[TS] Became a Peach Saint – Chapter 4

“No, what is this… What kind of village unit is this?”

It’s the kind of stat you’d only see in those endless idle mobile games.

I was so dumbfounded that I scrolled through the sales list, but it just went on and on.

“What’s this ‘Soul Summoning Incense’? Why are they summoning dead people? Is ‘Money Fountain’ some kind of cash-duping item? And what’s this ‘Inner Elixir of the Sky Whale’?”

The prices were so high, it felt like they were asking me to sell the Earth to afford them.

“Huh?”

As I absentmindedly scrolled through the store, I noticed an item I hadn’t seen before.

[[Store List]]

[Item] [Skill] ─ [Descending Order] [Search] [Remaining Balance: 6.65 million won]

At the top of the window, there was a small note about skills and descending order. The search function and my current money were also displayed.

It was set to descending order, which must have caused all this chaos.

I wanted to see the cheaper items first, so I pressed the descending order button. Instantly, the text flipped, and a new list appeared.

[[Store List]]

[Item] [Skill] ─ [Ascending Order] [Search] [Remaining Balance: 6.65 million won]

★[A Piece of Fruit Drained of All Energy]: A malnourished piece of fruit left behind by the spirit Par after sucking all its energy, intending to give it to their contractor.

[Price: 0 won] [First Purchase Only]

[Delicious Water 500ml]: The saying “You gain weight just by drinking water” only applies when you drink this water. Contains a tiny drop of holy water.

[Price: 5 million won]

[Branch]: A branch that once glanced at the mistletoe that killed a god. It burns well even in heavy rain.

[Price: 12 million won]

[Sneakers]: Sneakers made from the mud Hermes once stepped on. Makes you run more agilely.

[Price: 35 million won]

..

..

..

[Guitar]: A guitar that absorbed a drop of wine Dionysus coughed up while drinking. Produces a beautiful sound and can reverse the mood when played during a dull moment.

[Price: 450 million won]

..

..

..

Even after switching to ascending order, the prices made me laugh involuntarily.

“I can barely afford a bottle of water. What do they expect from someone who earns 100,000 won after grinding?”

Seeing the sneakers and guitar on the list, I started to think that maybe these prices weren’t so bad, considering there were even more expensive items.

Just in case, I scrolled down and found all sorts of bizarre things.

[One-Time Lick Ticket for the Great Elixir]: A ticket to lick the Great Elixir of Shaolin Temple once. Makes you very healthy.

[Price: 125 billion won]

While scrolling, my finger stopped automatically when I saw the Great Elixir.

How many tickets would I need to buy to lick that elixir until it’s completely gone?

Feeling like there was no point in scrolling further, I went back up and saw the item at the top.

Marked with a star, as if it was important.

★[A Piece of Fruit Drained of All Energy]: A malnourished piece of fruit left behind by the spirit Par after sucking all its energy, intending to give it to their contractor.

“I really don’t like the description…”

It seems like the small help Par left behind is referring to this.

No matter how you look at it, the description makes it sound like Par spat it out after putting it in their mouth.

My hand won’t move.

It’s a total mess.

“I lost. Live, live.”

As I reached out to the item labeled “Fruit of Falling,” a system sound rang out.

Ding!

[Purchase is irreversible]

A warning window popped up with “Buy” and “Cancel” buttons.

Since I’d already made up my mind, I decided to stop overthinking and quickly pressed the “Buy” button.

Whoosh!!

A bright light appeared before my eyes and gradually began to gather in one spot.

As the light gathered, something started to form.

When the light finally faded, a piece of fruit that looked like a peach appeared.

I held my hand under the fruit, and it plopped right into my palm.

“Hmm, the outside looks just like a regular peach, though?”

Even if it looked like a peach, the item’s description kept bugging me.

A piece of peach that had been in Par’s mouth. I couldn’t muster the courage to put it in my mouth right away.

As I hesitated and stared at the peach like it was a threat, a faint scent began to waft from it.

The scent grew so strong it felt like I could see it with my eyes.

Soon, the peach fragrance exploded so intensely it filled the entire one-room apartment.

The overpowering scent wasn’t toxic; instead, it was intoxicatingly sweet, making me feel like my body would melt just from smelling it.

“Wow… Am I supposed to eat this quickly or what?”

As I kept inhaling the scent, drool started dripping from my mouth without me realizing it.

I couldn’t hold back anymore and took a bite.

Without even chewing, the peach melted in my mouth, turning into a fragrance that seemed to surge through my entire body.

The sweetness and euphoria of the fruit were unlike anything I’d ever experienced, making me feel like I was floating on a cloud of happiness.

When the sensation of the fragrance swirling through my body faded, the sweet aroma that had filled the room and my mouth vanished like magic.

All the strength drained from my body.

Sitting in my computer chair, feeling like I was melting, I couldn’t stop thinking about the lingering scent and taste.

“Sigh—”

A sigh of regret escaped me.

“Huh?”

The peach scent I had just experienced was coming from my mouth.

“Phew— Phew— What the?”

Unless my nose was playing tricks on me, the scent was definitely coming from my mouth.

Something had changed in my body.

Curious, I went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. I noticed subtle changes all over.

My dull, unappealing hair had slightly improved, with some of the darker patches fading and the pink parts becoming brighter.

My dry, frizzy hair now felt a bit more manageable.

I used to look like a guy with long hair, but now, from my eyes to my nose and mouth, everything seemed softer and rounder.

My cloudy eye color had brightened slightly, and my rough, dark skin felt a bit more refined.

It seems like something is changing, just as Par said.

But since my previous appearance was so strong, the slight changes didn’t make me look much more attractive.

Still, it’s progress.

After carefully checking my new look, I returned to my room and plopped back into my computer chair.

I should check the skill window I missed earlier.

“Damn, status window!”

Ding!

“Ding is a pain in the ass, every time it rings, it’s like a slap in the face.”

Moving my hand, I tapped on the skill section in the menu, and it switched from items to skills.

[[Shop List]]

[Skills] [Items] ─ [Ascending] [Search] [Remaining Balance: 6.65 million won]

[Eyes]

[Nose]

[Mouth]

[Facial Contour]

[Hair]

[Voice]

[Chest]

[Body Adjustment]

..

..

[Heavy Hit]

[Low Kick]

..

..

[Massage]

[Baking]

[Tai Chi]

[Flexible Body]

..

[Random Dildo Summon]

..

..

[Steel Hide]

[Beast’s Heart]

The list of skills is enough to make your head spin.

Remembering the one-time lick of the Great Return Pill earlier, I wondered how much worse it could get here. Scrolling halfway down, it was just as expected.

..

..

[Indestructible Diamond Body]

[Asura’s Heaven-Shattering Dance]

[Heavenly Demon Divine Skill]

[Cloud Technique Summon]

I think I’ve seen enough.

Looking at the prices, it feels like even selling the universe wouldn’t be enough. I’m getting dizzy.

The only thing I could figure out from the skills tab was that, thanks to the skills that seem like they were set up by the director of Gangnam Plastic Surgery, I could change this crappy appearance.

And appearance modification is at the top of the skills tab, so it seems to be the cheapest option.

Among the numerous skills, the lower-priced ones are mostly focused on appearance and physical abilities.

It seems like Par’s message is to use these to build recognition and get some help.

Now, all I have left is the 6 million won I got from selling my belongings and trading memories.

It’s time to make a choice.

“Hmm…”

The first thing to consider is whether to take the path of a saint or a villain.

Even after thinking about it, it doesn’t seem to make much sense.

Walking the path of a villain in our rule-of-law country comes with too many restrictions.

Unless you’re planning to make a big score and then disappear, it doesn’t seem like a good choice.

Naturally, the next thing to consider is making money and gaining fame through appearance or physical abilities.

Looking through the skills, those related to physical abilities seem quite expensive compared to appearance.

“Then, the only option left is to utilize my appearance…”

Model? Celebrity? No matter how I look at it, 6 million won isn’t enough.

Among these, what can I invest all my money in to maximize efficiency?

It seems like my heart has already decided on one path, but I can’t make up my mind.

As my thoughts deepen, the urge to smoke naturally rises.

Grabbing the cigarette and lighter I threw on the desk, I headed outside.

─Click, click.

“Phew─”

Looking around, it seems like no one’s here.

“Status…”

Looking around again, still no one.

“Status window!”

Ding!

“Damn ding”

After moving my hand a few times, a skill popped up.

───

[Voice]

Transforms your voice into a more beautiful one.

The skill level increases with each purchase.

[Price: 200,000 won]

───

No matter how much I think about it, this seems like the best choice.

“Purchase.”

Ding!

[Once purchased, it cannot be undone]

“Alright, stop with the ding already, or I’ll throw this thing before you know it.”

Cigarette smoke rises hazily, covering the skill window.

The idea of your body changing uncontrollably seems scarier than you thought.

“Phew─”

Ding!

───

[Voice Lv.1]

Your voice becomes even more beautiful.

The skill level increases with each purchase.

[Price: 400,000 won]

───

[Remaining Balance: 6.45 million won]

“Ah, ah. ····What?”

It’s definitely changed.

I thought I’d have to level up the Zhongqingxie skill a lot to see any effect, but I can already feel it clearly.

From now on, there’s really no turning back.

My fingers move quickly.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Three system sounds ring out, and the money rapidly decreases.

───

[Voice Lv.4]

Your voice becomes incredibly beautiful.

[Price: 3.2 million won]

───

[Remaining Balance: 3.65 million won]

With just a few taps of my fingers, 3 million won disappeared in an instant.

“Wait, what? Huh!”

Just as I was about to lose it over the sudden loss of money, I heard the sound coming from my throat and got goosebumps.

It’s the kind of voice streamers on the internet flaunt.

A voice so beautiful it could make someone call me “oppa” without thinking.

No, it’s even better than that.

300,000 won? That’s nothing. If investing just 300,000 won can make my voice this drastically better, it’s absolutely worth it.

“But why is the price like this? 200,000, then 400,000… Oh crap, it’s doubling each time.”

The skill that started at 200,000 won is now 3.2 million won.

Since the effect is so good, I don’t feel like it’s a waste of money.

In fact, my ears are tingling from hearing my own voice, and I’m losing my mind.

“Phew─ Ah, ah.”

It’s a voice I can’t get tired of.

What happens if I level it up even more?

Even though I know I shouldn’t, seeing the price at 3.2 million won, my hand moves to the purchase button on its own.

This is like a drug. How can it get this good in real-time?

Ding!

“Come on, ding, come to me.”

The ding sound feels so welcoming and familiar.

Unable to resist, I press the button, and suddenly, a strange change begins.

Ding!

[Your voice begins to carry the scent of peaches.]

[Your voice becomes even sweeter.]

[Your voice is beginning to approach the Heavenly Peach (天桃).]