Looking for the Runaway Heavenly Maiden - Chapter 71

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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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71.

Contrary to expectations, the classroom was empty.
I stepped into the classroom one foot at a time.
Unlike the desolate school building, the classroom was pristine. It was the classroom I knew.
The classroom I shared with Cheonhaerang.
Why was only this classroom untouched?
The moment I was thinking this, I felt a presence behind me.

“Jiho!”

The familiar voice pierced through my ears. I reflexively turned around.
And what greeted me was warm arms enveloping me.
I couldn’t speak. My mind became tangled.
This was a dream. Or perhaps it was closer to an illusion someone was showing me.
So Cheonhaerang couldn’t possibly be here. Not with such vivid clarity.
Yet the warmth embracing me seemed to insist that this wasn’t an illusion at all.

“I’m so relieved, Jiho. I’m truly relieved.”

Was even this worried voice a lie? Could I truly call it false?
I didn’t embrace Cheonhaerang in return. It was only natural—I couldn’t fully trust the Cheonhaerang before my eyes.
Instead, I spoke.

“How did you get here?”

My question was answered as if it were obvious.

“You told me that. You said you’d follow me wherever I go. It’s the same for me, Jiho.”
“….”
“Wherever you go, I’ll follow you.”

He remembered exactly what I had said. And he quoted it back to me.
Could I still say he wasn’t Cheonhaerang?
A spark of belief settled atop my doubt. My steadfast resolve was wavering.
I gently pushed away the young man holding me. If I continued to feel this warmth, I feared I would truly believe.

“…This place is dangerous. We need to leave.”
“Okay.”

The Young Man answered clearly and took her hand. She flinched for a moment but didn’t pull away from his grip.
The instant their hands touched, her instincts screamed.
It possessed memories. It carried warmth. But it was not Cheonhaerang.
It was something wearing Cheonhaerang’s mask.
Yet I couldn’t reveal this. I didn’t know what this was. So for now, I had to pretend to believe in it.
The Young Man and I walked together, leaving the classroom and moving down the hallway.
The hallway remained as desolate as when I had passed through it.
We were walking roughly midway down the hallway, avoiding scattered obstacles, when it happened.

“…What?”

Thud. A pitch-black tendril erupted from nowhere, piercing through the Young Man’s chest. My eyes widened. The Young Man coughed up blood violently.
Bright crimson blood.
The Young Man collapsed, fading away.
I knew this Young Man was not Cheonhaerang. But because he wore Cheonhaerang’s face, I couldn’t help but be shaken.
A cry escaped reflexively from my lips.

“Cheonhaerang! Are you okay?”
“J-Jiho….”

His voice was faint, as if fading away.
My hands trembled. My heart sank.
The image of Cheonhaerang sleeping quietly in Cheongyeokgyeong flashed through my mind.
Pale as though he might stop breathing at any moment, exhaling only shallow breaths, the Cheonhaerang who would not wake.
It couldn’t be. This wasn’t Cheonhaerang.
Even as I thought this, I couldn’t pull away from the hand reaching toward me. Blood had already stained my palm.

“Jiho….”

The call echoed through my ears like a reverberating sound. That was the moment.
Clang—!
A sharp metallic sound rang out as something collided. With that sound, my mind seemed to finally clear.
I saw the barrier blocking my path. It was a Demon’s shell shield.
The real Cheonhaerang had been protecting me all along.
I steadied myself. And I saw the one wearing Cheonhaerang’s form.
It bore an expression of pain across Cheonhaerang’s face.

“Jiho, why is this….”

Even in that wounded voice, I no longer wavered.

“Who are you?”

My voice was steady and unwavering.

“What are you saying, Jiho? It’s me. Cheonhaerang.”
“No. You’re not Cheonhaerang.”

With those words, I drew out my gun and aimed it at the creature.
It stared at the gun with a face of disbelief.

“You, how dare you….”
“Stop the act. It’s disgusting.”

At my words, its expression hardened.

“Disgusting?”

In an instant, its voice changed. It was a voice like grinding metal.
Its face twisted grotesquely, repulsive beyond measure.
But I didn’t run. Without hesitation, I pulled the trigger.
Bang—!
A searing blue flame burst from the muzzle and pierced through it.
Then it vanished as if it had never existed.
Instead.

“More composed than I expected?”

A strange voice pierced my ears.
Rising from my seat, I turned my head. Standing on the window frame was an unfamiliar man.
The same face as the man who had stood in the parking lot.
I understood. That man was Cheongan.
I aimed my gun at him. His blood-red lips curved into a smile of intrigue.
The man opened his mouth.

“Jiho. Do you really think you can kill me with something like that?”

With those words, Kugung trembled with a deafening roar. The building was collapsing.
Simultaneously, Demons burst forth from all directions.

A divine beast! A divine beast!
Let’s devour that young divine beast!

I couldn’t tell if they were the same creatures from the Funeral Hall, but one thing was certain—they were targeting her.
Could I handle this alone? Fear and worry clung to me.

‘…No. I’m not alone.’

There was a tortoise shell surrounding me. They could never pierce through it.
Jiho transformed into the White Tiger. Radiating azure light, I raced swiftly down the hallway.
The Unknown Man commanded the Demons.

“Whoever brings that to me shall receive a special reward.”
Cackle cackle. Let’s catch the divine beast.
Let’s bring the young divine beast here!
“Then, let the hunt begin.”

With the Unknown Man’s words, the Demons gave chase to the White Tiger.

* * *

Clang, clang—!
The sound of clashing blades rang out through the empty air.
Yeonhwa could only defend against Jeong’s attacks. If I struck first, I could win.
But I couldn’t. The old memories were consuming me.
Yeonhwa held too many cherished moments with Jeong.
Clang—clang, clang!

“This is getting rather dull, Princess.”

From Jeong’s crescent blade where they collided, flames erupted and blazed.
The raging fire surged toward Yeonhwa. But the flames were quickly extinguished.
Instead, a stream of water coiled around Jeong’s surroundings. Jeong’s lips curved upward.

“Yes, now that’s the spirit. This is far more entertaining.”

Clang, crash!
The crescent blade that had been locked in combat pulled away. Jeong expanded her effective range.
The streams of water that had surrounded Jeong vanished.
Yeonhwa couldn’t help but falter for a moment.
Water overcomes fire. Water conquers flame.
The elemental force Jeong could wield was fire. She could not overcome water.
Yet she had escaped the water.
It should have been impossible.

“You look surprised. What a shame. I could do so much more.”

Splash!
Multiple streams of water erupted forth, rushing toward Yeonhwa.
Kugung. The earth that burst upward blocked the water streams. The soil became tendrils, extending toward Jeong.
Splash and crackle—a shield woven from wooden branches blocked the earthen tendrils. It all happened in an instant.
Yeonhwa stared at Jeong in disbelief that she had defended against her attack.
Jeong still wore that smile as she spoke.

“I’d love to play more, but unfortunately I must take my leave. Until we meet again, Princess?”

Waving her hand in farewell, Jeong disappeared. Yeonhwa stood frozen, staring at the space where she had vanished.
Then she suddenly came to her senses. This was no time to stand here.
She had to get to Cheonhaerang and Jiho.

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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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