Chapter 57: Petals and Sparks

“Croaking! Taylor’s back?”

“What? How did that mutt—?”

Sub Guild Master’s words startled Crowing.

“Just yesterday, he was whining and begging to be saved. How did he get here?”

“How should I know? More importantly, can you try calming him down?”

“Why me?”

“You’re the one who ordered us to leave Taylor alone.”

“I’m the king, you know.”

At Crowing’s words, he was met with an exasperated expression.

“That might work on the low-ranking guild members, but Taylor’s not like them.”

As Sub Guild Master said, Taylor was nothing less than a founding hero of the Bear Kingdom.

But Crowing, having gotten drunk on his kingly role, seemed to have completely forgotten about that.

He had insisted that Taylor needed to be pacified… but in a fit of temper, Crowing had just gone and done it.

“Sigh. Fine. I’ll go talk to him.”

In the end, Crowing reluctantly accepted.

A little while later, Crowing and Taylor sat face to face, awkwardness thick in the air.

“Ahem, see? You could come out just fine on your own, so why were you making all that noise yesterday?”

Whimper—

Crowing’s tactless remark nearly made Taylor leap across the table.

But he managed to regain his composure, recalling the chilling face of Jaeho that flashed through his mind.

“Haha… Well, you know how it is? Friendship… It was like a test or something!”

“…What kind of cringey act was that?”

“Ahem! It happens! Try being stuck in the middle of enemy territory alone! You start getting touchy about every little thing!”

“Weren’t you captured on purpose in the first place? Right after you were caught, didn’t you say you wanted to gather some intel from inside Elysia?”

And so, he’d suffered for it and was now a turncoat.

“I was just acting so I could deceive Alicia!”

Taylor started rambling excuses that were utterly unconvincing.

“Did you really have to act that out too?”

“W-Well, anyway! I brought back some good intel.”

As Taylor felt himself getting cornered, he quickly changed the subject.

“Oh? As expected of the best assassin. So, how does it look?”

Fortunately, Crowing was easily drawn in by the interesting news.

“Ahem, you need to be careful not to act rashly. There’s not just Elves in there—they’ve got some hidden forces too.”

This time, he was serious.

He could still clearly remember the scene where the wooden prison bars, which not even he could budge, were snapped like twigs.

“Hmm… Judging by Elysia’s current mood, things are going pretty well over there. Wouldn’t this be a good time to send in a spy?”

“Well… It didn’t seem like they had any way to figure that out on their side.”

“Good. Then maybe it’s time we set those vines ablaze. That’ll show them.”

“?!!”

They had the exact same thought, to a chilling degree.

But there was a difference in their experience.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

Taylor, who had seen the power of the Moonlight Elm firsthand, was now on a whole different level!

“From what I saw of Alicia and Elfr… If you really set fire to the place, they might just march straight into the Bear Kingdom.”

In terms of scale, the Bear Kingdom might be superior, but when it came to the number of Named NPCs, it was a close call.

The Elves there—every single one was a monstrous combatant.

“…Wait. Why am I worrying about that? If both sides go down, it’s best for me!”

“What’s wrong? You look strange.”

Crowing frowned as he watched Taylor staring blankly into space.

“Ah, no, I was just thinking what a great idea it was. Burning all those flowers would be a surefire provocation.”

Taylor’s firm answer made Crowing nod in satisfaction.

“Good. Then we need to prepare immediately.”

“Right. But let me ask—can I go down to the underground prison?”

“Hmm? Why there?”

“I suffered all sorts of humiliation down there, so shouldn’t I return the favor?”

The plausible answer made Crowing chuckle and nod.

“Of course. I do regret making you feel left out, but you’re still one of the greatest founding heroes of the Bear Kingdom. You can do as you please.”

Crowing never imagined that Taylor might stab him in the back.

He was simply relieved that his own cold treatment was being overlooked so easily.

***

Elysia Garden.

The city of Elves.

The city of flower shops.

Hell Desert…

And now, a new title earned.

The City of Spirits.

Thanks to Huka’s Broadcast, the overwhelming nightscape of Elysia and the adorable spirits living there spread across the world in an instant.

But no one ever considered the place a tourist spot.

Why? Because everyone had also seen the appalling human rights abuses broadcasted.

Meanwhile, with the completion of the Milkyway wall, the months-long City Construction Quest for the Jerluck Association members had finally come to an end.

[You have completed the Joint City Construction Quest!]

A simultaneous notification for all Players who participated in the Quest!

“I-It’s over…”

“It’s really, really over?”

The endless labor that seemed like it would never end was, surprisingly, hard to believe was finally finished.

[Visit Elysia Garden to receive your reward.]

An additional notification confirmed that it was, indeed, reality.

And then—

“Everyone, you did well.”

Elves appeared before them and offered congratulations.

“You were all clumsy and unskilled at first, but now you’ve gained skills worthy of recognition.”

“Sniff…”

It wasn’t the warmest praise, but for some reason, emotion welled up in the Players.

“Whatever you learned here, you’ll be able to make a living anywhere without being looked down on. Working with Moonlight Elm is that difficult.”

Just as they said, most of the people had obtained lumbering and construction skills far beyond their level.

On top of that, they’d gained building, logging, and mining skills, among others.

They had truly learned a lot here.

“And you’ve learned how to live with nature, too.”

With those final words, the Elves turned and walked away.

“Leave.”

A single word, coldly delivered.

“Of course, you’re welcome to return anytime.”

“…Snnk…”

“Sniffle…?”

In the end, someone burst into tears.

When they’d been worked to death, they hated the Elves—yet at the end, being recognized, all their memories flashed by in an instant.

And they realized—

Somehow, they’d grown fond of this place!

“Damn it…!!”

One Player at the front shouted, nearly in tears.

“Thank you for everything, even if it was hell…!”

The Elves didn’t look back at the farewell.

“And please take care of us in the future, too!!!”

***

[232 Players wish to immigrate to Elysia Garden.]

“Are they all out of their minds?”

Mei’s honest reaction.

“After all that suffering, I can’t believe they want to stay here.”

Jaeho couldn’t help but agree.

“I don’t get it either. How could anyone want to live with Elves after being tormented like that?”

“It’s a little scary, honestly.”

Samantha rubbed her arm as she spoke.

To her, the Jerluck Association seemed… like a gathering of perverts…

“Oh, by the way! The Jerluck Association was officially founded as a guild this time.”

“What? Weren’t they already a guild?”

Jaeho had always thought of them as a guild, but in reality, Jerluck Association was just a street club.

“Apparently, everyone who suffered together decided to form a guild. Breeze is the Guild Master.”

“And now they’re preparing to help their members settle down in Elysia with all their might.”

“Ah, I see.”

Jaeho really didn’t want to get involved.

“Well… if that’s what they want, there’s no reason for me to stop them.”

He allowed the Jerluck Association Players to settle in Elysia.

Knock, knock—

Just then, there was a knock at the garden’s entrance, and Samantha headed for the door.

“Ah, Giant.”

The one outside was Giant.

Jaeho understood why he had come.

Just as the Jerluck Association Players had finished their Quest, so too had Giant’s City Construction Quest reached its conclusion.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“No, I learned a lot and was able to move forward thanks to you.”

Strictly speaking, this wasn’t because of Jaeho’s Quest, but for Giant’s own Class Quest.

And finally, seeing the result, he had come to thank Jaeho for the opportunity.

Because with this, he had finally advanced to the unique class !

Jaeho, too, felt great gratitude toward Giant.

He had doubted him at first, but the result far exceeded expectations.

He’d never dreamed he would get such a magnificent city.

“Here, take this.”

Jaeho held out the to Giant.

Gasp—

At the sight of the familiar shield, Samantha flinched hard.

“No way… That’s…”

No matter how she looked, it was Usster’s shield!

She’d never imagined he would put that up as a Quest reward.

“Thank you, but… To be honest, I’m not sure where I’d even use this. Growth-type items are rare, but…”

For a Builder class, it was completely useless.

“I’ve already received more than enough from you, Alicia, so I’ll return this item to you.”

“Hmm… Is that so?”

Jaeho didn’t need it either.

But he had absolutely no intention of giving it back to Usster.

Why make a donation just to please someone else?

Samantha, reading the mood, didn’t say a word.

In truth, she wasn’t particularly close to Usster anyway…

Frankly, she was now closer to being Flower Shop Staff than a member of the Prime Guild.

“Then, are you leaving now, Giant?”

At Jaeho’s question, Giant stroked his chin in thought.

“I’ve actually been thinking a lot about my future. Now that I’ve stepped up a level, wherever I go, I’d be treated like a VIP.”

But he realized, here, that those things would only block his growth.

And where else could he unleash his free-spirited architectural aesthetics to the fullest?

“There are limitations to Nature-Friendly Aesthetics, but…”

It was a new experience he’d never had elsewhere.

He’d done enough stonework and carpentry for a lifetime.

“There’s still so much I want to do here.”

Elysia’s exterior was complete, but there were still many internal structures needed.

“That’s why… I’d like to stay here.”

“Well… If you want…”

Jaeho suddenly had doubts.

Was there some secret about Elysia he didn’t know?

What made these people, who had suffered more than anyone in this harsh place, want to stay?

***

Elysia Garden had now become a city where spirits could be seen everywhere.

But the adorable sight of little fairies huddled together on flower petals and chattering was a privilege allowed only to a “very few” people.

Even though the gates of Elysia were now open to the freed Jerluck Association members, earning the spirits’ fondness was another matter.

The shy spirits would always hide at the appearance of strangers.

There were only three people who could freely watch and take Screenshots of the spirits.

Jaeho, Mei, and, surprisingly, Samantha.

After becoming a Spirit Knight and undergoing the Elves’ special training, her Spirit Communication Power had increased significantly.

“Kyaa! Unni, look!! They’re all cuddling and sleeping together!”

“Really? Where?! Hurry, take a picture!”

Even Samantha, who was always so stiff in front of Jaeho, couldn’t help but be charmed by the adorable spirits.

The photos they took were uploaded daily to Mei and Samantha’s SNS, racking up more and more likes.

— Hmph, that’s all my doing.

— Yeah! Those guys totally know, but they act clueless!

Listening to the jealous grumbling of the two big spirits, Jaeho just shook his head.

They just didn’t realize that Fonda and Jingjing-i’s photos were being uploaded all over 5145 as well.

“Sigh. Well, shall we get started?”

Leaving the two excited girls behind as they took more spirit photos, Jaeho headed toward the Shinmok.

The abundant Spirit Power must have made for excellent nourishment, because the Shinmok had grown enough to reach his chest.

[What a delightful sight this is.]

The Shinmok sounded pleased with Elysia’s transformation.

[So, what are you planning this time? Judging by that look, you must have something big prepared.]

“That’s right. Something very big.”

Jaeho pulled out a marble-sized orb from his inventory.

“It’s time to break the seal of Bloria.”