Home/The Beloved Young Divine Child of the Twelve Zodiacs/ch 56

Chapter 56

"For various reasons, I'm here secretly—so pretend you don't know me. Don't call me 'Your Highness'—just call me Muje."

"How could I dare speak your revered name?"

"It's an order."

"Then I must obey as a subject. Muje, then."

"I didn't say to speak informally."

"Young Master Muje, this way."

Jeya pointed to the side gate. Annoyed by his loquaciousness, Muje entered first and extended a hand to Arin.

"Watch your step—there's a ledge."

"Thank you."

Seeing that gentle gesture, Jeya's expression turned sly.

"By the way, this lovely young lady is the friend of Young Master Muje? May I ask which house she belongs to?"

"That's a secret. But my name is Arin."

Arin answered cheerfully, and Jeya chuckled.

"I see. I love mysteries. Judging by the energy you emanate, you seem to be from a twelfth-year house—am I right?"

"That's also a secret!"

As Arin smiled, Jeya clutched his chest.

"Ugh. So adorable."

Watching with displeasure, Muje hid Arin from view and muttered,

"Remove your gaze."

When he even let out a hint of killing intent, Jeya flinched and raised both hands in surrender.

As they bickered and sneaked into the school, a loud shout came from ahead.

"Found him!! He's here!"

Someone had found Woo-hyun first.

"He must be over there."

Arin urged them on, and they all moved toward the sound.

Crash—!

A tremendous noise followed by screams. Anxious, Arin rounded a corner and called out,

"Woo-hyun!"

But what awaited her was not Woo-hyun—it was a Black Demon exuding a sinister aura.

---

Woo-hyun had made it to the courtyard and was about to escape the school—if not for the trap set to prevent intruders.

"Ugh!"

Tangled in thorny vines, Woo-hyun struggled. The more he moved, the tighter they bound, tearing his skin. It was no ordinary trap—it was designed to prevent monsters and spirit beasts from entering the school.

Seeing him caught, someone called for backup.

"Found him!! He's here!"

Desperate at those words, Woo-hyun summoned his power.

"If you force your power, you'll seriously injure yourself."

Yeoryeong's warning briefly crossed his mind, but escaping this damned trap came first. For Woo-hyun, whose life had been a series of escapes, it was as natural as breathing.

As he attempted to transform—

Thump!

His heart lurched, and blood rose in his throat.

"Ugh!"

"Hey, stay still! The more you move, the tighter it gets!"

Ignoring the student's warning, Woo-hyun succeeded in transforming and tore through the trap with brute force. Blood loss left him dazed. The student's face went pale.

Through the black mane, golden eyes flashed. Pawing the ground with heavy breaths, he looked terrifying—one wrong kick from those hooves would be fatal.

"H-he's a Black Demon!"

Realizing his identity, the student backed away in terror. The once-notorious Black Demon clan had appeared—and he was frightened.

Meanwhile, Woo-hyun was overwhelmed by a strange voice echoing in his mind.

Kill them. Kill all the lowly creatures!

A compulsion to obey immediately. As he struggled to calm himself, the student threw a rock—enraging Woo-hyun, who glared at him. His eyes, blackened around the whites, made him look like a lion from hell.

"Aaaagh!"

The terrified student screamed, covering his head.

Succumbing to the demon's whisper, Woo-hyun lunged at him. Though it was his own body, he couldn't control it—only the urge to trample and crush that head with his hooves.

"Woo-hyun!"

At the familiar voice, Woo-hyun froze. The voice that had been clawing at his mind vanished. Sensing his hesitation, Arin rushed toward him.

"It's dangerous, my lady!"

Muje's warning was useless. Arin clung to Woo-hyun's hind leg and pleaded,

"No, stop! You'll kill him!"

She stroked his body gently.

"It's okay, isn't it? Please, don't do this."

At the same time, she channeled her energy to calm him, as the Divine Maiden had taught her. His state was far more violent than usual—his core was in turmoil.

Pfft!

Woo-hyun snorted and resisted. Muje followed Arin's lead, restraining him. There was no way to calm a rampaging twelfth-year—Muje had been prepared to cut him down if necessary, his hand on his scabbard. But surprisingly, Woo-hyun's energy subsided.

"That's right. You were just startled, weren't you?"

Arin sighed in relief and continued to soothe him. Watching, Geumgeum murmured,

To calm a berserker in an instant...

If Arin hadn't come, the school would have been destroyed.

After a moment, Woo-hyun's transformation faded and he collapsed, unconscious. His face was ashen from blood loss. Arin cradled him, stroking his cheek, and said anxiously,

"We need to take him to a physician."

"He forced his sealed power and went berserk. A physician won't help."

Geumgeum lifted Woo-hyun.

"We can't hide this from the Divine Maiden. She's the only one who can heal him now."

"Ah..."

Arin looked between Woo-hyun and Geumgeum with teary eyes. Baek Jeya muttered coldly,

"I didn't know your friend was a Black Demon."

His usual chattiness gone, he stared coldly at Woo-hyun. At his questioning gaze, Muje said calmly,

"He's a key clue to finding the Black Demon clan. So sheathe your killing intent."

"Is that so?"

Baek Jeya finally resumed his harmless expression.

"Does the King know?"

"The Prime Minister knows, so a report will reach him soon."

"Then I won't press further."

Jeya's gaze briefly fell on Arin. He had seen her calm a rampaging Black Demon with his own eyes. He had already guessed she was a twelfth-year, but this was unexpected.

He murmured, eyes narrowing, "Now I'm genuinely curious about her true name."

Muje didn't like Jeya taking an interest in Arin—he would soon leave the village and return to the palace. Worried he might mention Arin to the King, Muje silenced him.

"Don't try to find out yet. Soon enough, everyone will know. For now, I leave the cleanup to you."

At Muje's request, Jeya smiled amiably and gestured toward the fallen student.

"Don't worry. I'll make sure he keeps his mouth shut."

"Good."

Muje approached Arin, who was still sitting on the ground.

"Are you all right?"

"My legs gave out. I must have used too much power."

Calming a rampaging twelfth-year was no small feat. Muje lifted her up without hesitation.

"Oh! Young master!"

"We need to hurry, so forgive my rudeness."

"...I should be the one thanking you."

Arin leaned against him and murmured softly. Her breath brushed his neck, and Muje stiffened.

"Not at all."

Struggling to sound calm, he followed Geumgeum.

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