[TS] Became a Peach Saint – Chapter 142

“My baby’s cute, right?”

Before I knew it, it felt like I had turned into a proud parent, and the bragging just slipped out naturally.

“Tiny.”

“Very tiny.”

Unlike the straightforward responses of the two, the advisor grandpa adjusted his glasses and leaned in closer.

“Hoh… What did you eat to stay so small?”

To the grandpas, it seemed like she was just a tiny ball of fluff.

“Baekseol, can you say hello?”

Baekseol stretched out her tiny front paw forward.

It looked like she was trying to do the fist bump greeting she learned from Albert.

“The rabbit is so smart, incredibly smart, huh?”

When the advisor grandpa cautiously extended his finger, Baekseol tapped it with her paw.

“Haha, well, I’ll be darned.”

After giving a little wave to the other two, Baekseol scurried up onto my head.

“Anyway, I’ll go eat with Cheol and come back. You three grandpas should eat too.”

“Alright, go eat.”

“Yep. Enjoy your meal.”

“Loyalty! I’ll head out first.”

After tapping Cheol’s arm, I saluted the commander grandpa.

Only after the commander nodded did Cheol turn around.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

As we walked together, the people around us seemed to move even more busily.

“By the way, is it okay for me to eat at the soldiers’ cafeteria?”

“It’s fine today.”

It seemed the military cafeteria was open to the public during the event period.

“Oho. What’s on the menu today?”

“Hmm, what was it again?”

“Gangcheol, you’re so clueless.”

[⚔️LOLOLOLOLOLOL]

[⚔️Damn, PTSD hitting hard]

“Ma’am, I’m a sergeant.”

Seeing Gangcheol’s bewildered face made me laugh automatically.

“If they serve seafood bibim sauce and fried croaker, you’re eating all of it.”

“How do you know that, ma’am?”

[⚔️She’s a veteran]

[⚔️LOL so funny]

Cheol’s face once again showed pure confusion.

“If today’s side dishes are trash, let’s go to PX. But is there even a PX here?”

“Over there.”

Looking where Cheol pointed, I saw a PX made of containers, packed with people.

Seeing that, it seemed civilians could use it today too.

“Still, it’s the headquarters, but they built it with containers?”

“Well, it’s the military.”

As we chatted, we arrived at the military cafeteria, and the smell of food hit us hard.

The salty smell suggested soy sauce-based dishes.

Inside, they had set up multiple lines for serving, probably anticipating a large crowd.

“The line over there is short.”

Baekseol, who was on my head, seemed to smell the food too and started wiggling.

“Should Baekseol eat too?”

“Sure!”

“Since there are a lot of people today, let’s eat on my lap.”

“Okay!”

As Cheol and I each grabbed a tray and stood in line, people’s eyes turned toward us.

Wherever I go, those stares are familiar now.

“I come here sometimes to eat, and the headquarters really knows how to cook.”

“Really? Must be tasty.”

Looking at the menu, today’s dishes were bulgogi and ssam vegetables.

Probably because of the many guests, they put extra effort into the menu, military-style.

After getting our food, we found a seat, and the soldiers sitting around us stared at me.

Ding!

After buying flowers, Baekseol scurried down onto my lap.

“Eat a lot.”

“Okay!”

As I patted Baekseol’s back, she immediately started munching on the grass.

“Cheol, eat a lot too.”

“Enjoy your meal.”

Cheol’s tray was piled high with food, like a mountain.

It was piled up.

Just because you’re big doesn’t mean you eat a lot, but to maintain that size, you probably need to eat that much.

“Cheol eats well.”

“This much is basic.”

Even when I made him sandwiches before, he ate them really well.

“It’s nice to see someone who eats well.”

[⚔️Room Master, I boiled 5 ramen packs]

[⚔️I can handle 2 chickens]

[Ding!]

[Red Parade sponsored 1,000,000 won]

[Can I get some chives and garlic too? Please]

[⚔️Go to work, you half-moon bear cub lol]

[⚔️The chairman is busy but never works and just hangs out here all day lol]

The lettuce was clean and fresh, clearly showing a lot of care.

“At events like this, only the soldiers suffer a lot.”

“Right.”

The soldiers sitting nearby seemed to be listening, nodding slightly.

“At this scale, the officers are on edge about making mistakes, and the soldiers suffer even more.”

“Everyone’s going through a lot.”

The soldiers nodded again.

Whether the soldiers cared or not, I picked up a large lettuce leaf and made a wrap full of meat.

“Cheol, ah.”

Cheol, looking embarrassed, glanced around and then opened his mouth.

“Is it good?”

He nodded, too full to answer.

The soldiers who had been glancing at us since earlier seemed filled with strange anger.

[⚔️Dammit, life is like steel]

[⚔️I’m going crazy, I’m going crazy]

[Ding!]

[Red Parade sponsored 1,000,000 won]

[Can I get a half-moon bear too? Please, I eat well too, please]

Red keeps going on about the half-moon bear every day.

Thud!

While feeding Cheol and receiving strange looks, someone loudly placed a tray in front of us.

Thud! Thud!

Looking up, it was Grandfather.

“Huh? Why are you eating here instead of the officer’s dining hall?”

Grandfather sat down, followed by the commander and the staff officer.

It felt like a cold wave swept through the area.

No matter how quiet it is, a dining hall is still a dining hall.

The clinking of utensils and the sounds from the kitchen always make it a lively place.

“Grandfather?”

“·····.”

The stars on the generals in front of me add up to six.

Wait, the Sergeant Major has one too, so seven.

With the grandfathers taking their seats, the noisy dining hall fell silent.

“Grandfathers, if you’re here, the soldiers won’t know if their rice is going down their throat or their nose.”

“You should’ve just come to eat with us.”

They say men never grow up, and it’s ridiculously childish.

“Hmph.”

Seeing Grandfather let out a barely audible snort was just absurd.

Looking around, the soldiers’ utensils seemed about to go up their noses.

“Ugh.”

I picked up a lettuce leaf, shook it off, and the moisture disappeared cleanly.

I placed meat and rice on it, wrapped it up, and handed it to Grandfather’s mouth.

“Ah─”

Grandfather, clearly sulking, turned his head slightly.

“Enough. I’m too old for this.”

“Won’t you eat what your granddaughter made?”

Hearing that, he finally opened his mouth as if he had no choice.

“It tastes better because I made it, right?”

“····Yeah.”

After chewing the wrap a few times, he chuckled and answered belatedly.

So childish.

I made two more wraps and fed them to the commander and staff officer grandfathers.

Only after that did the atmosphere start to loosen up.

“Ga-eul, eat your meal and get ready to sing right after, okay?”

“Yes.”

***

It seemed Grandfather was right, as my turn came up quickly.

From behind the stage where a crowd had gathered, the staff kept informing us of the order.

“Next, it’s your turn next.”

“Okay, I’m all ready.”

The staff, who came to inform us of the order again, nodded and left once more.

Since it was also a broadcast filming, things were proceeding more thoroughly than expected.

[⚔️The room master’s outfit is so pretty]

[⚔️Wear it often!]

“Ah, I came in such a hurry that I couldn’t even relax after eating.”

[⚔️Room master, aren’t you nervous?]

[⚔️Right, they’re still talking about relaxing after eating lol]

“Why should I be nervous? I’m not running the whole event, just going up to sing one song and coming back down.”

[⚔️Ah, I see]

[⚔️Still, if it were me, I’d be in the bathroom right now]

[⚔️For real lol]

Despite acting like it was no big deal to the viewers, I could feel my body stiffening more than I thought.

I guess I was a bit nervous after all.

The only saving grace was that I wasn’t the main act.

As I was pondering how to sing, the staff came by again.

“Han Ga-eul, it’s your turn next.”

“Yes. Um, who’s handling the main stage?”

“Among the singers, Bom Baram is taking the last stage.”

“Ah, thank you.”

[⚔️Lol, Bom Baram again]

[⚔️Bom Baram is everywhere]

[⚔️The entertainment company must be really pushing her]

“Hmm, Bom Baram.”

As the viewers said, I often get paired with Bom Baram.

[⚔️We bully her so much she probably has no job]

“Are you still doing that?”

[⚔️Yep]

[⚔️Yep yep]

[⚔️It’s our post-meal relaxation]

[⚔️For real lol]

These guys are relentless.

I knew there was a clear difference in how viewers treated me compared to others, but I didn’t realize they could be this harsh.

“You said you’d protect me, right? Please stop now.”

[⚔️Cease fire!]

[⚔️O_k]

It wasn’t just simple jealousy from a woman; what they did to me was quite spiteful, but this much was enough.

“I’ll do it myself.”

[⚔️????]

[⚔️Room master, are you crazy?]

[⚔️Holy crap, emergency! Jindo dog!! Red alert!!!!!]

[⚔️We’ll do it instead]

[⚔️Room master, calm down]

[⚔️Whoa, let’s calm down]

These guys think I’m some kind of mad dog; the way they treat me is getting weirder by the day.

───

[Singing Lv.9]

Explosive increase in vocal ability

Acquired sub-skills

The skill level increases with each purchase.

[Price: 5.12 million won]

───

Ding! Ding! Ding! ····.

───

[Singing Lv.15]

Explosive increase in vocal ability[+++++]

Acquired sub-skills

[Breathing Technique] [Vocal Technique] [Pitch][Rhythm]

[Timing] [Vocalization] [Emotion Delivery]

◈Harmonious Melody

Harmonizes the sub-skills of singing.

◈Storm’s Song

Adds a storm to the melody.

◈Evil Rhapsody

Get lost in it.

Immerse yourself.

The skill level increases with each purchase.

[Price: 322.56 million won]

───

My unstoppable fingers melted away the money.

I didn’t feel a great need for it, but the skill that was around 5 million won broke through to the hundred million range in just six purchases.

“Han Ga-eul, you can go up now.”

Just in time, the staff approached.

“Baekseol, let’s go.”

“Okay!”

【The next stage will be set by Miss Han Ga-eul. Please welcome her with applause!】

As I stepped onto the stage, I realized there were more people waiting than I expected.

Countless spotlights shone on me.

My heart is pounding.

I can’t tell if it’s nervousness or something else.

The only thing I know for sure is that my heart is beating.

I agonized endlessly over which song to sing.

【This song choice is a bit unique. Here it is: Chunhyangga!】

With the MC’s cue, a solemn melody began to flow.

“My tears are scattered.”

Since it wasn’t my main stage, I planned to sing simply and leave.

But as time went on, my voice grew stronger.

“Even the women picking mulberries think only of their lovers. Why is my love not here?”

As time passed, resentment built up.

Why isn’t he coming to find me?

Why am I just waiting?

“Shall I paint his portrait with the rotten tears of my liver?”

Ding!

〔The Mad Song of Resentment〕

“If I die without seeing him, the stone before my grave will become a longing stone.”

Tears flowed from my eyes.

My teeth clenched on their own.

Love turned into resentment.

How long does he plan to stay away?

“If I die, the tree near my grave will become a love tree.”

Will he only come when I’m about to die?

“Who will understand this grievance in life and death?”

Is this resentment really love?

Why must I be locked away, waiting endlessly for one person?

All that remains are the dregs of love and hate.

The beautiful hanbok my sister picked out for me.

The hanbok I wore so elegantly has become old and faded at some point.

“Who will hear my wailing?”

As the song, or perhaps the emotional recitation, ended, silence fell.

The audience gathered in whispers.

The cameraman filming me.

The PD adjusting the broadcast settings from the staff seat.

Even though there should be noise when people gather, everything is quiet.

Clap…

A single applause echoed quietly.

Then, like ripples forming concentric circles, the applause grew louder.