TACBD 02

Chapter 2

But I couldn’t open my mouth in an atmosphere where saying anything felt impossible. Fortunately, someone else was answering for me.

“The child is still young, so I think there may have been a misunderstanding while she was half-asleep.”

“Indeed. Hahaha.”

Why are they all so confident, so certain? I had no idea, so I kept my mouth tightly shut. It didn’t feel safe to speak hastily.

Even in the midst of such confusion, one conversation stuck in my ears.

“Of course, there’s no way a sorcerer could be a girl, so why call her a daughter? The gods haven’t gone senile, after all. Hahaha!”

“Exactly. Even if she were a Taoist, how could a girl become a sorcerer? The refined arts of administering medicine or performing magic are entirely different from fighting ghosts and malevolent spirits.”

‘What the… so there are no female sorcerers?’

Why does a sudden chill run down my spine?

So that means these people think I’m a boy, just because I’m some kind of unknown sorcerer.

Then… if they find out I’m a girl… what happens to me?

‘If I don’t know what will happen if I speak, it’s better to hide it for now.’

I couldn’t be certain about anything. Ever since I was abandoned, all I’d learned was from overhearing others.

But instinctively, I knew one thing: I must never let them find out. My small body trembled uncontrollably from the tension.

‘If they discover it, who knows what they’ll do?’

I had to calm down, really calm down. I had to keep from letting them know I was hiding something. I repeated this to myself over and over, but my heart and body refused to obey.

“Quiet! Aren’t you scaring the child?”

The elder, thinking the commotion had frightened me because there were so many people, quieted the surroundings.

But it didn’t help. This trembling came from fear.

“Child, unlike other crows, your eyes are clear and red like a ruby.”

A glossy white pupil stared straight at me.

“This too must be proof that the gods have chosen you.”

He closed his eyes after staring at me so intensely.

“There’s no need to be afraid. You are destined to become the most precious being on this land, second only to the Emperor, perhaps even greater.”

If I asked right now…

‘Then what happens if I’m not a boy?’

But outwardly, I just nodded. In the modern world, something unprecedented might be welcomed, but here, it would surely be rejected. Especially since he emphasized being a boy.

At the same time, one fact became clear: I had to escape from this place immediately.

“A rare child chosen by a high-ranking deity. She is the true owner of the spirit that appears once in 300 years. She must be treated with care.”

‘Should I run now?’

Even if I got caught and killed, I’d return to the beginning, so wouldn’t it be okay?

But I quickly abandoned that thought.

No matter how many times I died and returned, death would never feel familiar. The pain and fear of life being cut short would always be terrifying.

And these people are elite crows skilled in killing and torture.

‘I won’t die peacefully.’

The deaths I’ve experienced so far would be nothing compared to the agony I could face here.

So as I slowly started retreating, thinking I might escape before things escalated,

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Oh no. They caught me trying to slip away. What now?

It was time for a backup plan. I had no choice but to beg them to pretend nothing happened.

“I-I’m fine just living as I am now…”

Murmurs.

Everyone stared at me in disbelief, as if I’d said something ridiculous. I couldn’t help but shrink back under their gaze.

Seeing me cower, the elder stamped his foot once. Everyone immediately fell silent.

As the surroundings quieted, a gentle, soothing voice addressed me again.

“Child, what are you saying? A sorcerer must be trained at the Yin-Yang Institute.”

But that’s a place for men only. I’m a girl. How could I get in there?

I had a mouth, but I couldn’t speak. All I could manage was a timid, hushed voice.

“I-I’m fine. I don’t need a name or to be a sorcerer. I don’t want to do it.”

“Do you think it will be too difficult?”

Thud. Overwhelmed by fear, tears finally fell down my cheeks.

“B-but I’m s-scared… I don’t want to… uuugh… I hate it.”

Again, a stir of voices around me.

‘Why not? If I don’t want to, I don’t have to. So what?’

Even the governor of Pyongyang wouldn’t force someone, so why should a sorcerer?

I thought that, but apparently the elder didn’t. His reaction was severe.

“But being born with the talent of a sorcerer is a blessing! And you want to shirk your duties?”

Ugh, this is why being a child is so inconvenient. Small, delicate, clumsy, honest—completely unsuitable for survival.

And the worst part? This crying that erupts against my will.

Because my body cannot hide fear, I couldn’t even speak properly. I needed to firmly say no, but my tears betrayed me.

“I-I’m really scared… so scared… if I don’t do it, is it… isn’t it okay? I’m scared…”

I knew that crying wouldn’t make them go easy on me.

So I didn’t want to cry.

But no matter how much I tried to suppress it, my legs shook and the tears forced their way out.

“Please, I beg you… I don’t want to… let me go…”

“Hah, such a sniveling child, and yet our clan’s reputation rests on her.”

The elder, who had sighed, softened his gaze.

“For now, calm yourself. I may have spoken too much about the main topic, given your youth.”

Unlike before, he waited until my hiccuping sobs subsided. Why is he acting like this all of a sudden?

“Huh… sniff.”

As my crying nearly stopped and I sniffled, the elder finally spoke to me.

“Good. It has stopped, hasn’t it?”

“Yes…”

“Since it has, I will tell you what you will gain. Perhaps it will change your mind.”

I realized he was trying persuasion now that force hadn’t worked. But would it even work?

“You mean, even if you live like a miserable wanderer, without sleep, it’s fine? You would give up what you could enjoy?”

I perked up. No matter how I tried to ignore it, my ears pricked.

“What I could enjoy…?”

“You would bathe in warm water and eat rice three times a day.”

“R-rice! Meals?”

Grumble—

My long-starved stomach answered for me. The elder’s lips curved upward.

“Rice is not the only thing. You would have a warm, comfortable bed, and you could learn everything you need until you reach adulthood.”

“Wow…?”

“And finally, the sorcerer who receives the true spirit can have a wide room all to herself. How about that? Nice, isn’t it?”

“…!”

It’s actually better than I expected. Three meals a day, a place to stay, education included.

And with a private room, I might even avoid being discovered.

My heart began to race.

Noticing my excitement, the elder continued listing endless perks.

“Of course, if you need anything, we will help. We will also provide pocket money so you lack nothing.”

“Wow! Pocket money?”

Meals, lodging, education, and now pocket money? These are privileges I could never have had.

Even as a beast-tribe child, I was pitiful, weak, and destined to die.

‘Will I ever get a chance to learn anything naturally?’

No, more importantly, when would I ever get a warm place to eat? Even joining a wandering gang, I’d probably just get gruel.

And I’ve lived 28 years in another world, so I’m still inexperienced here. Survival seemed impossible.

Thinking that way, no matter what went wrong, this life seemed better than what I’d been living.

‘It’s dangerous, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. I might even live more comfortably than in my previous life.’

I swallowed hard.