Immortal Peaches Revive the Orchard
Soo-hyeok. Isn't this a bit much?
"Huh?"
After returning from the Sonnaeho Dungeon, he was lost in thought for a moment when Yelena grumbled in a sulky tone. It was rare for her to complain, so he tilted his head.
"What's up?"
"Soo-hyeok, you've been ignoring the farm lately."
"Ah... cough."
It was true, actually. Ever since he'd started growing otherworld crops, he'd pretty much stopped tending to regular ones. At best, the little vegetable patch next to the yard? Even that was managed by Do-cheol's spirit arts every morning for the otherworld stuff, and Yelena handled the regular garden.
Since everything ran smoothly without his input, he'd been slacking off a bit lately.
'That's why I was focusing on raising Ji-hyang.'
It would've been nice if Ji-hyang could defend him, but their little Ji-hyang was fast asleep, oblivious to the world.
Cough cough. "I've been pretty busy, you know."
"Do you even know how the orchard's doing?"
"Urk."
The new orchard he'd built after taking down the Druid. He'd bought saplings and planted them, but then he stumbled on those pinching rakeweed sprouts, pushing it back. Over a month of neglect later...
"Orchards don't grow in a day or two... Yeah! Since you brought it up, let's go check it out!"
It'd be fine. Or so he thought, striding confidently to the orchard—
"Oh boy..."
Weeds up to their shins greeted them.
"That's... pretty bad."
Orchards did demand a lot upfront. Once the saplings took root properly, they'd have sucked up all the nutrients, leaving no room for weeds. But these were barely a month old, fighting tooth and nail just to survive amid the overgrowth. And without proper pesticides...
"At this rate, they'll all die."
Not hyperbole. Even weeding now and dosing them with fertilizer, half might still wither away.
"Might as well replant from scratch..."
Then he remembered the cherry blossom petals from the Sonnaeho Dungeon.
Not sure if they were actual cherry blossoms—just pink petals, so he'd called them that.
"Do-cheol."
Yes, Master!
"Can you save this orchard?"
It's possible. However, reaching target growth will take about twice as long as planned.
"Right?"
Yes! See what happens when you slack off, Master!
"See? What'd I tell you, Soo-hyeok?" Yelena chimed in from the sidelines.
'Then why don't you do it yourself?' nearly slipped out, but he remembered her words from before.
'Soo-hyeok, what about the orchard?'
'Huh? Oh, that. Leave it for now. I'll get to it later.'
'Got it.'
No denying it—this was on him.
Cough. "I had a plan, that's why I left it. Here, check this out."
He pulled out handfuls of pink petals from his pocket, and Yelena tilted her head.
"What's this?"
"Otherworld crop from this trip. Name's..."
PA-31. Native to Xianxia-type dungeons. Also called Immortal Peach. The fruit grown on the parent body fetches high prices, but parent bodies are rarely found.
"Huh, interesting."
Immortal Peach. Do-cheol got pissy sometimes, but damn useful for this stuff.
Fruit on the parent body? So not cherry blossoms, then.
"What can we do with just leaves?"
"Regular plants? Tough. But let's try cuttings."
"Cuttings?"
Cuttings. Plants don't always need flowers or seeds to propagate. Slice a stem or leaf, induce roots—that's cuttings. Possible, but usually needs thick leaves, not thin ones like cherry blossoms.
These Immortal Peach leaves looked cherry-like but were thicker and meatier. Worth a shot.
They had 'the guy' for it, after all. Spirit arts pro far beyond him.
"Do-cheol."
Yes, Master!
"Revive these. Got plenty of leaves—keep trying till it works."
...Yes!
Hesitant for a sec there.
"Here, half for you, half for me."
Yes! Thank you!
He handed Do-cheol a handful of Immortal Peach leaves, then grabbed his share and poured spirit arts into them.
"Urgh..."
Truth was, his spirit arts weren't much. Just earnestly praying for growth.
Crinkle.
"Ack."
The leaf crumpled and crumbled every time. Still okay—plenty left.
Crunch crunch.
"...Ow!"
After wrestling fingernail-sized leaves for dozens of minutes, his last one crumbled away.
"Damn..."
Another Sonnaeho Dungeon run? Then—
...Success!
"Oh!"
Do-cheol held up a leaf with tiny roots sprouting, stem emerging.
"Nice! Plant it and..."
Crunch.
"Huh?"
Crunch crunch!
The thing gripped Do-cheol's wooden root and ballooned massively. Overdid the power? It rapidly devoured the root like its own, soon rivaling the orchard saplings.
Eek! Save me!
"Wha—! Wh-what do we do?"
Smash it? But wasting a successful sapling felt wrong.
Slice!
While he pondered, Yelena scythed Do-cheol's root with a nearby sickle, saving the rest from takeover.
"Phew!"
Crunch! Crunch crunch!
The severed piece, still vigorous, swallowed surrounding soil and kept growing. Finally calming, it towered as a massive tree.
"Whoa, that's some effect."
Didn't expect instant full-grown tree. Growth halted, pink leaves fluttered like a Xianxia dungeon.
Whoosh.
"Oh."
Puff. Puff puff.
Undeterred, buds swelled into fruit on the branches. Exactly four. No more changes—spirit arts tapped out.
"Whoa, those the fruits?"
Yes.
Do-cheol's reply lagged a beat, sulky.
"Aw, c'mon, did I expect that?"
Thank you, Yelena. You saved me.
"Hmph. Don't mention it. No big deal."
"..."
Embarrassed, he plucked the fruits. Still vibrant despite picking—ripe peaches begging to be eaten.
Almost bit in, then held back.
"How much are these worth?"
Current market: about 10 million won each.
"...What?"
Misheard? Ten million?
Yes. Immortal Peaches strengthen mana cores and boost recovery. High demand, high price.
"Whoa... but ten million each?"
Indeed. Heals limb loss too—essential for high-rank monsters and raids.
"Eep..."
Nearly chomped a fortune. Money was good lately, but torching ten mil per bite?
I recommend a taste now. Won't get easier later.
"Hmm, fair point."
To sell, needed Cheonma Group first—contract terms. Future yields all theirs; no tasting then.
Parents always shared first harvest with family.
'So... one bite's fine, right?'
Forty mil total. Hands shook, but resolve hardened. When else?
* * *
"I-ImImmortal Peach?"
"Yeah."
Sujin, veteran of the front lines, knew them well.
"No way...! You're growing these?!"
Eyes sparkling like ka-ching sounds.
"Gonna raise 'em right from now on. First harvest—we taste first."
"Mm. Kinda wasteful, but just this once."
A twinge of regret, but she nodded. True little sis—generous when it counted.
"Peel 'em?"
"No! Most nutrients in the skin. Chew it all."
She nagged like Mom used to.
"Alright, then..."
Four peaches. Perfect split?
"Ah! Master!"
"Oh, Ji-hyang. You're up."
"A-Are you okay? You collapsed so suddenly...!"
"Yeah, all good."
"...Pardon?"
Ji-hyang, freshly awake, eyed him worriedly. Seeing him hale, she nodded.
"As expected of Master!"
Hem hem.
"Heh, you two are close now? Ji-hyang, you look healthier too."
"Hehe, all thanks to Master. And Sujin unnie's intro."
"Heh, really?"
Handing her packed bags to leave, he couldn't send a guest empty-handed. She'd carried him home—repay that.
"Hey, disciple. Try this."
"Huh? What's that?"
Immortal Peach.
"Immortal... Gasp! Th-that Immortal Peach?!"
"Yep. One each..."
Do-cheol couldn't eat. Him, Sujin, Ji-hyang, Yelena—four.
"What're you saying? Yelena can't have these."
"Ah."
"Guh."
Yelena, drooling nearby, gulped in shock.
"Sorry, Yelena. Non-awakeners can't eat otherworld crops."
"B-But...! Maybe just a bite!"
"No. What if you get sick?"
"Ugh...!"
Ten mil fruit denied—total letdown.
"Heh."
Amusing sight; he watched a bit.
"...Sujin. Got a secret."
"Huh?"
"Eh?"
Spilling now? For a peach?
Pricey one, sure.
"...I'm actually an awakener. Got a mana core."
"...What?"
Whoa, really saying it.
Sujin first thought Yelena just peach-coveted. But explanation sank in—face horrorstruck.
"F-For real?"
"Sorry... Sujin. Never meant to hide. Bad timing."
"I get it... sorta, but..."
Trailing off, she glared at Yelena's abdomen.
"...It's real?"
"That shows it?"
"Yeah. A-rank hunters need this detection. Takes focus, though—even overwhelming cores vanish without."
"Hmm."
Horns let demons do similar, but visible—niche skill.
"Never suspected Yelena was awakened... no reason to focus."
"Sorry."
Yelena kept apologizing, awkward.
Sujin pouted briefly, then shrugged.
"It's fine. No bad intent."
"...Thanks, Sujin."
"Mm-hmm."
Seemed resolved amicably.
"...But you knew, oppa?"
"Uh...?"
Why him now?
"You knew!"
"...Wh-what's it matter? Let's taste the peaches!"
"Grr..."
"Mmm~ Tasty-looking~"
Ignoring Sujin's glare, he crunched a bite.
Crunch!
Crisp, tangy juice flooded his mouth. Firm apple-like texture—decent peach.
Overall? 'Just tastes like peach.'
Overhyped, maybe. Preferred juicy over firm anyway.
"Mm! Power surging through me!"
"Wow! So good, Master! Feeling stronger!"
"...Tasty."
Good thing Sujin liked it—her scowl melted after one bite.