Chapter 70
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 70
This was a very important matter.
It was because Seol-yo was secretly obsessed with being "So-ya’s best friend."
The first time she realized this was when she first met Jjaek-jjaek.
It was after Cheong-ha had left the White Tiger Palace.
Around the time spring arrived, as the ground that had been frozen solid all winter began to thaw.
Jjaek-jjaek was a baby bird that had hatched from an egg laid by a mother lark, the first to build a nest in the White Tiger Palace.
When the lark first built her nest, not only the people of the White Tiger Palace—who were seeing a wild bird for the first time—but even So-ya, a bird beastkin herself, showed immense interest in the soon-to-hatch chicks.
Jjaek-jjaek hatched from the very last egg.
Strangely, Jjaek-jjaek, who was exceptionally small, followed So-ya more closely than his own mother.
So-ya was delighted to have a lark family with beaks and wings just like hers, but her heart went out most to Jjaek-jjaek, who was tiny just like her.
So-ya would often visit the lark family’s nest in her beast form to play with Jjaek-jjaek, helping him with his first steps and his first flights.
However, Seol-yo did not like Jjaek-jjaek.
Once, when Jjaek-jjaek—who hadn't learned to fly yet—was toddling after them, Seol-yo let out a sharp "Hmph!" through his nose, knocking the bird over.
Another time, when Jjaek-jjaek was flying with So-ya, Seol-yo transformed into a large bird and intentionally disrupted the little lark's flight.
[Seol-yo, why are you bullying Jjaek-jjaek!]
[Uh, uh...?!]
At So-ya’s startled cry, Seol-yo froze in his tracks.
[That, it’s not that, I... I... Waaaaah!]
Poorly spoken and unable to come up with an excuse, Seol-yo simply burst into tears.
After finally calming him down and talking it through, Seol-yo answered while sniffing, his nose bright red and swollen.
[Because... you only play with Jjaek-jjaek.]
[What?]
So-ya was a bit taken aback by the answer, but she soon crouched down beside him and apologized.
[I see. I’m sorry, Seol-yo. You felt lonely because I was playing with Jjaek-jjaek, didn't you? I’m sorry for making you feel that way.]
Seol-yo, who hadn't expected an apology, perked up his ears.
[But don’t be too upset. You are my best friend.]
Seol-yo’s eyes grew round at the words "best friend."
[But you shouldn't be mean to Jjaek-jjaek. He’s still a baby bird, so we have to look after him. So next time, let’s all three of us play together nicely.]
[Okay...]
Seol-yo nodded obediently.
From that day on, Seol-yo stopped bullying Jjaek-jjaek, and one could often see So-ya, Seol-yo, and Jjaek-jjaek playing harmoniously in the gardens of the White Tiger Palace.
Since that was already the spring of the year before last, two years had already passed.
So-ya chuckled to herself as she recalled those memories.
"Pyu-rut, pyu-rut!"
Jjaek-jjaek chirped happily and pecked at So-ya’s fingertips with his beak.
The affectionate gesture of the blunt beak pecking her didn't hurt at all; instead, it felt ticklish and pleasant.
"You seem to be in a particularly good mood today, Jjaek-jjaek."
When So-ya reached out to touch the lark’s tiny head, Jjaek-jjaek rubbed his head against her palm.
"Pyu-rrrrr—"
"What? Mother sent a letter?"
"Pyu-it!"
Jjaek-jjaek proudly held out his left leg toward So-ya.
A small letter was tied to the lark’s left leg.
At the happy news brought by Jjaek-jjaek, all traces of So-ya’s drowsiness vanished in an instant.
"Thank you, Jjaek-jjaek!"
So-ya smiled brightly and carefully untied the small letter from Jjaek-jjaek’s leg.
It was a letter sent by Cheong-ha from the distant Cheonghae Dragon Palace.
Having become an adult bird over the past two years, Jjaek-jjaek was now capable of flying long distances for So-ya.
After reading the letter in one breath, So-ya immediately prepared her brush and ink and began to write a reply.
Spring has already arrived at the White Tiger Palace. My third spring here is so warm and beautiful.
The Cheonghae Palace where you are...>
As she wrote that far, So-ya’s expression suddenly darkened.
She had promised to grow up strong and visit the Cheonghae Palace, but So-ya had yet to undergo her First Growth.
Even though she was already twelve years old.
Generally, beastkin undergo their First Growth as early as ten or as late as eleven.
However, So-ya was falling a bit behind the others.
'Auntie said this might be a lingering effect of living with my Spirit Core separated from my body when I was little...'
Recalling Sa-ra’s words, So-ya placed her hand over her chest.
She could feel the resonance of her Spirit Core along with the beating of her heart.
Ever since she received the Dragon Blood Herb from Sa-eon three years ago, So-ya’s Spirit Core had been beating very healthily.
There was nothing wrong with the Spirit Core.
Which meant this was simply her own problem.
'Father said it’s okay to be a little late, so not to worry...'
Being a little later than others was fine. It didn't matter.
Just as her father said, she could take it slow even if she was late.
But the thought that she wouldn't be able to go see her mother this spring either made her feel a little... no, a lot of heartache.
'I want to go see Mother, too.'
However, So-ya intentionally hid her sadness.
She knew that if the people around her realized she was upset, they would feel even worse.
Ga-yul, who had been quite enamored with himself for a while after completing his First Growth, was now careful about transforming into his beast form in front of So-ya.
Seol-yo also frequently appeared in his young beast form on purpose to comfort her.
Not just them, but everyone else in the White Tiger Palace comforted So-ya in their own ways.
'There are so many people in the White Tiger Palace who would be more upset than me if they knew I was sad. So I shouldn't be sad; I have to stay strong.'
So-ya thought bravely, finished her reply to Cheong-ha, and sent it off with Jjaek-jjaek.
It was just as she was turning around.
'Huh?'
A single red feather, which she hadn't noticed before, caught her eye.
So-ya stared at it blankly for a moment before carefully picking it up.
* * *
In the Southern Land of the continent, at the Vermilion Bird Mansion.
The Clan Head, Jeok Ah-yun, was lost in worry.
It was because of the bird migration that had begun three years ago.
More and more birds were leaving the Southern Land to nest in the Western Land.
Except for the Central Region, the beasts of beastkin society were strictly divided and ruled by the four directions.
In the Eastern Land of the Blue Dragon, which embraced the vast Cheonghae Sea, lived the marine animals.
In the Western Land of the White Tiger, starting from the ridges of Mt. Horim, lived the mountain and field beasts.
In the Southern Land of the Vermilion Bird, where warm sunlight and red soil spread out, lived the winged beasts.
And in the Northern Land—though now contaminated and prowled only by demonic beasts—cold-blooded animals used to live in groups in the past.
The cohesion of a group was also influenced by the power of its clan; thus, the fact that the winged beasts were leaving the Southern Land was proof that the clan’s power was weakening.
'But why?'
The Vermilion Bird Clan was still going strong, and there were no issues with their Divine Object.
He needed to find the cause of this situation, but Jeok Ah-yun’s anxiety deepened because no clear reason could be found.
'It won't cause a major problem immediately, but I can't help but worry.'
As he walked with a dark expression, he suddenly came to a halt.
He was in front of the lonely Cold Palace, where no one set foot anymore.
Realizing he had unconsciously walked here again, he clenched both fists tightly.
So-ya.
The last place that child, who was now dead and gone, had stayed for three years.
[But that child’s name... is So-ya...]
When he heard that the name of the youngest daughter Baek Sa-eon had newly adopted was "So-ya."
Even though Jeok Ah-yun knew it couldn't be, he strangely felt that he had to go and check for himself.
However, Ri-ri had held him back.