[TS] Became a Peach Saint – Chapter 163

“Ugh!”

“My eyes!!!”

“You crazy b*tch!!!”

“Support Magic: Sleep!”

*Thwack!*

The guy charging at me gets slapped and collapses on the spot.

Seeing that, his buddy flips out and charges at me.

“Uwaaaah!”

*Smack!*

*Crash!*

When I flick the last charging guy on the forehead, the area falls silent.

I toss the guy I was holding by the neck and approach the soldiers, who look at me with faces full of fear.

Just by looking at their faces, I can tell how much influence hunters hold in this world and how low the military’s authority is.

It makes me wonder if a democratic rule of law is even possible in a place like this.

“Hello. Can I go in here?”

“Huh?”

“Can I go in?”

“Ah, yes. Of course. Please show me your ID.”

When I hand over my resident registration card, the soldier tilts his head in confusion.

“Um… I meant your Hunter ID.”

“Hunter ID? I don’t have one.”

“Huh?”

The soldier’s gaze shifts to behind me.

The hunters are lying face down on the ground, and his expression seems to say, “How can you not have a Hunter ID when they’re like that?”

I show him my wrist, and he nods slightly.

“You’re a Wisdom Academy cadet.”

“Yep. I’m a freshman.”

The soldier nods again.

“Then you might not know. Dungeons like this are called persistent dungeons or open dungeons.”

Behind the soldier, a gate shimmering like a kaleidoscope sways.

“Even after defeating the boss monster and clearing it, the dungeon doesn’t close and remains active.”

“That’s fascinating.”

“We see it every time, but it’s still fascinating.”

“So, it never closes?”

“It closes when a dungeon break is prevented, where monsters pile up and burst out indiscriminately. But before that, we have to periodically clean up the monsters that spawn. There are reports that it closes under certain conditions, but it’s not confirmed.”

The soldier’s explanation hinted at more complex power struggles than I thought.

People in this world use monster byproducts as a driving force in various fields. That’s why they tend to avoid clearing dungeons.

On top of that, there are human rights activists protesting. Just hearing about it gives me a headache.

“This dungeon is a state-owned persistent dungeon. It’s open at all times until a dungeon break, but according to the terms, lower-year students of Wisdom Academy, which has a contract with the state, are not allowed to enter.”

In short, no.

“If I were part of another guild, would I be allowed?”

“It depends, but if it’s a dungeon managed by a guild, it’s possible.”

As expected, Wisdom Academy just blocks things haphazardly.

As long as it doesn’t tarnish the academy’s image, they don’t care.

“Thanks for letting me know.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Even though we only exchanged a few words, the soldiers on guard duty look at me with goodwill.

Just this much tells me how hunters usually behave.

“Should I break their limbs so they don’t cause trouble?”

“Haha, no need. We’re uniformed public servants under the national military, so hunters can’t mess with us recklessly. Hunter laws are strict, after all.”

In this world, even the most insignificant people act like they’re superhumans, puffing up their chests with pride.

Whether it’s physical strength or power, it always tends to lean to one side. That’s why most countries divide power into judicial, executive, and legislative branches to keep each other in check.

If it were just a little less strict, it’d probably turn into a one-party dictatorship.

“Alright, take care.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

I didn’t do much, but I lost over two and a half hours to the enchantment, and the sun is already setting.

“Baekseol, let’s go home.”

“Okay!”

“Let’s go get squeaky clean.”

“Exciting!”

***

*Slurp.*

“Ugh…”

*Slurp slurp.*

“I’m up…”

Feeling groggy.

I really want to sleep for just 30 more minutes before getting up.

“Are you hungry? Want some food?”

“School.”

“Yeah.”

Now I can definitely feel how much my morning sleep has increased.

Thanks to that, I even get scolded by Baekseol.

“Baekseol, do you know about school?”

“Yeah!”

“Alright, thanks for waking me up.”

“Yeah!”

Baekseol, who was curled up next to my face, rubs her head against me. Her soft fur smells like sweet peaches.

Maybe because we spend every day together, Baekseol seems to have the same scent as me.

“Ugh! Haa… Let’s go!”

“Exciting!”

After quickly getting ready and stepping outside, the gentle spring breeze adds life to the academy.

—Click, click.

“Whew— Ah, the air is so refreshingly good.”

“Autumn!”

While smoking in the smoking area between the dorms, a familiar face waves and approaches.

“Good morning, Noa.”

“Good morning.”

As Noa approaches, Baekseol, who was eating from my hoodie pocket, peeks her face out.

“Baekseol, right? Good morning.”

When Noa extends a finger instead of a fist to greet her, Baekseol, who had been perking her ears, ignores Noa and tucks her face back into the pocket.

“Huh? She usually doesn’t discriminate against people, but maybe she’s still not used to being here.”

“Haha, it’s fine with me. How’s the room?”

“Tiny, right? But it’s not too bad for the two of us.”

“If your rank goes up, the room will get better too. Hang in there!”

Being next to someone so energetic in the morning makes me feel drained instead.

“Whew— Right.”

After putting out the cigarette and starting to walk, Noa follows.

“Autumn, we need to go to the outdoor training ground, not there. Didn’t you see the notice on the device?”

“Didn’t see it.”

“Haha, I know the way. I’ll guide you.”

Following Noa, we soon arrive at the outdoor training ground.

Despite the grand sign at the entrance that says “Outdoor Training Ground,” it just looks like the back of a mountain. The only notable thing is the numerous caves dug into the rock face, enough to give someone claustrophobia.

“Teacher, good morning.”

Professor Hwang and several students were already gathered. Looks like I was the last to arrive because I was smoking.

“It’s the professor.”

“Yes, teacher.”

Professor Hwang, who glanced at me, dusts off the materials he was organizing and adjusts his angle.

“Now that everyone’s here, turn off the local broadcast.”

The students, who were chatting in groups, suddenly fall silent.

“You all remember what I’ve emphasized multiple times, right?”

“Teamwork!”

“Right, as Student Han Ga-eul said, teamwork.”

“Give me points!”

“…Student Han Ga-eul, one point.”

Thanks to that, I recovered the point I lost when I forgot the location of the black market.

“Woohoo!”

Laughter erupts from the students sitting comfortably on the ground.

“Quiet.”

It seems like they haven’t wasted their years, as they all fall silent again at once.

“You’ll see a cave behind me. Today, we’re going in there.”

I thought the outdoor training ground was just rocks and open space, but it seems the training area is inside the cave.

“From now on, we’ll form temporary parties. Gather with the students I call. Jang Min-ki, Oh Ki-hyun, Selly, Joo Byung-jin.”

The students called by Professor Hwang get up from their seats.

The weirdos started to stick together.

After a little while, my name was called too.

“Shin Yong, Kim Chan-yong, Noa, Han Ga-eul.”

At Professor Hwang’s call, the students who stood up from their seats gathered around me.

Maybe it was because of my noticeable pink hair, but I naturally became the rallying point.

The approaching students were all holding cold weapons.

“Ah, Teach!”

“What.”

At my call, Professor Hwang casually glanced at me as if asking what was up.

“Uh, our team has three swordsmen.”

My head spins at the disastrous party composition.

“And whose fault is that?”

“Whose fault is it?”

Professor Hwang’s face crumples slightly, looking incredulous.

“Keep that up and you’ll get wrinkles…”

“Han Ga-eul, one demerit point.”

“Ah, Teach!”

“Sigh…”

Professor Hwang’s deep sigh reaches my ears.

“First-year top student, Shin Yong. Second-place, Kim Chan-yong. Ranked 8th in the year, Noa Taylor.”

“Oh.”

“And the academy’s dead last, Han Ga-eul.”

“Oh?”

This insane power balance seems to have happened because of me.

I can’t understand how much I had to drag down the average for this to happen.

“Wow.”

“Thanks to you, both the top and second-place students are in one class.”

It varies by school, but generally, the top and bottom students, and the second and second-to-last, are grouped together in a class. That way, the balance is just right.

But this isn’t a regular school—it’s Wisdom Academy, where combat balance matters.

“My power is enough to gather both the top and second-place students.”

“Don’t drag us down.”

The owner of the softly spoken voice was Shin Yong, the top student.

“Shin Yong, shut up before I break your head.”

“…How childish.”

“Now, now, let’s not fight among teammates.”

Kim Chan-yong, the second-place student, stepped in with a friendly smile to mediate.

The one thing these three, each with their own distinct personalities, have in common is that they’re all ridiculously good-looking. Enough to make anyone turn their head if they passed by on the street.

Though, top student Shin Yong has a cold demeanor, while second-place Kim Chan-yong has a sharp, predatory vibe. Both give off carnivorous energy, while Noa has a more gentle, herbivorous aura.

“Everyone, listen up! From now on, we’ll be testing your combat and environmental response skills. Inside the cave, there are magic golems, traps, and obstacles you’ll need to overcome together. This will affect your grades, so give it your all.”

At Professor Hwang’s explanation, the students’ eyes changed. Grades are something every student wakes up for, even in their sleep.

“The faster you clear it, the better your grade. Now, get moving.”

As soon as Professor Hwang finished speaking, the students who had formed teams began entering the cave.

“Let’s go, Yong-yong squad.”

“What about me?”

“Noa, you too.”

***

*Clang.*

Top student Shin Yong dashed forward and, in an instant, smashed the magic golem’s head and sheathed his sword.

“Below standard.”

Shin Yong muttered as he returned, his face as cold as ever.

“Did he get cursed with some edgy chuunibyou syndrome or something?”

“Tch!”

Kim Chan-yong stifled a laugh.

Even so, Shin Yong’s face remained haughty.

“But seriously, this is nothing.”

Even though we’ve been in the cave for a while, the only thing we’ve seen so far is the one magic golem Shin Yong destroyed.

Compared to the golems that used to charge at me in my family’s training ground, this is baby-level.

*Click, click.*

“Sigh—”

“A student smoking? Below standard.”

Shin Yong kept walking ahead, still needling us.

“Shin Yong, shut your mouth before I smash your head like a golem.”

“That’s why your level is…”

*Whack!*

After smacking the back of his head, Shin Yong’s face planted into the ground.

“Gasp…”

“Gasp…”

“Phew—”

After waiting for about a minute, Shin Yong, who had been passionately kissing the ground, started to squirm.

Guess he’s not the top student for nothing.

“Ugh…! Everyone, be careful! It’s the trap the professor warned us about!”

Shin Yong, brushing himself off and standing up, frantically looked around while rubbing the back of his head.

“Yong-ah, we already disarmed the trap while you were out.”

“Is that so…? I got careless. Didn’t expect it to be this sneaky. My bad.”

Nodding at Noa’s words, he scanned the surroundings once more.

“All clear. Let’s move forward.”

“Uh, uh…”

“Ha, ha… Let’s go.”

The cave, which had a narrow entrance, seemed to expand as if enchanted with magic the further they went.

After a few more minutes of walking, a vertical cliff appeared before them.

It was clearly designed to lead to the cliff on the opposite side.

“We’ll have to go down.”

As Shin Yong finished speaking, he started rummaging through the bag on his back, pulling out a rope.

This guy’s always prepared. What a friend.

“Autumn, want me to carry you?”

“Pathetic.”

He always has to add a snarky comment.

“Is this guy always this punchable?”

“Bear with it. Shin Yong’s the leader right now.”

Daechul keeps getting on my nerves.

“Wait, so what do we do after going down? Climb back up the opposite cliff?”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

“In what lifetime?”

Shin Daechul’s words made sense, in a way.

The cliff below was a 20-meter drop, and the distance to the opposite cliff looked to be about 70 meters.

Even as seasoned hunters, falling from the height of a 7-story apartment wouldn’t kill them, but jumping across was out of the question.

“This is why you shouldn’t team up with sword-wielding, no-mobility noobs.”

“Autumn, I’m hurt.”

“Huh, why am I tearing up…?”

“So, what’s the plan?”

Shin Yong, exuding a cold aura, locked eyes with me.

“Did you forget I’m a specialist in support magic, a Supporter? I’ll use Space Magic.”

“Space.”

“Magic.”

“Rice!”

“Baekseol, let’s eat after we cross, okay?”

“Yes!”

Scratching Baekseol’s chin, who was nestled in my pocket, she purred happily.

“Even though Space Magic falls under support magic, it’s on a completely different level from regular magic. Do you even know how advanced—”

Thud!

“What the—why are you grabbing my collar? Let go…!”

“Space Magic. Warp—yaaaah!!”

“Raaaaaaah!!”

Ding!

───

◎Spinning Shooter

Grants rotational acceleration to projectiles

◎Curved Projectile

Grants curved trajectory to projectiles

───

Grabbing Shin Yong by the collar and hurling him toward the opposite cliff, he flew straight to the destination.

The added effects of the throwing skill even gave him a spin.

Crash—!

Dust and noise erupted from the entrance of the opposite cliff.

Looks like the curveball landed perfectly.

“Space Magic Warp never disappoints. Performance is solid.”

“……”

“……”

“Next.”

“Eek!”