The Heavenly Demon Cult’s Strongest Maid - Chapter 126

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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 126

‘Oh, no?’

Eok I-geon’s head tilted down slightly. His gaze was directed precisely at my hand holding his.

Eok I-geon’s eyes, which had been glaring at Namgung San as if to kill him, were now blazing fiercely.

‘What should I do. He must be displeased…’

That was the maximum display of friendliness I could manage, and I’d ruined it.

What kind of confidence was I even thinking with?

There’s no way Eok I-geon would open his heart so easily.

“Ahaha.”

At times like this, I needed to act quickly and naturally.

I hurriedly withdrew my hand before my wrist could fly off and quickly changed the subject.

“By the way, why is the young master of the Namgung Family alone in these mountains?”

Everyone besides me was probably curious about this too.

As they say, know yourself and know your enemy, and you’ll win a hundred battles.

You’re all watching, right?

I’m not doing this for no reason.

I’m gathering intelligence.

You know that, right? Right?

I gave my response some justification and boldly asked Namgung San directly.

“I was challenging myself to stand on my own.”

“Standing on your own?”

“Yes, I can’t grow up to be a frog in a well.”

“Ah, I see.”

I understood what he meant.

So this pampered young master had set out alone to learn about the world.

And then got lost and ended up in this state.

“Have some more of this.”

He must have been very hungry, as he’d already devoured one skewer of meat.

I proactively offered him another piece of meat so he wouldn’t feel embarrassed.

“Thank you.”

Namgung San didn’t refuse and immediately brought the meat to his mouth.

Like a child from a well-educated family, he ate very deliciously without making any smacking sounds.

But his speed was incredibly fast.

Just like someone I knew.

I casually passed him another skewer without saying anything.

Then Namgung San smiled brightly and eagerly accepted it again.

“The meat is really delicious! Did you season it yourself?”

“Yes, I carry it around in case we need to camp outdoors.”

I showed him Sook’s special seasoning container.

“Ah, that’s really an excellent idea. I should do that from now on too.”

Namgung San nodded as if he’d gained profound enlightenment while looking at the seasoning container.

At that moment, why did I do it?

I impulsively held out the seasoning container to him.

“Here.”

“…?”

“Take it. I’ll give it to you.”

“N-no! How could I take such precious seasoning from someone I just met…”

Namgung San seemed quite flustered by my kindness.

It is precious like you said, but not so precious that I can’t give it away.

So just take it, okay?

“You said you’re practicing standing on your own. Since we met like this, it’s fate, so I’ll give it to you as a gift.”

“But…”

“By the way, we have plenty of seasoning.”

I added this to ease Namgung San’s burden. Of course, it wasn’t a lie but actual fact.

‘Our Sook is quite generous.’

“Then I’ll shamelessly accept it. I don’t know how to express this gratitude…”

You should be very grateful to me.

You’re going to get lost a lot more in the future.

This seasoning container will be very useful each time.

Seeing him going hungry, I wished I could teach him hunting methods or meat preparation techniques while we’re at it, but that would have to be skipped due to time constraints. It’s not my area of expertise either.

Perhaps because I felt too sorry watching Namgung San struggle in the original story, I found myself wanting to give him something more without realizing it.

‘I do like righteous characters…’

Seeing the young man with teary eyes repeatedly expressing gratitude only made me feel more sorry for him.

“Here. We have plenty of meat, so eat as much as you want.”

“Miss…”

Oh my, he’s moved.

As expected, nothing beats food when it comes to winning people over.

The perfect example was right next to me.

I smiled brightly and diligently served the meat, and Namgung San eagerly devoured whatever I gave him.

But why doesn’t he show any suspicion?

What if I had poisoned the meat?

I couldn’t tell if he was pure because he was new to Gangho, or if he had an eye for recognizing good people.

“But aren’t you and your companions going to eat?”

“No, we should eat too.”

Perhaps getting full, Namgung San belatedly looked back at us.

I bit into a skewer and gestured to Cheon-gang and Seo-ryeon to hurry up and eat.

…I didn’t dare look at Eok I-geon because he seemed scary.

Crackle. Crackle.

Like that, we enjoyed the wild boar meat to our heart’s content while watching the campfire burn, as if enjoying our last supper.

“Thanks to you, I survived. I will definitely repay the kindness I received today, so could you tell me your name?”

“…My name?”

“Yes. What might have been just a small act of kindness from a passing stranger who couldn’t ignore me is no different from a life-saving grace to me. If it weren’t for you, miss, I shudder to imagine spending several more days starving like this. I really want to repay you, so if it’s not rude, please tell me your name.”

What a fuss, calling it life-saving grace just because I gave him some food.

I knew he was the model student type, but he was more rigid than I thought.

Well, it should be fine to tell him my name at least.

“It’s Tak Seolha.”

“Tak Seolha…”

Namgung San quietly murmured my name twice as if he would never forget it.

Snap!

Then I heard the sound of something breaking.

‘Oh my!’

When I turned around in surprise, Eok I-geon had an extremely patient expression on his face.

In his hands was an empty skewer that had been snapped in half.

‘…Is that a warning to wrap things up appropriately?’

If Eok I-geon had an outburst right now, there would be no solution.

I quickly spoke up to get Namgung San to safety.

“You said you got lost earlier, right? Where is your destination? If it’s somewhere I know, I’ll tell you.”

“Miss Tak, you truly are my benefactor. Do you happen to know which way to go to reach Henan Province, Hangseong County?”

Namgung San asked with delight. For him, who was directionally challenged, this must have been like a ray of light.

But where did he say he was going?

“…Henan Province, Hangseong County?”

“Yes, there isn’t much time left. My companions are waiting there.”

I wondered who Namgung San’s companions might be.

And why, of all places, was his destination the same Hangseong County as mine?

My questions didn’t last long.

Because it was obvious.

‘Now I see you have the same purpose as us, don’t you?’

The moment Namgung San mentioned Hangseong County, Cheon-gang and Seo-ryeon subtly exchanged glances.

They were surely thinking the same thing I was.

As for Eok I-geon, he was already exceptionally sharp-minded, so there was no need to even look.

‘Hwangbo Un, we need to get to that witness uncle quickly.’

Not only the late-born child, but his existence was also very important to Grandmother.

“Hangseong County is…”

Just as I was pretending to ponder and trailing off my words.

“It’s that way.”

“If you go straight in that direction, you should arrive safely by tomorrow.”

Seo-ryeon and Cheon-gang pointed to the same place as if they had made a pact, explaining helpfully.

And that direction was, naturally, completely opposite to Hangseong County.

“Ah, is that so?”

Such innocent naivety, believing it without a shred of doubt.

“I know it’s rude, but I think I should get going now. As I mentioned, time is of the essence.”

“Yes, yes, that’s perfectly fine.”

Rude, my foot.

Once you’ve filled your belly, you leave.

Having all five of us camping out here would be more uncomfortable anyway.

“I’m sorry this is all I have to give you, young lady.”

“…Pardon?”

Just as Namgung San seemed ready to depart immediately, he suddenly removed a gold-rimmed turquoise stone from the tassel hanging on his sword hilt and offered it to me.

“What is this?”

“It’s an emblem given only to direct descendants of the main family. The blue color represents the sky of Namgung.”

“How could you give such a thing to me…?”

“If you ever pass through Anhui Hefei in the future, please visit us. If you show this emblem, you’ll be able to enter and leave the main house freely without any special inspection.”

In simple terms, it’s like a master key to enter and leave the Namgung Family, right?

But would I ever have occasion to go there?

Once Grandmother’s case is resolved, I’ll return straight to the Demonic Sect.

Grandfather and Master are both waiting for me, and I still have so much left to learn.

“Then I’ll really be going now.”

When I accepted the emblem, Namgung San brightened and rose from his seat.

“Miss Tak.”

“Yes, Young Master Namgung.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

“…Yes.”

Well, that’s up to you.

“…?”

Um, aren’t you leaving?

Contrary to his words, Namgung San didn’t readily move.

Thinking he might be getting scared in advance about losing his way again, I looked up at him and flinched.

…Why are his eyes like that?

A strange expression had settled on his face, which had been upright all along.

A somewhat eerie and inexplicably stubborn gleam was reflected in his eyes.

The faint smile playing around his lips and his clinging gaze felt like encountering a stalker.

After staring directly at me for that brief moment, Namgung San politely cupped his hands in salute and disappeared from before us.

‘Ugh, creepy! Gross!’

Who would have thought there’d be another person besides Eok I-geon who could make my hair stand on end.

Until I spread out my blanket and fell asleep, I couldn’t forget Namgung San’s final expression.

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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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