Since I’m a Time-Limited Princess Who Has No Tomorrow - Chapter 135

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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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Chapter 135
“Huh?”
Behind Yi Yeon-jo, who was responding with a vacant expression, the pitch-black hole that resembled a cave entrance yawned open even wider, revealing blade-like teeth.
‘That wasn’t a cave—it was a demon’s mouth?’
A black shadow darted from beside me. Yun Ra-sa, who had appeared at Yi Yeon-jo’s side in an instant, grabbed the boy by the scruff of his neck and yanked him backward.
“Gack! Cough, hack! I-I thought my neck was going to break!”
“Shut up, I just saved your life!”
Yun Ra-sa, blocking the space before Yi Yeon-jo, raised her dagger and glared at the enormous mouth. In that moment, Je-gal Pyo suddenly cried out.
“D-don’t attack it!”
“What?”
“It’s a Giant-Mouthed Demon! It’s not the type that attacks first! If you provoke it carelessly, th-that’s bad!”
The bespectacled boy rushed forward in a panic.
‘A Giant-Mouthed Demon?’
I’d never heard that name before, but then again, I didn’t know every demon in existence.
In any case, the situation didn’t seem as dangerous as it appeared, so I approached as well. Je-gal Pyo was clutching Yun Ra-sa’s arm and pouring out an explanation.
“The G-Giant-Mouthed Demon is a spirit that t-tests people. It waits by the roadside with its mouth open, and it’s said to grant blessings to those wise enough to recognize it or those courageous enough to walk inside it…”
“A demon testing people? And a demon giving blessings, no less? Does that even make sense?”
Yun Ra-sa furrowed her brow as she questioned him. Je-gal Pyo shook his head, then pointed to himself with trembling hands.
“I-I’m a sorcerer, after all. When it comes to demons, trust me.”
Sorcerers naturally become demon experts since they tame demons and absorb their power to practice sorcery. Yun Ra-sa seemed to know this as well, for her sharp demeanor softened slightly.
‘Now that I think about it, I understand what that is.’
What humans called the “Giant-Mouthed Demon” was never actually a demon at all.
‘It’s a prank by the Blue-Robed Child.’
The Blue-Robed Children, who served as attendants to the immortals, sometimes descended to the Mortal Realm on errands, and during those visits, they occasionally played pranks like this on humans.
‘They use immortal arts to create the illusion of a giant-mouthed spirit to startle people. They give gifts to those who don’t get frightened or to those who see through the illusion.’
Since it was harmless mischief, the immortals turned a blind eye to it, making it a popular pastime among the Blue-Robed Children. I’d heard they even made wagers about how many people they could frighten each time they descended to the Mortal Realm, or whether they’d succeed in giving gifts.
‘But why would a Blue-Robed Child be playing pranks in such a remote mountain depth where there are barely any people… Could it be because of me?’
I examined the enormous monster’s mouth suspiciously, but I couldn’t see any sign of the hidden Blue-Robed Child.
Yun Ra-sa, her dagger hanging at her side, furrowed her brow and asked.
“So what are you saying? We should just leave it like this?”
“L-leave it to me…”
Je-gal Pyo pulled out a talisman and swallowed hard. With his eyes squeezed shut, the boy walked directly into the enormous mouth, saliva dripping down.
“Hey, you’re crazy—”
Yun Ra-sa, flustered and trying to grab Je-gal Pyo, was stopped by me this time.
“It’s fine.”
“How is it fine when a kid is walking into the mouth of some unknown monster!”
“Like the squad leader said, that’s not a dangerous demon, so don’t worry.”
“Y-you trust demons?”
Yun Ra-sa’s expression turned fierce.
“I don’t trust demons. Never.”
The sharp-tongued girl shoved me aside and rushed toward Je-gal Pyo. Yi Yeon-jo quickly caught me before I stumbled from the force of her push.
“Your Highness, are you alright?”
“Ah, yes. Thank you.”
“That girl is being far too disrespectful to Your Highness.”
Yi Yeon-jo muttered irritably. I straightened myself and opened my mouth.
“But Yi Yeon-jo, how long are you going to keep speaking formally to me?”
“Your Highness is both my benefactor and the Crown Princess, so if I know propriety, how could I possibly——”
“If you keep that up, I’ll start calling you older brother.”
“…Pardon?”
“If we’re going by propriety, you’re older than me, so I should call you older brother and speak formally to you. Isn’t that right, Older Brother Yeon-jo? Did you perhaps want to be called older brother all along, Older Brother Yeon-jo?”
“Eeeek!”
Yi Yeon-jo shrank back in panic. I left him to his distress and turned my attention toward the Giant-Mouthed Demon.
Before those fence-like teeth, Yun Ra-sa was struggling with Je-gal Pyo. When Je-gal Pyo trembled but refused to yield, the short-haired girl sighed as if utterly exasperated, then suddenly shouted.
“Fine, then follow behind me! I’ll go in instead!”
“W-what?”
“I’ve lost my mind, damn it, I’ve completely lost my mind——”
Yun Ra-sa cursed continuously as she leaped over the jagged teeth of the towering monster. Je-gal Pyo, flustered, followed while clutching a talisman.
“W-wait, c-come on, let’s go together——!”
Soon the figures of the boy and girl vanished beyond the throat of the monster, which was as tall as an adult. Then a massive tongue writhed, and the creature’s jaws snapped shut.
“Gasp!”
Yi Yeon-jo swallowed hard and turned to me with a pale face.
“That thing swallowed them, didn’t it? It definitely swallowed them! Shouldn’t we send a distress signal right now?”
“It should be fine, so let’s wait a moment, Older Brother Yeon-jo.”
“…I was wrong, no, I was wrong so please stop——”
“Right, okay. From now on, call me Your Highness and maintain formality only when I’m not wearing the inspector’s uniform.”
“Yes, no, okay——”
As I waited with Yi Yeon-jo, who had suddenly become dispirited, the form of the closed-mouthed creature dissipated like smoke.
Where the monster had vanished, a hollow depression beneath a cliff revealed itself, shadowed by slanted rocks.
In the center of that space stood Yun Ra-sa, frozen mid-swing of her short sword, while Je-gal Pyo clung to her waist, whimpering. And a boy dressed in blue robes, enveloped in clouds, hovered above their heads, giggling.
“Now then, this is a gift for the brave girl.”
The Blue-Robed Child waved his hand, and several large bear pelts tumbled down.
“And this is a gift for the wise boy.”
As the blue sleeve fluttered again, this time various fruits cascaded down.
“Aaaah!”
“Whoa!”
While the children stumbled about in surprise at the falling pelts and fruits, the Blue-Robed Child straightened his posture in midair and bowed slightly toward me. His eyes curved into crescents as they met mine.
‘Ah, so that’s it.’
So he really did appear here because of me. Did he deliberately give us gifts that would be useful right now? Could this possibly be——?
‘It wouldn’t be Mother… Father with his reckless nature? Or the celestial maidens of Sang Ra Palace?’
Before I could even ask who had sent him, the Blue-Robed Child’s form dissipated like smoke. All that remained were piles of walnuts, chestnuts, and various fruits mixed together, along with the bear pelts.
“Wow, wow, look at this! Successful completion! We’ve been blessed!”
Je-gal Pyo cried out excitedly. Yun Ra-sa shook her head.
“A real demon gives things like this? Isn’t it poisoned or an illusion?”
“W-well, we can c-check that from now on. A-anyway, nothing b-bad happened, right? I-I’m right, aren’t I? There are d-demons that aren’t d-dangerous.”
“…This is ridiculous. I’ve seen everything under the sun.”
“How long have you even lived to say such things?”
Yi Yeon-jo seized the opportunity to jab at Yun Ra-sa. I quickly spoke before the two could start growling at each other again.
“This place has rocks overhead like a roof, and it’s blocked on both sides and the back with a valley view below—it seems perfect for defense. What do you think about making this our base?”
At my words, Yun Ra-sa frowned and jerked her chin toward Yi Yeon-jo.
“Wasn’t this one supposed to be a Taoist Priest? Have them scout the area. No matter how pathetic, they should at least know the basics of geomancy.”
“Who’s pathetic? And ‘this one’? Referring to a person like that?”
“Would you prefer to be treated like a young master? You’ve been obsessed with status since earlier. Even at Seongsul Academy, you seem eager to be treated like nobility—ahem.”
“Who said I wanted to be treated like nobility? Speak properly! Did you sleep through etiquette lessons?”
“Etiquette? I saved you from standing there stupidly in front of a monster’s mouth, and you don’t even say thank you, yet you lecture me about manners?”
“That’s…!”
“N-no, please, everyone, d-don’t fight….”
Yun Ra-sa and Yi Yeon-jo growled at each other while Je-gal Pyo’s face crumpled in distress.
Why do I feel like I’m already getting used to this sight?
‘If I leave them alone, they’ll keep this up all day.’
Without a word, I drew up my divine power and manifested wings of light. Then I grabbed both Yun Ra-sa and Yi Yeon-jo by the ends of the wings and separated them.
“Huh?”
“What is this!”
“Yi Yeon-jo, examine the terrain here with geomancy and report back. Yun Ra-sa, gather firewood and scout the surroundings. You’re the best among us at moving alone through the forest. Je-gal Pyo, check and organize the gifts the Giant-Mouthed Demon left behind. I’ll go to the valley and see if the water is drinkable. Everyone come back and tell me what you’ve found, then we’ll discuss our next steps.”
I spoke rapidly, and the ones wrapped in my wings blinked at me. I tilted my head and asked back.
“Does anyone have a different opinion?”
“…No.”
“Then, let’s move.”
As I released the wings, the group scattered obediently. Gwang-chul, who had been quietly coiled around my wrist, sent a message.
[Blood doesn’t lie.]
[Huh?]
[You resemble the Jade Emperor.]
[…Really?]
I resembled my mother? A laugh threatened to escape, so I quickly covered my mouth with my sleeve.
[W-well, resembling the Jade Emperor doesn’t necessarily mean only good things… Ow!]
This one always says things that didn’t need to be said and gets hit for it.

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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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