The Beloved Baby Priestess of the Twelve Zodiac Gods - Chapter 88

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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 88
‘What is this? Where does she get all that confidence?’
Her knuckles whitened as she clenched her fists.
So So, unwilling to lose to Arin, finally spoke up.
“I got into the Twelve Earthly Branches Village. Unlike you, who can’t even master Beast Transformation, my abilities were recognized.”
Her words were clearly meant to wound.
Woo Hyeon’s face twisted at once, and she let out a low growl.
“What is she talking about?”
Cho Ryeong followed suit, her lips pressing thin with displeasure.
So So raised her voice triumphantly.
“I got to go out today to celebrate my excellent grades. You know, right? To leave the Twelve Earthly Branches Village, your scores have to be incredible. Even my brother couldn’t get out that many times.”
Her expression radiated pure delight as she volunteered information no one had asked for.
Like someone desperately hungry to wound Arin.
Growing bolder, So So drove the final nail in by mentioning Hong Saga.
“Especially Father was so very proud of me. Unlike his own daughter, who was cast out for failing to master Beast Transformation, I received the Selection of the Fire Snake.”
She had chosen her words knowing full well how sensitive Arin was about anything concerning the Hong Saga family.
“Excuse me, but that’s going too far…….”
Cho Ryeong was about to intervene when Arin raised a hand to stop her and spoke instead.
“I’m glad you’re doing well there.”
Her voice was utterly flat, devoid of any emotion, and So So’s triumphant smile froze solid.
“……What?”
“Congratulations. To make it into the Twelve Earthly Branches Village, you must have worked very hard.”
Now that Arin was even offering praise, So So found herself completely at a loss for words.
This was not the reaction she had wanted to provoke.
Arin regarded the stone-still figure of So So, then opened her mouth.
“If there’s nothing more to say, may I go? As you can see, I have quite a few people to meet today.”
“…….”
“Since you mentioned being lost, Cho Ryeong will guide you to the Banquet Hall.”
Arin glanced aside, and Cho Ryeong silently accepted the command.
“Yes, miss. Please leave it to me.”
“Well then, farewell.”
Arin turned and walked away with the natural ease of water flowing downstream.
So So watched her receding figure.
It was not a mere pretense of composure.
Her face showed no hurt whatsoever from So So’s words.
Once upon a time, she trembled at the mere mention of Beast Transformation.
But now even that held no power, and besides, there were people around her ready to defend her honor.
So So, by contrast, had no family members worth turning to.
Since entering the Twelve Earthly Branches Village, she had grown distant from her brother long ago.
“Shall we go?”
As Cho Ryeong stepped forward as if to shield Arin’s departing form, So So felt herself grow more pitiful than ever before.
* * *
“Hey. Do you have no sense of pride? How could you let her go so gracefully after hearing all that?”
Woo Hyeon hurried after Arin, huffing indignantly.
Normally she would have kept her distance, but the heat of the moment had made her careless.
For her part, Arin, who had just been insulted, looked utterly unbothered.
“So what, should I pick a fight with Hong Saga’s daughter?”
“Yes. Anyone can see she came looking to get under your skin.”
“She’s not worth the effort to me. Especially not on a day like today, when I’m in such a good mood.”
“You’re absurdly kind! Ugh!”
Woo Hyeon struck her own chest in exasperation.
Seeing Woo Hyeon angry on her behalf, though it was none of her business, Arin couldn’t help but laugh.
“Woo Hyeon. I really am fine. I really don’t feel upset at all.”
“You’re saying you’re not bothered one bit?”
“That’s right. Truly.”
Seeing So So wasn’t pleasant, but she wasn’t about to let it ruin her day either.
It had been more than ten years ago, after all.
Of course, learning that So So had gotten into the Twelve Earthly Branches Village was surprising.
It was obvious her brother and Mu Je had deliberately said nothing about it.
‘Either way, they’re all being far too protective of me.’
Hong Saga has been like family to me for ages.
And now the whole household, not to mention her friends, rush to shield her from harm.
Rather than resent it, Arin found herself oddly gladdened by their care.
Arin turned, catching her eye, and spoke.
“But don’t you have something to say to me?”
“Something to say?”
“Never mind. Forget it.”
She’d just spun her head away when Woo Hyeon caught her shoulder and turned her back around.
“Hold on, just wait a second. If you gave me even eighty percent of the time you just lavished on her, would that hurt? Why are you always in such a rush?”
Woo Hyeon grumbled, then steadied her voice.
“Happy birthday, Arin.”
“I don’t deserve such kindness, but thank you.”
“I was going to! I just left your gift back at the dormitory!”
“You prepared something for me?”
Arin’s eyes lit up, and Woo Hyeon batted at her ear as if tickled by the eagerness.
“What, did you think I’d offer empty hands? I have some shame, you know.”
“I live and learn something new every day.”
Arin giggled and leaned her back against a pillar.
“Should I wait here?”
“You said you had so many people to see. Didn’t you say you were busy?”
“I always have time for a friend. That was just an excuse because I was feeling lazy.”
“You’re going to make me cry with gratitude. Wait here—I’ll be back in a flash.”
Woo Hyeon grumbled as she bolted toward the dormitory.
“Don’t run, you fool!”
“Unlike you, I don’t trip and fall.”
Woo Hyeon called back over her shoulder even as she picked up speed and vanished around the corner.
A gentle breeze stirred through the air.
As Arin waited, humming to herself and strolling through the garden, it happened.
Geumgeum came racing toward her from across the way, his face drained of all color.
* * *
Before Arin’s birthday banquet.
Yeo Ryeong was examining a branch she’d collected from a tree found in the forest.
‘Did this tree really attack you all?’
‘It really did. It’s strange though—why can’t I sense anything now?’
Unlike the accounts claiming the ginkgo tree had emanated sinister energy, it now carried an unmistakably pure aura.
That even Arin found it puzzling suggested the tree had purified its own malevolent energy.
“How peculiar.”
To be cautious, she’d sealed the tree and taken a branch, but nothing untoward had occurred.
Finding no unusual energy in the branch itself, she was about to dispose of it when—
The branch suddenly blackened as if rotting, and left its dark stain upon Yeo Ryeong’s hand.
A sharp cry escaped her.
Yeo Ryeong let it fall at the sudden pain, and the branch dissolved into the earth without a trace.
Only her darkened hand bore witness to what had been.
— Yeo Ryeong? What’s wrong—Ah!
By the time Geumgeum reached her responding to her cry, she had already collapsed.
* * *
Hearing that Yeo Ryeong had fallen, Arin made straight for the Temple Shrine.
“Hm?”
Yet contrary to Geumgeum’s alarming account, Yeo Ryeong was walking out of the Temple Shrine looking perfectly unharmed.
Arin’s eyes widened at the sight of her.
“Yeo Ryeong? Are you all right?”
“Hm? What brings you here, Arin?”
“I was told you’d collapsed…”
“I had?”
Yeo Ryeong turned to Geumgeum with a puzzled expression.
— You were lying unconscious on the platform just outside a moment ago.
“Perhaps I dozed off.”
— No, I’m sure of it. I heard you cry out. I tried to wake you, but you wouldn’t stir.
Geumgeum looked from Arin to Yeo Ryeong and back again, bewildered.
Yet for all her supposed collapse, Yeo Ryeong appeared utterly composed.
Yeo Ryeong offered a faint smile.
“It seems Geumgeum misunderstood something and troubled you.”
Geumgeum muttered something uncertain under their breath.
– Is that so? Hmm, but it wasn’t….
“I’m glad there’s nothing wrong, then.”
“Many of the Twelve Zodiac Animals will be going out today, so it would be difficult if you brought the child all the way here.”

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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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