Chapter 313 – The Collapse of the Cradle (1)

There was a gaping hole in my chest.

The emptiness that seemed like it would never be filled in my lifetime would likely fade away in the not-too-distant future. After casting it aside, I’ll wonder why I had ever felt that way, comforting myself, feeling a slight longing, and teasing myself.

When I opened my eyes, that person was not there. Upon getting up and touching my chest again, I could sense the emotions that had slipped away.

I don’t like him anymore, the man who forcefully violated me. I softly narrowed my eyes at the image of his rugged yet handsome face that crossed my mind.

For some reason, I didn’t hate Lee Si-heon as much as I had expected. Even if it wasn’t complete control, to some extent, it seemed that I had viewed that man’s personality in a positive light. I could now look at myself objectively, understanding just how foolish the emotions I had harbored and the love I had whispered at that time were.

Lee Si-heon was right.

My stubbornness to sing of love had waned, and upon my return, my emotions had cooled.
Now, I am grateful to that man.
For he is the one who amended my future, which could have been brainwashed and led astray.

Still, adapting to the emptiness within was challenging.

At that moment, I was truly elated, as if I owned the entire world.
For I had seldom experienced happiness. This current emotion, perhaps, stems more from the sense of loss for letting go of happiness rather than yearning for love.

‘Where is Lee Si-heon?’

In the kitchen, seven empty wine bottles rolled about on the table.
He must have had many concerns, as the amount of alcohol he consumed alone was not insignificant.

I grasped his empty wine glass, feeling the smooth surface of the glass on my fingertips.
For some reason, a sense of emptiness and unfamiliarity washed over me.
Eventually, I let go of the glass.

“It’s over.”

It is an emotion that will never return in this lifetime.

Her head felt as clear as the lifting fog, but her emotions were more tangled than ever. It was as if she were a round stone lying on a deserted road on the longest of nights, shivering, fearing the moment of being struck by a passing car beneath the dim sky and chilly air. The corners of her mouth drooped, weighed down by the enveloping loneliness that pervaded her being.

The emotions she had originally felt now resurfaced, causing her unbearable pain. Yet, she knew this was the truth, and she was determined to accept it, no matter how much it hurt.

‘All I need to do is carry on as usual,’ she reassured herself.

She tapped her chest once, inhaling deeply to regain her composure.

“Whew. Ah!” she exhaled.

A sense of relief washed over her, alleviating some of the heaviness within. She rubbed her slightly reddened eyes and clenched her fists with resolve.

“There’s so much to do.”

She had once been the national symbol of France.

With fluid motions, she tidied the cluttered kitchen, and upon stepping out into the main room, she found the sage and Si-heon sitting there, though she knew not when they had arrived.

A table stained as though black tea had been spilled upon it.
The two of them silently sipped their tea.

“Good morning, everyone.”

They greeted casually, as the atmosphere couldn’t afford to be dampened due to last night’s events. Especially in the presence of the sage who had prepared an unattainable wine.

“Welcome, Marronnier. Did you have a good night?”

However, for some reason, the sage’s face was redder than usual.

* * * * * * * * *

After that morning, the sage maintained a poker face.
He thoroughly concealed the naive demeanor he occasionally displayed. From his stride to the movements of his hands, each action exuded elegance.

Marronnier arose, followed by Cornus, who joined them.
Though they occasionally grimaced at one another due to their hangovers, it didn’t lead to the awkward atmosphere experienced the previous day.

“…Shall we begin our discussion?”

The sage continued in a poised voice, devoid of any familiarity.

In a dry tone, she predicted the location and time where the Flower would appear. Among all that, she informed us of our tasks.

“In short, the initial suppression and notifying the association and the order will be the end.”

“Again, haven’t you considered a means of directly informing the Hunter Association? We might be able to notify them.”

“I will refrain from discussing that matter.”

The sage decisively answered my question.

If it was the Hunter Association, they could be informed through the stars. Reading my gaze, the sage raised a finger as if to add one more thing.

“To elaborate, there is no benefit in letting information leak to the association or the order. They have already infiltrated as much as possible.”

“Then, what about Marronnier requesting help from the state?”

“It’s the same here as well.”

Marronnier hesitated before responding to my words.

“…It’s because I haven’t mentioned it. Those deeply concerned with human rights have had contact with groups related to Flower at least once.”

In Europe, Flower’s influence seemed to be quite significant.

“Korea will be different. Even if only a little evidence related to Flower is discovered, it would be a crime nearly punishable by death. Other countries aren’t like that. Their social norms have been twisted for a long time.”

I turned my head and looked at the wise woman.
She nodded. It seemed to be true.

“Sword Saint. Thanks to his efforts, there are very few instances of Flower in Korea. However, because of the hostility, terrorism occurs just as frequently.”

Sword Saint.
Hearing his name again, it now seemed rather impressive.
Pure admiration, regardless of personal preferences.

Mugung’s accomplishments are beyond description.
A man who vanquished Heavenly Demon, a global crisis, and took control of Korea’s leadership and the Hunter Association.

He is one of the most crucial figures in modern world history, having brought prosperity to the Republic of Korea as a major nation. His power is also overwhelming.

He has ruled the Republic of Korea for nearly a century, a country that lay in ruins following the war. Both its economic indicators and political standing can be attributed solely to him. When someone is hailed as a great individual, the first name that comes to mind is Mugung. He is an idol for young children and embodies living history.

“The situation in other countries isn’t as favorable. They may appear hostile towards the Flowers on the surface… but in reality, they aren’t.”

When comparing the numbers of humans and wooden people, humans are undeniably the majority. The difference in their populations is several dozen times greater. In a society where the awareness of freedom has somewhat spread, a divided status only incites resentment. It wouldn’t be surprising if there are social issues that have escaped my notice.

And those grievances will never truly cease. Flower was a monstrous entity born within that rift.

“Some politicians are already aware of the changes in the world. There are many places that support the Flower. It’s different from Asia. Europe is… in Canna’s grasp.”

Executives are spread all over the world. The Flower’s perception varies widely depending on the actions of these executives. Asia is extremely hostile, due to the actions of Sistus. The Middle East can be considered the stronghold of the Flower. Europe has also been significantly influenced.

Canna, the saint of the Flower, is said to have such a far-reaching impact.

Cunningly, it doesn’t stop with the group called ‘Flower’. In many cases, they change their name and masquerade as simple human rights organizations. Dozens of large corporations have been established in this manner.

“The church is also involved, but it’s difficult. The wounds of the past run too deep.”
“Siheon, you still don’t know much about the world’s past, do you?”
“Ah, yes.”

Sansuyu and I listened intently to the sage’s tale. She had recently educated me in various ways, but it still wasn’t enough.

Still, to some extent, I have gleaned knowledge by listening and learning from those nearby.

“The reason the current sect cannot wield its power—you’re aware of it, right?”
“To bridge the divide between humans and the woodfolk. I know that it was a mistake to have recruited a large number of human-born individuals into the sect.”

A psychological battle unfolds between humans and the woodfolk.
The World Tree faction was not oblivious to this.

Various policies and doctrines were established to somehow overcome discrimination and differences.
Competent humans were employed in key positions within the sect.

The sage nodded with satisfaction and flashed a subtle smile.

“That’s right. It was too abrupt, and there were many side effects. Since discrimination doesn’t vanish overnight, the resistance only grew stronger. As Flower gained power, more individuals within the sect sought to approach Flower.”

King Mokryeong was the fatal blow.

What she had just mentioned were the actions taken by the weakened sect to avoid repeating King Mokryeong’s past.

The first button has come undone. Collapse is all that remains.

Somehow, the power of the World Tree had been maintained, but there was no telling how long this would last.

“It’s safe to say that the Flower is already the prevailing force. We are nothing more than a dilapidated building facing a tsunami.”

The sage’s words were disheartening.
Marronnier lowered her head in melancholy.
Sansuyu, observing the two of us, followed suit in a similar manner.

“A tumultuous era in history. Marronnier, you must know well, being a family born in the midst of revolution.”
“…Yes.”

Who would become good and who would become evil?
The decision would likely be made within a decade.

I gathered my thoughts. There was much to be learned.
The belief that the authority of the World Tree tightly grasped everything was largely influenced by my time spent with the living cadets of the Republic of Korea, where the Sword Castle still stood.
They were all hostile towards the Flower, and so was what I had observed and experienced.
Only Cheon Do provided a rational assessment of the Flower.

The places where I had been active were always where the World Tree held sway. The unusually high exposure to the disaster concerning the Flower could have been due to my being King Mokryeong, but it was also because it was one of the primary locations and major countries of the Church of the World Tree.

That being the case, the orphan zone she had shown me made sense. It seemed she wanted to reveal the aspects I had overlooked.

“At that level, isn’t it impossible for the three of us to suppress it in the first place?” I finally voiced my long-held thoughts.

It was true that Marronnier, Sansuyu, and I were among the elite figures within the ranks of the national trees. There was nothing lacking when compared to Class A or even surpassing Class S hunters.

The issue at hand was what could only the three of us possibly achieve in a raid like this.

“Indeed. In reality, we can’t prevent the words from coming out. Even if we know about it and prepare in advance.” She conceded.
“Then what?”

“The number of casualties can be reduced if I entrust it to you. Even if it becomes known that the attack of Flower will begin soon, the Hunter Association and the Church of the World Tree do not pay much attention to the lives of civilians.”

The situation was truly urgent. The Church of the World Tree’s disregard for civilian lives was undoubtedly a contributing factor.

The ‘Young Tree’ and the ‘World Tree’ in the cradle. Compared to their lives, the trainees were no more than mere gum wrappers.

“I will make an effort to return the trainees. But it will only be a simple task.”
“…Are we supposed to help with that?”

The sage nodded.

“When disaster strikes, that’s all I can do. Evading the flood damage and transporting them to their respective safe havens using spatial magic. Even for me, it is difficult to move hundreds of people simultaneously. Time is required.”

While the Church of the World Tree and the Association are lending assistance, it is not sufficient on its own.

They will immediately focus on Flower’s suppression. Act for the relief.

And in the end, buy time.
Such was the final trial left by the sage.

“From today, we must prepare slowly. Don’t you think so, Siheon?”

The sage’s face, free from this morning’s emotions.
It was quite different from anyone I knew.

I nodded with a flustered expression.

‘But no matter how much I think about it, it seems difficult for us to handle.’

Especially if the goal is to minimize the damage to the students.

Before long, the answer came.

I needed someone to help me.