Chapter 338
Chapter 338
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 338
Chapter Title: Hong Yeon (3)
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My father once said.
Human emotions are like flowers—once they bloom fully, they are discarded.
It wasn't wrong, but they could never return to how they once were.
Beneath resignation, sorrow evaporated. What remained was an empty dam of emotions.
I wanted to ask my father how to fill that dam. But by the time I realized my emptiness, his eyes were already closed.
"Listen up!!!"
The Little Heavenly Demon's voice pierced the heavens as she shouted at the top of her lungs.
The warriors of Peach Garden burst out of their homes in stocking feet from the rebuilding efforts, cheering wildly.
"Waaaaah!!!!"
Heavenly Path declared,
"I, I—"
Wearing the Black Dragon Robe inherited from Father. With a poignant yet resolute thrust of her shoulders, giving it her all.
"—have inherited the power of the Demonic Cult and will lead Peach Garden to paradise."
Her eyebrows furrowed in fury as she bellowed.
"I am the Heavenly Demon!!!!"
The shoulders of Heavenly Path, now a young woman, stood proud.
Just like that person back then.
'She takes after him.'
One corner of my mouth slowly lifted.
Though Father had passed, an extraordinary figure had taken his place. Fresh blood was stirring in Peach Garden.
Some confusion was expected, but we would overcome it.
I would make sure of it.
And Heavenly Path was no weakling either.
Watching Heavenly Path's back as she gave her speech, tears threatened to well up again for no reason.
"Unnie, don't cry. Hic."
"...I didn't cry."
"Liar! You did cry. Sob, sob. Hong Yeon unnie is a crybaby!"
"You're the crybaby, aren't you? Come here to my arms."
"Waaah. Sob sob. I miss big brother..."
Imperial Path snuggled into my embrace, sniffling.
Children really grow so fast. In the time I hadn't seen her, she'd shot up in height and weight.
I gently straightened Imperial Path's tear-mussed hair as she sobbed.
"Unnie."
White Path, who had been watching Heavenly Path right beside Imperial Path, spoke up.
"What is it?"
"Teach me martial arts too."
White Path had changed a lot as well. She bit her lip with a determined expression.
"Of course. If you want to learn, I'll teach you as much as you like. Though, well, I don't have much talent for martial arts myself."
When I told her that Dowon had died, White Path had spent several sleepless nights in shock.
We all had.
Dowon had been more deeply etched into everyone's minds in Peach Garden than expected.
White Path clenched her fists and sniffled.
"I'll become the best in the world."
It was a somewhat out-of-the-blue declaration.
Even with a Heavenly Demon of this era now present. The best in the world? Yet somehow, it made sense.
"...I want to protect others too."
Yes.
You all can do anything.
I'll make sure you succeed. I'll let you do whatever you want, anytime.
I knelt and pulled White Path into a hug.
"Well done."
"......"
"The best in the world, or the best of all time. White Path, Imperial Path—you two can achieve anything."
Having inherited the Heavenly Demon's blood and talent, I could say it with confidence.
"Because you're my little sisters."
The one leading Peach Garden now... was me.
Until Heavenly Path adapted to her role, I had to step up.
"Go on inside. I'll explain everything slowly later."
"Yes."
"Yeah... sob."
Just like Father had. Just like Dowon had.
They prepared the way for the next generation, ensuring safety from any peril.
Even if crisis came, I had to protect these three no matter what.
Because they had succeeded.
"Cult Leader!"
Having finished her speech, Heavenly Path descended, dripping cold sweat. Her legs trembled, unaccustomed to such attention.
Long hair cascading below her shoulders, a youthful girl's face unbelievable for the Heavenly Demon.
Yet the Black Dragon Robe draped over her shoulders was the clear symbol of the Heavenly Demon.
"Let us go inside. Heavenly Demon."
Hong Yeon knelt and paid respects to Heavenly Path. Heavenly Path floundered, but even that was endearing now.
"A question for the Cult Leader."
Heavenly Path smiled awkwardly.
"Can I— Ack! No... Can I do well?"
-A soft chuckle.
"Of course."
I prayed. May this young child navigate the world unscathed.
Raising the girl protected by Father and Dowon was now my responsibility.
After the Heavenly Demon's succession and the ensuing festival,
I couldn't return to my chambers even after escorting the Heavenly Demon.
It had been quite some time since I'd last entered the house.
With Dowon gone and most administrators dead, the Demonic Cult's Cult Leader catching a wink was out of the question.
-Creak.
In the usual office. Sitting right in front of Dowon's seat where we'd exchanged drinks.
I locked eyes with the dobok he used to wear and clutched it tightly.
"...Dowon."
Honestly.
I still... couldn't believe it.
For someone who came and went so quickly, he'd taken root so deeply in my heart.
-Can I do well?
Heavenly Path had asked me. I believed she could.
Even if I couldn't, that child could—I held onto that hope.
I buried my face in the dobok, now free of even the scent of blood.
It faintly held that man's scent. Tears flowed.
"Dowon... Can I do well?"
My shoulders felt heavy.
"Can I lead this place well? I want to ask. Who do I ask now?"
The dobok grew damp. My throat tightened. I didn't know how many times this had happened.
Yet whenever it got tough, whenever doubt crept in, the tears would flow.
I couldn't show it to others. But you...
You, who understood and helped me best—wouldn't you know?
"Heavenly Path is doing well. But me... I just can't feel certain. If I'm even right for this position... How to protect Peach Garden from collapsing ahead."
Like that man—
"...Dowon. What would you have done? How did you manage so well?"
I'm not perfect.
I'm not as strong as Father.
A half-baked person, barely past thirty, woefully inadequate to protect Dowon.
"...Sometimes. I dream you're still alive."
It's just imagination, nothing more.
Dowon suddenly appearing before me, living together, overcoming trials— a mere delusion. Words I couldn't share with others.
"If only you were here..."
Father's absence wouldn't feel so vast.
The lingering resentments could have been poured out.
Maybe, just maybe, if you'd had even a thought of accepting me.
"I feel like I could do better. Just a little better than now."
I clutched my pounding chest as if to rip it out. It hurt. The relentless throbbing made my mind hazy.
"My Peach Garden has no you anymore."
Sorrow turned to resignation. The empty space atop the parched dam.
No one would fill it now.
.
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.
-Urk.
Blood trickled from my mouth. Waking from the dream, I frantically scanned my surroundings.
"Kuhak... Kehek, urp, keh. Uweeeek!"
I spewed blood and vomit. What the hell happened?
Red light fell from the sky. Hunters invaded. I tried to block it forcibly, only to get run through by a sword.
"Ah... Urgh."
Pain from my gut.
A long sword pierced straight through me.
"Fuck. Fuck!"
Curses spilled from my lips. One leg was crushed, immobile.
-Limp.
I crawled forward through the pool of my own blood.
Memories before and after were hazy. The massive shock—I couldn't recall how things had gone so wrong, how it all crumbled.
"Please. Please... Fuck. Father, please."
Praying as I crawled.
I gripped rain-soaked weeds, dragging myself forward until they tore out.
Each movement shifted the sword in my gut, sending excruciating pain.
"Ah, uuurgh!"
Consciousness fading again. If I passed out now, I'd really die.
I clamped my mouth shut and clawed up the hill.
"Please..."
A little further.
Move faster.
As awareness slipped, memories sharpened.
The Hunter Association and Church raid. To utterly destroy the Copy Tree Clan and uproot the source, they stormed Peach Garden.
I knew and prepared. This was the result of those preparations.
I'd done everything I could.
Yet it ends like this again?
"Please... move."
A carpet of blood trailed behind. My chilled arms refused to obey.
Of all dreams for the end... Heavenly Path becoming the Heavenly Demon.
Vision shook as nerves throughout my body numbed.
-Crunch.
"...Can't die. I, I... how."
Teeth ground to shards. Vision blood-red. Like possessed, I thrashed my body.
I fumbled out a shattered potion vial, crammed the pieces into my mouth with one hand, and chewed.
-Crunch, crunch.
Pieces fell from my lips. I scooped them up. Mixed with dirt, I forced them down.
Scanning surroundings desperately, I heaved ragged breaths.
"Hah... hah."
I rose. Yanked the sword from my gut.
No scream as I staggered forward.
Reaching the hilltop I'd longed for, I took in Peach Garden.
Of course, it was no longer a village.
"......"
Snap.
Something broke.
The armory we'd barely rebuilt to stockpile strength. The orphanage sheltering orphans.
The market, the tiled houses.
All smashed, the Church-clad invaders tormenting survivors with every vile method.
"...Ah."
Closest in my sight.
Two bodies sprawled on the ground.
Blood-soaked, breathless. Snow-white hair. Orange hair.
Familiar dobok shapes—no. Wait.
Why? No. That can't—
Eh?
"Aaaaaaah!"
A scream erupted.
Trembling hands crawled, pulling the forms into embrace. No breath from the limp, cold corpses.
"My, my sisters... Please, Father please... Why? No, no it's not. Mmph, urk... keh. Gulp. Gulp."
So precious.
Treated as my own flesh and blood.
"...What did I do? Why me... Why only me... only me."
Everyone leaves me behind.
Enduring malice I never wished for, clinging desperately.
I just wanted to cherish this place.
Even that taken. Did they hate me that much?
"...Please. Kids. Come to your senses, please...! Sob, heuk..."
Terror lingered in their pallid eyes. Unaware of death, just died crying.
How much pain did they feel?
"Why not... kill me instead..."
No thoughts came.
Unable to accept reality, my face stared blankly at the bodies, unchanged.
Then I cried again.
"...What for."
Am I born to grow and only lose?
I had reasons to live, but now even reasons to die are gone.
Nothing left.
I smeared my blood-soaked hands over my face.
-Drip, drip.
A Church priest approached, sword in hand.
Mind numb, no thought to evade.
-Shing.
He drew his sword, thrusting it forth.
A stranger I'd never met aimed to take my sisters and my neck.
If I just die...
Wouldn't it be easier?
"...Why. Do this."
My ruined voice was feeble. Throat cracked, spraying blood.
The man looked at me indifferently and smirked.
"I don't know."
"......"
Right. What else?
"It's the World Tree's will. Following it, we'll send you to fertile lands. Just returning to the soil. So don't resent too much."
Doesn't know.
World Tree's will.
"...Me."
After losing precious ones countless times, seeking answers—is this it?
"...Why. Because of your will."
-Grrrr.
Mana surged. I reached out.
A distant ground-stuck sword flew, smashing into the priest's occiput.
"Kek!?"
I didn't even glance at the instant corpse, hugging my sisters again.
The cooling bodies seemed beyond saving now.
No more tears came.
I just sat dazed. Surrounded by corpses. Staring at the rainy night sky.
No umbrella sheltered me. Rain soaked my head unchecked.
-Drip, drip.
-Splash!
Torrential downpour, ice-cold.
"......"
Rain fell into my eyes.
Needle-like drops stabbed my eyeballs, yet lids stayed open.
Like truly dead. Body nerves unresponsive.
No words surfaced.
Unlike expected, tears hadn't dried.
All I could do was sigh, sickened by the salty taste filling my mouth.
The moment Peach Garden fell.
-Drip.
I did nothing.