Looking for the Runaway Heavenly Maiden - Chapter 45

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

45.

* * *

Seowangmo gazed quietly at the pale-faced child.
Cheongyeokgyeong, which had been bustling for some time, fell silent once more. Ryujiho and Hand Ogeong, among others, had departed for the Human Realm.
For this child’s sake.
Leaving only this child behind.

“I’m grateful for your care, Mother.”

Expressing gratitude to her, his mother—it was almost absurd in itself.
Yet she accepted it. Still… a mother remains a mother.
Seeing this child’s face brought her no comfort. It reminded her of when she first arrived at Cheongyeokgyeong.
A child who never smiled.
A child who had nearly been poisoned by Gihyeongrang, whom he followed like an older brother despite being his master.
And that had been the beginning of war.
The past was repeating itself once more.
Because of that name—Gihyeongrang—the child had sunk back into suffering.
Seowangmo quietly took the child’s hand. His hand was cold, as if it had lost all warmth.

“Cheonhaerang.”

The name felt unfamiliar on her lips. She had called this child by name only a handful of times.
Yet it was she who had given him this name.
The character for sea. The character for wave.
Waves upon the sea.
Waves that stir a tranquil ocean into motion.
A name meant to convey that he would become a strong child capable of stirring this world into waves.
Even if she could not give love, surely she could bestow a name such as this.

“Rise now, child.”

Everyone is waiting for you.

The woman’s soft voice resonated through the room.
She hoped for the waves to come crashing in.

* * *

The moment I arrived at school, students swarmed around me. Questions poured out as if they’d been waiting for this moment.
They asked what happened to Cheonhaerang, whether I’d really moved abroad so suddenly, if the transfer was actually an outdoor learning experience instead, if that was really true, whether they’d heard the homeroom teacher wasn’t just sick but had actually resigned, whether I knew a new homeroom teacher was coming today—and on and on.
They seemed like students who had wanted to approach me but couldn’t because Cheonhaerang had always been by my side.
I recited the explanations I’d prepared in advance, calming the children who were bouncing around like unbridled foals.
That’s when I learned that a very important fact had spread throughout the school.

“Jiho, you must not have heard about this then?”
“Heard what?”

The female student glanced around as if about to share a secret, then leaned in and covered her mouth with one hand. She whispered.

“There’s this girl named Subin in Class 7 who’s the president of the traditional archery club, and she’s gone missing. But it’s not just her. You know Ms. Oh, the club advisor? She’s missing too. We thought you all had gone missing too. Seriously, something’s happened at this school.”

The female student wrapped her arms around herself and shivered as if feeling a chill run down her spine.

“But if it’s gotten to this point, something serious must have happened, right?”
“Right. What on earth is going on? And the homeroom teacher resigned too. Could the homeroom teacher have kidnapped those two?”
“No way.”

The students chattered among themselves before dispersing at the sound of the bell.
I fell into deep thought. I’d heard about it through Yeonhwa, but hearing it from the students’ mouths made it feel real in a way that struck me viscerally.
That Gihyeongrang and Cheongan were making their moves.
Subin was the sacrificial victim for the Nine Hearts needed to break the seal on the malevolent spirit. That position had become Yueul’s.

‘Then what about Ms. Oh…’

The Nine Hearts required the hearts of children who hadn’t yet reached adulthood.
Ms. Oh was Cheongan’s victim.
Of Cheongan, who hunts humans.
My body trembled for a moment. Goosebumps rose on my skin.
Devouring humans. Was that something a Heavenly Being should do?
What had happened between Gihyeongrang and Cheongan to cause such a fall?

“Now, everyone settle down. We have a new homeroom teacher today, so let’s behave, shall we?”

At the grade coordinator’s words as she opened the door, I snapped out of my thoughts.
I noticed a man entering behind the grade coordinator. When our eyes met, he flashed me a grin.

“Alright, as of today, your class has a new homeroom teacher. He’ll be taking over the mathematics instruction that Kim Jeonghyeon previously handled. His name is Hand Ogeong. You all need to listen well, yes? Teacher, would you like to introduce yourself?”

The Jade Emperor, Hand Ogeong, had become my class’s homeroom teacher starting today.
The female students couldn’t tear their eyes away from Hand Ogeong. He had a different kind of handsomeness compared to the previous homeroom teacher, Kim Jeonghyeon.
If Kim Jeonghyeon was upright and exemplary, Hand Ogeong had a certain rough-around-the-edges charm, you might say.
Usually, people like that had an unexpected appeal.
The female students were delighted. They thought being assigned to Class 4 was truly fortunate. After all, it was such a feast for the eyes.

“Hey there, everyone. Nice to meet you all. I’m Hand Ogeong, and I’ll be your homeroom teacher from now on. Let’s get along well.”

The female students squealed with delight. The male students watched with uneasy expressions.
I felt the same way.

‘Is that really all there is to it…?’

Of course, the Jade Emperor was handsome. Compared to the variance in human appearance, celestial beings were overwhelmingly more beautiful.
But in my eyes, Cheonhaerang was far more handsome than the Jade Emperor.
I looked at the empty seat next to me. The one who always smiled and turned to look at me was no longer there.
It felt as though a hole had been torn right through my heart.

“Oh my, oh my. Now that’s what I call enthusiastic attention to class, hmm?”

The homeroom director playfully scolded the female students’ reaction. Then, as if to encourage Hand Ogeong, he patted his shoulder a couple of times, left a word of thanks, and exited the classroom.
The moment the homeroom director left, questions poured out from the class.
Some of them were tinged with mockery.

“Is your real name really Hand Ogeong, sir?”
“So you can do the clone technique then?”
“Come on, that doesn’t make sense. You’re a person, after all.”
“Well, humans are a type of primate too, aren’t they?”

Several male students snickered openly.
Hand Ogeong smiled and gazed intently at those male students. Then he spoke.

“Want me to show you? What I can do?”

In that instant, the male students felt something pressing down on them, and some felt something sharp graze past their cheeks.
Then came the sound of something cracking and shattering from behind.

“Damn. Did you see that? The chalk flew. Insanely fast.”
“Look at his face. He’s got a wound.”
“That’s what happens when you act tough like that.”
“But he deserved it anyway.”

The whispers of the students pierced the Young Man’s ears. Shame flooded his face with heat.
But there was nothing he could do. The Unknown Man’s pressure was no joke.
Damn it, the Young Man muttered quietly. Cheonhaerang was gone, and that homeroom teacher was gone too. He’d just tried to save face a little.
Spewing curses at the Unknown Man, the Young Man quietly cast his eyes downward.
Hand Ogeong regarded the group of students who appeared to be acting out with cold eyes, then turned his head and took in the rest of the class.

“Well then, shall we take attendance?”

His voice was refreshingly bright, as if nothing had happened.

* * *

I safely finished through fourth period, and before long, it was lunchtime. I exhaled a sigh of relief and stood from my seat.
As soon as the bell rang, most of the students headed to the Cafeteria, leaving the classroom quiet with only a few remaining.
Now I had to go to the Cafeteria too. But going to the Cafeteria alone, when I used to go with Cheonhaerang, felt a little lonely.
I wondered if Cheonhaerang was doing well. With my mind filled entirely with thoughts of him, I stepped out of the classroom and walked down the Hallway.
The chatter of students filled the Hallway.
And cutting through that noise, a voice both unfamiliar and familiar pierced my ears.

“Hey? Hi, Jiho.”

I stopped walking. It would be a lie to say I’d forgotten this voice.
I lifted my gaze and saw the Young Man before me.
The Jade Emperor had told me.

“…Oh, hi, Yueul.”

Yueul.
The Eul (乙) of the Heavenly Stems.

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