Chapter 279 – Are You a Flower? (4)

Tae-yang of the slums.

8 years ago.
Even as time passes, there are moments from that long-gone era that cannot be forgotten.

Nitrogen and phosphorus. Potassium hydroxide. The damp and musty scent of wood ash and rice straw, mingling with the harsh chemical odors unique to the laboratory. Elderly individuals left behind in a status-driven society, gathering in a secluded building, devoted solely to their research, while disregarding the agonizing cries of the dying.

And the sordid days spent venturing outside, selling one’s body to earn money and sustenance with each drop of semen collected.

Even at a young age, Tae-yang inhabited a world where he had to constantly scheme and strategize just to obtain one more bowl of porridge to survive.

There are memories that still linger.
The damned knots of ancient trees that reeked of poverty!

“No, seriously, why would I sleep with those crazy women?”
“Then choose one. From among these.”

It was Tae-yang who had survived by masquerading as a beggar, thieving, and selling his body in countless ways. Even when he was enslaved for his crimes and sold to the research facility, the tasks he had to perform were not so different from before.

The eldest-looking director at the institute, who insisted on being called Tae-yang’s father, would show him photographs one by one, grinning repulsively as he gazed at them.

“How about men, then? You said you don’t like women? They said your face is as pretty as a woman’s, so you should be able to manage it.”

“Son of a biiiitch. Father, huh? Father! Is it right for a father to make his son do this kind of thing?”

“I’m not asking for anything else, am I? Just share one meal with me, and I’ll give you pocket money and let you eat fancy restaurant food you don’t normally get to enjoy.”

“It’s not just about the meal, you insane, senile old bastard!”

– Bang!

The outcome of each clash between Tae-yang and his adoptive father always resulted in Tae-yang’s escape. A mere half-day away from home was the most significant act of defiance he could muster.

– Grrrumble.

But where could a man without money or status go? There was usually only one place where they would end up, clutching their hungry bellies and dragging themselves along.

The sole place in the slums where money and food were abundant. A restaurant of dreams. It was a place that took in and raised children who couldn’t even hold a single coin in their hands.

Well… In short, it was a free soup kitchen run by Flower.

Even if one went there, all they could taste was oat porridge and bland food scraps, but even that was like a rare delicacy to Tae-yang.

*Thunk!*

As the door swung open with a bang, several familiar faces from the slums were revealed.

“Big brother?”
“It’s big brother!”

Mutt, Dust, and others. These were children who were called by makeshift names because they didn’t have any of their own. In the past, they used to starve and steal apples from one another in the slums, but now they had joined Flower and become employees at a young age.

Their situation was vastly different from that of Tae-yang, who had been enslaved.

“Are you here to eat?”
“Yes. I stopped by briefly before work.”
“Hehe. Wait a moment? I’ll bring it right away.”

Girls who didn’t smell of manure and had no dust on their faces.
They were two individuals who, due to their fortunate encounters with a good employer, took regular baths and earned a salary from their work.

Although Tae-yang’s situation was vastly different, as he was subjected to drug experiments, he didn’t feel particularly jealous. It wouldn’t be tasteful to resentfully envy the children he had once been close to for finding a comfortable place to live. Tae-yang had always pursued style since his youth.

“Now, here!”

The mutt – who would now be called Ariel.
Seeing the generous serving of oat porridge, Tae-yang’s face broke into a wide, childlike smile. His stomach was already grumbling in anticipation.

First, one bite. No, three bites.
Ariel grinned contentedly as Tae-yang hastily consumed his food.

After satisfying his hunger, a sudden curiosity arose in Tae-yang about the existence of this place.

“By the way, what is Flower doing that they provide food?”
“I don’t know either?”

Even when asked by Ariel, there was no response. Taeyang pondered a little more, tilted his head, and shrugged his shoulders. Whatever it was, this building represented a beacon of hope in the slums. Countless children had been saved here, and numerous beggars had recovered their daily lives. There were, quite literally, hundreds and thousands of children and beggars who would risk their lives and work for this building.

“So, um, uh… I don’t know! The people from Flower said that children are innocent and told them to eat to their heart’s content.”

For a child with no money or skills, they offered experience and a home. If someone had fallen once, they were given a chance to rise again. Even in a place like this, it was possible to survive with just a little skill.

At first, Ariel didn’t even know how to distinguish between salt and sugar, but now she had become a proficient cook and the head of a household of girls.

“If that happens, you can become an employee of Flower later! You’ll gain an identity. Kyaaak~ I’m so happy.”

Ariel laughed exuberantly.

“Then with my mom and my sibling…”

“Yes, yes. Living happily together in one house? You’ll have to work even harder then.”

“Right.”

Well.

Though he himself was a test subject and a prostitute.

Nonetheless, shouldn’t a man genuinely celebrate in front of his friend?
He remembered his late mother, who had starved to death, saying that.
Even if a man falls backward and breaks his nose, he should laugh heartily and move on.
Tae-yang clapped energetically and looked around.

– Thud.

A woman in the distance, moving a hard box of bread.
She seemed to be around the same age as him.
Judging by her fair skin, she didn’t appear to be from the slums, and her black suit suggested she might have come from a place called Flower.

Her calm, expressionless face was a distinctive feature.

Truly, eyes devoid of any emotion. When asked what they’re thinking, their faces almost seem to reply, “What?”

An emotionless straw doll.
That was Tae-yang’s first impression when he saw the woman.

‘Hold on…’

Is she… a Flower?

If she can act so pitifully well, perhaps I could become an employee here too.
The young Tae-yang’s resourceful scrap metal brain began spinning at high speeds.

‘That’s right, damn it!’

This is a chance for a major life upswing.

“Oh, brother? Where are you going?”
“Just wait a moment.”

Judging this opportunity as one he couldn’t afford to miss, Tae-yang left the already empty bowl of oat porridge and stealthily moved closer to the woman.

“Excuse me~”
“…?”
“Did you come from Flower?”

Why is this filthy little boy talking to me?
The woman on the other side looked at him with such an expression.

“What’s your name?”
“Gu-seul.”

There were no boundaries, and when asked, I responded with a dry and matter-of-fact tone.
Tae-yang laughed exaggeratedly with a wide “ah.”

“Do you happen to know why this building was built?”
“Here?”

A youthful face. Gently touching her lower lip with her fingers, she tilted her head slightly.
Her face was cuter than it appeared.
Tae-yang patiently waited for her to answer, and soon Gu-seul responded.

“To save innocent people… as a shelter. That’s what I’ve been told.”
“A shelter… Why would you all do that?”
“Well, I don’t know about that. But saving people isn’t a bad thing, right?”

If she said so… that must be the case.
It was a brutal back-alley world where altruistic acts never seemed to occur.
Tae-yang couldn’t understand their reasoning, but he thought that if it was a good thing, there was no problem.

“Because it’s the right thing to do.”
“…Still, I don’t think you’re doing it without any reason.”

Gu-seul pointed to Ariel, who was working with a determined expression. Sweat dripped down her face as she smiled, filling the hungry bellies of the children. Deeper in, there were people tending to the injured or sick children.

All of them had once been part of this wretched place long ago.

“I don’t know. I’ve been working without reason since I was born. So… I don’t know what the masters are thinking.”

“Master? It seems like you’re in the same situation as me. How old are you?”

“Twelve.”

“Wow, I’m a slave at twelve too. Strange, isn’t it? How about we have a drink of water and let off some steam?”

“…What?”

Gu-seul tilted her head, not understanding Tae-yang’s meaning. His face became stern.

‘It’s strange; adults always say something like this when I go to work.’

He wondered if their sense of choosing the right words was poor because they were old. Tae-yang gave up on trying to find the right words immediately. If he did well, he might be able to work here as a slave, but it wasn’t difficult to suck up and ingratiate himself.

That was Tae-yang’s specialty.

“It’s still a good thing.”
“…”

Gu-seul seemed to agree, nodding her head.
It was a good thing.
Even though she didn’t know where or what Flower was, she thought it was better to entrust herself to a place like this than to others.

In fact, Tae-yang was confident that if Flower called, he would immediately lie down and surrender like a dog.

“A long time ago, there were many stigmas, like being a town of criminals… But now, all those criminals are dead. They carelessly brought children into the world, leaving only innocent ones behind.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Honestly, helping them is… something to be thankful for. Our Ariel initially tried to kill me over just an apple. But look at him now. See how well he’s smiling.”

They were the by-products of war.
Tae-yang and the orphans of this place.

Once upon a time, there were those who had betrayed the World Tree. They had shown even the slightest amicability towards King Mokryeong. All of these individuals, hostile to the World Tree in one way or another, were abandoned here.

Such slums exist in more than a thousand locations across the world.

“I’m not sure if it’s out of good intentions or not, but it’s a good thing, I guess.”

Tae-yang smiled as he watched Ariel busily working. She was now ten years old. Once, she had suffered for days with a stomachache after eating rats, but now her complexion had greatly improved.

“…Nice.”

Gu-seul observed Ariel and, along with her, wore a faint smile. Tae-yang eagerly spoke up, excited by the glimpse of humanity behind Ariel’s mechanical expression.

“So, can’t you help me out too?”
“What?”
“Well, just today, my father told me to sell my body to a man. He kept complaining. You know?”

Gu-seul widened her eyes in surprise at Tae-yang’s sudden outburst. Naturally, his cunning plan wouldn’t work on her.

“I can’t do anything.”

“…Sigh.”

I thought he’d have strength just because he was an employee.
Can’t even poke me.

This evening, as I imagined myself being ensnared by the roots of an ancient tree, I suddenly felt my strength draining away.

“A dog’s life.”

But what can be done? I must live.
If the experiment is successful, there would be freedom someday, or perhaps even a better life, as my adoptive father has confidently claimed.

Tae-yang was merely waiting for that moment.

* * * * * * *

“That was the first day we met. Ariel, who I was talking about at the time, was a truly adorable girl, but she ended up dying… She was the one who sang that she wanted to marry me.”

Too much talker.

“Ah, Aori is the lover I met after that time. There are a few tales from when I first met her. I can’t listen to this without shedding tears. Truly. It’s in Chapter 7 of the Slum Sun. Well, Aori is…”

Taeyang, who was fervently recounting his story, was so engrossed in the past that even his eyes became moist. I understood all too well the hardship of his life. I knew he was a guy who had struggled in the slums.

Feeling bewildered, Guseul sat on a chair, listening to Taeyang’s lengthy tale. The diary of Taeyang in the slums, which had somehow begun, continued with one story leading to another, preventing Guseul and me from finding the right timing to get to the main point.

“Is it true?”
“Yes. Well.”

Guseul replied.

I recalled the young Guseul and Taeyang who had worked at the shelter. I understood.

I looked at Taeyang once more.

“But you and her have been together for such a long time. How could you not mention anything to me?”
“…You didn’t ask me to tell you.”
“You know how much I detest the Flower, right?”
“I know.”

“But why didn’t you tell me? There’s a Flower for a year at El Academy.”

Tae-yang, unable to speak, raised his fist and struck his own head.

“Heh?”

He tried to pass it off as a joke again. I gave an order to Aori, the maid standing next to me.

“Aori.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Step on him.”

I was discussing something important, and he tried to change the subject. Still, I had a good idea of how these people met and lived together. It’s also worth paying close attention to the fact that Flower had been doing relief work in that manner.

However, that’s one thing, and this is another.

Aori, who finally pulled Tae-yang off the sofa, excitedly stepped on him. It was almost like a dance performance. She struck his head, stomach, and vital points while dancing. He seemed to be living only for today, daring to die just once. Watching made my own body feel like it would shrink.

“Argh, ouch! Ugh, ouch! Bro, damn it, she hit the bone, this crazy woman! Ouch!”

– Thwack, ting-a-ling.

The button, sprung from the clothing, rolled futilely across the floor.
Leaving behind Tae-yang’s sorrowful sound, I refocused my gaze ahead.
The tea had long since gone cold; with a sigh, I asked her.

To what point in our conversation had we reached?

“We haven’t even started yet.”

Gu-seul shrugged her shoulders in bitter disappointment.