Chapter 286
Chapter 286
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 286
Chapter Title: Episode 90. Black Flower (2)
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Power inherently possesses an intrinsic nature.
It doesn't fully reveal itself until it's unleashed.
The reason Yoo Ji-tae could immediately and accurately gauge the strength of someone on a high level was because he was a regressor. He'd seen so many superhumans unleash their power before. He knew who was how strong at what point in time.
But the woman in front of him was unknown.
Black hair. Purple eyes.
And a face sculpted purely for beauty.
He'd never heard of or seen a human like that before. Even the texture of her mana felt unfamiliar.
Such things happened occasionally. He'd lived through centuries, but the world was vast, and unknowns popped up now and then.
Whenever that happened, it put him in a bad mood. The Earth had to always be within his grasp.
It's fine. Unknowns can be learned.
"Oh dear. What in the world is going on here?"
"Get back in line."
Right after the crisis passed. As people who'd scattered everywhere due to the monster outbreak gathered to reform the line, Yoo Ji-tae positioned himself right in front of the woman.
Standing behind would draw more suspicion, so he took a spot slightly ahead at an angle.
There was no need to drag it out. He was currently part of the Federation's top brass. And he had plenty of tools at his disposal.
"Hey."
The purple eyes turned to meet Yoo Ji-tae's.
Her gaze was ordinary. Rare among superhumans—a normal person's eyes.
Yoo Ji-tae pulled out his ID from his wallet and held it out. A black card emblazoned with the Federation's emblem. Dungeon Free Pass.
"I'm a Federation Grade 5 agent, One."
"Pardon?"
"Mind if I check your ID?"
"Ah..."
The woman stared blankly into Yoo Ji-tae's eyes, then pulled her ID from an inner pocket of her coat and handed it over.
Yoo Ji-tae took the card.
Only one embossed letter was written on it.
Mage's Tower
Then, as she infused it with mana, the details appeared.
Mu... An unusual name.
Only then did Yoo Ji-tae realize why she seemed unfamiliar.
Even repeating regressions, he had little connection to magic. Lack of talent.
The Mage's Tower was a closed-off, timid organization. When he was weak, it was hard to even get in touch with them. After growing strong, he needed rankers unbound by the Tower. Naturally, he didn't know many.
And the Golden Cross Guard were the ones who secretly protected the Tower Lord from the shadows. They weren't meant to appear in public from the start. Once selected for the Guard, they were removed from rankings.
This woman was No.12, and Yoo Ji-tae didn't even know how high the numbers went from 1. It made sense he'd never seen her before.
Still, he decided to probe a bit more.
"Aren't you supposed to be stuck to your master's feet? Why are you wandering around in broad daylight?"
"We're not guard dogs. We needed something."
"What?"
"To buy a flower."
Good/Bad: Neutral. Good/Evil: Neutral.
Such an ordinary personality.
Among superhumans who grew increasingly twisted mentally the stronger they got, this was refreshingly normal.
The woman seemed wary, but she didn't ask why he was inquiring. Being high up in the Federation was convenient like that. He could wield authority anywhere in the world like a cop.
"And what brings you here?"
"Me?"
"Are you looking for me on Mage Tower business? The Federation has no reason to pressure the Tower."
"No... I came to buy a wyvernic flower."
"Ah, same here."
"Wyvernic flower?"
"Yes. The scent is so calming."
In some countries, it was used as expensive incense or talismans. Ling Ling even carried dried wyvernic petals in a necklace.
After that, Yoo Ji-tae tried chatting more, but found nothing suspicious about her.
Then, as the line shortened, the problem arose.
"Oh, miss, you're back. Here for the wyvernic flower, right?"
"Yes. Got a lot in?"
"Nah, almost none this time."
"Ah..."
"And today's the last batch. Won't be any more coming."
"Pardon?"
The merchant grumbled.
"The Federation's been making noise lately. Those gangster thugs pulled the entire Ramdia raid team out."
"Uh..."
"Damn it. Could've given a heads-up. My brothers have been working there for 8 years, and they just yanked 'em overnight. Ten-year gear rental, and now it's all fucked."
"Hmm..."
"No idea how many are left sucking their thumbs now. What the hell are those Federation bastards plotting, banding together like that..."
"Ah~! I heard it's not just that! Rumor has it they're starting a war!"
Then the vendor next to him jumped in excitedly.
"What? Are those bastards really gearing up for war? What balls they must have!"
"Acting like international cops, all fake and proper. But their bellies are popping out past their livers."
"End times, I tell ya... Never knew the Federation were such scum."
"Those sons of bitches... The Quaisa guys need to keep working. They whined like crazy over one dead kid. Should just kill off all the top brass brats to knock some sense into 'em!"
Meanwhile, the woman 'Mu' widened her eyes in surprise and glanced sideways at Yoo Ji-tae.
This bizarre Federation Grade 5 agent remained expressionless despite the torrent of abuse toward the Federation.
The public sentiment was already well-known.
"Ah, anyway. How many wyvernic flowers you got?"
"Huh? Oh, right, my head's elsewhere. Here, just the one."
"Just one?"
"Yup. Exactly one. It's yours, miss. Heh heh."
But no sooner had he said it than the woman turned to Yoo Ji-tae.
They were standing side by side now, but technically, Yoo Ji-tae was ahead in line.
"Oh? This young man wants a wyvernic flower too?"
"Yes."
"Sorry, miss, but looks like he's first."
Yoo Ji-tae paid and took the flower.
He observed her here too. She really seemed like an ordinary superhuman. Peeking glances, looking disappointed.
Anyway, he had what he came for. She was probably fine. Business here was done. He turned and melted into the crowd. That's when she started following him. He stopped, turned, and asked why.
"They don't sell it anywhere else."
"..."
"And that was the last one."
"I heard."
"Mind if I buy it from you?"
"No."
"Five times the price."
"Not even for ten times."
She looked genuinely disappointed.
"Fine... But that flower. If you go around the corner into that alley, there's a preservative vendor. As a Grade 5, you can get in."
"Pardon?"
"Buy Ramdia holy water and a mana preservation device. Set it to around 45 degrees. Even a dead flower will keep its scent for a few weeks."
"Ah, got it."
"It's the last one, so use it long. Well, I'll be off..."
She turned to leave.
You receive, you give.
It was novel. Living normally brought thoughts like this.
"Hey."
Yoo Ji-tae called Mu. She turned back.
He approached and plucked a few petals from the center of the black flower, handing them to her.
"Ah, thank you."
"Take care."
With that, he turned away.
"Hey... To thank you, can I buy you a meal?"
Too late for that. He just waved her off.
That was the end of their encounter. He had no further interest.
Even if he recalled her someday, she'd just be that woman with the striking purple eyes. Nothing more.
"Huh? What's this boxy thing?"
Gaeul asked.
Inside the square, transparent box, petals floated in a honey-like liquid. The kids sharing apples and tangerines nearby turned their heads.
"Wyvernic flower petals inside. Supposed to keep longer."
"Huh? The scent?"
"Smell it. It's faint but there."
"Mmm... Wow, for real? Ajusshi's the best...!"
Gaeul took the wyvernic flower and held it out to Bom and Yeoreum.
"Mmm..."
"Hm... Nice..."
Yeoreum and Gaeul slumped again, sniffing.
Meanwhile, Bom fed Winter a tangerine segment. Holding it up with a 'weeing~' like a fly, she zigzagged it toward Winter's mouth.
"Ahh."
Winter looked bored, treated like a kid, but when the segment neared her mouth, she widened her eyes and opened up.
"...Ahh."
The segment went halfway in.
Just as her lips closed, Bom slyly pulled it out.
"Good girl."
"...?"
Good what?
Winter grumbled in dissatisfaction, and only then did Bom laugh and pop the segment in.
"...Hmph."
"Pouting all you want, but your mouth's honest?"
Nom nom...
I thought she was too busy playing with the chick to care about the flower, but no. Even while Winter rolled with the chick, Bom kept her distance, avoiding the scent entirely.
"You not smelling it?"
"I'm good."
"Why."
"That thing! It affects unni the most for some reason! She got super sleepy all of a sudden...!"
Gaeul piped up from the side, sitting up.
Affects her the most?
"Didn't you notice? Yoo Bom slept almost the whole day holed up in her room that day."
Yeoreum's words.
She did seem to sleep more than usual.
As Yoo Ji-tae turned, Bom spoke.
"Weirdly, it only made me sleep really deeply."
"Just you?"
"Yeah. Probably 'cause I'm of the nature tribe. Hits me harder."
"Could've expelled the energy."
"Tried to, but... the feeling. Not like expelling poison. Felt like forcing off sleep?"
He couldn't recall what that felt like.
"Still, it worked out. I have nightmares usually, don't sleep well. Got two solid days."
He brushed it off.
Suspicious, but with a major issue at hand, Yoo Ji-tae shifted focus.
While the kids watched drama in the living room, he checked the news on his watch.
[Spreading Fear and Hostility]
[G12 Demands Specific Grounds for Federation's Military Buildup]
[20s Sacred Superhuman Jobless Due to Sudden Military Shift]
[Global Military Tensions Peak... Voices Defending Quaisa Emerge]
[President Yoon Gu-jun of Korea: "Not too late. Federation must drop the secrecy now..."]
["Block ears and mouths, is that all?" Petrovich Criticizes Federation Media Control]
The anti-Federation flames, quiet since Kaliovan's announcement, reignited recently.
Excessive force in suppressing Quaisa.
Conversely, armed groups unhappy with it pledged solidarity with Quaisa.
They'd delayed long enough.
No more delays possible.
"Bom. Come out for a sec."
Yoo Ji-tae called Bom to the terrace.
"Thought about what I said before?"
Among the four, only Bom knew indirectly about Yoo Ji-tae's work. From hunting demons in the past. She'd often ask how things were going, and he'd give brief updates.
Then, a few months ago, he'd hinted to her simply.
To go to the Federation together.
"You needed my help, right?"
"You remember."
"Not the type to forget."
The situation was this.
1. The Federation was gathering military power to prepare for the 'Long Night'.
2. The 'grounds' for preparing the 'Long Night' was the prophet.
3. The world demanded 'grounds'.
But Yoo Ji-tae couldn't step forward.
"From now on, you'll be the Federation's justification. The basis for what I'm doing. Everyone will accept my words at once because of you."
Yoo Ji-tae's voice was grave.
Bom nodded seriously.
"...As a 'prophet', right?"
"Yes. You'll stand before the people. Governments will analyze your mana's wavelength. The Green Tribe's mana formula has 'foresight', doesn't it? Unique to a Level 5 artifact the Mage's Tower has—'future prophecy' power."
"Yes..."
Bom was a half-baked prophet. She couldn't see what she wanted or needed.
But that didn't matter. Yoo Ji-tae was essentially the oracle, Apocalyptic Clock (EX) was practically a god—quiet lately, but Bom would be the mouthpiece.
Bom, thinking, added.
"What if I say no?"
"I'd find a replacement."
"You have one?"
Honestly, no.
It'd get tiring. Time for the kids would go to pressuring governments.
"I think only I can do this perfectly."
"Why's that?"
"Someone too strong like you would be seen as asymmetric power. Backlash."
Smart Bom grasped the context perfectly.
Yoo Ji-tae was a tyrant. Whipping was easy with time.
Ironically, that was the issue. Time caring for young dragons was paramount.
"You saw right. So, carrot instead of whip."
"Carrot's a bit..."
"Fine. Broccoli. Cucumber. Whatever."
Only then did Bom nod satisfactorily.
"So, you good?"
"Will it tie me down a lot?"
"Not really. But you'll need to show face with me often. Follow my schedule."
"Any solo stuff?"
"Almost none. Mostly with me."
"..."
Bom nodded slowly, sulkily.
"Mm... We come back to 301 often, right?"
"Of course."
"Then I'll do it."
"Sure?"
"Yes."
She leaned slowly on the railing.
"Lair life's boring anyway."
"Oh?"
"You know. No friends. Not sociable... Don't even write novels anymore. The kids are fun and great, but honestly, I've been bored lately."
"Thanks. No fieldwork for you, so no pressure."
"Good."
"Don't think you're being used. It's all for our benefit."
"Pfft. Relationships are mutual use anyway."
Winter said that? No, Bom.
Short winter days; early evening sunset already.
No one felt cold, but the air was chilly.
"Let's head in."
Yoo Ji-tae turned first; Bom, staring blankly at him, answered a beat late.
"...Yes, oppa.