Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Azalea Petals Fall (9)
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I wanted a trustworthy relationship.
That was all I had hoped for.
But the environment wrapping around me wouldn't allow it. The trust in the relationships I had barely forged was too shallow and narrow, so they betrayed me over the pettiest reasons.
Human relationships could always twist into something worthless at any moment. I just hated that, so I yearned for true bonds where we would never betray each other.
Deep down, I might have been averting my eyes from some truth.
I knew I had put up walls against others without realizing it.
There were connections that felt like I'd regret losing forever if I let them slip away, yet I couldn't bring myself to reach out.
Human relationships were always so ambiguous. Out of fear they'd drift apart, I was the one creating distance.
I knew better than anyone how ridiculous that was.
I knew all too well that I shouldn't just stand by and watch—I had to step forward.
Still, I didn't reach out. No, I blankly hoped someone would come to me.
Maybe I was turning a blind eye to my own selfishness.
-Chirp, chirrp.
Missing the Azalea Bird's cry that I no longer heard. With a face full of resignation, I wiped down the mirror.
How much time had passed? How many regrets had I mulled over?
I bowed my head, recalling that man's face from that day. Closed my eyes and let out a lonely smile.
The revenge against my father that I'd longed for all these years had ended in a form I never imagined, and the purpose I'd chased my whole life scattered like dust.
Everything had been resolved by the plan of the one man I hated most.
Lee Seong-han was dead.
They said he was found with a massive hole bored through his head.
For some reason, there was no word from my mother or brothers who had joined that group.
Honestly, none of that mattered anymore. What now filled her mind to the brim wasn't the revenge she'd waited a lifetime to claim.
-Knock, knock, knock.
A knock at the dormitory door.
"...Come in."
As soon as I opened my mouth, a hoarse voice echoed heavily.
The door swung open, and in walked Lee Se-young, dressed sharply in a suit.
"Azalea, you okay?"
"Yes, much better."
"Forcing out your power like that is bound to wreck your body. Be more careful next time."
Azalea gave a bitter smile as she cradled one arm. It felt numb, like it was paralyzed.
"But they say you'll be back to normal in a week, so don't worry too much."
"......Teacher."
"Hm?"
"When's Lee Si-heon coming back?"
The three words tumbled hesitantly from Azalea's lips.
Lee Si-heon.
He hadn't died. He was found battered and trapped deep below the basement.
At the mention of Si-heon's name, Se-young bit her lower lip and let out a sigh.
"Well......"
She crossed her arms, recalling him from a few days ago.
-"Are you insane?"
-"Yes."
When Se-young first heard Si-heon's plan, she genuinely thought he was a madman.
Si-heon himself calmly laid out the details without denying it. He knew full well how outrageous it was.
-"But what choice do I have? It's the only way I'll survive."
She still hadn't pieced together what he meant by those parting words.
Anyway, she'd tried to talk him out of it at first.
Storm the cult alone and broadcast their location?
Success or not, it was insane—and Se-young wasn't the type to shove her own student straight into hell.
But Lee Si-heon pulled it off, just as boldly as he'd claimed.
Of course, things hadn't gone perfectly.
The plan: Teleport into the cult, transmit coordinates, then use a fresh teleport stone to return to the academy.
A glitch in the final step—he hadn't made it back.
When she found out, the shock hit like her heart dropping out.
"He's at an Association hospital right now. With injuries that bad, it'll take at least a week before he can return to the academy. His mana circuits are smashed to bits."
"I see."
But that was all in the past now.
Unlike Se-young's relieved expression, Azalea bowed her head with guilt weighing on her face. Seeing it, Se-young sighed.
"Did something happen between you and Si-heon?"
"......"
"What is it?"
"......"
With Azalea staying silent, Se-young scratched her head and pulled a letter from her waistband.
"Read this."
"Huh?"
"It's from Si-heon. He told me to make sure you read it."
"......!"
A flicker of surprise crossed Azalea's face. For the first time, emotion stirred in her lifeless eyes.
Caught off guard by the reaction, Se-young awkwardly rubbed her nape.
"Ugh. Honestly, my students are all such headaches."
Se-young grumbled vaguely as she headed out. The moment she confirmed the door close behind her, Azalea tore open the letter.
-Rip, tear.
She had so many questions.
Why had he helped her?
Why had he crossed blades with her stepfather even while falling apart?
-Rustle.
One sentence emerged from the unfolded paper.
Azalea read it.
Read it again. Flipped back and read it once more.
All those questions? They just... vanished.
That single phrase in rough handwriting was so achingly close to everything she'd ever longed for.
-Can we be friends now?
"......Ha, haha."
Absurd. All she could do was laugh emptily.
It was the moment spring finally arrived for the tree that had known none.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A room where incense burned.
The man stared rigidly at the ceiling before spotting the child by the door and forcing a smile.
"Daddy!"
"Yeah? Oh, what brings our little princess here?"
The child with bright pink hair toddled over and clung to the man's leg.
"I played house with Chirpy today!"
"Oh, did you now?"
The child spread her arms wide with a beaming smile, and the man swallowed his bitter heart to scoop up his daughter.
"What makes our Dal-rae so pretty, hmm?"
"Heeheehee!"
The man rubbed his cheek against hers, rough stubble making Dal-rae scrunch her face.
"Daddy, itchy!"
"Yeah? Just bear with it a sec."
He hugged Dal-rae tight.
Sad thoughts he couldn't shake twisted his expression bitter, so he pulled her even closer, out of her sight.
He just held her motionless for a long while.
"Daddy?"
"Yeah?"
"Put me down. Heavy."
"......Sorry. Was it too much?"
She slipped free from his limp arms.
On the floor, Azalea smoothed the wrinkles in her pink dress and flashed a goofy grin.
"Heehee."
"What does Dal-rae like most?"
"Me? Daddy's the best!"
Her instant reply deepened the man's bitter smile.
"No, besides that. What's next after Daddy?"
"Chirpy!"
"The bird?"
"Yeah! Chirpy always plays with me when I go outside!"
"Yeah?"
Chirpy. Chirpy.
The bird?
Repeating the word inwardly a few times, the man reached out to tousle Azalea's hair.
"Then while Daddy's gone a bit, you can be friends with the bird, right?"
"Daddy going somewhere again?"
"Huh? No, no. Just a short work trip. Sleep five nights, and I'll be back."
"Five nights? Then I gotta sleep fast to see Daddy! Heehee."
She tilted her head, giggled a bit more, then flopped onto the bed and drifted off.
Asleep.
The man pulled clothes from the closet, dressed, then gazed at Azalea, who clutched her pillow in deep slumber.
A faint smile touched him as he stroked her cheek. She responded with a happy little smirk.
He seared the sight into his memory. Then stepped back a pace.
Gazing at his hand, he muttered.
"......Take care of her."
-Chirp? Chirp?
The spirit flowing from his palm tilted its head.
Realizing its role, it curled up beside Azalea and closed its eyes.
The man left the room, face stiff.
His steps echoed heavier than usual down the hall.
The moon outside the window looked brutally cold.
His feet kept moving until they halted at a certain room's threshold.
How had things come to this?
No amount of dwelling changed a thing.
He knew full well: if he kept on like this, everyone tied to him would suffer.
After losing everything, only one precious treasure remained—his daughter.
In this hopeless situation where no one could help, protecting what he cherished meant staking his life.
-Creak.
He opened the door and stepped in.
A rope dangled from the rafter overhead.
As he left Azalea's side, he prayed to the World Tree.
That someday, someone would take his place for her.
-Flutter.
Watching it all was a single Azalea Bird that had trailed him from the room.