The Granddaughter of the Manhyang Escort Agency Hides Her Magic - Chapter 30

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 30

At Danmi’s confirmation, Shin Ah jumped up from her seat and bounced around. She was so happy she couldn’t sit still.

It wasn’t like they had received a huge escort mission, but she was happy just knowing that Cheonrim would take on the role of Bogukgak instructor.

‘This means Grandfather is starting to trust Father again!’

Shin Ah felt sorry that her father had been pushed back from the front lines of the Escort Agency and was being ignored because of her.

It was also sad to see him receive Grandfather’s disappointed looks.

‘Finally, Father is getting his chance too!’

Cheonrim taking on the role of Bogukgak instructor meant not only that So Hyeokho had become interested in Shin Ah, but also that he was declaring his intention to bring Biwongak, which had been pushed out by the Escort Agency, back inside.

This development was good news for Biwongak and bad news for Yuwongak.

‘So Baekrim must be absolutely furious inside.’

Just thinking about it was satisfying.

Shin Ah kept bouncing around until she was out of breath, then stopped.

“This isn’t the time for me to be doing this!”

“Do you have something you need to do, Miss?”

Danmi, who had been following behind Shin Ah worried she might collapse, asked.

“Yes! Since Father became a Bogukgak instructor, I should give him a gift!”

“That’s a great idea. He’ll be so happy. But what will you make?”

“What should I give him that he’d like?”

“He’ll like anything. But wouldn’t it be better if it was something you made with your own hands?”

Shin Ah touched her chin and thought seriously.

‘What would be most needed when becoming a Bogukgak instructor?’

A good idea suddenly flashed in Shin Ah’s mind.

‘I’ll make that for Father’s gift! And while I’m at it, I should give Grandfather a gift too!’

She had already thought of what to give Grandfather.

Strike while the iron is hot, so Shin Ah hurriedly left her quarters.

* * *

Shin Ah had decided long ago what gift to give So Hyeokho.

It was Grandmother’s relic that Ilbi had lost two years ago.

So Hyeokho had loved his wife, An Jinjin, dearly. So much so that after she died, he refused escort missions for a year and stayed by her grave.

It was two years ago that Ilbi lost such a precious relic of An Jinjin while playing with it.

Because of that incident, Ilbi couldn’t step foot outside Yuwongak for quite some time.

It wasn’t just confinement in name only like this time.

Back then, to appease Grandfather’s anger, both Baekrim and Dang Mihee severely scolded Ilbi.

The relic that Ilbi lost held very significant meaning for So Hyeokho.

It was a ring he had bought with his first escort mission fee.

Though it wasn’t an expensive item, An Jinjin never took that ring off her finger for her entire life.

Then, just before she died, she passed it to her eldest daughter-in-law, Dang Mihee, and Ilbi lost it while playing with it.

‘Grandfather didn’t show his anger directly, but everyone knew. He was incredibly furious.’

Living her second life as So Shin Ah, she knew where Grandmother’s ring was.

‘It was found during construction work at Biwongak after Grandfather passed away.’

At that time, So Cheonrim had held the ring and cried endlessly.

Even though she didn’t have much affection for So Cheonrim back then, she felt sorry seeing his eyes all swollen from crying.

She couldn’t forget his grief-stricken face.

Both Grandmother’s ring and the place where it was found.

‘This time, let me find it before Grandfather passes away.’

Shin Ah was confident that Grandmother’s ring would be the perfect gift for Grandfather.

So she was about to look around Biwongak’s spacious courtyard with a small trowel in hand, but…

“Hmm.”

Now that she actually tried to search, it felt overwhelming.

“I thought our pavilion’s courtyard was small, but it’s big…”

The courtyard looked bigger now that Shin Ah had become smaller again.

“Will I be able to find it?”

Shin Ah’s confidence plummeted vertically.

‘I remember it was roughly under a tree near the wall… but what kind of tree was it?’

“Miss, what are you trying to do?”

Danmi asked with curious eyes.

“Playing house.”

Unable to say she was looking for Grandmother’s relic, Shin Ah made up an excuse.

Naturally, it was an absurd excuse.

Who plays house with nothing but a trowel?

But Danmi, being a loyal servant, believed Shin Ah’s words completely.

“Making rice with leaves and using stones as plates? That sounds fun! I’ll go gather some flat stones.”

“No. Help me dig the ground.”

“Pardon?”

“To play house, we need a house. Let’s clear the house site first.”

Whether Danmi made a tearful face at this ridiculous claim or not, Shin Ah diligently dug around the trees.

Her hands and clothes quickly became dirty and her hair became disheveled, but she didn’t care.

Her enthusiastic appearance was no different from a dog searching for a buried bone.

However…

Compared to her overflowing enthusiasm, a child’s stamina was pitiful.

After checking under two trees, she was exhausted enough to lose strength.

Sprawled in a corner and panting, Shin Ah suddenly felt wronged.

‘If only I could use Dig!’

One cast of ‘Dig,’ which creates holes by digging earth, could turn the entire Biwongak garden upside down in an instant.

But it was impossible for Shin Ah, who was only 2nd Circle, to cast earth magic that required at least 4th Circle.

‘But let me think, So Shin Ah. There’s always an answer in magic!’

The title of Great Mage wasn’t something you could receive just by reaching the 7th Circle.

You had to be able to use magic in the right place at the right time, sometimes link multiple spells to create new effects, or even create new magic.

It required genius, skill, and creativity.

‘Would I, who was praised as a genius that appears once in a hundred years with all those qualities, give up so easily!’

Shin Ah gathered her energy and pondered deeply.

‘Isn’t there some magic that could help find a ring underground?’

Then a brilliant idea occurred to her.

‘I’m not sure if this will work, but should I try?’

There was something she needed to do first.

“Danmi, I want to wash my hands.”

Shin Ah held out her dirty hands to Danmi.

“Your hands are a mess! I’ll clean them for you.”

Danmi pulled her sleeve to wipe Shin Ah’s hands. Shin Ah quickly hid her hands behind her back.

“Your clothes will get dirty. Bring a towel. That’s the only way to clean them properly.”

“Oh my, our Miss is so smart. I’ll prepare a wet towel! Please wait just a moment.”

Danmi disappeared with lightning speed.

‘There’s no chance of being caught, so let me try it now.’

Shin Ah stood at a distance from under the tree and concentrated on her Circle. Then vibrations from the Circle spread to her Dantian.

Now!

“Water Shoot!”

As soon as Shin Ah’s words fell, water like a waterfall from the sky… no, a thread-like stream of water fell down.

The plan to cause a flood and overturn the ground ended in a clean failure.

‘It’s not working yet.’

Even though no one was watching, Shin Ah felt embarrassed by the failure and stuck out her tongue slightly.

‘With insufficient mana, my body is suffering. Still, thanks to the ground getting damp, it’s easier to dig.’

Shin Ah tried to think positively as she crouched down and was about to thrust the trowel down when she hesitated.

An ant carrying food crumbs heavier than its own body caught her eye.

A flash of inspiration struck Shin Ah’s mind.

“That’s it!”

Handling mana was fundamentally about communion with nature. That’s why the first lesson in practical magic was learning the ‘Connect’ magic.

‘I was forgetting the most basic of basics!’

Connect magic had infinite applications depending on when and who used it. Usually, it was used to keep and raise companion creatures nearby.

Shin Ah had talent for Connect magic too. She just wasn’t very interested in it, so she only occasionally used animals when needed.

‘Let’s use ants to find grandmother’s relic. I should be able to control ants even now!’

Shin Ah was pleased with the brilliant idea that came to mind, but also felt bitter on the other hand.

She had been a Great Mage who commanded legions of lions and elephants, and now she was happy just controlling a single ant.

‘There’s a long way to go.’

Shin Ah let out a deep sigh as she watched the ant.

“Connect!”

As soon as she recited the spell, the ant flinched and dropped the food crumbs it was carrying.

‘I succeeded in one try!’

Shin Ah smiled and commanded the ant.

Giving direct commands to the ant’s brain was similar to sending telepathy, so even though it had been a while since she cast it, it wasn’t difficult.

「Find the ring.」

The ant burrowed into the ground.

‘Working together is more efficient.’

Even a blank sheet of paper is better when carried together.

Shin Ah spoke to the ant.

「Call your friends.」

Shortly after, other ants came rushing into the hole where Shin Ah’s controlled ant had entered.

The legion of ants marching in a line was as reliable as the elephant legions she had commanded in the past.

However, they say dust gathers to form a mountain.

No matter how small the ants were, controlling them as a group consumed not only her circle’s mana but also her internal energy, straining her body.

“Huff. I can’t collapse here.”

Shin Ah supported herself by pressing the trowel against the ground.

Even if she was going to collapse, it had to be after finding out the approximate location of the ring.

“Ants, hang in there!”

And I need to hang in there too!

Shin Ah took a deep breath and gathered her composure.

That’s when it happened.

The ant that had been leading sent a signal.

Shin Ah’s expression brightened.

“Found it!”

It was the moment when grandmother’s ring came into Shin Ah’s hands.

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