[TS] Became a Peach Saint – Chapter 249

“Sister! I’m here!”

“Haemalgeum, you came?”

“Yes!”

Haemalgeum, wearing a white T-shirt stained with paint, put something down on the floor and then ran over to hug me.

“You worked hard.”

“Hehe. And they came with me too.”

The people following behind Haemalgeum are all familiar faces.

The cosplay shop owner I invited for makeup.

The hair salon director who styled my hair.

The idol group Serenade, specializing in slippery debuts.

“Who are they?”

“Huh? We, um…”

Suddenly pointed out, they looked visibly flustered, resembling the group of reporters in front.

Then, Achim, the leader of Serenade, stepped forward.

“Ga-eul, that’s the reporter who interviewed us.”

“Oh, really?”

The reporters who rushed over were only staring at Lim Yoo-joon, while the reporter stayed next to Serenade.

I could roughly piece together the situation.

“Thank you for taking care of our kids, Reporter.”

“Huh?! Oh, no! I should be thanking you!”

“Sister is the room master!”

Haemalgeum, who had her arm around my waist, chimed in.

“Ah! So you’re the room master…!”

“By the way, what’s your name? I’m Han Ga-eul.”

“I’m Park Na-eun. Nice to meet you!”

“Nice to meet you too!”

After exchanging greetings with Reporter Park Na-eun, I looked around and noticed everyone was staring at me.

It seemed like I’d have to take the lead if they were going to move.

“Hey, Lim Yoo-joon.”

As I tried to approach Lim Yoo-joon for a conversation, a large figure stepped in front of me, blocking my way with an outstretched hand.

“Don’t come any closer…”

*Thud!*

“Gah!!”

The hand blocking me suddenly twisted backward, and the bulky figure was thrown to the ground.

“Who do you think you are, raising your hand at my sister?”

“Huh?”

I looked up and saw Ahn Dong-gwang, whom I had asked for a personal favor earlier.

“Sister, I’m here.”

“You worked hard.”

His face and clothes were covered in bloodstains.

I had only asked him to check something, but it seemed he had a rough time, just as I heard over the phone.

“Are you hurt?”

“Nah, this much will heal with just some spit.”

He didn’t seem seriously injured, but there was a tear near his eye.

I reached out toward Ahn Dong-gwang, and he lowered his face.

**〈Heal〉**

As I placed my hand over his wound, the cut healed instantly, as if it had never been there.

“Ah, my boy. You’ve been through a lot. Thanks for helping me.”

“Hehe.”

“Stop grinning like that. It’s creepy.”

As I fussed over Ahn Dong-gwang’s face and checked his wounds, he kept grinning like an idiot, clearly pleased.

“Sister. I should’ve recorded the screams when I cut off those guys’ fingers. What a shame.”

“Really? That’s too bad.”

He kept rambling on about his heroic deeds, clearly thrilled about something.

[????]

[?]

“???”

“…???”

Now it seems there are no wounds left.

“Child, make sure to reward and punish people properly after handling them.”

“Here, have you tried this? It’s liquor I brewed myself. You’ve been through a lot.”

“Did you brew this yourself, noona?”

“Yes. The surge of strength is momentary, but if you drink it regularly, you’ll become healthy and strong.”

Ahn Dong-gwang smiles so wide it looks like his mouth might reach his ears, holding the liquor bottle carefully.

“Thank you, noona!”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Child, don’t lose your ruthlessness by drowning in morality.”

“Child, don’t become a fatalist.”

“Child, carve your own path forward.”

These are the words my grandfather occasionally throws at me during our calls.

I don’t know what he wants from me, but I have no intention of following his teachings exactly.

For now, I think it’s enough to just have a clear contract.

Grandfather has given me weapons to wield, but he’s never directly given me money.

Even though I wouldn’t ask for money, I can see him steering the conversation away from money whenever I ask for something I need.

I never asked for it in the first place, nor did I ever intend to receive it.

Still, there’s one thing I like.

“Child, you must not be generous.”

I have no intention of being generous to anyone who isn’t one of my own, and I’ve never acted that way.

In a way, I think I’m following most of my grandfather’s teachings quite well.

Maybe that’s why he likes me.

To me, he’s a good grandfather, but to others, he’s just a cruel money whale who devours everything in sight.

“Noona!!”

A loud voice snaps me out of my thoughts.

“Ah, you scared me. Why are you shouting?”

“Give me a job too! I can do it well!”

It’s the friend who was lighting a cigarette for me.

“Suddenly, what’s this about?”

“I can do what Dong-gwang is doing too!”

Hearing this, Ahn Dong-gwang pulls out an empty liquor bottle from his pocket.

It’s the Heavenly Peach Wine he gave me before we left.

“Hahaha. Noona favors me more. Hyun-woong, you can just smell it.”

Grind. Grind.

Ahn Dong-gwang’s taunts are grinding down what’s left of Hyun-woong’s teeth.

Since they’re both second-in-commands, their relationship seems incredibly strained.

Even within the same organization, there must be factions.

When people gather, they naturally form groups.

Still, it doesn’t seem like I need to worry about it. Man-wook will handle the mediation well.

If it weren’t for that, the organization wouldn’t have lasted this long.

“Hyun-woong?”

“Yes, noona. It’s Hyun-woong, the boatman.”

“Alright. Hyun-woong, can you keep the uninvited guests at bay?”

I hand him another bottle of liquor, and Hyun-woong, who had been grinding his teeth, breaks into a wide smile.

“If things get dangerous, drink that. You know what it is, right?”

“Yes, noona! Thank you!!”

His voice rings out loudly. He must be really happy.

Meanwhile, Dong-gwang looks sulky.

“But who are the uninvited guests?”

“Those guys who showed up last time.”

“Ah…”

There’s someone who sent hired thugs to wipe this place out.

He was acting as his advisor…

The 4th-grade civil servant twisted their limbs, but their head stayed intact.

Whether it comes or not, it doesn’t hurt to be prepared.

“Please take care of it.”

As I raised my hand, Hyunwoong also lowered his head.

“Hehehe. Just trust me.”

“Eonni!!”

While I was patting Hyunwoong’s head, a sharp sound pierced my ears.

Come to think of it, I had forgotten about Haemalgeum clinging to my waist.

When I looked at her face, she was staring at me with her eyes and mouth wide open.

It’s like when you pet another animal, Baekseol’s expression looks like that.

A face that says she’s been betrayed.

Anyway, the two seem alike.

“Why are you yelling again?”

Hearing my words, Haemalgeum stepped back, picked up the item she had put down, and handed it to me.

It’s a sign filled with pretty cheering slogans as I had ordered.

Her handiwork is as excellent as expected.

“Did you do it all by yourself?”

“Yes!”

“Wow, you worked hard.”

As I spread my arms, she dropped the sign she was holding and hugged me.

“Hehe.”

[Oh? Serenade is crying.]

[Hahahahahahahaha]

When I stroked her head, she finally started to smile brightly.

This must be what she wanted.

“Me too!”

“Ugh!”

While I was stroking Haemalgeum’s head, a warm cotton ball clung to my face.

Carefully peeling it off, Baekseol, full of sulkiness, dangled from my hand.

“Baekseol too?”

“Yes!”

“Wow, so cute.”

As I stroked Baekseol sitting on my palm, her ears twitched repeatedly.

“I like it!”

After stroking her for a while, she seemed satisfied. She climbed up my arm and settled on my head.

The rabbit’s life is the best.

“Me too.”

“Want to die?”

“Haha.”

Lim Yoo-joon, who was picking up the guard that had been thrown to the ground, suddenly started talking nonsense.

Every time he smirked, my hand twitched.

If I slap him here, it will cause a big problem.

There are too many eyes watching.

“But why are you speaking informally to me?”

“I’m a man with no roots, so I usually do that with our kids.”

“But I’m your oppa, right?”

“If you don’t like it, you can speak comfortably too.”

“Should I?”

Lim Yoo-joon, as if he had been waiting, dropped the formal speech and smirked.

My hand twitched again.

[Oh my god, please hold back, Bangjang.]

[There are things we can do and things we can’t, please hold back.]

“Phew.”

All the gathered colleagues are in one place.

It’s time to start moving.

“You.”

“Yes.”

When I pointed at Lim Yoo-joon, he met my eyes with a smile.

“You sing really well.”

“Suddenly? Thanks for the compliment.”

“Sing moderately. You’re making Serenade feel bad.”

[What the hell, lololololol]

[Is that what you should say, lololol]

“Umm…”

It must have been too abrupt, as Lim Yoo-joon let out a sigh.

“At least crack a joke or something.”

“I’m leaving, okay?”

“Wouldn’t it be funny if I broke my leg and started crawling like Lim Yoo-joon?”

“Okay, I’ll try my best…”

[◐w ◐;; Sensing the mood…]

[Is this person’s brake broken from the start?]

[They were born without one.]

[LOLOLOLOLOL]

*Clap!*

“Attention!”

The crowd of colleagues who had gathered all turned to look at me.

“Even though this festival started by accident, let’s all have fun and enjoy it.”

“Okay!”

Baekseol seems the most excited, responding the fastest.

She wags her tail, blending into the lively atmosphere.

I still can’t tell if it’s her butt or her tail.

“Donggwang, make sure to guide the kids so no one gets hurt. If the crowd gets too dense, the kids might get stepped on.”

“Yes, ma’am. I’ll pay extra attention.”

“Thanks. And thank you, Shop Owner and Director, for your help.”

“Ho ho. We couldn’t miss out, could we?”

“Exactly. When our young lady asks for help, we come running.”

That goat-bearded shop owner’s laugh is really hard to get used to.

As I talk to each person, I feel the weight of their sparkling eyes.

“Haemalgeum.”

“I’m right here!”

I know she’s hanging onto my waist.

“Thanks for all the hard work you put into this.”

“Hehe. Grandma liked it too.”

“Aw, how sweet.”

When I touch Haemalgeum’s cheek, she closes her eyes tightly.

“Lastly, Serenade.”

As I call out, the idol group steps forward.

“It’s just a small stage, but everyone worked hard to prepare, so let’s give it our all.”

Even during the travel broadcast, I felt it—the entertainment industry is where countless preparations converge.

And the ones at the center of it all are the entertainers.

I was worried they might feel too much pressure, but thankfully, they look good.

“Alright, let’s have a blast.”

“Yay!”

“Baekseol, are you saying ‘yay’ too?”

“Yep!”

She must have learned it from playing with the goblins.