Chapter 146 – Three Peaches (6)

“Ugh.”

Heaven placed her hand on her forehead and let out a melancholic sound. I approached her from behind and set the pre-prepared ion drink on top of her head.

“Oh, so cold!”

Startled, Heaven’s head shot up. She looked at me and let out a sigh of relief. A hiccup escaped her mouth.

“What’s going on, Little Heavenly Demon?”
“You’re the Little Heavenly Demon.”

Upon hearing my words, Heaven jumped up from her seat in surprise. She glanced around hastily, and realizing that no one was around, she breathed a sigh of relief.

“Don’t call me that outside. Anyway… what is this?”

Heaven took the can I offered her. A blue ion drink. On a sweltering summer day, when you’re thirsty, there’s nothing better than grabbing one from the vending machine and taking a sip.

“It’s like a sample we received before officially importing it, so give it a try.”
“Sample…? What do you mean?”

Cheondo held the can, looking at me with a puzzled expression, unsure of what to do.
Her appearance resembled a hamster clutching a sunflower seed.

I tapped the top of the can and nudged the opener with my fingernail.

– Snap.

The sound of opening a can. Surprise flickered across Cheondo’s face.

“Incredible. Can I drink it?”

I nodded.

Cheondo cautiously brought her lips to the can’s opening. The sound of her swallowing the beverage reached my ears.

– Gulp, gulp.

As she drank the ionized drink, Cheondo’s eyes blinked repeatedly with each sip she took.
The exquisite compound, created at the pinnacle of scientific advancement, enveloped her tongue.

Perhaps five seconds passed.
Cheondo set down the can with a satisfied expression.

“The water is cool and sweet…”

I took the slightly frozen beverage out of the freezer. It was an ionic drink, so it contained a significant amount of sugar. Drinking it when feeling exhausted and feverish would bring an instant sense of happiness.

“Would you like some too?” I asked.

“No, that’s alright. I already had some earlier.”

I pulled a chair from the side and sat on it. Cheondo alternated her gaze between the can and me, then pressed the can’s opening to my lips.

“We should share this.”

As she pressed the can to my lips, I had no choice but to take a sip.

My teeth ached from the cold.

“Heh heh. Refreshing, isn’t it?”

Cheondo smiled brightly with a childlike innocence.

“Ha ha. So, why did you suddenly start working?”

I smiled in response to Cheondo’s grin and subtly expressed my curiosity. A fleeting look of hesitation crossed her face. Cheondo quickly brightened her expression, placed the can on the desk, and scratched her cheek with her index finger.

“Well, it’s not a big deal. I’ve been watching cartoons so much lately, so I wondered if I could stay like this.”

These days, Heavenly Demon has been away more often, and as a result, the disciples’ schedules have been emptied as well. However, Heaven was not one to lazily spend her days.

She devoted most of her time to personal training. If she had felt anxious about her current life, she would have increased her training time, which meant that her excuse didn’t hold up.

“Really?”

So it was a lie.

I made eye contact with Heaven. Sometimes, silence could elicit a better response from someone.

Heaven’s gaze wandered, seemingly lost. Her throat felt parched, and she reached for the can again.

– Gulp, gulp.

With her throat moistened.

Soon, Heaven’s lips parted.

“…Dowon, how do you manage to keep up with all of these things?”

A single question. Heaven’s lips were slightly protruding.

“Why?”

“It’s astonishing. He suddenly appeared and became the Little Heavenly Demon, and now he’s trusted by everyone.”

He cleaned up and eradicated corruption, advancing their lifestyle by nearly a century. All of this happened in just one month. This was undoubtedly a good thing for a place called Do-won.

“…Safety has improved. The number of starving people has decreased significantly. At the inn where I worked, people said he was a savior and greatly admired him.”

As a person from Do-won, this is something to be grateful for.

“However…”

As if mocking herself, Heaven gently squeezed the can in her hand.

“…I just don’t feel good these days. I guess it’s jealousy. Because I can’t be like him.”

The same Little Heavenly Demon.
A comparison of abilities.

The resulting sense of inferiority. The budding emotions that grow even if one tries not to be conscious of them.

“I want to be like Do-won.”

Nonetheless, the emotion in the voice seemed more akin to admiration than jealousy.

* * * * * *

– Cheondo.
– Yes, Master.
– That fellow. Quite useful, indeed.

Master always speaks about the death penalty.

What was done today? What did he teach this time?
We always have conversations in my room during the evening, but we seldom discuss the training itself.

– …That’s a good thing.

This is what I say to my Master every time that person’s story comes up.

It’s a good thing.
The people around me have achieved something. It’s not a matter of feeling bitter, but rather something to be happy about.

Jealousy? I didn’t think so.

‘Even if I fall behind, I’ll work hard in my own way.’

Always diligent. Serious in every matter.
And with persistent effort and perseverance.

But my master always seemed to put me aside. Constantly comparing me to the death penalty. At times, there were even blatantly intrusive questions.

Why can I only achieve this much?

I really shouldn’t think like that. It even felt unpleasant.

The question that nipped at my heels was saturated with sorrow. I had strived to inherit the name of Heavenly Demon. But in the end, could I never become the Heavenly Demon?

However, I believed I couldn’t stop now.

Not until just before hearing those words from my lifelong master’s mouth.

“…So, how long do you intend to stay in that position?”

It was merely a week ago. Although there was no hostility in my master’s words, my heart plummeted.

Ah, perhaps it was true after all. It seemed I lacked the talent to satisfy my father.

How should I face White Peach and Zodiac?

Despite this, no tears fell. It seemed that the years of rigorous training to become a Heavenly Demon had been fruitful.

It’s rather ironic. As a lesser Heavenly Demon, I’m unable to cry. A Heavenly Demon must always uphold their principles and hold their head high with pride.

Rising above everyone else, such a formidable person could not allow themselves to shed tears.

In the past, if even a tiny droplet of tears was seen, my master would punish me severely. That training now weighed heavily on my heart.

“I want to be like Brother Do-won.”

My state is utterly pathetic.

Instead of helping Do-won with his tasks, I only succeed in hindering him. The emotions I had kept bottled up now teetered on the verge of overflowing.

Nevertheless, I truly aspired to be like Do-won. It was an emotion I had never felt before, except towards my master. He was so far above me that I knew I might never reach his level in this lifetime.

“Why do you want to be like me?”

“…Because you excel at everything.”

I convinced myself it wasn’t jealousy, yet I uttered words that were nothing short of envious. Shamefully, I was denying my own emotions.

Why is it that, in this man’s presence, the feelings I had kept so well hidden are now laid bare with such ease? A considerable amount of time has passed since I first pondered this question.

I caressed the crumpled wrinkles on the can of the beverage I received from him. At some point, we began sharing such unfamiliar food, and I found myself anticipating the moments spent watching cartoons together.

I’m jealous, but it’s enjoyable when we’re together.

– You can say anything to someone you meet by chance on the street, having no connection with them. The closer you become, the more you tend to hold back your words.

Could it be that I can express my emotions like this because we have no connection? No, that’s not it. I was well aware that I spent a portion of each day with him, feeling the comfort of our daily routine. Our relationship had long surpassed the point of having no connection.

Yet, he still hasn’t told me his real name.

Laboriously, I write the name I have chosen.

In our relationship, he’s always been annoyingly considerate, yielding, and bringing enjoyable moments. This man is truly an embodiment of thoughtfulness.

This time is no different.

“You’ll become stronger than me soon, won’t you? To the point where I’m just a joke.”

He says things like this, which don’t really hit home. I’m grateful for his consideration, but I know my limits all too well.

Hyungyeong was smarter, more skilled at work, stronger, and held in high regard by our Master. In a way, even his competitor, which is me, is treated warmly by him.

The true potential lay with him, not me.

“No, that probably won’t happen.”
“It might.”

With a natural and knowing expression on his face, he gazes at me as if we’ve endured countless hardships together, even though it’s only been a month.

His eyes resemble the looks exchanged between a married couple working in a guesthouse, making me feel the weight of their mutual understanding.

‘…What do you know about me?’

A fleeting thought.
A childish irritability stirred within me, borne from frustration and a tangled mess of emotions.

“What makes you think you know enough about me to say that?”

Perhaps that was why. I ended up uttering words better left unspoken.

“…Gasp!”

I reflexively covered my mouth, startled.
The annoyance in the words that sprang from my lips was almost unrecognizable.

Regret washed over me belatedly, and I swallowed hard.
Guilt made my heart pound, and I felt as if the drink I had consumed earlier was climbing back up my esophagus.

Paralyzed by my guilt, I sat still, unable to speak.

“……”

She stared at me with wide eyes, looking as if she never expected me to say something like that. Her expression stirred my heart again and again.

I had never intended to say such a thing.
I closed my eyes tightly, wishing I could do the same with my ears.

Desperate to disappear into even the tiniest rat hole, I stood up and picked up my things.

“…I’m sorry. I should go now. You don’t have to visit me at night from today on.”

I wanted to flee.

At that moment, I couldn’t bear to look at Do-won’s face. I attempted to leave the building as quickly as possible, but before I could even take a step, I was stopped by a firm grip on both of my shoulders.

Do-won had closed the distance between us. Gone was the surprise on his face, replaced by a calm, tender gaze that met my eyes.

“I’m sorry.”

What reached my ears was a single word of apology.

“I didn’t consider your feelings.”

Do-won’s actions were never a nuisance. For everyone in the world, he had done things that were nothing short of miraculous. There were times when people praised him as a great person, and I even felt a sense of pride.

Feeling dizzy, I hurriedly continued to speak.

“Why are you apologizing… There’s no need to apologize at all. No, it’s just that I’m the one who’s lacking. It’s the issue of someone who’s become a lesser demon feeling jealous.”

Stuttering hurriedly, I couldn’t even discern if what I was saying was right or if the words I had chosen conveyed the correct meaning.

“I made mistakes in so many ways…”

My senior brushed aside all those words and offered me just one response:

“The fault is mine. You’ve done well so far, and you’ll continue to do well.”

Praise.

How long had it been since I last heard such words from my master?

A lump formed in my throat. I shook my head.

“I can’t do well.”

“That’s because you’re still young.”

“Are you much older?”

“Well, I can’t claim to be that old either.”

Tears didn’t fall, but my shoulders trembled. I hadn’t experienced such intense emotional turmoil in a long time.

The executioner’s demeanor was always unchanging. There was a time when it was as cold as ice, and yet, in my presence, he hid his emotions skillfully.

He was a truly inscrutable person.
But still, I found myself drawn to him. Why?

Was it because of his puppy-like appearance that made me want to comfort him?
Or because he would casually touch his head without considering the feelings of others?
Was it because he possessed a talent that I lacked?

“…I thought I could do it all. But now, it seems like I’m gradually losing my confidence.”

As my uncertainty grew, laughter burst forth from my plummeting self-esteem.

*Chuckle, chuckle, chuckle.*

Even in the midst of this, I couldn’t shed a tear. It felt so like me.

Suddenly, my body was pulled forward.
I felt a gentle warmth on my cheek, and the person before me supported my body, which struggled even to stand, preventing me from collapsing.

“You’ll do well. Both you and me.”

Such an ambiguous statement.
I hadn’t intended to seek solace, and these words offered no real comfort.

If it was meant to be consoling, I thought it was incredibly inept.

Yet, the emotions conveyed through the voice resonated in my ears, causing goosebumps to rise on my body. Oddly enough, as the sensation etched itself into my heart, my frustration seemed to fade away.

It was like magic.

“The executioner is truly remarkable. How can you… accomplish so much without any trouble?”

The man continued to speak in a gentle voice. The unwavering consistency of his emotions made me feel as if he genuinely trusted and cared for me.

“I must do well.”

The executioner’s hand lightly patted my back.

“…After all, I am the master’s disciple.”

At those words, my breath trembled.