The Heavenly Demon Cult’s Strongest Maid - Chapter 34

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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 34

“Ahh!”

I opened my eyes with a yawn that nearly split my mouth.

How long had it been since I’d seen the ceiling of my room?

It was the first time in my life that a ceiling felt so welcoming.

“Home really is the best. The quality of refreshment is different.”

It had been quite a while since my body felt this light without doing breathing exercises.

With my current condition, I felt like I could cross Sichuan in less than ten days.

“Is it thanks to Grandmother’s massage?”

As I casually stretched and got up, I suddenly remembered last night’s events.

I couldn’t remember exactly when it started.

While I was sleeping, Grandmother had begun massaging me, and I, who was about to wake up, fell back into deep sleep, intoxicated by the comfort.

It wasn’t anything special.

Grandmother, with her strong hands, often kneaded my body under the guise of health massage.

Sometimes I’d feel energized afterward, and occasionally my body would go limp like waterlogged cotton.

In Korea, I couldn’t afford to get even one massage, so this felt like such luxury.

“But I still haven’t been able to bring up what I need to say.”

She clearly told me to wake her when the shop closed, but I missed the timing due to the massage’s effects.

Really, our Shin Geum never listens.

“I have so much to tell her…”

What would Grandmother say if I confessed not only my current physical condition but also the fact that I learned martial arts from Eok I-geon and Cheonma? Surely she wouldn’t faint from shock?

No matter how bold Grandmother was, we were talking about Cheonma.

Wasn’t Shin Geum the one who always told me never to go near Cheonma?

Rather than confessing immediately, it seemed better to pick a day and tell her calmly.

Since there wasn’t much time left on my contract, it might be better to tell her after I quit.

“I should wash up and go to work.”

Today was the day Grandmother went to the dawn market.

It was a bit disappointing not to see her before she left, but thinking we’d meet again soon made me smile naturally.

That mood of mine vanished the moment I went downstairs.

Some unwelcome guest was eating my food without permission.

“Hey! Yang So-baek!”

I walked toward him, fuming.

“What are you doing? Why are you eating this!”

“I’m eating because I’m hungry. And what do you mean ‘eating’ to someone you’re going to marry?”

“What? Marriage?”

I was momentarily stunned by Yang So-baek’s nonchalant response.

“All the maids in the palace are saying so. That you and I have promised each other a future. Seolha, you said it with your own mouth, didn’t you?”

“That was… there were circumstances that made me say that.”

“Circumstances?”

“Yes! I told you I’d explain everything later.”

“When is this ‘later’? You went all the way to Sichuan following Prince Lee, didn’t you?”

Yang So-baek’s expression looked somewhat sulky as he put down his chopsticks.

“I’m Prince Lee’s dedicated maid. Do you think I went because I wanted to? I went reluctantly.”

“…Really?”

“What would I gain by lying to you?”

“True, there’s no reason for that.”

“Since we’re meeting anyway, I should tell you today. Listen carefully.”

I explained in considerable detail why I had no choice but to call Yang So-baek my lover.

“…So you used me to dispel the rumors about spending a night with Prince Lee?”

“No matter how much I told the truth, they wouldn’t believe me. What could I do? I had to lie to survive for now. Those ladies are really scary.”

“Why me, of all people?”

“Why you? Where else do I have friends besides you? And it’s quite realistic. A lover who just joined the Blood Shadow Unit. That’s what worked.”

“So I saved your life?”

“You could say that.”

“Then I should make a wish?”

“Huh?”

Suddenly, what wish?

The conversation seemed to be flowing in a strange direction, but by the time I sensed something was wrong, it was already too late.

“You know there’s a martial arts tournament at the school the week after next, right?”

“The one held every quarter?”

“I’m going to participate this time.”

“Oh, really? Congratulations! It’s already surprising that you joined the Blood Shadow Unit, but to think you’d even enter the martial arts tournament! Have you gotten promoted?”

“Come cheer for me then.”

“Cheering means… going to the tournament venue and shouting?”

“If you call out my name loudly, wouldn’t that give me strength?”

Well, sure. I could cheer. Between friends, that much should be done out of loyalty.

The problem was whether I could make time for it.

Because I was Eok I-geon’s dedicated maid.

“Why aren’t you answering? Won’t you cheer for me?”

“No, I should. But will I have time? You know I’m bound to Geonyeong-gak.”

It was uncertain whether I, who had to attend to Eok I-geon, would have time to go watch the martial arts tournament.

“Prince Lee will also be observing. So don’t worry about time.”

“Really? Are you sure about that?”

Since this was my first time as a dedicated maid, I didn’t know that much.

“If that’s the case, then I understand. I’ll go.”

Since I owed him a debt, I decided to concede this much.

Actually, I was secretly curious about the martial arts tournament too.

Until now, I thought it had nothing to do with me and didn’t even pay attention, but perhaps because I’d learned martial arts, my curiosity was piqued.

Wasn’t this a scene that regularly appeared in martial arts novels?

The story where an unknown master enters and defeats famous figures one after another to win.

Ah, I should have been that protagonist.

Unfortunately, maids didn’t have the right to participate.

Even if they did, I wouldn’t have entered anyway, but still, a pointless bitterness washed over me.

“Shin Seolha, you promised, right? You must come and cheer for me!”

“You just focus on preparing for the tournament properly. I’ll be cheering hard, but if it ends in just a few exchanges, you know what happens, right? If you embarrass me, I’ll really kill you!”

“Just wait and see! I’ll definitely win and tell you.”

“Tell me? Tell me what?”

“There’s something like that.”

Why is your voice suddenly getting lower?

The way you’re looking at me seems a bit suggestive too, but that’s probably just my imagination, right?

“Hey, don’t eat everything! Leave some for me!”

Time was delayed because of talking with him.

I quickly washed up, came back, hastily shoved food into my mouth, and left the house with Yang So-baek.

“Going to work together like this feels strange, doesn’t it?”

“It is a bit odd. The more I think about how you joined the Blood Shadow Unit with your skills, the more amazing it seems.”

“Hey, again! I’m not the Yang So-baek of old!”

“Did you get some kind of fortune? Even your martial arts school master told you to give up.”

Liking something and being good at it are completely different things.

Yang So-baek was the one who demonstrated this firsthand.

The guy who said he’d become the greatest master in the Martial Arts World unfortunately lacked talent.

So I repeatedly advised him to look into other career paths, but he wouldn’t budge from his stubbornness.

Yang So-baek probably failed the Blood Shadow Unit exam more than ten times.

So you can imagine how surprised and bewildered I was when he actually passed?

Of course, I was happy for him.

It was what my only childhood friend had wanted so desperately.

The problem was that I needed to convince him to quit the Blood Shadow Unit soon, but I doubted he’d listen obediently.

“I suppose you could call it a fortuitous encounter.”

“Huh? Really?”

I was genuinely shocked when he eagerly agreed to what I’d said offhandedly.

But the next moment, what I felt was murderous intent.

“In other words, you could also call it enlightenment.”

“….”

“Should I say it’s a moment that comes to everyone who practices martial arts? That day came to me like destiny.”

“Hey, tone down the pretense. You look really annoying right now, you know?”

“Envy and jealousy always follow talent like mine. I’ve decided to humbly accept it.”

Wow, this bastard has completely lost it.

How can someone be this intoxicated with self-absorption?

Sometimes he’s like a research subject.

“Oh, come to think of it, later you…!”

It was when Yang So-baek was about to tell me something.

“Are you Prince Lee’s personal maid?”

A man walking toward us from across the way suddenly asked me.

His rough tone aside, his eyes were particularly sharp.

I could feel killing intent as if he might draw his sword and cut my throat at any moment.

Overwhelmed by his intimidating presence and unable to speak readily, Yang So-baek stepped forward in my place.

“Who are you? Who do you think you are to block the road and speak such rude words!”

“That’s none of your business.”

Thwack!

“Ugh!”

It was just a single kick.

Without any chance to defend, the man’s foot struck Yang So-baek’s abdomen, and he flew backward, hitting the wall and losing consciousness.

While it wasn’t too fast to see, I could sense that this wasn’t the man’s best effort.

“You need to come with me.”

Whoosh!

How ridiculous.

Do you think I’ll go flying from your palm wind just because you wave your sleeve?

I’ll have you know I’m someone who learned Mahu’s martial arts.

For now, I decided to escape using Mabang Bicheongang.

“Sniff sniff!”

But what’s this?

This pungent smell?

…Huh? Why am I getting dizzy?

Suddenly my vision spun. The man slung me over his shoulder like a piece of luggage as I staggered.

Only then did I realize I’d been drugged.

The gradual onset of drowsiness suggested it was an anesthetic.

Damn it.

My antidote.

It’s in my pocket…

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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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