Chapter 19

Although the fox and Jimjo bickered at first, they eventually agreed to cooperate—at least for now.

Before leaving, Jimjo plucked several feathers and handed them to me.

[San-gun. If you’re in danger, jab the enemy with the tip of these feathers.
You don’t even need to stab them—just a scratch will work.]

[You mean… eliminate them entirely?]

Better that than letting you die. Compared to San-gun’s safety, humans are nothing.]

[Poisoned feathers… There aren’t many things more reliable for defense. Thank you. Truly.]

At my gratitude, Jimjo’s eyes sparkled proudly.

[When I return, I’ll pluck as many feathers as you want!]

[Stop. You’ll end up looking like a plucked chicken.]

I watched the two until they disappeared from view.
Only then did an odd emptiness settle in my chest, making me sigh.

We weren’t together all the time. In fact, when they were around, it was so noisy it sometimes annoyed me.
But now that they were gone, I felt strangely lonely… and worried.

If only I hadn’t lost my strength.

I was grateful for this second chance at life.
But going from “protector” to “protected” was unfamiliar… frustrating… and humiliating.

Had I ever depended this helplessly on someone in the past thousand years?
Not even once.

Anger toward the Blood Cult simmered within me.
If they hadn’t used me like a tool—
If humans had taken care of their own business—
None of this would’ve happened.

Enough self-pity.

Complaining wouldn’t change anything.
It was better to focus on what I could do.

“Going outside to play… doesn’t seem safe right now.”

Of course, I wanted to.
Though I’d walked around Luoyang with the fox, we hadn’t explored properly.

But I was no longer strong.
No longer a predator.

And if humans found out I still had a core…
They would target me immediately.

Absolutely not.

I didn’t come here just to die again.

I’d wait until the fox and Jimjo returned.
Then sightseeing could come later.

As I wandered the courtyard, a commotion sounded at the entrance.

A challenger again?

Since I looked like a human child, I assumed the guards were dueling someone.
I’d never seen humans fight with weapons before… So I grew curious.

It might be useful to watch and learn.

But by the time I arrived, the situation was already over.

“…I lost.”

“Then you have the right to enter.”

I blinked in surprise.

One of the gate guards was kneeling, bleeding lightly.
Across from him stood a massive man sheathing a giant blade.

“Ah, Lady Hyeryeong.”

“You’re hurt.”

As I walked toward the injured guard, another guard stopped me.

“He is fine, my lady. This is not a pleasant sight—please return inside.”

“But—”

“It was a fair duel. He simply lost. Sir, please enter.”

The defeated guard staggered to his feet.
The large man glanced at me briefly, then strode into Cheonwolru.

That single moment—our eyes meeting—made every instinct in me bristle.

His eyes are no good.

It was instinct, not logic.
Someone’s nature always leaked through tiny things—eyes, movement, presence.

And that man felt… dangerous.

The fox and Jimjo are gone… So who’s left to protect Cheonwolru? Me.

I couldn’t let someone with such unsettling intent cause trouble in the place the fox had painstakingly built.

And since the humans here had treated me well, I had to act in return.

I approached the injured guard.

“You do not look fine… You’re bleeding.”

“This much is nothing, my lady. Please go inside.”

“You should get treatment.”

“Of course. It’s lucky San-gun isn’t here this time. If that little rascal had gotten hurt…”

Just imagining it made him grimace.
Another guard nudged him.

“Alright, alright. Don’t make the young lady worry. Go get treated—and call someone else for gate duty.”

“Sorry. My lady, allow me to escort you.”

His tone was gruff but careful, so I followed him. Treatment came first.

“Fortunately, it’s not serious.”

A physician arrived quickly—as if this sort of thing happened often.

“He was a worthy opponent,” the guard admitted.

The physician chuckled.

“Well then, it seems someone finally passed through Cheonwolru by skill alone. Little lady, don’t worry too much. This is a very minor wound.”

“… So he’s truly alright?”

The doctor blinked at me as if startled.
Why the strange reaction?

“Yes, yes. No need to rest in bed—he could even return to work tomorrow.”

“But no, that’s too—”

“Hey, don’t make the young lady fret!”

“R-right! I meant he can work immediately!”

“See? Strong young men heal fast.”

“Urgh…”

The doctor slapped the bandaged back with exaggerated pride.
I let out a sigh of relief.

Humans were so fragile… So I worried.
Good to know it wasn’t serious at all.

“I’m glad…”

“Indeed. Here, young lady—would you like a sweet?”

“…A sweet?”

“At the clinic, many patients hate bitter medicine. So we always keep sweets ready. And since you kindly stayed to worry over the injured, you deserve a treat.”

He handed me a small bundle of paper.

Inside was a sticky, overly sweet candy.

“Doctor, this child is—”

“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”

“Hehehe. I hope it suits your taste.”

He was basically an infant compared to me, but his kind gesture warmed me.
I popped the candy in my mouth immediately.

It was stickier and much sweeter than the ones Sehwa gave me…
but still good.

“Shall I escort you to your room, young lady?”

“There’s no need. I know the way well, even without injured uncles leading me.”

The guard’s expression crumpled in shock… then sank into despair.

Huh? Why?

The doctor burst into laughter.