The Beloved Baby Priestess of the Twelve Zodiac Gods - Chapter 51

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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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Episode 51
“Mu Je saved them?”
“Yes. I thought this would be more interesting than the performance. I hope I didn’t overstep.”
When Mu Je gauged her reaction, Arin shook her head.
“No! You did well! Actually, I wanted to do the same thing.”
“I thought as much.”
Arin and Mu Je stood at a distance, watching the animals escape to freedom.
All had emerged, but Gureong-i had not yet appeared.
Understanding what that meant, Arin clutched the egg in her arms tightly.
“I’ll protect you, I promise. Don’t worry—go in peace.”
Though she had been unable to save the mother, she would guard this Fire Snake with all her heart.
Arin and Mu Je moved away from the Performance Venue to give Gureong-i space for her revenge.
They also made sure to instruct Cho Ryeong, who waited outside, to keep anyone else from being injured.
Just then, they encountered Do Hun and Do Young heading toward the Performance Venue.
“Huh? Why did you come out? Are you here to greet us?”
Do Young looked puzzled, while Do Hun’s attention fixed on the egg Arin cradled.
“That’s a Fire Snake Egg.”
“Yes. The Fire Snake I met at the Performance Venue entrusted her offspring to me.”
As Arin explained the whole story, Do Hun reached over and gently stroked her head.
“What an amusing adventure. That explains the commotion from the Performance Venue earlier.”
Since Arin was so fond of animals, she couldn’t have simply ignored the Fire Snake’s pitiful circumstances.
“But rescuing the Traveling Troupe’s animals was reckless. People who came to watch the performance could have been hurt.”
“I… I know.”
As Arin replied dejectedly, Mu Je spoke up first.
“I did it. Please don’t scold Arin for this.”
At his protective words, Do Hun’s eyes narrowed.
“I didn’t know you were capable of such pranks, Mu Je.”
“If necessary, I don’t hesitate to use Martial Force.”
Mu Je shrugged nonchalantly.
At his composed response, Do Hun clicked his tongue.
“I’ll handle things here. You three, head back home.”
As Do Hun entered the Performance Venue, the three remaining figures stood staring at one another in silence.
Then Do Young spoke up.
“Now that this has happened, it’s the perfect time for me to introduce you both to the new restaurant I found.”
“But Do Hun told us to go home…”
“We’ll eat quick—he won’t even notice!”
Do Young, already dismissing his brother’s words, urged the two forward.
“Alright!”
Arin followed Do Young without hesitation, and Mu Je trailed dutifully after her.
* * *
Two weeks had passed since Mu Je arrived at the Gold Tiger Clan.
During that time, Mu Je had been out with Arin every day.
Whenever he was with her, something interesting always happened.
Lately, all of Arin’s attention had been absorbed by the new Fire Snake Egg.
Whenever she had a moment, Arin would bring the egg to Yeo Ryeong to check its condition.
“Don’t you think the egg has grown a little?”
“It looks the same to me.”
“Look carefully. The markings here have definitely gotten bigger.”
“Hmm.”
But no matter how closely Yeo Ryeong looked, she couldn’t be sure.
“The Priestess said it was lacking in Spiritual Energy. What if it never wakes up at all?”
After Gureong-i had completed her revenge,
Arin had taken the Fire Snake’s Shed Skin and buried it in the Twelve Zodiac Village.
She wanted to tell the newborn Fire Snake later that its mother was resting here.
“With you at her side, the egg will hatch safely.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because good fortune always flows around you.”
Mu Je spoke with conviction, offering a faint smile.
Arin, seeing that smile, grew flustered.
She had heard Mu Je was taciturn, yet here he was
‘He’s so gentle with me. Why did I ever misunderstand him?’
Sometimes his kindness made it awkward to be around him.
A tingling sensation deep in her chest.
At those moments, Arin would lower her gaze and take a deep breath.
“Thank you so much. You shine when you smile too, Young Master Mu Je.”
She mumbled the words quietly, eyes averted.
She’d meant to befriend him only to ask about Seol-i at first.
‘Young Master Mu Je is truly a good person.’
He didn’t boast about his royal blood, which made him easy to talk to.
Now she wanted to be his friend regardless of Seol-i.
Before long, she and Mu Je arrived at the Twelve Zodiac Village, but the Temple Shrine stood empty.
“The Priestess must have gone somewhere.”
As Arin settled into her usual spot in the courtyard, Mu Je sat beside her.
Gazing absently at the sky, she murmured as a white cloud drifted past.
“Now that I think about it, I haven’t seen Seol-i lately.”
At her words, Mu Je felt a pang of guilt.
He’d been so content in her company that he’d had no time to maintain his form as Seol-i.
“Garam must have him.”
“Should we go see him together then?”
“Ah.”
Mu Je’s expression grew troubled.
“Not today. That creature’s turned nocturnal lately—during the day he’s always asleep.”
“I see… Now that I think about it, Seol-i never slept at night before either.”
That was because Arin had kept touching him, keeping him awake.
Relieved that she’d accepted the explanation without suspicion, Mu Je relaxed.
Just as the Priestess had promised, the power of the White Dragon didn’t surge when he was with Arin.
For the first time in ages, he felt the peace and quiet it brought, and his heart grew calm.
His greatest worry lately was when to reveal his true identity to her.
The closer they became, the harder it grew to confess that he was Seol-i.
Then Arin asked tentatively.
“You’re very fond of Seol-i, aren’t you, Young Master?”
“Mm. Yes, well.”
He couldn’t help but care for him as his true self, yet Arin accepted the answer with resignation.
‘I can’t take someone else’s pet away.’
The incident with Gureong-i had made Arin more cautious.
Besides, she now had a child to raise.
Noticing her expression shift, Mu Je quickly added.
“Do you wish to see Seol-i?”
“Yes, it’s been so long since I’ve seen him.”
“I’ll have him brought to the Plum Blossom Hall tonight.”
“Really?”
Arin’s eyes lit up. At the thought of spending the night with Seol-i again, her heart stirred with anticipation.
“Yes. While I’m staying here, the daytime is difficult, but I’ll arrange for him to visit at night.”
“Thank you so much!”
As Arin broke into a bright smile, Mu Je’s lips curved upward in response.
They waited in the courtyard for Yeo Ryeong.
Presently, she appeared in the distance, approaching the shrine.
At her side came a familiar boy with a sullen expression.
The same boy with tousled black hair covering his eyes.
Arin recognized him and blinked in surprise.
“Oh—that boy…”
Mu Je recognized him too, his guard rising instantly.
The memory of the boy attacking Arin in the street came rushing back.
Moving protectively in front of Arin, Mu Je created a wall of tension.
Yeo Ryeong acknowledged both of them and spoke.
“You’ve arrived early.”
“Priestess, why is that boy here?” Mu Je asked.
In response, Yeo Ryeong pulled the boy forward.
“He’ll be staying in the Twelve Zodiac Village for a while. Get along well with him.”
The boy’s expression remained stubborn.
The difference was that his eyes no longer burned black.
Arin remembered the golden gleam that would shine whenever he wielded his power, and opened her mouth.
“So you’re not hiding your eye color anymore?”
The Unknown Boy’s eyes narrowed.
“The old witch stole my power!”
“The old witch?”
As Arin tilted her head in confusion, the Unknown Boy pointed an accusatory finger at Yeo Ryeong with a petulant expression.
Yeo Ryeong’s face bore the look of one accustomed to such rudeness.
“Strength is useless to those who won’t obey the Twelve Zodiac Animals.”
“Tch! I keep telling you, I’m not one of the Twelve Zodiac Animals!”
“Fed and housed, and yet ungrateful it seems.”
Yeo Ryeong brought down her walking staff upon the Unknown Boy’s forehead.
The Unknown Boy yelped and clutched his head, glaring back at her.

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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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