Chapter 043
< The Youngest of Our House is Thinking Something Strange (2) >
43
Hasuo was born with very, very old memories.
In the far-off past, Hasuo’s ancestors grew at the edge of the world.
They became the Emperor's herb of immortality, materials for an Immortal's elixir, and sometimes became miracles that unblocked the energy channels of great heroes.
‘From the moment we are born, we exist for someone's greatest moment.’
That was the proud pride passed down through generations of the Primordial Fleeceflower clan.
Dedicating one's everything to change the history of an era.
Because that was the clan's fate and reason for existence.
Hasuo also realized the moment it gained an ego that it was a being born to uphold that fate.
‘What kind of great wish does my master have? Is it to save the world? Or is it to climb to the top of the Tower?’
Every day, Hasuo had heart-fluttering imaginings.
Wondering what kind of great history it could become a part of.
Of course, the current master was a bit strange.
Because he often prioritized counting the number of lettuces in the herb garden over dreaming of great narratives.
Still, it was okay.
That great man must have deep intentions that it could not dare to fathom, making even the primordial being and the mountain spirit obey.
Hasuo sparkled its leaves today as well, waiting for its fate.
Waiting for the day it would be reborn as a spiritual medicine for its master.
* * *
Hasuo’s day was full of happiness.
In the morning, it was with Muryong.
-Hmyo!
It didn't really know what the primordial being was.
But from the moment it realized its fate in this herb garden, it could know instinctively.
That being near that small white person made it feel safe, warm, and good.
-Hmyoot?
As if the new small leaf that sprouted on Hasuo yesterday was fascinating, it kept tickling it and making it laugh.
Byok, byok.
Pbo-jjak pbo-jjak.
When morning came, the two would head to the small puddle next to the spring.
That place was their own small swimming pool, formed by the pooled spring water.
“Pwa-aeng!”
-Hmyoot!
They dipped their root feet in the cold water, splashing each other and giggling.
Small water droplets sparkled in the sunlight.
“Everyone, let's eat.”
At lunch, they ate the delicious food provided by the master.
Today, he steamed [Drowsy Pumpkin] freshly picked from the garden, peeled it, and mashed it softly.
A sweet and savory taste.
With every bite, energy overflowed throughout the body.
“Kkiyot?”
In the afternoon, it played with Gorani-hyung and White Snake-hyung.
The reason it called the two "hyung" (older brother) was simple. Because······ they were incredibly big.
“Kkiyooooot!”
Gorani-hyung carried Hasuo on its large back and showed it around various places in the mountain like the wind.
Occasionally, there were dizzying moments when it almost jumped off a cliff in its excitement.
Each time, the Gorani landed safely and protected Hasuo.
Even if it looked aggressive on the outside, it was actually using its entire frame to protect Hasuo.
Slither-
To Hasuo’s eyes, the White Snake-hyung looked stubborn and stiff at first.
But lately, when Hasuo was playing under the sun, it would silently approach and create shade with its giant body.
“Pwa-aeng?”
Then it would pick the most sparkling among its cold scales and place it at Hasuo’s bedside like a toy.
Like a blunt grandfather handing a precious marble to his grandchild.
When evening came, everyone gathered on the veranda.
The master brought out mysterious toys he got from the Tower.
The Gorani ran around the yard chasing the [Gryphon Feather Fishing Rod], and the White Snake watched that appearance as if it were pathetic while its tail tip wagged gently.
Muryong was happy on the master's lap, licking even a single crumb stuck to the master's finger.
And Hasuo dozed off while tightly hugging the [Squishy Sprout Doll] the master gave.
Everyone cherished and loved Hasuo.
In this infinite love and happiness, Hasuo’s body and mind were growing vigorously day by day.
So, very occasionally when night came, it became a bit sad.
It knew.
That it was a spiritual medicine······.
That its fate was to someday dedicate its everything to fulfill the master's most earnest wish.
While having such sad thoughts, sleepiness poured in.
Nod. Nod.
Its head kept dropping forward.
Just as it was about to fall asleep, forgetting even the thoughts of fate.
Rustle!
“······?”
In the darkness, an ominous sound was heard.
Hasuo snapped its eyes open.
It was a sound coming from the edge of the herb garden, near the [Ash Seedling] the master cherished.
“!”
There was a pitch-black bug there that seemed to have crawled out from the ground.
A Putrid Larva the size of the master's palm, emitting a disgusting toxin.
It was a very weak monster, but to a garden, it was a natural enemy due to its characteristic of gnawing and killing plant roots.
“Pwa-aeng······.”
Hasuo urgently turned its head.
If it were the reliable Gorani-hyung!
But hyung's place was empty.
It must have gone out for a night stroll, which it had recently taken a liking to.
Then the only remaining hope was Muryong.
But Muryong, sleeping "sae-geun sae-geun" on the veranda, was traveling through dreamland, unaware of the world.
With its small belly protruding and even a happy smile on its mouth.
Before that peaceful sleep could be awakened, that dark shadow seemed likely to strike the seedling first.
No, it surely would.
That seedling was a treasure the master held dear.
The only one who could block it now was itself.
Hasuo made up its mind.
Although it was an opponent too much for its strength alone, it could not back down.
“Pwa-aeng!”
It mustered courage and ran toward the Putrid Larva.
Then it rammed it with its round body with a "Kung!".
But the larva didn't even budge.
“Tch!”
Instead, it spat dirty mucus onto Hasuo’s body as if it were annoying.
“Ppu, pwa-aeng!”
Dirty!
Hasuo flapped to shake off the sticky mucus.
Meanwhile, the larva began to gnaw the roots of the Sun Bird seedling.
“PWA-AENG!!!”
Hasuo was desperate.
It lifted the small pebbles nearby with all its might.
Then it began to throw them toward the larva while making "yeong-cha, yeong-cha" sounds.
Tack! Tak!
But the pebbles just bounced helplessly off the larva's hard shell.
What to do? How can I protect the master's precious seedling?
Tears even welled up in Hasuo’s eyes.
Right then, a thought flashed through Hasuo’s head.
The only weapon it had.
Exactly itself.
Hasuo did not hesitate.
Pa-pa-pak!
Kicking the ground desperately with its short root legs, it dug into the space right before the larva's nose in an instant.
And without hesitation, it grabbed the leaf that was sparkling most freshly on its head by the root.
Crack!
It felt a pain as if a part of its body was being torn off, but now was not the time to care about that.
Hasuo thrust the leaf, where the essence of life was condensed, into the mouth of the larva that was leaking disgusting mucus with all its might.
Ssssssssss-!
The moment the leaf touched, the larva's body was enveloped in a brilliant holy light bursting from within.
Inside the light that even swallowed the scream, the putrid flesh was pierced while emitting black smoke.
Cr-cr-cr-crack!
The hideous body crumbled and instantly turned into a handful of ash.
Thud.
Hasuo, having poured out all its strength, slumped on the spot.
······It did it.
The seedling, I······ protected it.
Every bit of energy in its body was gone, but its heart was filled with a hot sense of achievement felt for the first time.
In that very moment it showed courage transcending its limits.
A sound of something "tak" waking up was heard inside Hasuo’s body.
!
And it realized instinctively.
That its growth had finally reached the peak, and now only the time to become a spiritual medicine remained.
That the moment was right now.
“······.”
I've imagined it many times.
If my end can become everyone's happiness.
That would be my greatest joy.
But, a little······ it was a little sad.
This warm time, the master's kind touch.
And the fact that it couldn't see its friends anymore.
Limp, limp.
Squeezing out its last strength, it approached the head of the sleeping master.
Rustle-
Dropping its most cherished small flower petal gently.
It was what it did every night while wishing for the master's happiness.
And after staring at that face intently for the last time, it came out to the yard again.
It was a happy life.
I was the happiest Hasuo among all Fleeceflowers.
Calmly, it accepted its fate and closed its eyes.
* * *
Deep night.
Kang-hyun quietly approached the sleeping Hasuo’s side.
Normally, it was the time it would be sleeping while leaning on the veranda with Muryong.
But only Muryong was sleeping alone.
Kang-hyun looked around the yard.
And he discovered it.
Behind the shed, in the darkest corner, the appearance of small Hasuo lying alone.
“······.”
Like an old beast facing death preparing for the end in a space of its own while avoiding the owner's eyes.
That small and lonely back looked very weary.
Kang-hyun quietly approached Hasuo.
Snap-
Then he picked the largest and softest pumpkin leaf from the garden and wrapped it snugly over the sleeping Hasuo’s body like a small blanket.
It was a heart wanting to block even the cold night dew.
“Grow happily and healthily.”
After stroking the motionless Hasuo very carefully, he quietly returned to his room.
A long time after Kang-hyun vanished.
A faint system window rose around Hasuo’s body.
[The master of the herb garden, the mysterious and warm heart of the Absolute, becomes a powerful blessing (가호) and dwells in the ‘Primordial Fleeceflower’.]
[The powerful blessing carves out a new fate that cannot exist.]
[A miracle is manifested.]
* * *
Late dawn.
Blink!
Hasuo opened its eyes.
Why, why is it still ‘me’.
The ego that should have vanished by becoming a spiritual medicine remained exactly the same as yesterday.
Did it fail? Did something go wrong.
“······?”
But its body was strange.
The plump body from childhood had shrunk much smaller and harder.
Like an adult that had finished all growth.
And while looking around, a strange object caught Hasuo’s eye.
“!”
At Hasuo’s feet, something holding the exact same energy as itself, but much smaller in size.
A unique [Wish-imbued Fleeceflower Seed] was placed there.
Hasuo realized instinctively.
Something that fell off from my body.
That everything that was its power is contained inside that.
It was a seed with only the power as a spiritual medicine, separated from Hasuo’s ego.
In simple terms, an ego like its own did not exist.
A true spiritual medicine seed in the complete sense.
“······!”
With trembling root hands, it tightly hugged the seed.
If.
If I am still alive.
If even with the spiritual medicine existing like this, I didn't vanish!
Is it okay to keep staying here?
Do I not have to disappear?
Can we all be together?
“PWA-A-A-A-A-ENG······ A-A-A-ENG······!”
Holding a hope it hadn't even dared to embrace once, it wailed out loud for the first time.
< The Youngest of Our House is Thinking Something Strange (2) > END