WCB 15

Chapter 15

Everyone giggled at that transparent excuse, but only Soya was startled and asked back.

“G-ghost?”

“Y-yes! Ghost! There’s a terrifying ghost in White Tiger Palace that only catches tiny kids like you!”

Gayul’s heart was pounding wildly. He had almost said ‘Because you’re cute!’

In truth, Gayul’s mind was filled with the image of Soya’s beast transformation that he had briefly seen that day.

It was his first time seeing a flying beast.

The baby bird, no bigger than his palm, was whiter than a rabbit and smaller than a mouse.

The fluffy little wings attached instead of front paws were adorable, and the small, slender legs were fascinating.

‘How does she walk on such tiny legs?’

The tail feathers sticking up were incredibly cute, just as Su Ri had said.

And the baby bird’s down feathers that were white as snowflakes!

Of course, as a white tiger, he also had white fur, but unlike his long, glossy fur, the baby bird’s down was short and fluffy like dandelion seeds.

When he carefully lifted her up, she felt so small and precious that he had this ticklish feeling like he absolutely had to protect her.

‘She was incredibly, incredibly cute!’

But saying she was cute directly felt somehow embarrassing. Despite appearances, he was a shy baby tiger.

So he ended up lying about a ghost that didn’t even exist.

Meanwhile, Soya, who had no idea of Gayul’s true feelings, looked very anxious.

She had never seen a ghost, but it seemed like it would be terrifying. And more than anything…

“Th-then Young Master would be in danger too, wouldn’t he?”

“Huh?”

What if a ghost appeared and took Young Master away?

Soya’s face crumpled with worry.

“N-no! I’m fine! As the third son of the great White Tiger Family, I’m not afraid of mere ghosts!”

“But still…”

“You know tigers, right?”

“Yes…”

“I may look like this, but I’m a white tiger that catches ghosts!”

“…”

Soya’s gloomy expression didn’t brighten at all.

Long ago, when Soya was still the beloved youngest daughter of the Suzaku Family.

Father and Elder Brothers would read her picture books every night before bed.

[The arrogant tiger was blown far away with a single flap of the majestic fire bird’s wings.]

[Brother, look at this picture! This must be a tiger! It has four legs!]

[That’s right, Soya. That’s a tiger. The White Tiger clan that rules the Western Region.]

[Hmph… They say it’s the king of beasts, but it must be much weaker than birds. Look how it gets blown away with one wing flap.]

[Haha, that’s right. There’s a reason for the saying ‘a reckless tiger doesn’t know to fear birds.’]

The problem was that the picture book was somewhat distorted, depicting tigers as very small and weak, and Soya believed it completely.

What Soya had actually seen in the pictures wasn’t even a tiger, but a cat.

Of course, Saeon who had saved her from the assassin was very strong, but assassins and ghosts were different…

“Have you ever seen a tiger?”

Gayul suddenly asked.

“I’ve seen one in a picture book.”

“Not that kind, a real tiger.”

“No.”

Soya shook her head.

“Tigers are so strong! Their teeth are sharp and their claws are hard as steel!”

“…”

Looking at Soya’s face, still full of worry, Gayul explained how strong tigers were.

But Soya looked completely unconvinced.

“Ugh. I’ll specially show you the majestic appearance of this tiger!”

Unable to bear it any longer, Gayul attempted beast transformation in front of Soya.

Poof!

“Roaaaaar! (How’s that? Majestic, right?)”

“…!”

Soya’s eyes widened like saucers.

The period from when young beastkin first awaken their spirit core at six years old until around ten years old, before their first growth spurt, was called the childhood period for beastkin.

Unlike humans, beastkin didn’t grow gradually but experienced explosive growth at specific periods.

Therefore, Gayul, who had just turned ten, was still a baby tiger in his childhood period who hadn’t undergone his first growth spurt.

A baby tiger so small that Soya could lift him up with both hands!

The baby tiger opened his tiny mouth wide and let out a “roar” sound.

Soya’s previously gloomy eyes sparkled as a rosy blush bloomed on her face.

‘So… cute!’

The tiger was small and adorable, just as Soya had imagined.

Perky, round-pointed ears. A moist, soft pink nose. Soft fur and a swishing tail.

It looked like it would purr if she petted its head.

“Roar! (How’s that, Cotton Ball? My majestic and cool appearance?)”

Gayul puffed up with pride and raised his fluffy white front paw.

His plump front paws with hidden sharp claws were one of his most prized body parts.

“…!”

Soya was shocked when she saw Gayul’s paw pads.

‘H-his paw pads are pink! And they look so squishy!’

Soya clapped her hands in admiration.

Gayul in his baby tiger form was even cuter than the cloth dolls in Miss Lili’s room.

“Amazing!”

Gayul had no idea that Soya found him cute, thinking she was admiring his brave appearance, and said generously.

“Purr! (I’ll specially let you touch this body’s glossy fur, Cotton Ball!)”

“Is that really okay?”

“Purr! Purr! (Go ahead, touch it.)”

Soya bent down and very carefully petted Gayul’s fur.

The tiger’s fur felt different from bird feathers – warm and soft.

Gayul, feeling good, purred with laughter and wagged his tail.

‘Tigers really are small and cute animals.’

Soya thought as she watched Gayul’s swishing tail.

‘Then do Saeon and Second Young Master also have pink noses and pink paw pads? But the Family Head is so big, yet he’s such a small and cute tiger beastkin…’

It was a bit fascinating to think that even the cold and sharp-featured Saeon would have a pink nose and pink paw pads.

“Roar! (Now you show me too!)”

“What?”

“Purr, purr! (Cotton Ball, your beast transformation!)”

“…”

Soya’s face instantly turned pale.

“N-no! I’m not cool at all, and, anyway, no!”

Soya shook her head vigorously.

“Gruff? (What’s wrong with being a little uncool?)”

But Soya turned her head away with a deathly pale face, biting her lower lip tightly.

It was a stubborn refusal, unlike anything she had shown before.

Though Gayul lacked awareness, he instinctively realized from Soya’s pale white face that he shouldn’t press her any further.

More than anything, Soya’s trembling fingertips kept catching his attention.

‘Ugh, what should I do? At this rate, I’m going to make Cotton Ball cry.’

Gayul looked around seeking help, but unfortunately Yeonjeong and Sanho had just left to bring something to drink.

Just then, Gayul’s restless eyes caught sight of an abandoned leather ball.

Instantly, Gayul’s eyes sparkled with light.

“Grroar! (Cotton Ball! Want to play ball with me?)”

“…?”

At the sudden suggestion, Soya blinked her eyes.

Gayul quickly grabbed the ball in his mouth and brought it over, setting it down in front of Soya.

The ball rolled with a rumble and came to a stop at Soya’s feet.

Soya lowered her head.

‘This is….’

A ball.

She couldn’t remember the last time she had played with one.

In the Suzaku Family, it was something not permitted for Soya.

Once, while cleaning Miss Lili’s room, she had touched the young lady’s leather ball and gotten severely scolded.

It turned out that ball was a toy Father had brought from the Western Territories for the young lady.

‘But Miss Lili isn’t here, and the Young Master was the one who suggested playing ball together first….’

Soya hesitated for a moment, then carefully grasped the ball with both hands.

Thump, thump, thump, thump.

Somehow her heart felt like it was pounding rapidly.

Seeing this, Gayul quietly moved some distance away from Soya, then wagged his tail and called out.

“Gruff, gruff! (Go ahead and throw the ball, Cotton Ball!)”

Soya seemed to make a big decision, then threw the ball toward Gayul with all her might.

Bounce, bounce, rumble—.

Though the ball didn’t even reach Gayul’s front paws and just rolled along the ground, a shy smile bloomed bashfully across Soya’s face as she watched it.

* * *

Meanwhile, Baek Gahyeon, who was standing at the window looking down below, frowned with a pathetic expression.

‘What the hell is he doing.’

Gayul, in the form of a baby tiger, was running around playing with Soya in the garden.

It was far too pathetic a sight for a tiger about to undergo his first growth.