Side Story 25
Translator: RaidenTL
Side Story 25
“White Tiger beastkin don't use weapons when facing demonic beasts. We have fangs and claws with more destructive power than any blade.”
Ga-ya explained in a level voice.
“But it’s different when dealing with people. If you don't adjust your supernatural ability with more delicacy, you could accidentally end up seriously injuring your opponent.”
“I see.”
So-ya nodded vigorously, her face a picture of rapt attention.
“Using a weapon allows you to adjust your ability efficiently and delicately. It has the disadvantage of reducing the overall scale of power, but it’s much more stable.”
Ga-ya picked up a fallen branch of moderate length and stood before a large boulder.
“But that’s a branch, not a weapon, isn't it?”
“Whether it’s a wooden sword, a blade forged of steel, or just a branch picked up from the road—none of that actually matters, Som-som.”
At So-ya’s question, Ga-ya gave a playful smirk. He tossed the branch into the air and caught it again.
“As long as you can properly infuse and transmit your ability through it—”
A blue-silver energy began to shimmer around the branch in his hand.
“Even a branch rolling around on the ground can become an effective weapon.”
Swish—!
Ga-ya swung the branch directly at the massive rock before him. Along with the sharp whistle of the wind…
Crack. Snap—
Thud!
“...!”
So-ya’s eyes grew wide and round.
In an instant, the massive boulder had been split clean in two!
“That was amazing, Brother!”
“Well, it was nothing much.”
Ga-ya puffed out his chest, looking smug at So-ya’s admiration.
“White Tiger beastkin prefer swords. The distance between the user and the weapon is short, which has the advantage of preserving a certain amount of destructive power compared to other weapons.”
“And the Blue Dragon Clan uses spears, right? My mother gave me a painted halberd as a gift when I was nine!”
So-ya bragged that she, too, knew how to swing a polearm.
“That’s right. Using a long spear allows those of the Blue Dragon Clan to maximize their innate ability of wood.”
Ga-ya spoke as he stroked So-ya’s hair in a praising manner.
“For example, your mother, Som-som—every time she swings her spear, vines and stems bloom from the tip to attack the enemy.”
“I saw that too! When Mother was punishing that Half-Moon Bear woman!”
Ga-ya let out a chuckle at So-ya’s reaction, which betrayed a hint of excitement.
“And what the Vermilion Bird Clan chose is this: the bow.”
He pointed to the bow held in So-ya’s hand.
“The ability of flame can spread wildly if it’s even slightly off-target. An arrow is the most delicate of weapons. However, it requires mastery because it can become even more dangerous if you don't hit your mark precisely.”
“Yes, Brother.”
At the mention of danger, So-ya nodded with a quite serious expression.
“Well, I know a certain crazy fire chicken beastkin who shoots his ability with his bare hands at innocent beastkin without even using a weapon.”
Ga-ya grumbled the addition before pointing toward the target for So-ya.
“Now, shall we try infusing the arrow you’re holding with your ability, Som-som?”
So-ya nocked the arrow and drew the string just as Ga-ya had taught her.
Infusing the arrow with her ability wasn't as easy as it sounded.
As So-ya concentrated hard, her brow furrowed, and the Divine Beasts began to manifest around her with a series of ‘Pop! Pop! Pop!’
—You can do it, baby bird!
—Crush that target with the ability of steel!
—Put some flames on the arrowhead and fire!
The Divine Beasts shouted frantically, their fists clenched with expressions even more tense than So-ya’s.
While focusing on the target amidst the noise, So-ya suddenly felt her ability stretching out from her fingertips.
“Ah...!”
A fresh, clear energy began to spread faintly around the arrow she held.
Zip—!
So-ya released the string.
The moment the flying arrow struck the target, a tiny green sprout popped out from the wooden board.
“I did it!”
So-ya cried out with a bright smile.
“A sprout...?”
“Yes, it’s the power of wood that the Dragon God lent me.”
Unlike the Dragon God of Cheonghae, who looked proud at So-ya’s explanation, the White Tiger Mountain Lord and the Vermilion Bird Celestial Maiden grumbled about her not borrowing their power instead.
“How fascinating. An ability that borrows the power of Divine Beasts.”
“Oh, it’s nothing special. It’s not even my own power; it’s just strength the Divine Beasts lent me.”
So-ya spoke humbly, feeling a bit shy to be praised like that in front of the Divine Beasts, who were the true owners of the power.
However, to Ga-ya, who could not see the Divine Beasts, it sounded like mere modesty.
Even if So-ya claimed it was nothing, this was a magnificent power that no one else possessed.
Ga-ya remembered it vividly.
That day when the Imperial Palace fell into the clutches of evil, he remembered the red light that purified Jeok San-yu—who had been attacking him mid-transformation—and enveloped the entire palace.
“Still, it really is incredible, Som-som. It’s amazing enough that you learned archery in a single day, but you even succeeded in infusing it with your ability.”
“It’s all thanks to your great teaching, Brother. I want to brag about it to Brother San-yu later, too.”
At the mention of San-yu’s name, which So-ya brought up with a small giggle, Ga-ya momentarily bristled.
I’m your real brother, and that guy is just a fake brother now, so why are you bragging to him? is what he wanted to say, but...
‘Saying that would be too childish.’
Besides, So-ya already secretly thought of him as being on the same level as Ga-yul.
Ga-ya cleared his throat with a series of forced coughs to settle his mind.
Then, he spoke to So-ya with a deliberately benevolent expression.
‘Fine, let’s show that Jeok fellow later, Som-som.’
“Don't brag to that guy, Som-som. I’m your brother.”
Oops. In his attempt to show mercy he usually never granted that Jeok fellow, he had accidentally swapped the words he meant to think with the words he meant to say.
“Pardon?”
“I-it was a mistake, Som-som! The words came out backward!”
Ga-ya explained hurriedly.
But his true feelings had already been exposed to So-ya.
“Brother Ga-ya, are you perhaps... jealous of Brother San-yu?”
“Jealous? As if! Why would I be jealous of that hothead who’s inferior to me?”
“Oh my. You shouldn't use such mean words with your friends, Brother. You two should get along.”
“Friends? Me? With whom?”
Ga-ya looked revolted at the word 'friends.'
“Ahaha! Brother, with that look on your face, it really seems like you hate Brother San-yu.”
But So-ya, once again assuming this was just her brother’s playful teasing, burst into a rare fit of laughter.
At the sound of that pure laughter, Ga-ya hesitated for a moment before eventually letting out a chuckle along with her.
* * *
Transforming into a massive tiger, Ga-ya carried So-ya on his back as they descended the mountain.
“How is it, Som-som? Doesn't this feel like you’re flying with your brother?”
Ga-ya asked as he leaped nimbly between the mountain peaks.
Ever since returning from the Imperial Palace, Ga-ya had become strangely obsessed with the idea of flying.
It was all because of San-yu’s teasing.
[“Since Lord Ga-ya lacks wings, I suppose you wouldn't know the joy of flying with our sister. How tragic.”]
He had been so infuriated by San-yu, who had bragged about flying with So-ya while curling his eyes in that obnoxious way.
However, So-ya, who could never imagine the always kind and mature San-yu teasing Ga-ya like that, only tilted her head in confusion.
‘Is Brother Ga-ya envious of me being able to fly? Last time, he even said something weird about trying to fly but failing because he didn't have wings.’
So-ya was seriously contemplating how to tell him that tigers cannot fly in a way that wouldn't hurt his feelings when—
Flinch.
So-ya, who had reflexively turned her head, suddenly froze.
Noticing this instantly, Ga-ya slowed his pace to a stop.
“What’s wrong, Som-som?”
“Oh, well...”
So-ya hesitated for a moment, then answered with a smile, pretending nothing was wrong.
“It’s just, that’s where we all used to play together. Passing by here after so long brought back memories.”
The place So-ya pointed to was none other than the path leading to their secret hideout.
It was a place she hadn't set foot in once since Seol-yo had left.
Ga-ya felt a sudden surge of emotion at those words, delivered with such a clear, bright smile.
Of course, like his other siblings, he wanted So-ya to always be smiling.
But...
“Don't smile like that.”
Ga-ya, who had released his beast transformation at some point, said as he gently poked the bridge of her nose.