Chapter 209
Chapter 209
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 209
Chapter Title: At the Same Time, Waiting for the Same Moment (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"I've brought what you mentioned last time."
In the family head's office of the Cornerus Family.
Seong Ji-ho spoke to San Hyeok-won, who was handling documents, while clutching the file tucked in his chest pocket.
The contents he had investigated this time were about Lee Si-heon.
During the midterm exam duel, San Hyeok-won had taken an interest in him because Lee Si-heon had gone toe-to-toe with Jeong Si-woo.
The seeds of the talented could be useful in any capacity.
For improving Wood Person breeds.
If the experiment on Cornus's branch failed, they would mix her seeds with those of other talented individuals to create new test subjects.
As Cornus's chief secretary, Seong Ji-ho held a fairly high position, so he knew a certain amount about their behind-the-scenes dealings.
'The Cornerus Family's experiment is on the verge of success.'
To create eternally immortal Wood People.
That realm, which even World Trees couldn't reach, was the Cornerus Family's secret ambition—the flower language of the Cornus tree.
And the sacrifice for this generation was, naturally, Cornus.
Lately, even during training or mealtimes, Cornus hadn't shown her face.
She was probably going through that so-called completion stage right now.
"No need for it now. Dispose of it."
As soon as San Hyeok-won spoke, Ji-ho let out a silent sigh inside.
"...Understood."
Jeong Si-woo. Lee Si-heon.
They were just backup seeds selected in case Cornus ended up ruined.
The reason they chose humans among the talented was that the Cornerus Family bloodline couldn't be mixed with other Wood People.
But since things were proceeding smoothly now, they were no longer needed.
Seong Ji-ho tucked the file from his chest under his arm.
"Seong Ji-ho."
"Yes."
"You must think you can't understand this matter right now."
San Hyeok-won's sharp eyes suddenly turned toward him.
"No, sir."
"Do you resent me?"
"No, sir."
"Since Cornus is being ruined, you're thinking of revenge or something."
Seong Ji-ho, one of San Hyeok-won's closest aides, managed his expression.
"This is the fruition of the family secret ambition that has persisted for thousands of years."
"I know."
"This isn't something to take lightly. Do you know how many have been sacrificed for this experiment's success? From the past, over hundreds of thousands of family members have lived solely for this one ambition."
That it was something they had to choose, even if it meant the family's three generations would perish.
'I already knew, but this family...'
They were all steeped in madness, one and all.
What happens when mad scientists with exceptional political acumen gain convictions? This, probably.
A man who applied irrational standards even to his one and only blood relative.
And Cornus, who accepted such treatment as if it were nothing.
Cornus had been broken for quite some time.
She was what you'd call a genius type.
From childhood, she devoured all knowledge and culture, and she showed exceptional talent in the Cornerus Family's swordsmanship.
-Seong Ji-ho.
-Yes, miss.
-...How about shortening their working hours?
-Pardon? May I ask why?
She even had insights into business matters.
Above all, her kindness in taking in her people shone brightly.
-They need to have affection for their work. Making them your people is important too. And I... need to set an example.
-What does that have to do with working hours?
-Oh, come on. They looked so tired when I went around checking.
Seong Ji-ho had become her secretary because he was charmed by Cornus's human side.
All her guards felt the same.
His parents had owed Cornus a massive debt and hospital bills.
-I'll clean my own room. No need to waste manpower on it.
What elementary schooler says something like that?
But that's how Cornus was.
If she had grown up normally... she might have risen to a great position, earning the world's respect and becoming a historical figure.
He hadn't been without the desire to watch over that.
"You still have that clueless look on your face."
"...No, sir."
"Go."
San Hyeok-won knew.
There was no one as convenient to use as someone loyal to another.
"Yes."
Seong Ji-ho bowed his head in greeting and left the room.
In the vast mansion's corridor.
A woman was sitting by the window.
"Mi-ho gay's here?"
A young-looking body. Yet over thirty.
The top swordmaster of her era among Blood Trees.
Cham-pi.
No matter how many times he heard it, it was a ridiculously absurd name.
"It's Ji-ho, not Mi-ho."
"So, how's our Su-yu?"
Someone from an internet community site who had contacted Cornus.
Cornus's fashion mentor and someone who doted on her in her own way.
He'd only heard about her and never seen her face, but suddenly she appeared and started talking to him.
Though her childlike body didn't match her age at all.
"Same as always today."
"...Sigh, should I just flip this whole shitshow upside down? Hey, Seong Ji-ho. What's there to be scared of?"
"Please don't."
Flip it upside down.
It wasn't impossible, but it could be a disaster for Cornus.
Seong Ji-ho smoothed his suit tie as he walked down the corridor.
Cham-pi followed right behind him, toddling along.
"Scaredy-cat. Su-yu's so pitiful."
"Excuse me, Cham-pi. I have someone to meet soon... Could you please go?"
"Not until I see Cornus, dude. Who are you off to meet?"
Lee Si-heon.
At least among the people he knew, someone like Cham-pi who saw Cornus properly and didn't try to exploit her.
The Cornerus Family was practically in a state of emergency right now.
"Hey."
Cham-pi caught up to his side with her short legs and asked.
"...Things are about to blow up soon."
"I know."
To achieve the eternal immortality ambition, they had approached Flower.
It was no different from rebellion against Wood People and gods.
"Until now, the Cornerus Family's power was so overwhelming it was fine. There was no gain for the World Trees in fighting us. But if Flower moves, that's the end of Wood Person society."
"...Yes."
"But the Cornerus Family keeps crossing the line bit by bit, right?"
No telling when it would leak to the press and the World Trees would brand them.
If a World Tree designates a family as villains, all official organizations, including the Hunter Association, mobilize the military to eradicate that family.
"Even if the Cornerus Family doesn't get wiped out... you don't think the test subject herself, Cornus, will come out unscathed, do you?"
"I know."
"...When it blows up, she's 100% dead. You planning to just sit there?"
Cham-pi shrugged both shoulders.
Seong Ji-ho was silent for a long while before asking her.
"Why are you trying to help the young miss?"
Cham-pi widened her eyes round, as if to say what kind of nonsense is that, and replied matter-of-factly.
"Kid's nice. We've only met recently, but it'd hurt if she died. My life's always been do-what-I-want anyway."
Having an S-rank hunter say that was reassuring.
"But you think I'd risk my life? I'm telling you before I cut losses. Gotta protect the one managing our gallery."
"...Please don't ask me to do something like that."
"She does it 'cause she wants to. What's it to you?"
Excited at the mention of Cornus, Cham-pi started chattering about this and that.
Like how she did her job well and had a good reputation despite everything.
Once it was revealed she was Cornus of the Cornerus Family, no one had the guts to badmouth her.
"Swordsmanship Gallery's Goddess. Cornus."
"...This is driving me crazy."
At least hearing she was treated well was nice.
Cham-pi followed him all the way to Ji-ho's private office, and once she ran out of things to say, she smacked her lips and asked.
"So, who are you going to meet?"
"...A friend of Cornus."
"O~"
The topic wasn't light, but.
Cham-pi blurted it out without a second thought.
"Then let's go together."
"......"
Once she said that, there was no stopping her.
She had the stubbornness of the stubborn.
"...As long as you don't say anything harsh."
"Won't say a word."
*****
There are many things in the world I don't know.
I haven't come from the future, nor do I know what will happen ahead.
And this damned world was moving busily without me.
Stocks fluctuate from time to time.
News comes of trees fighting over territories somewhere.
In another place, word of a new dungeon appearing.
But one thing is certain: some kind of change is coming soon.
And everyone is preparing for it.
The chance of clashing with the world's powerhouses is high, and even if I've grown stronger now, I don't know if I can win in a fight.
Above all, I haven't properly established myself yet.
No matter how unique my birth, I'm just a cadet.
"Hello. First time since then?"
Cornus's secretary. Her name is so mangled by how Cornus says it that I can't remember well.
Seong Ji-ho, was it?
"...Yes, hello. And who's this?"
I plastered on a welcoming smile and subtly glanced at the woman next to Seong Ji-ho.
A shorty was sitting there.
"Yeah, I'm Cham-pi. Nice to meet you, Cornus's friend?"
Cham-pi.
Cham-pi...?
I'd heard that crazy name before.
"...Cornus's master?"
"Oh, you knew? Eat this. Casual talk okay?"
Cham-pi happily tossed something from her pocket.
A round blue bead.
Checking it, it was a pretty expensive item.
▶ Blood Tree's Magic Power Elixir (C)
[Type: Consumable]
-A magic power elixir bead made from an ancient Blood Tree. Slightly increases magic power.
Magic power is the more, the better.
I popped the elixir into my mouth whole and told her.
"Just talk casually. Swearing's fine too."
"Kekeke, hundred times better than Ji-ho."
Her rudeness on first meeting was a bit off-putting.
But if she's giving stuff like this and talking casually, welcome aboard.
'Wonder what kind of swordsmanship she taught Cornus.'
Cham-pi Tree.
Just looking at her inner workings casually, she had more skill than imagined.
Her magic power was immeasurable. Meaning she could hide her own power.
S-rank hunter.
Wonder if she's around my level.
Why bring a monster like this? Not like she wants to spar or anything.
Cham-pi giggled and propped her chin on the table.
"Just ignore the one who forced her way in."
Seong Ji-ho followed up.
"Yeah yeah, talk comfy."
Cham-pi chimed in.
I felt exasperated inside but chuckled anyway.
Her no-holds-barred attitude wasn't bad.
"So, what do you want to talk about?"
At my question, Seong Ji-ho's face immediately hardened.
"We covered the previous talk last time, so straight to the point..."
"You want me to stay away from Cornus? Like you said before."
Seong Ji-ho nodded.
I didn't know what internal issues the Cornerus Family had.
I knew there was a reason for Cornus's emotional numbness, but we weren't close enough for me to know the details.
I wasn't the type to meddle in others' family affairs anyway.
"It's not that difficult, is it?"
To Seong Ji-ho, Cornus and I were just friends for the past four months.
Like college friends, nothing more.
Especially with the status difference between human and nobility.
Normally, it'd be natural to accept and part ways.
If it were a normal, bland friendship.
"Cornus and I aren't just casual friends."
"...Pardon?"
Seong Ji-ho's eyes narrowed at my words.
I hurriedly corrected myself.
"Not in that sense. She's helped me out a ton. If she's in trouble, I want to help."
Not wrong. I literally owed her my life.
I can't express how grateful I was when Cornus first approached me for the friend quest, saying let's be friends.
Seong Ji-ho's face softened a bit at my follow-up.
He spoke in a much milder tone.
"...There's nothing Lee Si-heon can do about it."
"I know it's a family matter."
"It's quite serious."
Seong Ji-ho paused for a moment, then began explaining step by step.
"The reason I called you here is, simply put, to minimize the sacrifices."
"Hard to accept without the full context."
"...That's."
Top secret. Something he couldn't leak outside, judging by how he hesitated.
To minimize sacrifices.
Meaning I might get targeted?
Honestly, didn't matter. I'm always targeted anyway.
At my words, Cham-pi, sitting next to him, chuckled.
"He's right."
Nice one, Cham-pi.
"Might not be bad to tell him."
"...Cham-pi, you said you wouldn't say anything harsh."
Cham-pi looked even more annoyed at the man's words, her face scrunching mischievously as if about to burst.
Easier to get the story by poking her than him.
Before I could prod, she spilled it herself.
"Why not tell him? The Cornerus Family's about to crash and burn soon, everyone involved might die."
"...No, but you promised..."
"It's fine. You're just frustrated."
Ignoring Seong Ji-ho's grimace, Cham-pi looked me in the eye.
The seasoned gaze of an expert that seemed to see right through me.
"Guys hiding power like this... aren't the loose-lipped type."
"Pardon?"
Seong Ji-ho questioned her words.
This time, I couldn't help but let out an incredulous laugh.
"Her disciple, huh... Monster recognizes monster. Ji-ho gay, you could use some help from this guy."
She didn't just out Seong Ji-ho, but my secret too.
"...What do you mean?"
Seong Ji-ho's flustered eyes were a sight to behold.