The Sword Flower Blooms in Vengeance
When the phrase [Safe House Member Protection System Activated] popped up in front of my eyes, a surge of overwhelming excitement filled my chest. And who could blame me? It was a system for member protection. How could anyone not get hyped seeing that naming? I'd already experienced the insane potential of my ability, Safe House, firsthand.
Safe House Member Protection System Activated
The Healing Massage that had mended Yoo Seo-ah from the brink of death without a single scar left. The Healing Body that completely healed her internal injuries and mental trauma, injuries so severe she'd have ended up a vegetable otherwise. Just those two abilities alone made the potential of Safe House something straight out of a dream. Sure, the conditions to activate them were still kinda bullshit even thinking about it now. But anyway, Safe House had exceeded my wildest imaginations at every turn. So when something called the "Member Protection System" popped up from it, how could I not get my hopes up? Would the house split in half like in the movies, revealing a secret weapons cache? Or maybe forty-two mech suits would whoosh out and obliterate the threats to my member? But that excitement crashed into disappointment the second the next message appeared.
Function – Black Box
This ability properly organizes the problems your member has faced.
It records and stores up to 5 minutes of the situation before rescue.
The Member Protection System that had my heart pounding? Turned out it was just a modern essential: a goddamn dashcam Black Box.
※ "It's not like they slap it on as a standard option for nothing. The performance is rock-solid, they say."
Off to the side of the press conference stage where Yoo Seo-ah had taken her place, I watched the massive screen playing the footage of a knife plunging into her back and felt deeply satisfied.
······Okay, that sounds kinda fucked up when I put it like that. Like I'm happy seeing Yoo Seo-ah get stabbed.
Let me correct: I smirked in satisfaction watching the crowd gasp in horror at Park Bong-su's backstabbing moment.
I'd been a bit bummed at first when I realized the Member Protection System was just a plain old Black Box. But looking at it now? Nothing could be better.
Without this Black Box ability, exposing Park Bong-su's crime wouldn't have been easy. If he'd just shrugged with a "Got any proof?" we'd be stuck in some drawn-out, pretentious legal bullshit. But popping in the Black Box footage of Yoo Seo-ah getting stabbed? Pure, undeniable facts—no room for debate.
"Yoo Seo-ah, you bitch. How the fuck are you even alive? I saw with my own eyes your limbs getting smashed by those clubs! Wait, before that—did you have a recording magic tool? Using an unapproved recording device is a guild regulation violation!"
See? That fucker Park Bong-su was so rattled he was spilling confessions he shouldn't. Without the Black Box footage, even if Yoo Seo-ah showed up alone, he might've panicked but not crumbled like this. He was one of Cheongmyeong Guild's execs, after all. Not some amateur who could climb that high without quick wits to bullshit his way out. But slam the video evidence down? He felt the noose and spilled everything.
"That's basically him confessing on the spot."
I nodded again at the Black Box's proven effectiveness. Then I turned to the folks in the back of the press room and asked,
"Alright, with this, our team leader—no, wait, they might not get 'team leader.' Yeah, our Yoo Seo-ah can dance with her sword in righteous revenge, right? That's Cheongmyeong's way, after all."
My question made the Cheongmyeong Guild 1st Unit members—who were prepping to declare a gate re-raid—flinch hard. Their faces showed way more shock than the reporters or industry folks up front. Seeing that confirmed it: stabbing Yoo Seo-ah in the back was purely Park Bong-su's solo act.
Yeah, that's it. Makes the story real simple.
"Park Bong-su—that guy—did the stabbing, and our Yoo Seo-ah got stabbed. So those not involved, please just sit back and watch her righteous revenge. I'd appreciate it."
I bowed politely to the 1st Unit members. It looked like a request, but it was really a threat: 'Interfere, and you'll look like accomplices to Park Bong-su. Watch your step.'
"·····Ugh, we thought Yoo Seo-ah sacrificed for us and felt grateful, but to think that shit happened!"
"We knew he was petty and narrow-minded, but not this bad······."
"We won't interfere! As of now, 1st Unit cuts all ties with Hunter Park Bong-su!"
Luckily, no bullshit drama. These were Cheongmyeong elites—they got the subtext. Perfect. No interruptions from peanut gallery. Stage set flawlessly. All that's left is Yoo Seo-ah dancing her sword dance beautifully.
No worries at all. Just pure anticipation for how gorgeously she'd bloom her revenge flowers.
As I turned my gaze to her, one hunter asked me,
"By the way, what's your relationship with Hunter Yoo Seo-ah?"
Relationship with Yoo Seo-ah······ huh.
Back in the day, I'd have mumbled something lame like, "I was just the luggage guy in her old team. Heh."
But not anymore. Now I could say it proudly.
"We're each other's absolute necessity."
A plain fact, certified by a teary-eyed Yoo Seo-ah herself.
"No way, that Yoo Seo-ah had a guy······?"
"That's why she skipped all the after-parties?"
"Makes sense. Other unit captains tried hitting on her, but she shut 'em all down······."
The 1st Unit guys' eyes went wide, then they started whispering among themselves. Didn't care what they were saying. More important shit now. I tuned them out.
"Alright, time to make some flowers bloom nice and pretty."
Time to watch the sword's flower bloom on the stage I'd set.
※
Shing—
The blade Yoo Seo-ah drew with elegant grace gleamed coldly, radiating sharp menace. Her clothes were rags from the beastmen's clubbing, but the sword was unscathed. Because Yoo Seo-ah's sword was as special as her title, Geom-hwa—Sword Flower.
Her unique ability, Man-gae-hwa—Full Bloom—that bloomed slashing petals along her sword path. Its power was so immense it could one-shot even a top-tier A-rank magic beast like the Grim Reaper.
But power like that came with massive recoil, so no ordinary sword could contain Man-gae-hwa. Flowers need solid earth to root. Same for her bloom. She needed a sword like unyielding ground to hold that power.
And the sword she drew now was that special one.
The sword a smith had forged and gifted her, captivated by the petals of her first bloom that revealed her genius to the world.
A sword with no name yet, because of some weird logic that "the owner should name it."
Vmmm—!!
Made solely for Yoo Seo-ah, it now wailed to cleave the enemy who dared try to kill its master.
"The sword······ it's crying!"
"Th-that's sword cry! She's dead serious! For real!"
"Sword Flower has declared vengeance!"
"Park Bong-su basically confessed earlier, Yoo Seo-ah Hunter showed up, that footage······ if it's all true, like we said, this revenge is justified."
"And Cheongmyeong's unit members in the back aren't moving······ yeah, revenge battle's greenlit."
The once-silent reporters and industry folks started murmuring.
Using force outside dungeons or gates was a heavy crime. But if justified? Hunter society turned a blind eye—that was the unwritten rule. Built on power logic, after all.
And Yoo Seo-ah had justification everyone could see. No one here would interfere.
Everyone anticipated her revenge.
"Kh, fuck······ goddamn it!"
Crime proven, crowd hyped, guildmates standing down. Park Bong-su's only choice: fight Yoo Seo-ah.
Ching!
Realizing it, he drew his sword through gritted teeth.
"How the hell did you walk out of there unscathed?! I saw it! Your limbs snapping, body crushed!"
He poured emotion into his voice, venting injustice at Yoo Seo-ah.
Stabbed her back proper to neutralize, shoved her into the beastmen horde including the gate boss. Confirmed her limbs shatter and body pummeled before retreating. Yet here she was, fine mere hours later.
From his view? Ultimate bullshit.
"What trick did you pull, Yoo Seo-aaaah!!!"
Face twisted, he mana-boosted and charged. One step closed the gap.
Then activated his unique ability, Mae-ngdok Blade—Fierce Poison Blade—infusing his sword with venom.
The same blade that crippled her before lunged again.
Cheongmyeong Guild, one of Korea's Big Three. Park Bong-su, 1st Unit vice-captain—not weak.
Upper A-rank. Few could guarantee victory against him.
But—
Slash—
Yoo Seo-ah's talent rendered all his experience worthless.
Thud.
"A-aaak, u-uaaaah! M-my, my aaaarm!!!"
Park Bong-su clutched the stump below his elbow, knees buckling.
A slight body twist dodged his desperate thrust, while her upward slash severed below the elbow.
A strike so fluid, words failed.
Everyone but Park Bong-su was speechless at that beautiful sword stroke.
"Kh, ugh. Should've stabbed deeper back then······ finished you······ definitely killed youuu!"
Bloodshot eyes feral, he spat hatred at Yoo Seo-ah.
Blood dripped from the stump, drool from his mouth—the crowd shuddered.
A raw killing intent from an A-rank overwhelmed the space.
But facing the grudge and malice born of inferiority head-on, Yoo Seo-ah was unfazed.
She now knew no scheme of his could've killed her.
"Sorry, but you could never have killed me. No matter what."
"Hah, hah, ······what?"
"I've got a very reliable backer."
"What the······."
"Don't really wanna tell you, so I'll stop there. Now, go."
Shing—click.
She sheathed her sword. At that, the slashing seeds planted along her path germinated at her will.
Fwaaah—!
Shred-shred-shriiip!
Petals embroidered Park Bong-su's body gorgeously.
When they settled, he couldn't speak—shredded unconscious.
Yoo Seo-ah turned from his mangled form.
And faced him.
Her reliable backer.
"······Heh."
Seeing Kang Jinseong, a smile bloomed on Yoo Seo-ah's lips like a flower.
※