The Beloved Baby Priestess of the Twelve Zodiac Gods - Chapter 15

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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 15
Yeoryeong moved as though she could see perfectly well.
Arin, finding this curious, ventured a question.
“Can you see what’s in front of you?”
“I see what cannot be seen, and reveal what is hidden.”
When Yeoryeong met her gaze, Arin perceived it clearly.
The pupils of Yeoryeong’s eyes glimmered like brilliant stars.
Had cloth not covered them, the intense radiance would have been blinding—yet it radiated warmth.
“Oh my.”
The exclamation escaped her lips unbidden, and Yeoryeong regarded the child with a fixed, knowing gaze.
Arin, unaware of that subtle look, opened her mouth.
“Your eyes are just like stars.”
At those words, Yeoryeong’s gaze sharpened with a crystalline gleam.
Though sight was obscured, Yeoryeong seemed to smile.
Soon after, she tenderly brushed the crown of Arin’s head.
“We shall meet again.”
Until then, Arin remained mesmerized by Yeoryeong’s entrancing eyes.
Squeak-squeak-squeak! (See you next time, little one!)
Only when Geumgeum, perched on her shoulder, waved in farewell did Arin snap back to awareness—those eyes had been that captivating.
And so Yeoryeong departed into the shrine within the Twelve Zodiac Village,
while Arin was promptly carried in Doyeong’s arms toward the Main Hall.
“You’ve worked hard—you deserve something delicious.”
Doyeong gestured to an attendant, and shortly after, a tray bearing Daebok Persimmons was brought in.
He split one in half and offered it to her.
“A fresh one we picked last autumn.”
“What about you?”
“I eat them often enough.”
When Doyeong pressed again, Arin took the Daebok and began to eat.
The moment the sweet persimmon touched her tongue, her eyes flew wide.
She was savoring it intently when she felt a peculiar gaze and lifted her head.
There stood a boy who looked to be about eight years old, swallowing hard as he stared at her.
He hadn’t even noticed the Wooden Sword that had fallen at his feet.
Realizing his eyes were fixed on the persimmon, Arin rose with the remaining half and approached him.
“Arin?”
Doyeong watched with a puzzled expression.
Arin pattered forward and stood before the boy. As she appeared suddenly, he flinched and retreated a step.
She studied his guarded face, then carefully held out the persimmon.
“Do you want to eat this?”
…….
It was something precious that Doyeong had given her, but she wanted to let the boy taste it too.
Yet something about the boy’s expression as he gazed at the persimmon was unsettling.
A moment later, the boy knitted his brows and struck the persimmon away.
“I don’t need it!”
“Oh!”
As the precious persimmon fell to the floor, Arin let out a cry of dismay.
At the same time, the boy startled, his shoulders jerking up.
“I—I didn’t mean to—why would you—!”
He’d only meant to push it away, but the girl’s arm had given way so easily.
To Doyoung, who had only known girls skilled in martial arts, Arin felt as fragile as a paper doll.
As he wavered over whether to apologize,
Doyeong appeared and rebuked Doyoung sternly.
“Doyoung. What on earth are you doing?”
When Doyeong’s expression grew fierce, Doyoung felt his spirit drain away.
The boy appeared to be about four or five years old.
Then he must have been born while his mother was ill.
Now that he looked, Arin’s hair seemed to have a golden glint to it as well.
‘It’s only been three years since Mother passed.’
He resented his father bitterly for bringing Arin here as if he’d been waiting for this moment.
And when his father took her side instead of his own, the resentment became unbearable.
Fire ignited in Doyoung’s heart, burning away any urge to apologize.
“Father is mean! I hate him!”
When Doyoung finally shrieked and bolted away, Doyeong’s face fell into pure bewilderment.
“What’s gotten into that boy……!”
His second son, who normally couldn’t resist anything edible, refusing a persimmon was rare indeed.
As Doyeong let out a hollow laugh at this uncharacteristic behavior,
Arin watched Doyoung disappear into the distance.
From the name alone, he had to be Doyeong’s son.
‘So he’s the young master of this house.’
In that case, he should’ve been able to eat all the persimmons he wanted.
Had he thought she was sharing it out of pity?
Arin grew despondent when Doyoung flew into a rage over what she’d meant as a simple gesture to share.
“Did I make a mistake?”
“He’s the one who made the mistake. I apologize. He’s my son, but sometimes he’s… odd.”
Doyeong, unaware of the misunderstanding his son was laboring under, merely clicked his tongue.
“I want to apologize to him…….”
“Forget it. By tomorrow he’ll have forgotten the whole thing and be chattering away like nothing happened. The bigger problem is that he dropped the persimmon we were eating.”
When Doyeong moved to fetch a fresh persimmon, Arin stopped him.
“No, please! I’m quite full now.”
She patted her visibly distended belly, and Doyeong’s expression immediately softened.
“Well then, I suppose we should see the physician now.”
“The physician?”
“I’d like to examine your Spiritual Core. Don’t worry—I’m not going to extract it.”
At his teasing remark, Arin puffed out her cheeks indignantly.
She felt a spike of irritation at the prospect of being his eternal joke.
Just then, the sound of labored breathing came from beyond the door.
“Master, huff, sir. It’s Eunbaek.”
“Come in.”
Once Doyeong gave permission, Eunbaek took one deep breath to steady himself before stepping inside.
He’d hurried over, wondering if something had happened when Doyeong called for him urgently.
But Doyeong stood perfectly fine, with a young girl kneeling at his feet.
Eunbaek steadied his breathing and asked,
“Who is this……?”
“I’ll explain later. First, examine the child’s Spiritual Core.”
Doyeong skipped the explanation entirely and led Arin forward to Eunbaek.
“Hello. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
When Arin greeted him with perfect courtesy, Eunbaek wiped his forehead with a handkerchief.
She had neat, adorable features and impeccable manners—it was remarkable.
Such a stark contrast to Dohun, who was sharp as a blade, and Doyoung, who couldn’t sit still for a moment.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
While the physician took her pulse, Arin remained perfectly composed.
She’d done this every day until last year, so it was familiar enough.
Struck by how unusually quiet the child was, Eunbaek smiled faintly.
If it had been Doyoung, he’d have complained about how much longer it would take.
The younger Arin’s composure impressed him.
“You’re doing well.”
While soothing Arin and feeling for her pulse, Eunbaek’s eyes suddenly narrowed.
Noticing this, Doyeong asked,
“What’s her condition?”
“……Such powerful Spiritual Energy is truly rare. Unfortunately, however, I cannot perceive any Gate.”
Eunbaek closed his eyes and took her pulse once more. Impatience getting the better of him, Doyeong pressed further,
“No Gate?”
“No matter how excellent the Spiritual Energy, without a Gate to open and close, it serves no purpose. I’m afraid the young lady will find it quite difficult to use the Twelve Zodiac Ability.”
Arin didn’t falter, having already heard as much from the Hong House.
What concerned her was Doyeong’s reaction.
‘So my daughter is disabled?’
‘Rather than disabled, I would consider it a unique constitution…….’
‘Enough! It amounts to the same thing either way!’
Recalling how her father’s face had changed when he heard her condition, she found herself growing tense.
She was already anxious about whether she would be allowed to stay in this place.
“So there’s no danger to her life, at least?”
At Doyeong’s words, the tension drained from Arin’s shoulders in an instant.
It was such a different question from what Hong Ijin had asked—all the more reason to relax.
Eunbaek gently lowered Arin’s hand and spoke.
“Yes, of course. Given the strong Spiritual Energy she carries, Spirit Beings might indeed take an interest. However…”
“I’ll just stop them myself.”
At his offhand remark, Eunbaek nodded in agreement, his shoulders rising slightly.
“Precisely. There are no Spirit Beings in this place bold enough to attack the young lady while avoiding you. If any dared, they’d have to be mad—in which case, disposal is the only recourse.”
Eunbaek’s confident declaration prompted Doyeong to scoop Arin up into his arms.
“Protecting one little thing like this? Child’s play.”
As he flashed a grin, Arin’s heart gave a sudden flutter.
Even her own family had turned away from her.
Yet Doyeong, knowing full well what she was, showed no hesitation—and Arin spread her arms, nestling into his embrace.
At that endearing response, the corners of Doyeong’s mouth rose even higher.
‘A daughter really is the best. Now I see why everyone goes on about having daughters.’

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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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