The Cloud of Cherry Blossoms

Choi Minseo stepped into the room as if entranced, slowly looking around. The subtle, pervasive scent relaxed her body, leaving her feeling at ease.

"Oh, are you GreenNature?"

Choi Minseo turned her head. It was a famous actress, someone no one who watched dramas could fail to recognize.

"Ah, hello!"

"I didn't expect to see you here. I enjoyed your commercial."

Choi Minseo’s heart pounded. The actress was known as the "Nation’s Mother," a woman with a friendly and warm image. Did even a person like this use drugs?

"Seeing that look on your face, is this your first time in this room?"

"Ah, yes."

"Hehe. There’s no need to be nervous. Everything they ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠handle here is a top-tier product with no addictive properties. It lets you have happy dreams, so I use it every time I come. Agent, please."

The actress had her secret service agent prepare it for her. She sat on a nearby sofa, took a deep drag from something that looked like an electronic cigarette, and closed her eyes. Her eyebrows trembled slightly, and she smiled. Choi Minseo began to feel intrigued. So, this was the culture celebrities enjoyed. If she couldn't adapt, she’d look like a country bumpkin, wouldn't she? Seeing the actress release all the tension in her body as if she had shed every worry in the world, Choi Minseo began to feel reassured.

'R-right. They call it drugs, but it's not like celebrities would do anything dangerous. It’s probably like aromatherapy.'

Choi Minseo turned to Irua.

"Could you please help me once, too? Since it's my first time, something light…."

Irua smiled lightly.

"Understood."

Irua guided Choi Minseo to a plush sofa. Choi Minseo leaned back comfortably.

"Relax your tension and smell the scent first."

Irua seductively massaged Choi Minseo’s shoulders, loosening her knotted muscles. A machine emitting a strange, sharp, tingling scent was pushed toward her nose.

"Next is the inhalation. I’ll hold the straw for you, so take a deep breath as if you’re swallowing through your nose."

Choi Minseo did as she was told, sniffing in. Sniff, sniff. Through the connected straw, a pink powder entered her system in an instant.

"…Haa?"

Choi Minseo let out a light moan without realizing it. Her pupils dilated.

"The name of this drug is 'Cherry Blossom Cloud.' It shows you the happiest moment of your life, and when you wake up, only the good feelings remain."

Irua’s voice seemed to ripple. Choi Minseo’s consciousness grew hazy.

"The raw material for this drug is."

It was drifting further and further away. Was someone pushing the sofa? When did they attach wheels to it? Agent, where are you going? Someone is pushing me. But it’s okay. It feels good. But I can't hear what you're saying very well.

"It’s Pestam."

Thud.

Black. Here is black. The left is also blac—no, that’s not it. The left is the hand I eat with. I ate rice tomorrow. Tomorrow was a rainy day. If it rained, I felt better. If I feel good, I don't have to get hit. It’s raining. I said it’s raining, didn't I? Why are you angry? I told you it was raining. I’m not the one doubting. You’re the one doubting, aren't you? Are you going to hit me again? If it rained, I felt better. I don't have to get hit? If it rains, those kids don't go outside. If they go outside, I have to get hit. If I get hit, I turn red. I hate red. Because I hate red, if I keep digging, I get suspicious, and if I get suspicious, I have to dig more, and if I dig and dig and dig, it’s white, and white is the complementary color of black, so if I see black, the left is right, isn't it?

"You son of a bitch! You freak!"

It was a rainy day. Usually, on rainy days, they didn't drag me out to hit me. The bullies who tormented Choi Minseo didn't like getting wet either.

"Kill him! Why is a freak like you at the Hero Academy!"

However, it seemed they were angrier than usual that day. I didn't know the details. They just needed a target to use as a punching bag, and as always, it was me.

"Ugh, aaaaagh!"

"Monster, it’s a monster!"

It was more severe than usual. Five people tormenting me. Three men, two women. Even though I was always hit, they rarely tormented me sexually. But that day, my clothes were torn. My underwear was torn. I was hit in the chest and my private parts. When my neck was strangled and my legs were forced apart, and yet I couldn't resist because of the terror imprinted on my body.

"You bastards don't even have the basics. School violence and gang rape? Is this something that should happen at the Hero Academy?"

A dragon-kin appeared in front of her.

"You can't even grasp the difference in skill with your opponent, and you can't distinguish whether they are a hero, a freak, or a villain based on their ability characteristics, yet these things are hero candidates? The level of education has hit rock bottom!"

The dragon-kin beat the bullies until they were a pulp. Afterward, he looked back at her, turned his head away as if embarrassed, and hurriedly brought a blanket from nearby to throw at her.

"Cadet Choi Minseo. I came here because I had business with you, but first, we need to go to the hospital together. And, uh… I didn't see anything."

That day, Choi Minseo’s life changed. A scout from the S-class hero, Red Dragon. The ordinary cadet at the academy who hadn't stood out was reborn as an S-class hero through training. Choi Minseo respected Jung Uiseok. He pulled her out of hell, recognized her talent. The consideration he showed by pretending to be embarrassed when he saw her bruised body—a body that had no feminine charm and had been moments away from being raped as a plaything. Respect, gratitude, and the sense of accomplishment she could learn from training with him. The bond with the new colleagues she met. She enjoyed to the fullest the positive emotions she had never been able to feel in her life until now.

'I'm happy.'

'Happy, happy.'

'I am the happiest person in the world right now!'

She prayed that time would last forever. It began to slowly twist as the battle with the Dark Kingdom began. The Dark Kingdom was cruel. Many heroes and citizens died. To reduce their casualties, the Dragon King Squadron had no choice but to defeat them a little faster, a little more. At first, it was fine. The Dragon King Squadron fought while encouraging and cheering each other on. But one day, two days, a month. Fighting without a day of rest, their spirits gradually became devastated. When did it start? The increase in arguments between Jung Uiseok, Ji Sehwa, and Shin Yukyung. When did it start? The moment Choi Minseo’s own respect and gratitude for Jung Uiseok turned into envy and jealousy. In the rear of the Dragon King Squadron, while crossing the same lines of death and suffering the same hardships. That no one looked at her or acknowledged her. It felt like she was returning to those days again. Ah, that was when.

Choi Minseo realized.

'What do you mean by that?'

One day, while eating in the middle of the battlefield using the corpses of freaks as chairs.

'Uiseok oppa and Somi unni are dating…?'

'What are you talking about? It’s been a while. Since the beginning of the Dark Kingdom battle, you idiot.'

Ji Sehwa, who was actually snapping at her. Clatter! For some reason, Kang Yerin, who was eating next to her, dropped her combat ration and had a look of despair, but she didn't care. Because they weren't that close to begin with.

'E, eh? Isn't now the time to focus on the fight with the Dark Kingdom?'

'I agree. Jung Uiseok is spiraling out of control. At this pace, we’ll burn out before we even meet Dark Arthur.'

Shin Yukyung said. Choi Minseo looked at the backs of Jung Uiseok and Han Somi, who were eating together in the distance. Why do you have everything? Wasn't saving me for my sake? For yourself. Your life. Your money, honor, love. To achieve those things. Am I a tool? I’m suffering like this now because you saved me that day, yet you don't share anything with me.

—Zzzzt.

Jealousy began like that. So, when Han Somi died, Choi Minseo was, on one hand, relieved. Because she knew Jung Uiseok couldn't have everything. But what was going on? Jung Uiseok became even stronger in body and mind, accelerating the subjugation of the Dark Kingdom. As if he were a machine that knew nothing but battle.

'That can't be. How can he be sane when his lover is dead?'

Choi Minseo heard the Association President’s words, searched Jung Uiseok’s house, discovered the drugs in the basement, and finally felt relieved. Ah, Jung Uiseok is human too. He’s such a pathetic person with such a huge weakness. He was holding on with this. So, when that pathetic Jung Uiseok died, she was happy—happy—happy——

"There's no way I'm happy."

"There's no way I'm happy, there's no way I'm happy, there's no way I'm happy!!!"

"Aaaah, aaaaaaaah, aaaaaaaaagh!!!!"

The darkness returns. Choi Minseo ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠screamed. Black blood poured from her vocal cords. She couldn't tell if it was inside or outside her throat.

"Happy because I stole Uiseok oppa’s honor? Happy because I put Uiseok oppa under my feet? No! This is jealousy! I’m jealous, so how can I be happy!!"

She had faced the truth she had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠been ignoring all this time. Honor, attention, fame. Those were fake goals. They were just a compensatory psychology for losing the emotions that were the driving force of her happiness because of those things.

"I, I."

Choi Minseo scratched her nails with all her might beneath her dilated pupils. Black blood flowed through the wounds and then floated toward the sky.

"I needed someone to respect."

Chasing his back, receiving his encouragement, being grateful to him, and the time spent with him. That was simply happiness.

"Uiseok oppa. What, what have I done?"

Thump!!

Jung Uiseok’s face was shoved in front of her eyes. The face of a corpse with hollowed-out pupils.

"What have you done, indeed."

Jung Uiseok’s mouth opened, and black blood poured out. It drenched Choi Minseo’s face. For some reason, her vision wasn't blocked.

"You killed me."

"Aaaah! No, no, nooooooo!!"

The nightmare had only just begun.

"Ah."

Choi Minseo opened her eyes. She stretched pleasantly.

"Did you have a good dream?"

Irua smiled brightly. Choi Minseo wore a comfortable smile.

"Yes. I don't remember it well, but I was really, really happy. Thank you, Agent."

Tears were flowing from Choi Minseo’s eyes as she said that.

"Are you sure it’s effective? She just seemed to like it."

"That’s the scary part of 'Cherry Blossom Cloud.' It makes you experience the ups and downs so intensely that your brain is ruined, but only the feeling of the 'up' remains."

"Hmm. But will one time be enough?"

"It’s enough."

I was certain. Because the party venue had tight security, it was very difficult to infiltrate Irua. Since they didn't handle dangerous drugs like Pestam, bringing it in was also complicated. But it was worth it.

"The addiction rate of 'Cherry Blossom Cloud' made with Pestam is 100 percent. This drug does not cause physical addiction."

"You mean it’s a mental addiction?"

"It’s an addiction of the subconscious, too. Even Quetzalcoatl cannot cure this. Because it’s not physical damage. It’s not a dangerous drug for no reason."

"That’s scary."

Irua rubbed both her arms as if she had goosebumps.

"But if she just likes it, it’s not much of a revenge, is it?"

"Haha. You’ll know soon enough. I can’t miss Choi Minseo’s expression then."

"Then?"

"The biggest purpose of working on Choi Minseo is the Pestam she possesses. The storage amount is over 20 tons. That is essential for dealing with the Galactic Empire."

When the time comes, Choi Minseo will bring the stored Pestam to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me with her own two feet. Suddenly, Irua stopped walking. Looking back, she was staring at the distant sky.

"Hmm?"

I also followed Irua and looked up at the night sky. A sharp crescent moon. Next to it, there was a white oval object larger than the crescent moon. It was still much farther away than the moon. I couldn't even guess how massive the object was.

"Zeo, what is that?"

"They’ve arrived quickly. The Galactic Empire, Laniakea."