[TS] Became a Peach Saint – Chapter 337

“This is my hometown, Srednekolymsk.”

“It’s a really beautiful city.”

Nella, who was smoking a cigarette, gives a pleasant smile.

“That’s right. It’s a small village by the river. It’s a bit too small to call it a city. The population is less than 2,000.”

When you stand on the small hill, you can see the clustered roofs at a glance. There are hardly any tall buildings common in this day and age.

It’s a peaceful village with a rural charm.

[⚔️Fewer people than Ulleungdo]

[⚔️It’s healing]

“What do the people here do for a living?”

“See the big river next to the village? That’s the Kolyma River. During the warm season, they fish, and when the river freezes like now, they herd reindeer or go hunting.”

“That’s a river? It’s so wide, and it’s frozen solid.”

“Our village has an average temperature of about -35 degrees Celsius. Even in summer, it rarely goes above 20 degrees.”

[⚔️Dang;;]

[⚔️The ground there is permafrost]

Baekseol, who was snuggled up, rolls her feet around.

She was sticking to the window even on the light aircraft, so it seems she really likes Nella’s hometown.

“If you follow the Kolyma River, you’ll reach Siberia.”

***

After spending the night at Nella’s house, I grab my bag and step outside, greeted by a delicious smell.

“Are you awake?”

“Good morning, mother.”

“Have a seat.”

“Hehe, I’ll dig in.”

The warmth of the log house, combined with the hot soup, feels like it’s melting my heart.

“It’s so delicious.”

“Eat a lot.”

Nella’s mother nods with a happy smile.

“Our child has talked a lot about you, young lady. She said she owes you an immeasurable debt.”

“I’ve also benefited a lot from Nella.”

While chatting, Nella approaches with something slung over her shoulder.

Her eyes are filled with worry.

“Why?”

“Are you really leaving?”

“Yes.”

“Then take this.”

Nella puts down what she was carrying on her shoulder next to me.

“What! It’s a Korchun Rifle!”

“Right, how do you know about that? Do you like guns?”

“Yes.”

As I lift the gun, I can feel the tension rising.

“Wow, look at that finish. It’s killer.”

[⚔️LOL]

[⚔️Oh, a gun nut]

“Nella, you’re a former soldier, right? Don’t you have an AK?”

“Why would a rural village need an AK?”

“Why? Because it’s the standard issue rifle of the Russian army.”

“Who retires with a gun in hand?”

Nella sighs and pulls out a handgun from her waist, placing it on the table.

“Crazy. It’s a TTEKKAMAGWI!”

“So how do you know the name of our country’s handgun?”

It’s heavy.

Looking at the steel frame with many small scars, it seems quite old.

“Are you sure you can give it to me? It seems precious.”

“No matter how precious, you can’t keep clinging to the past.”

Nella says, glancing at her mother.

The story she just brought up is…

It wasn’t for the game, it was for my mother.

Even after winning a huge prize on a deserted island, I’m staying in this shabby cabin.

I guess there must have been a lot of conversations between mother and daughter.

“But I don’t have a Russian gun license, so carrying it around is illegal.”

“Are you going to say that even while being eaten by a bear?”

“Of course not. I’ll use it well. Thanks.”

Nella reluctantly nods her head.

“I’ll go with you.”

“It’s okay. We talked about it yesterday.”

“Ugh, so stubborn.”

“And the rifle is fine. A handgun is enough.”

For a handgun, it’s incredibly good-looking.

With the crow stabbed into the side of the bag, Nella pouts her lips and looks at it.

“Mother, I ate well. I’ll be going now.”

Hearing my voice, Nella’s mother wipes her wet hands and walks out of the kitchen.

“Be careful of wild animals. This place has more animal territory than human territory.”

“Yes. I’ll be careful.”

“Alright.”

Getting up and putting the bag on my back, it feels heavy.

Probably because I packed a lot of stuff, including a heavy shovel in the tent.

“Let’s go, I’ll see you off.”

“Okay.”

Nella takes the lead and walks out.

Opening the cabin door, an extreme chill rushes in.

Every time I exhale, my breath fogs up.

—Click, click.

“Whew—”

Nella, who came outside, puts two cigarettes in her mouth and lights them at once.

Then she hands one to me.

“Shit.”

“That’s a curse word in your country, isn’t it?”

“How did you know? Suka blyat.”

“It’s famous.”

[⚔️LOL]

[⚔️Is that really famous?]

[⚔️Unfortunately, yes]

“Shouldn’t you wear thicker clothes? Even people who’ve lived here their whole lives don’t dress like that.”

“Whew— This is fine.”

The cold is so intense that you can’t tell if it’s cigarette smoke or breath.

From afar, it looks dreamy; up close, it’s a disaster.

But that seems to apply only to humans.

Baekseol, nestled in my arms, wriggles with anticipation.

“I’m going.”

“You’re leaving without even finishing a cigarette?”

“I’ll come back after playing for a bit. It’s not like I’m leaving forever.”

“···Alright. Have fun, friend.”

“Bye.”

Nella waves her hand with a bitter expression.

Anyone would think I’m heading to a battlefield.

“Let’s go, guys.”

[⚔️Shouldn’t we just stay home like Nella said?]

[⚔️Yeah, too dangerous]

[What are you talking about? Even if we can’t eat, we go]

[⚔️Check that guy’s ideology, a reactionary has sneaked in]

[⚔️Kick him out]

With every step, the thick snow from last night brushes against my ankles.

***

“Guys, I attached a phone mount to the bag, isn’t it dizzying?”

[⚔️It’s fine, hardly any shaking]

[⚔️Wow, body stabilization tech]

Walking from the village where Nella lives.

It’s been about an hour or two since we came out, and all around us is nothing but snow and trees.

“Baekseol, Danpung, from here on out, we can have fun while we walk. Let’s go together.”

Baekseol and Danpung, who were tucked inside my coat, peeked out their faces.

As I set them down on the ground, they hopped forward eagerly as if they had been waiting for this.

“Lots of snow, huh?”

“Yeah!”

“It’s great.”

Baekseol disappeared in an instant among the piles of snow.

She’s already small and white, but with the white snow, she’s practically invisible.

—Scratch, scratch.

“Whoo—”

The snow pile rustled, and Baekseol popped out.

“Exciting!”

[⚔️Lol, so cute]

[⚔️So that’s why she wanted to see the snow]

[⚔️She really loves it lol]

[⚔️Baekseol is a snow rabbit]

“Where’s Danpung?”

“It’s great!”

Danpung also peeked out from the snow pile.

She doesn’t like winter much because she has to endure the cold for a long time, but it seems she doesn’t dislike the snow.

“You can play, but you have to follow me while playing.”

“Yeah!”

“It’s great.”

The endless snowy landscape stretches along the frozen Kolyma River.

Snow-covered rocks.

Snow-covered trees.

Snow-covered ground.

No matter how far we walk, everything around us is snow.

Flap—

A bird flies into the vast forest next to the Kolyma River.

Even the bird flying in the sky is white.

“Whoo— even the cigarette smoke is white.”

[⚔️Only Danpung is brown lol]

[⚔️Danpung is so cute]

“Danpung is a cool friend with brown stripes.”

[⚔️For real tho]

With each step, there’s a crunching sound.

With every two steps, Baekseol pops out of the snow and dives back in.

A little later, Danpung also emerges from the hole Baekseol came out of.

“The kids seem excited.”

[⚔️How could they not be?]

[⚔️I’d be excited too lol]

[⚔️Ordering chicken and enjoying the snowy scenery from my room]

[⚔️Chicken is the best lol]

They play wildly, then glance around and scurry back to me, repeating this over and over.

I hope my precious friends can run around in a wider world and enjoy beautiful things.

Just in case, for the future, I need to show them that the world is wider than my embrace.

“Whoo— the world~ everything~”

Touching the Heavenly Peach Wine I had attached to my backpack, it feels so cold it’s almost frozen.

Gulp, gulp.

The icy Heavenly Peach Wine goes down my throat refreshingly.

“Ah! What~ worries~”

[⚔️Teacher, you shouldn’t do this here]

[⚔️Lololololololololololololololololol]

[⚔️In the midst of this, he sings so well lol]

[⚔️Truly a free spirit lol]

Even though I brewed it myself, it’s really well-made.

As I enjoy my cigarette and wine while walking through the snowy world, a low cry comes from the dense forest next to the river.

Growl──

“Huh? What’s that sound?”

Baekseol and Danpung seem to have heard it too, as they scurry closer to me.

Coming.

[⚔️Crazy run!!!!!!!]

[⚔️Super bishaaaaa!]

Soon, the source of the crying sound reveals itself.

The creature approaches, crouching low.

Its gaze is fixed on Baekseol and Danpung, who are gathered at my feet.

[⚔️Room Master, get the gun out!]

[⚔️Room Master, hurry!!]

[⚔️Tiger! Tiger!]

The creature, which had been approaching stealthily, suddenly stomps the ground and charges at an incredible speed.

[⚔️Ahhh, crazy crazy crazy, shoot the gun quickly!!]

“Phew! Got bitten!”

The creature, which had charged like lightning, falls flat and rolls over to me.

“Meow!”

The creature exposes its belly and lets out a delicate cry.

“Good, you’re being nice.”

I’ve heard that showing the belly is a sign of surrender among feline friends.

Even as I stroke its belly and chest, it remains as still as a dead mouse. The phrase “as big as a house” seems to fit this friend perfectly.

Its front paws are as big as my face.

“I was bored, but this works out. Let’s travel together. It must be hard to find food in winter, right? I’ll give you some meat.”

“Meow.”

[⚔️?]

[⚔️?]

[⚔️??]

[⚔️?????????]

───

[Internet Broadcaster Meets Wild Tiger]

Han Ga-eul, a famous internet broadcaster from Ache University, encountered a wild Siberian tiger during her trip to Russia and is currently traveling with it.

<Smile Daily News, Park Gyu-min>

(Kang**): What kind of nonsense is this?

(Kim**): What do you mean by “traveling with”? Did the reporter drink?

(Jung**): ???

(Park**): Now anyone can be a reporter, huh?

(Lee**): Lol, are you a druid?

───