The Beloved Baby Priestess of the Twelve Zodiac Gods - Chapter 75

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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 75
While Do Gyeong carried out his operation.
Arin, who had belatedly chased after Baek Mu Je, found herself in an impossible situation.
‘I can’t read his aura clearly.’
The sheer force radiating from Baek Mu Je in all directions made it nearly impossible to pinpoint his location.
She had already broken her promise by stepping outside the Banquet Hall.
One more step forward and she’d cross beyond the Magical Barrier.
Unable to press forward blindly or turn back alone, she stood shifting her weight from foot to foot.
‘Oh, that’s right!’
Arin suddenly remembered something and reached into her pocket, withdrawing the Fragrance Sachet.
Inside the sachet Se Yeon had given her lay the Scale that Baek Mu Je had left behind.
‘But why did he leave the Scale behind?’
‘I was planning to come find you later. If you keep it with you, I can easily track your location.’
‘Wow! That’s amazing! If I have this too, can you find out where I am?’
‘Of course.’
Arin recalled Baek Mu Je’s instructions and quietly channeled her aura into the Scale.
Through the downpour, a faint silver line traced across the sky.
Following that line would lead her to Baek Mu Je.
Remembering how his eyes had been bloodshot just before they parted, Arin couldn’t turn away.
‘I’m just bringing Baek Mu Je back.’
She was about to leap into the rain when—
Geumgeum, who had been trailing her all along, transformed into human form and blocked her path.
“No, little one! Beyond this point is outside the Barrier—it’s dangerous!”
Arin stopped short at Geumgeum’s sudden appearance.
“Geumgeum?”
“I’ve already notified your brothers. Wait here. The outside is dangerous!”
“But something was wrong with Baek Mu Je’s condition. What if something goes wrong like it did with Woo Hyun?”
At Arin’s tearful words, Geumgeum wavered.
She too could sense that Baek Mu Je’s state was grave.
But Yeo Ryeong had entrusted her with Arin’s care.
Geumgeum spread both arms wide, blocking the way and holding firm.
“This is the palace, after all. Even the Black Horse Clan wouldn’t dare harm the young lady here.”
“Can’t you feel that this rain is abnormal?”
When Arin pointed at the downpour, Geumgeum hesitated.
Even to her as a Spiritual Creature, this was no ordinary rain.
“Why don’t you come with me? We’ll just bring Baek Mu Je back. All right?”
“Ugh, I’m losing my mind.”
Caught between two impossible choices.
Crack—!
Even as they argued, the rain grew fiercer, and the silver line grew increasingly faint.
Arin stomped her feet impatiently.
“Hurry! If he goes berserk, it’ll be a disaster!”
“Fine! If I judge it’s dangerous, I’m dragging you back no matter what you say!”
In that moment, Geumgeum transformed into a pony to move more swiftly.
As Geumgeum offered her back, Arin climbed on.
— Hold tight, little one!
Geumgeum pawed the ground and was about to gallop into the rain when—
In that urgent moment, something climbed onto Geumgeum’s tail.
‘I’m just checking what’s happening to the young lady.’
It was So So, transformed into a serpent.
So So had managed to follow Arin and overhear their entire conversation.
The torrential rain masked So So’s aura from anyone’s perception.
Moments later, Arin arrived at the location the Scale indicated and cried out.
“Baek Mu Je!”
Baek Mu Je lay collapsed on the ground.
Arin rushed to him and cupped his face in her hands.
She couldn’t tell what had happened, but his Spirit Core’s flow was unstable.
His lips were a ghastly blue, his face drained of all color—as though completely exhausted.
A pained whimper escaped him.
The moment Baek Mu Je let out that sound, Arin immediately channeled her power into him.
“Wait, just a moment! Let me help!”
In that instant, Arin’s eyes blazed like they held the fierce light of the sun itself.
At the same time, golden shimmers bloomed around her.
So So clapped a hand over her mouth at the impossible sight.
It was strikingly reminiscent of the Priestess Yeo Ryeong she’d witnessed at the banquet.
‘This can’t be. No, it’s impossible. I must have seen wrong.’
So So examined the pair while denying the reality before her.
Yet the radiant light continued to envelop them both.
Mocking her, almost, with its crystalline clarity.
That was undoubtedly Divine Power.
A strength far too great for a half-blood who couldn’t even perform Beast Transformation.
‘When did she ever gain such power?’
So So, who had always thought of Arin as a half-blood, fell into profound shock.
If her parents discovered this fact—
‘That absolutely cannot happen!’
Seized by horrifying imaginings, So So’s body trembled violently, and she bolted away.
As if the power would vanish the moment it left her sight.
Meanwhile, Arin felt deep relief watching Baek Mu Je’s complexion improve.
Thanks to her diligent training, her body weathered the strain more easily.
Geumgeum, who had been quietly observing the emergency aid, hoisted Baek Mu Je onto his back.
“Let’s head back now.”
“Yeah. Thanks, Geumgeum.”
It was as Arin clasped Baek Mu Je’s hand and followed Geumgeum back toward the Banquet Hall that she spotted a familiar silhouette in the distance.
Her eyes widened.
There stood Do Gyeong and Yeo Ryeong with stern expressions.
The moment Geumgeum saw Yeo Ryeong, his face crumpled with apprehension.
“Priestess, I really did try to stop this! As you can see, the situation was urgent!”
At Geumgeum’s excuse, which he tried to prop up with Baek Mu Je, Yeo Ryeong let out a heavy sigh.
Then Do Gyeong approached with a face like an avenging demon, his hand extended toward Geumgeum.
“Ahhh! I’m sorry, really!”
Startled, Geumgeum shrank back and apologized in that very instant.
“Well now.”
With a soft murmur, Ji Cheon, who had been lurking in shadow behind Geumgeum, deftly slipped free from Do Gyeong’s grasp.
Then he dropped to one knee.
“It is indeed difficult to deceive the Lord of the Gold Clan.”
“Ji Cheon. Have you been dogging my son’s footsteps like some rat?”
“More precisely, I was following His Highness Baek Mu Je.”
Arin watched the two converse with practiced ease from a distance.
She hadn’t even noticed Ji Cheon was here the whole time.
Do Gyeong clicked his tongue dismissively.
“You’re all alike. Shall I cut out that smooth-talking tongue of yours?”
“My apologies. After witnessing such a remarkable phenomenon, I failed to choose an opportune moment to reveal myself.”
With his oblique reference to Arin’s power, her face flushed with confusion.
“Um, well…….”
Arin’s gaze wavered between Ji Cheon and Do Gyeong, tinged with anxiety.
Seeing this, Yeo Ryeong reassured her.
“Fear not. He serves the King directly, so he won’t loose his tongue carelessly.”
“I’m sorry, Priestess. I went and acted recklessly again…….”
“In any case, we couldn’t hide this from the King forever. I had already planned to tell him once this matter was settled.”
Yeo Ryeong stroked Arin’s head as if to say she understood what need not be spoken.
While Arin had been caught up with the Black Horse Clan, it seemed this side too had struggled considerably.
Arin explained the situation with a dejected expression.
“The truth is, Baek Mu Je suddenly ran off as though bewitched. He said the Yeouiju was calling to him…….”
Yeo Ryeong’s gaze shifted to the unconscious Baek Mu Je.
A faint trace of sorcery emanated from him.
‘This is troublesome indeed.’
It seemed the Black Horse Clan hadn’t simply been idle during those ten years of absence.
Yeo Ryeong felt a pang of guilt for burdening these young children with so much.
“Forgive me. I should have been more cautious. My own failing has drawn you into this.”
At Yeo Ryeong’s apology, Arin shook her head firmly.
Arin, afraid something might go wrong with Baek Mu Je, couldn’t bring herself to let go of his hand—and was already soaked through by the rain.
Seeing her shiver from the cold, Do Gyeong immediately removed his raincoat and draped it over the child’s shoulders.
“You’ll catch your death of cold.”
Do Gyeong then scooped Arin into his arms and fixed Ji Cheon with a glacial stare.
“As you can see, our child is freezing. Go on ahead.”
“Yes. Please take care.”
Ji Cheon lowered his head, then received Baek Mu Je from Geumgeum.
Watching Ji Cheon vanish swiftly into the darkness, Do Gyeong let out a heavy sigh.
“Things are going to get complicated starting tomorrow.”

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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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