Chapter 327: The Orphaned Flower of the World (1)

It was time to set things straight.

First of all, the person responsible for bringing the black‑haired girl to Joaquin Academy was Speedweapon.

Even knowing it could cause an uproar in my family, he did it anyway.

‘What the hell was going through his mind?’

After so many years in the Association, Speedweapon had become the typical yes‑man.

What motivated him to take such a proactive step this time?

And after creating all this chaos, he fled the director’s office, claiming he had to take a call.

‘That coward.’

He really ran away after almost destroying a family.

“…”

Ah, damn it.

Even in my own thoughts, I felt too guilty to continue talking.

I should’ve pretended to be asleep when Media asked if I had time to talk.

…But in hindsight, yesterday’s me let her in far too easily—almost handing her a free pass.

Did I hit my head permanently with those sashimi?

“Haa…”

Let’s set aside the fact that I’m a loser, for now.

I’m sorry.

I’m really sorry…

‘After all, human emotions are always changing.’

The root of our actions and feelings is unpredictable.

That’s why they say you know yourself the least.

That conservative Speedweapon would present Chaerina in front of my two wives…

And I didn’t stop Media.

There’s not much to rationalize here.

Trying to measure the human heart is one of the most foolish things you can do.

Just like it’s almost impossible to calculate the universe, understanding the microcosm of each individual fully is no different.

Most people pretend to be rational, but logic rarely takes full control.

‘I myself am proof of that.’

Anyway.

I realized that even to Speedweapon, this situation was unexpected.

But then came another unexpected twist.

‘No matter how unpredictable the horoscope…’

I never imagined Leon would actively push for Chaerina’s transfer.

Speedweapon, Leon, and I we’re three unique anomalies. I started thinking maybe all the men gathered there had eaten something bad.

But the surprises didn’t end there. And of course, it concerned Chaerina.

“Oppa.”

“…”

“I didn’t expect you’d be here. It’s been a long time since Uncle and Aunt passed. I didn’t recognize you at first since you changed your name.”

A distant cousin in disguise?

I was speechless, utterly bewildered.

“Let’s never be apart again.”

Because… simply… I…

Even though it was my first time seeing Chaerina, I had many questions.

After all, here was another girl with black hair and eyes appearing out of nowhere.

How could I not be curious? As we all know, those features belong only to outsiders from another world like me.

The clearest examples are Yu Sein and me.

I’m a Possessed, and she’s a Reincarnator.

Though we’re not together now, the boss—who shared our traits—was an Infinite Returner.

In short, we’re all sources of trouble.

This world, which might’ve continued in peace without us, ended up shaken like a seismic zone thanks to these three people.

So I went into full alert.

A girl with such unmistakable otherworldly traits appearing from thin air was highly suspicious.

Just like Yu Sein and I were.

And if Chaerina was one of those singularities, there would be a lot to discuss with her.

But our conversation would have to wait.

The White Horse Prince got ahead of me.

“Sorry to intrude on this family reunion after all this time. But the mock selection for first-years starts soon, and Rina will also be participating.”

“…”

Before replying, I observed everyone’s faces one by one.

Everyone was against me. The only suspicious one was me. Even the picky ones like Ryozo, and the other alumni, were giving Chaerina favorable looks.

Ryozo and Abel seemed completely disarmed by the fact that Chaerina was supposedly my cousin—and both Speedweapon and Leon supported her without reservation.

With a slightly furrowed brow, I felt like the final boss of some video game. In the end, I relaxed the muscles in my forehead.

“If it’s a selection test, then she should participate. Don’t you see the inter‑academy competition is around the corner? I heard the first‑years are still struggling with the selections.”

I shrugged as I spoke.

Anyone who knew me well might be surprised I didn’t lash out with sashimi.

But I’ve been a Possessed for over ten years, after all.

“I don’t know how my cousin got into Joaquin Academy, but if she can help in any way, I’d be glad.”

That was the safe, easy route.

Violence doesn’t solve everything. Sometimes you just have to stay still and observe.

With so many eyes on me, it was best to show calm.

‘If I start acting cold now, it’ll only raise more suspicion.’

Although the tension eased a bit with Chaerina’s arrival, I still needed a decent explanation for Ryozo and Abel.

Chaerina had given me the excuse; now I just had to use it.

“You said Speedweapon found her while trekking through the Demon Realm?”

“…Yes.”

I watched Chaerina’s reaction with interest.

Her black eyes were as unreadable as always. Impossible to gauge what was inside.

“Which is why I told you many times that moving to Korea would be safer. For security, there’s no place better than here.”

Chaerina remained silent.

Maybe she didn’t know how to respond to such affection from me.

Step.

I approached Chaerina with steady steps.

Up close, she was breathtaking.

Her night‑black hair and pale skin evoked nostalgia for my homeland but also reminded me of Earth’s most popular idols.

Her black eyes didn’t just attract—they felt like they could absorb anyone who gazed into them.

‘How long can those eyelashes be…?’

Her slender arms and legs, delicate silhouette, awakened a protective instinct.

Her perfectly balanced face suggested a firm, organized mind.

She was made up entirely of elements any man would admire.

She’d probably make more than one male student cry. But since she’s supposedly my cousin, no one would dare approach her—they’d just orbit around her.

“It’s strange coming from your wife, but Kang Geom‑Ma, it looks like you inherited your mom’s genes. If it was from your dad’s side, you’d be a walking statue.”

Ryozo’s comment felt like a dagger to the chest.

“Just kidding. To me, you’re still the most handsome.”

“That’s right.”

Abel backed him up.

“…Thanks, guys.”

Honestly, standing next to Leon, it wasn’t terribly convincing.

But still, praise from two of the most recognized female beauties among the heroes lifted my spirits considerably.

In that warm atmosphere, Chaerina looked at me intensely. With her gaze, it was as if she wanted to drill through my face.

‘Trying to read my reaction?’

Good.

All the better.

Chaerina, even if we’re meeting for the first time—I’ll play your little show gladly.

Slide.

I placed my hand on her head and petted it with a smile.

“You’ll be busy a few days with the tournament selections, so I’ll contact you. In the meantime, listen to Leon.”

Humans are just skin holding a little divinity inside, right?

I released a small amount of sensory energy to detect her movements.

A slight tremble.

So faint that anyone would’ve missed it if they weren’t paying attention.

Her front teeth lightly pressed against her lower lip.

It seemed she hadn’t expected me to accept her presence so easily.

I didn’t know her true intentions, nor how she had won over my comrades so quickly.

But Chaerina would eventually realize.

“I’m proud you made it into the academy too.”

That small step I took back—

“Rina.”

Was more terrifying than a hundred steps forward.

***

During reconstruction, a deliberate space was left around the main building of the academy.

In the paved garden, commemorative gravestones were installed to honor those who fell during the Second Great War against the demons.

If the gravestones had been erected vertically, students would have had to lift their heads to look at them, implying a forced sense of respect and reflection.

That was exactly what Joaquin Academy, in pursuit of innovation, wanted to avoid. So they placed the gravestones underfoot.

This way, paying tribute to the heroes wasn’t a burden. One could even offer a slight bow to these great heroes. It was a meaningful arrangement in many ways.

“That was the current director’s idea.”

That’s what Leon told Chaerina, who silently gazed at one of the slabs.

After parting from Kang Geom-Ma, the two of them were heading calmly to training ground number 11.

“Even as a student, she stood out for her intelligence. She was always hiding away, napping or chewing yokan sweets, but she never lost first place in written exams.”

Leon glanced around their surroundings.

“Not just Ryozo. Abel responsibly helped reform aristocratic society, and Rachel is reforming the United States from within—a country almost consumed by materialism. I don’t know much about Speedweapon, but I’m sure he’s doing his best in his role.”

His words left a bitter aftertaste.

All his former classmates were making the most of their abilities to contribute to humanity.

But he had spent ten years wandering Gehenna, the land of demons.

He didn’t think that time had been wasted.

Exploring the demon world had been a task he took upon himself.

He had embraced the role of observer, ready to spend the rest of his life there as a form of atonement.

But upon returning to the physical world, he felt like he was the only one who hadn’t moved forward.

No matter how much he told himself otherwise, he couldn’t help but feel restless.

The weight of the expectations once placed on him still haunted him.

‘And the one who sealed that fate was…l’

Leon subtly turned his gaze to the profile of the girl beside him.

From the first impression, Chaerina—supposed cousin of Kang Geom-Ma—was no ordinary girl.

And that feeling had been confirmed after the private conversation they had the day before.

The reason was the sword demonstration Chaerina had performed with a training sword.

‘The impact was like that clash between Kang Geom-Ma and Knox in the subspace.’

She was a genius.

Saying more would only diminish the obvious. Blood, after all, runs thicker than water.

‘I want to train her with my own hands—at least once.’

The desire he had been suppressing finally surfaced.

He wanted to shape a heroine who would open a new era—and with her, contribute to humanity’s future.

Whoosh.

A soft spring breeze stirred both their hair. Chaerina’s eyes followed the wind’s path.

There, the main building of Joaquin Academy stood quietly.

“The director and the Lady of the Sword… they’re my cousin’s wives, right?”

“Yeah. At the wedding, I heard both had loved him since they were students.”

“I see…”

Her black eyes locked onto a point on the main building—the window of the director’s office where they’d just been.

Because of the sunlight scattering in iridescent layers, the inside couldn’t be seen.

“It’s not like I ever ▇▇.”

“……?”

“But now… I ▇▇ want to.”

Leaving behind a confused Leon, who tilted his head, Chaerina began to walk.

Her face remained completely blank, even cold, but her footsteps rang out firmly, making her hair sway.

***

“You’re going to let her live—and walk away?”

Yu Sein was chewing on a piece of dried squid leg as he spoke, lying sideways on the living room sofa in a lazy posture.

To think I’d come to consult with him as a fellow from another world, only to have him practically suggest I kill her.

Sure, the “fallen saint” trope is a cliché in media culture, but this was taking it too far.

“Ryozo and Abel were there. If it hadn’t been for them, maybe I would’ve intimidated her a bit—but too many eyes were watching.”

“Wow! Since when do you care what other people think? Besides, those of us living off another world don’t have the luxury of looking back.”

“I think I finally understand why Welter lost his hair. Anyone would go bald serving a saint like you for life.”

“Don’t care.”

The more we talked, the more it sounded like I was just making excuses for not disposing of Chaerina.

The roles of destroyer and healer were completely reversed.

The urge to grab a sashimi knife surged like popcorn. It took a lot to keep it in check.

These days, my prior knowledge as a possessed person was almost useless, so sometimes I had to rely on what Yu Sein knew.

Like today.

Finally, Yu Sein was going to show his worth.

“Alright, enough nonsense.”

He licked the seasoning off his fingers and finally got up.

“If she’s got black hair and black eyes, there’s a high chance she’s from another world.”

He sat cross-legged on the sofa, arms folded solemnly. Only then did he start focusing on what mattered.

“…Up until recently, that would’ve been true. But lately, there’s another hypothesis.”

“Why now…? Oh.”

Yu Sein nodded.

“The Suppression has started to intervene directly. As a preliminary sign, more girls like Chaerina might start showing up. And you can’t just go around grabbing them and asking, ‘What’s your true identity?’ right?”

“True.”

No matter how much the world revered me as the Heavenly Sword, doing that would make me a lunatic. The more renowned I became, the more I had to lose. If I fell, Ryozo and Abel’s reputations would tank too.

“The old ‘Death Sashimi’ can’t show up anymore. If you pull something like that, it hurts my image too. After all, we’re supposed to be cousins.”

“…Since when did being my cousin become so trendy? Chaerina, you, everyone affected by the Suppression all seem obsessed with being part of my family.”

“It’s the classic fallen-heroine archetype. I went for that, too. Black hair and eyes are a cheat code.”

I blinked.

That was an unexpected response.

Yu Sein using terms like fallen-heroine archetype was surprising.

“You sure know a lot about that stuff, huh?”

“And you don’t? Ever since you played Miracle Blessing M, it’s clear you weren’t normal.”

“That was just because of the auto-battle system…”

“Couldn’t you have picked a different auto-battle game? Damn it, you’re just like me.”

“…”

“Don’t be embarrassed, idiot. Otaku knowledge is a key part of the post-possession comeback. You and I ended up here because we dug deeper into ourselves than the world. That’s what led to this Suppression or whatever.”

“So…”

I paused before finishing my thought.

“Chaerina… what exactly is she in this whole ‘post-possession comeback’ theory?”

“Why are you only looking for answers there? You need to look beyond that. The end of the world is right around the corner. The Suppression is already directly intervening.”

Yu Sein stood from the couch and grabbed a white coat from the rack. Was he leaving all of a sudden?

“Figuring that out is my job. Wait until the exchange event. I’ll find out exactly what Chaerina is.”

Before stepping out, he gave me a thumbs-up.

“Where are you going…?”

“To pray.”

“That suddenly?”

As he vanished through the slowly closing door, he replied,

“I’m out of blessings. Gotta recharge my divine power. For now, just leave Chaerina alone. Best not to pay her any attention at all. The more you try to understand, the more you’ll get hurt.”

“What am I supposed to do then?”

“The exchange event’s in two weeks. Just prep for that. While you were gone for a day, the whole world went nuts. Check the news or something.”

And with that, the door shut.

Then came silence. I was left sprawled alone in the living room.

Glancing out the large panoramic window, I could clearly see an apartment complex somewhere in Gangwon-do. Everything looked peaceful.

The trees—required by building regulations—soaked in the sunlight as they headed into summer. Yu Sein walked among them with his usual carefree gait.

Watching him, I couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh.

“This is a disaster.”

It was summer.

Well, not quite yet. But close enough. I sighed and reached for the remote.

“Huh?”

The moment I turned on the TV, I understood why Yu Sein had insisted so hard that I check the news.

[Breaking News: Urgent report just in…]

Wearing my usual empty smile, the vulgar words just slipped out.

“…Shit.”

Me on one side, and the world on the other—we were both headed straight to hell.