“Cough. Cough.”
Taeyang, covering his mouth as if coughing up blood, trembled.
“You okay?”
“Cough, cough! Does it… cough look okay to you? Cough.”
He looked like it wouldn’t be surprising if a few bones were broken. His cheek and eyes were swollen like a beaten eggplant, and his clothes were so tattered they could be thrown straight into a donation bin.
“Aori, you really turned him into a pulp. Couldn’t you hold back a bit?”
I said that, but to be honest, it was quite satisfying. Aori, understanding the aning behind my words, gave a thumbs up.
“If not now, I might never get another chance.”
“Cough! Oh god, I’m dying…!”
Unable to hold back any longer, Taeyang spat out blood. He could have been a pretty decent guy if he acted a bit smarter, a bit more flexibly. He wasn’t dumb, but compared to the information he had, his desperation was severely lacking.
“That’s why, from now on, if you have anything to report, you better tell properly and in advance.”
“……”
“Did you understand, or didn’t you?”
“Hyung. I’m seriously, sincerely sorry. I swear on my mother’s na. But can I get treated first?”
“No. I need to save it for Sansuyu.”
“Fuuuuckk.”
It was not appropriate to use powers for re bruises. External injuries and internal injuries were different. If we gauged the severity by pain or danger to life, Sansuyu’s situation was far worse. That’s why, even though I had got so injuries from being hit by Bao, I was leaving most of them to heal naturally. Any power we had should be reserved for Sansuyu.
“That’s because you heal like a flatworm. I’m just a fragile, ordinary person who yells out in pain even if I tear a hangnail.”
“Then go recuperate. The way you’re talking makes it seem like you’re fine.”
“I’ll keep my mouth shut.”
He should have done that earlier.
“Let’s get back to the topic.”
I clasped my hands together and stared at her. Guseul, looking dumbfounded, had her mouth wide open as if to say, ‘What the hell is going on here?’
“…Are you two performing a skit?”
“They’re like this all the ti.”
Though the atmosphere had lightened a bit, the gravity of the situation was still heavy. Externally, it was Flower and the Tree Spirit King. Who knew what kind of ripple effect the conversation we were having here would cause?
But it was not like we could just pretend what happened earlier didn’t happen. Guseul wasn’t thrilled about the situation either, so I passed it off with a laugh.
“I had a rough idea that you and Shiheon would et, but I didn’t think you’d get this close.”
I didn’t expect it either. Now, we talked casually, using crude language, but that was mainly because Taeyang and Aori kept crossing lines, forcing us to get closer.
“So… you know, right? What Flower really is. You must’ve learned that just now.”
Guseul began to speak.
The organization called Flower. Its foundation was rooted in good. There was a reason I might consider helping Flower.
“There are hardliners, sure, but that’s not all there is.”
The number of young lives preserved by Flower was beyond counting. All of them were abandoned by the authority system of the World Tree. They were innocent. Listening to this, it seed that was the gist of their logic.
Flower wanted to shatter this tragic reality. If you looked only at their purpose and will, I coiuldn’t help but acknowledge it.
“So, are you asking to join Flower?”
Here was the main point.
“……”
Guseul remained in a high-handed position, which was understandable given her situation. I stood between the World Tree and Flower. If I appeared too submissive, it could disrupt the delicate tension with the World Tree.
That was why they would use a mix of threats and flattery to pull in. However, I hadn’t fully heard Guseul’s side yet, so it was hard to say anything decisive.
“…That’s right.”
Guseul, after a mont of hesitation, rubbed the front of her clothes. Her gaze shifted toward Taeyang.
“It’s not entirely wrong.”
“Well, yeah. Flower isn’t a bad group. If it weren’t for them, Aori and I would be dead.”
Taeyang nodded in agreent.
“So, how many people have you killed? You know why Flower is treated as terrorists, right?”
“Yeah, that’s true too. Do you even know how many people those damn bastards have killed?”
Once again, Taeyang nodded to my words.
Both points were valid, his and mine. But the constant chatter was getting on my nerves, so I gave him a flick on the forehead that made a loud thud.
Thwap!
“Ow!”
Finally, so peace and quiet.
After taking a deep breath, I calmly considered the situation. If I let my personal feelings and desires get in the way, I might not be able to make the right choice in the future.
My actions could hold the fate of many people. Even if you double-checked every step on the bridge before crossing, you couldn’t afford to let your guard down. Always question, even after ensuring the safety of the path.
“Aori. Take him away.”
“Yes.”
Taeyang was dragged off to the bedroom. After letting out a sigh, I used magic to clear the tea and snacks that were in the center.
I removed the translation device from my ear and cast a magical barrier around us. I even confird that there were no electronics or anything hidden inside our clothes. From this point on, no one outside would know about the conversation.
Guseul seed to understand my intention, as she also started to set aside her phone and belongings.
“Let’s be honest.”
From now on, it was as if we were bare before each other.
“At this point, I honestly think Flower should be wiped out. Do you have a reason why I should join you?”
“I can’t give you detailed information.”
“Of course. You want to hide things.”
If I joined Flower, what position would I be put in, and what would I be able to do? Just knowing that would give a good idea of how Flower operates. If I ever switched sides to the World Tree, Flower would be in a massive bind.
“So, if you’re not even willing to give the first piece of the puzzle, is there any point in this conversation?”
“You started this discussion, rember? Originally, I was planning to observe you a bit longer.”
“Then you shouldn’t have revealed your intentions so soon.”
Whether it was Flower or the World Tree, both of them were targets I needed to tear down. But since I witnessed so extrely unpleasant scenes in the past, my feelings might lean slightly toward one side.
Not long after, Guseul spoke again.
“Lee Shiheon, Flower isn’t as reckless as you might think.”
Let’s see what she’s saying. I narrowed my eyes.
“As you know, Flower is divided into factions.”
“The hardliners and the moderates.”
Guseul nodded slightly and raised a finger.
“The ones who resort to any ans necessary are mostly the hardliners. The group I belong to, the one you would join….”
“It’s not the moderates, is it?”
“That’s right. To be precise, we shifted recently. Ever since the Eighth Leaf started leading, things have changed a lot.”
If that’s the case, I should eliminate even the smallest trace of hesitation. These people were at least on my level, or perhaps even lower.
Seeing my expression, Guseul hurried to correct herself.
“We’ve never. Never killed innocent people.”
“Bullshit.”
It was a statent I couldn’t believe. Innocent casualties were an inevitable outco of any major action. For an organization like Flower, which engaged in violent terroristic activities, it was even more so.
“Even if there were any—”
“It wasn’t intentional, right?”
Having killed many people myself, I didn’t intend to judge them. After all, I was no better, having destroyed the lives of hundreds, including the families of the hunters I had killed.
But I was not foolish enough to trust soone who was lying to my face.
“And, not killing innocent people? What about ? What do you call ?”
Sure, I was captured because I committed cris. But now, I was being targeted as the heir of the Tree Spirit King, sothing ridiculous.
“How is this not the definition of an innocent victim?”
“…You’ve committed plenty of cris yourself.”
Hmm. She left speechless.
“That’s true. I’m sorry about that.”
It was like hitting a random person on the head and finding out they were a criminal. If you put it that way, there was nothing I could say.
If Guseul’s words were true, my perception of Flower might change.
“……”
Whether that was a believable statent was another issue, but two people who had been saved by Flower were right in front of my eyes.
Even Saku and Kim Soo-yeon knew why Flower had co into existence. The decay of a social system centered around the World Tree. Why did Flower’s influence remain so widespread across the world?
No matter how much the terrorists were purged, their strength not only didn’t decrease but continued to grow stronger. There was a reason for that. The flow of the tis was clearly in Flower’s favor. When considering that, Guseul’s words, even if exaggerated, seem believable.
“But emotionally, I still can’t trust them.”
At my words, Guseul closed her mouth.
“Listen.”
I continued, pointing out one thing after another—the things I had endured from Flower, the things I had to endure, and the things I almost had to endure.
“I’ll just tell you what I went through directly. Let’s skip over Jin Dallae’s past since you already know it. Dozens of innocent civilians were caught and killed after being turned into Ents. A child used a suicide bomb to turn into a half-corpse. Oh right, they even targeted soone I knew.”
Look at this.
To be completely honest.
“Almost everything that’s happened around was because of Flower, wasn’t it?”
There were things that needed to be addressed. Telling , “That’s how it really was,” now didn’t change the fact that I couldn’t trust it.
“That was…”
“The hardliners. Probably those corrupt bastards. Sure, they’re different from you guys, but from my perspective, you’re all the sa.”
“…”
“That said, it’s not like the World Tree has done only good things.”
Still, so people from that side had helped . Healing was one, Baekyang was another. I had never t them, but Purity also assisted . Not too long from now, rri, who is still growing, might beco helpful to too.
Guseul let out a sigh.
“Pfft. Looks like convincing you won’t be easy.”
I never planned to accept from the start. But it seed like Guseul still had more to say, and this ti, she smiled with confidence.
“Still, Lee Shiheon.”
Her smile was filled with composure.
“You will co to Flower eventually.”
Her words, delivered like a quiet declaration, echoed in my ears.
“Why would I?”
“Are you curious about the reason? There are plenty.”
Though her voice was still filled with laughter, beneath it lay a cold emotion.
“You, Lee Shiheon, have too many people to protect.”
A single sentence that thoroughly analyzed my situation.
It was true. Even if one person slipped, it wouldn’t be strange. No matter how far I stretched my arms, there would always be places I couldn’t reach.
“And the people you care about will inevitably take action, whether to protect you or in so way for your sake.”
“……”
“Connections are relentless. Maybe you don’t care if you get hurt, but those people won’t feel the sa. You don’t have anyone in your life who’s a passive character, like in the movies.”
Lee Seyeong, Jin Dallae, and nearly all the others were like that. If my life was at stake, these won would run out to fight for no matter how much I shouted for them not to.
“They could even die for your sake.”
That was true.
“And it’s the sa for you, isn’t it? Isn’t that right?”
Guseul was saying that the relationships I was maintaining were nothing but obstacles.
It wasn’t wrong. Her voice tickled my ears so pleasantly that for a mont, I found myself considering her words seriously.
“At so point, you’ll need to clean things up. Tree Spirit King, you’ve made a lot of enemies. There will co a ti when you need to end everything and focus on your own matters.”
If it ever felt like I was overwheld, no matter how much power I gained, Guseul’s suggestion would undoubtedly be the right choice.
“Or will you co to your senses only after you lose soone?”
A sense of déjà vu washed over . It was sothing Taeyang and Aori had said at so point.
I had already etched it deep in my heart. I had even had a glimpse of a future where I lost soone.
After a long silence, I smiled.
“You’ve never missed a single point, have you?”
“Thanks for the complint.”
In the end, the choice was mine, wasn’t it? That attitude of leaving everything up to my decision—it was the right approach in negotiations.
Clearly, she wasn’t assigned by Flower for no reason.
“If, at any ti, you change your mind, just let know.”
“Sure. But…”
I grinned as I saw the confident expression on Guseul’s face.
“That ans I can go ahead and crush Flower mbers that don’t seem to have anything to do with your faction, right?”
A jab aid at the Flowers planning to attack the Forester Selection Competition. Guseul’s expression hardened. She looked as if she had been backed into a corner.
“If your forces are united when they co, it’ll be even harder to tell them apart. After all, you’re already working with the hardliners, so I can kill whoever I want without worrying about the connection.”
“…Do as you please.”
“And you could be among them, right?”
The World Tree leaned toward neutrality, while Flower was close to being an enemy. Given what they had done to , I couldn’t just let it go.
Who knew when the relationship would improve? For now, it was sothing I couldn’t even imagine.
“End of the discussion. You can go now.”
Whether it was the World Tree or Flower, for now, we remained on parallel paths.
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