Chapter 10
Three months after hatching, Aran had finally become mobile enough to wander around.
Thanks to that, she happened to overhear the very news from the Black Tortoise Palace that she had been dying to hear.
A letter had arrived from the Black Tortoise Palace announcing the birth of their youngest child.
“I heard their youngest obtained a human body less than a week after hatching?”
At Cheong-un’s words, Hee-rim nodded solemnly and presented another report.
“Our informant has also sent word. It seems the child has already awakened his supernatural abilities.”
A newborn… already has a human body and can use his powers?
Pretending to play with Yeon while casually circling nearby, Aran perked up her ears.
So… what’s the name of that amazing youngest child?
It’s Tae-oh… isn’t it?
“The Northern Palace values ability above all else. They’re already saying the Young Clan Head’s position may be in danger.”
“Come on, surely not. The Young Clan Head isn’t someone who can be replaced that easily.”
“It’s certainly an unusual situation.”
Lowering his voice, Hee-rim continued,
“The Black Tortoise Clan is normally very fertile. Every breeding season they usually gain at least three or four children.”
“And?”
“This time… there was only one.”
“Tae-oh.”
Gasp! Tae-oh!
It really is Tae-oh!
Aran practically wanted to throw her wings into the air.
For the past month she’d relentlessly questioned Hwi about every single heir of the Four Divine Beast Palaces.
Yet there hadn’t been a single child named Tae-oh.
Hyun Tae-oh…!
So the assignment for this lifetime has finally been born.
Sounds like he’s quite an extraordinary kid.
Does he really need my help…?
Wait… I’m already raising Yeon.
And Min too.
Exactly how many children am I supposed to raise by myself?
Aran grumbled inwardly, having somehow come to think of the Azure Dragon twins as her own chicks, despite no one ever asking her to care for them.
“So… doesn’t that mean I win?”
Cheong-un casually unfolded a sheet of paper in front of the serious-looking Hee-rim.
Apparently, he intended to write a reply to the Black Tortoise Palace.
“Pardon?”
“I got three youngest children all at once.”
The Black Tortoise Palace had a youngest child who gained a human body immediately after birth and awakened supernatural powers…
…and Cheong-un’s response was simply, “I have more babies.”
Hee-rim shook his head at his smug master.
Meanwhile, an idea suddenly occurred to Aran.
She plucked out the healthiest feather among the few that had recently begun growing and carried it over to Cheong-un.
“Hm?”
Cheong-un’s brown eyes turned toward his smallest child.
Despite constantly insisting he was her “mother,” Cheong-un still understood almost nothing Aran tried to say.
She couldn’t drag busy Hwi over every single time, so despite knowing it was futile, Aran faithfully kept trying.
“Peep!”
(Mom! Brag that the Azure Dragon Clan also has a youngest child with feathers!)
In reality…
She simply wanted Tae-oh to know she existed somehow.
Since the Black Tortoise God had gone so far as to send a snake carrying a leaf, perhaps He might also have intervened on Tae-oh’s side.
But Cheong-un only looked puzzled.
Then, just as he tilted his head while examining the feather—
A vision suddenly appeared before his eyes.
His clan leader’s chamber, lavishly decorated exactly to his taste with precious jade and gemstones, abruptly became dim and cold.
On the ebony floor sat a hexagonal table.
It overflowed with priceless treasures and jewels.
Then…
A black-haired toddler toddled over.
Ignoring all the priceless gifts…
The child picked up a single white feather.
“Huh…?”
Cheong-un froze upon seeing the child’s vivid green eye.
Before he could react—
The vision of the Black Tortoise Palace vanished like mist.
“…Haha.”
What was that?
Should I include this feather with the letter…?
While Cheong-un wrestled with the cryptic prophecy he’d just witnessed…
Aran sighed in resignation.
From her perspective, it simply looked like Cheong-un had completely failed to understand anything she was saying and had zoned out.
Yeah… there’s no way this dragon understands me.
In that case… I’ll have to communicate through body language!
Aran immediately sprang into action.
“Peep, peep.”
(Mom, listen carefully.)
After speaking as seriously as she could, she stretched out one tiny wing and pointed at Cheong-un.
“Peep.”
(The Azure Dragon Palace…)
Then she pointed at herself.
“Peep!”
(Has Aran!)
Next, she spread both wings wide and spun proudly in place.
“Pyak!”
(The absolutely magnificent Vermilion Bird, Aran!)
She even puffed out her tiny wings proudly.
“Peep! Peep!”
(That kid over there needs to know I exist!)
There.
Surely that’s clear enough.
Unlike Aran’s proud expression…
Both Cheong-un and even Hee-rim burst into laughter.
“Pfft… Hahahahaha!”
…Why are you laughing?
There was absolutely nothing funny about this!
While Aran stood there dumbfounded, tears gathered in Cheong-un’s eyes from laughing so hard.
He turned to Hee-rim.
“Hee-rim, what do you think our daughter is saying?”
“Ahem… ahem.”
Unable to argue against Cheong-un’s insistence that the little bird was his daughter anymore, Hee-rim coughed awkwardly.
“I… I think…”
“…she’s saying that no matter how amazing the Black Tortoise’s youngest child is…”
“…Cheong Aran is still the best.”
“Peep?”
(What?! That’s not it!)
Aran was utterly speechless.
But Cheong-un immediately nodded in agreement.
“That’s exactly how it sounded to me.”
“Peep!”
(That’s NOT what I said! Mom, please just listen to me for once!)
Ten Days Later — Black Tortoise Palace
Clan Head Hyun Ui-cheon piled up the congratulatory letters and gifts that had arrived from all across the continent before calling Tae-oh over.
“Tae-oh.”
“People from every corner of the continent sent gifts to celebrate your birth.”
“Come have a look.”
The child who had already performed miracles simply by climbing out of the Dark Spring had changed dramatically over the past month.
He could already walk.
He could clearly express his intentions.
And with each passing day, he became even more breathtakingly beautiful.
Anyone who met him couldn’t help but look back.
Having gained his youngest son so late in life, Hyun Ui-cheon adored Tae-oh beyond words.
“If there’s anything you want, you may have it.”
“It’s all yours.”
Tae-oh’s mismatched eyes quietly swept across the table.
The large hexagonal table held gold ingots shaped like Black Tortoises, jade bracelets, silk quilts, the finest porcelain, precious medicines and herbs…
As well as rare treasures sent from each of the Four Divine Beast Palaces.
There were also plenty of sweets, rice cakes, fruits, and candies a child might enjoy.
Like an early first-birthday choosing ceremony, Ui-cheon eagerly waited to see what his son would pick.
At last…
A tiny hand reached toward a jade-green wooden box sent from the Azure Dragon Palace.
Inside were the Azure Dragon Palace’s special elixir…
Two dragon scales of different colors…
And—
One completely ordinary feather.
Naturally, Ui-cheon assumed Tae-oh would choose the brightly colored dragon scales.
Instead—
“Hm?”
The child picked up the plain white feather.
“Haha… so you like that?”
Ui-cheon smiled in relief.
If Tae-oh had chosen the elixir or miraculous medicine, he would certainly have been proud…
But also a little worried.
People feared children born too extraordinary for one reason above all else.
They simply weren’t childlike.
Yet Tae-oh had chosen a completely unremarkable feather.
Perhaps he simply liked its soft, unfamiliar texture.
Of course…
Cheong-un’s accompanying letter had included the bizarre claim that he’d adopted a bird beastman as his youngest child.
But Tae-oh couldn’t possibly know that.
The little boy nodded.
His beautiful ebony curls swayed gently over his round forehead.
“Mm.”
“It’s mine.”
His tiny fist closed tightly around the delicate feather.
As though he feared someone might take it away.
Ui-cheon laughed once more.
“Of course, my son.”
“It’s all yours.”
At the Same Time — Azure Dragon Palace
For some reason, Aran suddenly shivered.
Why am I getting chills all of a sudden?
It’s the middle of May!
“Peep…”
(When you get old, you should just die…)
Hwi, who happened to be walking nearby with Cheong-un, heard her muttering and instinctively cleaned out one ear.
“What’s wrong?”
At his father’s puzzled question, Hwi shook his head.
“It’s nothing.”
“Maybe because she’s a different species…”
“…but Aran’s words often sound particularly strange.”
Surely…
Aran didn’t intentionally wait until Father walked by just to say, “Old people should die,” did she…?
And so…
Yet another misunderstanding quietly piled up in the Azure Dragon Palace.
