Chapter 276
Chapter 276
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 276
Chapter Title: You're a Flower, Aren't You? (1)
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[99% That guy's a Flower for sure.]
The Hunter Association vice president's intel-gathering skills were beyond imagination.
I secretly lifted the corner of my mouth at the trustworthy Star's voice.
"You sure?"
[He's definitely a bad guy. Not 100% impossible he's not, but... it's similar to your situation, Si-heon.]
"My situation?"
[Suddenly created, unclear origins, no ties to other organizations.]
My identity was fabricated over a decade ago in the Peach Blossom Paradise, defying all laws.
Bead's identity didn't stray far from that either.
But that alone left too many unexplained gaps. Fabricated identities dropped out of nowhere all the time. By Star's logic, that'd make me a Flower too.
I pointed that out, but Star continued in her firm voice.
Her tone when on the job was nothing like her usual demeanor.
[When Flowers create plants in the military, civilian sectors, or government, they follow rough routes for forging identities. Checking each one is tough, but with enough manpower, nothing's impossible. The process is complicated, so I can't explain it, but... especially the woman you mentioned. She's tangled up in ways that make it ridiculously hard to trace.]
"So, it's safe to assume they deliberately obscured the origins?"
[Yeah. It's not normal. No need to go that far usually.]
Star couldn't pull definitive proof that Bead was a Flower, but it was certain enough.
Here's what she laid out:
Suspicions that the organizations or companies helping forge her identity were deeply tied to the Flowers.
It lined up with the peak period when Flowers were mass-producing fake identities.
And despite her vague skills, she stubbornly knocked out tons of competitors in the Forest Keeper selection tournament—an irrational feat that screamed Flower.
Normally, you'd dig deeper for ironclad certainty before acting. But with the stage being the tournament, it was smarter to flag her as a suspect fast and block her moves.
[The Hunter Association's already been notified. If she does anything suspicious or problematic, arrest her on the spot. The national trees... we can't touch them yet.]
"That should do it."
I'd already known Bead was a Flower—or at least tied to that group.
The red flags weren't just one or two. She was practically advertising it.
Our encounters started right after El Academy enrollment, from the dorms onward.
Her affection level never showed in my status window—meaning she had zero real thoughts about me.
[Si-heon.]
Star spoke up when I went quiet for a bit.
"Yeah?"
[What now?]
"What do you mean?"
A Flower right in front of me. No way I could let that slide.
Time for close surveillance, stat.
I'd planned the method ages ago. Bead and I were surface-level friends anyway. Time to exploit that.
"Gonna stick to her like glue."
From our first meeting, acting chummy, besties forever. Waving wildly in the halls if our eyes met—classic Bead.
If she wanted to play friends, I'd indulge her. Common sense.
[...Kinda worried.]
"I'll be fine."
It was my job anyway.
I brushed off Star's various warnings, said my final goodbye, and hung up.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ With the second trial over, the hotel felt eerily quiet.
Not much time left before the third trial kicked off. A few cadets were packing up and heading out, thinning the once-bustling halls to the point where every facility had empty spots.
"Ugh."
I rubbed my face with both hands as I sat up in bed.
My head throbbed.
This morning ritual lately. No clue why spending nights in Cornus's room left my stomach so full.
Cornus therapy overdose?
The usual morning wood for a healthy guy hit every time too.
Even my dreams were wild. How many times had I dreamed of drinking milk now?
Tilting just 5cm to the side made my belly slosh—I couldn't move.
"Skipping breakfast today."
A bit more rest for morning. Bead skipped it too anyway.
Free from Mary's clinginess, this was my window for a break.
Cornus was still lying beside me on the bed.
Clutching the blanket tight with both hands, peeking out with wide eyes fixed on me.
"Cornus."
Same thought every time I saw her.
"You didn't do anything to me, right?"
Mouth full of milky scent. Weird liquid sloshing in my gut.
Not like nothing came to mind. But I couldn't picture the Cornus I knew pulling this.
Cornus was purity incarnate.
Even in heat, all she knew was hugs—the type of girl I had to treasure most.
*Nod, nod.*
As if Cornus would lie.
"...Alright? Guess I'll lie here longer today."
I slipped back under the covers and closed my eyes.
The woman's scent and floral aroma drifting in my nose relaxed my body.
Tossing a bit, my fingertips caught something.
Soft yet slightly firm.
'What the?'
Pulling it out from under the blanket revealed a stark white bra.
I cup.
Unreal size you never see around. Why was this in the bed?
I whipped my head around. Cornus's eyes went wider, mouth clamped shut.
We'd slept together during the first trial, but she wasn't a heavy sleep-talker.
More importantly, how'd the bra escape her tank top? She didn't bolt out complaining of tightness.
I shot Cornus a sharp glare.
"..."
Let's see what she says. Waiting for her response, a tiny voice squeaked out soon enough, like she wanted to crawl into a hole.
"...I'm sleepy."
"No. Hey."
Dodging the question. The bra in my hand was damp, soaked through.
Couldn't help but suspect now.
The inexplicable fullness every morning. Sweet milky taste lingering on my tongue.
"Pull back the blanket for a sec."
"...W-wait."
"Ready? One, two, three—"
I yanked the blanket away. Startled, Cornus gripped it hard, but it was already flying off the bed.
-Fwoosh!
The blanket fluttered away from the bedside. Cornus's body lay fully exposed.
Sleep shorts, and above them, bare white skin.
Her key areas perked up in the morning air, and the centers of her breasts—sucked all night—were flushed bright red.
"......"
"......"
Long silence.
Cornus mumbled with the face of a kid caught red-handed.
I couldn't believe my eyes at the twin valleys before me.
Soon, her excuse came.
"...Pervert."
No, not an excuse.
I felt seriously wronged.
Was the sun right—no friends between men and women?
What reason did Cornus have to catch feelings for me?
When I milked her to cure her condition, enduring my urges. I'd thought her breaths sounded needy.
"Cornus. Is that your excuse?"
"...You're mean."
Mean how?
I held out the underwear. Cornus gathered her ample breasts with both hands, avoiding my gaze as much as possible.
"What's this?"
"...It was stuffy."
"Why stuffy? Everyone else wears theirs."
Cornus glanced at her chest. Saying it embarrassed her a bit, she murmured softly.
"...It got bigger."
"That's—"
My eyes drifted down involuntarily.
"...Yeah, could be."
Not imagination—visibly larger.
"Why'd you take off your top then?"
"Stuffy."
"Don't repeat yourself."
"...It hurt."
Hurt.
Made sense. I couldn't know how bad her mastitis was, but if it made Cornus scream, it wasn't mild.
Probably worse than what other women endured.
"You said you didn't do anything at dawn."
"...Dunno."
"Dunno what?"
Not innocent—pure evil?
Purity had types, sure.
I turned my back. "Get dressed."
Soon, she slipped on her tank top—minus the bra.
Making the prominent peaks visible.
"Tell me."
I sat cross-legged facing her. Kneeling, she rubbed her thighs, peeking at me.
She knew what she'd done.
"It hurt... and you wouldn't wake up."
"What about the milker I gave you last time?"
I pointed to the device on the nightstand.
I'd even explained how to use it—why use my mouth instead?
"No wonder my dreams were so intense."
Not Cornus therapy—Cornus succubus.
As I scolded, she hung her head, deflated.
Rubbing her thighs more...
"...Couldn't use it alone."
Weak voice again.
"Couldn't?"
"Yeah."
I'd explained it last time, yet...
About to speak, I caught her expression and shut my mouth.
Drooping brows, fidgety eyes.
Seeing her like that softened me up.
'She's not hurting on purpose. Am I being too harsh?'
They said looks were a cheat code. Big tits and pretty face? Forgiven no matter what. True.
Her face melted my heart—I felt like the bad guy.
"Couldn't use this?"
"Yeah."
"I showed you how last time, right?"
My tone softened. No scolding—coaxing now.
Sensing the shift, she peeked up at my face.
Hoping a bit?
"You always did it for me."
"So."
"...Do it."
Me?
Her breasts?
"Hey, that's not—"
Speechless. Hid my face in shame.
"No. Sigh..."
Her breasts jiggled with every move.
Holding her top, unsure whether to lift it, watching me—despair hit.
My fault.
Cornus was innocent.
"Sorry."
I ruined my friend.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The morning chaos ended with me deciding not to bunk with Cornus anymore.
Didn't tell Sun or Aori. They'd freak, calling it shirking Wood Spirit King duties.
Grown man and woman sharing a room? Nothing good comes of it.
Figured no issue since Cornus showed no romantic vibes.
-...Whine.
Said separate beds, and she wilted instantly.
No romance, but libido fully charged.
Health and urges restored—good thing, maybe...
"Sigh."
Forcing down lunch with a sigh.
"Something bad happen this morning?"
"Don't ask."
Cornus's actions were unavoidable. Duties called.
I chewed diligently, eyeing the woman across from me.
"What brings you here? You asking me to eat?"
Bead.
Black bob cut, cute smile.
And the one revealed as a Flower yesterday.
Sitting right there.
"Nothing much. We've known each other a while, but we've been too distant."
"Pffft. What's that? Hitting on me?"
Her usual laugh.
Legendary social butterfly—no one at El Academy's Korean cadets didn't know her.
Until now, I'd kept distance 'cause it creeped me out. Not anymore.
"Yeah."
Her eyes widened round.
Time to work her.
Or more precisely—be my emotional dumpster for consultations.
I grinned, holding up the ticket.
Tournament-organized meeting partner for today. Lucky streak—universe listens sometimes.
[Bead]
"Looks like you and I are meeting today."