The Granddaughter of the Manhyang Escort Agency Hides Her Magic - Chapter 51

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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 51

“You could get hurt too.”

Shin Ah tightly grasped Mugyeol’s hand.

“We’re still young and weak.”

Who had designated the Iron Needle Bees as the package had not yet been revealed.

Shin Ah suspected Yuwon Pavilion.

‘If Yuwon Pavilion is trying to interfere with me?’

They would definitely make their move in this test too.

So let’s be careful.

Shin Ah looked up at Juhwa and Chilseon while still holding Mugyeol’s hand tightly.

She couldn’t let these people who had been with her get unnecessarily involved.

Now they had to part ways.

It was still impossible to protect all three of them if an emergency situation arose.

The same went for So Cheondo, who had agreed to work together as an escort warrior.

“We should part ways here. As you know, the third test consists of one Manhyang Express escort warrior and two Jaengjeasu candidates per team.”

“Yes, I know. Chilseon and I decided to team up together.”

Juhwa said.

“You haven’t decided on an escort warrior separately, have you?”

Only So Ilbi and So Mando had secured escort warriors to team up with in advance, like Shin Ah.

The two had teamed up with escort warriors of outstanding skill from the escort agency through So Baekrim’s arrangements.

The other Jaengjeasu candidates would team up with one of the Manhyang Express escort warriors on the day of the test.

“No. We don’t know anyone to begin with.”

Juhwa drooped her shoulders.

She had wanted to stay with Shin Ah until the end, but it was disappointing that she couldn’t.

Still, she couldn’t throw a tantrum asking Shin Ah to abandon Mugyeol and team up with her instead.

Juhwa also knew well that Mugyeol, who had learned martial arts, would be more helpful to Shin Ah than herself.

‘Seeing him train this morning, he was incredible.’

Even to Juhwa, who knew nothing about martial arts, Mugyeol’s movements looked disciplined and powerful.

‘He could probably catch at least a wild boar.’

Juhwa, who was sharp with calculations but not selfish, knew when to step back when she might cause harm to others.

“Then among the volunteer escort warriors.”

Shin Ah stopped speaking and looked around.

“Look for someone with the surname An.”

After confirming no one was listening, Shin Ah gave advice, hoping things would go well for Juhwa and Chilseon.

Escort Warrior An, An Jeonghan, was the most excellent person among the escort warriors assigned to protect and observe the Jaengjeasu candidates this time, except for So Cheondo.

Both his skills as an escort warrior and his character were outstanding.

However, there was one thing he couldn’t do.

Sweet talk.

In her previous life, Shin Ah had heard others gossip about Escort Warrior An.

‘Oh my, that mouth of his! They say words can repay even a million gold, but Escort Warrior An always incurs a million debts with his words. Why does he only speak such upright words? What use is it for an escort warrior to be so straight as bamboo? Will he get promoted that way?’

They mocked Escort Warrior An, saying that despite being skilled enough to belong to Yuwon Pavilion, he went to Secret Garden Pavilion because he was too poor at sweet talk.

‘Thanks to that, Juhwa and Chilseon will survive.’

Shin Ah thought it was a good thing.

“Someone surnamed An? Got it!”

Juhwa accepted Shin Ah’s advice without any doubt.

“Then let’s all meet in three days.”

Shin Ah bid them farewell. Right on cue, a horn sounded.

One hour remained until the test began.

* * *

“Shin Ah!”

So Cheondo, who had been waiting for Shin Ah since dawn, rushed over as soon as he spotted her.

“Big brother!”

Shin Ah also ran out happily. So Cheondo lifted his little sister up in his arms.

Held in So Cheondo’s arms, Shin Ah’s eyes narrowed as she looked around.

‘Did big brother get taller?’

The scenery looked different from when she was held before.

Until recently, when So Cheondo held her, the wall was at eye level, but now it was below her eyes.

‘Mugyeol is…’

Shin Ah’s gaze naturally drifted to Mugyeol.

Looking down at Mugyeol’s tiny head, Shin Ah let out a quiet sigh.

‘When is Mugyeol going to grow?’

The current child was so small it was hard to believe he was the same person as the Mugyeol she had seen before dying.

‘At this rate, won’t he just never grow? What did he eat in his past life to get so big? Anyway, after the test ends, I need to get him some good food.’

She had brought him to Secret Garden Pavilion with the intention of feeding and raising him well, but it bothered her that she seemed to have only made him suffer with training and Jaengjeasu tests.

“Our Shin Ah, your face has become half its size in just one night.”

While Shin Ah worried about Mugyeol, So Cheondo worried about Shin Ah.

“No, big brother. More importantly, the escort uniform really suits you!”

Dressed in the escort uniform of green silk with a purple sash, his already handsome face seemed to glow.

So Cheondo smiled brightly.

“Father had one made for me. He prepared clothes for you too, so let’s do our best.”

So Cheonrim firmly believed that Shin Ah would pass the Jaengjeasu test.

“Yes! Big brother, what’s our package?”

The package to be protected in the Jaengjeasu test was supposed to be picked up by the escort warrior.

This was why So Cheondo, who had woken up at dawn, didn’t come looking for Shin Ah right away but came to the examination hall in the morning.

“Here, it’s in this bundle. They didn’t tell us what the package is.”

Secretly looking was also forbidden.

Now they had to cherish this bundle, worrying if it would fly away in the wind, slip down if shaken, or break if dropped.

“At least it’s not liquid.”

So Cheondo put Shin Ah down and gently shook the bundle. If it were liquid, there would be a sloshing sound, but it was quiet.

“Seeing how it’s wrapped in cloth, it might be porcelain.”

Shin Ah reached out her hand.

Since it wasn’t very heavy, So Cheondo readily handed over the bundle.

“Could it be empty inside?”

When Shin Ah tapped it, they could hear the sound of empty space echoing. Shin Ah and So Cheondo looked at each other.

“A box?”

“That’s possible too. Whatever it is, we need to be careful not to break it. You’ll take care of the package, big brother?”

“Of course.”

Usually it was the Jaengjeasu’s job to carry packages, but this was a test. It was right for the person who could protect the package most safely to carry it.

That person was So Cheondo, not Shin Ah, for now.

So Cheondo took the bundle back from Shin Ah and led the way, followed by the prepared Mugyeol and Shin Ah.

“Oh, looks like you’re all ready already?”

Just then, So Mando appeared swaggering and blocked So Cheondo’s path.

“You already got your package? Well, I guess you’d have to be diligent. If you’re going to move with an escort warrior who has no escort mission experience, right?”

So Mando mocked So Cheondo’s group.

Do you have experience doing that?

Shin Ah snorted.

“But Shin Ah, why did you choose Cheondo as your escort warrior? Do you actually want to pass this test? Even though he’s an escort warrior…”

Mando looked Cheondo up and down and raised the corner of his mouth.

“He’s just an apprentice after all, isn’t he?”

“Thanks for your concern, Mando. For your sake in worrying about me, I’ll make sure to help Shin Ah and Mugyeol pass the Jaengjeasu test. As you said, I’m a beginner so I’m in a hurry, so I should get going now. I wish you good luck too.”

Cheondo spoke kindly while controlling his emotions, not wanting to cause a disturbance.

Mando’s upper lip twitched.

Seeing Cheondo maintain his composure made his insides twist.

“Well then, do your very best. But do you know this? When protecting packages, there’s no hierarchy or family.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Cheondo glared at Mando.

“What meaning could there be? Just be careful.”

It didn’t sound like simple advice. It sounded like a warning, or rather a threat.

The area under Cheondo’s eyes twitched.

He was well aware that Mando viewed him and Shin Ah unfavorably.

He had also learned, though belatedly, that Mando had continuously harassed Shin Ah.

Still, he believed they would maintain boundaries as family. He thought they would at least know what was best for the Escort Agency as members of it. He had hoped for fair play in the test at minimum.

But looking at how he spoke, he was wrong.

‘I overestimated Mando.’

Cheondo sighed and stared intently at Mando.

As his evaluation of Mando changed, his gaze changed too.

The warm aura that naturally emanated from him disappeared completely, leaving only coldness.

“What? Why? Why are you glaring at me? Even when I give advice, you act like this. Ilbi, did I say something wrong? In previous tests, people got seriously hurt fighting over packages. Before that, someone even became disabled. You heard about it too, right?”

When Cheondo and Shin Ah ignored him, Mando dragged Ilbi into it.

Ilbi, who had been watching Shin Ah the whole time, slowly nodded.

“That’s right, brother. In the deep mountains, anything could happen.”

Ilbi walked forward to Shin Ah and firmly grasped her hand.

Ilbi’s hand felt eerily cold.

“Be careful, Shin Ah.”

Ilbi put strength into their clasped hands.

The intention to intimidate was clear, but Shin Ah didn’t even twitch an eyebrow.

Instead, with a bright smile, she patted the back of Ilbi’s hand and said.

“You be careful too. And Brother Mando, thanks for the advice. I’ll remember that when protecting packages, there’s no hierarchy or family.”

Shin Ah suddenly pulled the clasped hand. In an instant, Ilbi lost balance and swayed toward Shin Ah.

At the shortened distance, Shin Ah whispered into Ilbi’s ear.

“Protect your package well. Take good care of your body too. I don’t know what foolish scheme you’re planning, but it would be better to do nothing. I won’t hold back anymore.”

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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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