Do Flowers Bloom Even in Abandoned Lands? (2)
Harcon spoke to me.
"As you must have already surmised, Grand Commander, that was no ordinary sword technique. It wasn't a slash that cleaved the wind—it was a trajectory that simply rode upon it. There is but one in this world capable of leaving such a mark."
The one who had turned Tianxia Tongyi to ruins was none other than Elcidoir.
I was honestly impressed. Tricks or not, whatever the case, he'd reached a realm of swordsmanship surpassing even Harcon's—mine, technically.
...Surmised, my ass, Harcon. I had no clue.
I was learning the hard way just how vital experience truly was. Harcon had deduced it was Elcidoir's strike from the traces alone.
Of course, that was possible only because Harcon had forged a certain camaraderie with Elcidoir.
"How does it feel, Elcidoir?"
He'd always greeted Elcidoir warmly whenever he visited the Golden Palace.
Perhaps that's why hearing it was Elcidoir's doing felt so convincing.
Yeah, if anyone's capable, it's Elcidoir.
Elcidoir was strong. Not on Yunak Seus's level, but as a direct descendant of the World Tree—like dragons—an elf whose innate talent rendered him untouchable by any current player, effort be damned.
And even Tianxia Tongyi's no exception.
Besides, Tianxia Tongyi was all shine and no substance, a pretty shell sucked dry by Ryu Ojuncheon. He'd even scorned his own high-level guildmates, precious assets all.
Would a guy like that bother devising a proper leveling system for his low-level grunts? If he had, he wouldn't have ditched them without a second thought.
So Tianxia Tongyi crumbling helplessly before Elcidoir? Inevitable, really.
Clack—
Which is why, right after the Holy War Alliance meeting wrapped up, I headed straight for the Garden of Dignity.
His face had been so twisted up that I'd released [Blessing of Hierarchical Order], only for him to up and dash off to China to smash Tianxia Tongyi to bits.
Time to hear the reason.
Did Ryu Ojuncheon—or some Tianxia Tongyi player—pick a fight with him?
Stepping into the Garden of Dignity, I first inspected the flowers. My aesthetics wouldn't let me pass them by, and...
Everyone knows praise makes even elves dance.
I could've invoked [Blessing of Hierarchical Order] for an instant answer, of course. But after ripping into Ryu Ojuncheon's arrogance on the way back, something felt off, nagging at me.
And...
Justification always matters most. If he'd neglected his duties, that'd be one thing—but Elcidoir had tended the garden diligently in my absence.
The rare herbs had flourished beyond compare. Even without High El's blessed water for ages, they brimmed with vitality; some had clearly evolved into spiritual medicines at a glance.
Grade: Epic
Restrictions: None
Effect: Upon equipping, acquire knowledge of all minerals and plants on the Arcana Continent.
Description: A magical artifact containing immeasurable knowledge.
Effects of these spiritual medicines flooded my mind.
Spiritual meds? The more, the merrier.
Suddenly, spiritual med chugging came to mind—the poster child for it, the transcendent Urs of Iron Fist.
Urs had shown insane guts, standing firm before Yunak Seus, Agentress's elves, even Gluttony of the Seven Deadly Sins.
Confidence born of his own strength, no doubt.
But me? Downing more would be dicey.
Urs could keep popping them thanks to his freakish constitution. Me? I'd nearly croaked halfway to the afterlife after just two at once.
Of course, wasting precious spiritual meds was out of the question.
Only one choice, then.
Distribute them to the Holy War Alliance.
After pocketing a few I need.
Irreplacable ones I'd hoard out of sheer pity, but the Garden of Dignity promised no shortages.
With my mind made up, I finally spoke.
"It seems you've weeded out the refuse, Elcidoir."
No clue how long I'd been away, but he'd given his all to the task regardless. A heartfelt compliment, if I do say so.
Clang—!
...Why drop the trowel like that? And why stare at me with such shock?
I couldn't guess the reason, but silence covers half the bases. Sure enough, my quiet prompted Elcidoir to speak.
"Indeed. Your words ring true, my lord. I crossed into China, uprooted the trash and weeds, and returned. I take full responsibility for absenting myself from the Garden of Dignity without leave."
Damn, anyone overhearing would think I was some tyrannical boss. Sure, I'd ordered him not to leave the garden when he went on his rampage, but you know that order's ancient history, right?
More than that...
Didn't expect you'd own up so readily.
Grandfell-style rhetoric had backpedaled into a win?
Even if it was a lucky hit, I wouldn't squander it. Shamelessly, I pressed on.
"I trust there was just cause for such actions."
"......"
Silence stretched as I asked for the reason.
No way he did it for kicks, right?
What lunatic would invade China on a whim and trash Tianxia Tongyi?
Well, considering what he'd done to Rackid...
You just might, actually...
I shook off the suspicion. The venom in his eyes now was worlds apart from back then.
Finally, after deep thought, Elcidoir answered. I flinched at his words.
"Because it was a matter of my pride."
...Hold up, you too with the pride arc?!
Damn, pride's contagious as hell.
I met Elcidoir's gaze. His forest-deep pupils didn't waver a jot. No half-assed excuse there.
So my reply was simple.
"If it stems from your pride, I shall inquire no further."
Damn that pride! Our Grandfell, who holds his own pride sacred, equally reveres others'. If it arose from pride, no more questions asked.
Not like he crossed any lines—no deaths, after all.
But one thing needed settling. That's why I'd come to the garden.
Grandfell rhetoric shone again.
"Yet surely you know."
"...Know what, my lord?"
I caressed a petal.
"What must follow after weeding."
"...!"
Exactly.
Elcidoir had culled the weeds—Tianxia Tongyi—out of pride. The result? Ryu Ojuncheon abandoned guild and homeland to found a new nation.
China had become abandoned land.
I turned back to Elcidoir.
"I recall your words. Compared to the elves' homeland, Sisli, my garden was utterly unworthy, you said. But now, Elcidoir?"
"......"
His gaze swept the Garden of Dignity. A sight to stun anyone.
The garden's breathtaking beauty.
That's when I reminded him.
"You who wrought such splendor can surely manage it. Even land forsaken by its master—you will make flowers bloom there. I believe it."
"...!"
"Do not betray my faith."
"......"
I hadn't told him to shut up, yet Elcidoir stayed silent awhile.
Then, in a low voice:
"...I shall repay it."
Honorifics—the first I'd heard from Elcidoir.
Blood Elf, Elcidoir
* China.
From the moment Ryu Ojuncheon entered the Arcana Continent, [Brainwashing] naturally lifted.
Tianxia Tongyi's guildmates suffered the aftereffects of long-term indoctrination.
"...What the hell have we been doing all this time?"
"Busting our asses for nothing...!!"
"Goddamn it."
Flashes of memory. Blind loyalty to their lord. Every action had only eroded them from within.
It wasn't just Tianxia Tongyi. National leaders, racing to seal endless rifts, felt the same helplessness.
Chairman Jian Wei.
"Where's the Anti-Monster Combat Force?"
The hangover from Ryu Ojuncheon's sway lingered. As a non-player human, the headaches were brutal.
His legs trembled; balance was a struggle.
Yet as chairman, Jian Wei dragged himself to the command center to contain the crisis.
But the abscess had festered too long. No easy fix.
The ops staff delivered grim news with a pained face.
"All units are deployed to the Zero Mountains."
"What?"
The force's sole purpose: At rift collapse, unleash firepower to wipe monsters fast.
Why were they off in the Zero Mountains?
More urgent: Getting them back home.
"How long till return?"
"...Minimum three days, estimated."
"Three days?! In this crisis?!"
Rift collapse rates climbed in real time. One already past 90%.
Bad news didn't end there.
The staff pressed on haltingly. "That's assuming the carrier's intact."
"What?"
"Supporting Tianxia Tongyi's battles—hunts, really—consumed massive supplies and inflicted critical damage. Word is the stern was wrecked by sea monsters in the Zero Mountains..."
"Son of a...!"
Jian Wei ground his teeth.
Fine, maybe he had no right to rage. Player power was unstoppable, whatever.
Still, China yielding control to Tianxia Tongyi, getting played? All his fault.
But Ryu Ojuncheon? Unforgivable.
I... truly believed in you.
Post-cataclysm, maybe that man was China's needed leader.
Yet Ryu Ojuncheon trampled billions' faith. Recklessly discarded billions of lives.
Jian Wei clenched his fist.
...AAU.
They'd send "aid" soon, nobly. But Jian Wei couldn't rejoice. The price would be astronomical.
China might face a darker fate than collapse.
Yet he couldn't even grind his teeth in peace. Rift collapses spiked.
Finally, the staff brought utter despair.
"B-Beijing rift has collapsed!!"
"...!!!"
.
Not every Chinese player despaired.
A tiny few hadn't joined Tianxia Tongyi.
"Damn."
Just pitifully low-level.
"Urk."
Escape success. A handful of players tumbled out like they'd been spat from the rift.
But all gravely wounded, unable to flee further.
Other nations couldn't imagine this scene.
A man clutching his gut muttered bitterly.
"...Quite the spectacle, huh?"
Lv.400 was still high-level. Yet a single Lv.400 rift threatened national survival?
For China, with tens of millions of players? Deserved ridicule.
"First nation to fall to trolls incoming?"
All thanks to Tianxia Tongyi. Ryu Ojuncheon.
He'd hogged EXP inefficiently, burned through high-levels like fodder. No elites left in China now.
The man eyed the rift.
"...Rest in peace."
The skyrocketing rate hinted at failed players' fates.
The rift began crumbling.
He gritted his teeth. "I'll follow."
Click—
No escape. He raised sword and shield defiantly—
When brilliant light poured from the collapsed rift.
A human silhouette amid the blinding backlight.
"...?"
No, not human—ears too pointed.
Shing—
Too strong for human.
One strike. A single slash.
Lv.400 appropriate level. Collapsed rift cleared. Effortless.
The Blood Elf.
"From this moment, you are flowers."
"...Flowers? W-what do you mean?"
"Even if not by nature, you must grow so."
Abandoned land.
Therein, the first flowers of blood began to bloom.
"For that is His command."