Chapter 56
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 56
“Yes. I’m taking the medicinal herbs Sa-ra sends to nourish myself, but those alone aren’t enough to completely heal her Spirit Core.”
“But if you give that to the young lady… will you be alright, Clan Head?”
“Why wouldn’t I be? It’s only natural for a father to give his daughter the best he has to offer. In fact, it makes me happy.”
Sa-eon spoke in a nonchalant tone.
However, Jeok Yeong’s voice was thick with worry as he countered.
“But that Dragon Blood Herb was the only hope for treating your own Spirit Core, Clan Head. Even now, on the nights of the full moon, you stay up all night in your office…”
‘…!’
Thump!
In an instant, So-ya’s heart sank.
“It’s fine. I’m an adult. I’m strong. I can endure it. But Cotton Ball is still young.”
“Even so…”
Sa-eon and Jeok Yeong continued their conversation, but their voices no longer reached So-ya’s ears.
The thing I ate… was the only way to treat Sa-eon’s Spirit Core?
So-ya’s eyes shook violently as she dwelled on what she had just heard.
She didn’t know the details, but it seemed Sa-eon’s Spirit Core was very badly damaged. And the only way to treat it was the medicinal decoction she had swallowed today. This meant Sa-eon had lost his chance to heal his aching Spirit Core forever.
And I… I didn’t even know…
Unaware of the sacrifice, she had gulped it all down. She had been so excited, thinking it was a gift from him.
Like a fool…
A surge of overwhelming emotion rose within her.
She had wanted to be helpful to Sa-eon and the clan. She had wanted to hurry up and repay his kindness. Instead, she had only made things harder for him.
What do I do? What should I do? Because of me…
Why did she always end up being a burden to him? She wanted to be a good, praiseworthy child. She wanted to be someone useful.
Stamping her feet in distress, a thought suddenly flashed through her mind. So-ya looked down at her palm.
[Try not to use this flame if you can help it. Save it. Unless it’s an absolute necessity.]
Yi-rim had told her to save this flame. But…
An absolute necessity. That moment is now.
Having made up her mind, So-ya left her spot.
She couldn’t let anyone notice, so she waited in her room until the night grew very deep. After pretending to be asleep under her covers, she sat up the moment Yeon-jeong turned out the lights and left.
She quietly grabbed the White Tiger Sword and crept back out into the hallway.
Passing Ga-yul’s room and then Ga-hyeon’s, she finally arrived at Sa-eon’s darkened bedroom. So-ya opened the door with extreme caution and stepped inside.
Drawing the White Tiger Sword, she stared at her palm and swallowed hard.
It’s going to hurt a lot.
Even though she had made her decision, she couldn’t help feeling scared now that the moment was here. In truth, she was a coward who cried over the smallest scratches.
How did Brother Rim do it…
The only saving grace was that it didn’t seem to require much blood.
Last time I was hurt, it was just a tiny scrape, but it still purified Seol-yo.
So-ya squeezed her eyes shut and pricked the tip of her index finger with the point of the blade.
“Ouch.”
The moment a bead of blood formed on her fingertip, So-ya accidentally dropped the White Tiger Sword.
At the clattering sound of metal, Sa-eon’s eyes snapped open.
“Cotton Ball…?”
“Ah, Lord Sa-eon. I…”
So-ya was about to hurriedly make an excuse when it happened.
Flash!
A small flame bloomed atop So-ya’s palm. In an instant, her face lit up.
“A fire…?”
So-ya directed the Purification Flame toward the bewildered Sa-eon. The flame floated into the air and seeped into his chest, near his heart.
“What on earth is this…”
“It’s my supernatural ability. Actually, it’s not purification, but a power I’m borrowing. They called it the ‘Flame that Purifies All Things’!”
To the confused Sa-eon, So-ya explained everything—except for the part about using blood as a medium.
“They said it’s a power that can heal any sickness!”
But something was strange. Sa-eon’s expression, which usually would have been full of praise for his clever Cotton Ball, grew increasingly grim.
Grab!
Suddenly, he snatched So-ya’s wrist.
In the process, her hand was exposed, revealing the wound on her fingertip and the pooling drop of bright red blood. Startled, So-ya tried to hide her hand, but she failed.
“Cotton Ball, you.”
Though the wound wasn’t large, it was clearly a puncture made by a sword. Taking in the sight of her injury and the White Tiger Sword lying on the floor, Sa-eon realized what had happened. He spoke in a terrifyingly low voice.
“What is this wound? Don’t tell me you did this to yourself?”
“Ah, well…”
So-ya hesitated, glancing at his face before confessing.
“The truth is… my ability isn’t perfect yet, so I have to use blood as a medium…”
“Why did you do it?”
Sa-eon cut her off, his expression hardening into a mask of ice.
So-ya’s heart skipped a beat. It was the first time he had ever spoken to her with such a frightening face and stern voice. Until now, he had always praised her no matter what she did, so seeing him like this made her feel a sudden pang of sorrow.
“Why… why are you looking at me with such a scary face?”
I did it for you, Lord Sa-eon.
So I wouldn’t be a burden to you.
And to protect you.
To repay your kindness.
That’s why I did it.
“You gave up the Dragon Blood Herb for me, Lord Sa-eon. I wanted to be helpful to you too. I wanted to repay the debt, so I…”
A voice laced with resentment escaped her lips before she could stop it.
“Debt?”
Sa-eon’s face contorted as if he had heard something unthinkable.
He was naturally a man of cold and chilling impressions. When he wiped away the smile he always wore for So-ya and let his expression twist, he looked truly formidable.
Just as So-ya instinctively took a step back—
“No one ever asked you to repay a debt,” Sa-eon said, his voice sounding as if he were swallowing his rage. “You’re a child. You’re still just a child. You’re the kind of being who should be loved just for existing, without having to do anything at all.”
Normally, So-ya would have bowed her head at those words. But she couldn’t. No, she wouldn’t.
I’m a child, so I should be loved even if I do nothing?
But it was never like that before.
Even when I did nothing, everyone only hated me.
Of course, that wasn't Sa-eon’s fault. It wasn't So-ya’s fault either. Her ‘real family’ had told her that the people of the Vermilion Bird Mansion were the ones in the wrong.
But even so, despite knowing she shouldn't, So-ya’s voice rose in her grievance.
“Why is a child allowed to do nothing?”
Ah, I shouldn't.
“Just as you protected me, a child can protect an adult too!”
I shouldn't raise my voice like this to him.
“I can protect you too, Lord Sa-eon!”
He did nothing wrong. I shouldn't be this angry at him.
“Why do you keep saying I don’t have to do anything for you!”
It had been so long since she had shouted like this. So-ya panted, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
A brief silence followed.
As her frantic breathing gradually calmed, So-ya’s reason suddenly returned, and she froze.
What did I just do?
I yelled at Lord Sa-eon.
He didn't do anything wrong, and I knew that, but I still yelled.
Fear instantly bloomed across the child’s face. Instead of repaying his kindness, she was always a burden, and now she had even shouted at him.
What… what do I do?
I have to apologize, quickly. Otherwise… he’ll start to hate me too.
No.
I don’t want that.
I don’t want him to hate me.
Falling into a state of panic, So-ya began to stammer out a trembling excuse.
“L-Lord Sa-eon. Just now, I didn’t mean to yell, I just…”
It was then.
“So-ya.”
Sa-eon knelt to match her eye level and wiped the corners of her eyes with his fingertips.
“Don’t cry.”
“…?”
At his words, So-ya reached up and touched her face. It was wet.
“Heugh…!”
Only then did she realize she was crying, and she sucked in a sharp breath to stifle a sob.
“You asked why you don’t have to do anything for me,” Sa-eon said, his voice sounding pained as he looked at her reddened eyes. “It’s because I’m your father.”
“…!”
So-ya’s throat, which had been struggling to swallow her tears, convulsed violently at those words.
“There is no father anywhere who wishes for his daughter to sacrifice herself. Not just me—every father in the world is like that.”
“…”
“No father wants his daughter to be in pain, and no father wants his daughter to hurt herself. A debt? Real parents love their children unconditionally, even if there is no such thing, and even if the child does nothing.”
“But, hic, that man…”
At the sound of So-ya’s sobbing voice, one of Sa-eon’s eyebrows arched sharply.
“That’s why that man was a fake.”
Sa-eon spoke firmly, adding, “And I am the real one.”
“Sniff, hic. You’re right. You’re absolutely right, Lord Sa-eon.”
So-ya bit her lower lip hard to stop crying and nodded. But she couldn't help the sobs that kept leaking through her teeth.
“So, So-ya. Never use that power again. If it’s a power that can only be used by hurting yourself, it’s better not to have it at all.”
“Then, hic, what can I do for you, Lord Sa-eon?”
At So-ya’s tearful question, Sa-eon gave a broad grin and answered.
“Call me Father. Or even better, call me Dad.”