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Chapter 42

Just as Aran was startled and about to flee—

Sa-heum suddenly began bowing toward Aran.

"Pii???"

(Wh-why is he doing that? Ah, what should I do? Should I just bolt?)

While Aran fluttered her small wings, lifting off and landing again—

After finishing his awkward but respectful bow, Sa-heum's orange eyes, which gleamed even in the dark, sparkled as he whispered.

"Immortal, have you come to help me?"

Oh no, he's gone mad!

That kid can see me!

Startled, Aran nearly lost her grip on the branch.

"Pipik…"

(Immortal? I'll just pretend I don't know…)

This body is just a bird—I don't know any villainous tiger!

She shook her head as if convincing herself, but the fervent gaze from inside the room remained.

Aran had no choice but to turn and face the tiger beastman peeking out the window.

On his dark complexion, hair as white as Aran's curled adorably, and his large eyes looked far too innocent for a tiger.

But as their eyes met, tears unexpectedly welled in the child's eyes.

Then his small head drooped dejectedly.

"…I see, that's not it, is it? I suppose there's no reason for you to concern yourself with someone like me."

"Pii, yat?"

(Oh, no—I didn't do anything to make him cry!)

In the end, Aran's heart softened—like the old woman she was.

"Piik…"

(Oh, my fate. Was this body reborn just to be a nursemaid…?)

Grumbling, she nevertheless flew closer to the pavilion and landed.

---

"Peep."

(For such a young child, your spiritual eyes are already wide open.)

At Aran's words, Sa-heum wiped his damp eyes and quickly knelt down.

The sight reminded her of the disciples she'd cared for in her previous life, softening the great Vermilion Bird's heart even more.

"Sniff, yes…"

Wait—he can understand beast-speech, and he's even polite…?

For Aran, who was weak to children, this was a trial.

She hadn't wanted to know the story behind the wicked tiger's collapse…

Looking at Sa-heum's hands resting on his neatly folded knees, she noticed an ability restraint on one arm.

Yet he'd instantly recognized Aran's identity—meaning he must have been born with perfect spiritual eyes, unaffected by restraints.

Just then, the young White Tiger wrinkled his cute lips and began to cry.

"I—hic—I was born with my spiritual eyes fully open…"

C-cute…!

No, it's not that he's cute, but…

At this point, Aran had no choice but to listen to the tiger. Because—

The White Tiger clan of the Western lands.

The Baek clan, called the guardians of the empire, had long passed down protective and combat abilities.

Also, it was said that a true White Tiger was born with "spiritual eyes" that could see human souls—but in her previous life, Aran hadn't even known such White Tiger beastmen actually existed.

She'd heard that the direct-line members of the White Tiger clan worked tirelessly to open their spiritual eyes, but most only managed a little in old age.

And yet Baek Sa-heum—the tyrant's right-hand man—had been a true White Tiger born with the ability to see souls.

Had they kept it quiet because it would be troublesome if he were dragged around everywhere?

Given that there was still no word about the White Tiger clan's only child being a true White Tiger, that seemed likely.

"Mom and Dad were proud that I was a true White Tiger, but I'm actually really, really scared…"

The baby tiger beastman wiped his tears and continued.

"I'm afraid to open my eyes in the morning. What if I recognize someone whose family is about to die…?"

"Pi?"

(…Can you see lifespans?)

When Aran asked, Sa-heum nodded.

"Th-those with very short lifespans appear very faint. So faint they're hard to tell apart from ghosts."

"Pit?"

(You can see ghosts too?)

With each nod, tears dripped from Sa-heum's eyes.

"O-old and evil ghosts are really scary-looking…"

After thinking it over, Aran asked another question.

"Peep?"

(Then, at the Divine Beast Festival, what was it that scared you so much?)

Sa-heum's face went pale as he recalled that day, and he recoiled.

He looked as if he wanted nothing more than to run away.

But when Aran waited patiently without pressing him, he hesitantly came closer and spoke in a low voice.

"M-my dad said I have to keep this especially a secret for our family, but…"

The child's clenched fist trembled.

What is it?

Is the Baek clan hiding something?

Now Aran had even postponed her plan to go to the Crown Prince's palace, focusing entirely on Sa-heum.

If the Baek clan had a secret at this point, it must be important—her instincts, honed over a hundred years of a disjointed, unfortunate life, told her so.

"Peep."

(It's alright, child. I won't tell anyone your secret.)

When Aran promised, the frightened tiger spoke in a tearful voice.

"What I saw at the Divine Beast Festival… it was the Crown Prince."

What followed was so quiet it was almost like the wind.

"The Crown Prince looked… more terrifying than any ghost I've ever seen."

---

In the end, Aran had heard an astonishing story.

According to Sa-heum's spiritual eyes, Crown Prince Je Geon-u had two souls within him—one of which was so old and foul it reeked of evil.

An old soul inside a Crown Prince who was barely five years old?

"Pip? Pik?"

(Two? Are you sure that's what you saw? Besides the Crown Prince, have you ever seen anyone else like that?)

Sa-heum shook his head.

"No, I've never seen anything so horrible. The yellow dragon inside His Highness is weak and young, just like me… but that black thing is tormenting the yellow dragon…!"

Good heavens, what is all this?

So Je Geon-u was possessed by something? He wasn't born a villain?

No, wait.

If that's the case, this becomes very complicated…

But still, could she just "eliminate" that poor child?

"Pii?"

(Did you tell the Great Lord about this? What did he say?)

"He just worries about me… He doesn't say anything, but I think he believes I'm seeing things because I'm scared."

That made sense.

Only a toddling youngest could see the evil spirit possessing the Crown Prince. The Baek clan must have been at a loss too.

After thinking it over, Aran asked again.

"Pibib…??"

(This might be a bit difficult, but—do you think you could separate those two souls? Like, drive the black one out?)

Sa-heum shook his head again.

"I—I'm sorry. I don't know… I'm just so scared of seeing it… so startled."

Well, what would a frightened child who'd fainted know?

Aran simply nodded.

"Peep."

(Yes, you must have been scared. I understand your feelings. You've worked hard.)

"It would have been better if a brave tiger had been born into the White Tiger clan instead of me. Someone like me… there's no point even if I'm born a true White Tiger."

Having heard his story, Aran was certain—Baek Sa-heum was completely innocent.

Perhaps that was exactly why he was so kind and fearful, and so easily swayed by the Word of Authority.

Aran regretted having focused on Taeo and kept an eye on the insignificant Vermilion Bird cousins while paying no attention to the lonely Sa-heum.

"Pik."

(No, you will become a huge, magnificent, brave White Tiger. A very famous White Tiger.)

Though the fame was infamy, Aran thought she hadn't lied.

"Really? There's no way… you're lying, right?"

Had a few exchanges made Aran seem more approachable?

Sa-heum pouted, sticking out his lips.

"Because of me, Dad got into a lot of trouble. Because I'm so pathetic… The other divine beast friends must hate me too, right? Everyone except me seemed so smart and brave."

"Pip-pip."

(They don't have spiritual eyes, so they don't know anything. You're smarter than them, child.)

"Dad never sounded convincing when he said that, but I wish it were true when you say it, Immortal."

"Peep."

(Tch, this Immortal doesn't tell lies.)

Even as she comforted Sa-heum, Aran's mind raced.

Hmm, so what should she do about Je Geon-u now?

---

Leaving the western pavilion and flying back, the Jeolmaeksan bracelet around her neck felt incredibly heavy.

Anyway, when she finally arrived at the Crown Prince's palace—

Even though she didn't know the exact location, she immediately found the Crown Prince's bedchamber, thanks to the almost beast-like screams.

"Kyaaah… don't! Go away…!"

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