Feeling compelled to catch it, Juicy called out to the White Tiger.
“Yes, it’s the same dream as the day before.
After seeing the white tiger in her dreams, she had awakened her senses, so she knew it wasn’t just a dream.
“Are you Anash?”
The white tiger stared at her, and then, without answering, trotted off down the mountain and disappeared.
“Huh!
A blue flame leapt to the top of the mountain, leaving Juicy alone.
Juicy instinctively realised that the blue flames were not threatening her, but protecting her.
“Kyaak! Kaaaak!”
The horrific scream startled her out of her dream and she turned around, goosebumps all over her body.
The creature from her dream was there again.
It seemed to be trying to get to her.
But it was unable to reach her because of the blue flames that surrounded and protected her.
“What the hell is that?
The creature writhed in pain and looked up at Juicy.
‘Crimson eyes.
That was exactly what she saw in his eyes today.
Bloodshot madness.
The damp, fetid aura filled Juicy with an overwhelming sense of dread.
“Ah…….”
Her limbs trembled.
Eventually, her legs gave out and she sagged to the ground.
Her long, silvery-white human hair tumbled to the floor.
But it was her hair, and she didn’t have time to think about what it looked like.
“Kikikikik!”
The thing made a creepy sound.
It was horrible and gross, like it was laughing greedily.
I should tell him to fuck off, but my throat caught in my throat.
I knew instinctively that I was no match for him now.
‘He’s not on the same level as my dad or Nowton…….’
Then the thing burst through the blue flames and lunged for Juicy.
It crawled toward her, even as it burned through the flesh.
“No……!”
I’m in a dream, but this is no ordinary dream.
“Don’t let him get to me.
I don’t know why, but I had a strong premonition that if he attacked, it would all be for nothing.
But there was nothing she could do.
Frustrated, Juicy bit her lip and looked around for some way to escape.
“Kyaaahhhhh!”
“Get out of the way.”
At that moment, dozens of golden chains flew around the Saccaman and began to bind and tighten around him.
Startled, Juicy looked in the direction of the golden chains.
It was the child.
Today it looked more like a boy.
As she faltered, the boy who had subdued the creature once and for all looked up at her with crimson eyes.
Then he spoke softly.
“Go away.”
“Kaaaagh! Kaaaagh!”
“And you?
I tried to ask, but my voice was muffled.
To leave a child in the care of such a vile creature.
Jushi hesitated, wondering if she should have done this.
But to her surprise, the Saccaman was unmoved by the small child.
“Don’t worry, go. He’s ‘poison’ to you.”
The boy scowled and tightened the golden chains, forcing the Saccaman to struggle.
The creature’s screams of agony grew louder.
“Come on.”
“Yes……. But what is that, poison for me?”
“Yes. As you can see, it’s a ‘black snake’.”
After listening to the boy’s words, I looked at the creature again and saw that it was indeed a black snake.
Its shiny black scales were creepy.
The black snake’s red eyes glared at me.
“I’m holding on to it now, but it’s not enough. Run away. Be careful, it might come looking for you.”
“……Ah, yeah. Thanks.”
Juicy, who had been locking eyes with the black snake, managed to reply, and the boy rolled his eyes and held out his hand.
“Bye. I’ll see you soon, white tiger.”
At the wave, Juicy’s body leapt into the air.
“Ah!
Juicy plummeted down the cliff.
Juicy opened her eyes.
Looking around, she saw that she was still on the terrace of the Empress Palace.
“Are you awake?”
She looked up from her nap to see Handmaiden Sophie Langrasse, Handmaiden Yuni, and the bodyguard standing guard.
A dream.
Juicy was sure this was no mere dream.
The white tiger in the dream must be Anash. Her instincts were telling her so.
Also, the ‘black snake’ that had threatened me was a real and imminent danger.
In legend, the black serpent is an oracle of darkness.
Was the oracle really right?
Juicy admitted that he was a white tiger, blessed by Anash.
But Anash was dead.
Does that mean he’s alive somewhere?
Or does it really mean I…….
“Who is that boy?
I wish there was a way to find out.
My heart pounded in my chest as I remembered the words that he was coming to see me soon.
“Empress, you have a very welcome visitor!”
“Kyahang?!”
Jucy jumped to her feet. Did he mean the boy was already here?
As she was wagging her tail and rejoicing, a familiar figure came running through the garden path in the distance.
“Daddy’s home!”
Emperor Litain beamed and stretched out his arms, and Juicy dropped her wagging tail.
“What a disappointment.
Emperor Litain’s face fell, shocked by Juicy’s reaction.
He was quick on the uptake.
“My daughter……. I see you were waiting for someone other than me.”
The Emperor laughed softly and gripped the hilt of his sword tighter.
***
An uproar erupted in the palace.
Juicy was scrambling to calm the crazed Emperor, who had turned into a fighting stance and was scanning the room with his sword.
“You’re an idiot,” she said, “and you can’t go on a rampage just because you thought about something else for a second.
“Juicy.”
Litain was giggling now, with Juicy on her lap.
“So, you missed your dad a lot?”
“Kyaahang!”
“Can you do it again? Kisses.”
Litain made the unfamiliar request without a care in the world.
“Kyahang?”
Juicy looked up at the shameless emperor.
She gave him a peck on the cheek as a special move, just in time for her dad to berate the staff and servants, shouting, “What kind of bastard has stolen the empress!” …….
In his frenzy, Litain dropped his sword to the floor and rejoiced.
While he was out on the inspection, he was almost sick with the desire to see his daughter.
So he hurried back, only to find that Juicy wasn’t there to greet him and seemed to be waiting for someone else.
However, the daughter’s extraordinary affection melted everything away.
“Is this so good, Daddy?
Sighing slightly, Juicy pressed her snout against Emperor Litain’s sharply angled chin.
“Haha.”
The beaky eyes crinkled with laughter.
The softly laughing Emperor litain didn’t seem scary at all.
“Hmph. I’ve missed you quite a bit, so I’m doing it again.
When Juicy pulled her mouth away, Litain’s frown deepened.
He whispered in her ear.
“I love you too, Juicy.”
“……I didn’t say I love you.
Juicy grumbled to herself, but leaned into Litain, who pulled her close to his chest.
“I guess I do.
My heart tickled in my chest.
She burrowed into his arms as he showered her with endless affection.
‘Love…….
The smell of earth and wood lingered in the air as never before as Litain returned from his long inspection.
He wondered what the hell he was doing now.
Noticing a small white tiger pendant on the hilt of his sword, Juicy pondered.
‘Dad came home just as soon as I had that dream today, and Nowton came home just as soon as I had that dream last time.
It could be a coincidence.
But she was sure it wasn’t just a dream.
“Ahaha, that tickles.”
“Mmm.”
Juicy squeezed Litain’s hard stomach.
As she played with her dad, Juicy continued to think about the dream.
The ominous black snake that threatened me in my dreams.
And the god Anash had disappeared, not helping me this time.
“Why?
I wondered.
And who was this boy, and why did he appear in my dream?
‘Does he even exist? Or is he just a figment of my imagination, someone I met in a previous life?
“Juicy, I heard you awakened your powers?”
Litain’s serious question snapped Juicy out of her daydream.
She had to show off to her father.
“Kyahang!” (That’s right, I’m awesome now!)
Juicy broke free of Litain’s embrace and jumped up to the table, standing tall and raising her chin.
