Chapter 54: Milkyway: The Vine of Spirits

[ M i l k w a y ]

[Observation Progress: 50%]

[This is a vine tree called the Milkyway of the earth. Clusters of pure white flowers bloom, and at night, a gentle light flows throughout the entire vine. (Read more)]

[(Omitted)]

[Effects]

[1. The subtle fragrance increases all abnormal status resistance.]

[2. (Unconfirmed)]

Jaeho checked the sapling he had received from Giant.

“There was basically nowhere to get Milkyway except for the Milkyway Garden in the Empire. I had a hard time sneaking it out.”

Milkyway was not only notoriously hard to cultivate, it was even more difficult to manage—a truly precious vine tree.

“But Alicia-nim, I’m sure you can handle it, right?”

“What?”

He wasn’t entirely wrong.

But…

“How many of these saplings do you have?”

“I could only get ten in total. According to the seller, though, if they take root properly, the vines will grow infinitely.”

“That’s not really the problem…”

[The Milkyway sapling is under severe stress]

[Due to suppressed growth will, the survival rate of Milkyway is extremely low]

In short, it was a total mess.

“The state of the saplings is really bad.”

“Huh? They clearly said it was top grade over there…”

He’d spent a whopping 50,000 gold on each sapling!

But to think he’d been scammed—

“I- I’m so sorry…!!”

Giant fell to his knees with a thud.

There wasn’t even a hint of suspicion that Jaeho might be lying.

Jaeho’s horticultural skills so far had proven superior to anyone’s.

“No, I don’t think it’s a scam. They’re definitely rare, that’s for sure.”

Even the description alone made it clear how rare they were.

The problem lay elsewhere.

“Suppressed growth will…”

Jaeho knew that all plant life had corresponding spirits.

The information confirmed by Plant Observation implied that those spirits had gone through some tough ordeals.

“Kkondae.”

“Huh?”

Giant mistakenly thought Jaeho was suddenly talking to him.

But soon, light flickered in the air, and the familiar spirit appeared.

“The Spirit of Vitality…!”

Having already seen Dae-wa Jingjing-i and Kkondae introduced through Huka’s broadcast, Giant recognized them right away.

— Hmm, Milkyway, huh…

Kkondae wandered around, carrying a sapling as big as himself.

“Suppressed?”

The spirits corresponding to each plant were the lowest rank, so direct communication was impossible.

Especially when Observation Progress wasn’t at 100%, like now.

At such times, Kkondae would act as an intermediary to check for him.

Because as a (self-proclaimed) Spirit King of Vitality, he could command all plant life in the Intermediate Realm.

Conversely, Jingjing-i would have influence over all demonic plants.

Which, simply put, meant he was useless here.

Sullen—

Jingjing-i, who showed up late following Kkondae, slumped into a corner with drooping shoulders.

— Your guess is correct.

After observing, Kkondae nodded.

— This is something that happens to many plants cultivated for landscaping in the Intermediate Realm. Especially in cases like this one. They’ve forced children who are always so lively to suppress themselves, day and night.

“So, does that mean it’ll die?”

— More accurately, the spirit will return to the Spirit Realm.

“Then how is the Empire raising Milkyway? I heard they even built gardens out of it over there.”

— Even if the spirit leaves, it doesn’t mean the plant always withers and dies. It just becomes an empty shell. The reason your flowers and the items made from them last so long is because the spirits remain within.

“So, does that mean there’s nothing wrong from the spirits’ point of view in what I do?”

Kkondae shot Jaeho a sidelong look, then shook his head.

— There’s nothing in what you do that causes problems. To begin with, your Flower Communication Power is at the level of Elves.

That wasn’t exactly reassuring.

After all, Jaeho cut, twisted, and otherwise did cruel things to flowers…

— That’s just a matter of understanding. Even if they can’t communicate with you, the spirits fully trust you.

“…Somehow, that just makes me feel guiltier.”

But, well… if the Spirit King says so, then there probably isn’t a problem.

— Fortunately, since these are still saplings, the spirits haven’t left yet, so there’s a chance. Though it won’t be easy.

That was good news.

And, right now, Jaeho also had .

Still, it was clear there wouldn’t be any rest…

“All right, let’s see!”

Jaeho finally turned to Giant.

Giant’s plan was simple.

To use Milkyway vines to divide up the messily built Elf houses.

He’d already gathered information on the relationships between neighboring Elves and their preferences.

So, all he had to do was lay the vines according to those preferences.

But there was one problem with this plan.

“If the saplings are in bad condition, forcing them to grow branches might kill them.”

“Huh? Then what should we…”

“We’ll have to let them settle in naturally.”

Helping the vines grow naturally was simpler than expected.

It was just a matter of making a path for them!

So, for now, full-scale work was postponed, and the strategic laborers began installing vine supports throughout the city.

***

After logging out, Jaeho searched for the Milkyway Garden that was said to exist only in the Midst Empire.

It was extremely hard to find even images or photos, considering its fame.

Apparently, even in the Empire, only royalty could enjoy that place.

He finally found a few photos of the Milkyway Garden.

A low hedge, about waist high, stretched in a perfect line as if measured, and here and there among the vines, pure white flowers bloomed—truly beautiful.

But the real highlight was the night photo.

After the flowers had fallen and only the vines remained, patches here and there glowed like lanterns.

He could see why it was so precious…

“But I can also see why the spirits left.”

For landscaping, strict management was inevitable.

From a human perspective, it was perfect management.

But that was only true if you didn’t know spirits existed.

And now, Jaeho knew exactly how to care for the Milkyway of Elysia Garden.

“Because this is a city of Elves.”

Even after that, he looked up more materials, but it was all much the same.

Very few Players had even visited that place to begin with.

In the end, Jaeho got nothing useful from the internet, so he headed to the gym.

Though Wooram supported Jaeho’s gaming life, he never compromised on regular exercise.

Thanks to that, Jaeho’s Physical hadn’t diminished at all.

“Hm… I should hurry, or I’ll get scolded for being late.”

Jaeho left the apartment in a rush.

Tadadak—

“?”

Just then, two men suddenly blocked Jaeho’s way in a hurry.

“What the—?!”

Jaeho was bewildered by the unfamiliar experience of someone blocking his path.

But despite their bold stance, the two men stammered with pale faces.

“Uh… um…”

“S-so, that is…”

They struggled to speak, barely able to catch their breath.

“A-Alicia-nim, right?!”

“No. Who is that?”

Jaeho immediately denied it.

“No way…”

“Anyone can tell you’re Alicia-nim…”

The two didn’t believe him, and Jaeho himself knew full well that was a useless excuse.

His aura was simply impossible to mistake for anyone else’s.

“P-please, just a moment of your time! I’m Recruitment Team Leader Kim Dupyo from the 1st Gaming Team. And this is Assistant Manager Jang Junho.”

“…How did you even find me here?”

Jaeho asked with a hint of displeasure.

Surely the game company hadn’t leaked his personal info, right…

“W-well… we saw rumors on the internet.”

“…What?”

They found him just from rumors?

How was that even possible—

“H-here…!”

Noticing Jaeho’s suspicious look, one of them quickly handed over his phone.

On it was a New World community post.

— Alicia lives in our neighborhood!

ㄴAre you Alicia’s friend? How would you know?

ㄴYou can just tell by looking—what else?

— Ah, is that 00-dong?

ㄴYup, that’s right. Honestly, anyone can tell it’s Alicia.

ㄴThen it must be. I saw someone like Alicia near our school.

ㄴProof shot plz

-(Photo)

ㄴkkkkkkkkkk

ㄴlolkekekeke

ㄴHey, this is legit. Looks just like him lolol

ㄴNo, not just looks like—pretty sure that’s literally Alicia. Seriously, is there anyone else that scary-looking?

— Wait, Alicia’s Korean?

ㄴPuh-lease

ㄴDoesn’t look Korean at all. How’s that an East Asian Physical?

ㄴTry talking to him!

ㄴNo way, can’t be done… Way scarier in real life.

Seeing all these posts left Jaeho speechless.

Even worse, the candid photo showed him in the very same training suit he was wearing now.

“Wait, so… everyone in the neighborhood already knew? Were they just pretending not to?”

Chills belatedly ran down Jaeho’s spine as he looked around.

At last, he started noticing all the stares around him…

“Hope I haven’t picked my nose on the street or anything…”

A useless worry.

But Jaeho had no idea.

They’d actually spotted him several days ago… and only just mustered the courage to approach him today.

“Well… I get it now. You must be here about the Pro Gamer offer, right?”

It was obvious, even if they didn’t say so.

He’d already been approached by several Korean Gaming Teams in-game.

“Ah, yes, yes! But we thought it was only proper to come in person…”

“Sorry if this is an inconvenience. Like we told the other teams, I’m not really interested in being a Pro Gamer—”

“Ah, we’re well aware!”

Dupyo quickly interrupted Jaeho.

It was already well known among teams that Jaeho’s top priority was his flower shop.

“That’s why, after an internal meeting, we have a new proposal… as our Mascot!”

“Mascot?”

A completely unexpected offer.

“Yes. We’d like to make Alicia-nim the official face of our Gaming Team.”

In fact, recruiting him as a player without definite proof of his combat skills would have been reckless.

Plus, his dedication to the flower shop was a clear obstacle.

But they couldn’t simply let go of the name ‘Alicia’ and all it carried.

“First King among Players.”

“King of the Elves.”

“The one who poured cold water on Bulgeom Guild.”

And on top of that, the naturally heavy and fearsome aura!

Jaeho not participating in actual matches?

It didn’t matter.

He was already seen as a final boss in New World.

That alone was enough.

“So… you want me to just be the face, not actually play in the league?”

“That’s right. Well… maybe you could play a match someday if you feel like it… but we’ll try to avoid that as much as possible.”

After all, if he did play and lost, his value as a Mascot might plummet.

Jaeho listened to the whole story, pondering seriously.

“This actually sounds like a really good deal.”

As Jaeho hesitated and took time to answer, Dupyo and Junho clenched their fists.

“Well then.”

At last, Jaeho slowly opened his mouth.

“Shall we go to a cafe and discuss this in more detail?”

***

Jaeho showed up late to the gym, causing Wooram’s brows to knit in irritation.

He supported Jaeho’s dream (or, more accurately, Wooram’s own dream), but he wouldn’t tolerate any neglect of health.

As soon as your stamina drops, your Physical in-game will drop too.

“You little punk!!! Didn’t I tell you to never be late for workouts?!”

Wooram yelled so loudly the whole gym echoed.

“Thirty minutes late! That means we get home late, we play games late, and if you’re tired, we’ll start late tomorrow too…”

“I just ran late because I had an impromptu meeting with a Gaming Team.”

“Still, even so—wait, what?”

Wooram nearly let it go because Jaeho sounded so casual.

Gaming Team…?

“Yes.”

“Which one?!”

“Not that you’d know if I told you.”

“You punk! I used to go to gaming tournaments too when I was young! Do you even know Faker?!”

How much agony had he felt at the last reunion, hearing his friend brag that his kid was cast by <71>?

After that, Wooram had done his research.

“Better not be some no-name team! If it’s something like Military Ace, I’ll—”

“I signed with MK.”

“?!!!”

Sway—

Wooram staggered, hit by sudden dizziness.

“That’s it…!!!”

His heart thundering!

Already, Wooram was looking forward to the next reunion.