Chapter 320
Chapter 320
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 320
Chapter Title: The Cradle's Collapse (5)
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"We'll probably need a few more people."
Plugging up part of Flower while facing off against a National Tree, and simultaneously evacuating the crowds to a safe mountain range—it's nearly impossible with just five of us.
"How?"
Marronier asked in response.
The key was who to bring in.
The mediocre hunters had already been more or less conscripted by the Association's manpower.
Under Mugung, who was already so proactive, Star was working. Nagging her to come here wasn't a good choice.
It wasn't a thought based on flimsy grounds.
-Bery: Siheona. Something huge just happened, okay?
I knew.
Heavenly Path, Imperial Path, even Camellia, who was a businesswoman—most of them were dealing with increased workloads due to this Flower incident. Camellia had even vented to me about it.
All those with influence had stepped up to protect their nests and interests.
I wouldn't beg for help from them when I couldn't even offer assistance in return, let alone plaster on a thick face.
Especially not Star.
'She might pull some strings if it were her.'
Eh, doubtful.
From my perspective, having run a modest DoWonHyang and witnessed that raid, it was utterly impossible.
Dispatching hunters who wouldn't be detected by Flower at all in this situation and who could truly help us.
Support on par with a National Tree was out of the question.
'No point in adding unnecessary burdens.'
Star had plenty of her own to save.
Vice Association President.
Tens of thousands of lives could be in her hands alone.
No matter how capable she was, there was no guarantee she wouldn't let personal feelings interfere with official duties.
"Hoo."
The silence dragged on.
By now, someone should have spoken up.
It wasn't my place as someone from another world, but damn, these kids really had no friends.
"No. We do?"
Marronier glared with axe-like eyes and snapped.
"Ha, seriously, bro."
Sun gave me a light pat on the shoulder with a bemused tone.
From what they were saying...
"It's not that we lack friends, but we have pride. These five are more than enough. Right? Comparing me and Aori is like Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. Not even Cao Cao's million-strong army scares us."
"Kuk, shit."
"It does scare me, for real."
Bao couldn't hold back a snicker, and I shuddered.
This madman had no sense of timing.
"King. It's somewhat true."
"What is."
"These five could take down a few guilds, easy."
Aori delivered the brutal words with a straight face.
"Fine, you're right."
I had underestimated them a bit.
And understandably so—I'd never seen their true power with my own eyes.
I hadn't even witnessed Wood Humanization, which dramatically boosted a Wood Person's potential, not once.
Still, it was good to lay out the reality.
"Our opponent's a National Tree."
No matter how genius Marronier was, she might struggle to shine in a chaotic melee.
And Sansu-yu was an invalid.
"Ha, then I'll just sweep them all away?"
"That's exactly the problem with you."
You're a blockhead.
"What?"
"Your emotions run too hot."
The authority of the Baobab tree was inherently tied to emotions.
The more battle excitement and accumulated damage, the stronger it got.
To fully utilize that talent, one had to bare emotions raw and ignite fighting spirit without filter.
"That's why we're saying a few more would be perfect. So, anyone come to mind?"
Silence fell over the group. It got eerily quiet.
"I know some National Trees, but..."
Marronier finally brought it up, though she still seemed hesitant about whether they were trustworthy.
Sansu-yu was...
"......"
Pretending not to hear as much as possible.
I resisted the urge to pinch her cheek and continued.
"Bao, no, forget it."
"What?"
This guy looked friendless too.
Sun and Aori probably had connections, but whether they could come to the Selection Tournament was the issue.
"Finding among the National Trees already here would be fastest."
"Yeah."
Better to scout trustworthy people directly.
First, let's bolster our numbers a bit.
I tapped the table, and a magic circle spread across its surface.
Soon, two birds burst in, scattering feathers and flapping their wings wide, chirping away.
[Master! I'm here! Eleonore too!]
[Did you have a pleasant short rest, Master?]
"Good. As you both know, we're in a real pinch numbers-wise right now."
All eyes turned to the unfamiliar birds.
Sansu-yu and Marronier knew of them but still blinked in wonder.
"What are these sparrows?"
"Spirits."
"Oho. You've got some neat tricks up your sleeve. Talking spirits, no less."
Bao showed genuine surprise at that.
Spiritists were that rare.
"Sian, can I pet them?"
Sansu-yu glanced at me cautiously and reached out; I nodded, and her hand went toward Tree Footrest.
[Grrmph.]
Not thrilled but enduring it because I said so.
Marronier couldn't resist either. Small, fluffy birds like these were bound to be popular with women.
Back to the main topic, I asked them.
Tell the National Trees honestly about Flower coming and ask for help.
That criterion was most crucial.
"The standard for spotting traitors. Probably Marronier."
"Uh, yeah."
Marronier, still a bit awkward, stammered.
"Your ability will be key."
Mindscape world.
She could read opponents' thoughts.
The most dangerous power against traitors.
Some would know and be on guard.
Use it openly, and they'd counter; to make it useful, she had to deploy it undetected.
"Use your authority?"
"Yeah. Won't be easy."
Of course, there was always a loophole somewhere.
I looked around at everyone.
"No leaving here today until we've bared all our cards."
*****
The meeting spot hummed along smoothly, even amid the Flower uproar.
The Forest Keeper Selection Tournament had to project peace on the surface.
They meticulously filmed even simple interactions between cadets and National Trees.
'Though the audio probably doesn't broadcast.'
Cases where dialogue aired were rare.
Like 1v1 sparring highlights or interviews with training National Trees.
Viewers had no way of knowing we were chatting at this cafe.
'Control room might pick up audio, but...'
The control room managed the camera artifacts.
But after a past controversy, hotel interiors used old models without voice recognition.
I'd even interfered directly with the mana circuits to confirm.
Only me and the team knew this conversation.
In short, we were monitoring.
Smuggling in forbidden artifacts via National Tree privileges, streaming live footage.
Pen-shaped cameras. Plus the spirit hovering invisibly behind, watching us.
Tree Footrest, capable of observing emotions and malice, guarded the air transparently.
-Clunk.
Right on cue, the target entered.
A system allowing direct meeting requests to parties for chats.
Accept if interested, cancel if busy.
'My performance in the first trial helped.'
Surprisingly, my name had spread more than expected.
Few National Trees didn't know me.
"Ah, hello."
A tall redheaded beauty smiled brightly in greeting.
"Maple?"
"Hehe. Yes. Honored you invited me today. Only heard rumors till now."
"Rumors?"
Sugar Maple.
A rare healing mage and Canada's National Tree.
True to her name, her voice was sweet like melted sugar as she brushed back her ear hair, chuckling softly.
"Your fight with Plum Blossom. I saw it."
"Aha... That."
"Not just that—you've clashed with quite a few National Trees, right?"
A regular beating a National Tree.
Saying it was victory because it wasn't full power had its caveats, but gripping the advantage in an official match was fact.
Sugar whispered upon sitting, inaudible to surroundings.
"Actually, it's been big talk among us National Trees?"
Her voice had a different appeal from Marronier's.
National Trees weren't National Trees for nothing.
Gaze too long, and their looks could sweep you away.
"Really?"
I'm a married man.
I reminded myself inwardly several times as I listened.
"So, what's this meeting about?"
"Well, I'm interested, and things outside are so chaotic right now?"
I continued casually.
The pen wasn't recording. Mages could detect artifact movements.
They were the most sensitive to circuit operations.
Get caught activating it, and persuasion would be a hassle.
'Good she's not a spiritist.'
Tree Footrest, cloaked in invisibility magic on my back, went unnoticed.
I subtly tapped the desk with my index finger, signaling.
Tree Footrest's eyes resonated blue, sharing its vision with Marronier elsewhere.
"Flower."
I brought it up first.
Better to cut to the chase than chit-chat.
Not polite to name terrorists here, but we lacked time, and sadly couldn't uphold all courtesies.
"Flower...? Why bring them up suddenly?"
Sugar blinked and tilted her head.
Soon, Marronier's voice rang in my ear.
-Normal inner thoughts. Like, 'Why suddenly that?' More puzzled than panicked.
'She doesn't know yet.'
-And... she seems to like you quite a bit.
'Huh?'
-Whatever. Probably 'cause you're pretty-faced.
I brushed off the unexpected jab.
Why Marronier could talk to me now?
Countless spells linked us consecutively, naturally.
'This works.'
I marveled inwardly.
Marronier's mindscape.
Couldn't use on targets relayed via monitor screens.
But spirit sensory sharing changed that.
[Master, did I do good? Praise me later, promise!]
Rookie spy Tree Footrest Eleonore got her chance.
"Nothing major. Just hope it wraps up quick~."
"Aha. Yeah... It's blowing up my workload already."
"National Trees that busy?"
"Only you wouldn't know, Sian. My legs are shaking from it all."
Not that I can elaborate.
Trailing off, Sugar still smiled but sighed wearily about Flower.
-No suspicious thoughts. Seems safe to trust.
Mindscape relayed thoughts with tone intact.
At full power, it could immerse in and manifest those imaginings.
Unless forcibly erasing memories to block entry, no deceiving us.
The others, likely hearing Marronier relay all, stayed silent.
Agreement, it seemed.
No reason to hide then.
"Um, Maple?"
"Yes?"
"I'm about to share something big. Can we move spots?"
"Not possible here? How big?"
"Could shake the world. Cheap today."
Sugar chuckled at the untimely joke and shrugged indifferently.
"You're the type to stir crowds, Sian. Must be fun."
With free time post-third trial, she might seek thrills.
'Lucky I'm handsome.'
I thought to myself.
*****
The explanation didn't drag.
National Trees grasped threats quick and knew alignments well.
Our group, now six from five, faced each other continuing the talk.
"Haa... A traitor among National Trees?"
Why I sought Canada's first.
We'd brainstormed National Trees hostile to Flower.
Canada clashed with Flower often.
Likely this National Tree harbored resentment too.
Kim Suyeon and Saku crossed my mind, but Suyeon tied to Mugung made me wary.
Suyeon and Saku fine, but India's National Tree tagging along was trouble.
My gut screamed suspicion on her.
"You expect me to believe this?"
"Yes."
"......The Sage wouldn't joke. And gathering these three to prank? Might as well play along out of courtesy. Anyway, got it."
Sugar eyed Marronier, Bao, and me in turn, resigning to conviction.
Our dire straits.
Beyond understanding, she pledged aid.
"National Trees protect people—that's the job. Cadets include Canadians. Even without, gotta step up."
Marronier subtly used her authority even now.
Paranoid mage nature.
"...Haha. I don't think I've done anything suspicious."
"Ah. Sorry..."
"Marronier, we met once before, right? How to earn your trust?"
Reading thoughts right in front was naturally unpleasant for the subject.
Sugar laughed it off good-naturedly, sharing a tale to convey her stance.
"...Family lore only. Rumor one of Flower's members is from the Maple family."
"Safe sharing here?"
"Basically fact now. About to blow; a few words won't hurt."
"Why tell us?"
Sugar nodded.
"That disgrace. How many family members staked lives over it? Check records. See how much blood Maples shed against Flower."
"One member's in Flower—what?"
"...Just speculation."
Sugar's story went like this.
A 5-year-old Maple girl vanished abroad in an accident during studies.
Scoured a city between Korea and China, poured resources, but no trace.
Assumed dead by Flower's terror hands.
But lately, rumors of a woman with signature Maple red hair and eyes active in Flower.
"So those two are the same?"
"Likely. If mana summons maple leaves. Branch or main, either."
Many maple varieties.
Like Yi Se-young's Oak family, branches widespread per country.
Goroshi, DoWonHyang's sturdy healer—sugar maple, a branch type.
But that Flower woman's mana was pure mainline, they claimed.
Some participating family members insisted.
Circumstances, abilities, mana pointed to Maple family.
"Convinced now? Suspicion lifted?"
By tale's end, most doubts evaporated.
"Oh, but."
She added.
That missing girl had talent Flower would covet.
"Our family's stain, can't erase, but gotta try. No excuses for her..."
Sugar smiled bitterly.
Seemed her family long harbored guilt over that overlooked child.
Terror or not, from her view, abandoned by family, joined Flower to survive.
'Maple.'
I pondered her words.
Deep in memory, five-pronged maple leaves lingered.
Undoubtedly, the one I knew was a maple too.