Chapter 309 – Dogs and Cats (4)

It was a perplexing statement. So unexpected that upon hearing it, I doubted my own ears.

“Treatment. You don’t have to do it anymore.”

Sansuyu carries the blood of the Cornus family within her veins.

‘Eternal immortality.’ The family’s aspirations weigh more than her own life.
Even Sansuyu herself believes so.

“What do you mean? Why? Suddenly?”

Her golden eyes trembled faintly before me.
Sansuyu seemed to have contemplated my words for a long time. She slowly conveyed her thoughts.

“Si-eon seems burdened. It’s our family’s affair… You shouldn’t get too deeply involved.”
“Is it because of what you said last time?”

Not long ago, we had a chance to talk alone in the bedroom.
Why are you helping me so much? I answered honestly. I am indebted to Sansuyu, and I owe her a favor.

You seemed deeply troubled back then; did my words serve as a catalyst?

Sansuyu immediately refuted this.

“No, I’ve been contemplating this for a long time.”

Then why do that?

I managed to suppress the words that were about to burst forth. I needed to control my temper. I took a seat right next to her, realizing that a forceful attitude was not appropriate.

“I don’t think I’m saying this because I’m unaware of your physical condition… Can I hear your story?”

The library, with just the two of us, grew cold and tense.

“Si-eon said he likes me,” Sansuyu cautiously inquired. It appeared as if she was questioning the truthfulness of my earlier response, so I immediately nodded in affirmation. Her gaze shifted to another book. From where I sat, the title of the book was difficult to discern, as the letters were faint.

“This is the first time I’ve heard this. I didn’t quite grasp the meaning, but I think I have a general idea now. Perhaps I, too, consider Si-eon to be special… It seems that way.”

It was the first time that Sansuyu, who struggled with self-expression, had conveyed her opinion to such an extent.

“Affection? Love… I’m not sure. But still, among the people I know, you’re the most…”

Although her words were somewhat disjointed, the meaning came through. Having lost touch with her emotions, it was difficult for her to even feel a fondness for someone. The fact that she appreciated me enough to express it verbally was incredibly touching.

“So, if I get more deeply involved… I think I might… hurt you a lot.”

“What?”

It was an innocent question, asking why that would be the case. However, perhaps due to her awkward manner of speaking, she couldn’t accept my response graciously and was left speechless. Sansuyu, feeling disheartened, lowered her head.

“I’m only saying this to you, Si-eon… Our family isn’t seen as a good one in the eyes of others. We may even betray the World Tree.”

She was the one who thought she knew nothing.

The hidden disgrace of the Cornus family within a magnificent secret garden. It was a truth I had been grappling with alone, without confiding in her.

Had I underestimated her intelligence all this time?

“If I falter, Si Eon too…”

I closed my mouth and gazed at Sansuyu.
She hesitated, struggling to find the right words to say. She stammered for so long that she nearly ran out of breath.

At long last, she spoke her final words to me.

“Si Eon has many days left to live.”

It sounded as though she had a parting in mind.

She refused to be healed. In other words, she rejected the only help I could offer her.
It implied that she no longer desired my assistance.

Even though I am always willing to help Sansuyu, I cannot control her as I please.
If she were to cry out that she would die for the Cornus family, I might be powerless to stop her.

And now she told me,
She would try to figure it out on her own. This was the conclusion reached after much deliberation.

Honestly, I couldn’t accept it.

“I’m a burden.”
“When did I ask you to think that way?”

Cornus swallowed her breath. Her pupils narrowed.

“It’s okay, really.”
“No, it’s just my ability, Cornus. Merely healing. That’s all it is, and with that alone, you can live a little longer. What do you think will happen to me because of that?”
“…but.”

What’s the problem with a friend helping another friend? This much is nothing.

The Cornus family is trivial. From now on, the adversaries I’ll face are the Five Great World Trees and all the Flowers.
I had weighed the situation thoroughly.

Cornus’ thoughts seemed organized, but she couldn’t articulate them in words.
That’s why I couldn’t push her further.
At least I thought I understood her reasoning for saying this to me.

Perhaps Sung Ji-ho was aware of that as well. All he asked was for me to be a good friend. It was a heartfelt plea he left behind.

“I still don’t know why Si-eon is helping me so much. What do they want?”
“Cornus.”
“…I’m sorry.”

What I desire from Sansuyu.
With my hand over my heart, I can declare that there is nothing.

All I truly wanted was to cherish the relationships with those around me.

You may have felt puzzled by that.
Unable to comprehend, it’s inevitable for you to feel a sense of disconnection from me.
I don’t intend to beg for your understanding. This is an emotion that’s difficult to articulate.

I set foot in this world, knowing nothing.
I’ve tasted someone’s groundless criticisms, suffered due to ill-timed choices, and even wrestled with my own identity.

King Mokryeong’s duty to conquer the trees, along with his traits. But is it truly a blessing for me?

Someone might have loved the pleasure they derived from me.
There will likely be more people approaching me to obtain something that falls away from me, or to exploit me.
This will only intensify in the future.

Now, I can no longer perceive upcoming relationships as innocent.
Perhaps what lies within them is akin to a bomb, and I might be inclined to push them away.
Or maybe I could employ their vile abilities to forcibly make them join my side.
I can’t trust it, nor can I discern whether it’s right.
It’s evident in my unhealthy suspicion of the wise—still doubting Tae-yang and Aori’s words on either side.

Since my journey to the past, these symptoms have grown severe.

As a result, my obsession has only intensified.

“Cornus.”

And so… that’s…

“…”

I struggle to find the right words.
Even if I deceive others, I want to be honest with them—at least with Tae-yang and Aori.
That’s how much I desired to preserve our relationship.

I thought I had procrastinated enough. I managed to part my stiff, unyielding lips.

“Shouldn’t I live?”

I raised my head and gazed at Sansuyu.
In that instant, her face became etched with pain.
Seeing my own unfamiliar expression, my features crumpled.
It was truly the first time her emotions had been so clearly displayed on her face.

It was different from before, when I could only predict her feelings through subtle changes in her voice or expression.
These were unmistakably Sansuyu’s emotions.

“…I’m, I’m sorry… I apologize. But… I truly… thought of you.”

Why apologize again?

“How about receiving healing, at least during the preliminaries?”

I put forth the next best option. The amount of time I could extend Sansuyu’s life. Those few days. Several hours. Perhaps even a few minutes – a miracle could occur for her within that time.
She might have succeeded in her experiment and survived by a mere matter of seconds.

I didn’t want to let go of that possibility.

“It’s okay.”

The final response arrives.

“Suyu.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Do you remember what I told you before?”

A look of uncertainty crosses Sansuyu’s face. I can’t get used to her expression as she gazes at me with a hint of pity.

What I said was:
To the people I cherish, there is a phrase I can assert, one that will never change.
I am on your side.

“…No.”

Yet for some reason, the words won’t come to me now.
It feels awkward to say, and it seems far too detached for the present atmosphere.

Sansuyu is timid and speaks little. She does express some thoughts, but since she doesn’t experience emotions, it’s often difficult to discern what she is thinking.
I believed I had come to know her well enough, having spent a considerable amount of time together.
However, no one truly understood Sansuyu.
That included me. Her secretary, Sung Ji-ho, was no different. And her father, even less so.

What kind of person was the mother who still lingered in Sansuyu’s memory? Could she have known Sansuyu’s thoughts?

I think this is too sudden, but now that I think about it, it seems like it was bound to happen eventually.

Perhaps, it appeared that it might take quite some time for the relationship with Sansuyu to be restored.

* * * * * * *

“Doesn’t it feel like it’s been a long time since we’ve all gathered together?”

At the words of the sage, each of us seated at the round table turned our gaze toward him.

As the awkward atmosphere extended, the sage tilted his head in embarrassment.

“It feels somewhat different from the first time. Have any of you had a disagreement?”

At that, Sansuyu and I momentarily flushed and swallowed. Since that day, Maroni had also grown somewhat colder. Had the long-awaited subordination finally been released?

Perhaps now is not the best time for such thoughts, as it may be too selfish.
Nonetheless, my mind screamed out.

Why now, of all times!

“Marronnier?”
“Ah, well, that’s… Hehe.”

At the sage’s inquiry, Marronnier glanced between us, placed a hand on their chest, and held their tongue. Marronnier knew that we hadn’t spoken a word while eating. Ordinarily, Sansuyu is so affectionate in displaying friendship that she clings to others. Contrarily, during today’s lunch, Blanche must have realized that our relationship had grown distant.

“Today, I intended to assign the final task of the third trial. However, it seems there will be a slight delay. Regardless, I must relay the message.”

As the sage spoke, they gently stroked Sephirot, who was seated on their lap.

“…Soon, there will likely be an assault on the Cradle.”

The Cradle of Trees: the location where the Forest Keeper Selection takes place. There, innumerable noble trees, truly aristocratic in nature, live and breathe.

In a time reminiscent of the Middle Ages, it was as if an attack unfolded during a grand ball attended by kings, archdukes, and counts.

Sansuyu, Marronnier, and I maintained our silence. To some extent, we already knew the situation from the sage’s personal explanation.

“With the presence of an attack, any trials would be, in truth, meaningless. It wouldn’t be unreasonable to consider this a personal request.”

“A personal request from the sage?”

Marronnier inquired, responding to the sage’s words. She gently nodded and raised her finger.

“If you would listen, I shall provide a suitable reward in the name of the sage.”

The fact that the sage himself contemplated compensation suggested the dangerous nature of the task. Breaking the silence, I spoke up.

“Are you asking us to prevent the attack? As difficult as that may be. Do you know the extent of the Flower’s assault?”

“…Well.”

With a faint expression, the sage shrugged his shoulders.

“But not all the executives will take action. This is merely for show.”

A declaration of war. It’s highly likely that was the intention.

“If they were determined and invaded, they could inflict significant damage on the cradle, but it’s too great a gamble.”

A conclusion that could only be drawn by a sage well-versed in the strengths and weaknesses of both sides.

“Most likely, the traitorous hunter planted by the Flower faction, the National Tree, and a handful of Flower sub-executives. I believe they will be the ones taking the initiative.”

The words flowed smoothly, one after another. Confidence radiated from the speaker, certain in their analysis. If it hadn’t been the sage, one might have thought it arrogance.

“If the situation isn’t assessed promptly, there will be a severe shortage of manpower. I’ll inform you of the tasks that must be carried out cautiously.”

“…Do you have any plans to notify the Church or the Hunter Association?”

“If I were to do that, I would be crossing a contractual line.”

Is this the limit?

I didn’t speak of it any further.
I already knew what she desired.

The sage retrieved a large bottle of wine from within his embrace and set it down.

“It seems the bond between the three of us… has grown somewhat distant. Today, I shall provide a few bottles of wine as a special treat. We are on the brink of a momentous occasion, so would a single drink not be acceptable?”

A grin.
What is the meaning behind this smile he casts my way?

Marronnier stole a glance at me. Sansuyu, too, gazed at Marronnier and me with a faintly concerned expression.
I accepted the wine bottle.

“All three of us?”
“Oh dear, I’m a lightweight when it comes to alcohol. Just one drink might cause me to be a nuisance.”

I must admit, I’m curious to see that. Understood.
I was eager to do something, anything, to alleviate this tension in the air.