“…”
On top of a tall clock tower, Yu Jitae was sitting down gazing off to a distance after killing his presence to the max.
His gaze was fixed on Kaeul.
Although she said she could go by herself, he didn’t let her. Was it because he couldn’t trust her? No; instead it was more so that everything regarding Kaeul required conviction.
It was because Kaeul’s heart was especially more delicate than Bom, Yeorum and Gyeoul.
Unaware of his gaze, Kaeul was running somewhere with short strides as her blonde hair fluttered behind her.
But for some reason, the baby chicken didn’t appear today. Kaeul was flustered.
She got on all fours, and placed her face near the ground. Then, she blankly stayed still for a long time, perhaps recalling her memories.
“…”
Soon, Kaeul started running in the direction heading to the entertainment district. She must be tracking the baby chicken’s smell.
Yu Jitae raised his body.
But before long, her feet came to a stop.
Kaeul hesitated.
*
This sticky, stinky smell… where did I smell this before? Hmm… Ah, was it from that cat that I saw in the Amazon?
Nn? A cat? Did something happen to my Chirpy?
S, should I go? I’m a dragon as well. I can run if I want to, and I can run before things like reporters can find me.
Can’t I just run in and take the chicken out?
Auh, uah, I should have learned teleportation magic from Bom-unni… If I did, I could have jumped in and out after taking the baby chicken…!
But, but… I promised that I would never go to where the reporters are with ahjussi! If I go in, that would go against the promise I made with him…
Ah…
I think I remember Yeorum-unni saying that promises are meant to be broken…
No, but mum told me to keep promises like you would with your life…
What should I do.
What should I do. What should I do. What should I do. What should I do. What should I do…
Ah, I really must be an idiot.
I should’ve brought the baby chicken home earlier. You know how cold and dangerous it is outside. Why did you hesitate?
Idiot Yu Kaeul. You fool. Why did you do that? Is giving food all you can do?
But, mum told me to think a hundred times before bringing someone into the house… she said living together is a different problem…
Kauel came to her senses.
Without even realising it, her legs had started running already.
Entertainment district.
Every building was filled with leisure activities and there were several people in cadet uniforms as well as their guardians, and she could also see teachers and staff members in blue name badges.
In between all that, there were also white name badges symbolising reporters and people related to the media.
With a oops, she realised that she was running bare-faced, and although late, Kaeul covered her face with her two hands. Fortunately, there wasn’t anyone that stopped her as she urgently dashed forward.
Even with her face covered, she was precisely aware of the direction she was to run in, and after running for a long time, she arrived at a quiet alleyway as she gasped for breath.
Should be near this place…
It was then.
Meow!
Chirp!
From the other side of the alleyway, she heard a sharp cry of a cat and the chirping of a baby chicken.
In surprise, she headed to the corner, and stealthily gazed at the inside of the alleyway.
There were three large cats frantically jumping and dashing forward, with their claws out, attacking something. Some of them were then hit by something as they rolled around.
And in the middle of the cats…
A yellow furry ball!
“…!”
Startled, Kaeul raised her body.
‘Nn?’
If she hadn’t sensed something weird, Kaeul would’ve ran out immediately.
‘Huh? Ehng? What’s happening?’
Kaeul once again hid her body and watched the situation unfold. The furry ball’s fluttering wing became slightly larger as it smacked the cat on its cheek.
Slam!
Letting out a meow!, the cat tumbled down.
However, there was another cat on the side running in at the baby chicken with its sharp claws.
Kaeul was confused yet again. Now that she had some time to see things straight, she realised that the cats were standing on two feet. How was this possible?
Soon, the story with her friends from a few days ago, floated in her head.
– By the way, you know how the professor was in a hurry. Did something happen?
– From what I heard, I think there was an issue with the spirit beast breeding centre.
Spirit beast breeding centre?
Don’t tell me…
Slash! Chirp!
Struck by the claws of the cat, the baby chicken fell down. A small wound was formed, as blood flowed out from the head and painted the yellow fur in red.
From the sudden turn of events, Kaeul was unable to act.
“…”
That was when Yu Jitae arrived nearby. He stood on the rooftop of a building, as he watched on.
Meow!
The cats raised their voices sharply. Anyone listening would only hear the growling of a cat, but Yu Jitae was able to understand the underlying meaning behind it.
[Fallen Babel (S)]
It was thanks to a skill which he had earned from an adult dragon.
Although Kaeul also had [Fallen Babel (S)], she was still young and lacked an in-depth understanding of magic spells and skills. She probably couldn’t understand the words of the spirit beasts.
Meanwhile, the cats threatened with their sharp claws.
Meow!
‘This will be the end!’
Then, the cat immediately dashed towards the baby chicken that was on the ground, but the chicken responded by slowly raising its head. Its black eyes flashed in blue.
[Repetitive Beak Blows (D)]
Pabababak!
The beak containing mana resembled a woodpecker, as it repeatedly pecked at the cats. Meow! Two of the cats fell down in an instant, which was soon followed by the mackerel-coloured cat, the largest within the mix, which collapsed after being pecked on its nose.
However, the baby chicken wasn’t unharmed either, as it had been struck on the side by the claws of the cat.
Silence befell the area.
Meow…
‘Kuuk… not bad Razor…’
The wounded mackerel-coloured cat stood up with a stumble.
Chirp.
‘Now stop with the meaningless turf wars.’
Meow… meow.
‘Kukuk… Indeed, you’re strong. But it seems your beak is the only thing alive.’
Chirp?
‘What did you say?’
Meow. Meowow!
‘Look at you. Even though you talk big, you’re not in a good situation yourself!’
The cat was right. The baby chicken lost strength in one of its legs, as it dropped onto the ground.
The end is coming huh…
Raising its head, the baby chicken stared at the blue sky.
Chirp, chirp…
‘…How high and blue. How long have I been longing for this scenery.’
Kyaong! Kyang.
‘Hmph. Are you indulged in meaningless sentiments? Stop with your nonsense and leave our territory.’
Chirp. Chirrp. Chiirrp.
‘I thought a wide world would be waiting for us once we escaped those tiny cages… but you guys try to lock yourselves in, even in this place.’
Meow!
‘Shut your mouth!’
Meooowww!
The cats growled menacingly.
Yu Jitae decided to silently watch on, as the conversation between the boss cat and the baby chicken continued.
‘I shall ask for the last time! You were seemingly going to give up the past few days, so why did you show up again?’
‘I had never given up. It’s just that, there was a young girl waiting for me there, and I had to find her.’
‘What?’
‘I didn’t want to betray her expectations. She was the first girl that treated me so nicely.’
‘Kuk… a pushover till the end huh. Alright. See you in the afterlife!’
Meow…
With sharp claws, the cats started viciously running in, and their vigour was more brutal than before.
Chirp…
‘Egg yolks… they weren’t bad.’
Resigning itself to its fate, the baby chicken lowered its head.
In that volatile, dangerous situation, Kaeul startledly kicked off the ground but ended up touching a rusted bicycle standing in the entrance of the alleyway.
With a thud, the bicycle fell.
“…?”
“…!”
The gazes of the cats and the baby chicken travelled back and found Kaeul.
“Ah, the… umm!”
Flustered, Kaeul spoke of whatever that came to her mind.
“Uhh, umm. Uhh… S, sorry for the intrusion.”
After a few seconds of silence.
Chirp?
The baby chicken chirped.
*
“So, the cats and the baby chicken were having a turf war, and when you showed up, they ran away?”
Yu Jitae pretended to be clueless and asked.
“Yess…”
“And this guy is like this, because it was hit by some cats?”
“Yess…”
Kaeul replied with a disheartened voice.
On top of a soft cushion was the baby chicken, breathing but unconscious. Yu Jitae looked through the baby chicken’s mana and observed that there were no threats to its life.
“I heard somewhere but the spirit beast breeding centre was apparently destroyed. This child looks like a spirit beast from that place, but its wounds are quite severe…”
“Hmm.”
“Is the baby chicken fine…?”
With her eyes filled with worry, Kaeul looked at the baby chicken. He nodded.
“Bom.”
“Yes.”
These days it was easy to find healers, but there was no such thing as ‘healing magic’ in the distant past, until it was created by the green dragon race.
Bom walked up and placed her hand on top of the chicken’s small body. The power of nature that cured any hardships of life, stretched out from her hand.
[Restoration (A)]
Green-coloured light mixed with the dragon’s mana spreaded out in a circle, before slowly seeping into the baby chicken’s body.
Blankly, Kaeul and Gyeoul watched on.
On its small body the size of a fist, there were traces of blood. Despite believing in the fact that those would be cured, her heart was still filled with worry as Kaeul made fists.
After a few minutes passed,
Slowly,
The baby chicken squinted and opened its eyes.
“…!”
With its eyes open, the baby chicken glanced around the surroundings before carefully standing up. However, its body was seemingly powerless as it fell head first onto the cushion after taking a few steps forward.
Bom opened her mouth with a smile.
“Not yet. You can’t stand up yet.”
Chirp…
“And Gyeoul, can you create some water?”
Gyeoul opened her small hands. Then, mana gathered and formed a drop of water.
After stealing a glance at Yu Jitae, she carefully extended her hands forward and placed them in front of the baby chicken. Her small hands were faintly shivering from nervousness.
Soon, the baby chicken barely stood up and brought its beak next to the water. Then, it raised its head to swallow it.
It repeated that several times, before returning its gaze to Kaeul.
Chirp! Chirp!
Finally, it came to its senses.
***
After waking up, the baby chicken no longer avoided Kaeul.
Chirp chirp!
It ran towards Kaeul. “Uh, uhh?” Surprised, Kaeul carefully carried it up with her hands, as the baby chicken charmingly rubbed its head on her palm.
“Uwaah…”
Yu Jitae was lying down on the sofa quietly watching that, when the baby chicken crossed the living room and approached him. Then, it lowered its head.
Chirp.
‘Perhaps you wouldn’t understand my words.’
Chirp. Chirrp.
‘Myself am from Kaiman. A collateral descendent of the bird-people.’
Kaiman was the name of one of the alternate dimensions nearby. Just like what Yu Jitae had predicted, it was taken here via a dungeon through a dimensional fissure.
Chirp. Chirp. Chirp. Chirp chirp!
‘Name is Razor. That is what the breeding centre called me. You seem to be the leader of this territory. I shall give you my word of thanks!’
He casually ignored the young spirit beast’s words.
At least the baby chicken knew manners.
“Uwah… feels like it’s saying thanks… so cute.”
Unconsciously making a precise judgment of the situation, Kaeul flickered her eyes.
After that, Razor walked to Bom and lowered its head.
Chirp. Chirrp. Chirp.
‘You’re the one that healed me. Thanks to yourself, my body has regained its health. There is no pain no more.’
Chirp chirp chirp!
‘My gratitude. We, the bird-people of Kaiman, do not forget the kindness we were shown.’
Chirp!
‘I shall think of it as an eternal debt!’
“Un. Okay.”
Bom carefully caressed the baby chicken’s head with her fingers, and felt the soft yellowish fur resembling cotton.
“Uung? Unni. Did you just talk to the child?”
“No? I just thought it was talking to me.”
Meanwhile, Razor walked over to Gyeoul, and lowered its head.
“…!”
Surprised, Gyeoul turned to Yu Jitae.
When Yu Jitae gave a nod back, Gyeoul stood in front of the baby chicken and placed her hands neatly on top of her stomach, before giving a 90 degree bow.
Finding that cute, Bom and Kaeul chuckled.
Chirp!
‘Thank you for sharing the fresh, clean water!’
Chirp. Chirp.
‘Beautiful young girl. That was the taste of heavenly water.’
Gyeoul once again looked back at Yu Jitae, and her gaze seemed to be asking if she could touch it. When he nodded, Gyeoul slowly lowered her back and opened her palms on the ground.
Without any hesitation, the baby chicken walked onto her hands.
“…”
It was Gyeoul who instead hesitated. With careful fingers, she caressed the baby chicken, which cried ‘Chirp chirp~’ and rubbed its body on her hand.
“…Pretty.”
With flushed cheeks, Gyeoul jumped up and down on the spot while letting out a groan. She seemed to be lost as to what to do, because of its cuteness.
Lastly, after coming down from Gyeoul’s hands, the baby chicken approached Kaeul. Despite being a baby chicken, its strides were solemn and dignified.
At a rate slower compared to others,
Razor lowered its head,
And did not raise its head back up for a long time.
Kaeul was flustered. “Huh? What’s wrong?” said Kaeul, as she kneeled on the ground and lowered her body too with a panic.
That was when Razor let out a soft growl.
Chirp. Chirp.
‘You, are my saviour.’
Chirp.
‘My guardian deity.’