Chapter 158
Chapter 158
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 158
Chapter Title: Little Heavenly Demon, Peach Blossom Paradise (7)
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Not much time left now.
I thought that instinctively.
I'd revealed all my hidden trump cards.
The only thing left for me to do was head out and find Baekdo and Hwangdo.
-Thud.
With each footstep, my breath cut out.
-Thud.
With each footstep, my breath returned.
My legs trembled like a flickering lantern.
They looked comically like quaking aspen leaves.
The scent of Peach Blossom Paradise filling my nostrils was pure blood today.
The landscapes I'd loved were all engulfed in flames and gone. Everything from those low hills overlooking the vast paradise.
All vanished with the mild spring air.
This was the week when the peach blossoms should have been in full bloom.
Flames blessed their place instead of petals.
-Thud.
The collapsed roof of a civilian house seemed to mock me.
Everything you did turned to ashes. Isn't it all for nothing?
'I know.'
Coming all the way to the past—what the hell did I even change? All that effort wasted.
'But whatever.'
-Thud.
My limp footsteps dragged forward.
Flames from the ground caught on my pants, but I lacked even the energy to pat them out.
-Thud.
Fortunately, the flames soon died down.
My body stood there stubbornly.
Blood poured endlessly no matter how much I bled—exhausting.
I lost my balance and collapsed, only for Cheondo to rush over and catch me.
"Why did you do it... why?"
Even in this situation, Cheondo didn't shed a single tear.
With worry-filled eyes, she endlessly rubbed my cheek with her small hand.
"Hands off. You're getting blood on me."
"Sheesh. If you were gonna get hurt this bad, you should've just run... You okay... okay?"
"Yeah. I'm not dying anyway."
Groundless confidence.
But looking at my remaining mana and body... this might be the last time I see Cheondo.
"Heh heh heh."
A sleazy laugh bubbled up after so long.
Ah, Hongyeon. I wanted to at least say hi to her someday.
My head spun, so I pulled Cheondo into a tight hug with both arms.
"Cheondo."
"...Yeah."
Suddenly, words I could say now came to mind.
And words that old geezer would never say himself.
"You can listen to me, right?"
"Why... why say it like that?"
"Answer me. It's your senior speaking. Just listen."
"......Okay."
Cheondo's voice trembled with anxiety.
The fingers rubbing my cheek gradually lost strength.
"I'm going to save your siblings now."
"No... can't you just lie down and rest right now?"
"Gotta save the kids. What if they're scared right now?"
"......If you go like this, I feel like I'll never see you again."
"Cheondo."
I'd indulged her whims plenty up till now.
Well, partly to find stability myself by seeking her out. But these last few days, I'd really moved for her sake.
We went out together and shared peaches.
She was always by my side when I slept well.
"Time to be strong now."
"...Okay."
Her voice still shook with lingering resentment.
"Be more lively."
"Okay."
"Loud. Proud."
"Okay... okay."
I patted her back.
She was gradually realizing it herself, stopping her fussing and clamping her mouth shut.
"Let go now. I'm heavy."
I pulled away from Cheondo's embrace and faced her directly.
Her cheek was massively swollen, like she'd been slapped hard.
I pressed my remaining power against it.
-Humm.
Green light.
The power at my fingertips eased the swelling on Cheondo's cheek.
"Look at me."
"Okay."
"......When we part, go to the Leader. It'll be safe there. You know where it is from your recent work, right? Head there."
-Nod.
"If something big happens later, prioritize your own safety. In Peach Blossom Paradise, you're the most important..."
"Okay."
"Yeah. Take good care of our kids too. I'm not saying I'm dying... might just rest a long while. Baekdo's good at fighting. Teach her the techniques we're using now... Hwangdo's got magic talent..."
Cheondo kept her eyes wide open, listening intently.
She really was such a good kid, no matter how I looked at her.
"You know how to clear dungeons? Being a successful hunter means clearing dungeons."
"...I've gone with Master before."
"Right. If you go, pack plenty of food. Electricity, flashlights too."
"Okay."
"Good kid."
I ruffled her hair. The soft texture made me chuckle.
Last time seeing a kid like this too.
I smiled.
"We'll see each other soon."
Time flies.
Irresponsible words, but my master—I didn't think she'd fail to endure that time.
"Not crying even now? You're amazing. Heh heh heh, I lose, I lose."
"......You're right. I'm amazing."
"C'mere. One more hug."
-Smoosh.
From today, Little Heavenly Demon Cheondo.
I roughly tousled her, and her vermilion hair swayed gently.
Cheondo, so gentle and cute like a retriever, clung tight to my arm and rubbed her cheek against mine furiously.
"You can really be seen again, right?"
"Of course. Anything you wanna do when we meet later?"
"Together... watch Freak Cure. At a big theater this time. Cola and... big popcorn, the couples' size."
"Heh heh heh. When'd you learn to say that?"
"Hwangdo... hee hee."
Cheondo forced a smile.
I pulled my face away and stood up.
The height difference was huge. She still had growing to do.
If I hadn't delayed Peach Blossom Paradise's destruction... she might not have withstood the world's harsh winds.
"...Alright. Time to go."
"Okay."
I turned my back, waiting until Cheondo started running.
She knew lingering would only breed attachment, so less than a minute later, her running footsteps echoed.
-Pat pat pat pat.
The footsteps gradually faded.
I looked down at my mangled arm.
Can this really be fixed?
'Whatever.'
Since I'm going all out, might as well go to the end.
That's just who I am.
I took a heavy step forward.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Whoa, fuck, seriously... Should've gone beat up my ex first if I knew it'd be like this."
Jin Sa-hyang's comical soliloquy continued.
Playfulness soaked her voice. Then blood gushed from her mouth.
Daggers plunged all over her body instantly showed her dire straits.
"Sis... sis..."
"Whoa, the blood smell... Gonna lose it. Shut up, man. Baekdo, gag her."
Inside the building sheltering Baekdo and Hwangdo.
The only one left to protect the Heavenly Demon's children—her vision went dark.
Reminded of her place, Jin Sa-hyang wiped fake tears, smearing blood instead.
"Don't move a muscle. No sounds. Stay under the bed."
"Stop, don't go... don't go."
"Hwangdo, enough."
Baekdo stifled Hwangdo's voice full of rage.
Baekdo clung to reason, but terror filled her face too.
Jin Sa-hyang glanced under the bed and let out a bitter sigh.
"That crazy old fart. If he can't even protect his daughters... did he eat his age in knots?"
She gritted her teeth, sensing death closing in.
-Boom!
Door slam.
Jin Sa-hyang slowly gathered her mana.
Hwangdo, mid-sob, choked and froze.
-Creak—
As the door opened, Jin Sa-hyang's hand shot out.
Her dagger aimed to cave in the hunter's forehead—
"Gah! You little—"
—but her wrist was grabbed, subduing her.
Brief resistance ended as the hunter's sword pierced her chest.
-Crunch!
Yielding the attack, her lungs stabbed—breath choked off.
Pain so hot even struggling was impossible.
She grimaced, collapsing and dropping her head.
A kick flew toward her abdomen.
"You crazy bitch, who you trying to kill?!"
"Cough, hack."
Please don't come out. Stay put.
...Just let me die alone.
Jin Sa-hyang glared wide-eyed, inwardly screaming death repeatedly.
Pain frayed her grip on sanity.
Dying would bring relief.
At her vision's edge, one rotting-in-the-gut kid caught her eye.
'...Snap out of it.'
Even the thought of dying—she forced it down.
Jin Sa-hyang's legs wrapped the hunter's lower body, upsetting his balance and toppling him.
"Urk!"
Spitting blood, she mounted him.
Yanking the dagger from her shoulder, the hunter's face paled.
"W-Wai—"
"Shut the fuck up!"
Sharp metal stabbed his throat.
The man convulsed violently.
His shuddering slowed gradually. Dead.
"Hoo... haa. Ha. Haha. Gonna go mad. Can't even breathe right."
"...Sis. Sis, sis!! Sob, waaah."
"...Fuckin' hell."
They said lung stabs leave you speechless.
Lie...? Or barely missed?
Jin Sa-hyang slumped to the floor, strength gone.
Hwangdo, unable to hold back, buried her face in Sa-hyang's chest.
-Hiss, hiss.
Air leaked from Sa-hyang's mouth.
'...If I'd known I'd go out like this, should've just gorged on rice cakes.'
Her cheerful nature? Even dying, no big thoughts.
Just... leaving a little-sister-like kid behind was her regret.
Sa-hyang patted Hwangdo's shoulder with dimming eyes.
"Kid... get ready to run. Baekdo."
"...Okay."
"Take care of this one."
Baekdo, clutching one hand, crawled from under the bed and looked at Sa-hyang.
Blood dripped profusely from Baekdo's gripped hand.
She'd been ambushed by the hunter before Sa-hyang could help.
'That...'ll scar.'
Dying, still worrying about others first.
With few companions, Hwangdo and Baekdo felt like family.
Hwangdo shared deep hobbies, like calling her knot-friend despite age.
Playful Baekdo too, lots of interactions.
"Sob, waaaaa... heuk."
Saving and dying for kids like these—maybe a blessing?
Parents long gone.
Friends drifted away. My fault for not being proactive, but whatever.
No one would cry at my funeral. I'd told Hwangdo that once.
'One showed up.'
Not a wasted life, then.
Sa-hyang smiled bitterly.
Eyelids heavy.
"Hwangdo... get up."
"Heuk, sob, sob."
Crying with a doll-like face—so pretty even like that. Blessed beauty.
No wise words to impart. No famous quotes for growing kids.
Just this one sufficed.
"......Find good men. Both of you."
-Boom!
Men's voices bursting into the house.
...Want to help, but body won't move.
Jin Sa-hyang turned her head to look at Hwangdo and Baekdo.
Hwangdo still crying. Crybaby to the end.
Baekdo gripped a discarded dagger from the floor, guarding Hwangdo warily.
Don't die.
As Sa-hyang's eyes closed, a hunter's neck flew at her vision's edge.
'......Heh.'
A blood-soaked man appeared from the hall; Sa-hyang smiled.
Wish you'd come sooner. But now, she wanted rest.
Little Heavenly Demon... Hwangdo's big bro, right?
Looking that wrecked—fought desperately to defend Peach Blossom Paradise.
Perfect match for our Hwangdo.
If you die, I'll revive and beat you.
Wanted to say that last, but her vocal cords wouldn't vibrate.
'...Can't speak.'
Jin Sa-hyang etched his face into her eyes last, surrendering to sinking consciousness.
Suddenly, a song with Hwangdo came to mind.
-Pinky's promise ring~ Promise tight, tight. You promised not to tell I showed you this, right?
-Sure, sis~ Can I see it now? Throat-slit!
Life flashing like that?
Even a three-year-old would weep.
-Pfft.
'......'
Jin Sa-hyang's eyelids hardened cold.
The approaching man gently closed them.