The Beloved Baby Priestess of the Twelve Zodiac Gods - Chapter 21

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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 21
Do Gyeong smiled broadly and spoke.
“If you’ll just do as I ask, the matter will be settled easily enough.”
“Of course! I’ll do anything for you, sir.”
Arin, who had been wishing to be of use to him anyway, didn’t hesitate for a moment.
Seeing this, Do Gyeong’s expression brightened.
“And you haven’t even heard what it is yet?”
Arin nodded vigorously.
“You took me in, after all. Right now, I’d give you my Yeong-haek if I could!”
At that, Do Gyeong’s brow furrowed.
“No. No, that won’t do. Would you have me become the sort of Twelve Branch Beast who takes and then speaks out of both sides of his mouth?”
“Hehe.”
Arin’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She had spoken so carelessly because she already knew he was not the sort to harm her.
“Anyway, just tell me what you need! I’ll do anything.”
As she puffed out her chest and declared this boldly, Do Gyeong reached out and gently poked her round cheek.
Then he casually tossed out the words he had been turning over in his mind all this while.
“All I need is for you to become my family, Arin. Then, no matter how powerful the Elder Families are, they won’t be able to lay a hand on you.”
“Your family……?”
His daughter, then.
Arin, who had never once imagined such a thing, found herself at a loss for words.
She had thought him a villain come to steal her Yeong-haek, yet he was the benefactor who had saved her.
And now this Do Gyeong was offering to become her father.
‘But I have nothing to offer him in return…….’
Feeling only that she was a burden, Arin could not answer at once.
Sensing her hesitation, Do Gyeong hurried to add more.
“You may not realize it, but I’m quite an extraordinary person. So if you become my daughter, you’ll become quite extraordinary too, won’t you? I can promise you—not a drop of water on your hands, not a speck of dust on your feet.”
“…….”
“Well…… I mean, what I’m trying to say is that if you’re willing, I’d like to think of you as my daughter. Of course, I’m not forcing you, but a refusal would be……”
The longer Arin’s silence stretched, the longer Do Gyeong’s words tumbled on.
Unable to bear it any longer, Eun Baek gave Do Gyeong a look.
“What? Why the stare? You want to fight?”
“Surely Miss Arin deserves time to think, don’t you agree?”
“Ah. Right you are.”
Only then did Do Gyeong realize he had been rambling without any semblance of order, and his expression grew awkward.
Just then, Cho Ryeong placed a hand on Arin’s shoulder.
“Miss, you should give him an answer.”
“Ah…… yes.”
Arin, who had been sitting dazed as if she had just returned from somewhere far away, slowly rose to her feet.
Then she walked lightly toward where Do Gyeong stood.
Do Gyeong watched silently as Arin came to stand before him.
He could tell from her eyes alone.
What the child truly wanted.
Yet it seemed she was wrestling with something.
Only then did Do Gyeong’s expression soften with newfound ease.
“Sir.”
“Yes, little one.”
“I’m just a worthless Twelve Branch Beast who can’t even perform Hwan-su……. I’m sure I’ll be nothing but a burden to you. If you take someone like me as your daughter, people might mock you for it.”
“Do you think I’d let such people go unpunished?”
“Sir?”
“Whether you’re talented or not makes no difference to me. Family means standing by each other, being each other’s strength, whether things go well or ill. Even if mistakes are made, family bears the weight together.”
“…….”
“So don’t trouble yourself over such reasons. If anyone ever tries to harm you, I’ll draw my blade without hesitation.”
At his rough but earnest words, Arin’s lips trembled.
Her own parents, those she had desperately wanted to stand by her, had rejected her.
Yet Do Gyeong, with not a drop of blood shared between them, was now pledging to accept her exactly as she was.
The sincerity of it moved her heart.
“……Thank you. Meeting you truly has been my greatest fortune.”
“That’s my line to say to you. Now, tell me your true heart.”
Do Gyeong extended his hand toward Arin.
The same hand he had readily offered when they first met.
Arin squeezed his hand, silently vowing never to let go for as long as she lived.
“Even if you were a villain who’d done terrible things, I’d take your side. I’m going to be a villain’s daughter!”
“Why does it have to be a villain, though…?”
Do Gyeong muttered the words—or perhaps he didn’t—as Arin suddenly pressed herself against him.
Feeling the small warmth of her tiny frame, Do Gyeong broke into a slow smile.
“Good! From now on, we’re a father and daughter. No takesies-backsies, understood?”
“Yes! Mister!”
“Now, now. You should call me Father. Or Dad, if you prefer.”
“Dad?”
As Arin spoke the unfamiliar word, Do Gyeong burst into loud laughter.
“Ha ha ha! Yes! I’m your dad from now on.”
He then lifted her into his arms and began spinning in circles.
“Oh! Mis—uh, Dad! I’m getting dizzy!”
The more Arin clung to his neck and whimpered, the harder Do Gyeong spun.
Cho Ryeong watched the scene quietly, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief.
She had been so anxious that Arin might refuse—all the more reason for her tears now.
“They truly are a beautiful father and daughter.”
It had only been a few days since she began caring for Arin, yet it was clear.
How lonely a life the girl had led.
And so watching her embrace Do Gyeong filled Cho Ryeong with a peculiar tenderness.
Eun Baek answered Cho Ryeong’s murmur.
“I must say, it’s been quite some time since I’ve seen the master smile like that. A household truly does need a daughter—the very atmosphere is different from what we have with only sons.”
“Aren’t you one of five brothers yourself?”
At Cho Ryeong’s question, Eun Baek glanced sideways. After a moment, he adjusted his spectacles and spoke with deliberate gravity.
“Yes. Which is precisely why our household atmosphere was ruined from the start.”
“You criticize your own family quite casually.”
“Well, it’s the truth, isn’t it? More importantly, shouldn’t we stop him? Arin’s expression has been growing worse by the moment……”
“Oh my! Arin! Are you all right?!”
Cho Ryeong, belatedly noticing the girl’s face, rushed over.
With Cho Ryeong’s intervention, Arin managed to plant her feet on the ground, swaying—yet she grinned broadly.
“I’m fine! Look!”
She spread both arms wide to steady herself, and it was clear from her expression that she was simply happy.
“Want me to do it again?”
“Uh-uh. That’s enough.”
At his teasing question, Arin waved him off, and Do Gyeong chuckled.
It was just then, as she drank water from his embrace, glug-glug—
“Little one! I’m here!”
A loud voice came from the door, and Do Young flung it open.
“Huh? Father? What are you doing here?”
Do Gyeong tilted his head at the boy’s perfectly natural entrance.
“Shouldn’t I be asking you the same? What brings you here?”
“Me? I came to see Arin, of course.”
Do Young answered as though it were obvious, then gestured to Arin.
In that instant, Arin slipped from Do Gyeong’s arms and rushed toward Do Young.
“Big brother!”
At her perfectly natural use of the term, Do Gyeong glanced at Cho Ryeong.
His eyes silently demanded an explanation, and Cho Ryeong offered a quiet explanation.
“He’s been visiting every day for the past few days.”
“Do Young has?”
“Yes. They’ve grown quite close—like true siblings.”
Just days ago, his son had been wary of Arin.
Now he seemed fully occupied with keeping her at his side and doting on her.
At that moment, Do Young drew out a Pumpkin Yeot carefully wrapped in a handkerchief from his pocket and offered it to Arin.
“Little one, you’ve never had this before, have you? This is Pumpkin Yeot—it melts slowly on your tongue!”
Arin accepted it readily and began eating, grinning from ear to ear.
“It’s delicious! It really does melt!”
At her delight, Do Young’s shoulders rose sky-high with pride.
“Of course it’s good! I just brought it back fresh, still nice and warm. Ha ha ha!”
“You’re the best, big brother!”
“Ahem! Well, hm.”
When Arin raised both thumbs with a flourish, Do Young’s lips quivered.
The sight of her deliberately striking an adult pose was absurd.
At that peculiar spectacle, Do Gyeong stared with an expression of utter bewilderment.
Do Young sharing food with someone—it was unthinkable.
Do Gyeong opened his mouth, wondering if he’d misheard.
“What about mine?”
“Buy your own.”

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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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