SHMBM 27

Chapter 27.

The fox said my way of speaking didn’t sound strange, but judging by his expression, he wasn’t exactly trustworthy. With that face—clearly on the verge of pulling a prank—why would I nod along and believe him?

“Pardon? …You mean my manner of speaking?”
“Yes.”

Sehwa’s eyes wavered at the blunt question.

“Up until now, I was told to relax and stay at Cheonwolru, so I spoke however I wanted. But that big guy said my speech sounded odd.”

It was a way of speaking I’d made up as a disguise, at least in my own way.

“Forgive me for asking… did you use the same manner of speech you used at Cheonwolru?”
“I did. Ruju told me to speak casually, and no one inside Cheonwolru ever pointed it out as strange.”

As we talked, Sehwa’s expression changed by the second.

“…Then may I ask just one more thing?”
“What is it?”
“When did you first hear that way of speaking?”

“Well… a few hundred years ago? More precisely, it’s the way I spoke back when I conversed with humans. The humans who climbed the mountains to offer tribute also spoke in a similar manner.”
“Do you happen to remember their appearance?”
“They wore extravagant clothes, like the guests who visit Cheonwolru.”

Sehwa, who had been forcing herself to remain calm as she questioned me, let out a long breath.

“Lady Hyeryeong. Wasn’t that young man far larger than your current appearance?”
“He was. He was fully grown.”
“…With all due respect, the manner of speech you use is not something a child would use.”
“Hm? Is that so?”
“Yes. Rather than a child’s way of speaking… it’s vocabulary favored by those in power.”
“Those in power?”
“Wealthy people with much gold, or those who receive a state stipend. When he offered tribute, did he perhaps ask for relief from droughts or poor harvests?”

At Sehwa’s words, I searched my memory.

“Hmm… I think so. Most of them asked me to solve a bad harvest. Sometimes they even tied up human women and offered them.”

Sehwa’s complexion turned pale in an instant.

“I… I see.”
“I don’t eat humans, so it was pointless. When I approached to untie them, they’d scream and faint.”

No—where did the idea even come from that a tiger could fix a bad harvest?

‘Though fainting did make them easier to carry.’

At first, I simply returned them to their villages. But after seeing villagers kill the women and put them back in the same place, I started sending them off to distant villages instead.

“But… even so, that doesn’t make your speech strange.”
“Hm? Didn’t you just say it wasn’t a child’s way of speaking?”
“Objectively, yes. However, people naturally adjust their attitude and demeanor to their situation and standing.”

By now, Sehwa had regained her composure and spoke gently.

“Though Lady Hyeryeong’s appearance is that of a child, your aura is not. So the way you speak doesn’t feel out of place.”
“My aura isn’t?”
“Yes. In fact, if you spoke exactly like an ordinary child, that would feel stranger.”
“And what kind of aura do I have?”
Sehwa studied me carefully, her face thoughtful.
“It’s hard to put into words… but you seem to be of noble blood.”
“Like someone in power?”
“Yes. But it feels like more than simply being the child of a powerful figure. Umm… you have a calmness and insight that don’t match your age.”

I smiled at Sehwa’s description.

‘She’s not wrong.’

If the gaze of a tiger that’s lived for a thousand years didn’t show wisdom, that would be strange.

“So my way of speaking isn’t odd, then.”
“Yes. That’s correct.”
“Still, I’m curious how ordinary children speak. There may be times when I need to imitate them.”

I’d learned through experience that humans were weak to a child’s appearance. If necessary, pretending to be a clueless child might be a useful approach. For that, I needed to know how an “ordinary child” behaved.

‘They even used children in their experiments.’

…Perhaps I could even serve as bait to draw in the Blood Sect.

“Ordinary… considering Lady Hyeryeong’s appearance and surroundings…”
Sehwa began thinking far more seriously than I expected. Was “ordinary” that difficult?

Tilting my head in confusion, I waited as she pondered longer than expected before finally looking up.

“Lady Hyeryeong. Would you like to go out?”
“Go out?”
“It’s hard to define ‘ordinary’ in a single phrase. Seeing and hearing it for yourself would be faster.”
“Do you know places where many children gather?”
“I plan to visit places with many children. What do you think?”
“Sounds good. Let’s go.”

There was no reason to refuse, so I stood up at once.

“Then Lord Ruju—”
“Don’t call Ruju.”
“…Pardon?”
“He has plenty to do. It’s just a short trip; there’s no need to bother him.”

Especially after I crushed that big fellow, the fox had been even busier. I felt a bit sorry dragging him along in that situation.

‘Going with Jimjo should be enough.’

“But still—”
“Don’t worry. Nothing like before will happen.”

Sehwa looked troubled, then nodded.

“…I’ll select an escort. Please wait a moment.”
“Very well.”

I nibbled at some snacks with my front teeth, swinging my legs lightly. It didn’t take long for Sehwa to return. I nodded at the sight of four well-built warriors, all skilled even within Cheonwolru.

That should be more than enough to protect Sehwa.

“Lady Hyeryeong, shall we go?”
“Let’s.”

I was puzzled when Sehwa partially concealed her face, but I took her outstretched hand. On my shoulder sat Jimjo, transformed into a sparrow.

Holding her soft, slender hand, we left Cheonwolru with the escorts.

Unlike the fox, Sehwa walked at a calm, measured pace as she looked around. At some point, the escorts vanished from sight.

‘I can still sense them nearby—they’re guarding us discreetly.’

I smiled at Sehwa’s consideration in letting me observe naturally without interference.

“Mooom! Just one dumpling, pleeease!”
“No! We’ll eat when we get home!”
“Dumpliiings!”
“Hey, you brat!”

The boy was smacked on the back and burst into tears. There were girls shopping with their mothers, children of similar ages playing together, and even kids in dirty clothes wandering the streets.

“There are children who live on the streets from birth,” Sehwa said quietly beside me.
“They usually live under a ringleader and learn how to survive on the streets—begging, or stealing food and pouches of coins.”
“That’s not exactly proper, is it?”
“If only everyone could survive through proper means.”

I understood. In the human world, there were ways of living that spared no means in the fight to survive.

‘That’s only natural, I suppose.’

I noticed Sehwa’s gaze lingering on the begging children.

“Does it bother you?”
“Yes. But I don’t intend to help them.”
“Why?”
“A single act of help can’t take responsibility for a child. Sometimes, helping can even cause harm.”
“I see.”

Seeing the bitterness in her eyes, I swallowed my next question. No need to stir up unpleasant memories.

“There are more children on the streets than I expected.”
“There are children who live independently, children who spend time with their parents, children who learn skills early… many kinds.”
“I see.”
“The children you see while walking around like this are mostly commoners. Later, I’ll make time to show you other places as well.”
“Places where children above commoner status gather?”
“There are academies. Children there focus on learning from books, so they feel quite different.”

“I see. If I were to imitate an ordinary child, what kind of attitude would suit me?”
I released Sehwa’s hand and took two steps back. I felt her gaze follow me.

“You carry a dignity that makes you hard to approach—like the daughter of a high official.”
“Dignity, in a child?”
I giggled at her answer.

An aura isn’t something you can easily control, so perhaps Sehwa’s assessment was accurate.

“I think I get the general idea. I’ll try imitating it. So…”
I copied the bright expression of a child laughing and playing, then approached Sehwa and took her hand.

“Big sister, I want a snack. Pleeease?”

I smiled brightly and gave her hand a small shake. I heard Sehwa draw in a soft breath.

“Huh? Big sisteeer.”
“…What do you want to eat?”
Her slightly trembling voice made me burst into laughter.

“I want fruit skewers!”
“If you eat too much, you won’t be able to eat dinner. Just one, okay?”
“Aww, not two?”
“I’ll make you something tasty when we get back.”

Seeing Sehwa smile warmly, I scratched my cheek and sighed.

“…I’m not sure this really looks like the demeanor of a high official’s daughter. Maybe it’s better if I just act as usual.”
“But it was quite natural.”
“Was it? Still, it doesn’t sit right with me. Unless it’s truly necessary, I’d rather not do it.”

I thought about a child’s manner of speaking, then shook my head.

Even if it was just an imitation, the only word that came to mind was undignified.