The Flower That Did Not Bloom (1)
Han Yeon-Soo.
A legendary hunter who was praised by everyone and was called ‘Queen’. A person who had the fewest skills among the first-class hunters, but she had the most specials and unique ones.
A talented hunter who was recruited as a member of the Five Heroes and was a great help in dealing with the plagues.
That was how I evaluated Han Yeon-soo before I returned.
I remember a conversation we had in the past before I returned.
“I have never failed…” she said.
“What?”
“I can control anyone when I want to. I have never failed. Kim Seung-hyun, Yoo Ji-yeon, and even you can’t resist my ability.”
“Isn’t that good, then?”
In response, she smiled bitterly.
“I just want to meet someone who won’t do what I want him to do… I was living immaturely. There were lots of people around, but to me, they were simply dolls, suited for criticism rather than relationship.”
Her mischievous expression disappeared at that moment. I’ll never forget that conversation and that sad smile, until the moment Han Yeon-soo was swept away by the plagues…
But now, the Han Yeon-soo before me looked like a crazy woman, a freak. I sighed as I looked at her red face.
“No, traveler. What did you do?”
[I didn’t know there would be a penalty. Well, she won’t be rude anymore, so that’s something good…]
Han Yeon-soo is an independent, quirky character. I couldn’t dare predict that she would be fascinated by me.
In a way, among the members of the five heroes, the most powerful one is now with me, embracing me.
If I can endure her, I now have the power to deal with the first plague.
But of course, when I looked at her, who couldn’t take her eyes off me, I can’t help but sigh heavily once more.
* * *
It was getting dark. I walked towards the training ground.
I received a bunch of text messages.
-Yoo Ji-yeon: You said you got a perfect score for the end of the month!
-Yoo Ji-yeon: Congratulations hahaha
-Yoo Ji-yeon: I also won the battle test thanks to you. Oh, and all the questions you gave me came out, so I only got five theoretical tests wrong.
-Yoo Ji-yeon: Thank you so much. I want to buy some food. Do you have time this weekend?
The text messages from Ji-yeon had a weird tone.
-Freak: Have you had dinner? If you were at an academy restaurant, your meal would be terrible, can I send you something? No, would you like to eat together? I’ll get you permission to go out.
-Freak: You must be busy. Do you need anything? It would be frustrating inside the Academy… Do you want to drop out and join our guild? I’ll get you in. Ah, if you are too shy, I’ll talk to the guild leader myself…
“Ha!”
I made several excuses to get rid of Han Yeon-soo earlier.
I told her it’s uncomfortable and embarrassing to be seen with her in the Academy, that I have a lot of work to do, that I could not waste any time…
What… They were not just excuses but facts.
“Oh, I understand…” She nodded her head and told me to ask her if I needed anything. Then, she took my contact information and left with a huge smile on her face.
At that time, I didn’t know she would do this.
Tuk.
Tuk.
The cellphone kept ringing with her text messages. I put it on silent mode and left it on the floor, before stretching out.
In the evening, the training ground was empty.
After taking the exam today, it was natural to take a good rest. I was tired of every single thing I’ve gone through today, but I can’t skip training.
First, I have to try the new skills I acquired.
“Hoo.”
I moved my finger once while breathing. The ‘Nightmare’ engraved on the back of my hand emerged in the form of a long sword.
[Skill, ‘Arrogant Fencing (F)’ is activated.]
The moment I held the sword, the skill was immediately activated.
I imagined a target in front of me and started wielding the sword.
My movements felt natural; I knew instinctively which move needed more strength, how to make it efficient.
[Hmm… that looked pretty good than your last training.]
Each of the merits of the ‘Miracle Sword’ and the ‘Balstaya Imperial Swordsmanship’ were combined. Often, I made moves that I don’t recognize, unconsciously.
The swordsmanship was very sharp and aggressive, and it seemed not to have any obvious weakness.
However…
“Something is different.”
I’m not sure how to describe it. It was as if I had more power, sharper, and my sword skills were perfect.
I understand that the two styles were combined, but something other than that changed…
[Hooh, doesn’t it really feel different?]
The traveler offered an explanation.
[What you feel now is the ‘story’. Every power has a story, and at the legendary level, the story is more vivid.]
“…”
[The more you wield a sword, the more legendary swordsmen possessing Arrogant Swordsmanship you will encounter. The moment the power becomes yours completely… maybe you yourself will become a legend.]
I let go of the sword. I didn’t have an actual battle, but my whole body was covered in sweat.
I did see what the traveler was talking about.
Every time I wield the sword, strangers passed by my mind.
There were people with skills far superior to mine, slashing at enemies, scattering blood. One was called a hero, another was called a wicked person, while the other one was simply called a swordsman.
Those memories were shared with me as I moved with them.
They weren’t clear, but they were not too vague…
[Your soul’s level increased.]
I breathed deeply one more time, feeling the air filling my chest. Even without looking at the notification window, I could fully feel that something inside me had grown.
[What… I didn’t expect this at all, haha… … .]
The traveler laughed. I also smiled a little.
“I guess it was helpful to train alone.”
I took a sip of water and caught my breath.
“Oh, and I want to ask you this.”
While resting, I opened my notification window and asked the traveler what it meant.
[Because you have acquired the legendary skill for the first time, you will be rewarded.]
[‘Talent, Akashic Records’ will be strengthened.]
[The ‘true story’ characteristic of the Akashic Record has been unlocked.]
[Akashik Record-True Story.]
[If the story of an entity is similar to your current situation, it will link you with a higher entity than the one you have linked.]
[*The higher the similarity between the story and the reality, the greater chance of a higher level to appear.]
The traveler began to explain.
[Oh, it’s quite famous among Akashik Record users’ abilities.]
“Is that famous?”
[Yes.]
The traveler nodded.
[For example, what is the key story of the valiant knight of the Balstaya Empire that you got last time?]
“The valiant knight… you’re talking about protecting the Master against ten knights?”
[Yes. When you understand the story, and you are in a similar situation, you are automatically linked to beings more powerful than the valiant knight himself.]
“…”
[If you look broadly, it could be triggered by defending someone from his enemy. But then, the similarity will be low, so it will not make much of a difference. So, how will you use it most effectively?]
“It would be a good idea to protect someone important to me against ten enemies.”
[Okay. You understand quickly.]
“So, to use it properly, the more linked and communicated beings, the better.”
[Yes. And the users of Akashic Records get stronger when there are more beings who have communicated with them. The ones you have linked so far have not exceeded ten, and the only ones that you have communicated are just the valiant knight of the Balstaya Empire, and me.]
“Hmm… If you think about it, that’s a rather small experience.”
[Correct. If you are an Akashic Record user and the only thing you can show for it is swordsmanship, then you are useless. I will leave you.]
“Ha ha ha ha ha…”
I was surely growing slowly. I have to catch up.
In my standards, I did well. I achieved an overwhelming 1st place in the Academy.
But for the traveler’s standards and the standards for Akashic Users, I’m still a weakling.
Then, I better work for it.
The bigger the goal, the better.
“Okay, I’ll start right away!”
I made a different weapon using Nightmare.
“Communication and Sharing,” I whispered.
[You used ‘Communication and Sharing’]
[Looking for stories that wander the dimension.]
[Current soul level is low.]
[Current rating is low.]
[There is a limit to whom you can communicate with.]
.
.
.
[Randomly selected one of the floating souls.]
[You have successfully communicated.]
Immediately, I saw three targets beyond me. I heard a deep voice.
『 There were a lot of rumors about me. 』
『 They said I was a child of Heaven. Some say I was hatched from an egg. Some say I made a bridge out of fishes and turtles. 』
One target is 100 meters away, the other target is far enough to look blurry, and the last target is so far away that it’s shape could not be distinguished properly.
『All of them were vain words. How could a human be hatched from an egg? My parents were just ordinary humans. 』
The speaker was a man silently pulling his bow as he stared at the targets. The bowstring was pulled taut. He seemed to be feeling the wind’s strength and direction, waiting for the best time.
Then-
Teeeng!
『 Of course, there were rumors that were not exaggerations, but in fact, the truth. 』
The arrow flew and pierced the center of the first target!
The man didn’t stop at all and immediately shot other arrows continuously.
The more the man focused, the narrower his sight became. However, as his sight narrowed, the surroundings became clearer, and targets which appeared blurry soon began to grow larger as if it was zoomed in front of their noses.
Tadak!
In one smooth motion, arrows pierced the center of the other two targets.
Nevertheless, he did not stop there and continued to shoot with all the arrows in his quiver, all of them flying towards the center of the targets in a beautiful line.
Quaduk!
The arrows hit the same spot where the previous arrows struck, breaking through the wood. It was repeated for over ten times each target.
『 It is my goal to know what lies outside of Cheon-ri. 』
The horse the man was on stomped its foot on the ground. Its movement gave a sense of stability, and the man didn’t find it difficult to shoot with that accuracy even while on horseback. He moved as if he was part of the horse.
[The Oriental Palace]
[His story continues to tell that he went outside of Cheon-ri, and found a kingdom. Although his achievements have been exaggerated to the point of deification, his greatness was undeniable.]
[You have succeeded in communicating with a great person.]
Whoo-
Vivid sensations broke into me as I opened my eyes to look at the large bow Nightmare turned to.
[You gained a high level of understanding of their existence.]
[You understand a lot about the story.]
As I accepted the notification, I laughed a little.
[Well? Why laugh?]
The traveler couldn’t understand why I found it funny.
“Because it’s a familiar story!”
Can I communicate with beings from other dimensions, or those who have existed in my world?
A story like this is very familiar, and every Korean would know who it was.
I could hardly stop smiling.
My training continued until late at night.
* * *
Lee Jin-woo picked up the phone.
“Uh, Mom. Why did you call this time? What is going on?”
– I just called because I wanted to hear your voice. What’s going on?
“But why are you whispering?”
– It’s because I’m working.
“Oh, no…”
Jin-woo’s mouth hung open, though he remained silent.
What work? She’s still going to that restaurant?
She has bad knees. It’s better for her not to go out and relax at home.
She will take it easy once I graduate. Or so I told her…
– I’m resting a little. My knees don’t feel good.
In the past, he would have nagged her and tell her to stop working and rest.
He always said that when he graduates from the Academy, he will become a hunter and give his mother a good life.
His chest felt stuffy.
If he says that now, it would make his mother laugh and feel better.
But he’s not confident to say it.
His report card for the end-of-month exam was in his hands.
The numbers written on it was against him.
Was it worth it going to the Academy?
The theory test was completely failed, along with the battle and hunting examinations. None of the guild officials or professors will remember the name Lee Jin-woo.
Numerous thoughts disturbed Lee’s head.
Can I become a hunter by graduating? Can I pass the Hunter exam?
No, can I graduate without failing?
If I fail even for a year, Mother will be in debt.
No, she’s already in debt. She always says she can afford it, but I always knew she was not eating enough meals…
– Take care of yourself, son. What if you get hurt? Huh? You know that I only have one son.
His hand shook as he held his phone. Yes, mom, I know I’m the only one, but why am I…
“I see. Uh, hang up. Call again tomorrow.”
His voice trembled, and he hung up quickly.
He was a prospect from a rural village that was able to enter Hwayeon Choin.
On the day he was announced as a cadet, his mother boasted around time, and the whole village celebrated it all together.
He felt very heavy, but tears won’t come out.
Sorrow has hardened his heart.
Thump!
Lee Jin-woo started beating his chest, but the tightness did not disappear.
Would it be better to smoke?
Suddenly, he craved a smoke, something he has never tried before.
“Hey.”
A familiar voice came from behind him.
Lee Jin-woo turned around.
“What are you doing there?” he asked.
It was Jeong Si-woo. His first and only friend at Hwayeon Choin Academy.
He felt envious of his friend, who blossomed while he stagnated.
“Just came home,” Jeong Si-woo said with a laugh.
Only
Jin-woo shook his head and laughed bitterly. He wasn’t jealous of Si-woo. He knew how much effort and pain his friend endured.
However, being in the presence of someone who was successful while he failed so much – it was painful.
“Lee Jin-woo.”
“Huh?”
In the dark, Jeong Si-woo approached him.
Lee Jin-woo felt strange as he looked at his friend’s eyes. They seemed to have a strange light. As if he was using a skill.
It was like seeing through him.
“Let’s talk a bit,” Jeong Si-woo said.
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