Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Peach Tree (3)
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During the flight from the airport to Korea, Baek Do and I didn't even glance at each other. We just crossed our arms and stared off in different directions.
San Su-yu alternated her gaze between us, then spoke up curiously.
"Si-heon."
"Yeah?"
"What happened with your mentor?"
Oh, something happened, alright.
I'd gotten thoroughly thrashed over my ridiculous soft-peach preference.
Just because our tastes didn't align, she'd cursed me out right there on the spot. It was so unfair that even Buddha would've collapsed in despair and shed bloody tears.
I turned to Suyu, who was blankly staring out the airplane window, and asked.
"...Suyu."
"Yeah?"
"Do you like hard peaches? Or soft ones?"
"???"
Unable to grasp the intent behind the question, Suyu tilted her head.
Baek Do, who had been pretending to sleep with her eyes closed, irritably chimed in.
"Hmph, obviously hard peaches."
"Mentor, please don't talk if you can help it. Just hearing you makes my blood boil."
"W-what? You little punk, how dare you talk to your master like that!"
"Didn't you say I'm disqualified as a disciple?"
"Minus two points."
"I still prefer soft peaches."
"Urgh!"
Baek Do's face twisted in frustration. No matter how much she loved hard peaches, I was team soft peach all the way. The sweet, juicy flesh bursting with nectar—how could anyone resist?
Hard peaches crossed the line.
"When training starts, I won't go easy on you."
"I still like soft peaches."
"Insolent brat."
This grudge was going to linger for a while.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Korea. Jirisan.
Designated as the country's first national park in 1967, it originally spanned 483.022 km², the largest mountainous park in the nation.
But that was the old world.
In this world, Jirisan was called the cradle of powerful trees, said to house hidden masters. Those born under its pure energy became legendary figures under their mentors' guidance.
I'd visited Jirisan once before, but this world's version was worlds apart from a mere national park.
From gentle ridges to towering peaks piercing the clouds, it felt like gazing upon impenetrable natural fortresses carved into sheer cliffs.
Cheonwangbong. Banyabong. Nogodan.
A place of vast scale and depth untouched by human civilization—it struck me as profoundly unique.
And at its heart stood a weathered cabin.
"First, let's see what you've got."
Baek Do, clad in her latex battle suit, stood before us with her stark white hair tied back in a single stroke, like a brush painting.
"You first... right, San Su-yu, top disciple."
"Top disciple?"
"That's right. Soft-peach team isn't even worthy of second place. You're third-class, soft-peach."
Ever since that incident, Baek Do seized every chance to lecture me on the dignity of hard peaches.
She'd pull out a hard peach from her bag to eat, giving one to San Su-yu but not me. Despite her tough appearance, her antics were straight out of a kid's playbook.
Of course, I was no slouch at throwing tantrums myself—a master of the craft. Whenever she lectured, I'd fire right back.
"Soft peaches are more expensive than hard ones."
"Hah, that's just because hard peaches are so abundant!"
"Nah, soft peaches have higher demand."
"Fool. You're a commie."
"What the hell?"
"Word is the great leader up north loves soft peaches. You're a commie and a party member."
Even bullshit has its limits.
I'd never been called lacking in crazy before. This woman outdid me.
Steer clear. That's a toxic peach.
"Ahem. Anyway, San Su-yu, top disciple. Draw your sword. Let me see your skills."
"Please go easy on me."
I slumped against the cabin wall with a pout, and Baek Do shot me a displeased look before clearing her throat and signaling San Su-yu to take her stance.
San Su-yu drew her sword with a serious expression, assuming the familiar stance I'd seen countless times.
Ready.
San Su-yu shifted her center of gravity forward slightly—the footwork for charging ahead.
Baek Do, meanwhile, stood relaxed. Her legs planted arrogantly, right hand tucked behind her back as if refusing to use it.
Self-imposed handicap? Come to think of it, the ornaments on her latex armor looked heavy.
If those were weight-enhancing artifacts... her speed without them was unimaginable.
The muscles visible through the latex were perfectly balanced. Looks childish on the inside, but the skills are real.
"Begin."
-Boom!
The ground trembled as the word dropped. Soil erupted skyward, raining down like a storm.
Baek Do vanished in an instant, closing in on San Su-yu just as she began her footwork. San Su-yu swung swiftly, but Baek Do dodged every strike effortlessly.
"...!"
San Su-yu responded with seasoned poise.
She adapted her aggressive footwork to the moment and maintained a posture ready for counterattacks.
Baek Do, moving at blinding speed, launched into the air, kicked off nothing, and flanked San Su-yu from behind.
Riding the wind? Creating footholds in the air at will.
A flicker of panic crossed San Su-yu's stoic eyes. Yet she kept her balance and thrust back at Baek Do.
"Not bad. Top disciple."
Baek Do accelerated again.
This time, she unleashed a straight punch from the front.
-Bang!
The air exploded, sending San Su-yu flying backward.
A harsh strike for a disciple. But San Su-yu rode the sudden gust and floated gently to a landing.
Baek Do's magic.
"You've got good instincts."
"...Thank you."
San Su-yu nodded in bewilderment, and Baek Do smirked smugly at me.
-Step up already?
She'd been cursed out so much, she was hallucinating words from a mere glance.
"Si-an. That person's no joke."
"I know. And it's Si-heon."
"Si-heon."
"Good girl."
I dragged my real sword across the ground and stepped before Baek Do. She grinned mockingly at the sight of me sheathing and unsheathing it.
"A swordsman mistreating his blade? Unbelievable."
"It sharpens itself with mana anyway. Why baby it?"
After the last fight, the blade's teeth were worn; time for a replacement.
Maybe Star'll drop a good one if I grind.
"Your mindset's solid—upgrading a lowly weapon with your own power. That's the warrior's way. Third-class disciple, stance."
"Yeah, sure."
I extended one foot, lowered my center, and positioned the other sideways to cover flanks and rear.
An impromptu variation. San Su-yu's eyes sparkled with interest as she watched.
"Ready."
Ready—
Crack!
Before the signal, Baek Do moved.
At full throttle.
I panicked, switching to defense.
"Damn it, what kind of master plays dirty!"
"No mercy for third-class."
Fuming, I surged mana through my body.
Wooden Sword Style Third Form. No...
Jet-black mana rippled at the blade's tip, radiating its own unbridled light.
Black rays arced gracefully around me like a crescent moon.
Wooden Sword Style, Immortal Fruit Form.
Truly, the shape of a peach tree's fruit plucked straight from its core.
An on-the-spot modified technique, lethal to martial artists—my original sword art. I locked eyes on Baek Do as she closed in.
I see the gap.
I yelled.
"Hard-peach squad, cut!"
Black mana swelled. The sword traced an arc, slicing air like crashing waves.
Choking darkness engulfed Baek Do's punching form—
"Ha."
—for a split second, I glimpsed white mana from her body.
"As if!"
Bang!
Fierce winds erupted.
A brute-force punch shoved me back.
-Crack. An ominous sound from the sword. Holding ground, I checked it—the blade was trashed.
"Haha! Soft-peach lovers can't muster more than this!"
"What?"
"Today, I purge the evil soft-peach spawn."
"You... grrr!"
I clenched my fist and ditched the sword.
Shifting seamlessly to my homemade fist style, surprise flashed across Baek Do's face.
"Fun guy."
Baek Do vanished.
I tracked her with my eyes.
Reading her fist art's essence precisely, I wrapped my body in mana.
The swollen black mana manifested as fighting spirit. Black orbs formed in my gripped fists.
For my lacking physique,
'No choice.'
I unleashed what I'd shown in Lee Seong-han's fight.
Jet-black energy spread from my heart. The mana circuits, tempered from last use, held firm without collapse.
All physical stats surged; senses sharpened.
With expanded perception, I read her moves.
-Baaang!
Fists collided.
Dirt flew; winds burst.
I lost the power clash, but blocked her follow-ups.
"Hahaha! This is fun. A technique thief! Star recommended a good one!"
Baek Do, laughing maniacally, targeted every opening relentlessly.
I retreated, steadying my stance each time.
The battlefield shifted.
San Su-yu, who sat by the cabin, was out of sight now; we'd descended the ridge.
Killing intent laced the spirit rippling from her fists.
"Is that all? Loving squishy things makes your fists squishy too!"
-Thud!
Shoved back, I slammed into a tree. My head hit, vision blurring.
Done for.
As Baek Do closed in, I squeezed my eyes shut and thrust out a hand.
-Thud!
Her fist smashed the tree.
-Craaaack!
The tree snapped under the force and toppled. Baek Do shoved her face right up to mine, grinning.
"Fun guy."
Her smile had a fierce feminine allure, radiating sensuality.
-Squish.
No, the sensuality stemmed elsewhere.
An instinctive grab led to unavoidable contact.
A soft, peach-like breast filled my hand, latex slickness clouding my mind.
Lewd Demon triggered.
"Making such a perverted face?"
Baek Do tilted her head at my change, then looked down. She spotted the hand gripping her chest.
"...!"
Her face flushed crimson.
-Poof!
Smoke burst, dyeing her hair orange.
"...Uhng?"
With orange hair, her tough demeanor vanished; she blushed furiously.
"B-breast."
Behind her, a tree silhouette formed. Its fruit was one I knew well.
Peach—the kind commonly called yellow peach.
"You groped my breast! I hate you, Baek Do! Waaah."
I could only gape in shock.