Looking for the Runaway Heavenly Maiden - Chapter 18

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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18.

* * *

Because we had been together constantly, I could sense it. I couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was, but something about Cheonhaerang’s atmosphere felt off.
It had been like this ever since he returned from meeting Princess Yeonhwa this morning.

‘Did Princess Yeonhwa scold him or something?’

But what could Cheonhaerang have possibly done to deserve scolding?
Moreover, from what I knew, the age difference between my eldest brother and him was even greater.
I had once heard my youngest brother click his tongue and say, “At that rate, she’s more like a daughter than anything. And her energy is incredible.”
After that, my youngest brother had gotten hit on the head by my second eldest brother.
In any case, Princess Yeonhwa was that kind of person. She wouldn’t scold him over something trivial.
I pondered it, but nothing came to mind.
I considered asking Cheonhaerang about it, then decided against it.
He was trying not to show it, and there was no point in pressing him. After all, there are times when people don’t want to talk about things.
Besides, I didn’t want to understand Cheonhaerang’s inner thoughts that way.
Digging any deeper would be forbidden.

‘…Just think about returning. Only about returning. That’s all I’ll do from now on.’

My unsettled heart, the distance between Cheonhaerang and me after returning to the Heavenly Realm, and perhaps even Cheonhaerang’s future marriage.
I wouldn’t think about any of it.
So then, how should I go about returning?
In my current state, it was nearly impossible to inform them that I had found Princess Yeonhwa. My lips would never open to Yerim.
In the end, only the easiest yet most difficult method remained. I had to make Cheonhaerang want to return.
I had to convince him.

‘How?’

I could judge myself coldly and objectively.
I was certainly not skilled at persuasion. That’s why I kept getting talked over by Cheonhaerang.

‘…But wait.’

That’s strange. Why is Princess Yeonhwa leaving Cheonhaerang alone like this?
A significant question sprouted in my mind.

“Since the Princess has decided not to go, there’s nothing I can do about it, Jiho.”

That’s what Princess Yeonhwa had said.
Nothing she could do about it. It made no sense. Princess Yeonhwa had more than enough power to forcibly send Cheonhaerang back to the Heavenly Realm.
But she hadn’t. There was no way Princess Yeonhwa didn’t know about that man.
Why?
The unanswered question circled through my mind. Should I ask Princess Yeonhwa directly?
But would she answer me?
That too was a question I couldn’t answer.
Just as I was lost in thought, Cheonhaerang was equally absorbed, so only the bright chatter of students heading home echoed around us.
I was the first to snap out of my thoughts. I spotted the purple car parked on the road.
For some reason, it seemed even shinier than this morning. Yerim was leaning against it, and she was even wearing sunglasses from who knows where.

“Huh? Didn’t that person not come yesterday either?”
“I think I saw that car this morning too.”
“Is she an older sister?”
“Wow, her outfit is insane.”

The students’ whispers bored into my ears. I thought I might be getting used to this attention by now, but I was completely wrong. It was a delusion. I could never get used to this.
My face burned with heat. I couldn’t tell if Yerim was actually enjoying all this attention or what.
My pace quickened, as if showing my eagerness to leave the School Entrance behind.
Spotting me moving ahead, Cheonhaerang finally snapped out of his thoughts.
For a moment he tried to call out to me, but then he closed his mouth and took long strides to catch up.
When Yerim noticed me standing before her, she lifted her sunglasses to face me.

“You came?”
“…Where did you get the sunglasses from, sister?”
“Why? Do they look cool?”

Where had she learned to talk like that? Yerim seemed to have adapted remarkably well to the Human Realm.

“…Yeah, they look cool.”

No, being here like this is a bit embarrassing…. Swallowing the words that had risen to my throat, I nodded. It was for the sake of maintaining a smooth life in the Human Realm with Yerim.
Of course, objectively speaking, she did suit me well.
But standing before an ordinary high school as a student’s guardian was somewhat too striking, to say the least.
And of all things, the outfit she was wearing now was a deep hot pink.
I didn’t think she was wearing this in the morning….
But then again, it really did suit her well….
I found myself taking a moment to contemplate Yerim’s fashion sense, something I hadn’t consciously noticed before.

“Wow, Yerim. You look really cool today.”

The combination of sparkling purple and deep hot pink made Cheonhaerang’s eyes hurt a little, but he offered a natural compliment for the sake of building a smooth relationship.
There was a reason the saying went that praise could make even whales dance. Who in this world didn’t like being complimented?
Seeing Cheonhaerang’s eyes sparkling brightly as he looked at her with praise, Yerim forcibly suppressed the corners of her mouth that were trying to rise and let out a small cough.
The lingering thread of suspicion toward Cheonhaerang was completely withdrawn. Now, in her eyes, he appeared as nothing but a handsome and kind young man from every angle.

‘Yes, even if he’s human, he might have been born with an exceptional bearing.’

It was just one compliment, but now Cheonhaerang was beginning to win Yerim’s heart.

‘With this kind of bearing, even that family would approve of him if he were human… wait, what am I thinking?’

Yerim, clicking her tongue at herself for entertaining such thoughts, responded casually.

“I’ve always been cool, you know. Still, you noticed early on.”
“Ah, is that so? That’s a relief.”

Ha ha, ho ho. I watched the somewhat warm exchange between Yerim and Cheonhaerang with cold eyes before getting into the car. Cheonhaerang didn’t miss that look.
Cheonhaerang bid farewell to wrap up his conversation with Yerim.

“Well then, Yerim. Thank you so much again today.”
“Ah, yes, yes. Get in quickly.”

Cheonhaerang boarded the car as if he had been waiting, taking the seat next to Jiho.
The moment the rear door shut with a click, Cheonhaerang spotted someone through the window.
A strange woman stood in the middle of the playground.
She was staring directly at him, her smile disturbingly eerie and grotesque.
Yet the countless people around her passed by without seeming to notice her at all.
Wooong.
A signal rang out.
The Palzhuryeong—one of the Heavenly Talismans that his father had given him—was clearly sending a warning.
Something wicked.
It was currently within the barrier.

‘This can’t be real.’

Cheonhaerang couldn’t believe it. For a moment, he nearly opened the car door to rush out.
But the instant he blinked, it vanished.
As if it had never been there from the start.
As if what he had seen was nothing but an illusion.

‘What in the world is this….’

Vroom. The engine roared to life, and the school gradually receded into the distance.
Yet Cheonhaerang couldn’t tear his gaze from the window.

* * *

Hack—blood surged up her throat and spilled from her lips.
No matter that she carried his blood within her, remaining inside the barrier was far from easy.
She wiped the blood trickling from her lips and steadied her swaying body. As she exhaled, the scent of blood was thick and heavy.
But soon, piercing through the blood’s stench came an overwhelming fragrance that stabbed at her senses.

“Gasp!”

Her throat was constricted in an instant. She thrashed, clawing at the hands that were choking her.
Her entire body felt as though it would burn away beneath the pure, luminous force pressing down upon her.

“It has been quite a long time.”

It sounded like a cordial greeting. Yet the words that followed were anything but kind.

“How dare you not even greet me, you insignificant creature.”

The woman smirked at the bitterly cold voice, her lips curling upward as she spoke.

“Well, hehe, my master isn’t… you, so… ugh!”

The hand gripping her throat tightened further. Yet it seemed there was no intention to kill—she was even allowed moments to breathe.
It was a hand that toyed with the woman.

“I see. Then, Gyeong.”

Finally, the hand that had been strangling the woman released her. The woman gasped and coughed, struggling to catch her breath.
Yeonhwa looked down at her with an emotionless expression.
Something wicked had dared to enter this barrier.
Once the seventh sun, now a criminal who had broken the covenant of loyalty.
Gyeong of the Heavenly Stems.
How had she been allowed to enter?
But there was something more pressing to consider first.
The reason why she had allowed this one to enter and reveal herself to me.

“Where is your master right now?”

This was a clear provocation from Gihyung-rang.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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