The Beloved Baby Priestess of the Twelve Zodiac Gods - Chapter 54

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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 54
Just then, someone recognized Woo Hyun.
“Are you here running errands for the Priestess again today?”
“She asked me to buy glutinous rice cakes.”
Woo Hyun, who had grown practiced at lying without hesitation, received the glutinous rice cakes from the Cake Shop Owner.
In this place, the Priestess held absolute authority.
It was Yeo Ryeong, after all, who had gathered these nomadic wanderers and called them to settle here.
Woo Hyun chewed on the glutinous rice cake while turning the Lotus Petal over in his fingers.
When he’d first stolen it, he’d planned to flee at once.
But if he left without recovering his strength, he’d only become their target again.
So it was pure chance that a villager appeared before Woo Hyun’s eyes just as he was about to check if the door would open and return it.
He’d discovered the village by following behind the Woodcutter as he came to deliver firewood to the Temple Shrine and was heading back.
After that, whenever he found the opportunity, Woo Hyun would come here and pose as Yeo Ryeong’s attendant, taking on her errands.
And so the people naturally came to accept him.
It had been a week since he’d stolen the Lotus Petal, yet Arin seemed not to have noticed it was missing.
‘Dim-witted thing doesn’t even know her own belongings have vanished. How does someone like that survive in this harsh world? Tsk.’
He’d planned to hold onto it just for today and then return it.
“Hey.”
A shadow suddenly fell across Woo Hyun’s head, and the Stern-Looking Man loomed over him.
“You’re the Twelve Zodiac creature who’s been going around pretending to be the Priestess’s attendant?”
“Huh? What is this pig talking about.”
The words tumbled out as Woo Hyun tilted his head askew.
“Oof!”
Woo Hyun was punched hard in the belly and pitched forward.
The man seized him by the scruff of the neck and growled.
“You’re a fresh recruit and already you’re slacking off? Neglecting your training and loafing about?”
“Let go! I’m sick and tired of studying!”
The words came out as he recalled how hard he’d struggled just to learn his characters.
“Enough! You need to be locked in solitary confinement and made to memorize the Thousand Character Classic until you come to your senses? You ungrateful little brat, not even proud of being chosen!”
The thoroughly misunderstanding man dragged Woo Hyun away by force.
* * *
On the way back after her lesson with Yeo Ryeong.
“Hmm?”
Only then did Arin realize the Lotus Petal was missing and began rummaging through her bag.
When Mu Je looked at her in confusion, Arin spoke.
“I must have left the Lotus Petal at the Temple Shrine.”
“I’ll go fetch it.”
“No, it’s fine. I already know how to open the door without the Lotus Petal anyway.”
As Arin deftly unsealed the seal, Mu Je studied her face carefully.
Feeling his gaze, Arin added.
“I agreed to use the Lotus Petal in front of others.”
“Is it all right if I see it?”
“Of course it’s fine for you, Master Mu Je!”
Mu Je’s lips curled upward at her words, which pleased him to hear.
As he absentmindedly touched the tips of his ears, which had grown warm, Arin spoke.
“I know you go with me to the Twelve Branches Village every time even though it must be tiresome!”
At Arin’s words, Mu Je answered with utter seriousness, as if he’d never smiled at all.
“I do it because I want to.”
“Pardon?”
“I follow you simply because I want to be with you.”
Arin’s eyes widened at Mu Je’s honest confession.
When he gazed at her intently, she had nowhere to direct her gaze.
Feeling her cheeks grow warm for some reason, she changed the subject.
“Oh, by the way—I heard the Prime Minister will be returning to the palace soon to prepare for the year-end festival. Will you be going with him, Master Mu Je?”
“No. I plan to move later with the Priestess.”
“Then you’ll be staying a while longer?”
The disappointment she’d felt at the thought of parting soon eased a little.
As Arin showed a look of relief, Mu Je ventured to ask.
“Would you like me to stay?”
“Yes, I think it will feel quite lonely when you’re gone.”
“I feel the same way.”
Mu Je was pleased that Arin seemed acutely aware of his presence.
He was beginning to think it might not be so bad to reveal that he was Seol-i.
Then an unpleasant, peculiar aura washed over him, and he turned to look behind.
He tensed, wondering if Woo Hyun had been following again, but Arin—sensing the same disturbance—spoke first.
“Wait, something seems wrong in the village across the bridge.”
Arin peered thoughtfully across the bridge for a moment, then murmured softly.
“Why can I feel Woo Hyun’s aura from over there?”
“It appears that boy has broken his promise to the Priestess and slipped into the village.”
“Oh no. What do we do?”
“The aura is troubling. I’ll inform the Priestess and return.”
“Let’s go together.”
By the time Arin followed Mu Je back to the Temple Shrine, it was already empty.
The shrine was deserted.
“She must have left already.”
“No. I don’t sense the Priestess’s aura from here. It seems she’s ventured outside the village.”
Arin grew restless.
“What should we do? We need to bring Woo Hyun back before the Priestess finds out.”
“Hmm.”
Truthfully, it mattered little to him whether Woo Hyun got into trouble or not.
But he couldn’t bear to leave Arin worrying, so Mu Je lifted his shoulders in reluctant resignation.
“I’ll go fetch him.”
“Alone? You don’t even know the way… Let me come with you!”
The words held a plea to go together.
But Woo Hyun’s aura had grown vicious, and Mu Je’s attention was fixed there—he didn’t read Arin’s true heart.
Mu Je answered offhandedly.
“I can go as a Beast Transformation and return just as easily.”
“Ah, I see… That’s an option too.”
At the mention of Beast Transformation, Arin’s expression grew unusually gloomy.
If he did that, she couldn’t go with him—as good as being left behind.
Unable to tell Mu Je her own secret, Arin forced a cheerful tone.
“Then I’ll wait here. Please come back soon.”
Realizing Arin’s feelings only belatedly, Mu Je’s expression faltered.
He didn’t leave immediately but hesitated for a moment, then tentatively broached the subject.
“Actually, thinking about it, there’s no need for Beast Transformation. I have another, simpler method.”
“…Really?”
“Though I’ll need your help, Miss Arin.”
“I’ll help with anything!”
At the suggestion she could go into the village together with him, Arin’s eyes gleamed.
Pleased to see her spirits lift again, Mu Je opened his mouth.
“First, let’s catch that mouse hiding over in the corner.”
Squeak!
Only then did Geumgeum, who had been lurking in the distance, cry out in alarm.
Arin looked at Geumgeum and spoke.
“Why Geumgeum?”
“Using that creature’s Dao Magic, we can alter our appearance.”
Squeak-squeak-squeak! (Do you know how exhausting that is? What are you doing to me? Save the mouse!)
As Geumgeum began to whine, Arin soothed gently.
“Geumgeum, Geumgeum. Sweet little Geumgeum.”
Ugh. No amount of sweet talk will change my mind!
Geumgeum covered his ears with his paws and shook his head, but Arin persisted.
“You said the yakgwa your father gave us last time was delicious, remember? I’ll bring you a whole box.”
At the word yakgwa, Geumgeum’s ears perked up.
Oh no… If the Priestess finds out, I’m in serious trouble…
“We’ll bring Woo Hyun back right away. You know that if he causes more trouble this time, the Priestess might cast him out.”
As Arin rubbed her hands together in entreaty, Geumgeum let out a deep sigh.
Fine, but only two hours. I can’t manage any longer than that!
“Yay! Okay!”
Arin turned around with a radiant smile.
Seeing her like that, Mu Je gave an approving thumbs-up.
* * *
Woo Hyun was dragged to the School Dormitory in the eastern village of Twelve Branches Village.
Trapped helplessly in the study room, Woo Hyun pounded on the door and shouted.
“Listen, I’m not even a student here!”
But the Discipline Committee Head standing guard at the door spoke sternly.
“Stop your excuses. I’ve gone to verify the student roster, so save it.”

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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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