.
“R-Really, Father? So the Cotton Ball is my sister now?”
“Yes. So from now on…”
“I’m so, so happy!”
An ecstatic Ga-yul shouted with a bright smile before Sa-eon could even finish his sentence.
Seeing Ga-yul’s joy, a soft smile spread across Sa-eon’s face. He had been inwardly worried that Ga-yul might be flustered by the sudden decision.
Family—the addition of a new family member—wasn't just an affair between him and So-ya. It involved Ga-hyeon, who was there with them; Ga-yul, who hadn't been; and Ga-ya, who was currently far away protecting the Empire.
And perhaps, just perhaps…
It also involved her, who might return one day.
It was a redefinition of everyone’s relationships. Therefore, he believed bringing in a new family member wasn't a decision he should make alone. He felt he should have spoken with his children before officially making So-ya family, if only to prevent any confusion or conflict the young ones might experience.
But yesterday…
[They told me it’s only natural for people to hate me and bully me, so I have to endure it.]
[Everyone, hic, everyone said it was my fault, uugh… No one was on my side, hic… Not Father, not Brother Hwa-yu, they all said it was So-ya’s fault. But then, why…]
[Why do you, hic, say it’s not my fault, Lord Sa-eon? Why are you the only one, hic, who stays on my side?]
He simply couldn't ignore So-ya as she wept so sorrowfully. He couldn't help but reach out to a child trapped in a broken world, believing herself to be the one who was broken.
Will Yul be able to understand this situation?
Even though he knew Ga-yul, who was naturally fond of people, had been following So-ya around with interest, he had still been concerned. If young Ga-yul felt any resentment toward having a new sibling, his hasty decision to bring her in without a family discussion could have hurt both So-ya and Ga-yul.
“T-Then I’m the Cotton Ball’s b-big brother now, right?”
As if Sa-eon’s worries were for nothing, Ga-yul—now wide awake—stared at him with sparkling eyes. Sa-eon felt incredibly proud of Ga-yul’s big, pure heart for accepting So-ya as family without a single hint of hesitation.
“Yes. You’re family now.”
“…!”
Heavens, family! How could that word sound so sweet?
“So, Yul. As her older brother, you must take good care of your sister. Help So-ya adjust well to the White Tiger Palace.”
“Yes, yes! I’ll help the Cotton Ball adjust so she likes it here!”
As Ga-yul shouted while pumping his fists, Sa-eon smiled warmly and stroked the boy’s hair.
“How admirable, my little tiger.”
“Hehe.”
Ga-yul was beyond excited. He was family with the Cotton Ball! The tiny, snow-white Cotton Ball his father had brought home! His cute little sister Cotton Ball, whom he now had to protect!
Ga-yul liked So-ya. He had liked her from the very first moment he saw her. It was his first time seeing someone smaller than himself. Above all, in the White Tiger Palace where only predators roamed, she was such a tiny, fluffy thing.
How could I not like her? I want to protect her just by looking at her.
It wasn't just him; everyone liked So-ya. Whenever others called her cute, Ga-yul’s shoulders would puff up with pride. He wanted every beastkin in the Western Land—no, everyone in the world—to know how cute the Cotton Ball was.
So this is what it feels like to have a sister. I want to brag about it to the whole world.
He had to suppress the urge to climb to the top of Mt. Horim and scream, “Our Cotton Ball is the cutest in the world!” He had heard that the Cotton Ball was very shy, and if he did something like that, she might hide out of embarrassment.
“Come to think of it, Young Master. You threw a tantrum a long time ago saying you wanted a younger sibling.”
Yeon-jeong brought up an old story to Ga-yul, who had rushed to find So-ya without even wiping the sleep from his eyes.
“Huh?”
“You said you didn't want a tiger sibling, but a tiny, cute one like a baby bird.”
“I did?”
“Don’t you remember? You even wrote a letter to the stork with the Clan Head.”
“A stork…?”
Ga-yul tilted his head, looking puzzled. No matter how much he searched his memory, he couldn't recall it, but…
“It seems the stork really granted your wish. Congratulations on your beautiful younger sister, Young Master.”
Well, whatever. Like Yeon-jeong said, he had such a pretty younger sister now. Hehe.
Anyway, since I’m the Cotton Ball’s big brother now, I have to be a cool one like Father said.
Ga-yul made a solemn vow with a mature expression.
From that day on, he visited So-ya every single day and did everything he could to be a good brother.
“Cotton Ball, look at this! I picked it up for you!”
He brought her the smooth, pretty stones she liked.
“Cotton Ball! Your legs—no, your wings must hurt! Climb onto my shoulders! Hurry!”
He offered his shoulders so her tiny wings wouldn't get tired.
“Cotton Ball! Do you want to… um… play ball with your big brother?”
He played ball with her whenever he had a spare moment so she wouldn't be bored.
And every time he did, So-ya would smile shyly and say in her soft voice, “Thank you, Brother Yul,” or “Yes, Brother Yul. Let’s play ball together.”
Whenever So-ya gave that quiet smile, her lips curving upward ever so slightly, Ga-yul felt a strange warmth in his heart. It made him feel as if he had done something truly magnificent.