White Peach Bloom
"Is that all you've got after just one hit? Looks like the demonic energy has spread through your entire body."
Wings unfurl, and a face wearing a sly grin emerges. Even though it could finish me off at any moment, it's toying with me.
"Tch. You bastard."
The one who had been smirking suddenly turns its head to the side. I want nothing more than to drive a blade straight into its neck, but my body won't move.
—Crack!
"……?"
—Boom!
Ignoring me completely, the creature twists its head to stare off into the distance. I think I know why. From far away comes the sound of something shattering and being crushed.
Pop—!!
"What…… kek!"
A streak of pink rushes in at a speed too fast to react and snatches the monster away.
Crack!
"Kuhk! Krrgh!"
"Shit, what the hell are these bug bastards?"
Even though its strength is drained, the creature that had taken not a single scratch from the Crescent Moon Sword is now choking as its neck is seized. Yoo Bit-na could only gape in disbelief at the surreal sight.
Thud! Thud!
The monster slams its fists down on the pink arm, but it doesn't budge an inch.
"Did the bug lay eggs outside or something? Why are there more here?"
Words fail her. This must be what it looks like when a supersonic heavy tank runs something over. The pink figure, still muttering while gripping the creature's neck, glances sideways.
"Ha, Han Ga-eul?"
"Hm?"
At Yoo Bit-na's call, the pink figure turns its head fully, radiant beyond words. Dazzling. Yoo Bit-na's heart pounds. That was the only thought that came to her.
"What are you doing here, Boradori? Are you out for a walk too?"
"Fun!"
Crunch! Crunch!
"Kuhk! Krrgh!"
The sound of bones being crushed rings out cheerfully. Without a care, the figure drops the creature it holds and stomps down on it.
Crack!
Its head bursts open. Just like Han Ga-eul said, it looks exactly like someone casually squashing a bug.
"Kuk."
Perhaps because the tension had finally released, Yoo Bit-na's legs gave out and she started to collapse—only for something to catch her.
"You're hurt."
A warm light flows from the girl's hand and seeps into Yoo Bit-na's wounded forearm. The sticky black energy clinging to her skin crumbles away like dust in sunlight. After a short while, her body begins to feel light again, as if the injury had never happened.
"B-Bit-na Vice-Leader……"
Just as Yoo Bit-na opened her mouth to express her gratitude, Bong Sang-hoon came stumbling over, his body covered in wounds.
"Bong Sang-hoon!"
"Haha. Vice-Leader, I'm glad you're safe."
Bong Sang-hoon collapses to the floor. Even though his own body is in tatters, he still worries about her. Dark, mottled wounds cover him everywhere—clearly the same black energy that had been injected into her.
"Han Ga-eul! Please heal my subordinates."
Not only Bong Sang-hoon, but Silver Wing Guild members are sprawled all over the place. Every single one of them bears the same black wounds.
"Hmm, healing them isn't a problem."
"But? Why?"
Seeing that Han Ga-eul was dragging her words out, the purple-haired girl pressed for an answer.
"Who should I heal first? Look, this is gonna take a while."
Yoo Bit-na, still cradled in Han Ga-eul's arms receiving treatment, trembles slightly. It is a cruel question—choosing who lives and who dies.
"You're not even finished yet. If I don't heal you completely, the energy will spread through your whole body again, you know?"
"No!"
Bong Sang-hoon, who had been approaching, shouts.
"What do you mean no? Why are you yelling?"
"……Please. Heal Vice-Leader Bit-na first."
Bong Sang-hoon, wearing the most desperate expression in the world, bows his head deeply while sprawled on the ground.
"Bong Sang-hoon!"
"Then what about them? What about the soldiers who were guarding the dungeon? Are you saying we don't need to heal them? They're ordinary people, so they'll probably die pretty fast."
Yoo Bit-na trembles again in Han Ga-eul's arms.
"H-Han Ga-eul……"
"What."
The purple-haired girl lifts her head and meets her gaze. Tears are faintly welling in eyes that had looked cold only moments ago. She seems to have made up her mind—to sacrifice one side.
"Please heal the ordinary people first."
"N-No. Please heal Vice-Leader Bit-na and our guild members first. Please."
"Bong Sang-hoon, shut your mouth."
"Vice-Leader!!"
The two of them are making a scene. Han Ga-eul clicks her tongue.
"Han Ga-eul! While I'm still asking nicely, heal the Vice-Leader and the Silver Wings first. Otherwise you'll regret it."
His voice is suddenly growling at her, as if their love is somehow her problem.
"I don't want to?"
"Han Ga-eul!!!"
"You're really throwing a tantrum right now. Are you two dating?"
Yoo Bit-na, still in her arms, shakes her head left and right, her purple hair swaying. That means the guy is throwing the fit all by himself.
"Then why is that bastard freaking out on his own? At this rate, hasn't he already imagined marrying you and having three kids?"
Han Ga-eul continues kneading Yoo Bit-na while the latter lowers her head slightly.
"Shit, if I brushed fingers with him he'd probably start a whole soccer team."
Crunch.
"Han Ga-eul……"
"What, you bastard, what."
A sudden thought strikes her. Maybe that skill whose purpose she still doesn't fully understand could solve everything right now. It has been resonating with the demonic energy pouring from Yoo Bit-na's arm for a while.
"I think I can fix it all at once."
"What!?"
Yoo Bit-na, who had been staring at Bong Sang-hoon with an unreadable expression, lifts her head again and meets Han Ga-eul's eyes.
"Ah, but I'm not sure if it'll work. It's kind of a gamble."
"Han Ga-eul, I'm begging you!"
"Your boyfriend's too scary, so no?"
Bong Sang-hoon's mouth falls open as if it might tear.
"This isn't the time for jokes. If you fix this, I'll do anything you want."
"Really? Anything?"
Yoo Bit-na nods slightly.
"Of course, only within what I can actually do. I won't make promises I can't keep, but if it's something I can manage, I'll grant it."
"Hmm."
Even now, Yoo Bit-na's gaze keeps drifting toward her subordinates and the soldiers. She doesn't spare Bong Sang-hoon so much as a glance.
"Han Ga-eul, you said you came from the countryside, right? I don't like saying this myself, but I'm quite capable. You won't regret asking me for anything."
Thinking Han Ga-eul was hesitating, Yoo Bit-na keeps talking.
"But do we really have to do the healing in this position?"
"I caught you when you were falling, and now you're complaining about the difference between going into the bathroom and coming out?"
"……"
Being held against her chest while lying on her back does look pretty strange.
"Well, you're already fully healed anyway. You're fine now, right?"
"Oh, thanks. Then now…… eek!"
When Yoo Bit-na tries to pull away, Han Ga-eul grabs her chest and pulls her back in.
"They're big."
"W-What are you doing!?"
It feels like the soft jelly in her hands is about to burst.
"W-Wait…… hnng!"
"Hmm."
While kneading Yoo Bit-na with both hands, Han Ga-eul looks forward to see Bong Sang-hoon's eyes bulging as if they might pop out. His face twists in rage.
"Y-You crazy bitch!!"
"What? You said you'd do anything, didn't you? Didn't you hear her? She's staying still, so why are you throwing a fit, Sang-hoon?"
"T-That's not what I meant…… haah!"
"Cute. Didn't expect a sound like that from you."
Continuing to knead her like dough, Han Ga-eul feels Yoo Bit-na's once-stiff body gradually go limp.
"Han Ga-eul!! I'll kill you!! I'll kill you!!!"
Bong Sang-hoon suddenly screams as if possessed. His distorted face looks like a demon. If he weren't injured, he would have charged already.
"W-Wait!"
"You said you'd do anything, right? Should I stop?"
"Huu…… N-No."
"See? She said keep going."
Bong Sang-hoon's eyes turn bloodshot as he watches.
Slurp.
"Hik!"
Han Ga-eul lightly sucks on Yoo Bit-na's nape, making her body shudder.
"I don't like being talked back to. Who do you think you're yelling at?"
"Huuung……"
"Bong Sang-hoon, your girlfriend's really cute."
"P-Please stop."
"Ah, right. You said you weren't dating. Then there's no problem, is there?"
Han Ga-eul lifts Yoo Bit-na's top slightly, revealing her pale stomach.
"Look at this. Cute, right?"
When she strokes the belly with her hand, Yoo Bit-na trembles violently.
"Girls who look this cold on the outside are always so soft on the inside."
After stroking for a while, Han Ga-eul tries to slide her hand lower, but Yoo Bit-na grabs her wrist. She shakes her head silently. Even so, the hand continues to slip downward.
"Ugh…… W-Wait. Han Ga-eul, wait…… heuk!"
Yoo Bit-na, who had been holding onto the wrist, throws her head back and shudders violently.
Squish.
"Hngh……♡"
Just a light touch and Yoo Bit-na looks like she's about to die.
"Hey, your girlfriend's really wet."
Bong Sang-hoon, who had been screaming, now just stares blankly, exhausted.
"Oh right, you said you weren't dating. I keep forgetting. So now she's mine, yeah?"
Squish. Squish.
"Hah…… haah……"
When Han Ga-eul pulls her hand away, it is soaked. She must not have any experience in this area. Now it's time to fulfill Yoo Bit-na's wish. Healing them one by one would take hours.
"Your girlfriend's pretty hot."
Crunch. Crunch.
Bong Sang-hoon grinds his teeth so hard they might break.
"I feed my kids, so I guess I don't seem like a bad person. But you should tone down the whining, you idiot."
"Aaaagh, you crazy bitch!! Who the hell are you!?"
Bong Sang-hoon, looking half-mad, yanks at his own hair and demands an answer.
"A saintess."
"……Don't bullshit me! What kind of saintess acts like this!!"
—Snap. Snap.
"Huu— This kind of saintess grew up to be me, you shithead."
Crack!
When she snaps her fingers, a white light and sweet fragrance suddenly burst forth. The light grows stronger with time, and the white particles that had been scattering like snow begin to gather into droplets.
The White Peach Blossom prepares to bloom.
The white particles clump together and bloom into flowers.
The White Peach Blossom blooms.
〈White Peach Bloom〉
