The Heavenly Demon Cult’s Strongest Maid - Chapter 33

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

Chapter 33

“Grandmother! What kind of old woman walks so fast!”

I practically ran as soon as I left Maeuigam, but I only caught up with Shin Geum when I was almost at the noodle shop.

“What? Seolha, is it really okay for you to come out like this?”

After being happy to see me for just a moment, Grandmother quickly switched to worry mode.

“The young master said I could rest just for today. Special vacation!”

“That Prince Lee has quite the personality, won’t he say something different later?”

“You felt that too, Grandmother?”

“Of course, I could tell at first glance. This guy is no pushover!”

“As expected of our Shin Geum! Your intuition is worth a hundred dan. Now you understand why I didn’t want to become his personal maid, right?”

“It’s fortunate there’s not much time left. When I heard he dragged you all the way to Sichuan, I almost went to wring that bastard’s neck!”

Recalling that time, Grandmother trembled as if it was horrifying and grabbed the back of her neck.

I quickly supported her, worried she might fall, and hurried inside the shop.

“Grandmother, here’s water. Drink some water!”

Whenever I was surprised or flustered, Grandmother would always make me drink water.

I copied exactly what she did and reassured her once more.

“As I said before, I came back safely, didn’t I? That’s all that matters. Why are you being so dramatic, unlike yourself? Where did all that fighting spirit you raised me with go? It’s not like I went somewhere dangerous.”

“Not dangerous? Sichuan territory?”

“Sichuan is famous for good public safety. If there are troublemakers, the Dang Family won’t just sit still. They say the Dang Family’s influence isn’t what it used to be, but Sichuan is still firmly under their control.”

“…So did you actually meet someone from that Dang Family?”

“Hey, we didn’t even visit the Dang Family, how could I! We just took care of the young master’s business and came right back. I couldn’t even properly sightsee the city.”

“You seem disappointed about that.”

“A little, I guess. Ah! But I did meet a guy who likes Dang Hye-un. Hehe.”

“Dang Hye-un?”

Thinking of Yeon U-seong, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“It’s a bit complicated to explain, but there was this guy I happened to meet. He apparently fell for Dang Hye-un at first sight or something.”

“Seolha, you’re talking as if you know Dang Hye-un well?”

Oops, did I get too excited?

At Grandmother’s observation, I smiled awkwardly and tried to cover up.

“Of course I don’t know her! I just heard her name.”

“From that guy who likes Dang Hye-un?”

“Yeah, something like that. She’s the current Dang Family head’s only daughter, right? She must be incredibly pretty.”

“She has a younger brother, so she’s not an only child.”

“Ah, right. ‘Only’ is used when there are no other children.”

I vaguely remembered learning that in Korean class.

“But how do you know that, Grandmother? That Dang Hye-un has a younger brother.”

“…I also heard it somewhere. The Sichuan Dang Family is that famous.”

“True, they’re a martial arts family that controls that vast Sichuan territory.”

I wish I had possessed the body of a noble daughter from a renowned family like the Dang Family instead.

Out of all the people, why a maid?

Though thanks to that, I did become family with our Shin Geum.

“But why did Prince Lee suddenly go to Sichuan? Did he have something good hidden there?”

“Hmm, you could say that.”

At my vague answer, one corner of Grandmother’s eye curved wickedly.

That was a warning sign of an incoming back smashing.

I quickly got to the point.

“Grandmother, do you know about the Black Market?”

“Black Market?”

“Yeah, that place is…”

I explained about the Black Market as if telling an adventure story.

And I told her about how Eok I-geon bought a sword there, and also bought Hong-hwan.

“Ta-da, this is it.”

“…This red bracelet cost how much?”

After hearing the price, Grandmother cursed for a while about money rotting away, just like I had done.

Then she asked several times if I was sure it was okay for me to keep wearing something so expensive.

“He said he’d break it if I didn’t accept it. So I had no choice.”

“What a nasty character.”

“Right? It’s terribly difficult to deal with him. But I don’t have to do that job much longer.”

“Seolha, are you really going to quit?”

“Of course! Five years is enough, what more should I do? I just want to live doing business with our Shin Geum. And travel sometimes too. Grandmother, you’ll come with me, right?”

“What about the shop?”

I knew she’d say that.

“We can close it temporarily and go. Don’t you know what rest is, Grandmother? People need to work while taking breaks to improve efficiency.”

“Stop talking nonsense and go wash up quickly. You must be hungry, so I’ll bring out some noodles and dumplings.”

It was almost time for the evening customers to rush in.

Before that, I needed to get some food in my mouth to improve our Shin Geum’s mood.

The thing Grandmother put the most effort into while raising me was feeding me until I was full.

She’d say even a well-fed ghost looks better.

“Wow, our Grandmother’s cooking is definitely the best!”

I didn’t realize it, but I must have been very hungry.

The moment I put Grandmother’s noodles in my mouth, I buried my nose in the bowl and frantically slurped up the noodles.

Then I suddenly remembered something I had put in my bundle.

“Oh right, Grandmother. I have something for you!”

“Something for me?”

“Yeah, I bought you a present.”

It was something I bought thinking of Grandmother when I went to get clothes for entering the Black Market.

It wasn’t much, but the moment I saw it, I thought it would suit Grandmother well and bought it impulsively.

“Here, please accept this!”

I swung my right hand in a big circle as if drawing a sword from its sheath and presented the gift to Grandmother.

“How is it? Pretty, right?”

“…You bought a hairpin? For this old woman?”

“This is what they call jade, Grandmother. When you think of Sichuan, you think of the Dang Family, right? What’s the Dang Family’s symbol? Green robes, green cloaks. In Sichuan, only Dang Family members can wear green clothes. So while I was in Sichuan, I bought this jade-colored shining hairpin! Something green seemed like it would make a good memento. By the way, I bought this with my own money, not the young master’s!”

I did well, right? Aren’t I precious?

After finishing my words, I smiled brightly waiting for Grandmother’s praise.

But somehow there was no response.

Surely she should be scolding me for spending money on unnecessary things, but Grandmother just held the hairpin in her hand and looked down at it without moving.

“What’s wrong, Grandmother? Don’t tell me you’re moved?”

I don’t know about before my possession, but anyway, today was the first time I had given Shin Geum something as a present.

“You’re not crying, are you?”

Grandmother had her head down, so I had to get close to see her face. When I leaned forward, Shin Geum quickly turned her body away.

“I think you just wiped tears with your hand.”

I clearly saw her wiping her eyes.

When I giggled and teased her, Grandmother got angry.

“You child, hurry up and finish your noodles! How much money do you make that you buy such expensive things? Aigoo, it’s so wasteful I could die!”

“Wow, when did you cry from being moved and when are you getting angry? Grandmother, I saw everything, you know? You’re completely happy inside but pretending you’re not!”

Getting moved to tears over just a hairpin.

Though I shouted along to reduce Grandmother’s embarrassment, my heart was also fluttering.

“Give me another plate of dumplings!”

At times like this, changing the subject is best.

Since Shin Geum was someone who only felt at ease when I had food in my mouth, I deliberately ate more than usual.

I’m probably the only person in the world who shows filial piety through overeating.

“Seolha, now that you’ve finished eating, go upstairs and rest. I’ll close up the evening business and then come up.”

“What are you talking about. I’ll help you.”

“I’ve been doing just fine by myself without you all this time, haven’t I? You must be tired from going all the way to Sichuan. Hurry up and go upstairs.”

“…Should I?”

Actually, after eating, drowsiness was washing over me.

Perhaps because of the relief of being home, I felt languid and wanted to take a good long nap.

“Then I’ll go upstairs, so when Grandmother comes, wake me up if I’m sleeping. Got it? I have something to tell her.”

“Alright, I understand, so hurry up and go rest.”

“Okay, Grandmother! Thank you!”

I gave Shin Geum a big kiss on the cheek and headed to the Upper Floor, my cozy nest.

How much time had passed since Seolha went upstairs?

Shin Geum, who had been lost in deep thought, suddenly stood up and went outside the Noodle Shop.

In her hands was a “Closed for Business” sign.

After locking the shop door and taking something from the kitchen, Shin Geum’s expression was completely different from before.

With a cautious yet resolute appearance, she walked up the stairs to the Upper Floor with determined steps.

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