Chapter 217 – Among Them, A Flower Exists (3)

A challenger to the Flower and the symbol of the nation. The National Tree.

Kim Soo-yeon and Saku.

“Cornus, Cornus. I saw the Academy match.”
“Huh? Oh, yeah. I lost that…”
“It was such a pity. You did amazingly well!”

In addition, there’s Sansuyu, the eldest daughter of a prestigious family with international fame.
Even though she doesn’t participate in the conversation, merely observing, she seems to radiate light.

Saku sliced the bread into pieces, slightly lifted her mask, and carefully popped it into her mouth.
Each time, her jawline was faintly exposed.
Her cheeks were both sleek and tender.

I, too, lifted my mask and sipped my tea.
I had consumed too much bread earlier. I was too self-conscious to continue eating in front of others.

The appearance of the two National Trees drew the surrounding gazes.

– Weing, weing.

The transparent artifacts floating in the air were also capturing the images of the three women before them.

It’s glaringly apparent that they’re going on air without me.

– Slurp.

As I savor the taste of well-brewed black tea, I observe the women sitting before me, engaged in conversation. Simultaneously, I use one hand to operate my phone, searching for information about these women.

[Yoshino Saku]

20 years old. Japan’s national treasure.

The second daughter of the Cherry Blossom family and a prodigy in the art of spirit manipulation. Although she’s listed as an A-class hunter, her true abilities remain unknown. From a young age, she displayed a natural aptitude as a spirit medium, and her extraordinary talent allowed her to surpass her older sister and be chosen as the national treasure.

This is the first time I’ve encountered a spirit medium, excluding Azalea. Due to the scarcity of individuals capable of communicating with spirits, none of the people I’ve come across thus far have been spirit mediums.

And the next person.

[Kim Soo-yeon]

20 years old. Korea’s national treasure.

The Sword Master’s granddaughter… Korea’s pride, who has taken after her grandfather and rapidly ascended to greatness. The Sword Saint, and the President of the Hunter Association.

I had somewhat noticed it already. I never thought he would really be that person’s successor.

I smiled without it showing on my face.

“Oh, right…”

I was looking at my phone when she happened to strike up a conversation.

“…The previous runaway incident. You said you resolved it alongside Do-won. I forgot… I meant to express my gratitude on behalf of the association.”
“Ah, are you referring to that incident?”
“Yes. It was quite a dangerous situation.”
“There was no need for gratitude. It was only natural.”

Since there was no need to appear ill-mannered, I responded nonchalantly. Soo-yeon smiled refreshingly.

“No. Even though it may be natural, stepping up in such a situation is not an easy task. It’s even more difficult for academy cadets with no actual combat experience.”

It seemed as if she wanted to acknowledge and praise my efforts. There couldn’t have been a more opportune moment than this, as she was a public figure with the status of a national symbol, and the conversation was being broadcast.

There are many benefits to be gained just from her acknowledgement.

In other words, even she, a national tree, knows me, which means my name has spread quite far.

“If people like you became hunters, the world would be a much better place. Hehe, thank you.”
“You’re too kind.”

Recognition can be beneficial if I ever have the opportunity to join a guild in the future. Of course, I have no intention of doing so. But from someone else’s perspective, there’s undoubtedly cause for celebration.

Expressing my gratitude, I sipped the tea in my mouth.

Somehow, the conversation became awkward. It was a dialogue between a human and a national tree, and given our respective statuses, informal speech wasn’t appropriate here. Cornus and Saku blinked their eyes, watching us.

“Me too, me too. I think it’s impressive. Si-heon is a good person, a virtuous one.”
“Haha, thank you.”
“Is Si-heon… kind?”

Cornus drew out her words. What’s with her gaze? Honestly, if asked objectively whether I’m a bad or good person… hmm.

I’m not exactly virtuous.

I accepted the situation and raised the teacup to my lips for another sip.

‘Ah.’

The teacup was empty.

* * * * * * * *

“Si-heon! See you later!”
“If you have any business, I’ll see you then. Saku, this is a tryout. Stop shouting.”
“Eh~”

After the meal, I parted ways with the two representatives.

Kim Soo-yeon tapped the head of Saku, who was wearing a fox mask and waving her hands enthusiastically. We may have to meet again in the future, but it feels like too much of a burden when one’s status is human.

The next three days are the adaptation period. It’s a short time for adjusting, but with a Hunter’s physical strength, it’s more than enough to adapt.

When I checked the time on my phone, it was already 11 PM. It would have been broad daylight by now if it were any other day.

Lately, I can’t sleep, and my biological clock is completely out of sync. At this point, intense training seems easier than sleeping. Maybe I should just go to my room and use my phone.

As I pressed the door lock of the assigned room, Cornus followed me from behind.

“Isn’t your room upstairs?”

Cornus tilted her head, not answering my question. I pressed down on my forehead with five fingers, and she furrowed her brows.

“There’s nothing to do.”
“If there’s nothing to do, wouldn’t it make sense to enjoy your leisure time downstairs?”

Why does she always come to me when she’s bored?

I would understand if there were no forms of entertainment available. But we have to spend several months here, and there are plenty of facilities within this building. Internet cafes, cocktail bars, massage shops, and more. It’s safe to say that all the leisure activities one could enjoy in a big city are available inside this building.

Cornus stood there, blankly staring at the door lock.

It seemed as though we should hurry and open the door to enter.

“It won’t be fun.”
“I don’t mind.”
“…Fine, do as you please.”

-*Dilyric*-

Upon opening the door and stepping inside, I was greeted by a spacious room of ample size.

Superior to an average hotel.
It had a sofa, a massive refrigerator, and even a kitchen and a bathroom.
The might of the World Tree Foundation, where money from around the globe converges.
The facility is so exceptional that the phrase “too much of a good thing” seems laughable.

-*Tiririk*-

The sound of a door lock coming from the neighboring room. If there’s one minor flaw, it’s the somewhat inadequate soundproofing.
Nevertheless, it wasn’t enough to bother me with just the noise of everyday life.

No sooner had I set down my luggage than I immediately lay down on the bed.

“Sleeping?”
“Just lying down for a bit.”

-*Brush, rustle*-

Sansuyu, who had followed me in, looked at my face as I lay on the bed and tilted her head.
Then she rummaged through the luggage she had brought and pulled out something.
It was a notebook and a textbook.

“…I was going to ask you to study.”
“You came all the way here?”
“…Yes.”

Ah.
She was our student.

It was only a few months ago when she was in the midst of studying and training. It feels like it’s been a long time.

Once the forest keeper selection tournament is over, it will be time for the second semester’s midterm exams. I had to spend time here from late spring to early autumn.

Of course, the grades themselves reflect the first semester’s midterms. It was an inevitable phenomenon that the curriculum would be pushed back by other students.

“…Then I won’t do it either.”

As I lay there without any response, Cornus tossed her textbook somewhere. She climbed onto the bed, rustling as she laid down with her head resting on my stomach.

A light weight settled precisely on my navel.

“Can’t you lie down properly?”
“I don’t want to.”
“Why?”
“…Sieon always pulls my cheek, too.”

Calling it a minor revenge, she added more weight to her head. Regardless, she merely looked cute.

As I smiled and attempted to pinch Sansuyu’s cheek, she swiftly struck my wrist right before my hand could make contact.

“I don’t like being touched.”

“Double standard?”

“What’s that?”

When I do it, it’s romance; when someone else does, it’s an affair. She embodies the typical persona of someone who dislikes getting too close to others while still indulging in such actions themselves.

After I explained this concept to her, Sansuyu nodded with a puzzled expression.

“People you don’t want to be friends with?”

“Usually, yes. It varies depending on the situation, though.”

“Alright, then. Touch.”

It seems I have no choice but to comply. I find it overwhelming to comprehend Sansuyu’s multidimensional thought process.

I reached out and gently pinched her cheek. As I stretched the soft skin like mochi, a melancholic voice emerged from Sansuyu’s lips.

“…Ouch.”

Soft Sansuyu. It was a fixed online nickname I had seen when I visited the community where Suyu was active some time ago.

Despite my insistence not to, this person even managed to become the administrator of the community.

Somehow, it’s infuriating. They pull the ball forcefully.

– Zzzuuuuuup!

– Bap!

The ball snaps back like a rubber band as soon as I let go. Sansuyu rubs her cheeks with her hand. It seems painful, likely due to pulling it too far.

“Siwon is no good. Not a kind person.”
“Fine, let’s just go with that.”
“…”

– Tock, tock.

I read articles on my cell phone while properly responding to Sansuyu’s pouting.

30 minutes. 1 hour, 2 hours.

Lying in bed and passing the time, it’s almost dawn. Sansuyu idly lays down to pass the time, then joins me, curious about what videos or articles I’m watching. She snatches the pillow from my bedside and watches the video with me, her eyelids growing heavy until she quickly drifts off to sleep.

It’s my room, but now Sansuyu occupies the center of the bed.

I hadn’t planned on eavesdropping. As I continued tapping on my phone, a faint sound came from the adjacent room.

– Ah, …ah.

The room was supposed to be soundproof, yet I could hear it.

It was a woman’s moan.

– …I’m losing my mind. Ah, aah! Ah! Why are you so good at this? Ah!

The translator I had plugged into my ear was functioning all too well, unnecessarily so.

It mimicked the tone, inflection, and even the pitch of the voice, causing the woman’s moans to reverberate in my ear twice in succession.

‘…Why on earth would they have sex here, of all places?’

The Olympic Village.

Rumors had it that lascivious stories unfolded there.

I faintly recalled hearing an urban legend-like tale. Was it possible that such debauchery persisted even at this world-renowned event? Indulging in carnal pleasures during three days of free time.

It was no small feat.

I hurriedly removed the translator from Sansuyu’s ear. For some reason, her innocent image seemed too strong, and I felt as if she shouldn’t be exposed to such moans.

“Are we really doing it in this position?”
“Of course.”
“Ugh, that’s so lewd…”

Thump-thump, thump-thump.

Why is it that this room has such poor soundproofing? When I removed the translator and placed it on the small table, I felt a slight sense of relief. Nevertheless, the moans from the adjacent room did not cease.

“Ah! Ahhhhhhh! Aaah!”

‘…’

If someone were to hear this, they might think someone is dying.

Unfortunately, I possess a lascivious nature, so it felt filthy to see that part of me reacting. Lately, I’ve been experiencing a lot of frustration in regards to sexual matters. Azalea would seduce me whenever she got the chance, claiming that it was actually enjoyable. But not here.

I turned my head and looked at Cornus.

Her innocent eyelids were closed as she slept deeply. Her eyelashes were long and her skin was pale. The last time I saw her, she looked so frail that I hesitated to even touch her. However, since I started treating her, she seemed to have regained some of her health.

A delicate face. As the gaze travels downward, one can see the sweat pooling in hercollarbone.

The indoor attire provided for the forest keeper selection. The clothes aren’t form-fitting, but due to Cornus’s larger size, her chest appeared excessively accentuated.

Is it like a watermelon or a melon?

Her breasts seemed even softer than Cornus’s cheeks. At that moment, I averted my eyes.

‘What am I doing to a sick girl?’

A lewd demon’s spawn…

With that thought, I took out a blanket and intended to cover Cornus, so I wouldn’t be drawn to her.

“Uhnn…”

As I pulled out the blanket and covered her up to her chest, Cornus let out a faint moan.

– Jureuk.

The sound of liquid flowing. Startled, I lifted the blanket I was attempting to cover her with.

What’s going on?

I gently lowered the blanket, looking towards the source of the sound. For some reason, Cornus’s chest area was damp.

There was no spilled water, nor any water dripping from the ceiling.

The stain on the garment was unusually dark for a mere smudge.
There seemed to be a faintly sweet aroma emanating from it as well.

More than anything, the location of the dampness…
It was situated precisely near a woman’s most intimate area.

‘Uh…’

I quickly grasped what it truly was.

“…Uh?”

Bewildered, I found myself at a loss for words.