TFSG 46

Chapter 46

Did that baby snake really just speak?

“Appa, can divine beasts even talk?”

“That’s the first I’ve heard of it.”

It would’ve been nice if Black Bi-Rang were here—he knew a lot about divine beasts. But for now, I guess not?

—Found. Bond.

There it was again. A voice both flat like a machine and innocent like a child. It was strange.

The baby snake buried its head in my palm.

—I smell myself.

I froze in shock.

—Did you save me? Where? Tell me.

What… what was it saying? Does that mean…

—I can’t speak anymore. This is the last time.

“Back then!” I blurted out urgently.
“Back then, a long time ago, I saved you! Even though it was only for three days…!”

The baby snake leaned on my palm and looked up at me with eyes so, so clear.

—Got it.

Its eyes rolled slowly, and it drooped—almost sulking.

—I used up all the power Mom gave me.

—Bye.

Wait, what? Hold on, where are you going?! Just as I was about to grab it, a fading voice whispered:

—Please… take care of me…

Strength drained from my hand.

“Ah! Appa…! W-water! Get the water, quick—it’s right there!”

Thankfully, Appa moved quickly.

A gust of wind carried the water bottle to me. I poured water into my hand. The droplets floated in the air.

The snake raised its head and absorbed the water.

Its previously white eyes slowly turned green.

The exact same color as my own.

“It’s been marked.”

As soon as Appa confirmed it, my strength gave out and I collapsed.

A strong hand caught me.

“Uwaaah… thought I dropped you.”

I had felt instinctively that it needed water, but I didn’t expect this to be how the marking process worked.

—…Soul.

A barely audible voice echoed in my ears before fading away.

I wasn’t entirely sure what it meant, but my divine beast, the horned serpent, could speak.

And I was sure that voice was its final message.

Its parting words pierced through me.

“…Appa, don’t you think your metaphor was way too dramatic?”

I tilted my head back. Since he was holding me, Appa’s face appeared upside down.

Unfazed, he replied with a straight face.

“Indeed. It’s quite impressive.”

Whatever. I giggled.

“Then praise me.”

How simple.

Just… being praised by my parent was something I’d always wanted.

* * *

Appa once asked me if I was planning to build a petting zoo.

‘He might not be wrong.’

I hadn’t intended to, but looking at the current situation, maybe it’s inevitable.

—Squeak! Squeak!

—Squeeeeeak?

“Yip!”

After naming the baby fox and being chosen by the horned serpent to become a divine beast owner—

Not even an hour had passed before Cousin Gyewon dropped by.

‘This guy… he really did sleep in the bushes, huh?’

I was so startled to see leaves stuck all over his head.

‘Wait, then Uncle was serious about someone potentially kidnapping him in the night?’

A shiver ran down my spine.

Anyway, Gyewon didn’t come alone—he brought Naesu with him.

Unfortunately, at that very moment, both the baby horned serpent (coiled around my hand) and the newly awakened baby fox Raon were with me.

And now…

—Squeak! Squeak-squeak-squeak! Squeak!

“…What are they doing?”

“…Establishing hierarchy?”

Naesu, the chick-like fluffball, hovered in the air, chirping away.

Meanwhile, both Bambi the baby serpent and Raon the baby fox listened intently and occasionally responded.

By the way, I had named the baby horned serpent ‘Bambi.’

“This definitely looks like a power play. Is Naesu trying to show dominance?”

“Hah.”

Gyewon gave an exasperated look.

“I’ll go say something.”

“No, no, it’s fine. They don’t seem to hate it.”

I stopped him.

“In just one day, the family’s already grown.”

“Yeah, it’s getting lively, huh?”

“So… are you not going to come over to our house anymore?”

I paused. His face looked downcast.

“Then just live here too. We’ve got plenty of spare rooms.”

He seemed tempted… but only for a moment.

“Uncle No. 2 wouldn’t allow it.”

I agreed.

I’d only recently learned this, but for some reason, Appa had this… obsession with keeping this house to himself?

He never allowed Uncle or Granduncle to stay for too long, even when he was sick.

‘Leave it be. Big Bro’s always been the generous type.’

Uncle and Granduncle seemed to understand the reason, but never asked.
Maybe it had something to do with the memories Appa lost.

‘I’ll ask when he remembers.’

I gently tapped my cousin’s shoulder.

“When Granduncle goes to the storage house, you can sleep at our place.”

I surprised myself with how naturally I said our house.

Even Appa, standing a little farther away, looked surprised.

What? He was listening? That actually made me a bit happy.

“We’re family, after all.”

Black Bi-Won’s and Granduncle’s madness cycles would probably return eventually. When they do, it’ll be good to be together.

If Appa says no, I’ll convince him somehow. And if he still refuses, I’ll just go stay over there.

When I said that, my cousin’s face lit up.

“What about Granduncle and Uncle?”

“They went to the main house.”

It was still morning, since we had gotten up early. And weren’t they supposed to be under house arrest?

“…Since morning?”

“Yeah. Said they were going to storm the place.”

“…Hmm. If patients go causing trouble, that’s a problem.”

Gyewon smiled faintly.

“Right? But they’ll try their best. Father said, ‘We’re just doing our part to support the family head.’”

“What is that even supposed to mean…?”

That just makes me more worried.

I was about to say something else when I heard an unfamiliar cry and snapped my head up.

‘A bird?’

In the sky, a fiery red bird swooped and soared.

—Kiiiiii!

It let out a strange, high-pitched screech.

“What… is that?”

“I know it! That’s my guest!”

It was a familiar bird to me.

‘That’s Jeok Yunha’s divine beast!’

Yunha had a divine beast too. I couldn’t act like I knew it, so I couldn’t say its name… what should I do?

“Appa, lift me! No—throw me up!”

Thankfully, I had a capable father.

My body floated up effortlessly. Down below, Naesu, Bambi, and even Raon were in a frenzy.

‘Are they trying to protect the house? How cute.’

Once I rose to a certain height, the circling bird finally noticed me.

“Come here.”

It perched on my arm…

Ugh, heavy…!

‘You idiot, do you not know how much you weigh?!’

It had been a while since we’d met, but the bird was still as clueless as ever.

Regardless, the overly large flaming bird flapped its wings dramatically as if to protest how small my arm was.

“How rude of a bird.”

A large hand suddenly grabbed its wing. Floating beside me in midair—was Appa.

“There’s a letter tied to its ankle. A messenger bird?”

“Yep! It’s from Majul. From Jeok Yunha!”

Appa held me and descended to the ground.

‘I knew he’d contact me this way.’

The contents of the letter were just as expected. Though taking care of Appa had made me lose track of time—

It had been three days since I treated Tak Minjae. In other words, the child had fully recovered and the poison was cleared.

‘Assuming he didn’t consume any more poison.’

It marked the beginning of yet another stroke of luck.

[……Thus, we’d like to repay the favor and make a request. We humbly ask for your help.]

Perfect.

‘This means I won’t have to pay for medicine anymore!’

Excited, I turned with a big grin—

‘Wait, what?’

I gasped in shock.

Because Appa was gripping the bird’s neck.

The flaming bird was choking.

“Appa, what are you doing?!”