[BotB] Chapter 11

Moreover, Sohwa knew the smell of Dohwi better than anyone else. It was similar to the sharp, grassy scent of pine bark. Dohwi has had this refreshing scent since childhood. Creatures like Sohwa, who live in the marsh, valued information that came in through their noses as much as they saw with their eyes.

"Dohwi is not a tiger."

If asked to bring water, he would bring water; if she was hungry, he would prepare food; if she was tired, he would massage her shoulders, wash her feet, do the laundry, and clean.

Could there be such a kind and affectionate tiger in this world?

Wouldn't it be unlikely that a creature treated like a servant would be that terrifying tiger? Why would a tiger, who roamed around like it owned all the mountains, serve under her?

"Could it be thinking of fattening me up to eat me?"

Considering how she was annoyingly nagged to eat more, it wasn't impossible.

At the moment of her hesitation, a familiar sound came from beyond the fog.

"AHHHHHHHH!"

The hidden fox's ears popped out sharply. A desperate scream resounded in the quiet mountain.

"It's a fox. No doubt!"

Was there another fox on Mount Ihwang besides her? Judging by the pitch of the sound, it was clearly a male fox. She felt half happy, and half puzzled.

"AHHHH AHHHH AHHHH!"

The short scream continued again. This time, it sounded like something terrible was happening. After that, no more screams of the fox were heard.

Mount Ihwang regained its usual tranquillity.

A fox has died. Sohwa's fingertips trembled with surprise. What could have chased it and killed it in this peaceful garden where even roe deer used to frolic that it would let out such a terrible scream?

Lost in thought, Sohwa came to her senses when she saw the night fog covering the moon in the middle of the mountain.

"I must bury it again before Dohwi returns."

Sohwa's speed, burying the bones of a deer, quickened. The ground had to be carefully tilled again to avoid revealing any traces. It was at that moment when Sohwa urgently covered the earth-

In the distance, the sound of beasts could be heard. It was faint, but it was clearly audible to Sohwa, whose ears were as sharp as a fox's.

It was the sound of a large predator's big paws pounding the ground heavily as it ran. Along with its agility, the sound of the wind was also present.

Without realising that the flower garden Dohwi had procured was becoming a mess, Sohwa diligently dug the ground, but as the sound approached, she quickly hid in her room.

Thump. The quadrupedal beast had entered her house through the front gate. Sohwa's heart pounded as she leaned against the door. She worried whether the sound could be heard from outside.

"They've entered our house."

Sohwa, contemplating, cautiously peered through the window hole.

What she saw was Dohwi, soaked all over. He held something limp in his hand.

Was he swimming alone even at this hour of the morning? His black hair was drenched, and even his new clothes were soaked. The white underwear clung to his body, revealing every contour.

As he roughly brushed his hair, water splattered. Every movement revealed the wild muscles rippling across his entire body.

"When did that child grow up like that?" His beauty remained unchanged, but his eyebrows had thickened to the point where one might mistake him for a young girl due to his fair and delicate face.

As Dohwi was about to enter the room, he suddenly stood still in front of the cherry tree.

Sohwa unwittingly held her breath. Could he have noticed what she did?

In late summer, standing for a long time in front of the cherry tree, already devoid of fruit, Dohwi turned his head sideways. As if tracking her whereabouts, he glanced at the ground where deer bones were buried and suddenly turned around.

Startled, Sohwa quickly moved away from the door and crawled into the room.

Creak. As the sound approached the living room, Sohwa flipped the blanket over and held her breath in astonishment.

"Sohwa, are you asleep?"

With no response, Dohwi, standing for a moment, put down what he was holding, gently opened the door, and entered the room.

Sweat or perhaps mucus dripped down Sohwa's tense face, lying still, pretending to be asleep.

She would not open her eyes. That was her resolution, but the cold touch of someone's hand gently stroking her cheek made her body tremble involuntarily.

"So cute..."

Dohwi's body temperature was much lower than hers. Though it was clearly the soft palm of a gentle person touching her cheek, Sohwa couldn't help but envision large forelegs and fierce claws.

"You shouldn't have nightmares tonight."

He whispered with a worried tone as he stroked her earlobe. His affectionate voice sent shivers down her spine.