The Beloved Baby Priestess of the Twelve Zodiac Gods - Chapter 60

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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 60
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
Do Yeong tilted his head in confusion, and Do Hoon, who had been listening, added quietly.
“The age restriction is just ceremonial. Usually, children under five find it difficult to attend, so we don’t expect them to.”
“Really?”
“Yes. And Father would never leave Geumho House without you. If you said you wouldn’t go, he’d drag you along by force if he had to.”
At Do Hoon’s words, Arin felt a quiet wave of relief.
“Speaking of which, why isn’t Mu Je leaving? The Prime Minister already departed, didn’t he?”
After exchanging blows a few times, Do Yeong had grown noticeably more familiar with Mu Je.
“Mu Je said he’s going with the Divine Maiden.”
“Oh? Then he’ll be traveling with us. The journey won’t be boring, at least.”
Do Yeong grinned and cracked his neck from side to side.
Knowing full well that Do Yeong would be pestering Mu Je for duels the entire way, Do Hoon added a warning.
“Don’t bother him too much.”
“But he likes it, doesn’t he? Right, Arin?”
“Yes. He looked like he was having so much fun. Mu Je has this habit of squinting his eyes like this when he’s in a good mood.”
The moment Arin answered casually, mimicking Mu Je’s expression—
Do Yeong thrust his face forward and asked.
“What? Pipsqueak. How do you know stuff like that? Like you’ve been watching him carefully?”
“Huh? I just noticed it……”
As Arin protested softly, Do Hoon, who had been silent until then, joined in.
“Now that you mention it, the two of you seem to be stuck together all the time.”
Pressed by both of them, Arin felt cornered.
“Well, we’re friends.”
“Even between friends, there should be limits.”
“But Mu Je said he wanted to be my closest friend.”
When Arin replied so innocently, Do Yeong and Do Hoon’s eyes met.
Do Yeong narrowed his eyes and spoke through Mental Transmission.
– Brother. You don’t think Mu Je actually likes our little one, do you?
– You’re only noticing now?
Whether Do Hoon looked down on him pityingly or not, Do Yeong’s momentum turned fierce.
– That bastard……!
Do Hoon stopped Do Yeong as he jumped to his feet mid-transmission.
– What are you going to do?
– Tell him to stop liking our little one!
– She doesn’t even realize her own feelings yet. Why would you spell it out for her?
– Huh? She doesn’t know?
Do Yeong, breathing heavily, made an astonished face.
Do Hoon clicked his tongue and transmitted.
– That’s why she still acts the way she did when he was a pet lizard.
Do Hoon had witnessed several times over these past few days how Mu Je fawned over Arin like a younger sibling.
And Arin seemed accustomed to accepting his neediness.
It was a form closer to affection from above than romantic love between the sexes.
Mu Je, who was stronger than Arin yet pretended to be weak and clung to her, seemed to enjoy it.
And Arin didn’t coldly push away such a Mu Je, but rather accepted him.
Both of them were still at the level of childish play, and they defined their relationship with the absurd label of ‘friends’.
Do Hoon had tried inserting himself between them once, suspecting it might escalate, but after witnessing Mu Je only grow more persistent each time, he had been content to simply observe.
Then Do Yeong muttered, utterly bewildered.
– What do you mean? Mu Je acting like a pet lizard?
– You still don’t know?
– Know what?
– ……Fool.
Do Hoon was at a loss for words—his younger brother didn’t even know that Mu Je was Seol.
– You need to train more.
Do Hoon fixed his gaze on his book, as if he had nothing more to say.
Just then, Arin flinched while eating a yakgwa.
Noticing this, Do Hoon tilted his head curiously.
“What’s wrong?”
“Ow.”
Arin covered her mouth with her hand and twisted her face in discomfort.
“Why? Did you bite your tongue?”
Do Yeong had been staring intently at Arin just moments before.
Arin drew back her hand with a pained expression.
There, resting in her tiny palm like a fern frond, lay a single small white tooth.
“Oh! The little one’s front tooth came out!”
Do Yeong pointed at the gap where the tooth had been, and Arin clamped her mouth shut.
* * *
As night deepened, Arin waited by the open window for someone to arrive.
Soon a white lizard crept forward in the moonlight, moving cautiously across the sill.
“Seul!”
Arin spread her arms wide, and the creature flew into her embrace as if it had been waiting all along.
“My sweet little pet! Why are you so late today? I thought you weren’t coming.”
She offered a raw chestnut, and Seul chewed it contentedly without a word, crunching steadily.
She was gently stroking its back, charmed by the sight, when—
“I can’t turn my back for a moment.”
A large hand suddenly appeared and plucked Seul from Arin’s arms.
Screech!
Do Gyeong set the hissing creature down on the floor without a second glance, unmoved by its distress.
Seul darted away from him the instant it touched ground.
The murderous glint in its eyes made clear it was deeply displeased at being handled without permission.
Do Gyeong found this greatly amusing and smirked.
“Finicky creature.”
“Papa! Don’t torment Seul!”
As she moved to shield the lizard, Do Gyeong’s eyebrows twitched.
“What’s this? Taking that creature’s side now? Am I growing old hat compared to it?”
“That’s not it…”
Arin trailed off uncertainly, and Do Gyeong noticed her unusual slurred speech. He tilted his head curiously.
“Why have you been hiding your mouth since earlier?”
“Well… it’s…”
Arin twisted and squirmed, dodging the question, so Do Gyeong spread his arms wide.
“Come here.”
Arin approached reluctantly.
Do Gyeong swept her up at once, set her on his knee, and gave her cheek a light pinch.
“You haven’t come to see me in so long lately. Are you already tired of your father?”
“Not at all! Mmph!”
Arin protested in surprise, then quickly covered her mouth again.
The awkward gesture made Do Gyeong’s eyes narrow.
“Hmm. Child.”
“Yes?”
“Would you lower your hand for me?”
Arin stubbornly shook her head.
Do Gyeong studied her suspicious behavior, then suddenly turned his gaze toward Seul.
“Oh my, you there!”
Even with his somewhat clumsy act, Arin fell for it easily.
“Seul?”
The moment Arin opened her mouth, Do Gyeong caught both her hands with one of his.
Arin realized too late that she had been fooled and her mouth fell open.
And there it was—the gap where her front tooth had been.
“Ah-ha. So that’s what this was about.”
“Wahhh.”
Arin’s face crumpled as she looked at Do Gyeong resentfully.
She had already endured Do Yeong’s teasing all day, and now her eyes flashed with defiance.
Seeing her sullen expression, Do Gyeong laughed heartily and spoke.
“Ha ha ha! It’s adorable—why hide it?”
“No! Don’t look!”
“Don’t like it?”
Do Gyeong continued to tease, and Arin’s face darkened as she puffed out her cheeks in a huff.
“Children your age lose teeth all the time. You’re doing better than your brother, anyway.”
“Better how?”
“Do Yeong stole a sweet, tried to run off with it, crashed into a pillar, and broke one of his teeth. We had quite a time pulling that out.”
Do Gyeong recalled that moment and shook his head with amusement.
“That’s right—only you get teased!”
Arin trembled with indignation, and Do Gyeong chuckled softly.
“You’re even cuter without your front teeth, my little one. Does your speech sound funny?”
“Are you teasing me too, Father?”
Arin’s eyes narrowed sharply as she countered, and Do Gyeong’s expression flickered with guilt.
“Teasing? Well, Mu Je probably finds you adorable too.”
The suddenly targeted Mu Je’s tail stiffened with alarm.
Arin gazed at Mu Je with urgent eyes.
“Really? There’s nothing wrong with me?”
Her solemn gaze fixed intently on Mu Je.
The sight was so endearing that—
—without thinking, he let slip a murmur through Mental Transmission.
“You’re adorable.”
Arin’s eyes widened as she asked urgently.
“Wait—did you just say that, Mu Je?”
Startled, Mu Je hastily tried to cover his tracks.
‘Has he learned Mental Transmission?’
Mu Je grew anxious, fearing his true identity might be exposed.
Arin murmured in confusion.
“That’s strange. I could have sworn I heard a voice in my head just now.”
“You must have imagined it.”
Do Gyeong chuckled as though amused, and Mu Je’s eyes narrowed to slits.

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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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