Surviving as the Heavenly Demon’s Concubine - Chapter 55

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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At Riser’s warning tone, Jegal Lin gulped nervously.

 

“Ah, I know. Starting tomorrow…”

 

Jegal Lin’s lips trembled.

 

It was too difficult to say the words ‘I’ll definitely go without fail.’

 

If she said those words, she was terrified and hated the thought that the moment she couldn’t follow through, she would break her promise with Riser.

 

As tears welled up in Jegal Lin’s eyes again, Riser silently handed her a silk handkerchief.

 

“S-sorry…”

 

“It’s okay. You said you have a reason you can’t talk about it.”

 

The common trait of the subjects Jegal Lin particularly tried to avoid was ‘exercise.’

 

Classes that, by their very nature, required actually moving one’s body to be viable.

 

‘【Understanding the Harmony of Yin-Yang and Five Elements in Bedroom Arts and Conception】 seems unexpected just from the name, but since all the other students except Moyong Hye were struggling, it must be a lecture that puts quite a burden on the body.’

 

Presumably, Jegal Lin’s secret was related to physical function.

 

Something that wouldn’t be particularly noticeable during daily activities like sitting or standing, but would cause difficulties when doing intense exercise or taking unfamiliar postures.

 

“Don’t worry too much. It’s just a class where you need to attend. Pachen Gwon doesn’t seem like an inflexible person, so if you explain well, he won’t force you to do strenuous exercise.”

 

“Hic… Pachen Gwon? You mean Pachen Gwon Eom Cheongeuk?”

 

Jegal Lin asked back with a confused expression.

 

“Why would one of the Sadaecheonwang be teaching 【A Refreshing Morning to Start a Healthy Demon’s Day】?”

 

When you ask it like that, it really leaves me at a loss for words.

 

Instead of explaining in detail to Jegal Lin about how many times the morning training instructor had changed, why they had changed, and the extreme choice Sangwan Baek had made to prevent future changes, Riser just changed the subject.

 

“Even though Pachen Gwon is flexible, I don’t think he’ll give you special consideration without knowing the reason. If it’s hard to tell your secret, we’ll need to come up with some false excuse to get around it. I’ll help you think of something.”

 

Jegal Lin felt a pang of guilt in her conscience.

 

To help her so wholeheartedly without asking anything.

 

‘Even if I were reborn, could I meet a friend like Riser again?’

 

Jegal Lin recalled her past days, blaming her unfortunate connections in life.

 

It had been a life without a single companion that others commonly kept by their side, not one friend to open her heart to.

 

But if all the friendship fortune she could enjoy in a lifetime had been gathered together and exchanged for just one person, Riser, could there be a more profitable deal than this?

 

“Riser.”

 

“Yeah?”

 

“As I said yesterday, I’m ready. I think I can tell my secret to you alone.”

 

“Lin…”

 

Looking at Jegal Lin’s clear eyes, Riser once again felt the urge to run away somewhere in her heart.

 

She had no confidence in repaying this blind trust, and as long as her identity remained that of an outsider, it seemed like she would never develop such confidence.

 

【”But that friend probably didn’t intend that.”】

 

At that moment, Mujin’s words suddenly flashed through her mind.

 

‘Right. Lin didn’t demand that from me.’

 

Jegal Lin probably hadn’t thought about it that deeply.

 

The feeling that sharing her secret would force Riser to open her heart to the same degree was just a delusion created by Riser’s own fear.

 

“…What if I spread rumors after hearing your secret?”

 

Nevertheless, Riser’s voice sounded somehow hoarse, as if blocked.

 

“You showed me everything. But I… I’m hiding all by myself…”

 

“Riser…?”

 

“Would that really be okay? Can you really not feel hurt or anxious?”

 

Jegal Lin was startled when tears welled up in the corners of Riser’s eyes and hugged her tightly.

 

“Of course it’s okay!”

 

At that moment, Riser bit down hard on her lips.

 

The sobbing sounds from her chest seemed to indicate that she was trying her utmost to hold back tears.

 

After crying for a while, Riser gradually regained her composure.

 

“Sorry. I showed you something unseemly.”

 

“No. Riser is pretty even when crying.”

 

At Jegal Lin’s clumsy comfort, a smile escaped from the corners of Riser’s mouth.

 

Suddenly, she couldn’t understand why she had cried so seriously over something so trivial.

 

‘Of course Lin said it was okay.’

 

She felt embarrassed for making a fool of herself by thinking too deeply and overinterpreting things on her own.

 

“Ahem. Anyway… what do you want to do now? Should we make up an excuse to tell Pachen Gwon tomorrow?”

 

“Riser. I’m hungry.”

 

“Ah, right.”

 

It was lunchtime.

 

There wasn’t much time left before afternoon classes started.

 

We should eat something quick and get moving.

 

“And I won’t make excuses. I want to tell Pachen Gwon honestly.”

 

“Really? But… will that be okay?”

 

Even if Jegal Lin avoided physical activity, she was essentially a martial artist.

 

Telling someone else about physical weaknesses was inevitably a very difficult and dangerous decision.

 

“Yeah. But you have to listen first. You can’t run away this time.”

 

Jegal Lin warned with a smile.

 

Seeing Riser’s reaction earlier, she seemed to have noticed that last night’s dash to the toilet wasn’t due to biological needs. Riser felt a bit awkward.

 

“Alright. Should we talk while eating?”

 

“Yeah! There should be some cold dumplings in the kitchen. Let’s ask them to heat them up.”

 

“No, Lin. We don’t have time for that. We can eat them cold if we have some warm tea with them.”

 

“…! You’re really smart!”

 

Jegal Lin’s eyes sparkled with admiration.

 

‘No. I’m not smart, it’s just that you’re a rich young lady who has no concept of eating cold food.’

 

But Riser couldn’t say that.

 

Not only because Jegal Lin had already excitedly run to the kitchen, but also because Riser was nominally a rich young lady herself.

 

“Appearances aren’t everything…”

 

A moment later, Jegal Lin came carrying dumplings, with white steam rising from the bamboo steamer, followed by a servant bringing a tea table.

 

“What happened?”

 

“I went to the kitchen and asked for some cold dumplings, but unfortunately there weren’t any left. They said they only had freshly made hot ones.”

 

Riser reflexively glanced at the servant’s face.

 

From her slightly bowed head and avoidant attitude, it didn’t seem like there really weren’t any cold dumplings.

 

‘It’s my fault for sending Lin alone. Oh well.’

 

Usually, the sequence of actions for someone trying to get cold dumplings from the kitchen is this:

 

Enter the kitchen -> Check pots or bowls -> Find leftover food -> Take it

 

But judging from the servant’s expression, Jegal Lin probably acted like this:

 

【”Is no one here? I am quite hungry and came to eat some cold dumplings, so please bring me a plate.”】

 

Then the servants would scream internally as if they’d seen a ghost, steam new dumplings, and a state of emergency would be declared in the kitchen.

 

“Really? That’s too bad. But hot dumplings are delicious too.”

 

“I think so too!”

 

But explaining all these social dynamics to Jegal Lin would be too exhausting, so Riser decided to pretend not to know.

 

“Come on, let’s eat. Good work. You can go now.”

 

“Yes, Miss.”

 

After sending away the somewhat haggard-looking servant, the two bit into the freshly steamed, soft and hot dumplings.

 

Jegal Lin must have been really hungry, as she filled her mouth with dumplings and smiled happily.

 

Seeing that innocent appearance, Riser’s heart became quite generous, and she felt ready to embrace whatever Jegal Lin’s secret might be.

 

“The secret. Can you tell me?”

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