CHAPTER 72……………………………………….
“Pii?”
At the sound of my voice, the little bird paused mid-preening and tilted its head.
No matter how I looked at it, it didn’t seem like a divine beast.
‘For something supposedly just hatched, it does look unusually fluffy, squishy, warm, and chubby…’
But this tiny bird… is a divine beast?
“The egg you found was the very one given to the first emperor when the empire was founded.”
As I inspected the so-called divine beast chick from every angle, Grandpa continued speaking.
“According to ancient legend, it was bestowed directly by the god who manifested in the world.”
“Woooow…”
“Only the one chosen by the world can become the master of the divine beast. Every emperor until now has touched the egg upon ascending the throne, but none have ever awakened it.”
You’re telling me this thing is that kind of being?
It just looks like a soft, plump bird…
“The one it chose has finally appeared.”
Grandpa stared straight at me as he said that.
Reverence and emotion were unmistakably shining in his eyes.
“Uh.”
I blinked rapidly, taken aback.
So I became the divine beast’s master at seven years old?
Really?
“Me?”
“Yes. You woke it.”
“B-but maybe… maybe it was just time for it to wake up on its own…?”
All I did was walk up to it.
I hadn’t even touched it before it moved.
“A divine beast isn’t such a simple being.”
Grandpa firmly shook his head.
“It will never follow someone who is not its chosen master.”
I immediately turned my head to look at Dad Kyle, who was being pecked as punishment for trying to touch the chick.
“Argh—♬♪!”
Hmm.
It definitely seems to dislike everyone except me.
“But why me?”
Absentmindedly stroking the chick’s back, I asked.
Grandpa answered with the same emotional look in his eyes.
“Isn’t it obvious? Because you are the chosen royal.”
Royal? Me?
“I didn’t expect to be confirmed like this…”
It seemed Grandpa was emotional because he believed this proved I really was his biological granddaughter.
Even though he always said it didn’t matter whose child I was.
But, well… I guess it still hits differently.
“Good grief.”
Grandma Mago snorted at Grandpa’s reaction.
“Who ever claimed that only a chosen royal can awaken the divine beast? The legend simply says ‘the chosen one,’ nothing more.”
Hm, that is reasonable.
“But the egg was given to the first emperor. If anyone could awaken it, it would’ve gone to someone else, not the emperor.”
…Also reasonable.
“Even if that were true,”
Grandma Mago continued firmly,
“As long as someone carries royal blood, that should be enough. It doesn’t need to be a direct descendant.”
“…”
“In that case, I—and that child Sion—also undeniably carry royal blood. I’m His Majesty’s cousin, after all.”
“Oh.”
A small sound escaped me.
So that’s why Grandma Mago acts so casually around Grandpa.
I… just learned that.
Anyway, that’s their business.
I’ll let the two of them work that out themselves.
More importantly…
‘If this little bird really is a divine beast…’
There must be a reason it’s called one.
I stopped fiddling with the chick and suddenly looked up.
“So what kind of ability does it have?”
Grandpa and Grandma Mago, who had been glaring at each other, turned away and looked at me instead.
Looks like I unintentionally stopped another argument.
Nice.
“An ability?”
“Well…”
Grandpa frowned in thought for a moment, then replied calmly.
“We don’t know.”
“Aha… sorry, what?”
I was all ready to get excited.
And the answer is “We don’t know”?
“R-really?”
Are they teasing me?
“Yes, truly. We have no idea.”
Looking slightly embarrassed himself, Grandpa cleared his throat.
“Ahem. Such details aren’t written in the founding legend. There’s only vague information.”
“What vague information…?”
“That it will widely benefit and enrich the world alongside its master.”
Huh.
That’s basically the Korean founding ideal Hongik Ingan—no, wait!
That’s so vague!
Even vaguer than my plan that time I was going to pick mushrooms!
Not even some over-the-top exaggeration like breathing fire or driving away evil?
“Riiiight…”
I drooped my shoulders in disappointment.
I mean… it’s possible, sure.
It could just be a divine beast with no powers at all.
Yeah… totally plausible.
I understand.
I’m just a little sad, that’s all.
“Do you wish the divine beast had some ability?”
Maybe my feelings showed too much, because Grandma Mago hit the nail on the head.
I pouted a little and nodded slowly.
“Yes…”
I’d still raise it with all my heart either way.
But if possible, it’d be nice if it had something special.
“At the very least, it won’t bring you harm.”
Grandma Mago gently patted my head.
“Even if the legend is lacking, it does say it will help you bring benefit and prosperity to the world.”
“That’s true…”
“If so, how about thinking of it this way?”
She met my eyes kindly.
“In other words, this divine beast holds infinite potential.”
“Infinite… potential?”
“It can become anything, and it can do anything.”
I slowly looked down at the chick rubbing its cheek against my palm.
A divine beast that would enrich the world with me.
To help the world… it would have to stop my dads’ world-ending plan.
So would it help prevent my mom’s death too?
If it can help me do that…
Maybe Grandma Mago is right.
“Hehe.”
I straightened my shoulders again and smiled shyly.
“I’ll think of it that way!”
Since Grandma Mago said so, it feels true somehow.
“That’s right. Good girl.”
She smiled with me and ruffled my hair again.
Mom watched us warmly, then suddenly exclaimed softly.
“Oh, speaking of which, Your Majesty.”
“Hm?”
“Does the divine beast have any dietary restrictions? Can we just feed it regular bird seed? I mean, it is a divine beast…”
Grandpa stroked his chin awkwardly.
“That… I know even less about. It’s my first time seeing a divine beast as well.”
Everyone turned to stare at the chick.
“Pii—?”
…So what does this thing eat?
It was our first time with a divine beast, after all.
