Chapter 184 – Lee Do-won (4)

Two days until Shiba’s extravagant celebration.

It would be ideal to pass this time without incident, but I can’t shake the unease until I set a day to thoroughly search the surrounding area.

What if a bomb were to explode nearby, halting Shiba’s festivities? The mere thought sends shivers down my spine and fills my eyes with rage.

Reactionaries. In my eyes, they are all red, subversive, and akin to Nazis.

It may be a crude description, but with my limited vocabulary, I can’t help it. They wear a twisted, sinister disguise while they call themselves “Flower.” It’s a travesty to liken them to such delicate beauty, akin to smearing feces on a canvas.

Better to have a tree like the world tree. At least a tree could be consumed by me and grant me special abilities.

‘…Sigh.’

I sat down in a sunlit alley, cooling the sweat on my skin and donning a mask.

As soon as the mask touched my face, it melded into my skin as though I applied lotion, completely changing my appearance.

In the guise of another. Her face had so thoroughly transformed that such an expression was fitting.

‘Clothes… not quite suitable to wear right now.’

I simply donned a hoodie hanging in the dormitory and stepped outside. Although early summer was hot, it was bearable.

Having been chosen for the forest keeper selection, I was absent from the academy itself, as the final exam would be replaced by the midterm grades.

– Ooh, oooh!

I felt a pang of guilt for the phone calls from my mentor. There was no way they could locate me, even if they checked the CCTV. In the dormitory, I moved discreetly using spatial magic, ensuring no one would notice.

‘I’m sorry. You were so passionate. Please understand.’

With the excuse of having inadvertently trained late into the night and falling into a deep sleep in mind, I turned off the vibration on my phone.

‘I should get a new phone too.’

I slipped my hands into the pockets of my hoodie and surveyed the alley. With the artifact that altered my appearance, there were no awkward situations like before.

-…Why wear a mask?

When I first attended the academy, this led to a strong conceptual image being established.
Compared to that time, it was a significant improvement.

“Anyway.”

How should we find such individuals in the future?
The size of the organization called Flower is substantial, so they won’t be entirely absent.
There is a possibility that a drug-related incident, like the previous one, might happen again.

‘…With conventional methods, we can’t find them.’

Last time, it was such a blatant act of terror.
However, typically structured organizations collaborate with some companies and even have the means to withdraw at any moment.

Didn’t they blow up the factory in a single attack and destroy the evidence last time?

‘For now, the issue is how they are targeting this vicinity.’

First, I’ll wander around this area haphazardly.
It’s not entirely baseless.

The third leaf. Cistus.

If you’re truly a radical terrorist driven by conviction… The notion arises that there’s a possibility of committing acts of terror without considering the consequences to their own base.

“Drug trafficking.”

It brings to mind what happened before.

At that time, the concept of the Flower wasn’t deeply ingrained, but this time it was worth reevaluating. A highly addictive drug… Yet, it transforms the opponent into an Ent. And a being distinct from the Ents found in the factory.

A wooden demon.

As a global terrorist organization… They might be developing a bizarre weapon. The first step is to slowly explore such a speculative idea. If it aligns, fortune favors the bold.

As the foundation of the idea overlaps… Searching for traces.

Developing a weapon with the properties of a stimulant. Ordinarily, it would require astronomical funds, but there are usually sponsors for endeavors like this.

“…Wealthy families.”

Like Lee Se-Young’s family, or Azalea and Cornus.

Azalea managed her own company, so perhaps not, but such families could have provided funds.

Against the will of the World Tree?
Even if there are gods, companies act based on profit and loss.

“…”

She wandered around the alley, then walked directly on the road.
As she covered several kilometers at a brisk pace in the area where cars roamed, she saw numerous bustling factories.

Azalea paused for a moment.

-If you go to the outskirts, you’ll find the factory district. Importing magical processing water is essential to them. Korea is a powerhouse in magical engineering, and they’re drawn to it, right?

She slowly raised her mana and sensed everything around her.
It was a method of detecting signs she had naturally learned as she grew up.

She began here and moved gradually.

The reason for choosing the factory was simple.

I had received word from a star that there was a resource Flower desired in this place. This was due to the possibility of clandestine transactions occurring here. Moreover, given the considerable size of the company, it was relatively awkward for the Hunter Association or the government to step in and investigate. This made it the most dangerous place.

Even taking that into account, there was no better method than simply taking action. After selecting a location based on the information, the rest was left to chance.

And I was fortunate.

* * * * * * * *

“Recently… The director seems a bit weary.”

Upon hearing the teacher’s concerned words, Shin Hye-young was the first to tilt her head and gaze at the director’s face. Somehow, the cheeks appeared hollow, and the eyes were dark and sunken. The director’s countenance was so gloomy that it made one question if this was the same person who had always encouraged drinking.

“Ugh…”

“Are you alright?”
“Uh… Hye-young. I’ve been feeling rather out of sorts lately.”

Director Min Hyun-joo, her eyes shadowed by dark circles, scratched the back of her neck and rose from her seat.

“…I think I’ll leave for the day. I just can’t go on like this.”
“Take care. Oh, Director!”

Hyun-joo, her legs wobbly and her body worn thin, walked towards the door. Shin Hye-young glanced at the seat beside her and noticed the fallen wallet on the floor. She immediately called out to Hyun-joo.

“You’ve left your wallet behind.”
“…Oh? When did I drop that?”

After checking her pocket, Hyun-joo extended her hand with an apologetic, queasy smile.

“My memory’s been failing me at times lately.”
“Have you seen a doctor?”
“…I’ve actually scheduled an appointment for this Saturday. Ugh, ugh. Yawn.”

A deep yawn escaped her, but it didn’t seem to bring any relief. Hyun-joo, who slipped her wallet between the handbags, reached for the door to leave when, as if recalling something, she called out to Hye-young once more.

“Ah, right, Hye-young.”
“Yes?”

“…I bought the jelly with my own money. Let’s feed the kids before it goes bad.”
“Why would the jelly spoil? Hehe.”
“Is that so?”

A woman who occasionally buys treats for the kindergarten children with her own money. Shin Hye-young smiled as she saw her off and retrieved the jelly from the refrigerator.

Fruit jelly in cups that are small for adults but plenty large for children.

Hye-young laughed, recalling her words about harboring a grudge for not having had snacks in the past and wanting to treat the children.

‘…The director really loves kids too.’

It’s not overly sweet, and fresh fruit is embedded within. This jelly is made with health in mind, not just as junk food.

“I wonder if the director will be alright.”

As soon as Min Hyun-joo left, a fellow teacher kept looking at the door she left through, concern etched on their face.

“What if she collapses on her way?”
“…She does look very tired.”

“Ugh, I just don’t know. There are so many bizarre diseases these days. Flower? Those lunatics, I mean. The rumors say they’re developing some new virus this time.”
“Hey, don’t curse in the kindergarten!”
“Alright, alright~ I know you’re concerned about the kids, Hye-young.”
“Seriously.”

With her cheeks puffed, Hye-young stood by the door holding the jelly.

“Anyway, I’m going to give the kids their jelly.”
“Thanks for the effort.”

Entering the kitchen, Hye-young began to peel and separate the jellies one by one. To prevent any choking hazards, she cut them into smaller pieces and placed just the right amount on each child’s plate. Since children have a habit of putting small objects in their mouths, she also stuck moderately large spoons in each plate to prevent swallowing.

“They eat well enough without all that fuss.”
“What if the kids get hurt?”

As the teacher appeared from the kitchen with a cup of coffee, chuckling as if it was no big deal, Hye-young spoke up firmly.

“When I was young, I dreamed of eating a huge jelly. Hyeyoung, you might not know? Perhaps I betrayed the dreams of young children who wanted to devour a massive jelly in one bite.”
“What’s that about?”

It’s simply a joke that emerges in a relaxed atmosphere.
In truth, older children don’t typically have accidents.
It’s standard practice to directly care for only the very young ones.

It was accurate to say that Hye-young’s behavior was overly protective.

Hye-young, who placed all the jellies on 40 plates, transferred them onto a large tray and moved to her section.

“Kids, let’s have snacks!”

As she raised her excited voice, all the playing children beamed with joy.
Nomads with pure smiles like sunflowers clung to her apron and legs.

“Wow!”
“What is it?”

“What food did the director buy for you today?”

“I know! Choco Pie!”
“Wrong~”

Among the gathering of children, a green-haired toddler stood out, observing the others with curiosity from a distance. Hye-young waved to Shiba, who reluctantly hopped up and approached, swinging her arms as she walked.

“Wow, it’s jelly!”
“What’s the name of this fruit?”
“Strawberries!”
“Correct! Hyunsoo is a genius!”
“Hehehe.”

Hye-young handed out the jellies one by one, giving one to Shiba as well. Once everyone had received their share, she set the tray aside and watched Shiba eat.

“…”

Shiba glanced back and forth between the jelly and Hye-young. Did she want Hye-young to eat the jelly as well?

Shiba cut the jelly in half with the spoon in her hand and offered it to Hye-young.

“Eat.”

A warm smile spread across Hye-young’s face. Resembling a mother’s loving grin, she patted Shiba on the shoulder.

Lately, Shiba had been reluctant to let Hye-young stroke her head, but that didn’t matter right now.

“How adorable~”

The delight of mocking child actors.
It was Shin Hye-young’s pleasure these days.

* * * * * * * * *

“It’s so damn difficult.”
“What on earth do they plan to use all this for?”

The robed individuals shuddered at the sight of the five fully loaded logistics trucks.

“…How would I know?”

The edge of Flower.

People gazed at the ground, possessing awareness and reason to grumble but with a lifeless expression in their eyes.

“…So, is that rumor true?”
“What rumor?”
“All of this, right now, for developing drugs. The aiding family.”
“I’m not sure. But the rumor has circulated occasionally since long ago.”

The Cornus family.
From the Middle Ages to the present. Their lineage has continued, and everyone in this world knows the family’s name.

Neither the government nor corporations dare to cross the threshold of that family.

The wealth of the Cornus family was said to be among the greatest in the world.

However, as lofty as their honor reached the heavens, so too did numerous conspiracy theories swirl around them. This was no different within the Flower’s inner circle. Questions arose among them about a certain middle-aged man who occasionally appeared—whether he was affiliated with the Cornus family or not.

“Hey, don’t you know?”

All eyes turned to the man who had been with them for a considerable amount of time.

“Hmph.”

A bitter breath escaped him, his face obscured by smoke. The man, whose damaged eye was exposed beneath the robe, bore a large burn scar on his cheek.

“The rumor keeps resurfacing. There must be some truth to it.”
“Then… could he already be cursed by the World Tree?”
“Pfft, hahaha. Nonsense.”

The man sneered sardonically. With a sorrowful gaze, he snuffed out the tobacco he had been burning. Traces of burnt embers marked the floor, mingling with the smoke.

“The World Tree can no longer wield its power. It’s a mere shadow of a god. What would those fiends gain if the World Tree were to sever the Cornus family now?”

They would bear a great loss to excise the cancerous growth.
After enduring a lengthy treatment, normal movement would be nigh impossible.

It’s not a case of growing pains.
Neither is it a necessary sacrifice, for they have not antagonized the World Tree thus far.
That’s why it has been difficult to punish them for their sacrilege.

“There’s no evidence. Just suspicions.”
“I’m not sure.”
“However, it’s true that we can’t predict when it might erupt.”

The man mechanically retrieved a new cigarette and ignited his lighter.
In that instant, someone yelled before him.

“…Someone is watching us.”

Thud!

At that moment, the faces of those engaged in casual conversation hardened into emotionless masks.
They donned the hoods of their robes and channeled their magical powers.

As the cigarette was lit, the light of their magic grew more intense and lively.

“We’ve got one lucky fellow here.”

Fortuitously, a rat that stepped on its tail.

Can it be described as fortunate? Well, everyone seems to say so. The man at the center cast his indifferent gaze upon the surroundings.