In a remote mountain range, the Peach Blossom Garden was nestled inside.
Only known to a select few, it served as the residence of the Cheonma.
A servant, carrying pickled peaches, a red elixir, and water, knocked on the front door of the Lesser Cheonma's chamber.
"It is time for your elixir."
The servant knelt, hands respectfully joined, bowing his head.
Next to the door, a black-painted dragon carving glared with its long, slit eyes.
'Please, let everything go well.'
This room was the resting place of the successor to the Cheonma.
Their name and gender remained a mystery.
However, according to servants who have witnessed his dragon-like demeanor, he is fierce and temperamental. A misstep could lead to more than just expulsion from Peach Blossom Garden.
'…Eating this expensive elixir every day?'
The servant, too, was a martial artist of considerable skill.
He has earned a measure of trust within Peach Blossom Garden, and catching the successor's eye now could pave his way forward.
'This opportunity cannot be missed.'
-Thump.
A short, dull sound emanated from inside.
The servant tensed his neck, bowing deeply, awaiting a response.
"Come in."
"Gulp!"
The authority in the voice nearly shattered his composure.
Feeling as though a straw had been inserted into his head and energy was being siphoned out, the servant barely managed to open the door and present what he had brought.
It was a principle to never raise one's head inside the room.
He sneaked a peek but could barely make out anything wrapped in the quilt.
"You may leave now."
"Yes, have a good night."
The silk quilt snugly enveloped him.
From above the quilt, a body large enough for two people was visible. Just as rumored, a remarkable individual. Exactly as one would imagine from the voice.
The servant left the room, bowing, his original intention to showcase his talent forgotten.
'To follow him, one must be of that caliber.'
Even a brief encounter left his hands trembling.
An astonishing individual.
Swallowing those words, the servant bitterly proceeded down the hallway.
"He's gone."
At Cheondo's words, I hurriedly crawled out of the quilt.
"Ah, I thought I was going to die of heat."
"I'm sorry. My father always says to keep warm… If you need water, it's here."
Though it wasn't her fault, Cheondo lightly apologized.
I felt awkward just speaking my mind.
I scratched the back of my head and asked Cheondo.
"Why did you hide me?"
"It's natural to pay respects when meeting someone of significance. And you didn't seem to bear any ill will."
I was surprised when Cheondo hurriedly told me to crawl under the quilt at the knock.
"…So you usually cover for any stranger? Anyway, thanks."
"It's my first time experiencing something like this too."
The young Cheondo gave a slight smile and handed me a glass of water.
Noticing her hair still damp, I performed a simple magic to help dry it.
-Woong!
A magic to evaporate some of the water in her hair.
My magical power brushed past Cheondo like a breeze.
"…What's this?"
"Magic."
"Ah, so such magic exists nowadays."
Was it an era where magic had yet to be fully integrated into daily life?
As I drank water while observing Cheondo, she played with her fluffy hair, seemingly fascinated.
She looked like a kid seeing a helium balloon for the first time.
Cheondo blushed, having fiddled with her hair for a few minutes upon feeling my gaze.
"Cough… So, who are you? And how did you learn my name through such a strange spell?"
Cheondo, belatedly expressing her question.
I responded with feigned nonchalance.
"I can't say due to circumstances."
"…Circumstances? But this isn't a simple matter."
"You told me."
Although it was from the Cheondo of the future. What does it matter?
The young Cheondo's face grew increasingly perplexed.
"I told you?"
"Yeah."
"I've never met you, so how is that possible?"
Her confident manner of speaking reflected Cheondo's self-assurance.
Though she was smiling like a child, her eyes couldn't hide her true feelings.
Cheondo was on guard around me.
The exposure of such confidential information, whether she regarded me as a villain or not, was a serious issue.
"It won't be a problem. There will never be harm coming your way from me. After all, I belong nowhere and have no identity."
Would this hint be okay?
Understanding my implication, Cheondo let out a sigh.
"Your words feel like the truth. Or rather, if I think so, they must be."
"Brazen."
"Of course."
"Because you're the daughter of the Cheonma?"
"You know everything. Only my father and I should have known that."
The information I had been slipping to her was not meant to provoke.
Nor was it to make her see me as suspicious.
"If only your father and you know, what about your sisters?"
"Now that too…"
Cheondo, looking incredulously, lost her smile.
"Ha. Ha ha… If there's such a thing as fate, as my master mentioned, it's probably like this. Unveiling secrets unknown to the world as if cracking pumpkin seeds."
"Fate sounds good. I'd appreciate that view."
"I would have thought so regardless. How did you get in here?"
"I had business."
Cheondo scanned my face.
"It seems you have nowhere to sleep. You should rest here tonight."
"…Thanks. What if someone else comes in?"
"Then, do this. 'Get out now!'"
Her voice burst out like that of a bandit. I had heard it before.
Surprised, I opened my eyes wide, and Cheondo smirked mischievously.
"I'm good at imitating voices."
"Impressive. Your sisters would enjoy that."
"Would they? Seems like a strange talent."
"They'd fall for it?"
"Hwangdo is always laughing, and Baekdo is cold only to me, but originally, she's quite innocent."
I wondered if Hwangdo and Baekdo were here too? It might be worth seeing them if I got the chance.
"Talking to you, one would think we've lived together for years."
Cheondo, staring intently at me, made a meaningful remark.
"I've become more curious about who you are. May I ask your name?"
"Lee Shiheon."
"…What? Could you repeat that? I didn't catch it. Once more-"
"Lee Shiheon."
Cheondo frowned, watching my lips.
"Say it."
"Why."
"Strange… Your lips are moving, but nothing's coming out. What's your name?"
"Lee Shiheon."
Could it be that my name wasn't audible?
Cheondo seemed to realize this too, pressing her lips together, a serious look on her face.
"Maybe it's better to learn your name later."
"Sure."
"I can tell you're not an ordinary person. A face I've never seen around here."
"That hurts a bit."
"If you tell me everything you know, I'll consider reconsidering my thoughts."
Sticking out her tongue and giggling, Cheondo then flipped the blanket over herself and lay down.
I smiled bitterly at her youthful playfulness.
'So, Cheondo used to be like this. Now she's almost emotionless. Even the recent "playful" incident involved me getting kicked in the ribs for being cheeky.'
The playful Cheondo was a curious sight to me.
"But don't you need to take your medicine?"
"Ah right, I need to take my medicine… Please give it to me."
When I handed over the elixir wrapped in fine rice paper, Cheondo swallowed it without any hesitation.
It was a process of absorbing magic power I had also experienced several times before.
Forcing magic power into the body to expand its capacity.
"Eek."
Cheondo cutely stuck out her tongue and popped a piece of pickled peach into her mouth.
Trying to neutralize the bitterness with sweetness, she seemed conscious of not eating it all by herself and slyly offered me a piece of pickled peach on a toothpick.
"Would you like some?"
"You eat a lot. That will make you grow tall."
"What does peach have to do with height… You're shorter than our master, you know. Really."
"I'm quite tall, you know?"
"Men should be at least 2m tall."
Wasn't that a bit too tall?
Considering her size, it seemed plausible that the Cheonma could indeed be that tall.
But this was the first time I had been criticized about my height since my appearance changed, so I opened my eyes wide in surprise, and Cheondo giggled.
"I didn't expect to have such a conversation with someone I just met."
"Usually, you can say anything to someone you meet on the road, who has no relation to you. The closer you are to someone, the more you tend to hold back."
"That sounds plausible. Here, we always need to be solemn and dignified."
"That must be tough."
"Well… it's because you know all my secrets that I can speak openly. If this gets to the ears of my master, I might be dealt with before the moon even wanes."
That's a bit frightening.
Considering how strong Cheondo alone was, I wondered how strong her master must be.
Cheondo glanced at me while fixing her gaze on the peach stew.
"…What will you do after today ends?"
"Who knows. I'll think about it tomorrow."
"Are you leaving right away?"
"It's awkward to stay here too long, but I'll come by occasionally."
Now that I had memorized the coordinates, I would be able to enter Cheondo's room anytime I wanted if I set my mind to it.
I'll probably check the situation outside tomorrow before returning.
Honestly, just watching Cheondo's childhood could make time fly by.
"So, you're not going to tell me why you came here until the end."
"I came to see you. I've appeared before you twice already."
"That's absurd. You're risking your life?"
"It seemed worth the risk."
Cheondo, laughing like a child at the absurdity, popped another peach into her mouth.
"I'll believe you this time."
After finishing the peaches, Cheondo crawled back under the blanket.
"Go brush your teeth or your mouth will rot."
"Don't treat me like a child."
Tonight, it seems I'll be dozing off sitting up.
The World Tree of Time hasn't contacted me yet.
Maybe it's because I've used a lot of magic, or it's just taking longer than before.
"Luckily, Cheondo is lenient… otherwise, people would have gathered, and it would have been chaos by now."
There might have even been a fight.
Had it been just the warriors delivering medicine or something of that sort, I might have managed. However, if the Cheonma had appeared, I would have been in real trouble.
It was extremely fortunate that Cheondo was favorably disposed towards me, for some reason.
"Let's just sleep."
After waiting for about 30 minutes, just in case the World Tree of Time would respond, there was no reaction. Cheondo fell asleep quickly, as she did when she was young, and not long after, I also drifted off to sleep.