[TS] Became a Peach Saint – Chapter 232

“Indeed, the scholarly choice is curry donkatsu.”

As I bring the knife down on the thick cutlet, it slices through with a crispy sound.

“I wanted to eat Ga-eul’s cooking.”

At Kim Chan-yong’s words, Shin Yong and Noa nod their heads.

“I’ll make it for you next time.”

“Looking forward to it.”

“Yeah, look forward to it. I’ll make you lots of delicious stuff.”

After mixing the salad that came with the curry donkatsu to make it easier to eat, I pick out a few corn kernels and put them into Baekseol’s mouth, making her cheeks puff up.

“Eat that as a snack, then have your meal.”

“Okay!”

The gazes of the three companions sitting nearby, who were playing with their utensils, turn to Baekseol as she nibbles on the corn kernels.

“Baekseol is really smart.”

“She’s a divine beast.”

“Hmm. Do divine beasts eat corn?”

The strange compliments, starting with Kim Chan-yong, pass through Noa and end with Shin Yong.

I’m not sure which part of a rabbit eating corn is smart, but I get that she eats well.

“It’s delicious!”

“Eat a lot.”

“Okay!”

At first, she could only eat the energy-infused flowers I gave her, but her palate has really diversified.

“Do rabbits usually have that kind of pose when they eat?”

“She’s a divine beast.”

“Hmm. Do divine beasts usually sprawl out like humans when they eat?”

“Baekseol always sits like this when she eats.”

“I see.”

“The professor said Baekseol is a mystical beast.”

Baekseol, who was sitting on the table with her legs stretched out and her bottom on the floor, nibbling on corn kernels, seems to realize we’re talking about her as her ears perk up.

“No, eat a lot.”

“Okay!”

Even though we’re continuing with this trivial, meaningless conversation, the students entering the cafeteria glance at us as they pass by.

First-year top student, Shin Yong.

First-year second place, Kim Chan-yong.

First-year eighth place, Noa Taylor.

And me, who’s dead last in the entire school thanks to a well-executed parachute landing.

It’s enough to pique people’s curiosity.

“Ga-eul.”

“Huh?”

Noa, who was in the middle of chattering, calls my name in her uniquely soft tone.

“How was the tower?”

“The tower?”

At Noa’s question, memories of what happened in the tower flash through my mind.

Like a kaleidoscope.

“This place is all about training for battles with monsters, right?”

“Right?”

“The tower was all about human combat. They kept pushing us to kill each other, no matter what.”

“What a horrible place…”

As if just hearing about it makes her sick, Noa shakes her head lightly.

“It’s too dangerous. There’s a reason the academy banned students from entering the tower.”

“You’re so smart. Just finish your meal, Mr. Loan.”

“I want to eat the meal you made.”

“I’ll make it for you later.”

“Got it.”

Shin Yong, who finished speaking, puts some rice in his mouth.

“So, what positions are we taking for the team battle?”

“What positions?”

At my question, Kim Chan-yong makes a bewildered expression.

“It’s a team fight, so we need to decide on positions.”

It’s a natural thing to say, but the bewildered one is actually me.

“Three close-range swordsmen, what positions are we talking about? Just charge in.”

“True.”

At Shin Yong’s response, who was munching on his rice, the other two nod reluctantly.

No matter what positions or nonsense we come up with, there’s no way to create variables with this combination.

“If it’s a flat battlefield, there’s really nothing we can do. If there’s terrain or special victory conditions, we’ll just decide on the spot.”

“Oh, right…? I thought it was just a simple fight in the arena.”

Kim Chan-yong, who seems like a nice guy but is coldly logical in battle, spouts some clueless words.

“The most important thing is to sync up, and we’ve already done that a lot, right?”

At my words, the three companions munching on their rice nod.

We’re a party that has already synced up in extreme environments against powerful ice orcs.

“And we have no information other than that we’re fighting, so there’s nothing we can do.”

“Han Ga-eul is right. While others are syncing up, it seems better for us to focus on individual training.”

The ability to adapt to sudden environmental changes is more about sense than basic training.

Since we’ve already been through hellish environments multiple times, there probably won’t be any major crises.

“Then, let’s do that.”

Baekseol, who has eaten all the corn kernels from the salad, seems full as she clings to my right hand and plays around.

I told her to eat a snack and then have her meal, but it seems she filled up on corn.

“The date is still…”

“Are you kidding me?”

“There’s quite a lot left. Plenty of time for training.”

Everyone reached level 10 after the Orc Gate and unlocked their skills.

Thanks to that, it seems they’ve gotten completely absorbed in the fun of training.

I mean, I was once obsessed with RPG games too, so even though the situation is different, I can understand that feeling.

“How about practicing the cross sword?”

“Gotta keep pushing forward.”

Not sure if I should call it rigid or stubborn.

Compared to Shin Yong, the other two are more laid-back.

Kim Chan-yong is usually good at cracking jokes and keeping the mood light, but he gets serious when it comes to battle.

Noa, on the other hand, is so soft-spoken she’s almost mushy. But she’s reliable in battle too, so it’s not a big deal.

“Hmm.”

Noa and I make eye contact, and she smiles at me.

Noa Taylor. The first person Baekseol, who doesn’t discriminate, reached out to.

And the first person to approach me after entering the academy.

Since she’s a friend, I didn’t think much of it, but I guess some things just catch your eye.

“Ahh!”

“I ate…!”

“Baekseol’s ears are gone.”

“Yup!”

When Baekseol lifts the finger she was playing with, a white cotton ball dangles along.

Brave rabbit, hanging on like a pro.

“Baekseol caught it.”

“Caught it!”

I pick up Baekseol and pat her belly, feeling a slight bulge.

“Our Pposiraegi, your belly’s all plump.”

“Yup!”

Baekseol, who’s in my arms, sticks her belly out.

Not like it makes a difference though.

“What’s everyone doing this afternoon?”

“Training, of course. Afternoon isn’t free time, it’s self-training time. Don’t get it wrong.”

“You’re so cool.”

Looks like all three of us are planning to train.

“Let’s go out.”

“Sure!”

***

*Bang!*

“Yu Bit-na.”

“Sigh. Can you knock properly before coming in?”

As I burst into the Silver Wings vice-captain’s office, Yu Bit-na, buried in paperwork, greets me.

“I’m here for my reward.”

“Give it!”

“Baekseol, hi. Why’s your owner like this?”

“Yay!”

“Hand it over before I take it in the name of the Saint.”

“Eek!”

Yu Bit-na adjusts her clothes and drags her wheeled chair back.

“Stop tempting me and just give it.”

“You crazy…!”

“How did you know?”

Yu Bit-na sighs deeply and pulls her chair back to the desk.

“That’s why you don’t meet with the guild leader, huh?”

“Not really interested in political talk.”

“Well…”

Yu Bit-na swallows her words, clearly having nothing to say.

“I’m not asking for anything huge. Just give me a dungeon to make some money.”

“You’re right. The reward is ridiculously small compared to what you did. So I actually want to ask, are you really okay with just one dungeon?”

“Yeah. Or should I go eat a national pillar like other country’s Saints?”

“No, thank you.”

Yu Bit-na quickly wraps up the conversation and lets out a chuckle.

That one word of thanks carries a lot of weight.

“I can’t figure you out sometimes.”

“I just live as I please, so no need to figure me out.”

“Guess so.”

“So hand it over before I take it.”

“Eek!”

Yu Bit-na adjusts her clothes again and points to a stack of papers on the desk.

Looks like she prepared in advance.

“This?”

“Yup.”

The paper lists the location and general characteristics of the gate.

“Just one sheet?”

“Remember the Two-Eyed Snake’s horn I gave you back then?”

“Of course I do. Thanks to that, I made the antidote well. Thanks.”

“Was that really used for the antidote? Anyway, you’ll see when you go, but it’s like a maze, so there’s almost no info. No hunters who went deeper than the entrance ever made it out.”

Yu Bit-na had mentioned that high-level hunters had gone after the Two-Eyed Snake.

But the fact that there’s no info is strange.

“You’re giving me something this dangerous?”

“No, you said even high-risk level isn’t enough!”

Since I was the one who forced my way into getting a high-risk level or higher, I can’t really argue.

“I just wanted to make some money and gain combat experience.”

“That’s why, please don’t go further than the entrance. Even scholars gave up, so it’s a world mystery…”

“One of the things left at the Dampa Gate.”

“Thanks.”

“I’m not sure if sending you is the right thing to do. Can’t you just not go? We only managed to catch one of the Doeksini that popped out near the entrance. And even that caused near-total devastation.”

“It’s fine.”

Yu Bit-na, with her head wrapped, rummages through her clothes and hands something over.

A pattern in the middle of the stone emits a faint bluish light.

“Stone raising, is that it?”

“It’s a Return Stone.”

“Is its name Return Stone? Kinda cute.”

Yu Bit-na’s face twists.

“Just kidding. Why are you giving me something so precious? Just keep it.”

“I’m lending it to you. The coordinates are set to my room, so come back safely and return it.”

“Hmm.”

How much would a stone that fits in one hand cost? Hundreds of billions? Trillions? Or maybe even more.

What I realized here, showing the subspace, is that spatial abilities are treated as so rare it’s jaw-dropping.

Moreover, an item that can move through space itself—its price is beyond estimation.

“Thanks. You just saved my life.”

“I said I’m lending it. I borrowed it from the country too.”

“Alright, thanks.”

“Sigh. If you’re done, get going.”

“Yeah, good luck.”

Waving my hand as I head out, Yu Bit-na sees me off with a dazed expression.

“Baekseol, let’s go play.”

“Exciting!”

***

Showing the documents to the soldiers guarding the entrance, they make way.

“Are you going in?”

“Yep.”

The color of the gate shimmering before my eyes is strange.

It’s a color that’s impossible to describe.

“What color is this?”

If something with bright multicolored hues is called a rainbow, then this one should be called a dark rainbow.

One thing’s for sure, there’s no name for this color on Earth.

“I’ll be back.”

“Huh? Oh, yes. Have a safe trip.”

Perhaps the greeting was out of place, as the soldiers awkwardly salute.

“Let’s go.”

“Okay!”

As I step through the gate, the world changes in an instant.

“Whoa…”

How tightly sealed this place is, even a short sound echoes loudly.

It’s a massive cave with sparse light seeping in from the ceiling.

If it weren’t for the light, I wouldn’t have been able to tell how high the ceiling was.

“Smell!”

“Huh? I haven’t touched any other animals.”

As soon as I step through the gate, Baekseol, perched on my shoulder, rubs her face against my neck, making a fuss.

“Does it smell a lot?”

“Smell!”

“I just showered?”

I don’t get why she’s rubbing her face against my neck if it smells.

“It smells!”

“From me? Or somewhere else?”

After shaking her face off once, Baekseol points in one direction.

The cave walls are dotted with holes like an anthill, just as Yu Bit-na said. Baekseol points to one of them.

Nothing particularly special seems to be there.

“Hmm.”

Baekseol, who had been rubbing her face against my neck as if trying to bore through it, eventually retreats into my pocket.

—Click, click.

“Phew—”

Yu Bit-na said that hunters who entered the holes in the walls never came back.

Then something should come out in this vast space, but I can’t tell what’s what.

“Baekseol, can you tell me where it smells?”

“There!”

Baekseol, sticking only her face out of the pocket, points in a direction before hiding again.

“Phew— let’s go.”

“Smell!”

***

If it weren’t for my mobile phone, I wouldn’t know how much time has passed.

Walking for hours through the winding cave that narrows and widens repeatedly, I feel like I’m going crazy.

“There!”

“Baekseol, are we going in circles?”

“Smell!”

“Got it.”

Now I understand why the hunters who came here couldn’t get out.

Even if you had a GPS on you, you’d definitely get lost. This place is like that.

At least I’m lucky I don’t have claustrophobia.

“Ugh, this is tedious.”

If only monsters would just come out openly, but the environment keeps building tension, making my body tired.

Thud, thud.

Even the echoing footsteps are tiresome now.

How many more hours do I have to walk?

Another fork in the road.

“There!”

“Turn right?”

Still, thanks to Baekseol from the tutorial…

Since I’ve found my way before, I probably won’t get it wrong this time.

“Hmm.”

Following Baekseol’s words, I turned right and immediately felt something change.

“Perfume?”

“Smells like it!”

“Was this why everything felt off earlier?”

“Yeah!”

In the tightly sealed cave, a cool breeze flows despite there being no fire.

Mixed in is a thick, almost nose-twisting scent of perfume.

“Even if I bathed in alcohol, it wouldn’t smell like this.”

Walking through the flowing scent, I soon reached the end of the cave.

Yet, the wind carrying the perfume continues to blow.

“Hmm. Is no one here?”

Even my voice echoes, mixed with the perfume.

—Click, click.

“Whoo—”

“Over there!”

“Over there?”

Following Baekseol’s pointing, I approached a rock and saw something engraved beneath layers of thick dust.

Brushing off the rock, the previously invisible inscription became clear.

If someone else saw it, they might not call it writing. Yet, the meaning of the twisted letters etched itself clearly in my mind.

“Come… here…?”

As soon as I finished speaking, the perfume-laden wind began to blow wildly, and the world flipped upside down.

“It’s been a while since a guest arrived.”

“Who are you?”

Before I could even gather my thoughts, someone’s voice reached me.

“Hoho, shouldn’t I be the one asking that? Who are you, guest?”

The voice from behind the rock grew closer, and a shadow against the sunlight began to take shape.

“I’m… uh… Lost Peach. Who are you, grandfather?”

“Hahaha, what an amusing guest. I am a guide. I often welcome guests like you.”

An old man, dressed in what could be either a hanbok or mourning clothes, let out a hearty laugh along with cigarette smoke.

“Like now?”

“Indeed. Like now.”

“Then, am I a guest?”

As the old man’s robe, filled with the scent of cigarettes and perfume, swayed, a thick aroma of death brushed past my nose.

“Anyone with the qualifications can be a guest.”

—

[Gate Report]

Gate Name: Unknown

Location: Uiryeong, Gyeongnam

*1/16

Deployed: 12

Missing: 12

Total: Danger Level D → Upgraded to A

*2/08

Deployed: 36

Missing: 36

Total: Danger Level A → Upgraded to S

*5/01

Deployed: 72

Missing: 72

Total: Danger Level S → Immeasurable

*7/03

Monster Encountered (Scientific Name): Duoeksini, 1 entity

Monster Characteristics:

a. Appears to have very low intelligence

b. Solely focused on attack

c. Unable to communicate

d. Possesses diverse and troublesome abilities

Location: Cave Plaza within the Gate

Deployed: 87

Deaths: 71

Total: Immeasurable → Entry Prohibited

*Extremely High-Risk Gate

*After entering the Gate, no one has been able to exit (Mapping estimated at less than 1%)

*Special Note:

Never utter your own name inside the Gate.

※Entry Prohibited Gate

—

Brave Rabbit Baekseol (White Snow)