Looking for the Runaway Heavenly Maiden - Chapter 51

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

51.

It was truly ridiculous.
Sister? As if they shared such a bond.
From the start, Gihyeongrang had never regarded her as a sister. That word was merely mockery.
Yeonhwa swung the crescent blade with brutal force.
Clang! Clang!
The sharp ring of clashing blades echoed through the space. Neither gave an inch of ground.
Then.
Crack, snap—!
Finally, Gihyeongrang’s sword shattered.
Fragments of the broken blade embedded themselves in the ground before being instantly absorbed into it.
Gihyeongrang let out a laugh that sounded almost like a sigh as he gazed at Cheonuyhua.
The crescent blade gleamed. So did the fragments of his sword.
Both had used the power of metal from the Five Elements to strengthen their blades. Yet Yeonhwa had won.
Was it because this wasn’t my true form? But such things didn’t matter.
Regardless, Yeonhwa had won. That fact provoked him.
A new blade materialized where the old one had broken. Soon the entire sword blazed with fire.
Yeonhwa wasn’t the only one capable of wielding all the powers of the Five Elements.
Whoosh—the flames of the burning sword extended toward Yeonhwa.
As Yeonhwa swung the crescent blade once, waves of water crashed over the flames. Above them, branches extended rapidly as if to capture Gihyeongrang.
But the branches were severed before they could reach him, falling to the ground.
Boom!
Simultaneously, the earth surged upward. The rising black earth seemed as though it would pierce through Yeonhwa in an instant.
Yeonhwa dodged swiftly and swung the crescent blade again.
Crack, boom! Whoosh!
Branches burrowed into the rising earth and caught fire.
Crackle, crackle. Through the burning flames, she and Gihyeongrang faced each other.
The distance between them was greater than when their blades had clashed, yet Yeonhwa could clearly see Gihyeongrang’s eyes.
Eyes that shone golden, proof of their shared blood.
Yeonhwa hurled the crescent blade.
Whoosh—the crescent blade split into multiple forms as it flew toward Gihyeongrang.
Clang, clang—!
Several of the blocked crescent blades fell to the ground, but one pierced through all obstacles and stopped inches from Gihyeongrang’s face.
As if it would carve into his features at any moment.

“…Cheonuyhua.”

The voice calling her name was low and ominous. Yeonhwa walked slowly toward Gihyeongrang.
With a sharp crack, black space tore open in her wake.
The moment she stood before Gihyeongrang, the space shattered with a piercing sound.
As light seeped slowly through the fractured space, Yeonhwa spoke.

“If you want to catch me, you’ll need to come with your true form at least. Not these cheap tricks. Right?”

A crescent blade pierced through Gihyeongrang’s chest. Yet his face showed no pain.
His body was scattering into black smoke.
Gihyeongrang gazed at her brilliant golden eyes and lifted one corner of his mouth.

“Interesting.”

Gihyeongrang’s face also scattered like smoke.
And then.
Clang—!
The illusion shattered.
Chirp, chirp. Bird calls echoed from afar. A breeze carrying the scent of green leaves blew in and tickled her skin.
Yeonhwa quietly looked up at the sky. Above, Yerim floated unconsciously.
She had seen the madness flickering in Gihyeongrang’s eyes. So she thought he would take Yerim away.
But it seemed that wasn’t the case yet.
With a snap of fingers, Yerim, who had been suspended in the air, vanished.
From this incident, she learned one clear fact.
Gihyeongrang had not forgotten Yerim.
If that were so.
Her cold mind reached a ruthless conclusion.
She needed to reconsider how to use Yerim differently.

* * *

Yerim blinked blankly. The sharp smell of disinfectant tickled her nose.

‘Where am I? A hospital?’

It was the moment she had that thought.

“Are you alright?”

My drowsy mind snapped awake in an instant. With a sense of dread, Yerim turned her creaking head.
A face I had no desire to see was planted squarely before me.

“…Jade Emperor.”
“Give me the car keys. I’ll take Jiho home today.”
“I…?”

I couldn’t tell if this was concern on his part or something else entirely. Judging by his expression and tone, it seemed like he’d simply waited for me to wake up so he could state his business and nothing more.
Yerim asked.

“Then how am I supposed to get home?”
“You’re an adult, aren’t you? Figure it out yourself.”
“….”
“Hey, I’m joking, joking. Don’t look at me like that.”

Apparently my expression had turned sour without my realizing it. Yerim composed herself.
Though the Jade Emperor’s words did seem sincere….

“The princess didn’t know where the house was, so she sent me here. You’re off duty now. I’ve already handled the paperwork.”

With those words came a sharp sound. The world shifted, and I found myself in the familiar confines of my own room.
Feeling the soft bed against my back, Yerim gazed quietly at the ceiling.
I couldn’t determine when I’d fallen under his illusion. Perhaps from the moment I’d entered that barrier.
In the end, I hadn’t managed to see Yueul’s face clearly. I couldn’t be certain the face I’d seen first was truly his.
But the greatest problem was something else entirely.
Yerim lifted her hand to examine it. It was an illusion. So piercing it would have caused no harm.
Yet I couldn’t bring myself to pierce it.

“I told you. That I hate you enough to kill you.”
“Really? Is that so?”

That moment of hesitation.
My certainty that I could stand against him proved hollow.

* * *

“Sir, no, Teacher?”

I gazed through the open window at the figure visible in the driver’s seat, my expression startled.
I’d been waiting briefly for Yerim to arrive when the familiar purple car came to a gentle stop. The vehicle itself was recognizable, but the person inside was decidedly not.

“Get in.”

In contrast, Hand Ogeong nodded casually as he spoke.
I had countless questions swirling in my mind, but I swallowed them down, conscious of Kim Seulgi beside me.

“Huh? What? Aren’t you Hand Ogeong, sir?”

I quickly racked my brain and found an answer.

“Oh, actually he’s my cousin. The school doesn’t know about it—can you keep it a secret?”
“But your last names are different?”
“He’s my cousin on my mother’s side.”
“Then what about Sister Yerim?”
“She’s my real sister.”

I felt quite pleased with myself for the convincing cover story as I climbed into the car. Of course, Kim Seulgi wouldn’t believe it anyway.
According to the Jade Emperor, most of the Heavenly Realm had seen his face before. Though whether they remembered it after all this time was another matter entirely.
Kim Seulgi would probably investigate who the Jade Emperor was. Or perhaps she’d already figured it out from the start.

“Wow. Hello, sir.”
“Yes, hello.”

Following me into the car, Kim Seulgi offered her greeting.
Unlike when Yerim blared upbeat music, soft classical music flowed through the car’s interior.
I found it somewhat surprising. Though it was probably just prejudice, but judging solely by the Jade Emperor’s appearance, I would have expected hip-hop or metal rather than classical.

“But where’s Sister?”
“Meeting her boyfriend.”
“…Excuse me?”

I tried to accept it with composure, but I couldn’t manage it.
A boyfriend? Where did that come from? Where in the Human Realm could Yerim possibly have a boyfriend?

‘Could she have gone to meet Gihyeongrang? No, wait—she went to meet him first? What on earth is going on?’

Hand Ogeong, unaware of the questions flooding my mind, casually struck up a conversation with Kim Seulgi. The car moved smoothly forward.

“So, our friend’s name is Kim Seulgi?”
“Yes, sir.”
“You said she lives at Seongwon Villa?”
“Huh? How did you know that?”
“Well, Yerim told me all about it.”
“Oh, I see.”
“She mentioned you’re quite beautiful, and it’s true. You must be popular, Seulgi.”
“Not really. Just a bit?”

Ha ha ho ho. The conversation flowed with warmth and ease. Watching as neither of their expressions shifted even slightly, I clicked my tongue inwardly.
Before long, the car arrived in front of Seongwon Villa. Kim Seulgi reached for the door handle to get out, but it wouldn’t open.

“Um, sir? It won’t open?”
“Seulgi.”
“Yes?”

Hand Ogeong turned to look at Kim Seulgi. Seeing her confused expression, he flashed a grin.

“Take good care of our Jiho from now on, will you?”

There was something oddly suggestive about those words. Kim Seulgi’s facial muscles moved quickly.
Kim Seulgi smiled.

“Of course. Absolutely.”

Then, with a click, the door unlocked.

“See you tomorrow, Jiho. Goodbye!”

Kim Seulgi stepped out of the car. She waved toward the departing purple vehicle before lowering her hand.
She’d seen it clearly. Those gleaming crimson eyes.
The Jade Emperor.

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