[TS] Became a Peach Saint – Chapter 233

“Yeah, so, Lost Peach, what brings you all the way here?”

“Hmm…”

I’m at a loss for words.

Should I say I came to kill monsters? Or is there a better answer that the Elder would appreciate?

My brain is spinning like crazy.

I analyze and assess the situation.

Even though we’re born into the same life, everyone’s path is different.

That’s why, if there are tens of thousands of people, there are tens of thousands of different personalities.

The key is how the other person takes what you say, even if it’s the same words.

“The reason I came to this cave is…”

“The reason is?”

Even though I’m dragging it out, they patiently wait without rushing me.

“I came to study.”

“Oh? You came to a cave to study? May I ask what kind of study?”

“Walking through the cave, I felt many things. As I moved forward, deeply observing the winding cave, I learned to bend myself. Because stiff trees can only break.”

“Hmm…”

It’s working.

If my words don’t work, I’ll be the one getting eaten by those sharp eyes.

It’s one or the other.

“So, you’re saying you observed the cave to find the branching paths.”

“That’s it!”

“The ‘cave’ and ‘penetration’ are of the same kind, I see.”

“Exactly! To enter a hole, you have to bend your waist. That’s what a cave is. I realized the importance of bending, so I could enter the cave.”

“I see. So, there was a reason you could make it this far, huh?”

“Smell!”

“Shh…”

Baekseol, who had been rolling around in my pocket, pokes her head out. I pet her, and she goes back in.

“Only by bending your waist can you reach such a place… Haha, young one, you have a unique perspective on the world.”

“Haha… I’m always striving to get closer to the truth, pondering and researching the principles.”

“Right, I understand you’ve been diligently wanting to visit. So, what do you want to say?”

I feel the Elder’s steady gaze wrapping around me like a snake.

“I came to hang out.”

“Welcome.”

“Yep. Am I a guest now?”

The Elder, who had been laughing at my wordplay, shakes his head.

“No. Here, it’s taboo for non-guests to speak their own names, so please be extra careful.”

I still don’t know what the Elder’s conditions for being a guest are, but apparently, I’m not one yet.

“So, does that mean I can’t enter?”

“Call me Georam. I’m the village chief here. With my permission, it’s possible, so don’t worry.”

“I’m the peach who came to hang out. Nice to meet you.”

“Haha, nice to meet you too.”

“You can speak casually. I haven’t lived long.”

I bow slightly, and the once-intimidating Grandfather Georam’s eyes soften.

“Young peach tree, still putting down roots, I’ll take good care of you.”

I thought something was off, and it seems he saw right through my essence.

“Oh, right. This is my friend, Pposiraegi.”

I pull out the fluffy ball that had been wriggling in my pocket and introduce them.

“Let’s go, Baekseol keeps sniffing towards Grandfather Georam.”

“Smell!”

“Gasp. No way.”

“Hahaha. Unlike the scent of flowers, the aroma of alcohol travels far, they say. Seems like a smart friend caught the scent.”

He probably knew all along and was just playing around.

Feeling awkward, I scratch my head and let out a laugh.

“Take care.”

“Yes!”

“Smart indeed.”

Baekseol, who just greeted Grandfather Georam, comes over and hugs me.

“I’m hungry!”

“You shouldn’t starve.”

“Huh? Can you hear Pposiraegi talking?”

Grandfather Georam, who was pulling something out of his sleeve, makes a puzzled expression as if asking what that means.

“Of course. I have ears, and since the other person spoke, it’s natural to hear.”

“Um, yep.”

An angel once mentioned in passing that Baekseol’s language is used in higher dimensions, so those in lower dimensions can’t hear it.

Does that mean everyone living here is some kind of high-ranking person?

“Here it is.”

Grandfather Georam pulls out a flower from his sleeve and hands it to Baekseol.

“Food!”

“Right, eat a lot.”

Baekseol, holding the flower given by Grandfather, climbs onto my shoulder and starts eagerly plucking the petals.

Even though her tastes have become more varied, she usually doesn’t eat fresh flowers unless I give them to her. Must be a special flower.

“It’s a flower filled with the mountain’s energy, so it should suit your friend well.”

“That must be why she likes it so much.”

“Delicious!”

“Eat a lot.”

“Yes!”

Seeing us chatting, Grandfather Georam lets out a laugh and turns his gaze forward.

“Let’s go now.”

“Yep.”

The moment the words end, the place, which had nothing but the shining sunlight, instantly fills with a warm, nostalgic scenery.

Seems like those words were both permission and a key.

Following Grandfather, who’s puffing on his pipe as we descend the slope, the scenery comes into view.

“Wow, it’s beautiful.”

“Hoho, glad you like it.”

The countryside. No, maybe we need to go back a bit further.

The flowers growing along the downhill path sway in the wind, chattering noisily.

Lately, it feels like I’ve only been seeing blood, so this naturally lifts my mood.

As we go further down, houses filled with charm come into view.

“Look, there’s a thatched roof house.”

“Ramen!”

“Right, it’s just like the house where we ate ramen.”

“Yes!”

Seems like Baekseol’s memories of thatched roof houses are all about ramen.

The warm memories built with this little friend feel precious once again.

“It’s so nice.”

“Nice!”

As we walk, enjoying the surroundings, a man with a straw mat backpack and shabby cotton clothes passes by, bowing his head.

The gourd hanging at his waist looks peculiar.

“Chief!”

“·····It’s the village head.”

“Seems like we have a guest.”

“Hoho, it’s been a while. So, are you off to chop wood?”

“Yes.”

The thick axe hanging by the straw mat…

A man who lightly taps an axe comes face to face with me.

I give him a slight nod, and he nods back before going on his way.

“Chief Grandpa?”

At my call, Grandfather Georam, who was puffing smoke from his pipe, flinches.

“Ahem. Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

Walking through a path surrounded by blooming flowers, my body and mind feel purified.

Though I don’t feel it, Baekseol, who was suffering from the scent, seems fine after eating the flower Grandfather gave her.

Walking a bit further, I see someone approaching.

Seeing the wooden load on his back, it seems he’s going to chop wood.

The commonality with the woodcutter I met earlier is his red eyes. And, he also has a gourd tied to his waist.

“Oh? Chief, what brings you here at this hour?”

*Thwack!*

“Ugh!”

As Grandfather swings his pipe, a middle-aged man with a full beard grabs his head and groans.

Looks like it really hurt.

“I’ve told you many times, it’s village chief.”

“Ugh… Yes, Chief… Village Chief.”

The middle-aged man, wiping tears and rubbing his head with his palm, glances at me.

I nod at the man, who looks fiercer than a bandit, and he nods back before scurrying away.

“Chief Grandpa…?”

Grandfather Georam, walking ahead, shrugs his shoulders again.

“Ahem, let’s go.”

“Yes.”

Leaving the two woodcutters behind, we walk forward, and a pleasant floral scent wafts in the wind.

“Do you see that?”

“What is it?”

Grandfather, leading the way, steps aside, revealing a thatched-roof building.

“That’s the brewery where they make alcohol.”

“Were those gourds on the woodcutters’ waists liquor bottles?”

“Good eye.”

Grandfather Georam, grinning, taps his waist. A gourd hidden under his robe sways.

“Seems like the folks here really like alcohol.”

“They can’t live without it.”

This isn’t just a village of drunkards. It means alcohol holds a deeper significance for them.

“Alcohol harms the body and mind.”

“Hahaha! Goblins are fine. It actually gives them strength and vitality.”

“Goblins?”

Whether it slipped out or he meant to tell me, I seem to have found out their identity sooner than expected.

“Are you a goblin too, Grandfather?”

“That’s right.”

At first, I thought they were from the underworld, but turns out they’re goblins.

“Then I want to be a peach goblin.”

“Hahaha.”

As we continue walking toward the brewery, someone shouts in our direction.

“Hey──you! A woman, huh!? Exposing her skin so carelessly, huh!!?”

The booming voice is like thunder.

“Is he talking to me?”

“Where does a young lady get off wearing such indecent clothes!!”

Looks like a man in his 40s.

A man, holding something that could either be a cane or a poker, swings it wildly in my direction while shouting at the top of his lungs.

“Ugh, my ears. Grandpa, can I just hit him once?”

“Hoho. I understand your feelings, but please don’t. Even if you had a thousand people, you wouldn’t be able to touch him.”

A middle-aged man, sitting on a wide rock, is twisting his head around.

He’s screaming so loudly that the veins in his neck look like they might burst.

“I’ll take care of it.”

“What are you talking about?”

“That guy, he’s a Scholar Goblin, right?”

“Hoho. You caught on well.”

“I’ll go teach him a lesson.”

“Hmm…”

As I slowly walk towards the Scholar Goblin, he starts screaming so loudly that his eyes turn red.

“Ugh— Where is this—!!”

“Master, what if the enemy is stronger than me?”

“First, pull out their limbs so they can’t move.”

“What about their eyes?”

“That works too.”

“Hmm♡”

“Ah, no!”

*Thud!*

The Scholar Goblin, who was looking at me, suddenly stabs his own eyes.

“Gaaah!! How can such indecency exist in a country where morality and ethics are alive and well!!”

“Hoho. The Scholar has given up his sight.”

“Damn Scholar, gotcha!”

As if noticing the commotion, the surrounding people—no, Goblins—start swarming in.

“The boss is here.”

“Oh… Boss, did you bring me a new plaything?”

“Truly beautiful…”

“Ahem. This is why I’ve remained unmarried all this time.”

“Ah, the beauty of the maiden…”

“Hello! I’m a Peach here to play.”

***

After showering, I rubbed myself so hard that my fur got all puffed up.

Brave Rabbit, Baek Seol (White Snow).