Do Flowers Bloom in Abandoned Lands? (3)

Blood elves. If they were merely elves driven mad by blood and slaughter.

Then why had the World Tree ordained such a fate for its own bloodline?

Regrettably.

There was no one left in the world to raise such questions.

The supernovas who first witnessed that message had long been buried deep underground in the Yusra Kingdom.

That raised yet another question.

How did they perceive a blood elf at this very moment?

After fierce struggles against the overflowing rifts, China's players caught their ragged breaths and stared at Elcidoir.

"What kind of movement is that……."

"Forget the movement—the sheer power in that swordsmanship? No, it didn't even take a full minute to clear a rift! It's on a whole other dimension. Several dimensions, even."

"More importantly, why the hell is it helping us?"

A bitter smile escaped them.

"Who knows. The message called it a blood elf, anyway. Maybe it grew a conscience when it turned into one? Whatever. Thanks to it, we're alive. Now if only we could do something about these wounds……."

The player recalled his tattered abdomen.

A monster's strike that even Lv.300 rare-grade gear couldn't block.

A serious injury, but surviving was a blessing in itself…….

"Huh?!"

It was gone.

The wound.

A single thread of red mist rising from the flesh that had borne only scars hinted at why the man's wound had healed.

"……!"

That red thread connected to the blood elf, Elcidoir.

Elcidoir vaguely sensed it.

Something was different.

Not the ecstasy of being drenched in blood.

Warmth emanated from the sticky, fishy blood.

Warmth. Warmth.

"Ha."

Elcidoir let out a small laugh.

It resembled the warmth he'd felt from his mother, the World Tree.

Elcidoir gazed at the red aura rippling around him.

More precisely, at the tide of blood converging on him.

It was incomprehensible, even seeing it with his own eyes.

Why did these humans, whom he'd deemed lower than insects, evoke the same warmth as his mother?

Whatever.

But Elcidoir didn't dwell on it deeply.

Whether because the warmth felt alien.

Or because the monsters before him were an eyesore.

The reason didn't matter.

"My task remains unchanged."

What mattered was to make flowers bloom in soil cleared of weeds.

It was Hoyeol's command.

Thanks to that, Elcidoir remained unaware.

That the gentle temperature essential for flowers to bloom.

Had been provided by the warm blood.

And that he himself had blossomed, come into full flower.

Kinber stubbed out his cigarette and smirked.

"See? Told you it could do it, pointy-ears."

That day, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠China suffered hundreds of casualties.

Fifteen rifts had collapsed, most victims dying inside while trying to prevent the outbreaks.

But no civilians perished.

Thanks to the flowers of blood exuding vitality.

Elcidoir's exploits heralded spring's arrival on frozen soil.

Of course, other flowers might not bloom just yet.

But Elcidoir was quite satisfied.

"This land is warm."

For the warmth he felt now was real.

Thud. Thud.

Figures approached such an Elcidoir.

"On behalf of China's players…… no, adventurers, we come to express our gratitude. We mean no harm. If we offend, we'll withdraw immediately."

They couldn't even lift their heads.

Their excessive deference made him realize the infamy he'd earned in the adventurer's world.

So Elcidoir never forgot his place.

Even if he'd bloomed into a flower.

That flower hadn't bloomed by its own power.

Elcidoir turned away after a single word.

"Direct your thanks to Him, not me."

"Him……?"

……Halt.

Elcidoir's steps stopped.

Chief Mage of the Mage Tower, Black Dark Dragon, a single ray of light in endless darkness…….

So many epithets, it was hard to choose.

It hasn't quite rolled off the tongue yet.

Moreover, uttering those names directly was embarrassing, given how he'd called Hoyeol an insolent human wretch until recently.

So Elcidoir added indifferently.

"There is but one whom I call Him."

Yes, that would suffice for now.

AAU Branch Chiefs' Meeting.

Korea's branch chief, Park Minjae, struggled to hold back his laughter.

These faces are priceless.

Just one day.

AAU had ridden a rollercoaster of upheaval.

The sudden collapse of Cheonha Tongil.

China failing to handle rifts, teetering on national collapse.

They must've all been looking forward to it in their own ways.

Finally wielding AAU's influence, right?

But as they eyed China hungrily.

Swallowing their saliva.

Their wishes went unfulfilled.

Once again.

Hoyeol had quelled the crisis in a way that exceeded all expectations.

London's branch chief, Baker, spoke to the disgruntled chiefs as if for their benefit.

"As expected of the Yusra Kingdom's Overall Commander! He even sent word he'd skip the branch chiefs' meeting to prepare for entering the Arcana Continent. And amid that busyness, he resolves the Cheonha Tongil mess too."

Park Minjae chimed in appropriately.

Not out of fondness, but annoyance.

Those branch chiefs who switched stances for profit whenever convenient.

And the nations tangled with them.

"And that's not all. Who'd have dreamed he'd completely remake that headache, Elcidoir? Turns out tending plants in a greenhouse is good for the soul, huh?"

Sweep—

Park Minjae's gaze swept the conference room.

By the way, his Cosmo days nickname was Mad Dog.

The lunatic who'd charge even at the CEO.

"Maybe we should put some potted plants in every conference room? Nah, that might not cut it. Some of you might need to remodel your offices into full-on greenhouses."

Korean's spicy kick.

Park Minjae's blunt words choked a few.

"Ahem."

Some chiefs' faces flushed red, but that was it.

Getting indignant just proved they'd stepped in it.

Park Minjae eyed them closely.

A new phase is coming soon.

The portal to the Arcana Continent would open.

Before the vast land of opportunity, petty prides would crumble.

Bitter, but hardly shocking.

Humans were like that by nature.

Park Minjae shrugged.

Well, my own pride and leisure…….

Might stem from the Overall Commander being a fellow Korean.

So Park Minjae harbored no pointless superiority.

He just kept one thing in mind.

Even ten fathoms deep in water is knowable; the human heart is not.

Hoyeol had so much on his plate.

He'd inevitably skip more branch meetings ahead.

Thus, Park Minjae planned to watch even more sharply—for Hoyeol's sake too.

Too busy advancing to get stabbed in the back, right?

Mage Tower lobby.

"I-it's open!!"

Cheers erupted from players camping before the portal.

Finally! The portal to the Arcana Continent had opened.

Messages flooded Park Hwigang's vision.

What were explorers?

Those who tracked treasure from map fragments or tavern rumors.

Park Hwigang, a league explorer and veteran among them.

Such riddles were child's play.

"As expected of Hoyeol-nim!"

Accomplishing the monumental feat of linking reality and the Arcana Continent.

Yet acting as if it were only natural.

Refusing even to leave his name.

Such incorruptible integrity.

"If it were me, I'd have carved my name first. Every time players use the portal, it'd imprint on them! Too attention-seeking? Pfft, that's why we stream."

Hoyeol had unavoidable reasons for anonymity…….

But Park Hwigang, like other players, couldn't guess them.

Besides.

Too tantalized by the Arcana Continent beyond to dally at the portal entrance.

Of course, Park Hwigang didn't rush.

"First, confirm exact coordinates! Hoyeol-nim warned the Arcana Continent is dangerous! Even before the cataclysm, dying screaming outside city walls was normal……."

Now, even the empire's protective walls had crumbled.

Moreover, demons beyond compare in number to reality's lurked, eyeing their flesh.

That reminder brought realistic worries crashing on the players poised to enter.

"……More than that, hope there's lodging?"

"Lodging my ass. Only the imperial capital Antonium is intact, right? Pray we land near it."

"I don't know about anything else, but I need a toilet to sit on."

The path to the Arcana Continent lay open.

Those excited solely by that overlooked practical issues, now stumped.

They'd end up setting up base camps like in the Zero Mountains.

But the hesitation was brief.

"Anyway, can't hurt, right? Worst case, we bail."

Soon, the lead player stepped into the portal.

With it, the destination's scenery flooded his mind.

Distinctly alien—definitely the Arcana Continent.

"……Huh?"

Word was, no intact cities or territories remained on the current Arcana Continent.

Even the imperial capital Antonium had suffered breached walls.

Yet it felt alien for another reason.

"Wh-what's with all the glitter?!"

No—dazzling, resplendent.

What vast territory and grand mansion was this city?

Before the puzzled player's eyes.

The portal's specific destination info appeared.

"……Wait, Claudy? As in?!"

Too great a house to stay buried in the sands of time.

The Claudy name was resurfacing.