Looking for the Runaway Heavenly Maiden - Chapter 8

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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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8.

* * *

“Ugh…”

Yerim let out a groan and stretched languidly across her entire body.
It had already been a month since she descended to the Human Realm to search for the princess. And it had been a month of working as a shaman.
Before coming to the Human Realm, she had been leisurely enjoying an unemployed lifestyle.
It hadn’t been many months since she submitted her resignation to Baekokgyeong, so one could only imagine how delightful those days had been.
But the heavens were not in her favor.
The exalted Supreme Deity summoned her not long after her resignation.
The pretext was a runaway celestial maiden—specifically, the task of finding the noble youngest princess.
Honestly, when she received the Supreme Deity’s command, she couldn’t understand why she had been chosen.
Though she had worked in Baekokgyeong, she could never claim to have been close to the princess. In fact, she had only seen the princess’s face from a distance at banquets.
The youngest princess was the one the Supreme Deity cherished most among the three. Whether she was kept hidden away or it was simply her nature, the princess barely left her chambers.
That such a princess would run away—needless to say, Baekokgyeong was in an uproar.
But it was none of her concern as a resigned employee. That is, until the Supreme Deity’s command came.
If she had to find a connection to the princess, the only thing was that she had once been in Cheongyeokgyeong.
Beyond that, perhaps a slight acquaintance with the Baekho Clan?
But could she really be selected for such a weighty task based on merely that?
She had no choice but to obey the command, but she still couldn’t fathom the Supreme Deity’s intentions in sending down Ryujiho as well.
In any case, she was grateful that Ryujiho had lightened her burden considerably.
Yerim let out a groan and rose from her seat. The vibrant crimson skirt she wore for showmanship swayed with the movement.
She hastily tidied the altar she kept for showmanship and exited the shrine.
A rare purple car was parked in the lot, displaying its brilliant form.
It was a new car she had purchased with money earned from diligently working as a shaman for the past month. Yerim was quite pleased with this vehicle.
Humming a tune, Yerim gave the car a quick caress before getting in. The car seat embraced her body comfortably, as if proving it was worth every penny.
She started the engine and, showcasing her seamless driving skills, maneuvered out of the alley. It was the long-awaited end of her shift.

* * *

“What is that?”

Seonhwa High School was located on the route from Yerim’s shrine to her home, and the bus stop for Seonhwa High School was also on the way.
It was an ordinary route, but today was different.
In truth, I hadn’t thought about Jiho’s dismissal time, but I spotted her standing at the bus stop as I passed by.
I stopped the car briefly, intending to pick up Jiho, but I hesitated when I saw the young man beside her.
In that moment, Jiho boarded the bus together with the young man.
Even if they wore the same school uniform, they could have been strangers. Perhaps they simply lived in the same direction.
But the atmosphere didn’t suggest they were strangers. Especially that young man. He was smiling brightly as he looked at Jiho.

‘Jiho made a friend already? And a boy at that? Jiho?’

The Ryujiho I knew was quite shy and timid. She wasn’t the type to approach others first.
For her to make a friend who went home together with her on the very first day of transfer? A boy friend? It was hard for me to believe.

“Could she have gotten involved with a delinquent? No, judging by the atmosphere, that doesn’t seem to be it. Besides, they said there aren’t delinquents these days anyway.”

Muttering to myself, I got in the car and tapped my fingers on the steering wheel, recalling the young man I’d seen at the bus stop.

‘Where have I seen him before…’

Though I’d only caught a glimpse, he had an enigmatic aura. It felt like I’d seen him somewhere.

“…Wait, hold on.”

I pulled out my phone and searched through my gallery. Soon, I found the photo I was looking for and my eyes widened in surprise.

“What is this?”

It had only been a few hours since Jiho went to school to find the princess.
Found the runaway celestial maiden?
But… he’s a man?

* * *

Eunha Apartments bore a distinctly Korean name, unlike the trendy modern complexes that favored English nomenclature. Yet despite its traditional designation, it was a sprawling residential complex boasting a thousand units across an impressive twenty-nine floors.
To enter the apartment complex, one had to punch in an access code at the gate.
Watching Cheonhaerang’s back as he entered the code with practiced ease, I fell into contemplation.
I had overheard it by chance while waiting for the bus—Cheonhaerang mentioned he lived in this apartment complex too.
Was it coincidence? I couldn’t be sure.
The smallest units here started with three bedrooms, and whenever I looked at our place, I always thought it was spacious for just the two of us.
When Yerim was at work and I was alone at home, the silence felt suffocating.
It was different from the Baekho Clan. That place was always bustling.
My mother and father were there, along with my older brothers and sisters-in-law, and even my nieces and nephews.
But Cheonhaerang was alone here.
Perhaps… he had been just as alone even in Baekokgyeong.
They said the Lotus Princess had practically never left her quarters. In other words, she had been isolated.
I needed to inform the Heavenly Realm that I had found the Lotus Princess.
But was that the right thing to do? Would sending the Lotus Princess back to the Heavenly Realm truly be the right path?
Wouldn’t she just end up alone again if she returned to the Heavenly Realm?
I was confused. The more I thought about it, the less I understood anything at all.

‘…No. For that man’s sake, the princess must return to the Heavenly Realm.’

I didn’t know what the princess was trying to do, but for an immature princess who hadn’t even undergone her coming-of-age ceremony, the Heavenly Realm would be safer.

“Building 201, right?”
“Oh, yes.”

At Cheonhaerang’s question, I snapped out of my thoughts and nodded.
We passed through the open gate and walked side by side through the complex.
Leaves rustled and scattered in the breeze. A crescent moon hung brightly in the night sky.
We arrived at Building 201 in no time. Cheonhaerang stopped and turned to look at me with a reluctant expression.
When our eyes met, he lifted the corners of his mouth in that familiar smile. That was the moment.

“Princess, it’s me.”
“…!”

Cheonhaerang was truly, genuinely shocked for the first time in his life. He nearly let out an embarrassing shriek.
He steadied his startled heart and spun around. At the same moment, my voice pierced his ears.

“Sister?”

Cheonhaerang faced a woman who was observing him as if taking his measure. Though her face was unfamiliar to him, he knew who she was.
It was Yerim, Jiho’s guardian who had come with her.
Cheonhaerang opened his mouth to deny it. But Jiho stepped forward first.

“Sister, you came early.”

Her tone was somewhat awkward. Everyone present felt it. Yerim spoke as if exasperated.

“Early? This is my usual time to get off work.”
“Oh, right….”
“Anyway, really—”
“Oh, oh! This is a friend I made today, sister!”

To cut off Yerim’s words, Jiho blurted it out urgently.
In truth, Jiho couldn’t understand why she’d said it herself. She wanted to bite her own tongue.
This was a precious opportunity to escape this dangerous place and return to the Heavenly Realm, and she’d just thrown it away.
Unaware of the gloom settling over Jiho, Cheonhaerang was simply moved by her.
Cheonhaerang offered Yerim a proper greeting accompanied by the bright smile that had captivated adults.

“Hello, sister. I’m Cheonhaerang, and as of today, I’m Jiho’s boyfriend.”
“…What?”
“What?”

Jiho turned to look at Cheonhaerang with an expression asking what on earth he was talking about. Yerim felt the same way.
Yerim compared the face in the photograph with Cheonhaerang’s face. No matter how she looked at it, they were identical. This was unmistakably him.

‘But Jiho’s boyfriend? Not Princess Yeonhwa? What the hell is this nonsense?’

Faced with a situation she couldn’t comprehend, Yerim looked at Jiho as if demanding an explanation.
When her eyes met Yerim’s, Jiho flinched, then, as if she’d made a decision, grabbed Cheonhaerang’s hand.
That Ryujiho, taking a boy’s hand first. The men of the Baekho Clan would faint if they knew.
Jiho squeezed her eyes shut and shouted.

“Y-yes. That’s right. We’re on day one starting today!”
“….”

Whoooosh.
Only the sound of wind echoed through the silence.
Jiho felt like crying. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. Things were getting more and more tangled.

“…Jiho, isn’t today your first day after transferring? And you’ve already gotten yourself a boyfriend?”
“Oh… I, I fell for him at first sight.”
“I did as well.”

Should I believe this? Though I have to admit, he does have the kind of face worth falling for. Since Jiho has brightened up like this.
But even so, Jiho, who’s usually so reserved around strangers, wouldn’t accept this so readily.
Though puzzled by it all, Yerim decided to interrogate Jiho once they got home.

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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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