The Beloved Baby Priestess of the Twelve Zodiac Gods - Chapter 33

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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 33
Muje’s gaze grew distant as he looked down at the Nalbam, unsure when it had been peeled.
For someone who had eaten only the finest foods his whole life, the freshness of the Nalbam seemed highly suspect.
But Arin’s eyes sparkled so brightly.
Baek Muje found himself with no choice but to crunch the Nalbam between his teeth as Arin offered it to him.
Fortunately, despite its appearance, it was intensely sweet.
“So you do like it.”
Arin beamed and rubbed her small hand up and down his back in soothing strokes.
Normally he should have struck her with lightning for such familiarity.
Yet for some reason, Muje remained still and accepted her touch.
All the while unaware that Yeoryeong’s expression had grown inscrutable as she watched.
Arin was simply delighted to have found the white lizard again.
She had visited Bamnamoo several times before without encountering it, and she had felt the loss keenly.
‘I wish I could keep it.’
It was in the midst of such thoughts that a memory surfaced.
Words that Dogyeong had once spoken came back to her.
‘Arin, if you meet a white lizard again, try touching its tail. White lizards love having their tails touched.’
He had definitely said that touching the tail would make it happy.
Since Arin trusted Dogyeong implicitly—she would believe him even if he told her stone was rice cake—
she reached out without hesitation and grasped the lizard’s tail.
Muje, caught off guard, suddenly sprang backward.
But with Arin clinging to his tail, he could not flee far.
Startled herself, Arin began softly stroking his back to soothe him.
“I frightened you? I’m sorry. I was told that if I touch it like this, it would like me…….”
Who on earth?
Muje stared at Arin in utter disbelief—she had touched his Yeok-rin without permission.
‘…Should I kill her?’
Yet she was such a precious stabilizing force. He could not simply end her.
Just then something even more astonishing occurred.
‘……!’
As Arin’s hand touched Muje’s Yeok-rin again, he felt his power drain away into her.
More precisely, forces he could not control suddenly became obedient before her.
Power that no Young-yak could ever govern, and yet it yielded to this tiny girl?
Standing uncertainly, face to face with Arin, Muje could scarcely believe what was happening.
“Haha, it seems that child has taken quite a liking to you.”
“Really?”
As Arin’s eyes sparkled, Yeoryeong’s narrowed knowingly.
“He revealed to you his most vulnerable place, after all.”
“His most vulnerable place…….”
Yeoryeong was right. Even at so trivial a movement, one he could easily have evaded, he had simply opened himself to her.
– What is this girl?
At Muje’s sharp question, Yeoryeong smiled warmly.
– It seems she is the child who will save you.
Save me?
Muje’s gaze swept over Arin. This seemingly foolish child looked so fragile that he ought to be the one protecting her.
As if reading his thought, Yeoryeong offered counsel.
– One cannot judge strength by appearance alone.
– …….
– You must endeavor to be chosen. That child will soon be beloved by all.
Yeoryeong held her fan before her lips and let a faint smile escape.
It felt almost like provocation.
Growing anxious, Muje suddenly bounded onto Arin’s lap.
He stared quietly into her startled eyes, then raised a foreleg to grasp her fingers.
As if to say he would never let her go.
Arin glanced between Muje and Yeoryeong and asked.
“Does this mean I’m someone you care for?”
“It would appear so.”
“Could it be you’re a child that the Shinnyeo is raising?”
“For the time being, yes.”
Whether or not Muje bristled at the word “raising,” Yeoryeong continued with what she had to say.
“Do you like that one?”
“Yes. She’s so adorable I feel like I need to protect her. Especially with that pale skin—she’d be such easy prey for predators.”
Standing out in a crowd had always meant trouble; even walking down the street, someone might throw a stone.
Just as Arin had been despised by everyone for her inability to use Hwansu.
This child seemed destined for the same fate, and somehow I couldn’t stop watching her.
Yeoryeong smiled at the sight of Arin’s affection toward Muje, her expression brightening.
“Then take her for a few days and raise her. Besides, that one seems to want to be with you anyway.”
At such a casual suggestion—smooth as swapping a Silver Spoon for candy—Muje’s eyes widened.
– Whose permission are you giving away my fate on?
“Really? I can really do that?”
Meanwhile, a delighted Arin scooped Muje up into her arms.
“Will you come with me?”
Those bright, luminous eyes sparkled like stars.
Strangely, it was difficult to resist her touch.
As Muje hesitated visibly, Yeoryeong spoke.
– It must be strange to you. Why there’s no hostility toward this child alone.
– ……You seem to know well. Then tell me the answer.
– I can’t reveal it so easily.
Yeoryeong smiled with meaning.
– Shall we make a wager? If you discover Arin’s true nature within a week on your own, you win.
– Then you’ll give this child to me?
At the bold question, Yeoryeong’s smile deepened.
– “Give” is hardly the right word. Hmm, what about becoming friends?
– Friends?
– If you become Arin’s friend, I’ll arrange things so you can live without needing to use Hwansu.
Friends.
A relationship where intimacy resembled family yet boundaries remained clear.
It was exactly what Muje needed.
Moreover, staying with Arin in a constant state of Hwansu had its limits, as she well knew.
Rather, the prospect of being given freedom—he who had lived secretly hidden in Sadang—made Muje accept the wager immediately.
– Don’t change your story later.
– Of course not.
Yeoryeong grinned. The white dragon was still young, and there was something endearingly naive about her.
A seasoned being would have asked first what method he intended to use.
With the wager sealed, Yeoryeong turned to Arin.
“Take good care of him for a week.”
“Yes!”
Arin was thrilled to be able to spend a week with the white lizard.
“I’m Arin. Shinnyeo, does this one have a name?”
– I’m Baek Muje.
Muje sent a Jeon-eum, but Arin didn’t understand it.
Yeoryeong spoke.
– She still hasn’t learned to use Jeon-eum.
– …….
Muje’s eyes flashed as he realized he’d been duped.
He had to discover her true nature without any means of communication.
As Muje glared at her resentfully, Yeoryeong played innocent.
– I assumed you’d know, given how confident you were. But as you’re aware, you can’t release Hwansu in front of Arin. “Baek Muje” is currently at Baek Ryong-gung, after all.
Muje felt the strength drain from him as he grasped the perfect trap.
Seeing his deflated posture, Yeoryeong made a gentle suggestion.
“It would be best if you gave her a name yourself.”
“Hmm, then…….”
After thinking for a long while, Arin beamed and announced:
“Seol! Because you’re white like snow and so pretty—I like Seol.”
At a name so obviously feminine, Muje’s expression darkened considerably.
Yeoryeong made a soft sound of admiration, as if she knew nothing of his dismay.
“Oh my, what a lovely and endearing name.”
* * *
At the appointed time for collecting Arin.
Dogyeong stared in disbelief at Baek Muje sitting quietly cradled in Arin’s arms.
“What on earth is happening now?”
All the effort spent deploying Gimun to keep Arin at a distance had come to nothing.
Just then, Arin held Muje out toward her father and asked.
“Dad, can Seol stay with us for a while?”
“Seol?”
“The lizard I mentioned before—that’s Seol.”
……
Layer upon layer of complications.
Now she was talking about keeping the creature at home and raising it there.
And watching her call it by such an unsuitable name, Dogyeong realized that Arin had no idea this was actually a person.
Dogyeong sent Muje a message through Jeon-eum.
– Handle it yourself, then.
It was said in the assumption that Muje surely wouldn’t want to be raised in someone else’s home.
But Muje’s answer was unexpected.
– I refuse.
– Yes, I understand your reluctance. I’ll do my best to persuade Arin.
– No. I’m going with her.
– ……What?

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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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