Chapter 30
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 30
It was at that moment.
“Yip! Whine!”
Seol-yo’s tail shot up as he began gnawing on Ga-hyeon’s shoe.
“That thing is…”
Ga-hyeon’s eyes narrowed as he looked down at Seol-yo.
Though the creature seemed to be mimicking the appearance of a tiger, it was clearly no ordinary mountain beast. If it were truly a beast of the wild, there was no way he—a direct descendant of the White Tiger that ruled Mt. Horim—would fail to recognize it.
“A demonic beast…?”
The black creature radiated an aura identical to the barrier that had been deployed earlier, as if to protect someone.
Was it this little thing that cast that barrier? But from what? And who was it trying to protect?
Just as these suspicions began to take root in Ga-hyeon’s mind—
“H-He’s not a bad animal, Young Master! I promise!”
Startled, So-ya quickly scooped Seol-yo up and pulled him away from Ga-hyeon.
“The wild beasts attacked me, and he saved me…”
“The wild beasts attacked you?”
Ga-hyeon, who had been scrutinizing Seol-yo, suddenly snapped his head up.
“Yes… Su-ri told me to stay close to the Youngest Young Master, but then the beasts appeared out of nowhere, and so…”
So-ya explained everything—how the animals had suddenly turned violent and how she had ended up deep in the forest while fleeing from them.
As she spoke, she stole a glance at Ga-hyeon, worried that he might not believe her.
“Are you hurt anywhere?” Ga-hyeon asked, his face pale as he scanned her body. “Any bites or scratches? Did you trip while you were running?”
His mind went blank at the realization that she hadn't simply lost her way.
“No, I’m fine. San-ho lent me a Wind Bead, so… Ow!”
So-ya had been trying to reassure the Young Master, who seemed more shaken than she was, when her legs suddenly gave out. She slumped to the ground.
The indigo wolf’s Wind Bead had bolstered the strength in her legs and ankles, but pushing her physical limits to their absolute capacity had taken a severe toll on her body. Now that she had found Ga-hyeon and felt safe, the tension that had been holding her together finally snapped.
“Yip!”
“So-ya!”
Ga-hyeon quickly moved to support her. Seol-yo, who had tumbled from her arms when she fell, began pacing in circles around the two of them.
“Thank goodness. Thank goodness for that Wind Bead.”
Ga-hyeon let out a breath of relief. If not for that bead, something truly terrible might have happened.
“You must have been so scared.”
The beasts of Mt. Horim were under the dominion of the White Tiger Clan; they were usually docile and never harmed humans. Yet they had tried to attack So-ya. And on the very day his father happened to be away.
Did someone target So-ya on purpose? But why?
It might have been a leap in logic, but the circumstances were far too coincidental. Ga-hyeon shook his head to clear his thoughts. For now, they had to get down the mountain. The night air was growing far too cold.
Ga-hyeon bent his knees and offered his back to So-ya.
“Get on.”
“What? But…”
“It’s dark, and I’m worried you’ll trip over a rock or something. Just get on, So-ya.”
The thought of being carried by a noble Young Master was overwhelming. Moreover, she knew the Second Young Master…
He must find me uncomfortable.
So-ya hesitated, recalling how Ga-hyeon had treated her until now.
What if I’m just being a nuisance again?
Being more sensitive to negative emotions than anyone, So-ya was well aware that Ga-hyeon had been avoiding her.
“Hurry, So-ya.”
At his repeated urging, So-ya cautiously climbed onto his back. Ga-hyeon’s back was small, but it felt much firmer than she had expected. It was a sturdy back, one that felt as though it could truly protect her.
So-ya realized she had felt this kind of kind, solid warmth once before. She remembered the broad, strong back of a grown man who had appeared in a flutter of white silk to protect her.
Ah, I see. The Young Master’s back is just like Sa-eon’s.
With that thought, her discomfort began to fade. Recalling Ga-hyeon’s frantic voice as he searched for her, his pale face, and his trembling eyes made her feel strange. She had vaguely hoped someone might come for her, but she never imagined the Second Young Master would be the one.
It felt surreal that he had looked for her with such an expression. After all, he had seemed so displeased by her very presence here.
I’ve been a bother to him since the very first day…
So-ya stole a look at him, though she couldn't see his face from behind. She remembered how his hair had been matted with sweat against his forehead and cheeks when he found her, and the small scratches visible through the tears in his clothes.
Did he get hurt while looking for me?
The thought made her heart ache with guilt.
“…About yesterday,” Ga-hyeon said, breaking the long silence as they walked.
“Yes?”
“You misheard me.”
“Pardon?”
“When I said it was a piece of trash, I was talking about that idiot Ho Jeok-a’s head. I definitely wasn't talking about that stone amulet you were holding.”
“Oh…”
“That stone in your hand yesterday… it was mine, wasn't it?”
So-ya nodded, then realized he couldn't see her and quickly answered aloud.
“Yes.”
“Thank you. The stone amulet you gave me before was getting lonely being all by itself, but now it has a partner.”
“Uh… you didn't throw it away…?”
“Why would I throw it away? You gave it to me.”
“But last time…”
So-ya’s voice trailed off as she remembered the time she had run into him while picking up stones in the garden.
[To think you’d pick up trash from the garden and leave it there in secret. This kind of mischievous prank is a bit troubling. It’s disrespectful to the people who come to clean the room.]
Ga-hyeon also realized which moment she was remembering and quickly offered the excuse he had prepared.
“That’s because Ho Jeok-a didn't tell me it was an amulet back then! I only said that because I didn't know!”
“I see…”
But as the words left his mouth, Ga-hyeon felt a sudden wave of shame. He came to an abrupt halt and hung his head low.
“Young Master…?”
When Ga-hyeon remained standing still with his head bowed for a long time, So-ya called out to him tentatively.
“…I’m sorry. Everything I just said was an excuse. The truth is, I disregarded your sincerity. Please forgive me.”
Startled by his apology, So-ya waved her hands frantically.
“Forgive you? Please, don't say such things to me.”
“It’s only right to apologize and ask for forgiveness when you’ve done something wrong,” Ga-hyeon said, his voice firmer now. “I’m sorry for making you feel unwelcome when you were already in a strange place, and for speaking cruelly to you even though I knew it would hurt your feelings. I’m sorry for all of it.”
“…”
So-ya’s lips pressed together.
Doing something wrong.
She found his words very strange. It was only natural for people to dislike her. She was a wicked little bird who didn't deserve to be loved; hating her or mistreating her couldn't possibly be "wrong." That was the logic So-ya had learned over the past three years in the Vermilion Bird Clan.
Ga-hyeon hadn't even hit her, pinched her, locked her in a storehouse, or pushed her down. Yet here he was, apologizing to her for the second time.
“And whether or not you accept my apology is up to you.”
“…”
“You don't have to do it now. Just… forgive me when you feel better, So-ya.”
“…”
Ga-hyeon began walking again. After a long while, So-ya spoke in a tiny whisper.
“I wasn't upset.”
“Huh…?”
Ga-hyeon stopped again and turned his head toward her.
“Really…?”
His voice trembled slightly, unlike his usual self.
“I was… a little, just a tiny bit sad yesterday, but I’m okay now. Truly!”
“…”
“Because you came running to save me like this,” So-ya said with a small, shy smile.
“…!”
Ga-hyeon’s eyes widened, then softened into a gentle curve.
“I guess I’ll have to come running even more often from now on.”
With a bright smile, he turned back toward the path and began descending the slope. With every step he took, the basket hanging at So-ya’s side swayed gently.
Yip! Whine!
The small black creature followed close behind, hopping along in their wake.