Chapter 149
Chapter 149
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 149
Chapter Title: Three Peaches (9)
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The Heavenly Demon was the worst human calamity to ever grace an era.
His personal martial prowess had surpassed all limits, eventually reaching the pinnacle all on his own. Even the World Trees, treated as gods, could no longer control him.
A disaster.
That was how the people of the Wood Person Church evaluated the old man.
He didn't believe in the World Trees and had once demolished their church simply because it annoyed him.
The enemy of humanity.
The Hunter Association viewed him in much the same way.
To them, the old man was nothing but a threat. A card they couldn't use.
If anything, he had ruined their plans.
The business leaders felt similarly.
After several underworld bosses were crushed by the Heavenly Demon, they had vowed revenge.
Each driven by their own interests, they planned to strike the Heavenly Demon from behind as his lifespan neared its end and destroy his Peach Garden.
"It's not the right time yet."
In one location, key figures gathered around a round table for a meeting.
"...Our opponent is the Heavenly Demon. No matter how declined he may be, we'll only suffer losses. We should wait a bit longer."
A guild master adjusted his stylish glasses as he voiced his opinion.
He was one of those who had suffered losses at the Heavenly Demon's hands before.
He wanted nothing more than to lop off that old bastard's head right now, but was that possible?
To catch a monster, one had to be exceedingly cautious. Everyone present knew that.
The Wood Person Church, the Hunter Association, and various other groups.
All of them were approaching this matter with utmost seriousness.
Just resolving the World Trees' concerns would bring them heaps of benefits, treasures, gold, and honor.
Even if it involved some inhuman acts along the way, they could easily package it under the name of the gods.
This man fought for the gods. He might even etch his name into history.
Of course, they couldn't let greed for sweet rewards lead to sloppy planning.
"We should still wait."
"...Wait for the right moment?"
At that, one person raised their voice at the mere guild master's words.
"Are you joking? Killing the Heavenly Demon as soon as possible is what the World Trees desire."
The proxy of the Wood Person Church's Pope.
Captain of the Golden Knights. Lemon.
A faint golden lion emblem adorned her shoulder.
"I just can't understand it. What's there to drag out about capturing one senile old man? Are you scared?"
"Scared? I lost my father to the Heavenly Demon."
"Then get out there and fight even harder. What's with sitting around?"
Arrogant yet exuding nobility, Lemon narrowed her eyes and glared fiercely at the guild master.
The guild master swallowed his rage inwardly, his face betraying no emotion.
Someone else intervened to stop her.
"One misstep, and everyone here could die, Captain Lemon."
A warning wrapped in polite honorifics.
Lemon made a face like the vice chairman of the Hunter Association was a nuisance.
The others inwardly clicked their tongues at her attitude.
'Does she think the Heavenly Demon is some street thug? She hasn't even seen him herself, the crazy bitch.'
'What is the Wood Person Church thinking, sending a parachute like this? Planning to just slap a name on it for helping overcome the disaster?'
Ignoring the vice chairman entirely, Lemon turned to the Hunter Association chairman.
She believed herself to be on equal footing with him.
"...What do you think? You live in a country close to the Heavenly Demon's nest, don't you?"
Korea and China. The nations closest to the Heavenly Demon's lair.
The elderly man with graying hair tied in a topknot stared at Lemon with his scarred face.
His overwhelming presence made even the haughty woman gulp.
Finally, he spoke.
"That guy's dangerous."
The Hunter Association's overall chairman.
The only man who had survived the Great War and endured as long as the Heavenly Demon.
Sword God, Vibrant Light.
His name, one that others would kill to possess even one of—
Infinite.
The living history of the Hunter Association.
"I clashed with him once before. That's why a man who never had a single scar his whole life looks like this now."
He was the supreme swordsman among all association hunters. And a man who had once crossed blades with the Heavenly Demon.
Infinite fixed Lemon with his sharp gaze.
"Do you get what that means? You should."
"......"
His low voice made Lemon tense her shoulders and clamp her mouth shut.
A bead of sweat dripped onto her pale collarbone.
"Still, it's true we need to hurry. Who would've thought that bastard was raising a disciple."
"Y-yes, exactly."
At Infinite's affirmation, Lemon finally relaxed her expression.
Just meeting his eyes had made her thighs tremble.
Infinite turned to the vice chairman.
"The Little Heavenly Demon... We've confirmed its existence, right?"
"Yes. Though its skills are uncertain."
"No issue. Being that guy's disciple means it's definitely a monster."
Infinite touched his dry lips and scanned the room.
A young man raised his hand.
The recently appointed head of the Cornerus family. San Hyeok-won.
His words carried weight as a noble through and through, from a prestigious house even the Wood Person Church wouldn't touch lightly.
"Preparations to dismantle the Peach Garden are nearly complete. Honestly... Once the Heavenly Demon falls, the rest should be easy. However—"
No matter that the Peach Garden had sect elders and leaders. This room overflowed with people of equal or greater power.
The problem was the Heavenly Demon.
The demon of this era, whose mighty strength was said to touch the heavens.
The only one here who could properly stand against him was Infinite.
And even he couldn't guarantee victory.
"The danger remains unchanged."
Perhaps, as the vice chairman said, everyone here could die.
The mood sank heavily.
Even the boastful Lemon realized the gravity and shut her mouth.
"You were the one aiming for the Heavenly Demon's heart?"
"...Yes."
San Hyeok-won nodded at Infinite's question.
Crossing his fingers, he presented one idea.
"The unknown factor is the Little Heavenly Demon. That's the only one. It's also why we need to hurry now."
It was a conclusion from previous meetings.
They hadn't subjugated the Heavenly Demon in the Peach Garden yet because his lifespan was short.
But with his disciple appearing, subjugation had become urgent.
"We don't know when the grown Little Heavenly Demon might spark another Great War."
The war ignited by the Wood Spirit King.
From the Wood Person Church's perspective, it was the event where dozens of gods had perished.
The damage to the Pope's fallen authority had been immense.
San Hyeok-won's point was this:
Something equally catastrophic could follow.
His choice of words—"Great War"—was enough to heighten everyone's vigilance.
"So, here's what I propose. How about this?"
He scanned the room before raising a finger.
"The Heavenly Demon's lifespan is nearly up. So, we just take the Little Heavenly Demon's head."
The Heavenly Demon would die soon anyway.
So, why not target the disciple instead?
Kill the Little Heavenly Demon, and they wouldn't even need to fight the Heavenly Demon. They could slowly take over the Peach Garden after he croaked.
A perfect chance to avoid war and reap the benefits!
If it worked out, they'd receive hero's treatment for slaying a disaster without lifting a finger.
"Ho. What's the concrete plan? You wouldn't propose without one, right?"
"Of course."
At San Hyeok-won's confident words, everyone leaned in.
*****
It's astonishing.
'So that's why they're targeting me.'
Reflecting on my conversation with the Heavenly Demon, I mulled it over.
The world's heavyweights conspiring.
Shocking enough on its own, but the Heavenly Demon's prediction that I'd be next seemed quite plausible.
'Well, yeah. The Heavenly Demon doesn't have much time left. Killing me would be their priority.'
Cutting off the lineage.
Common in politics.
Taking the crown prince hostage and puppeteering the kingdom—history's full of it.
To them, I was the bigger headache than a soon-to-die Heavenly Demon.
'If I weren't around at this point... Would they have targeted Cheon-do?'
No matter how carefully hidden, a long tail gets caught.
But that tail was completely obscured by my existence.
Even scouring the world, no one but the three peach sisters, me, and the old man would know Cheon-do was the Heavenly Demon's disciple.
If I died like this, it would be as if the Heavenly Demon had no disciple.
And Cheon-do could safely inherit the mantle.
"Senior Brother?"
Then, Cheon-do, stuck right next to me, spoke up.
"Yeah?"
"The meat... It's okay?"
Oh right.
Snapping out of my thoughts, I hurriedly flipped the pork ribs.
Forgetting as the tongs holder spells disaster.
Fortunately, they were perfectly golden now.
"It's fine. Pork ribs are better not flipped too much anyway."
"Really?"
Truth be told, flipping a few times doesn't make much difference.
Still, grillers have their beliefs.
Exactly twice, or grabbing the tongs first at a BBQ joint develops a routine.
'Of course, I just blanked out and nearly caused a catastrophe.'
Cheon-do and Hwang-do let it slide, but sharp-eyed Baek-do glared meaningfully.
"Grill properly..."
Still a fierce kid.
Her sharp eyes flashed through her snowy white hair.
"Baek-do, seriously! You gonna keep this up? Big Bro went out of his way because you wanted to go outside."
"Hwang-do, whose side are you on?"
"Big Bro's side?"
"...Ugh."
Baek-do shot Hwang-do a look, but what could she do? Hwang-do had long been bought with this month's pork loin.
April issue hidden in Hwang-do's room corner: ~Grafting onto Others' Trees~!
Today, Hwang-do was basically on my side.
Baek-do seemed to guess why and ground her teeth in frustration.
"Baek-do, that's enough."
Of course, Cheon-do too.
She'd come with high expectations for our rare reunion.
This morning, she'd beamed while asking me to pick her outfit.
"Got it... Sorry."
Cowed by Cheon-do's scolding, Baek-do hung her head.
She melts at Cheon-do's words, huh?
Makes sense. Baek-do was here for Cheon-do, not me.
Not that she wanted to see me, and alluring as the outside was, it wouldn't bend her stubbornness that far.
Baek-do was practically here to see her sister.
And knowing her fault, she sneakily chatted while picking side dishes.
"...You did well today, though."
Praise. Or so it felt.
Baek-do gripped her chopsticks lightly, face conflicted.
"...Thanks."
Hard-won words.
Cheon-do and Hwang-do finally grinned.
"Good Baek-do~ Such a good girl Baek-do~!"
"Hwang-do, quit it while you're ahead?"
Bickering Hwang-do and Baek-do. Watching brought a smile.
Baek-do clearly softened seeing me get along with Cheon-do.
It had been ages since the three gathered.
She must feel some gratitude toward me for arranging it.
"Alright, all done."
Perfect timing—the meat was ready. I dove in with tongs and scissors.
Chop! Chop!
I sliced boldly and laid them neatly on the plate.
Juicy and appetizing.
The three little ones' eyes locked on.
This pricey pork ribs would be a feast for veggie-focused eaters like them.
"Senior Brother, it's all cooked."
"Can we eat now, Big Bro?"
"......"
Peep peep. Chick-like stares.
Their bright faces practically glowed.
"Yep~ Dig in."
I nodded with a smile, and chopsticks flew excitedly.
"Wow, perfectly cooked and delicious, Big Bro!"
"...Tasty."
Even sullen Baek-do's eyes widened at the first bite.
Hwang-do squealed—loud but not annoying.
What joy greater for a griller?
They devoured so fast two servings vanished before I set down the scissors.
Exhausting to grill, only to see it gone—yet I felt none of that.
It's fine.
Watching the smiling sisters melted my heart.
I really live for these three.
For real.
"Peach Garden Senior Brother."
As I dazedly watched them eat, Cheon-do beside me reached with her chopsticks.
"Yeah?"
"...You haven't eaten a bite."
Three hefty ribs on her chopsticks—not one, but three.
I accepted without refusal, popping them in.
Chewed and swallowed smoothly.
"Delicious."
Honest review. Cheon-do shrugged happily, her pink lips curling up.
"'Cause Senior Brother grilled it."
Not shy, just joyful flushed cheeks.
Behind that pink-tinged smile of Cheon-do's—
"Gasp."
"...!"
Hwang-do with sly wide eyes, and Baek-do looking struck by a hammer to the head, both stared at Cheon-do.