Chapter 248
Chapter 248
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 248
Chapter Title: Plum Blossom Tree (1)
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Hunter Association, President's Office.
A chilling atmosphere, like the depths of midwinter, permeated the surroundings.
The Heavenly Demon and the Sword Saint faced each other.
Entwined in a complex web of emotions and relationships, they were fated to be enemies. The deep-seated grudge was more than enough to call each other mortal foes.
But in this era of peace, they had no choice but to hide their personal feelings.
The Sword Saint's serpentine narrow eyes scanned the Heavenly Demon's clothes.
Clothes far larger in size than the Heavenly Demon's frame. So baggy they seemed like they might drag on the ground.
"Heh heh heh."
His lips parted, and a sinister laugh leaked out.
"The more I look, the more you resemble him. That guy... Your eyes, your aura. Even your power."
His face was as pale as if he wouldn't live another hundred days.
Hundreds of scars etched across his face. Burn marks. A nose that couldn't smell. Rather than impressive, it evoked disgust and unease. Just looking at his face allowed one to guess the suffering he had endured.
The very picture of a heavyweight.
In contrast, the Heavenly Demon had the fresh face of someone just past their early twenties.
"Who would've thought that little girl would make it this far. Right?"
Mu-gung grumbled.
"I figured the dragon had taken in a mere vixen at best. Ridiculous. That man was the epitome of foolish humanity. Even in death, he deluded himself into thinking he'd won."
A voice laced with clear mockery.
Words that pricked at the Heavenly Demon's nerves.
A sneering tone that seemed to carve away at her father, whom she'd followed her whole life, and herself, starting from the toes upward.
"In that sense, I still have poorer judgment than the Heavenly Demon."
His eyes turned to the Heavenly Demon.
"Who would've thought that vixen would become a dragon."
Until his words ended, the Heavenly Demon didn't even twitch an eyebrow.
She simply listened to Mu-gung's words with a relaxed smile on her lips, as if savoring this very moment.
"And now you've become the Association's dog. Is that what you want to say?"
The words that came from the Heavenly Demon's mouth, arms crossed, preempted Mu-gung's next line.
A Heavenly Demon superior to him. Himself, who had killed that Heavenly Demon. A sense of superiority and intoxication toward himself for turning even the Heavenly Demon's daughter into the Association's dog.
Of course, whether that was truly Mu-gung's thinking was unknown. It was hard to imagine an old man nearing death deriving superiority from something like this.
Behind Mu-gung's vulgar, selfish exterior lurked a cunning, meticulous schemer flicking his tongue. He wasn't bound by personal emotions.
Mu-gung was the type to use even his enemy's daughter if necessary.
And the Heavenly Demon was a case of using her own enemy.
Regardless of his true feelings, this conversation was one she'd heard dozens of times already. Words that had always gnawed at her insides.
They had also been the driving force behind the young Heavenly Demon.
Mu-gung feigned surprise before speaking to the Heavenly Demon.
"You've grown."
Until recently, she had been a woman burning with vengeance.
"You're unrecognizable now."
Perhaps taking in a disciple had changed her mindset.
The current Heavenly Demon appeared more serene than anyone.
It was astonishing.
The child who had been like a fierce blaze, a volcano filled with malice and rage ready to erupt at any moment, now possessed the composure to embrace someone.
Despite her young age, she had the face of a former sect leader.
A rich tranquility, like a famous painter's scroll depicting an unwavering path forward.
An elegance hard to put into words emanated from the Heavenly Demon's form.
'My disciple has won.'
Of course, inwardly, she was seized by unparalleled joy.
'Lee Si-heon. Against a National Tree.'
Her own disciple, no less!
She was a master who only knew how to brag about her disciple.
A disciple fool.
Should she teach her something even better next time? Just as a smile bloomed on the Heavenly Demon's lips.
"Finish your report."
At Mu-gung's words, the Heavenly Demon erased her smile and slowly began recounting what she had uncovered.
Dao Yuan Xiang's investigation, scouring all of Korea, into Flower's movements.
Newly appeared dungeons and strategies for them.
It was the usual report, thorough beyond measure.
"That's enough."
Mu-gung cut her off and glanced at his computer screen.
-Plum Blossom 25↑
Real-time search trends amid the Forest Keeper selection tournament.
Was that Chinese guy rampaging this time?
Whatever.
Mu-gung averted his gaze from the screen and spoke to the Heavenly Demon.
His interests were entirely directed toward his homeland. He also knew the Heavenly Demon would one day bring great upheaval.
"I trust you won't do anything foolish."
A warning that he was watching.
"If I say I understand, will you believe me?"
"......"
At the Heavenly Demon's retort, the two locked eyes and smiled at each other. Smiles tinged with faint killing intent.
One of them was fated to die someday.
For now, they were merely collaborating briefly.
Because Flower had enemies of that caliber.
*****
I wonder what's happening outside right now.
I hope nothing's happened to the people I know.
Dungeons were isolated from society, making it hard to access rumors or reputation like before.
'Master told me to build my name value here.'
I put up a good fight against a National Tree. That should prove my worth.
I wouldn't be treated like gutter trash anymore.
It had been decided ever since my clash with Marronnier.
'Honestly, reputation doesn't matter as much anymore.'
Raising it further here wouldn't bring me much benefit.
The reason Master had me enter the Forest Keeper selection was to meet a wide range of talents, gain experience and power.
Not just power, but connections too. Or to make my face known to those who might block my path.
In short, to lay the groundwork for me to gradually enter the world.
It was the best choice for me, who had fallen into this world without status and was adapting.
Knowing that, I followed.
No matter how stagnant my power felt now, who knew when another opportunity might arise.
Just look at Tae-il and Aori. Not entirely reliable, but two entertaining loyal retainers had joined me.
'A dungeon made by the Wood Spirit King's subordinates. I should stop by there after the selection ends.'
But first, resolve Cornus's issue.
And Master's too.
So many loose ends. Not caused by me, but ones I had to fix.
If I resolved them one by one steadily, someday I could live a peaceful life without such nonsense.
That was my only hope.
'But.'
I gaze at the three women sitting around the campfire.
Saku roasting marshmallows from the food backpack, Cornus watching with interest.
Kim Soo-yeon, Sword Saint's granddaughter, sitting between them, filling her empty stomach.
And finally, India's National Tree, Panya, sitting on a distant rock, shirt slightly open, checking her tattoo.
'I'm gonna get an earful.'
A man sandwiched between four women.
The internet wouldn't be an issue. But Se-young and Star... Especially Azalea might claw my back.
The image of Azalea slapping my back, yelling she couldn't live like this, vividly came to mind.
Azalea already had strong possessiveness... With Shiva and me at home, if I came back from hanging out with women, she might give me the cold shoulder all night.
I might not even get into bed.
Lee Se-young was quite obsessive too, the type to cling like a puppy.
If this got on broadcast, I might get squeezed all day.
No need to mention Hwando's jealousy.
Star subtly ensured her own spotlight in communications, like a fox.
"......"
Cold sweat forms.
All three were National Trees, second to none in beauty, making it worse.
Suddenly, Saku thrust a marshmallow toward me.
"Si-heon-oppa, not eating? Marshmallow's yummy."
Pink-haired Saku beaming with Japanese-accented English.
Her face was hidden by the fox mask, but her excited voice painted her smile in my mind.
I awkwardly smiled and took it.
Freshly roasted, bubbling marshmallow.
Putting the golden-brown treat in my mouth brought a thick, stretching sweetness.
"How is it? Yummy, right?"
I awkwardly laughed at Saku's bright voice.
"It's good."
Couldn't match her energy.
Still, Cornus seemed to love the lively atmosphere, her expression twice as cheerful as usual.
A faint blush on her normally expressionless face.
A subtle change imperceptible to others, but noticeable if you looked closely.
Suddenly, Cornus offered me a slightly charred marshmallow.
"Want me to eat it?"
At my question, she nodded slightly.
With cameras around, I reached out instead of nodding, taking the skewer and popping the marshmallow into my mouth.
Would this air on broadcast too?
Still, they were filming Panya far away, so it shouldn't leak.
"The first trial's almost over."
After roughly finishing eating, Saku stretched her arms and legs, venting a week's frustrations.
The sky was darkening. About 4 hours left?
A short nap and the trial would end.
"You and Soo-yu-oppa stayed here the whole time?"
"No, we met on day 3. Been here since day 4. Cleared dungeons before that."
"Textbook! Amazing~!"
Clapping, Saku suddenly deflated, speaking in a glum tone.
"We kept, kept, ke~pt fighting. Panya-oppa said to eliminate rivals as much as possible~"
"As much as possible? Really?"
"Right? Even for a perfectionist, it was too much. Right, Soo-yeon-oppa?"
Saku's words made Soo-yeon giggle beside her.
"Panya's like that."
Eliminate rivals as much as possible.
Reduce numbers? A hypothesis from before briefly surfaced.
What if someone among the National Trees was aligned with Flower?
This idea had many flaws. Unclear why they caused so many eliminations, no reason for National Trees to side with Flower.
To pinpoint details, long-term investigation was needed.
'...If only there was a good ability. Didn't Marronnier have mind-reading?'
That power would make identifying Flower easier.
Of course, the opponent wasn't stupid enough to think of Flower in front of Marronnier specifically.
'Tricky.'
Impossible to know now.
Only a week had passed. Interactions had been minimal. As rivals dwindled, friendships among National Trees and cadets would grow.
"Then, I'll sleep first."
For now, get through today and think later.
Yawning, Saku crawled into her sleeping bag first, Cornus heading to the tent.
Kim Soo-yeon and I stayed by the still-burning campfire.
"Not sleeping?"
At Soo-yeon's words, I figured it was time.
Not sleepy, but should force some rest.
As I began to rise, Panya, who had been sitting on the rock gazing at the lake, suddenly stood up.
"...Someone's coming?"
Her eyes glowed brighter than during the day. Eyes linked to the beast she sent far away.
"Who? At this hour?"
Someone intruding right before the first trial ended?
At Soo-yeon's incredulous words, Panya scanned around, head swiveling, then uttered one name.
"Plum Blossom."
China's National Tree.
Soo-yeon's face hardened coldly at the name.