Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Peach Tree (4)
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In the cabin filled only with the gentle breath of spring.
With just a single candle in the corner of the room as the only light source, I knelt down and met Hwangdo's eyes.
Hwangdo was trembling awkwardly in the tense atmosphere as she offered me a teacup. It contained perfectly brewed peach black tea.
"Thank you."
"Baekdo owes you a debt. I'm sorry. And, uh, don't worry about that incident. It was an accident."
"It's fine."
As I replied, I glanced sideways.
San Su-yu was sipping the peach black tea contentedly. She seemed to like sweet things.
What in the world is going on here?
Dual personalities?
Hwangdo and Baekdo having split personalities? This was truly astonishing.
"Baekdo will probably come back by tomorrow morning."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. And as for Baekdo's rudeness... I can only apologize. I'll do anything I can."
"That's fine too."
Compared to Baekdo, Hwangdo seemed to have a proper sense of values, so I could respond pleasantly.
Thinking back to that woman lost in madness earlier... Honestly, it was hard to bear.
I stroked Shiba on the flowerpot I was hugging. Peep, peep. Shiba trembled as if feeling good. Worried it might fall off again like last time, I'd carried it all the way here.
-Slurp.
Taking a sip of the peach black tea, my body relaxed softly. It was a pleasant flavor.
Reflecting on the day, I suddenly wondered if tomorrow would bring more hellish training.
Baekdo was truly loathsome. Couldn't Hwangdo handle the training instead?
As I looked at Hwangdo with that in mind, she, who had been staring at my face intently, smiled brightly.
"...I like it."
"Pardon?"
"I like soft peaches. Hehe."
What the!!
"You're a true connoisseur."
I meant it sincerely.
Hwangdo beamed at my words and started rattling on.
"I think soft peaches are the best. Don't you? They're soft enough for kids and the elderly to eat, and super sweet too."
"Right, right."
"Canned peaches are all sweet! They need to be juicy to taste good."
"Nice. Spot on."
"Hehe, we have something in common now."
We bonded over peaches.
Chatting about peaches for a good while, I felt like Hwangdo and I got along pretty well.
"Should we swear the Peach Garden Oath or something?"
"Peach Garden Oath?"
"You don't know? It's where we pledge our beliefs under a peach tree. The Peach Garden Oath."
Hwangdo's eyes sparkled as she extended her hand. Then, with eyes shining like she'd been brainwashed by a cult—
"Peach Garden Oath!"
She looked at me full of anticipation.
I reached out my hand. Hwangdo placed hers on top.
"Peach Garden Oath. Though we weren't born in the same era, when we die, we'll crave ripe peaches from the same spot. From today, we're Peach Pals."
"Peach Pals...! What a cool name."
This was the Peach Garden Oath. No Liu Bei needed.
Hwangdo placed her hand on her chest and smiled radiantly, as if it were the happiest thing. She looked so pure and cute. I wondered why Baekdo acted the way she did with such an adorable face.
"Well then, nice to meet you, sis."
"S-Sis?"
"We're sworn siblings now. We have to defeat that vile Hard Peach Clique somehow."
"R-Right. Yeah! Got it, bro! Hehe."
"It's getting late, so shall we sleep?"
"Sure!"
We put out the lights and quickly went to bed.
There was only one room, with two women lying beside me, but I was so exhausted that no stray thoughts crossed my mind.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The next day.
"You bastard!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Baekdo's furious roar echoed thunderously through the cabin.
I shot up like Liu Bei hearing thunder and patted my startled chest.
"Hey, there's such a thing as basic decency. You shouldn't disturb someone while they're sleeping, right?"
"How dare you grope a beautiful maiden's breasts and say that!"
"What am I supposed to do about an accident?"
"Shut up. And Peach Garden Oath? How dare you use that sacred term!"
Completely awake now, I yawned and shot back.
"I read online that 60% of people prefer soft peaches."
"Bullshit, you commie!"
I'm going insane.
I had no retort to her classic commie rant.
"I'll forsake hard peaches before the world does!"
"What a ridiculous ambition."
It'd only been a day, but I already missed Hwangdo.
I thought of last night's Hwangdo, who giggled sweetly and responded with full sincerity. My mood sank.
Baekdo scowled angrily and turned her head away sharply. There was definitely style and beauty in the gesture, but to me, she just seemed childish.
"...Siheon awake?"
Woken by the commotion, San Su-yu rubbed her eyes. Was she weak in the mornings? Her ample cleavage was exposed defenselessly under the stretched white tee.
Had she tossed off her underwear in her sleep? The protruding parts stole my gaze.
I forcibly looked away.
"It's Si-heon, not Siheon."
"Yeah."
She didn't even correct it anymore. Still half-asleep, maybe.
Baekdo approached the woken San Su-yu and hugged her lightly. Their breasts squished together softly.
"Our top disciple is in the Hard Peach Clique. Let's be Peach Pals and do the Peach Garden Oath too."
"Peach Pals? If it helps improve my skills... sure."
Unbelievable.
Deep down, did she want to do the Peach Garden Oath too?
I grumbled as I tidied my bedding, and San Su-yu got up too, heading to the training ground.
Baekdo stood before us on our knees, glared at me once, then gave San Su-yu a gentle look before speaking.
"Today, we'll start with simple stamina training. Very simple."
She unrolled a large map from somewhere. It detailed Jirisan's terrain.
"Nearby is Cheonwangbong Peak. First, run there. Touch Cheonwangbong, then Banyabong. Next, Nogodan. Then Chilsungeok Valley. Samsubong. Togibong. Pia Valley. After hitting all those spots I mentioned, return here. We'll do this five times."
"Just running?"
Baekdo smirked at my question.
"As if. I'll interfere along the way. And I've set traps too."
I thought as I watched Baekdo trying not to cackle.
This bitch is obviously gonna mess with just me again. How can I get revenge?
Baekdo crossed her arms and said to me,
"Drop out midway, and you descend immediately."
"Dropout conditions?"
"Not completing five laps. And—"
Baekdo glanced to the side.
-Grrrrr.
There, a bear of unprecedented size approached, drooling.
I'd sensed a faint mana reaction earlier—it was summoning a bear. It was much bigger than I thought. Even a cadet wouldn't emerge unscathed from a swipe of those paws.
"Get caught by that bear, and you're out. Wear this scarf. It draws the bear's attention."
Baekdo gave three scarves to me and one to San Su-yu.
"Are you kidding? Why do I get three?"
"Because you're the 'third-rate' disciple."
"You're out of your mind. Seriously."
"What are you waiting for? Start now, or the bear catches you."
-Roaaar!
The Jirisan moon bear charged toward us with a ferocious face.
Its speed on all fours was impressive.
Just you wait. I tied on the scarf and started running.
This stamina training was a clear race against time.
Go too fast at first, and the bear might catch up later.
No issue for mana tank San Su-yu, but a big problem for me.
"San Su-yu, which way?"
"Left."
"I'll go right then."
The scenery whipped by.
Tree silhouettes appeared and faded like driving a car. My running speed gradually increased.
The problem was the scarf's power exceeded expectations. Bears started popping out from elsewhere too.
'Not just one.'
As I turned direction—
A shadow descended from the sky, covering me.
"Foolish third-rate disciple!"
Leaping tree to tree, occasionally creating air walls to fly, Baekdo held a bow.
She boldly drew it back. The arm strength pulling the taut bowstring was beyond imagination.
That crazy bitch is targeting just me again.
"Receive heaven's punishment!"
-Kaboom!
Lightning struck from the sky.
The mana-infused strike hit right by my foot, whipping up a massive gust that shook nearby branches.
Skimp on mana, and I'm bear food.
I wrapped mana around my body and escaped the aftershock unscathed.
Baekdo, walking on air, laughed arrogantly like a grandmaster.
"Hard Peach Supremacy Stride!"
Thud, thud, thud, thud.
Pressure bore down with each step. Veins bulged on my forehead at the ridiculous technique I'd never heard of.
'Crazy people with power pull out crap like that. That lunatic!'
I acknowledged her skill. Baekdo surpassed me in strength, mana, and physical ability.
That's probably why the Hunter Association recommended her.
Overcoming this unfair trial would skyrocket my skills.
-Thud thud thud.
My body creaked. The pressure kept even the bears at bay.
The sound of drawing the bowstring. That was a real arrow. A hit would mean serious injury.
Even if it missed, she'd raise hell about descending.
I looked up, capturing Baekdo's form.
Read her mana's position. Filter out her intent.
Hard Peach Supremacy Stride. Not its true name, obviously.
She'd slapped a silly name on her elite technique to torment me. Intent was clear.
That's what made it more infuriating. Daring to tarnish Supremacy Stride.
I drew mana from my entire body.
Baekdo's technique was an otherworldly pressure crushing like a mountain.
Under her feet, no one could stand straight; all things bowed. I couldn't let it stand.
I reversed the Supremacy Stride principle. Twisting mana on the fly, I shot upward into the sky.
If Baekdo placed the mountain below,
I'd flip the mountain over.
-Rumble!
Mana drained rapidly, but freedom returned to my body bit by bit.
"...What?"
Baekdo freaked out momentarily, unable to believe the sight.
But what could she do? I'm good at mimicking.
Assembly is disassembly in reverse. Know the method, apply inversely.
I moved again and yelled at her.
"Stay there!"
"Stop acting like a kid! It's embarrassing!"
Projecting Liu Bei fleeing Cao Cao's army, I led the innocent bears toward Cheonwangbong.