Chapter 35 – The Peach Tree (4)

Inside the cabin filled with the essence of spring.

With only a candle placed in the corner of the room as the source of light, I knelt down and locked eyes with Zodiac.

Zodiac, trembling in the awkward atmosphere, offered me a teacup. Within it was a well-brewed peach black tea.

“Thank you.”
“White Peach is indebted to you. I apologize. And about that incident, please don’t worry. It was an accident.”
“It’s alright.”

I replied and glanced to the side. Cornus was contentedly sipping her peach black tea. She seemed to have a fondness for sweet things.

But what is happening here?
Dual personalities?
The dual personalities of Zodiac and White Peach are truly astonishing.

“White Peach will likely return tomorrow morning.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. And regarding the rudeness committed by White Peach… all I can say is I’m sorry. I will do anything I can to make it right.”
“That’s fine too.”

Compared to White Peach, Zodiac seemed to possess a sounder set of values, allowing me to respond with ease.
Thinking of the woman who succumbed to insanity back then… honestly, it’s somewhat difficult to endure.
I gently stroked Shiba, who was resting atop the flowerpot I held. Beep beep. Shiba quivered delightfully. Fearing she might get upset if she fell like last time, I carried her all the way here.

Sip.

As I took a mouthful of peach black tea, my body relaxed warmly. What a delightful taste.
Reflecting on today, I suddenly thought that I might have to endure such hellish training again tomorrow.

White Peach is truly loathsome. Couldn’t Zodiac just train me instead?
With that thought, I looked at Zodiac, who had been staring at my face for a while, and she grinned brightly.

“…Well, I,”
“Yes?”
“I like soft peaches. Hehe.”

What!!

“You have a discerning taste.”

I genuinely believed that.
Upon hearing my words, Zodiac’s face lit up as she began to recite various things.

“I believe the best peaches are soft. Don’t you agree? They must be tender enough for children and the elderly to eat, and also incredibly sweet.”
“Yes, yes.”
“All canned peaches are sweet! They’re tastiest when they have plenty of juice.”
“Ah, you only speak the truth.”
“Hehe, we have something in common.”

We bonded over peaches.

As we conversed at length about peaches, I realized that Hwangdo and I had quite compatible personalities.

“Shouldn’t we make a vow or something?”
“A Do-won vow?”
“Don’t you know? It’s about strengthening our convictions beneath the peach tree. So, a Do-won vow.”

Hwangdo extended her hand, her eyes sparkling at the thought. Then, with eyes gleaming as if she had been absorbed into a fantastical world –

“Do-won vow!”

She looked at me, her eyes brimming with anticipation.
I reached out. Hwangdo placed her hand on mine.

“Dowon’s vow. Though we were not born in the same hour, when we die, we’ll do so in the same place, yearning for the robes of water. From today onwards, we are Peach Friends.”
“Peach Friends…! What a splendid name.”

This must be Dowon’s vow. The lieutenant is absent.
Hwangdo placed her hand on her chest and beamed, as if she was genuinely delighted. Her expression was pure and endearing. Baekdo wondered why she made such a sweet face.

“Well then, please take care of me, elder sister.”
“E-elder sister?”
“Now, we are siblings in spirit. We must somehow vanquish the treacherous Dakbokdan.”
“Y-yes, that’s right. Oh, of course! Understood, younger brother! Hehe.”
“Since it’s late, shall we get some sleep?”
“Alright!”

We extinguished the lights and quickly fell asleep.
There was only one room, so I lay beside the two women, but, to be honest, I was too exhausted to entertain any other thoughts.

*****

The next day.

“You fiend!!”

White Peach’s furious voice reverberated powerfully throughout the cabin. Like Liu Bei witnessing thunder, I rose from my seat and tapped my startled chest.

“Doesn’t decency demand that we at least refrain from touching someone while they sleep?”
“How dare you touch the chest of an innocent maiden and say such a thing!”
“What would you have me do in this unfortunate situation?”
“Silence. And how dare you use that sacred term, the Taoyuan Pledge!”

Now fully awake, I stifled a yawn.

“I read on the internet that 60% of people in the world prefer soft peaches.”
“Enough with your nonsense, red scoundrel!”

I was losing my mind. I had no response to the redhead’s provocations.

“Even if I were to abandon my principles, I won’t allow the world to forsake them!”
“That’s quite the trivial aspiration, indeed.”

It had only been a day, but I already found myself yearning for Zodiac.

I couldn’t help but think of last night’s Hwangdo, who would smile and respond with utmost sincerity whenever spoken to. I felt incredibly disheartened.
Baekdo furrowed her brow in anger and abruptly turned her head away. Though her expression undoubtedly held a sense of elegance and beauty, to me, she appeared merely childlike.

“…Is Si-eon awake?”

In the midst of the commotion, Sansuyu stirred and rubbed her eyes. Perhaps mornings made her vulnerable, for her white T-shirt, stretched out from sleep, left her chest bone exposed without any defense. I wondered if she had flung her underwear off while asleep, as the protruding part forcibly drew my gaze. I struggled to look away.

“It’s not Si-eon, it’s Si-heon.”
“Huh.”

It seemed she no longer bothered to correct herself when referring to me as Si-heon. Perhaps it was due to her lingering drowsiness. Baekdo approached the now-awake Sansuyu and subtly embraced her. Their two breasts softly pressed together.

“Our top disciple is Ttak Bok-dan. Let’s be Peach Friends of Dowon-ryul too.”
“Peach Friends? If it helps improve my skills…sure.”

The whole situation was absurd.

Hadn’t he secretly wanted to make a resolution like Do-won’s?
Grumbling, I tidied up my sleeping area, and soon after, Cornus rose from her spot and headed towards the training ground.

Standing before us as we knelt, White Peach shot me a glare, gave Cornus a warm gaze, and opened her mouth.

“Today, we’ll start with some simple physical training. It’s very easy.”

She unfolded a large map she had brought from somewhere. The map showed a detailed layout of Jirisan Mountain.

“There’s Cheonwangbong Peak nearby. First, we’ll run there, and once you’ve reached Cheonwangbong, move on to Banyabong Peak. Next is Nogodan Plateau. Then, Chilseon Valley, Samdobong Peak, Tokibong Peak, and finally, Piagol Valley. You’ll return here after passing through all the places I’ve mentioned. We’ll repeat this five times.”

“Are we just going to run?”

White Peach grinned slyly at my question.

“Of course not. I’ll be causing some interruptions along the way. Naturally, I’ve set up traps as well.”

I contemplated as I observed Baekdo, who endeavored to suppress his laughter.

This scoundrel is clearly going to pester me again. How can I not seek revenge?

Baekdo spoke to me with his arms folded.

“If you get eliminated midway, you must descend immediately.”

“What are the conditions for elimination?”

“Failing to complete five laps. And–”

Baekdo cast a glance to one side.

-Kreurreung.

In that spot, a bear of unprecedented size approached, drooling profusely.

I had sensed a faint magical reaction earlier; was it for summoning this bear? The creature was far larger than I had anticipated. Even a trainee would not escape unscathed from an encounter with those massive paws.

“If you get caught by that bear, you’re out. Put on this scarf. It’s a scarf that attracts the bear’s attention.”

Baekdo handed me three scarves and one to Sansuyu.

“Are you joking? Why do I have three?”

“Because you’re a ‘third-rank’ disciple.”

“This is preposterous. Truly.”

“What are you doing? If we don’t leave now, the bear will catch up to us.”

– Aaahhh!

An Asiatic black bear from Jirisan Mountain began charging towards us with a ferocious expression. Its speed, running on all fours, was quite fast.

Let’s see. I quickly moved my feet while putting on my scarf. This physical training was a clear battle against time. If I sped up too much initially, there was the risk of being caught by the bear later on. It might not be an issue for Sansuyu, a magical powerhouse, but it was a significant problem for me.

“Sansuyu, which way are you going?”
“Left.”
“Then I’ll go right.”

The scene before me passed by quickly.

It was as if I was in a car, with the silhouettes of trees appearing and fading away. The running speed gradually increased. The problem was that the power of the scarf exceeded my imagination. Bears started to emerge from other places as well.

‘It’s not just one.’

At that moment, I changed direction.

A shadow descended from the heavens, enveloping me.

“Foolish third-class disciple!”

Grasped in White Peach’s hand was a bow as she soared between trees and occasionally conjured walls in midair to glide through the skies.

She pulled the bowstring taut with a daring air. The force exerted by her arm as she drew the bowstring far exceeded expectations.
That insane woman targets me yet again.

“Face divine retribution!”

– Kwa-ga-ga-ga-ga!

Thunder struck down from the sky. As the magically charged bolt landed right beside my foot, a tremendous storm erupted, causing nearby branches to sway in the wind’s direction.

To conserve one’s magic would mean becoming a meal for bears. I surround my entire body in magical energy and manage to escape unscathed, avoiding the turbulent aftermath.

White Peach, who walked upon air, traversed the sky with a haughty laugh that would send even the great hero packing.

“Behold my supreme rule!”

Thud, thud, thud, thud.

As the feet move, pressure is exerted upon the entire body. Confronted with this absurd technique I had never encountered before, veins bulged on my forehead.

‘When true madness holds power, such bizarre skills are used. That lunatic!’

I must admit their skill. White Peach possesses greater strength than I do, lacking nothing in comparison – from magical prowess to physical abilities.

The Hunter Association must have recommended them due to their exceptional capabilities.

Perhaps, if I manage to overcome this cowardly challenge, my skills will advance considerably.

*Doo doo doo doo.*

My body groans under the strain. The pressure applied throughout my body prevents the bears from getting too close.

I hear the sound of a bowstring being pulled taut. That’s a genuine arrow. If struck, it would undoubtedly result in severe injury.

Even if I avoid it, they’ll likely create a commotion insisting I descend the mountain.

I raise my eyes to take in White Peach’s form.

I discern the position of the magical energy and strip away their resolve.

Ddakbokgunlimbo – that cannot be their true name.

He was determined to torment me by attaching absurd names to the top-tier techniques he had crafted.
That made it even more infuriating. How dare he insult the Dominion?

I harnessed the magic within my entire body.

White Peach’s technique was an extraordinary feat that suppressed even Mount Taesan.
Beneath her feet, no one could straighten their legs, and everything bowed its head. I couldn’t just stand by and watch.

I applied the principle of the Dominion in reverse. Twisting my magic on the spot, I launched into the sky.

If White Peach placed Mount Taesan beneath her,
I simply had to overturn the mountain.

-Koo-gu-gu-gu!

As the magic rapidly dissipated, freedom gradually returned to my body.

“…What?”

White Peach was momentarily startled. She seemed unable to believe what she was witnessing.

But so what? I excel at imitation.
Assembly is the reverse of disassembly. If you know the method, you can apply it in the opposite way.

I stirred once more and cried out at her, as if casting a spell.

“Stay there!”
“Cease your childish behavior! It’s unsightly!”

Envisioning Liu Bei fleeing from Cao Cao’s army, I began racing towards Cheonwangbong Peak, leading the guiltless bears.