Chapter 119
Chapter 119
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 119
Chapter Title: Training Camp (6)
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She thought she should keep her distance.
After all, she and he weren't anything to each other yet.
Above all, Azalea knew well that her own actions like this could burden him.
She definitely knew that. So why on earth...
"......Ah."
Hot breath escaped from her lips.
Desire that outpaced her reason.
-Hwaa!
Before she knew it, a flower had bloomed above her head.
The flustered Azalea hurriedly covered the flower with her hand.
'What do I do...'
Soon, a wave of shame crashed over her. What if someone saw?
But with the euphoria lifting her entire body, she couldn't help but succumb to the floating sensation.
For a Wood Person, blooming a flower meant experiencing a happiness so profound it would stay etched in memory for life.
It was slightly different from the pleasure directly tied to fruit.
Fruit and flowers. What grew on one's head varied by constitution, but Wood People typically bloomed flowers or fruit only once or twice in their entire lives.
Azalea had gone and experienced something most people never did even once in their lifetime.
"You okay?"
At the man's low voice, her cheek flushed red against him like a ripe strawberry.
'I-I'm fine.'
Her mouth stayed shut tight, words refusing to come out.
She kept swallowing dryly. The bridge of her nose stung like she was about to cry.
The sight before Azalea's eyes, nestled in his arms, was the very scene she'd always dreamed of.
'I can't hold back anymore...'
Azalea squeezed her eyes shut.
This time, another flower bloomed—not on the left, but on her right temple.
'Right now, into these wide arms... even closer.'
Flowers blooming.
Just knowing him her whole life had felt like it would tear her heart apart, but Azalea realized those were all foolish thoughts as she changed her mind.
For Wood People, flowers brought an uncontrollable level of happiness.
It was like self-produced drugs.
While blooming, the brain fired actively, flooding the head with certain chemicals. The result: diminished self-control and a pounding heart.
It was akin to a human's judgment clouding at the peak of joy.
Crimson emotions etched into her pupils.
Thirst kept building. If she didn't act now, she'd regret it forever.
'I shouldn't do this.'
Lately, her entire daily life had been filled with just one man's name.
Whether handling company work or doing assignments in the academy dorms, not a single moment passed without thinking of him.
This was far from normal.
She knew. She knew everything— all of it—was wrong.
She knew, but—
'......I don't care.'
Even so, because she'd longed for it so desperately her throat ached.
Her always-negative mind flipped optimistically the moment that one flower bloomed.
"Hey. It's over. We won."
At Lee Si-heon's words, Azalea snapped out of her reverie, her eyes now darker than before.
"...Really?"
Her upturned lips formed a crescent moon. Glossy pink lips, as if lip balm had been applied, shimmered.
Azalea loosened her tight grip on him.
Then, subtly so no one else would see, she plucked the flower from atop her head and tucked it into his chest pocket.
"Take this... I don't have pockets."
Lee Si-heon accepted the flower with a complicated expression and hid it away.
A twinge of regret made her hands itch, but it was fine.
For her, today was... a very important day.
She had to have patience.
*****
"Cheers!"
Clinking high-held glasses to kick off the drinking session.
Pork belly and soju.
There was hotel food, but everyone unanimously agreed that a proper Korean drinking party needed this.
The irregular sizzling of meat on the grills at each table had the cadets' shoulders bouncing naturally.
-Bunny bunny, tree tree!
Whether they liked it or not, they were at that prime age when blood alcohol peaked.
Seeing groups already starting games brought an involuntary chuckle.
'......Can't keep up.'
Insane energy.
Guys who could handle soju mixed with soju. It reminded him of old college buddies laughing that freshmen would laugh even if their noses broke.
Oddly, since coming here, his body had been excessively tired, so he couldn't match their vibe.
And there were other slightly older cadets thinking the same. In the end, a few gathered for a quiet drink.
"That professor teaches so well, but it's too hard."
"Seriously, during the exam, curses just slipped out. I casually mentioned there was too much, and he said he managed it fine back in his day..."
A casual drinking spot for venting. Less spicy gossip, more everyday chit-chat.
"How was the exam for you, Cornus?"
"......Average."
Cornus, blankly holding her soju glass, answered the cadet's question.
Short and curt, but everyone here knew her personality well enough not to misunderstand.
"Oh yeah, the restaurant near the dorms is super tasty, right?"
"Agreed. Tastier than my mom's. Hehe."
When talk lulled, straight to the next topic.
Seeing Cornus, the sweet and innocent one, chat made the cadets take interest naturally.
One of the top nobles bantering casually with humans lowered the barrier big time.
"Cornus, any favorite foods?"
"Yeah. Spicy-chewy-sweet tteokbokki."
"Spicy-chewy-sweet...? Oh, that one behind the dorm?"
"Yeah, super good."
"Pffft."
Her refined looks meant once conversation started, guys and girls alike laughed easily.
Cornus's mood was lifting bit by bit. She might not realize it, but he could see.
'When she's happy, her shoulders rise just a tad. Really subtle.'
And for some reason, when excited, her hair brightened.
Today's Cornus was sunflower yellow, like forsythia in spring.
"Wanna all go for tteokbokki next time?"
At the female cadet's invite, Cornus's eyes widened as she looked at him.
-Is it okay?
Her rabbit-like gaze asking permission made him smile.
Like raising a needy little sister. Pure joy.
One nod, and she replied.
"Sure."
Our kid's changed.
Now she meets people outside on her own?
Tears pricked at this huge progress.
-Clink clink
Glasses filling. Empty one, and it refills.
Worries about Cornus were basically gone now.
Downing a shot, he glanced at the woman right beside him.
That pale, delicate hand sticking close, pouring drinks: Azalea's.
"Your glass is empty."
Chatting coolly with others while sneakily funneling drinks his way.
Eyes meeting often, each time with a devouring gaze.
▶ Azalea (96/100) [Obsession] Affection confirmed it...
The signs building up had exploded today.
'They say affection doesn't lie.'
The transformed Azalea looked like a different person if you just watched.
Usually sharp yet innocently charming. Now? No innocence—a lioness dying to devour a man.
He soothed his burning throat with water, thinking.
'No idea what to do.'
This ambiguous teasing was a terrible habit. Bringing it up rashly could backfire, and that worried him.
But honesty was probably best...
Too many thoughts? Buzz was hitting already.
Getting sleepy, he said he'd get some air and stepped out of the dorm.
Outside the hotel.
Breathing foreign sky air,
Azalea, seizing the chance, followed right behind.
"Me too, for some air."
Poking his shoulder, he turned. Seeing him, her face bloomed with an eye smile.
"Yeah?"
"Yep. How's Shiba?"
Shiba was probably eating dinner with Cheon-do, brushing teeth, off to dreamland by now.
Walking on, he pictured the dorm crew.
First to sleep: sleepyheads Shiba and Cheon-do.
Then Hwang-do up, grinning goofily at sleeping Shiba.
Baek-do gaming on phone late into the night.
He could recite dorm life like poetry.
"Hehe."
Turning at the laugh beside him.
Azalea beamed—not her old anxious smile, but pure radiance.
"......You know you always grin creepily thinking of your daughter?"
"Do I?"
"It's kinda cool."
Creepy or cool?
Embarrassing, but praise felt good.
"Cool dad."
"Nah. Been slacking on her lately, worrying me."
"Raising a kid alone with so much to do... You're doing great. If I were your daughter, I'd be super grateful."
Azalea hadn't gotten much parental love.
The conflict lingered. No contact with her mom even now.
Bitter home life.
" entrust Shiba stuff anytime. How's kindergarten?"
"Good, she'll talk soon. Understands almost everything we say already."
Teacher's occasional Shiba praises were pure joy.
Top in this today.
Even small stuff warmed him. Most touching: Shiba, once daddy-only, now playing actively with kids.
Love cooling a bit stung, but good was good.
"Music recital later. Coming?"
"Definitely."
Grin. Azalea clenched fists, asking when.
Thinking back, he'd leaned on Azalea a lot raising Shiba.
Shiba was shy; only familiar faces like Azalea could help.
"...Makes me feel like her mom."
-Rustle.
Moonlit forest humming with crickets felt mystical.
Chatting along the path, the spot shifted—lights fading to a dimmer, secluded area.
Steps grew heavier.
Heart-pounding quiet. Azalea hands at belly, eyes down, tailing close behind.
"Hey."
Footsteps halted.
"Yeah."
His stopped too. Silence perfect for her words.
He swallowed inwardly.
"That thing during today's game."
"The flower?"
"......Yeah."
Azalea shyly affirmed.
Flower...
He hadn't known what it meant at first.
If it'd been fruit, awkward but understandable.
So he'd looked it up to avoid misunderstanding.
Blooming: Wood People's physiological joy response.
Many never experience it lifetime.
"...You know what it means, right?"
Constitutions vary, but hugging alone brought that joy.
Degrees differ, but ultimately, her words were a roundabout confession.
"Yeah."
Long silence, then he spoke.
"What do you think?"
Hard to voice his feelings.
He pulled out the stored Azalea flower.
Tough bloom—rolled in pants pocket, yet pristine.
Gazing, he forced his stuck lips open.
"Dunno."
Honest. Dragging it could worsen things.
Azalea's breath hitched.
Long pause, then words.
"Am I... that unappealing?"
"No."
"Like someone else?"
No answer. Silence sometimes best reply.
To her, rejection—like rude cutoff.
Yet her voice held inexplicable strength.
"Did all that misleading stuff..."
Drip, drop—
Tears marking the ground.
Reaching for handkerchief pocket, she gripped his hand tight.
"......Still."
Full force. Clamping his wrist.
"Too late."
"What?"
▶ Azalea (99/100) [Obsession] Semi-transparent status window etched in his retina.
Azalea's affection higher than before.
"...You said you dunno. So you don't, right?"
Tearful smile. Not twisted.
"I'll stay by your side forever."
Azalea said. So her.
"...If I disgust you, just step over me. I'll keep following."
Etched obsession lingered.
Then he instinctively realized.
To remove that tag by her name might take an eternity.