“I’ll see you later then.”
“Yes, take care. By the way, the conversation we had between us…”
“Haha, of course. You think I wouldn’t know that?”
“Haha. That’s a relief. So people need everything spelled out for them.”
After finishing the explanation, we had a brief chat over dinner and parted ways imdiately.
Thankfully, unlike Bao, they understood quickly.
‘Next ti, I’ll just gather everyone at once and explain.’
Luckily, this wasn’t sothing I had to handle alone.
This process revolved around the spirit and Maronnie. I was just a bystander here.
As for Sugar, I had no choice but to show up because the other party seed to think well of .
Things should proceed smoothly from now on.
‘It’ll… go smoothly, right?’
Maybe it was because I had been surrounded by abnormal things for too long, but sotis it was hard to trust anyone with responsibilities.
In that sense, having soone reliable like Sugar around was such a relief.
Sugar, with her sweet voice and natural ability to strike up conversations with strangers, should be able to handle this flexibly.
‘The possibility of betrayal is… practically zero.’
Even with my tendency to overthink, I had set so pretty stringent standards.
Maronnie’s ntal world.
The spirit’s empathy, which sensed emotions.
And, though baseless, my intuition, which had proven reliable enough.
Except for the last one, they were all pretty credible.
Reading thoughts and sensing emotions—these were the two most effective abilities for grasping soone’s essence.
“Am I just being overly suspicious?”
“Hyung.”
Taeyang, who had co to et Sugar with , responded to my musings.
“What?”
“Logically, if soone could hide sothing after all this, Flower would have conquered the world ages ago.”
“They’re practically on the verge of doing that now.”
“Oh, really? But what if a National Tree suspected to be with Flower appears? Are you planning to fight them on the spot?”
I shrugged casually, as if the answer was obvious.
“Wait.”
“Wait?”
Even if a National Tree was with Flower right now, there was nothing I could do.
Even stirring the public took a long ti with my influence.
“I’m just gathering the bare minimum.”
“Can just the six of us stop it?”
“It’s not really six, you idiot.”
“That’s harsh.”
When things escalated, the traitors would reveal themselves.
Non-traitorous National Trees would naturally protect civilians without us needing to persuade them.
That’s the essence of a National Tree.
“Do you think so? What if they ditch us to protect the trees?”
“That’s not the National Tree’s job. That’s for the Order to handle.”
“Ah, I see.”
“And, if you find anyone suspicious, rember their face.”
“Why? So you can kill the n and… assault the won?”
I didn’t reply. Nobody knew how things would turn out.
I just conveyed my aning with a subtle glance.
“Go on in.”
“Roger.”
Taeyang, understanding my intent, nodded.
Taking my phone out of my pocket, I checked the ti: 8 PM.
The Forester Selection Competition wasn’t far off now.
This sumr, no one would be able to beco a Forester.
The cicadas’ cries pierced through the hotel windows as if to announce this fact.
-Bzzzz, bzzz, bzzz.
‘Saving lives, huh.’
Scrolling through my contact list, I thought to myself.
Since when had I moved for such noble causes?
“Heh.”
-Brrr, brrr.
Spotting a familiar na, I made a call. After a few rings, a voice answered.
[Hello?]
Jung Siwoo. It had been a while since we last talked.
Finding so free ti, I reached out.
“How rare of you to answer. Not busy?”
[Busy, yeah. Been running around dungeons like crazy. Almost died this ti. Ever had your guts spill out?]
“Oh.”
Siwoo seed happy to be chatting, eagerly sharing his dramatic experiences.
Apparently, he’s still wandering dungeons, honing his skills to find his younger sister.
He claid he was improving rapidly.
“Things have been noisy lately because of Flower. What about you?”
[Ah.]
I heard a bitter laugh through the phone.
[Man, I could use a drink.]
“Haha.”
This guy’s life isn’t easy either.
[How’s the Selection Competition? Heard you’re doing pretty well.]
“Sa old. Let’s grab a drink soti.”
[Haha, I’ll make ti for sure.]
Even without seeing him, I could tell he’s been growing stronger quickly.
He was connected to as many people as I was, living like a protagonist. I couldn’t help but cheer him on from afar.
“Take care.”
[You too.]
Hearing the exhaustion in his voice, I ended the call with a simple farewell.
-Click.
Walking as I spoke on the phone, I soon arrived.
Standing before the hotel doors, ones I’ve grown sick of seeing, I knocked lightly.
-Tap, tap.
The sound echoed crisply.
At the sa ti, the bracelet on my wrist lted like molten tal, covering my entire fist.
-Creak.
As the door opened and I confird there was no one around, I imdiately thrust my arm inside.
“Crazy.”
In the dark room, Guseul clutched her head.
Counterasures against artifacts that record voices or images were already perfect.
Once the structure is understood, halting their function for a mont becos possible.
Although even that could arouse suspicion.
It didn’t matter.
Flower had already begun their operation.
“They should have waited at least two weeks. What are they rushing for?”
If they were going to strike, the timing should’ve been after.
The ideal mont would have been after returning the dropouts and when civilians were minimal.
‘Flower’s goal has always been the downfall of the World Tree. Wasn’t minimizing unnecessary sacrifices their core principle?’
This was the rule established by the saint who originally founded Flower, a rule still implicitly enforced under pressure.
Guseul bit her lower lip tightly.
The plan was falling apart.
And Lee Shiheon was nearby.
She couldn’t let Flower’s ugly side be revealed any further.
At least not if they were to recruit him as an ally.
“They’re determined.”
She had no idea who stirred things up. Most of the executives were wary of Lee Shiheon.
But turning their backs on him would be like smashing the foundation and pillar of the Eighth Faction.
He was ant to be the cornerstone of Flower.
Guseul had no choice but to contact soone she knew.
Practically a parental figure to her.
Though she intended to protest, the response she received was unchanging.
[For now, just follow that woman.]
A dry male voice resonated.
“But if we miss this opportunity, Lee Shiheon will—”
[Since when did you get to talk back?]
A heavy, scornful tone. Just hearing it made her mind freeze over.
Guseul held her breath with a pale face.
[Opportunities will co. You wouldn’t understand, but the king will eventually return to us.]
“……”
-Click.
“…Yes.”
Even if she didn’t respond, the call ended on its own.
Yet, her body, conditioned by habit, instinctively answered.
Her legs gave way, and she collapsed to her knees.
Te Matua Engahero (Father of the Forest).
The na of the entity she had just spoken to.
He was one of the three subordinates under the Eighth Executive, the ruler of naless trees like Guseul.
The term “naless trees” referred literally to those without “flower language” or “nas.”
They had no known origin, no family, and were treated as less than human—re weeds.
“Hongyeon.”
A sigh escaped her lips.
“…Does that person truly intend to destroy the World Tree herself?”
The Eighth Faction lacked a designated executive.
Before Hongyeon was appointed as a proxy, it had been a lawless wasteland.
“Even knowing they’ll be discarded in the end… Why go this far?”
Hongyeon’s influence within Flower was steadily growing.
She had expanded her reach into areas where other executives refused to tread.
However, overextending often invited ruin.
Now, Guseul couldn’t even offer excuses to Lee Shiheon.
The Cradle infiltration, which should’ve been handled by another executive, had fallen to Hongyeon.
‘Lee Shiheon, already disillusioned with Flower. If he finds out about this…’
His potential recruitnt into Flower would vanish.
And without the Eighth Executive, Hongyeon’s demise would result in his fragnted power being devoured by the other executives.
‘How can they say it doesn’t matter?’
Her “father” claid Hongyeon’s actions had no bearing on recruiting Lee Shiheon.
Thus, she was told to pretend to follow Hongyeon while focusing solely on bringing Lee Shiheon to their side.
Guseul couldn’t understand.
-Knock, knock, knock.
A knock echoed.
With trembling legs like a newborn giraffe, Guseul stood up.
Her mind was far from intact amidst the sudden upheaval. Her emotions were a chaotic ss.
“Who is it at this hour?”
With an expression devoid of warmth, she grabbed the doorknob and opened it.
-Creak.
A large shadow rippled through the gap in the door.
A man’s hand abruptly pushed through and gripped the opening roughly.
-Screech.
Startled, she tried to pull back, but the door was forced open by a strength greater than hers.
And there he was—the very person she had just been thinking about.
Eyes of ashen gray.
His gaze carried a faint trace of killing intent. In that mont, Guseul realized one thing.
The sudden shift in Flower’s plan.
This man knew all about it.
Entering the room happened in an instant.
Even though Guseul belatedly unleashed her magic, I had already shoved my shoulder through the doorway, knocking her aside.
-Bang!
The door slamd shut, and my bracelet morphed into the shape of a glove.
“…What’s going on?”
“You’d know best.”
In truth, Guseul and I were in a state of mutual ceasefire.
There were various circumstances, and we had exchanged words.
However, with Flower’s invasion imminent, she was nothing short of a lurking cancer.
Guseul was so startled she didn’t even let out her usual awkward laugh.
“I’m as bewildered as you are… I have nothing to say.”
“Flower doesn’t know much, huh?”
She was the biggest variable.
I didn’t fully grasp Guseul’s abilities.
She hid everything about herself from the start.
During the tournant, during the first trial—
Even now, I couldn’t quite gauge the depth of her capabilities.
‘Too skilled for a re subordinate.’
Once, when I was offered a proposal, I said as much to her.
-“If it’s a coalition of factions entering together, it’ll be impossible to distinguish allies. Since you’re moving with the radicals, whether you live or die, it won’t matter.” ɌÀ𐌽ố𝐁Ěṣ
Back then, I had warned her she could die.
Guseul had responded indifferently:
-“…Do whatever you want.“
I fully intended to do just that.
“I’ve been through a lot because of you.”
This situation was no trivial issue.
While saving people was the goal, she remained a particular problem.
I activated a bit of magic, wrapping it around my arm.
“…Isn’t it a little too late for persuasion? Heh.”
Sensing hostility, Guseul reached into her outfit.
-Bam!
My body moved instinctively.
Before she could resist, I subdued her with maximum speed.
Her head slamd into the floor as she tipped backward, my grip tightening around her neck.
“Urgh.”
During the Forester Selection Competition, my stats had steadily grown.
This was thanks to significantly expanding my compendium.
-Crack!
I applied pressure to her neck.
Without giving her a chance to activate magic or an artifact, I intended to end this here and now.
As my fingers dug into her slender neck—
-Flash.
Sothing coiled around my wrist and yanked it upward toward the ceiling.
A wire, appearing out of nowhere.
Steel threads coiled tightly around my entire body.
“…”
The speed left unable to react, though I had to admit her reflexes deserved praise.
Through narrowed eyes, Guseul seed to mock with a victorious smirk.
But this wasn’t enough to hold back.
-Ping, ping!
One by one, the taut wires began snapping.
My hand fully encircled her neck again.
And I squeezed.
-Crunch!
Her neck broke completely.
Her pupils constricted, and her muscles shuddered violently.
The sensation of taking a life.
“No.”
I dismissed the idea of her death imdiately.
From her split neck, black liquid oozed out, catching my attention.
-Squelch.
Guseul’s body was literally lting.
The viscous liquid, exuding a pungent stench like crude oil, dripped onto the floor.
From where her heart had been, a crudely ford clay figurine erged.
[पेड़]
The figurine bore an unfamiliar script engraved upon it.
It had been Guseul speaking, yet it was as if a ghost were pulling the strings.
“…They’ve got all kinds of magic now.”
It wasn’t fake.
The person I’d been speaking to was undoubtedly Guseul.
Her power and magic were wholly her own.
Yet when I had choked her neck, it felt as if sothing had swapped in her place.
‘Spatial magic?’
If it were that, I wouldn’t have missed the traces of her magic.
This was sothing far more intricate.
Authority. A unique power akin to divine abilities.
I lowered my hand to stroke the clay figurine.
-Crack.
The figurine split apart, and the engraved script disappeared like lting snow.
From it, I felt a faint trace of magic.
It wasn’t Guseul’s magic.
It was a power I’d sensed once before, not long ago.
‘A shaman.’
I’d seen this script sowhere before.
The National Tree of India, Banya.
It was her authority.
Reviews
All reviews (0)