Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Preciously
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"Peep! Peep peep! (It's so delicious as always! This place really knows its Red Fruits!)"
Today, Ppippi had come home after a long while, and we were having a Red Fruit mukbang.
"Good thing the Red Fruits are all fine."
I smiled as I looked at the ripe Red Fruits, recalling yesterday's events.
'I was so exhausted yesterday that I fell asleep in Daddy's arms without realizing how much time passed, sleeping the whole day away.'
As soon as morning broke, Daddy busily prepared my meal.
"Star, I'm sorry. While Daddy was away, a bunch of work piled up again, so it might be hard to play with you right now."
"What do you think I am, a little kid? I can play by myself just fine without you!"
Daddy's face fell, looking deeply hurt by my words.
"I... see. So our Star is fine even without Daddy..."
He went into his room with a crestfallen, teary expression.
'Ugh, why do I always say the wrong thing? What should I say to cheer him up this time?'
As I pondered, I let out a small chuckle watching Ppippi devour the fruits, oblivious to the juice smeared on its face.
'Thanks to that, I get some quality time to chat with Ppippi. Though I wonder what dangerous training Daddy's up to in his room now...'
It was getting hard to even imagine anymore.
'I'll worry about Daddy later!'
"Come to think of it, it's been ages since we sat side by side on the porch like this, chatting."
"Peep peep! (It has!)"
Ppippi seemed even more engrossed in the Red Fruits than I was.
"By the way, Ppippi, where have you been staying while I was at the cult?"
I lowered my voice so Daddy wouldn't hear from his room and asked Ppippi.
"P-peep? (W-why do you wanna know?)"
Ppippi, mid-bite, choked a bit and turned to look at me.
'It's panicking... Definitely hiding something.'
"Well, aside from the first day I got there, you didn't show your beak for five whole days! That's why I'm asking!"
"Peep peep. (But I showed up the day you came home, didn't I? That's enough.)"
'Wait a sec...'
"Ppippi, how did you know exactly when I was coming back? Were you watching me from somewhere? Be honest!"
"Peep peep! (Birds have privacy too! Keep asking, and I'll fly off!)"
"Then you won't get to eat your favorite Red Fruits anymore?"
"Peep. (You sneaky jerk.)"
Ppippi eyed the uneaten Red Fruits and couldn't bring itself to leave.
"Peep peep! (Truth is, I've been kinda troubled!)"
I figured it'd clam up till the end, but Ppippi finally opened up with difficulty.
"Troubled about what? If it's hard to talk about, you don't have to. I'll let you eat as many Red Fruits as you want anyway."
"Peep peep peep. Peep. (Well, I've had no one to tell, so it's perfect timing. These past few days, I can't get two faces out of my head.)"
'Can't forget someone's face? Sounds like love. But two? Wait...'
"Ppippi, don't tell me you're two-timing?"
Ppippi shot me a deeply offended look, like I was trash.
"Peep peep? Peep! (What the heck are you thinking? Whatever it is, it's not that!)"
"You said two faces keep popping up. Not two-timing, then what?"
"Peep peep. Peeep! (Not two birds, two people! Are you even listening? I said it's not two-timing!)"
'Yeah, Ppippi's not the type to be that sleazy.'
"Who are these two people?"
Ppippi hesitated for a moment before continuing.
"Peep peep. Peep... (One is you. The other is...)"
"The other one?"
"Peep peeep. (Your daddy.)"
'Daddy too?'
Totally out of left field.
"Why are me and Daddy the ones on your mind?"
"Peep peep. Peep peep. (I dunno. But weirdly, both feel familiar... like people I've met before, and I miss them.)"
'Like how Ppippi and Daddy are connected to the Golden Immortal Lotus somehow?'
Who knows with these things? It's not impossible.
But Ppippi's bright green eyes looked so sad as it said that, I couldn't bring myself to ask more.
"Star."
Just then, the door opened with Daddy's voice calling me.
"Yeah?"
I turned to him as naturally as I could.
Daddy walked over and sat beside me.
"Wanna go to the market with Daddy?"
"Why the market?"
"Your shoes are worn out. Gonna buy you new ones."
"Sure, let's go!"
'New shoes? Can't miss that!'
I took Daddy's outstretched hand and stood up.
Ppippi watched me with an enigmatic gaze.
'Ppippi, be back soon!'
I waved secretly to Ppippi, but it stayed put, watching me and Daddy with a poignant look.
As if reuniting with long-lost loved ones from ages ago.
Meanwhile, the Heavenly Demon Cult was abuzz with tales of a mysterious new aide who appeared out of nowhere.
"No kidding, I was right there! Seol Aide hurled a box at the spies, and it turned into a phoenix that swallowed them whole!"
"For real? I heard the box became hellfire and dragged them straight to hell."
"Anyway, Seol Aide must've been hiding her power all this time while serving as the Young Lord's attendant."
"Why hide it?"
"Duh, you idiots! If she showed her strength, the spies would recognize her face!"
Especially among the new disciples, Cheon-seong had become a superhuman hero transcending mortals.
"Everyone's buzzing about Seol."
Chae-chae, listening in, looked proud as if it were about him.
"I had no idea Seol had that kind of power. Of course, no phoenixes or hellfire were involved."
Jang-ryu chuckled, nodding along to the newbies' tales.
"But since that day, don't the elders seem to visit more often?"
Chae-chae glanced at Executioner, one of the 11 Elders, and continued.
"Elders usually manage their territories and rarely come to the cult."
"Now that you mention it, yeah. All 11 Elders gathering here is rare."
Jang-ryu tilted his head in surprise.
"Maybe because of the spy attacks lately? Unknown assailants keep showing up."
"Hard for newbies like us to know the higher-ups' business."
Chae-chae lost interest in the elders and sighed.
"Speaking of, where'd our Seol disappear to? Should've asked for her address..."
As Chae-chae sighed endlessly thinking of Cheon-seong,
the 11 Elders had gathered solemnly with the Young Cult Leader at the head seat.
"Young Lord, is that truly your best course?"
"Yes."
"Even with all 11 Elders here?"
"Yes."
Yaksha, with the thickest brows and a goblin-like face among the 11, pressed strongly, but the Young Lord responded consistently.
Executioner, one of the 11 with a face as fierce as his name, looked displeased.
"We 11 Elders came all this way eager to see the new aide, and you're being so cold!"
"I already told you. She's on a secret mission."
"Even so, couldn't you summon her just for a glimpse?"
Executioner whined childishly, unbecoming of his fierce face.
"Executioner, enough. The Young Lord has his reasons for deciding thus."
Five Elements tried to restrain him, but Yaksha grumbled next.
"Five Elements, you saw the new aide's face early on. That's why you can say that! How curious were we to rush here?"
"I hear the new aide's a girl. Perhaps the Young Lord treasures her too much to show?"
Hwajak, one of the 11 with long white hair cascading down, flashed a sly smile with her alluring beauty, probing the Young Lord.
"Hah! I'd sooner believe the new aide's an assassin here to kill the Young Lord. Even if young, would this stone-hearted Young Lord treasure someone just for being a woman?"
Yaksha scoffed as if it were absurd.
Then, the Young Lord's tightly shut lips parted after silently hearing the elders out.
"Exactly."
"Pardon? Exactly what?"
Yaksha, still scoffing, sought clarification.
"That new aide."
The Young Lord set down his teacup and curved one side of his mouth into a perfect half-smile toward the 11 Elders.
"I treasure her dearly."