Chapter 827 |
BOOM–!
An explosion went off overhead.
Sparks rained down in a crackling shower, but not a single scorch mark appeared on the vivid green lawn. They sank into the ground and vanished, as if they had been real raindrops.
“You’d make a killing in landscaping. Maybe they didn’t get rid of the bugs on purpose. Maybe nothing here would give when they tried to bite into it, so every last one of them starved to death. Poor things.”
A bug–free garden, guaranteed. Wouldn’t orders come flooding in from all over the world? But after spending a month or two in this silence, people would start feeling a kind of instinctive revulsion. Just like I was now. And it wasn’t as if I liked bugs, either. This still wasn’t right.
“Bugs are fine as long as they don’t come inside. Mosquitoes are annoying even outdoors, though. This time, low.”
I took out another bomb and threw it low, like I was skipping a stone. A current of electricity chased after the bomb’s trajectory. A moment later it caught up.
BOOM!
It burst in front of the shrub hedge. Unlike when it had exploded in midair, this time there was a harsh crackle as the smaller branches snapped. A deep gouge was torn through the lawn, too. Soil and leaves scattered together through the air for a moment.
As if no bomb had ever gone off, both the hedge and the lawn returned to their spotless original state.
– I can do that to some extent too, you know. But my area is based on dreams from reality, so it’s way easier. Unlike the garden.
Park Hayul swayed on top of my head as he spoke. When I’d tried to yank up the new Park Hayul–flower species, he’d popped out of the ground on his own and transformed his roots into a headband. Then he’d looked at me with desperate eyes, practically begging me to wear him.
Honestly, I’d wanted to kick him away. But right now, he was useful… I’d tried persuading him that Seong Hyunjae’s head was higher and safer, and that Chirp liked him too, but it hadn’t worked.
– The Gardener is a transcendently, really, really old Transcendent. They say he’s about as old as someone called Chaos.
“At that age, and he’s out here kidnapping kids. What an admirable use of his time. Did he transcend common sense along with time? His behavior hasn’t managed to rise above back–alley thug level. I don’t want to insult an entire species, but wow, he’s really living up to the bug image. Really is.”
Not good, innocent bugs. I meant “bug” in the insulting sense people usually used it.
People said you changed as you got older, but in reality, there were plenty of people who never acted their age. If the mere passage of time made all humans mature, wouldn’t aging societies be overflowing with sages by now? Though there were decent elders like Chaos, of course.
I threw another small bomb high into the air. Seong Hyunjae’s lightning immediately struck it, creating an explosion bright enough to be clearly visible even in broad daylight. It should have been visible from quite a distance, enough for people to notice and come looking.
While sending up signals, we headed in the direction Park Hayul pointed out. The path was wide and beautifully laid out; it would have been nice to have something to ride. Unfortunately, most of the supplies I’d painstakingly stocked up had almost run dry.
“That bicycle came in really handy. I was pissed when I got it, though.”
“This time, I’ll give you one with a comfortable back seat.”
“A luggage rack is more than enough. In the first place, you shouldn’t be thinking about riding on it. Consider your size, please. You ought to be the one giving rides, not getting one.”
“At the time, I’m quite certain you said to me, Han Yujin–gun, ya–.”
“No, I just wanted to try saying that!”
– What? What was it? Hyung, you gave the Sesung Guild Leader a ride on the back of your bike? Is that even possible? I feel like Yerim would barely fit!
That little bastard Hayul tapped my forehead with a leaf.
– But hyung, I’ve been thinking really hard about whether I’m allowed to ask this or not.
“What is it? No, don’t ask!”
– Hyung, your three kids. They look like you, your younger brother, and the Sesung Guild Leader, right? But the newbie said you made all three of them! Is that true? I didn’t have time to ask for details, but at this point, I can sort of accept that you’d be able to make little kids somehow.
“Then just accept it and move on! Originally, it was the power of a Transcendent bastard named Diarma, but anyway, one thing led to another, and that’s how it happened. In any case, all three of them are my children, and they have nothing to do with Yuhyun or Seong Hyunjae–ssi.”
Seong Hyunjae was one thing, but my little brother’s marriage prospects…
Well, it wasn’t as if he was ever getting married anyway, but still. For one thing, when you thought about his age, it was impossible for Yuhyun to have a kid Seol’s age. We planned on presenting all three of them as around kindergarten age, so people would probably just think of them as nieces and nephews who looked like their uncle.
“Nothing to do with us? I’m quite sure–.”
“Enough. Since even Sigma is supposedly coming to our world, people will just assume your family genes are exceptionally strong. A copy–and–paste bloodline.”
Which meant Gyeol being called Seong Hyunjae’s relative would sound plausible… Sigma wasn’t going to end up under suspicion, was he?
– Yujin–hyung! I thought about it, and if someone who looks like the Sesung Guild Leader shows up with the Breaker Guild Leader and they live together, then people might say your oldest is actually the child of those two–!
“Park Hayul, don’t think. Just act like a proper flower and sit there smiling.”
– I can’t, hyung. I have to think a lot right now. The newbie told me a bunch of things, but I can’t remember all of it.
“What? It hasn’t even been that long, and you already can’t remember? Has the inside of your head turned into a flower too?”
– Yes~ My head is a flower right now. Isn’t it pretty? He talked really fast because there wasn’t any time. Hyung, what kind of flower do you like? I can change.
“Han Yujin–gun, restrain yourself. He is necessary, after all.”
Seong Hyunjae stopped me from ripping the flower–head off and flinging him away. Right. The bastard was useful. He was use…
“And he suits you quite well.”
– Right? For once, I agree with the Sesung Guild Leader~!
“You little–!”
I barely swallowed the curse that almost burst out on reflex. I’d gotten used to Seong Hyunjae at this point, but with Hayul babbling away on top of my head, I felt like I was losing my mind. Thanks to that, I was thinking less depressing thoughts, though.
– Ah, this feeling! Yerim!
Park Hayul fluttered his leaves, saying Yerim wasn’t far away. I quickly looked back at Seong Hyunjae.
“Everyone except me, Seong Hyunjae–ssi, and Chief Song gets sent back. Understood?”
“I don’t think it’s a wise choice.”
“I can’t let anyone else risk their lives for my business.”
“That, too, is their choice. Just as it is yours, Han Yujin–gun.”
Those golden eyes looked at me as if to say, don’t you know the pain of being forcibly excluded?
For a moment, I wavered. But even so, I couldn’t just openly tell them it was dangerous, tell them to go back, and expect them to leave quietly. Yerim would definitely try to stay.
“…I’ll tell Noah–ssi and Liette if I get the chance. I think those two will go back without much fuss. If I convince them that they can meet Hyunah–ssi and come back through a dream, they’ll listen.”
– I told you, even if they come in, they won’t be able to use their strength in the garden, hyung. The garden isn’t a dream world.
“You just have to protect even a little of your own territory. Noah–ssi, especially, can provide long–range support, so he’ll definitely be useful. But Yerim absolutely won’t want to leave. She’s affectionate, and stubborn as hell.”
“The young lady also never backs down once she has made up her mind.”
“…Yes. That’s our Yerim. Her standards are already so firm. But I have to protect her. It’s embarrassing to say that after all this time, but I can’t keep putting it off forever.”
Yerim was one of the things I carried a great deal of guilt over. I didn’t regret Awakening her. But I often wondered if I shouldn’t have pulled her into the Transcendents’ competition, into Chatterbox’s party. We would have had a hard time making it this far without Yerim, but even so.
“Most of all, Liette.”
“You became more aware of the danger after witnessing Hunter Liette’s death.”
“Yes. Until then, I think I’d unconsciously settled into the idea that even if it was dangerous, everyone was S class. Even I, an F–rank, had somehow survived… I got complacent. That’s why I think, if there’s any chance to send them back, I have to take it.”
Seong Hyunjae gave a small nod.
Not long after, a familiar voice rang out.
“Mister!”
High in the sky, Yerim waved both arms wide. She dropped down in front of me like she was falling, then struggled hard to hold back laughter.
“You can laugh. It’s fine.”
“But, pffft, still.”
– Hi, Yerim!
On top of my head, the Park Hayul–flower danced. Yerim could no longer endure it and crouched down on the ground. Her shoulders and back shook wildly. Finally, after laughing out loud, Yerim let out a deep sigh.
“It suits you so much, Mister. But, um.”
“I already met this damned flower, got mad, got annoyed, and went through all that.”
Even after crying so much and suffering so much. So what if she laughed? People cried, then laughed. That was normal.
I briefly explained the situation to Yerim. Park Hayul fluttered his leaves toward a new direction.
– I think everyone saw the explosions. They’re all coming this way.
“So first we need to go to Hayul–oppa’s area, right?”
“Yeah. Me, Seong Hyunjae–ssi, and Chief Song are going to look around the garden a little more. You, Peace, Noah–ssi, and Liette should leave the garden and try to contact Hyunah–ssi. Check on the Mermaid Queen’s sea too, and restock supplies. We’re almost out of bombs.”
“Okay. Oh, Sesung Mister, don’t you have some kind of flight skill? I thought you had a ton of skills.”
Seong Hyunjae ostentatiously spread his wings. Yerim clapped.
“If things get bad, grab Mister and Song Mister and run!”
“Leave it to me.”
Yerim didn’t doubt him in the slightest.
The thought suddenly occurred to me that maybe I should tell her the truth. But there wasn’t time to persuade her calmly. We had to send them back before the garden grew any larger.
“Yujin–ssi!”
Soon, Noah–ssi and Liette joined us as well. It seemed Liette had gone straight to find Noah. She smiled and said my hair ornament was pretty.
– Kkiang!
Peace also bounded out through the grass. But Chief Song was nowhere to be seen. Park Hayul swayed from side to side, then spoke.
– Government–worker Mister isn’t moving at all, though? Oh right, the newbie said the Eclipse is deeply connected to the Gardener, so it could be dangerous.
“That’s the kind of thing you need to say sooner! Try to remember the details!”
– Ngghh, ah! The Gardener was influencing him even before, right? Now he’s come down directly. I think the newbie said he might not be completely subordinated, but inside the garden, it would be hard for him to move…
That made sense. Back then, the Gardener had managed to bind Chief Song just by controlling the butterflies, so now it would be even worse.
“Then should we save Song Mister first?”
Yerim asked anxiously. Mm.
“Hayul, where did you say Chief Song was?”
– Over there.
“Yerim, can you go up as high as possible and take a look?”
“Okay!”
Yerim rose into the sky. Noah–ssi tilted his head slightly and said to me,
“A flying–type dragon has better eyesight. I could also–.”
“No, Noah–ssi. Liette, you too.”
I quickly told the two of them about the current situation. Including the parts I hadn’t told Yerim.
“So please take Yerim and go back first. Meet up with Hyunah–ssi.”
“Yes. But Hunter Park Yerim will definitely be angry.”
“…She probably will. I do think that if I explain properly, Yerim will listen to me.”
“Not immediately. Since we don’t have enough time, there’s no helping it. I agree that children should be protected, even if they are Awakened.”
Noah–ssi said that with a sidelong glance at Liette. Liette asked, “Why?” Then, as if belatedly realizing what he meant, she tilted her head and said, “Is that so?”
“Apologize to Hunter Park Yerim later.”
“I will.”
“After you meet her again safely.”
“…Yes.”
“Be careful, Yujin–ssi.”
Noah–ssi’s appearance hadn’t changed except for his hair, but the gentle look in his eyes had grown far more mature. Meeting his gaze, I felt reassured that Yerim would make it back safely.
“I can’t see anything!”
Yerim said as she came back down.
“It’s kind of blurry, like I can’t recognize things properly.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Just in case, I checked in the direction Han Yuhyun is supposed to be too, but that looked foggy as well.”
“Then, Yerim, go outside the garden first.”
“Without saving Song Mister?”
“Seong Hyunjae–ssi and I will go. It could be one of the Gardener’s traps, so it’s dangerous for everyone to rush in together.”
Yerim hesitated, then nodded.
“Okay. Be careful.”
“Yeah. Peace, you go with Yerim too.”
– Grrrmm.
Peace drooped his tail and butted his head against my leg, clearly dissatisfied. Carefully, so I wouldn’t fall over. I stroked Peace at length and coaxed him.
“Dad will go find Yuhyun and Chief Song and come back, so take good care of Yerim for me.”
– Krhung.
“At times like this, I feel like I’m the youngest. I’ve lived over ten years longer than Peace, you know.”
There was a playful grumble in Yerim’s voice, and it made me feel even more sorry. But the sensation I’d felt when Liette died remained even more vivid now that Final Recompense had been released. The system message window that had appeared while I was so bewildered I couldn’t even feel it as real. The memories that had been forcibly shoved into me.
“Ask Hyunah–ssi about the Puppeteer too. Find out what on earth is going on. Oh, and whether Hwang Rim is still here.”
“Okay! I’ll be right back!”
“You have to take Park Hayul with you!”
I caught Yerim as she turned away. When I pulled off the Park Hayul–flower and held him out, she promptly put him on her own head. He looked cute on Yerim.
“Hayul, do a good job.”
– Yes, hyung!
Park Hayul saluted with a leaf. Then he wobbled, his expression turning troubled.
– I feel like the newbie told me something important.
“What kind of important thing?”
– I don’t remember!
“…Right. Tell us when you remember. Write it down or something so you don’t forget again.”
Why did a guy like this have to be a seed of a Transcendent? I was glad Marisa–ssi had gotten free, but at this moment, I missed her terribly.
Peace released his fluidization and carried Yerim. Noah–ssi transformed into a lightning dragon and carried Liette. Soon, they all moved away into the distance.
A short sigh slipped out of me before I realized it.
“Let’s go find Chief Song.”
“Would you prefer to be carried in my arms or on my back?”
“Can’t you do a lightning dragon transformation or something? Try transforming for once.”
Considering he had wings, he probably had several species–change skills or titles too.
“Unlike Hunter Noah or Hunter Liette, I am rather strongly myself as a human. I have not lived only one life, after all.”
“Even if you were human at the very beginning, you stayed human the whole time?”
“There must have been genetic differences, but it seems my appearance did not change. Apparently, there were times when I was revered for that very reason.”
“Well, even now you don’t exactly look Korean. If you had a perfectly fine pair of legs among a race like the Mermaid Queen’s, wouldn’t they have rejected you?”
“Crescent Moon must have chosen appropriately. If I could wield my power perfectly, I would likely be able to change into any species, but now… something half–human, half–beast would be possible.”
“Like a centaur? A white horse, maybe.”
It would probably look cool, but I chose to be carried in his arms instead.
Seong Hyunjae lifted me and spread his wings. Then he began flying low enough to skim the ground. Dense trees flashed past quickly on both sides. Once we crossed a clear, flowing stream, the style of the garden changed. Unfamiliar stone towers stood here and there, entwined by various kinds of vines. Instead of soft grass, the ground was covered with sand, stone, and tough thickets.
A butterfly rose among them.
It was a red–and–white butterfly. In a place where there hadn’t been a single bug to be found no matter how hard one looked, there was a butterfly? Obviously the Gardener.
At the center of the rough yet strangely balanced garden, I saw a round flower bed. Small blossoms bloomed brightly, and swarms of butterflies fluttered like petals around them.
Chief Song lay asleep inside.
–TL Notes–
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