The Beloved Baby Priestess of the Twelve Zodiac Gods - Chapter 95

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 95
At Mu Je’s assertion, Arin’s lips parted.
When his steady gaze struck down at her, she couldn’t find words.
“Mu Je…….”
She’d barely gathered the courage to ask what he meant when—
Mu Je’s brow furrowed as he spotted Woo Hyun approaching from a distance.
“The time’s gotten away from us.”
The fact that Woo Hyun appeared exactly on the appointed hour made clear his distaste for them being alone together.
Knowing he’d only prove troublesome if she stayed, she decided to slip away.
“Then I’ll see you next time.”
Mu Je took his leave first, departing with unhurried steps.
Arin, having lost her chance to ask, could only watch his receding figure grow distant.
* * *
[Since I’m in Geumho Village, I ought to see her face.]
Upon receiving a letter from Hong I Jin, So So set out for Geumho Village proper, her heart lifted with anticipation.
The place he’d suggested was a quiet restaurant with private booth seating—exactly the sort of establishment she’d wanted to visit.
“Father!”
The moment the attendant showed her to the room, Hong I Jin greeted her warmly.
“Welcome.”
“What brings you here? I was startled you came without warning.”
“I was curious how you were faring.”
As Hong I Jin gestured to a seat, So So settled beside him with a modest smile.
She turned to greet Ah Hyun as well.
“So you’ve come too, brother.”
“It’s been a while.”
Ah Hyun replied tersely, his gaze sliding past So So as though she barely registered.
Despite his cool reception, So So maintained her smile.
Since their admission to the Twelve Zodiac Academy, the two had grown distant—they’d scarcely exchanged words in months.
After the three of them had finished their meal together,
“Have you ever met the one they call the Priestess’s successor?”
At Hong I Jin’s offhand opening, So So stiffened.
It was a subject she most wished to avoid—and yet the very one she heard most often.
“She does come to the Academy frequently.”
“Have you spoken with her?”
“No. There’s someone who guards her so fiercely I haven’t managed to get close.”
So So trembled, recalling the humiliation she’d suffered at Arin’s birthday feast not long ago.
Meanwhile, Hong I Jin showed interest in the Provisional Goddess’s guard.
“Would that be one of the sons of the Gold Tiger Clan?”
“No. I heard it’s someone else attached to the Geumho Order. The Priestess personally appointed him to the task.”
“The Priestess chose him directly?”
The more Hong I Jin’s interest fixed on the Provisional Goddess, the more uneasy So So became.
‘He didn’t come to see me—he came because he’s curious about the Provisional Goddess.’
Her bright anticipation sank heavy as stone.
Wherever she went, talk of the little Priestess followed her; So So was thoroughly sick of it.
The way everyone gossiped made it only a matter of time before Arin revealed her true nature.
‘Should I just tell Father myself?’
So So was the only outside the inner circle who knew the little Priestess’s identity.
If she couldn’t avoid it, then providing the information to I Jin would earn his trust.
‘I’m not the worthless So So of before, after all.’
Even if Arin were to return to the Hong Family, So So’s position would remain secure.
Better still, striking Arin in the back before she could reveal herself at a time of her choosing seemed rather appealing.
Her resolve hardened, So So spoke with weighted meaning.
“Actually, Father, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you regarding the little Priestess.”
“What is it?”
“It’s about Arin. I’m quite certain that girl is the little Priestess.”
At the mention of Arin, even Ah Hyun—who’d been picking at the yangpung dessert—lifted his head sharply.
“That’s absurd! She can’t even manage Beast Transformation. How could someone who can’t use Twelve Zodiac Power be called a Provisional Goddess?”
Then Hong I Jin asked with a hardened expression.
“Have you a reason for thinking this?”
“Yes. I saw that girl in the company of the Priestess’s guard. From what I understand, that guard travels only with the Provisional Goddess.”
“Well, that makes sense—she’s from the Gold Tiger Clan too.”
Ah Hyun snorted dismissively.
“So now you’re trying to impress Father by doing every trick in the book?”
“Think about it. Before Baek Mu Je—the one they said was dying—went to Twelve Zodiac Village, where was he staying?”
“The Gold Tiger Clan is adjacent to Twelve Zodiac Village, so—”
“Then he’d have been better off staying in the village itself. There’s no reason to live with Arin and pick up that ridiculous ‘Half Companion’ insult.”
So So’s methodical rebuttals made Ah Hyun purse her lips.
“Still, a Priestess who can’t even perform Beast Transformation? It doesn’t make sense.”
Sensing his forced muttering, So So turned her gaze on Hong I Jin.
“Honestly, didn’t you find it strange too, Father? That Arin was registered with the Gold Tiger Clan?”
……
“It’s possible the Gold Tiger Clan knew all along and deliberately spirited her away. To take revenge on the Hong Family!”
Her subtle prodding gave Hong I Jin much to consider.
In truth, he’d also found Do Gyeong’s choice suspicious.
“Can you take responsibility for what you’re saying?”
“Of course. I’m part of the Hong Family—I wouldn’t provide information that could harm our house.”
If So So was right, if Arin truly was the Provisional Goddess, then the Hong Family had been deceived by both the Priestess and the Gold Tiger Clan.
Hong I Jin’s gaze turned sharp toward the Gold Tiger Clan.
“Then I’ll need to verify this myself.”
* * *
Meanwhile, Arin was examining the traces of the Black Horse Clan that Mu Je had provided.
Woo Hyun stayed close beside her, who wore the Silver Qi Robe.
“The Twelve Zodiac Village is enormous. Surely you’re not planning to inspect it piece by piece?”
Arin caught the doubt hidden beneath his courteous words and giggled.
“Don’t be ridiculous. I have a plan.”
What Arin was doing now was laying traps throughout the village.
To catch the sorcery lurking in the shadows, she needed a good lure—Divine Power.
“You seem busy yourself these days. Where do you keep running off to?”
“Do you think I have nothing else to do besides protecting the Priestess?”
“Be honest. You’ve been seeing someone lately, haven’t you?”
“Ha—honestly, is that all that fills your little head? It’s absurd.”
Woo Hyun, who had been speaking with proper courtesy, scoffed in disbelief.
Since they were alone anyway, there was no need for formality.
Arin responded just as she always did, unbothered.
“I saw something.”
“Saw what? Mind your own business.”
As Woo Hyun turned his head away roughly, Arin let out an exasperated sound.
“Such disrespect to the Priestess! You think I’ll just let that slide?”
At Arin’s complaint, Woo Hyun blinked.
It seemed she really had seen something.
“I may look like this, but I’m still the Priestess. If I set my mind to it, I can sense from far away who’s with whom.”
“Are you stalking me?”
“You weren’t visible when I was looking. I wasn’t deliberately following you.”
As Arin played innocent, Woo Hyun let out a hollow laugh.
Recently, he had been plotting with Do Gyeong and approaching Chung Yu Hee.
‘This Spirit Elixir really does seem to help stabilize the Spirit Core. But once you start taking it, you begin to show signs of addiction—I need to be careful.’
‘So she’s trying to addict me and control me like a puppet.’
‘While it’s excellent for stabilizing your power, I can’t recommend you take it.’
‘Are you getting cold feet too, old woman? I’m doing this no matter what. Don’t even try to stop me.’
Despite Yeo Ryeong’s concerns, Woo Hyun had consumed the stabilizer and had been making regular contact with Chung Yu Hee since.
His objective was to determine the recipe for the Spirit Elixir and the location of the laboratory.
Most importantly, Woo Hyun’s tactical goal was to identify the source of the monsters ravaging the nation.
“You’re not denying it, so it must be true.”
At Arin’s quiet murmur, Woo Hyun moved closer.
As his shadow suddenly fell across her, Arin looked up.
Woo Hyun asked casually, concealing his tension.
“Why? Does it bother you? Do I look good with women?”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————