The Granddaughter of Manhyang Escort Bureau Hides Her Magic - Chapter 83

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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 83

Mugyeol’s pupils trembled.

The child moistened his dry lips with his tongue, then gathered his emotions and asked calmly.

“Do I have to leave?”

“Don’t you want to leave?”

“My feelings don’t matter. Would it be better for the young miss if I left? Please tell me.”

Cheonrim’s heart ached at the calm tone.

Mugyeol was at an age where he should be whining for delicious food, wanting to play more, asking to be held.

But the child had learned to abandon his desires and erase his emotions.

That’s why Cheonrim felt a heavy weight in his heart whenever he looked at Mugyeol, like a stone had been placed there.

‘I thought it was because we weren’t blood-related, but that wasn’t it.’

It was because Mugyeol had the eyes of an old man who had lived through everything.

Because of the guilt of not being able to protect the child’s innocence, because those eyes filled with regret seemed to reproach him.

“Mugyeol, may I hug you once?”

Startled, Mugyeol rolled his large eyes around.

Cheonrim spread his arms wide. Mugyeol got down from where he was sitting and approached carefully. Then he leaned slightly into Cheonrim’s embrace.

Cheonrim pulled the small body tightly into his arms.

Mugyeol’s small hand wandered before grasping Cheonrim’s collar.

“Well done.”

Cheonrim stroked the back of Mugyeol’s head.

The child’s body had that warm, comforting scent typical of children his age.

‘Such a small, young child, yet carrying such a heavy burden on his shoulders.’

He didn’t know what burden Mugyeol carried, but he hoped it would become even a little lighter.

“Think only of yourself. Think carefully about what would be best for you and decide. Whether you stay here or leave, I’ll be behind you.”

“You will, Branch Leader? Why?”

“Because that’s what adults should do.”

Mugyeol closed his mouth.

What was the child thinking right now?

Cheonrim looked up at the ceiling and muttered to himself.

‘I’m sorry, Chifung.’

Protecting the child was more important than keeping promises with friends.

* * *

Back at the bottom of the cliff, Mugyeol stared intently at Chifung.

Chifung read the greed stirring behind those dark pupils.

Mugyeol had a heavenly constitution and already possessed more than sixty years’ worth of internal energy in his body.

That alone put the child in a dangerous state.

How many were there who desired power?

If Mugyeol’s value became known, everyone from the escort agency lord to petty criminals of the dark path, and even the Demon Cult leader in the distance, would target the child.

If he couldn’t establish the right path within himself, there was a high possibility of being swayed by such external influences.

The child was even greedy. Whether that greed was directed toward power was still unknown, but his ravenous nature was certain.

If he embraced wrong beliefs, he would become a dangerous person, so Chifung intended to help him develop the right beliefs as much as possible.

‘Well, I can’t exactly call myself a righteous person either.’

He seemed to hear his master’s tongue-clicking from somewhere.

“Mugyeol, come with me.”

Chifung extended his hand again.

Mugyeol pressed his lips together firmly.

‘Huh? His reaction is different from last time?’

Last time, Mugyeol had run away as soon as he mentioned leaving.

But this time, not only was he staying put, he was actually contemplating.

‘He must have talked with Cheonrim. Someone who’s raised a child really is different.’

Chifung was admiring his friend’s skill when it happened.

“Could you… give me a little more time?”

“What?”

“I need time, Teacher.”

The corners of Chifung’s mouth curved upward.

“Yes, as much as you need.”

It seemed he would be leaving the escort agency sooner than expected.

* * *

The sun was setting in the west. It was time for the Chang’an Branch to close.

“Get plenty of rest and see you the day after tomorrow!”

Tomorrow was the Chang’an Branch’s first holiday.

While the porters had been taking turns resting one day at a time, this was Shin Ah’s first break.

“From now on, I’m going to rest and do absolutely nothing!”

She made a firm resolution, but her surroundings wouldn’t cooperate.

“Are you the Chang’an Branch leader?”

Five or six merchants had rushed to the Chang’an Branch in a group.

Among the group of merchants looking for the Chang’an Branch leader was Ga Moyeon from Soso Restaurant.

And they were all familiar faces.

‘These are people who receive deliveries from our branch.’

Shin Ah was annoyed by their attitude of speaking informally right off the bat, but she bowed first.

“Hello. I’m So Shin Ah, the Manhyang Express Temporary Chang’an Branch leader and apprentice Escort Warrior.”

“App… apprentice? Then you’re not the person in charge here?”

“I am the person in charge. But now that I’ve introduced myself, shouldn’t you introduce yourselves too? From what I can see, you’re all merchants, yet you don’t know the basics of business.”

Give and take.

“Oh right! That’s true! Well, let us introduce ourselves. You must have seen us when you came to make deliveries, but we’re merchants who receive goods from the Chang’an Branch. I’m Musik, the general manager of Sohyang Pavilion, and over there is…”

The introductions went on for quite a while, but they never mentioned why they had come. Shin Ah waited for them to finish speaking before asking.

“Yes. But what brings you here?”

“We came because we have a favor to ask of you.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t accept favors.”

When Shin Ah flatly refused, cracks appeared on the adults’ faces.

“Why? How come? Child, you shouldn’t turn away from people in need!”

Shin Ah snorted at Musik’s scolding tone.

“First of all, sir, you’re looking down on me. You’re speaking down to me and intimidating me, so I don’t get the impression that you’re in trouble. Rather, I’m the one who should be asking the people around me for help, don’t you think?”

“Th-that’s my fault. I was anxious and spoke to you that way, but I wasn’t angry.”

Even while apologizing, he still treated Shin Ah like a child. Shin Ah sighed.

Then Ga Moyeon, the owner of Soso Restaurant who had been standing nearby, stepped forward.

“I’m sorry, Branch Leader. Could you please listen to our story?”

When she made the request politely, Musik and the other men frowned. They seemed reluctant to show respect to a child.

Shin Ah looked at Ga Moyeon with indifferent eyes.

‘Juhwa said she received a lot of help from her.’

Knowing the story between Ga Moyeon and Juhwa, Shin Ah couldn’t ignore her words.

“Only Owner Ga, please come inside.”

When Shin Ah spoke, the group of merchants stirred.

“I can’t give you much time. One moment, tell me what you want within that time. And I don’t accept favors. I only make deals. If you don’t like that, just leave.”

Shin Ah entered the shop without even listening to the merchants’ response.

She wanted to ignore them and go home to rest, but even if she was only partially involved, a client was still a client.

‘I’ll at least listen to what they have to say.’

When Shin Ah cleared her throat and sat down on a chair inside the shop, Ga Moyeon entered.

“Let’s skip the greetings.”

Ga Moyeon quickly nodded her head.

“I’ll start with my thanks. Thanks to you delivering fresh food ingredients, our sales have increased significantly.”

“That’s probably just selling three or four more dishes a day. In the future, it’ll be double or triple that.”

Ga Moyeon’s cooking skills would soon spread by word of mouth. No, Shin Ah would make sure the word spread.

‘I should gather some loose-lipped porters soon and have them eat a meal at Soso Restaurant.’

Porters didn’t just move goods. They also moved rumors.

In fact, escort agencies sometimes used porters to create or spread rumors. All for the success of escort missions.

Shin Ah planned to use that method in other ways as well.

“Will such a day really come?”

“It will come.”

“I hope it does.”

Ga Moyeon smiled slightly and continued speaking.

“The reason we came here is because we want to obtain those miraculous boxes.”

“Miraculous boxes?”

“The boxes for storing food ingredients. The ones you use for deliveries. When we put food ingredients in them, they miraculously stay fresh for a long time.”

The merchants were calling the package boxes that Shin Ah had enchanted with cold preservation magic “miraculous boxes.”

‘I should come up with a name.’

“Cold storage chest, cold storage box, cold storage container, cold storage… how about Short Ice Storage?”

“What did you just say?”

“Short Ice Storage would be better. That’s what you’re looking for. It’s not a miraculous box, it’s a Short Ice Storage.”

“So it was a named item after all. Where are they made? Since they contain cold energy, are they perhaps items from the Northern Sea Ice Palace?”

Northern Sea Ice Palace, what nonsense.

If it had been an item from the Northern Sea Ice Palace, they would never have allowed it to be used as mere package boxes.

They would have shouted their signature “Gal!” while scolding about using their power for such trivial purposes.

“That’s not it. It’s a trade secret, so I can’t tell you. But why are you looking for Short Ice Storage?”

“We were wondering if we could store grains, beans, dried vegetables and such in them. They develop a musty smell when stored for long periods.”

Items like grains and beans were typically purchased in large quantities since they were easy to store. Due to their long storage periods, rice weevils would inevitably appear, mice would swarm, or musty odors would develop.

‘I hadn’t thought about using them for grain storage, but it wouldn’t be bad.’

However, there was a problem. The Short Ice Storage that Shin Ah could create at her current level had a short cooling maintenance time.

‘I’ve reached the 5th Circle level, but that doesn’t mean I can use 5th Circle magic freely.’

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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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