The Beloved Baby Priestess of the Twelve Zodiac Gods - Chapter 55

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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 55
“What kind of pig are you, with your ears where your nose should be? You don’t listen to a word anyone says!”
Oo Hyeon slumped to the floor with a thud, cursing up a storm, but received no reply.
After cursing for a long while, Oo Hyeon simply exhausted himself.
‘Damn it. If I don’t get out soon, the old woman will notice I’m gone.’
He’d planned to stay in the village only until today, and of all the rotten luck, he had to get caught by that bastard.
The room where Oo Hyeon was locked up had no windows.
It wasn’t a basement—there was no damp smell—but it was clearly a place of punishment.
Before they could confirm whether he was actually a student here or not, he’d be trapped, so he stretched out on the floor and tried to sleep.
“Not on the student roster? So he’s an illegal intruder from the Twelve Zodiac Animals?”
“But sir, if the Priestess’s Lotus Medallion was on him, surely that means it’s not illegal?”
“Check the name engraved on the Lotus Medallion.”
The commotion outside grew louder, and several burly men burst through the door.
“Hey, let me see that Lotus Medallion.”
Reading the dangerous atmosphere, Oo Hyeon bared his teeth and snarled.
“Take it if you can.”
“You stubborn little—”
The moment they moved toward him to grab him, Oo Hyeon acted.
He’d been clutching soil from the potted plant in the room, and now he hurled it straight at their eyes.
“Ahhh!”
“Heh, have a taste of dirt! Baa!”
Thoroughly pleased with himself, Oo Hyeon dodged around them and bolted from the room.
But the problem didn’t end there.
Oo Hyeon had no sense of direction, and the Dormitory—with its identical hallways and doors—felt like a maze.
“Damn it, what kind of house is this, a labyrinth?”
* * *
Geumgeum’s Taoist Art was truly remarkable.
Arin and Mu Je were transformed so completely that their original appearances were almost unrecognizable.
Had they passed each other by chance on the street, they would never have known one another—the art was that flawless.
Arin was quite pleased with her new appearance, especially how much taller she looked.
“Geumgeum, can you change anyone’s appearance?”
Geumgeum shook his head.
“No. To transform into someone’s exact appearance, I’d need something like their fingernails or hair. What we’re wearing now is just my imagination. That’s why the effect won’t last long.”
“Wait—you could change me into my own appearance too?”
“Of course! Geumgeum’s Transformation Technique is the finest there is!”
Geumgeum puffed out his chest proudly, and Arin clapped her hands in admiration.
“Amazing! You really are a magnificent golden rat!”
“Ahem!”
At Arin’s praise, Geumgeum’s ears perked up.
Geumgeum was usually prickly with anyone other than Yeo Ryeong.
When it came to his Taoist Arts in particular, he would refuse any request, no matter how much someone begged.
But here he was, delighted by a single compliment from Arin.
Mu Je found it interesting how easily Arin handled Geumgeum.
As they entered the village, Arin let out a gasp of wonder.
“Wow, this looks just like the Geumho Village marketplace!”
The village was far busier than they’d expected, full of people’s voices.
Just then, one of the villagers recognized Geumgeum and greeted him.
“It’s been a while, Geumgeum. Who are these children you’ve brought along?”
“New messengers.”
“Ah, so Yeo Ryeong has been taking on quite a few servants lately, has she? I heard a child came by the restaurant earlier looking for glutinous rice cakes.”
The clue they’d stumbled upon the moment they arrived made Geumgeum’s eyes light up.
“Is that so?”
“Yes. I saw them heading into the restaurant over there.”
At the villager’s words, Arin’s ears perked up.
“So they’re there.”
Relieved they’d be able to find him quickly, the three arrived at the Rice Cake Shop only to find themselves at a loss.
“They were dragged to the Academy?”
“From what I heard, it seems to be a student who ran away from the Academy. It happens sometimes, doesn’t it? Children who get homesick and run off. I thought it was strange—a Twelve Zodiac Animal student, no less.”
As the merchant shook his head, Arin and Mu Je locked eyes.
Though the village was free to explore, the interior of the Shibiji Academy was an entirely different matter.
If my identity were exposed carelessly, everything would spiral out of control.
“What do we do? We can’t just go back like this.”
As Arin grew flustered, Mu Je spoke without hesitation.
“I know someone at the academy. I’ll try to reach out to them.”
“Really?”
“Come to think of it, a cadet branch of the White Dragon Clan is graduating this year. The timing works out perfectly.”
Geumgeum flashed a grin and whistled sharply. In an instant, a rat appeared before them from the alley.
As if he’d been waiting, Mu Je hastily scribbled a note and tied it to the rat’s tail.
“Deliver this message to Baek Je Ya.”
Geumgeum placed a peanut between the rat’s teeth and gently stroked its chin.
Shortly after, the rat finished chewing the peanut and darted toward the academy like an arrow.
We were waiting for word from the Rice Cake Shop.
Someone came running up frantically, and upon reaching the door, struck a rigid salute.
“Where are you, young m—… Oof!”
Before he could even finish his greeting, Mu Je hurled a glutinous rice cake at him, sealing his mouth shut.
Geumgeum hauled in the gasping Baek Je Ya, who was choking on the rice cake wedged in his throat.
“Keep quiet.”
“Ugh—who are you people? And where is he? Where is—”
“Stop saying that name! You’ll give everything away!”
Under Geumgeum’s insistence, Baek Je Ya fell silent and nodded.
Even after sitting down with them, Baek Je Ya failed to recognize Mu Je.
“So you’re Geumgeum, and this person is…?”
“The Mu Je you’ve been searching for, and his companion.”
When Geumgeum pointed to Mu Je, Je Ya’s hands flew to his mouth.
“Gasp!”
The one with silver cropped hair and glasses was Baek Je Ya.
A cadet branch member of the White Dragon Clan and second son of his family line, he was scheduled to graduate from Shibiji Shin Village this year.
After enduring three years of hardship, he had been counting down the days until freedom.
‘To think I’d meet him again here!’
Seeing him so grown since they’d last met as children, tears blurred his vision.
“You’ve changed so much since we last saw each other. Your eyes, nose, and mouth seem to be at war with one another. Oh, the brilliant, radiant face I remember—how has it come to this? Have you endured some terrible hardship?”
Despite such a frank critique of his appearance, Mu Je remained unmoved.
“This isn’t my real face. I borrowed Geumgeum’s Taoist Art out of necessity.”
“Ah! That explains it—I was beginning to fear your beauty had faded, but what a relief!”
“What’s wrong with my art!”
Geumgeum huffed indignantly, causing Je Ya to falter.
Though the man appeared frail at first glance—as if a light touch might topple him—he spoke at length and without reservation, his tongue running loose.
Perhaps trying to shift the subject, Je Ya turned his gaze to Mu Je.
“But what brings you here…?”
“I’m looking for someone. I heard they were dragged to the academy. Could you arrange a meeting?”
“Ah, you mean the one who was hauled to the Solitary Confinement Room this afternoon? That one escaped—caused quite the uproar at the academy.”
“Hm.”
Mu Je found himself irritated at Oo Hyeon for refusing to stay put, even in that place, and instead causing a commotion.
Arin asked with concern in her eyes.
“She’s my friend. A girl who stays with the Priestess. Could you help us bring her back?”
“Ah!”
When Arin reached out to grab his hand, Je Ya’s face flushed crimson and he quickly withdrew.
“I—I can help, of course.”
He was embarrassed by his averted gaze, but Mu Je disliked it all the same.
Mu Je took Arin’s hand and drew her behind him.
“Then show us the way. There’s no time.”
It was said because the time Geumgeum had promised was running short.
Je Ya’s gaze lingered briefly on the hand Mu Je was holding.
“You two must be quite close.”
His tone betrayed genuine surprise, given Mu Je’s well-known reserve.
Unable to resist Mu Je’s pressure, Je Ya reluctantly led them to a side entrance through which they could slip into the academy unseen.
All the while, Je Ya’s mouth never stopped moving.
“But what brings you to Shibiji Shin Village? Did Yeo Ryeong perhaps summon you ahead of time?”

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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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