[TS] Became a Peach Saint – Chapter 74

Next to the basketball hoop, a box surrounded by wire mesh was filled to the brim with basketballs.

[Let’s go, Bangjang!!]

[If Bangjang dunks, won’t the hoop just break? LOLOLOL]

“Hey, you brats. I’m wearing a skirt.”

[LMAO]

[OMG they noticed it LOL]

“Wanna see?”

[OOOOOH]

[OOOOOH!!!!]

“I’m wearing shorts underneath.”

[Ah….]

[Ah]

“Just kidding.”

[Ooooh]

[OOOOOH]

“You guys are way too honest.”

[LOLOLOLOLOL]

[You’re the brat here]

[Scratch scratch]

They set up a mount on the floor and pulled out a basketball from inside the wire mesh.

“This is way harder than I thought?”

[Yeah, it’s super hard]

[If it hits you, you’re dead]

The basketball they briefly touched back in school. The surface felt bumpy with little ridges. Guess they made it like that so it wouldn’t slip during hand games.

“But I’ve never played basketball before.”

[Didn’t you try it at least once in school?]

[Just throw it casually]

“Casually? Ugh, you know I suck at throwing stuff. Fine, I’ll give it a shot.”

Holding the basketball and looking at the hoop, it seemed way higher than expected.

[Bangjang, you’re under the hoop, why does it look so tiny?]

[Ga-eul is so freaking cute LOL]

[Bangjang, use both hands to throw it]

“Both hands? Like this?”

—Huuup!

[No, not like that]

[No no no no no]

—BANG!!

Maybe because the hoop looked too far and high, the basketball flew like a cannonball and slammed into it.

[LOLOLOLOLOLOL]

[Is this a cruise or a battleship?]

[Whoa, a cruise with cannons installed]

“Ugh, dang it, you told me to use both hands.”

[Your left hand is just for support LOL]

[You gotta spin the ball and hit the backboard to drop it in]

[Ga-eul, keep your eyes on the hoop]

It’s like they’re all basketball pros with all this coaching. Probably because most of the viewers are guys who go crazy over ball games.

[Ga-eul Cannon, shortened to Gam-po!!]

[Gam-po~ Gam-po~]

“Stop with the Gam-po nonsense, you uncivilized brats. Wanna taste a 155mm high-explosive shell?”

[OMG LOLOLOLOL]

[Retreat! Bangjang is too strong]

[Ah, the artillery’s here, my PTSD is kicking in]

“Sigh— No one’s reflecting on their actions.”

[?? I reflected]

[I surrender, okay?]

[Ahhh, retreat, the chaos is starting]

Our always rowdy viewers. Sometimes they’re a handful, but they make every broadcast fun. They’re the grateful friends who chase away the awkward silence.

“I summon thee. Come forth, flames of hell. Burn, flames of purgatory….”

[I can’t take it anymore, stop it, Bangjang!]

[LOLOLOLOL]

Waving their hands in the air, they spoke in a solemn voice.

“7th Circle Grand Magic: White Phosphorus Smoke Bomb.”

[OMG 7th Circle is insane LOLOLOLOL]

[Ding!]

[Ariel Land donated 10,000 won]

[Kitsama!!! Using forbidden dark magic!!!]

[Ariel’s just accepting it LOLOLOL]

[We’re civilians, are you gonna violate the Geneva Convention?]

“Since when did long-eared nobles join the Geneva Convention?”

[Now that you mention it, that’s true]

[Idk?]

“Idk? Then you’re getting smacked.”

A short skit.

When it was over, I felt a wave of exhaustion from all the chaos I had caused.

“Ah, I’m tired because of you guys.”

[LOL, time to recharge]

[Rechargeable Bangjang LOL]

[Let’s recharge quickly and have fun]

When I usually broadcast from home, if I feel drained, I take breaks to smoke and come back to boost my energy. I guess they think lighting a cigarette solves everything.

“I need a puff.”

[It’s time to smoke LOL]

[Everyone, go to the bathroom and come back after a smoke]

“Don’t steal my lines.”

[My lines~]

As I spent more time broadcasting, I started feeling weird because the viewers were catching onto even the strangest details.

“By the way, where’s the smoking area?”

[Isn’t that smoke over there?]

[Yeah, smoke’s rising]

Looking around, I saw Isabel fiddling with her phone in the distance. Turning my gaze further, I spotted people smoking at another table.

“Should I go over and join them?”

[Yeah]

[I can’t, but Bangjang can]

[For real LOL]

After some hesitation, I walked over to the table where smoke was rising.

“It’s so spacious here, but isn’t it oddly not empty?”

[True]

[Maybe everyone’s in their rooms before the party starts?]

“Is that so?”

As I chatted with the viewers and kept walking, I soon got closer to the table with the rising smoke.

“Hello… huh?”

“Hehe, nice to see you again.”

“Likewise.”

Sitting at the table with a clear view of the sea, smoking, was the white-bearded old gentleman I had smoked with at the hotel.

“In the East, they say if your clothes brush against someone twice, it’s fate. Seems like we have a deep connection.”

“Talking about fate now.”

As I exchanged greetings with the old gentleman, a sharp remark came from someone sitting across the table.

“That cranky old man is Arthur Wellington.”

Despite his strong tone, he had a soft appearance with gray hair and round glasses.

“Just call me Arthur.”

“Nice to meet you, Arthur. I’m Han Ga-eul. Call me Ga-eul.”

“Nice to meet you too.”

While shaking hands with Arthur, I noticed the white-bearded old man smiling warmly.

“That guy over there with the annoying smile is Herman Melville. The money whale.”

“I’m Herman. You can call me Herman, Ga-eul.”

Watching them introduce each other, they seemed like close friends.

[No idea about Arthur, but Herman’s the white whale, right?]

[No nonsense, why is Herman here?]

As introductions went on, I saw the viewers’ chats. I hadn’t heard of Arthur, but Herman Melville definitely rang a bell.

“Herman?”

“Yes? What is it, Ga-eul?”

“Uh… are you the Blue Whale?”

“That’s right.”

The answer came from Arthur.

“That guy’s the money-eating whale, Blue Whale Herman Melville.”

“Whoa.”

[Whoa]

[Whoa]

[???]

[Whoa]

Herman Melville, who leads an investment holding company in the US and proudly holds the top spot in global asset rankings. The person I’d only seen in news and books was right in front of me.

“Art, why do you keep stealing my introductions?”

“Damn it, I told you not to call me Art!”

[Bangjang, show us too]

[Is it really the Blue Whale?]

[We like Bangjang, but show us for a bit]

On one side, they were arguing about nicknames and ages.

On one side, they’re making a fuss, asking to see it.

“Hey… guys…”

[Why are you suddenly doing ASMR?]

[Actually, I like it]

“You… idiots… If you get sued… you’re done.”

[Ah, I see]

[We need to save our Ga-eul]

[Life’s a mess lol lol lol]

I was whispering into my phone when I suddenly felt someone’s gaze. I turned my head and saw Herman and Arthur staring straight at me.

“Miss Ga-eul, did you come to greet us?”

“I saw smoke, so I came to smoke a cigarette with you.”

“Haha. Some people come for cigarettes instead of money. Isn’t that refreshing, Herman?”

“Hahaha. Would you like to exchange another cigarette this time?”

“Ah! Sure.”

I took out a cigarette from my pocket and handed it over, and a thicker cigar than last time rolled into my hand.

—Pop!

The clear sound of the lighter cap still ringing.

“Phew—. This one’s heavier but smoother than last time, perfect for the afternoon.”

“Haha, you truly are my smoking buddy. A real connoisseur.”

“Connoisseur, my foot. Just another smoker.”

Arthur, never stopping his teasing.

[Oh shit, the room master was friends with Blue Whale?]

[Damn it, don’t just listen, translate for us!]

“This is my partner, Baekseol.”

I introduced Baekseol, who had slipped and was hanging onto the back of my head, to the two of them.

Baekseol, perched on my palm, twitched her ears and made eye contact with the two for a while before extending her hand first.

“Ahem, nice to meet you, rabbit. I’m Arthur.”

Arthur, who had been throwing nothing but sarcastic remarks, looked oddly flushed.

“Art here has an oddly cute side to him.”

“Shut up! I told you not to call me Art!”

Even as he got angry, his eyes remained fixed on Baekseol.

“What’s wrong with liking cute things? Arthur, why don’t you show your hand?”

“Hmm, true. Judging someone’s feelings based on age or gender is foolish.”

“Exactly. Arthur, show your hand.”

Hesitant, Arthur slowly began to unfold his palm on the table.

“Spread it wide.”

“…Like this?”

I quickly spread out his slowly unfolding palm and placed Baekseol on it.

“Baekseol, this is Arthur. Be nice to him.”

Hearing my words, Baekseol lifted her short forelegs towards Arthur.

“Ahem, as I said, I’m Arthur. Take care of me.”

Seeing Arthur freeze up completely because of the tiny Baekseol on his palm reminded me of someone else.

While Arthur was captivated by Baekseol, I smoked a cigarette and told Herman about the various things that had happened on the way here.

“So I just grabbed the gold bar and pulled it out!”

“Hahaha, that must have been tough. Impressive. So, is that phone broadcasting right now?”

“Yes, that’s right. But it’s only filming me, so it’s fine. You two won’t be on it.”

[Ah, why!!!!!!]

[Show us too!!!]

[Is it really Blue Whale? Really? Really?]

“I don’t mind.”

“Me neither.”

Arthur, who had been playing with Baekseol, must have been listening.

“Hmm, no. I’ll think about it a bit more and let you know.”

“Miss Ga-eul, do as you please.”

As I continued chatting softly with Herman, the conversation shifted to Arthur.

“Arthur is an astronomer.”

“An astronomer? You look at stars and stuff, right?”

[Ding!]

[Winter and Autumn…]

Seoogo sponsored 1,000 won.

[Arthur Wellington (Astrophysicist) – Awarded the Nobel Prize for the observation of the universe’s accelerated expansion and gravitational waves.]

[Wait, for real?]

[Not abdominal expansion, but what’s expanding?]

[Ah, I totally get it now (doesn’t get it).]

“Huh?”

While reading the sponsorship message on my phone, I glanced at Arthur, who was playfully teasing Baekseol and chuckling.

“…Right?”

[ㅗㅜㅑ It’s all correct.]

[I don’t get it, but whatever the room master says is always right.]

“Hmm, hey Art. Isn’t it my turn to greet now?”

“Darn it, it’s Arthur! No, that’s not the point, look at Baekseol. How high does her intelligence have to be?”

“You should change your profession to a zoologist.”

I briefly glanced at my phone, and they were still bickering.

“Sigh, I don’t know either.”

[I don’t know either?]

[Don’t know.]

“Ugh, that darn ‘don’t know.’ Are you gonna die from ‘don’t know’?”

[Don’t¿ know]

[LOL Ga-eul saying ‘don’t know’ is so cute.]

While holding onto the phone mount, arguing with the viewers, and with Herman and Arthur bickering beside me, a familiar voice chimed in.

“Seriously, enough already.”

“Belle, I’m fine.”

“Ah, come on!”

One of the two people approaching us loudly was Isabel, whom I knew well.

A man staggering slowly and Isabel following him, trying to stop him, came into view.

“Isabel, what’s wrong?”

“Huh? Ga-eul!”

As if noticing me just now, she waved her hand frantically.

[Isabel, welcome.]

Then, I felt a slight floating sensation. A faint wobble, enough for even a child to regain balance.

“Ahh!!”

The man, seemingly heavily drunk, lost his balance and was about to fall over the low railing.

“Isabel!”

Startled, I instinctively grabbed the man, but Isabel flailed and fell with him.

I jumped up from the table, pushing off the ground in an instant.

In the slowed-down world, I stomped harder and accelerated.

—Thud!

I barely managed to grab Isabel’s arm as she flailed and pulled her up.

“Ugh…”

“Isabel, Isabel! Are you okay?”

“Ugh!… Ahh!”

She seemed too flustered to speak, just gesturing toward the man who had fallen.

Looking over the railing, the man who had fallen into the sea was flailing on the surface.

Luckily, he must have entered feet first, as he didn’t seem seriously hurt.

“Isabel, it’s okay. That guy isn’t hurt either.”

[Wow, that was a close call. Glad he’s okay.]

[What’s up with Ga-eul’s speed?]

[That guy’s exit was pure art.]