Living with the Dangerous Beast-Chapter 64: One Fox, One Tiger, One Family

As if it were a signal of something, Sohwa’s face turned pale.

“Uh... Ma’am? Is there something wrong?”

“I said it’s nothing....”

Sohwa quickly ran to turn the ducks back to their original positions, facing forward. Then, she quietly looked at Woongsik and said,

“I’m not feeling well today, so I might go to bed early. Could you tell it to my husband for me?”

“What? All of a sudden? Are you unwell? Shall I fetch some medicine?”

If Sohwa fell ill, Mount Taeryong would be in turmoil. Especially for Woongsik, who was tasked with assisting Sohwa.

“Ma’am, I know an excellent doctor. I’ll bring him right away.”

“No! There’s no need! I’m just very tired. Actually, now that I think about it, I should play with the children. I’ll play with them and then go to bed. Just tell Dohwi that I went to bed early if he comes back, OK?”

“But the master will surely look for you first... Ma’am! Ma’am!”

Hurriedly putting on her shoes, Sohwa headed to the bedroom with Yongbeom and Hwibeom brothers in her arms, as if she was trying to flee from a vicious predator.

* * *

Dohwi, who suddenly had to raise a fox and a tiger, had no knowledge of childcare, so he sought teachings from a wise sage.

The golden eagle, Cheesan.

Though he had abandoned Dohwi at Mount Yeewhang on the orders of his eldest brother, he was a sage who had traveled the world and knew everything.

“When should Yongbeom and Hwibeom leave home?”

“It wouldn’t be too soon now.”

“...Already?”

“The young masters are already capable enough to be independent.”

The sage wasn’t wrong. Yongbeom and Hwibeom pretended to be little puppies in front of their mother but had already grown considerably.

Though Sohwa might feel saddened, a true tiger should leave the parents early to become independent.

The same went for foxes. Dohwi had learned the fox’s hunting methods and diet, which he taught to Yongbeom, so he was already aware of when they should stand on their own.

“Well, I know that Hwibeom would be fine on his own....”

Dohwi’s voice lowered.

“But Yongbeom is....”

He was a bit worried about him. But the sage had a different opinion.

“There’s nothing to worry about. Once Yongbeom leaves Mount Taeryong, he will have the world at his feet.”

“....”

Even though the sage had never been wrong, Dohwi found it hard to believe this time.

From what Dohwi had seen of Yongbeom’s antics with him, Sohwa, or even Hwibeom, it didn’t seem like he’d ever starve to death. But still....

‘Have the world at his feet?’

It was unbelievable. No matter how clever he was, that bold statement seemed like a stretch.

“They’re still young, so let’s wait and see for a bit longer.”

In the end, Dohwi half-listened to the sage and returned to his palace-like home.

* * *

“Where’s Sohwa?”

It was late. As soon as he entered the house, he headed to the master bedroom, but it was empty. The main quarters were quiet, so he called for Woongsik, who awkwardly pointed towards the shedquarters.

Sensing something was amiss, Dohwi headed to the children’s room. As expected, there were large and small footprints in the yard, evidence of their playful romping.

Sohwa, who was so terrified of tigers, showed no fear of Hwibeom.

Though it was absurd for a mother to fear her own child, Sohwa saw Hwibeom as something entirely different from a tiger. Perhaps a lovable lynx with extraordinary size and black and white stripes, sharing the same fur color seemed to be the reason.

CREEEAK.

Opening the door to the children’s room, he saw three animals sleeping without a care. Two fearless silver foxes sprawled atop Hwibeom, who had transformed into a tiger.

“Oh my. Sohwa...”

What was he to do with these adorable creatures?

Dohwi couldn’t help but feel a bit of fond irritation that Sohwa had forgotten today was the promised ‘day’ and was sleeping soundly, as if daring him. And at the same time, Dohwi couldn’t help but smile.

“I’ve never seen a tiger sleep in such a ridiculous fashion. This kid....”

As Dohwi said, Hwibeom was sleeping sound in a spread-eagle position, with the two silver foxes sprawled comfortably on his back.

These adorable creatures were his family. His lovely wife and his precious offspring.

Smiling, Dohwi gently lifted the neck of the larger fox.

“Mmm... Your Majesty....”

The one with a bigger body and more abundant fur was Yongbeom.

“I’m still... lacking... But I’m ready to serve Your Majesty... Your Majesty... Father!”

Awakening quickly like a sensitive fox he was, Yongbeom flailed his paws and perked up his ears.

“Shh.”

The drowsy Yongbeom’s face lit up with joy.

“Are you really planning to sleep on the back of a tiger?”