The Beloved Baby Priestess of the Twelve Zodiac Gods - Chapter 58

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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 58
“I’m worried I made Father angry. Children who don’t listen are bad children, aren’t they…….”
“So that little head of yours is cooking up troubles again, is it?”
Do Gyeong could see plainly what was troubling Arin, and he knew he had to clear up the misunderstanding at once.
He met Arin’s eyes and added his explanation calmly.
“I’m not angry with you. I’m worried about you.”
“Really? You don’t hate me?”
“If I hated you, I wouldn’t bother worrying. Why waste time fretting when you could be eating another honey cake instead?”
Do Gyeong brushed away Arin’s tears with his sleeve and gave her a gentle order.
“As soon as we get back, call Eun Baek and have him check my pulse. The same for Geumgeum.”
Arin nodded, and Baek Mu Je draped an arm around her trembling shoulders.
“Let’s go.”
After Arin and Baek Mu Je had left.
Do Gyeong entered the room and sighed at the sight of Woo Hyun’s condition.
“It’s a disaster.”
Just as Baek Mu Je had said, Woo Hyun was in terrible shape from the aftermath of the Rampage.
At least the aura he gave off wasn’t vicious anymore, so the worst had been avoided.
Yeo Ryeong, who had already heard the full story from Geumgeum, exhaled softly.
“It seems heaven’s fortune was with us — Arin managed to suppress Woo Hyun’s Rampage.”
“Yes. Thanks to that, my boy is in a ghastly state. I’d fattened him up so nicely, and now he’s half the size he was, all in half a day.”
When Do Gyeong made his displeasure plain, Geumgeum grew nervous.
“You didn’t even try to stop the children — you transformed into a human and caused a scene yourself?”
Do Gyeong bared his fangs and growled, and Geumgeum’s expression crumpled.
“How was I supposed to stop him when that brat started the trouble first? If we hadn’t gone looking for them, the Academy would’ve been flattened!”
“So you’re saying you handled it well?”
“That’s not what I’m saying, Priestess.”
Geumgeum, whose voice had been rising in agitation, bowed his head in dismay at Yeo Ryeong’s question.
“Always grumbling, aren’t you.”
Seeing this, Do Gyeong narrowed his eyes and sat beside Yeo Ryeong.
“And this child — is he all right?”
“He sustained considerable injury, but fortunately his life is not in danger. The troubling part is that Baek Je Ya was present at the scene when Woo Hyun Raged.”
“That’s become rather complicated.”
Baek Je Ya was a young master of the Twelve Clans. Now that his true nature had been exposed to him, it would be difficult to let the matter pass quietly.
“Though Baek Mu Je has sworn him to secrecy, keeping Woo Hyun hidden from here on will be troublesome.”
For Yeo Ryeong, who had hoped to buy more time, the situation was rather awkward.
“The Yeonha Festival is coming up soon. I will attempt to persuade him then.”
Do Gyeong, who had already taken on the role of guardian, spoke without hesitation.
“However, before that, this boy will have to prove to me that he is not a danger.”
It was fortunate that even while Raging, he had not attacked Arin or Baek Mu Je, but…….
“I have no intention of bringing a time bomb into my household. I have three children to protect.”
If Woo Hyun had so much as harmed Arin or Baek Mu Je by a fraction, Do Gyeong would have beheaded him without mercy.
He had already made mistakes born of momentary pity.
And he had paid dearly for them.
Then Woo Hyun’s parched lips opened to answer.
“I’ll prove it.”
His voice was hollow, stripped of all strength.
Woo Hyun had heard every word of their conversation.
Now he was terrified of himself.
The memory of his body not feeling like his own during the Rampage sent a chill through him.
If Arin hadn’t stopped him then, he might truly have killed many people.
For the first time afraid of his own power, Woo Hyun summoned every ounce of strength left in him and spoke.
“I have to take revenge. After I do, I’ll die on my own — you won’t need to do anything. So help me.”
At those desperate words, Do Gyeong’s gaze grew cold.
“My daughter saves your life, and all you do is talk about dying. That’s enough to make my blood boil.”
“…….”
“I don’t know what grudge you carry, but you will remember this clearly — you owe my daughter a debt.”
“I know. I don’t betray kindness.”
Woo Hyun answered curtly and turned his head away.
In that moment when control of his body was slipping from him, he had heard Arin’s voice.
Now, recalling the warm hands that had soothed him and the gentle strength that embraced him, Woo Hyun clenched his fists.
Every time they met, Woo Hyun found himself receiving help from Arin—a fact that rankled him more than he could say.
As Woo Hyun recalled Arin’s pale face in those final moments, his lips trembled.
“Is that girl all right?”
It was plain that she’d suffered greatly because of him, and the shame kept him from meeting her father’s eyes.
“So you do have some conscience left. Now you’re concerned about the welfare of your benefactor?”
“Is she… is she in bad condition?”
Do Gyeong reassured him as Woo Hyun’s voice rose in alarm.
“Don’t worry. My daughter has only exhausted herself on your account, but a few days of proper rest will set her right.”
Though his words carried an edge beneath them.
Woo Hyun, shame-faced, muttered softly.
“I’ll repay this debt. My life belongs to your daughter now—I swear it.”
Do Gyeong clicked his tongue at such stubborn words, though he was grateful the boy at least had sense enough to understand.
“You said you’d prove yourself, so I’ll ask again: who are you, and why exactly is the Black Horse Clan hunting you?”
Woo Hyun gazed at Do Gyeong for a long moment.
Unlike the adults he’d encountered before, there was no contempt in the man’s eyes.
Despite the fact that his beloved daughter had nearly been hurt because of Woo Hyun.
Woo Hyun lowered his gaze and opened his mouth to speak.
“I am…”
* * *
When Arin arrived at Maehwa Hall leaning heavily on Baek Mu Je’s support, Cho Ryeong gasped aloud.
“Heavens! Miss, are you all right? What on earth has happened?”
“Bring Eun Baek.”
Baek Mu Je gave the order without explanation, and Cho Ryeong tactfully withdrew.
In the meantime, Baek Mu Je helped Arin onto the bed and knelt on one knee, offering her water.
“Thank you.”
As Arin drank, Baek Mu Je watched her with concern etched across his face.
“Are you unwell?”
“I’m sorry. I only ever trouble everyone around me…”
Fresh tears welled up in Arin’s eyes once more.
When crystalline droplets began to fall, Baek Mu Je froze.
“Please don’t cry.”
He wiped away her tears with his own sleeve, and Arin buried her face in it, her body trembling as she wept.
Seeing her shallow, shaking form, Baek Mu Je adjusted his posture to give her the comfort of his embrace.
Then Arin wound her arms around him and began to cry in earnest.
“Hic… hic…”
Baek Mu Je kept his spine straight as he gently patted Arin’s back.
She had clearly been badly frightened.
Understandable enough—she had just witnessed one of the Twelve Zodiac Animals enter Rampage.
‘He ignored my warning too.’
Baek Mu Je, who had already forbidden Woo Hyun from using his power, was displeased that the boy had caused this incident.
Arin had nearly been hurt as a result.
‘And the nature of that power…’
The Dark Demon aura that emanated from Woo Hyun during his Rampage was distinctly unusual.
Similar to the presence he’d encountered from Hyeok Gwang years ago.
Perhaps the boy was more dangerous than he’d initially thought—it was this consideration that prompted Baek Mu Je to broach the subject.
“It might be wise for you to maintain some distance from Woo Hyun going forward.”
Arin sniffled and questioned him despite her tears.
“Why? Because he’s a mutation among the Twelve Zodiac Animals?”
The question came from a place of understanding—she had already sensed that Woo Hyun was different from the others.
Baek Mu Je looked down at her and replied.
“Simply because I’m concerned for your safety, Miss Arin.”
“…”
“The clan head was likely pressing you for much the same reason.”
At the mention of Do Gyeong, Arin’s face clouded.
The memory of her father’s anger—displayed for the first time—weighed on her heart.
“I caused trouble. I should have listened to the Priestess…”
“Don’t be so hard on yourself. After all, thanks to you, Woo Hyun’s life was saved, wasn’t it?”
“Will Woo Hyun be all right?”
As Arin voiced her concern for Woo Hyun, Baek Mu Je felt an inexplicable tightness in his chest.
The boy was like sand lodged in his shoe—an irritant he couldn’t ignore.
Baek Mu Je recalled how Arin had paced restlessly around Woo Hyun, unable to settle.
He’d thought her agitation came from anger at his carelessness, but now he understood—she hated being worried about Woo Hyun.
Baek Mu Je felt an emotion he couldn’t contain, and before he could stop himself, the truth spilled out.
“Does that man please you?”

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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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