Chapter 277 – Are You a Flower? (2)

I wrapped both arms around the woman’s neck, pulling her waist back and shifting my weight forward so that the load was transferred onto her.

To an outsider, it might look as if we were in a romantic relationship.

“Hehe… Hey, I’m a bit heavy, you know.”

Gu-seul, who gently held my arm, forced a smile.

The successor of King Mokryeong and the Flower. While it wouldn’t be odd for us to be caught up in each other, Gu-seul’s approach toward me felt more like that of a friendly classmate.

We walked down the corridor, clinging to each other. As if we were friends playing pranks, I chose to do all sorts of annoying things behind her back.

“Your hair is quite soft.”

“I have been taking good care of it… But when are you going to let go?”

Her hair was pure black and medium-length, without any other colors mixed in. Around her neck, she wore a choker, much like Lee Se-Young.

In the center of the black choker, there was something adorned with precious metal. Upon closer examination, it resembled the fruit of a dogwood tree. She wore the standard participant’s attire at all times. Up close, it was clear why she was so popular at the academy.

“What kind of necklace is that?”
“I don’t know?”

Her striking personality was one thing, but her radiant beauty could easily capture the hearts of many men at a bargain price. When meeting female students who had just entered college, there was often a heavenly beauty among those aged twenty to twenty-one who possessed both the youthful impression of a high school girl and the mature charm of an adult. Guseul’s appearance was the epitome of a woman in her prime.

There was nothing out of place about her, whether she was coming or going. Her stunning looks made it easy to understand why she had infiltrated the academy.

‘Flower.’

They had fought once during the last midterm exam, but it was highly likely that their true abilities had not been revealed. It seemed as if they had fired a gun and retreated, simply enjoying the thrill of the moment.

So, it wouldn’t be surprising if this individual concealed something capable of turning the tables in the competition, or even if their skills surpassed mine.

However, they can’t act openly. In a way, it’s as if Gu-seul and I are caught between a rock and a hard place, right in the midst of enemy territory.

Before I knew it, we had arrived at the designated meeting location.

I unwrapped my arms from around their neck. Gu-seul raised a hand to her throat and sighed with a sense of release. I entered the prearranged room and sat down, soon followed by Gu-seul.

First, I fetched the tea set located nearby and poured some tea for her.

“A meeting, you say? It seems that sometimes you get matched with someone you know. Ah, thank you.”

Gu-seul accepted the tea I offered and placed it in front of herself. I poured my own tea but didn’t bring it to my lips.

From this point forward, we were in a private space. There was no need for roundabout conversations or other tedious formalities. I had already learned through other channels that this individual was indeed Flower.

After removing the mask he was wearing and placing it on the table, he faced Gu-seul.

“Hey.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Isn’t it time to open up and talk?”

Her black pupils remained calm even in front of me.

“Hehehe. What should I reveal?”

A frivolous smile as always. She hardened her face and shrugged her shoulders, saying, “Don’t joke.”

“Flower.”

She immediately uttered the name.

“You’re Flower, aren’t you?”

Gu-seul’s face hardened in an instant.
Her round eyes narrowed to half their size. The irises, once filled with light, now appeared as half moons, shimmering in a gray hue as they failed to catch the light.

“What a joke.”

A dry voice emerged, seemingly slightly cracked.
In a way, it was a warning. When asked if I could handle it, I provided an unspoken response.

“Joking is nonsense.”
“…You must have some backing, huh?”

Her previously outgoing and lively gestures and expressions became subdued.
The once scattered atmosphere settled, and her hands, which had been resting on her knees, moved to the desk, tapping the table with her fingernails.
It all happened in just a few seconds.

‘She admits it rather easily.’

Was there some dirty scheme at play?
Or perhaps she thought there would be no issue even if I discovered her secret.

From the beginning, she had subtly hinted at her suspicious behavior.
If she had been determined to conceal it, her attitude towards me would have needed to be more thorough.

Although I initially noticed her odd demeanor through the status window, even disregarding that, many aspects of Gu-seul’s behavior were suspicious.

“You made it too obvious.”
“…Ah. Did I? I thought I acted rather well. Hehe.”

Gu-seul smiled awkwardly, raising the corners of her mouth, her appearance unchanging.
She brushed me off, idly playing with her well-manicured nails.

“Well, I had to let you know anyway.”

Gu-seul abruptly turned her head to look at me.

“So?”

What are you going to do now? Her provocative smile seemed to ask. In response to her confident demeanor, I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Are you planning to seduce me? Like the teacher or those other women?”

“You’re quite the wordsmith.”

Clumsy provocations won’t work on me. I applauded, and Gu-seul’s eyes narrowed.

“I choose who I get involved with, too. Flowers, well, they’re not so bad.”

“…”

“Is that really all you have to say?”

“Do I need to say anything else?”

“Oh, there’s plenty.”

Why had Gu-seul infiltrated the academy and been watching me all this time? When I suspected her goal was me, I realized there weren’t many possibilities. Up to this point, I’d encountered numerous Flowers, and considering Tae-yang’s words and Se-Young’s advice, the answer became clear.

“You must have a role to play. Why else would you enter the academy?”

“…”

“Either to kill me or to draw me into the Flowers.”

Everything between us had already been laid bare. Gu-seul’s words subtly revealed that I was King Mokryeong, and I was well aware that she was a Flower. The focus of our conversation shifted toward unraveling each other’s objectives.

Gu-seul let out an incredulous laugh.

“Well, you certainly know your stuff.”

She reached out and ran her hand along the wall.

*Kwajik!*

In that instant, magical energy surged around us. My eyes narrowed at the brief disturbance, and the lights overhead flickered incessantly.

Her technique was impressive. She had tampered with the surrounding machinery, making it difficult to pinpoint the cause of the malfunction.

“I’ve sabotaged the system. If we come under suspicion, it won’t just be me – you’ll be implicated as well.”

“You’re bold,” I remarked.

“If I were to reveal to others that I’m a Flower, you wouldn’t escape unscathed either. From the moment the system was compromised, you became a suspect as well.”

She intended to expose King Mokryeong’s existence, and it seemed as though she was determined to drag me into her self-destructive path, no matter what.

“King Mokryeong. To the World Tree, you are like a Flower. No, even more than that.”

Indeed.
If everything comes to light, the World Tree authorities might attempt to deal with me, along with Flower, in this Forest Keeper selection contest.
If such a judgment befalls me, neither Lee Se-Young nor anyone else can help.
A traitor. I will become a living calamity at that moment.

The abyss. That’s what lies beyond that word.
It means that all the accumulated honor and wealth will be shattered.
I am not unaware of that. It’s a fact I’ve known from the beginning.

“What does that mean?”

Facing Gu-seul, I remained calm.

“That’s why I’m asking.”

A smile appeared, instead.

“Will you take me away or kill me?”
“…”
“If you had planned to kill me from the beginning, wouldn’t you have informed me? Through broadcasts or articles, using every means at your disposal, you would have announced that I am King Mokryeong. Then, the World Tree would have killed me on its own.”

If my identity as King Mokryeong becomes known, I will surely meet my end at the hands of the World Tree. This holds truth, yet simultaneously, it does not. The Flower faction, who could have easily exposed me, chose not to, and reasons for this are manifold. One such reason is the value they see in me.

“The Flowers are, at least on the surface, the ones who inherited King Mokryeong’s legacy.”

Killing me would mean the disappearance of their very justification. Hence, they must tread even more cautiously.

“They didn’t even inform their lower-ranking members. Not even about the existence of King Mokryeong’s descendants.”

Should the truth of my being King Mokryeong reach the entirety of the Flower faction, those beneath them would undoubtedly be thrown into turmoil. Knowledge of this fact is likely limited to Gu-seul and a few high-ranking officials.

All of this is speculation, but it is also a certainty.

If I were in their position, I would have done the same. Observing the Flower faction’s movements thus far reveals the intent behind their actions.

“They must be contemplating whether to kill me or not.”

Gu-seul stuck out her tongue as if her mouth was dry, not realizing she’d come off so strong. She exhaled deeply, took a sip of tea, licked the corner of her mouth, and looked at her again.

What are you going to do? She asked her with a glance. Gu-seul’s eyes seemed to be locked in deep turmoil.

I uttered one last word.

“And it’s similar to the World Tree.”

The World Tree is also aware of my existence. However, just like the World Tree of Time, there’s a reason they don’t antagonize me recklessly.

Gu-seul’s threat is only half true.

“They’ll both use me. They’ll be eager to extract the marrow from my bones.”

My existence could be a fatal blow to each of them. Drawing them to my side is the best move, but if not, killing them is the answer. Yet, there’s no way to kill me in this place.

In short, this is what it means. So, what are you going to do? If you’re not careful, will you be drawn to the World Tree? Can you handle it?

If the World Trees had me, pushing the Flowers would be much easier. No matter how powerful King Mokryeong may be, who would refuse a tool with such a great purpose and usefulness?

“Do you think the World Trees rule the world with such rational thoughts?”
“If they didn’t have thoughts, they wouldn’t have remained gods until now.”
“They’d merely be whirligig beetles.”

Boiled like a hunting dog.

“That’s something to see then.”

Flower holds many grudges. It would still not be satisfying enough to eviscerate and hang them up immediately. I must maintain my rationality in this situation; if this were inside a dungeon, I might have already made my move.

Will I stand by Flower’s side? It’s unlikely, but if it happens, it would be when everyone’s safety and a certain level of power are ensured.

“Or, is there any guarantee I won’t be boiled if I join you?”
“…”

Gu-seul hesitated for a long while.

At that moment, a murmuring sound filled the air around her, and she sighed, turning her back.

“Sigh. We’ll have to have another conversation later.”

Gu-seul, who shot me a glare, loosened her tie around her neck.

“In my room?”
“No.”

I expected as much. I had thought about trying to win her over, but that seemed difficult. Among the Flowers, she had been carefully selected to deal with me, so her mental fortitude would be anything but ordinary.

A commotion caused by a system malfunction. We exchanged glances and parted ways at the meeting.

* * * * * *

Bananas are delicious.

– Crunch.

While scratching my belly, I took a large bite of the haphazardly peeled banana. This had become one of Tae-yang’s recent daily habits.

The food here is truly delightful. Recently, King Mokryeong’s sought-after talent was discovered, and now there’s little left for him to do. If I were to pinpoint the happiest moment in my entire life, I would undoubtedly say it’s now.

I am happier now than when I was surrounded by thirty beauties.

‘Damn.’

Of course, it’s a bitter irony that, after meeting Lee Si-heon, my sexual desire seems to have withered away.

“I wonder where my brother is right now. Maybe he’s captured someone else and is indulging himself.”

As I strolled down the corridor, I spotted someone in the distance. A familiar face with black hair. It was Gu-seul. Tae-yang whispered in her ear just as he came upon her.

“Why is Flower still here?”

At that, Gu-seul subtly turned her head. Tae-yang and Gu-seul locked eyes.

“Hehe. Your life is running short. Did you come here to brag about your fleeting existence?”
“Oh, can you see my lifeline? Where is it?”

Tossing his head back exaggeratedly, Tae-yang ran his hand through his hair and let out a sardonic laugh.

“It seems too short to even see. But seriously, haven’t you gone too far, teasing me about the lifeline?”
“Did I say something wrong?”
“Don’t you know that it’s the Fates that hurt the most?”
“It’s Fates, not Picts. Anyway, don’t pretend you know.”
“Ugh. I just happened to see you and thought I’d say hello.”

Tae-yang shrugged his shoulders and took another bite of his banana.
As they continued walking, Gu-seul, with her back turned, asked Tae-yang.

“Hey.”
“Huh.”
“What you said two years ago. Have you thought about it again?”

Two years ago.
It felt even longer than that.

The place where Tae-yang had been researching the power of King Mokryeong was secretly operated with the free support of the Flower organization. Naturally, Flower’s goal was the power that Tae-yang would eventually possess.

No one knew where King Mokryeong would appear or whose influence he would fall under. After Tae-yang acquired King Mokryeong’s power, he was to join Flower.

Long ago, a clandestine proposal had passed between them.

Tae-yang mumbled around the banana, lost in thought for a considerable time. What had been on his mind back then?

Perhaps he had absentmindedly replied like this:

“Continue on your path.”

Gu-seul, as if expecting such a response, shrugged her shoulders and walked down the corridor. Tae-yang chuckled and yawned.

“Where the fuck is my elder brother? He said we’d have dinner together.”

Tae-yang thought to himself that he’d need to eat a bit more for dinner that evening to satisfy his cravings.