In a faraway place, somewhere in the Beast Realm, the sharp sound of porcelain crushing in the young man's bare hands felt like a tormenting symphony.
At least for the aid who was crying pitifully, soundlessly, as he reluctantly let go of another silver coin that the inn helper snatched without hesitation after growing impatient with his clamoring.
"Young master! Please have mercy on this servant and stop giving my poor heart more shock!" He hollered to the brooding youth and shamelessly pulled his trouser pants, begging to be heard by the indifferent man.
"Do you intend to destroy all the cups in this inn? We barely began our journey and we're out of money! Young master, please hold back even a little whatever it is that angers you."
If this continues, they will definitely become beggars tomorrow.
"I've spend over half of our money to pay all the China cups you've broken! I beg you. Let's leave this place before you trash something more expensive."
"... Too noisy."
Sky spoke in sullen tone, his gaze darted outside the window as though looking at something Sid, couldn't follow. His glare was too fierce, the servant could swear it could curdle milk.
His young master has been acting weird lately. He would sit next to the window like a finely crafted statue of a peerless celestial untouched by the worldly affairs. It was a picture perfect image of his lord looking at a distance, in a trance if not for him suddenly breaking things like he had been angered by someone impudent.
Ever since he emerged from his solitary confinement and promptly announcing that he would leave the Celestial Bird Clan's territory to find someone, Sid felt like had been walking on thin ice every second of his puny little life.
Just when he had given up hope of changing the young man's mind, afraid to bear the brunt of whatever it is that makes him mad, the lad spoke sternly.
"Prepare to depart for the mountains. We're hunting an insolent fox tomorrow."
Mountains?
Fox? Does he mean those notorious face-changing gumihos?
"You, you don't mean the Thousands Beast Mountains, right? Right?!"
Oh gods, please let him say no! Ah! My life, not in that dangerous place with many ferals! I still haven't find a wife, why is this person trying to make my life hard?!
**
Back in the Feral Peak, the cub's head snapped forward with a squeak.
The audacity of this red twerp!
He what?! This lunatic wants her to accept him as WHAT?!
Snowy shrieked internally, practically vibrating with fury.
The bird fumed, wings bristling and pupils shrunken to pinpricks.
Konkon glanced up, dazed—and saw death staring back at him. A tiny, furious grim reaper cloaked in snowy white, perched high and glaring as if to say:
"Go on. Say it. I dare you. Say it, and I will shatter your filthy snout into crumbs!!"
TWEET! TWEET! TWEET!!!
The chirps exploded like angry war horns as Snowy launched forward, wings whipping the air, beak flashing like a blade. Hyerin blinked in confusion, visibly startled by what was going on.
But just in time, when she wanted to ask Konkon for translation, she saw the fuming white bird catapult itself straight into Konkon's dumb face.
Smack!
"S-Snowy! Konkon!" Hyerin yelped. Are they fighting? But it looked like a one-sided beating though.
The cub reeled from the impact, toppling backward as though hit by divine judgment and flying away had it not been for him being cradled by Hyerin at that time.
Crap, that hurts!
The cub cursed inwardly and wanted to retaliate, smashing that damn bird's hateful face once and for all. Suddenly an idea struck him good, continuing his little tricks and vulnerable pretense in front of the oblivious woman.
Instead of defending himself, the two-faced beast let out a long, wailing cry like a child who had just scraped his knee.
"Boohoo! It hurts! Stop hitting me—Ah! Sister Ashta! That bird is so vicious! So fierce! Save me from this little shi—Snowy!"
He threw himself at her chest like a wounded toddler, sobbing rivers, his paws clutching her robe as if the sky itself had fallen.
The little bird froze. His beak parted mid-screech, too stunned to chirp. But behind that silence, his rage deepened. His glare could peel bark from trees.
Is this midget trying to frame him right now?!
Konkon, hidden in the folds of Hyerin's warmth, smirked faintly behind her shoulder. In the soft comfort of her ample riches. The red cub deliberately whimpered and buried its head between her twin peaks.
Stupid bird, plunge in the depths of envy while I enjoy being squeezed in the soft gates of heaven.
He scoffed, clearly gloating. His crimson eyes slanted toward Snowy in triumph.
And all the while, Hyerin remained none the wiser about the silent war looming over her head like a shadow. She looked down helplessly, flustered by the sudden quarrel between the two "children."
During this time, she reckoned the once sweet fantasy of becoming a mother now felt like a thorny rosebush. So it wasn't simple to quell children squabbling when it's you in the front. Worse, beast children who can claw you.
She sighed and tried to pacify the chaos.
"There, there. Don't cry, Little Fluff. No one's hitting you now," she said soothingly, patting his head. Then her gaze shifted to the airborne menace. She spoke firmly but tried not to be too intimidating.
"Snowy, please stop hitting his head. It's not good for his growing intellect. Look at Konkon, his eyes are so red from crying. Isn't he pitiful?"
Snowy slowly fluttered to her shoulder, landing by her neck with an ominous stillness. His eyes narrowed to slits.
Growing intellect? Female, that buffoon doesn't even have a working brain. He's a bad egg. He's not a child. Don't you dare coddle him!
Still, he stopped attacking and nestled there in silence, his feathers puffed in indignation.
Meanwhile, Hyerin exhaled in relief. She leaned back beneath the shade of the tree, a new worry blooming across her brow.
I didn't know this little bird would have a big temper behind its small frame. She hit poor Konkon so fiercely. Weren't they supposed to be closed friends?
When she met them by the river, for the first time, Konkon was lost consciousness and was being washed away by the current. The little bird was frantically hovering above him worriedly. Fortunately, she knew how to swim and was able to grab the poor cub.
Wait, could it be…?
Was Little Snowy… jealous of her?
Could it be that this bird and Konkon were… mates? And thought that she'll steal him from her?
Her eyes widened slightly with a hint of amusement.
She had taken integrated science in middle school.
Animals refer to breeding as "mating" and their partners as "mates," not "darling" or "honey."
If that's the case…
She glanced at Snowy again, this time with careful consideration and a knowing look.
If Snowy was trying to scold Konkon for hugging a female, then maybe… she was possessive of him?
"Wow… so that was it, huh?" She mumbled more to herself.
She felt a rush of both revelry and guilt. It's like a love across races like in a tv show!
She fished out some wild berries from her pocket and handed them over like a peace offering to a hurt child and their angry friend.
With a big, reassuring smile she said, "I'm so sorry. Sister didn't know. I won't hug Snowy's future mate again, I promi—"
Crash!
Say that again?!
The two beasts froze and their bodies trembled like they had heard something that took away their souls.