Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 262

Chapter 262
A rounded shape emerged from within the bushes, only to disappear an instant later.
A patchy, mottled form flickered briefly into sight before vanishing directly before the three of them.
– Kkiit! 『It’s gone!』
The moment Hongdan cried out, they all prepared to charge through the undergrowth toward the spot where the round thing had been.
Then, a memory of something their father had told Bini and the others surfaced gently in Bini’s thoughts.
“There’s a spirit beast around here that looks similar to a seogwa, so you must be cautious, understand? Remember, Moji and Soji are spinning their cocoons now. You children may not be human, but because you live with me, you might carry a human scent. That creature has a history of conflict with people, so you need to be very careful.”
That was the warning about a spirit beast in the vicinity that was comparable to a seogwa.
Could that thing from a moment ago have been it? Bini attempted to conjure an image of a seogwa in her head.
A seogwa was a red fruit covered in spiky protrusions, the sort Dad would eat while spitting out the seeds. The kind that was full of dripping juice.
But the thing that had just zipped by had only been circular.
No matter how much she pondered it, it didn’t match a seogwa at all. So Bini began to move again.
It simply couldn’t be a seogwa, no matter what.
Most importantly—it wasn’t red.
– Chyaaak. Chyak.
Forcing their way through the brush, the three of them sped toward where the round shape had gone.
Bini’s larger frame pushed the grasses aside, while Hongdan, at the front, used her pincers to swiftly cut through the clinging vines.
Ahead of them, something was moving, pressing down the grass in its path, and soon that round shape became visible again.
It was that thing.
The round object.
– Tsururut! 『There it is!』
– Kkiiiik! 『Sister, I’ll cut it off!』
Bini called out as she rose up to get a better look at the round thing.
Hongdan, hurrying forward eagerly, moved to block its route and demanded,
– Kkii! 『What are you?』
The thing halted its movement.
– Kkiit? 『I said, what are you?』
Just as Hongdan repeated her question to the round creature—
It detected Bini and Hyang coming up from behind and spun around.
Its gaze locked with Hyang’s and Bini’s.
It appeared startled for a second, its antennae shooting straight up—and then the creature let out a bizarre noise.
– Tschit!?
– Bboooong! Bbop bop bop bop!
A wet, popping sound erupted, and simultaneously, a cloud of white fumes billowed out around them.
An offensive odor filled the air, and Hongdan’s shriek cut through the humid atmosphere.
– KKIIIIIIII!
***
– Kkiiieee. Kkii.
Hongdan was now drenched in the repulsive-smelling venom the round beast had expelled.
While they were still in shock from seeing the creature spray its terrible poison on Hongdan, Hyang and Bini hurried to her side.
She seemed badly hurt.
She quivered, writhing on the ground, her antennae jerking spasmodically in agony.
– T-Tsutrut!? 『A-Are you alright, Hongdan?!』
– Kki, kkii… 『It hurts…』
Hearing Hongdan’s pained words, fury ignited in Hyang and Bini’s eyes.
They had only asked what it was—and it dared to poison Hongdan?
Blinded by anger, Bini and Hyang spun around.
They didn’t care what it was; they were going to teach it a lesson.
But by that time, the creature was already gone.
In the short time they had been tending to Hongdan, it had vanished.
– Tsurut! 『Where did that thing go?!』
It had obviously fled.
As Hyang yelled angrily, Bini lifted her body, searching the surroundings.
Then, Hongdan, curled up and shaking, lifted her head and looked at them with watery eyes, weeping,
– Kkiiiee… 『Sister, it hurts…』
Her cry sounded like she was on the verge of death.
Instantly, their rage was replaced by alarm.
– Tsururu! 『Ah, right! Hongdan, hold on! Bini, you handle her first!』
– Tsurut! 『Understood, Sister.』
Despite the terrible smell, Bini instantly took Hongdan into her mouth.
Then she bolted toward the water.
She recalled a time when Dad had washed the pirates with water after they were struck by Hwayang Sister’s poison, worried they might have been infected.
– Tsurut! 『Bini, where are you going?』
– Tsururu. 『To the water! Don’t you remember? Dad used water to wash the poison away!』
– Tsurut! 『Ah, that’s right!』
They forced their way back through the tall grass, running.
Bini went directly to the closest pond and began dunking Hongdan in and out of the water.
– Splash. Splash.
– Kkiii… kkii… 『It hurts… it hurts… it huuuuurts…』
Even though Hongdan flailed and complained that it stung and she didn’t want to be in the water, they had no alternative.
Dad had said water was the most effective way to remove poison.
After multiple dunks, the foul odor began to lessen.
Bini lifted Hongdan out and placed her down, examining her.
The toxin had made her shell a little soft and moist, but the poison itself appeared to be rinsed off.
A faint smell lingered, but that was all.
– Tsurut!? 『Hongdan, are you okay?』
At Bini’s anxious question, Hongdan shook out her wet wings and legs, twitched her antennae, and said,
– Kkiiik. 『It stings…』
She no longer seemed to be dying, but the areas that had been sprayed still smarted.
Still, it didn’t look like there was any major damage, so Bini and Hyang let out a breath of relief.
They had been truly frightened it might have been something critical, but it seemed not to be too severe.
The smell when it happened was terrible, but the poison itself didn’t appear to be overwhelmingly powerful.
Just to be safe, Hyang held Hongdan close for a long while.
To ensure no poison remained on her.
And after some time—
Just as Hongdan was stating she felt better, Hyang, her antennae coiled in anger, released an enraged cry.
She might be safe now, but their wrath toward the one who had harmed her had not diminished in the slightest.
– Tsurut! 『Where did that wretch go?! Let’s find it and teach it a lesson!』
To hurt Hongdan like that—
As the eldest there, this was an act that could not be overlooked.
Especially since Hongdan was so dear to Hyang.
Even before she evolved, when she was just small Hyang, she and Hongdan were constant companions. She could never let this slide.
To dare to poison her younger sister?
They had to track it down and punish it severely.
– Chiiik.
A bead of venom fell from Hyang’s mouth.
Where it landed on the grass, a small flame ignited with a *whoosh*, then died out.
– Tsurut! 『Yes, let’s go get it!』
Bini, the youngest of the O-gong Sisters, also rumbled in agreement, her anger clear.
Still holding Hongdan’s quivering antennae, Hyang exclaimed,
– Tsururururu. 『It hurt you, didn’t it, Hongdan? Don’t worry, your sisters are going to go punish that creature! Just hold on a little! Bini, let’s go! We need to find it and give it what it deserves!』
– Tsurut! 『Right, Sister! Hongdan, climb on my back, quick! You can help us spray it too!』
– Kkii! 『Okay!』
Hongdan, who had been lying dejectedly after the poisoning, swiftly scrambled onto Bini’s back, encouraged by her sisters’ fierce support.
She could spray venom as well, so just as her sister said—she would return the favor to that thing.
The pain in her antennae only fueled her anger.
Just as the three sisters, burning with resolve, were about to set off again to find that creature—
A voice resonated in Bini’s mind. Her dad’s voice.
‘Bini, where are you?’
Bini, who had been confidently leading the way with Hongdan on her back, stopped abruptly.
There was no question now—they had been discovered.
– Tsurut. 『Bini, why did you stop?』
– Kkiit? 『Sister, aren’t we going?』
Just as Hyang and Hongdan looked at Bini, confused by her sudden halt, her antennae quivered, and she let out a soft, worried sound to the others.
– Tsururur… 『What should we do? Dad knows…』
– Tch! 『What?!』
– Kkiit! 『Is it true?!』
At Bini’s upset confession, Hyang and Hongdan’s antennae stiffened with alarm.
If their dad found out they had sneaked out, they were certainly going to be in trouble.
He had warned them it was dangerous and to stay where they were, and they had disobeyed.
The three of them shared uneasy glances.
– Tsururu.
– Tsurut.
– Kkii.
Yes, it was definitely time to return—and quickly.
And as if on schedule, Hyang also heard their dad’s voice.
‘Hyang, where are you? You’re with Bini, right? Daddy’s getting angry.’
– Tsurut… 『Dad won’t stop calling…』
With their father calling incessantly, the trio had no option but to delay their plans for revenge for the time being.
They had been caught leaving without permission, and they needed to get back immediately.
As they went, they wordlessly came to a consensus: this event would remain a secret.
Not only because they had sneaked out, but because if Dad discovered Hongdan had been seriously injured, they would undoubtedly receive a stern reprimand.
Their dad adored them—if he learned one of them had been harmed, it would be more than just a talking-to.
– Tsururur. 『Let’s not tell Dad about this for now, alright?』
– Tsurut. 『Agreed!』
– Kkii! 『Yes, Sister!』
But even hiding the injury, Bini still disliked upsetting her father.
In a concerned tone, Bini turned to Hyang.
Though they were born together, and Bini wasn’t fond of how Dad called one “Sister” and the other “Dongsaeng,” in situations like this, she truly depended on Hyang.
– Tsururur. 『But what if Dad is truly angry? What do we do, Hyang Sister?』
– Tsururur. 『Don’t be anxious. You simply need to do this.』
– Tsurut. 『Do what?』
– Tsururur… 『Like this…』
As they turned and made their way back to where Dad was, Bini soon found herself in front of the old house.
Their dad was there, arms crossed, waiting for them.
“Where have you three been? Daddy was worried!”
His arms were folded, and he was glaring, appearing very angry—exactly as Hyang had predicted.
So Bini moved quickly, coiling herself around him.
Then—*slap slap*—she rubbed her cheeks firmly against both sides of his face.
“Oh—you… You believe this will let you avoid punishm—”
– Churum.
– Chururum.
As the familiar salty taste of Dad reached her tongue, his tone softened at once.
“You little rascals… Fine, Daddy will forgive you—but what is that odor?”
– Tsurut!?
– Tsururur.
At his mention of a smell, the sisters focused intensely, trying not to be discovered.
And just as Hyang had said, their dad’s expression soon melted into a smile as he gently stroked them.
“You just wanted to stretch your legs, is that it? I understand. But still, don’t wander off like that again, okay? Daddy worries.”
Wrapping around him exactly as Hyang instructed—it truly appeared to be effective.
Bini thought to herself, once more, that even if Hyang was smaller, she really was a true Sister.
Then a sharp, clear voice rang out.
“So-ryong! If you intend to scold them, do it correctly! No wonder they are becoming so indulged!”
It was Mom.
– Tsurut. 『Sister… What about Mom?』
Bini whispered quickly to Hyang, alarmed. But Hyang let her antennae droop and responded with a sigh.
『Tsurut. There’s no chance with Mom. We are going to be scolded.』
Mom was not fooled by their adorable antics.
Perhaps Dad was—but she was not.
***
Night arrived, enveloping the world in complete blackness.
Like eyes adjusting to the dark, Hyang subtly twitched her antennae.
She crept carefully over to Bini, who seemed to be asleep in the corner.
– Tap tap.
When Hyang nudged her, Bini instantly raised her antennae.
She had been awake.
From the ceiling, still hidden in shadow, Hongdan scrambled down and climbed onto Bini’s back.
The three had convened in the dead of night for a single purpose: that creature from before.
They were going to exact their revenge.
If a younger sister was harmed and her older sisters did not retaliate, they were unworthy of the name.
Communicating only through their antennae, the trio sneaked out of the large building they called home and crept silently outside.
As they exited, a light dew settled around them.
Being near the riverbank, a heavy mist lay over the ground. It would make locating the creature more difficult, but they chose to move along the perimeter, steering clear of the uncles on patrol.
– Tsurut! 『Let’s move!』
Just as Bini called out from her position on her sister’s head—
A voice sounded from above them.
– Tsururur! 『Just where do you think you are going?』
Startled, the three looked upward.
There in the fog stood Cho Sister, peering down at them with narrowed eyes and antennae standing on end.
– Tsu… 『W-We were only…』
They stood frozen, unable to respond.
Cho observed them and brought up their mom.
– Tsururur. Tsurut. 『This is not allowed. Dad said not to go out, so I am telling Mom everything.』
At Cho’s threat, Hongdan and Hyang’s antennae sagged downward.
But among the O-gong sisters, one bristled with fury at her words.
Dad had named Cho the eldest sister—but running to tell Mom? That was not how a proper Sister behaved.
– Tsururur! 『You’re the eldest and you’re going to tattle to Mom?! You don’t even understand why we’re out! That strange thing from earlier injured Hongdan, and we are here to get revenge!』
– Tch? 『What!? Someone hurt Hongdan?!』
Cho went still at Bini’s outburst.
And even Bini, who had been yelling, recoiled at the sudden change in Cho’s demeanor.
In the darkness, Cho’s eyes began to shine with a cold blue light.
A low, dangerous sound escaped her.
– Tsururur… 『Someone hurt our Hongdan?』
– Tsu, Tsurut. 『Uh? Y-yes…』
– Tsuru… 『Show me the way.』
As the eldest among them, this was something she could never permit.