Chapter 381: The Gardener of Withered Flowers (3)

Chapter 381: The Gardener of Withered Flowers (3)

6.

A garden is different from a forest, and a flower garden is not the same as a field.

Within the buds of withered flowers, no seeds grow, and there are no bees to transfer pollen, so all the flowers that exist in this flower garden were planted by my hands, one by one.

"Everything is completely in place now."

The Wand of Ages sat cross-legged atop a hill, sucking on his staff.

"If this were building a house, you'd have cleared the land, erected the building, and completely applied the wallpaper and lining. Plus, you've finished installing built-in furniture, lighting, and even air conditioning."

"Do wizards also use air conditioning?"

"In a world where magic exists, why wouldn't there be air conditioning? Why do you think wizards are so eccentric? It's all because they don't have air conditioning."

"So there must be a constellation that governs air conditioning."

"Want me to introduce you?"

I can't tell where the joke ends and where the truth begins. That's one thing that's truly wizard-like about him.

"So, when are you going to have the housewarming party?"

"Housewarming party?"

"Yes. Or a revival meeting? Which do you prefer?"

Once again, the wizard made such wizard-like remarks.

For someone like me, who only knows about swords and martial arts, I could only stare at the wizard with eyes asking for an explanation.

The Wand of Ages sighed and removed his staff from his lips.

"The constellations that have reached this stage are usually divided into two groups."

"It must be hard to survive."

"First, the Constellations who show their sanctuaries to their loved ones and plan a happy future. Second, those who gather their followers and spout grandiose plans about the future."

"Even Constellations are no different in their actions..."

The first is like a husband who bought a house, and the second is like a company president who built a headquarters building.

The Wand of Ages silently stared at me. Hmm. His gaze seemed to say, 'You're a Constellation too, and yet you're spouting such corny jokes.'

The Wand of Ages spoke with that look in his eyes.

"You would be the former, I guess."

"Do I look like that?"

"Yes. Wouldn't you call over your spouse and brag? [This is our home, Raviel. A resting place for us to live together. This sea was created by the adviser, and this high mountain range is a trace of our son wreaking havoc in the household...] Something like that."

Indeed.

"Oh, why do you say that? You should know well that I can't be like that."

"Oh, really? Why not?"

"Well, then naturally, it would lead to something like, [Speaking of this flower, imagine. In a place that is not here, in a time that is not now, there was a group of boat people who fell into misery when the ice age came...] Something roughly like that."

The Wand of Ages shrugged his shoulders with his staff in his mouth.

Feigningignorance. As expected, he brought it up knowing everything. I saw through his ploy but still flicked my wrist, shaking the head of Hishmith Kritz hanging there.

"I told this serpent once when I was shedding its skin."

– Humans are not dolls to be displayed in your glass garden.

– No one lives to be displayed by another, and no one has the right to display another.

"Surely, I who said such things cannot do the same."

Hishmith Kritz cringed, making a squeaking sound.

I drew back my wrist and concluded my words.

"I did not plant these children to be displayed to someone."

The Wand of Ages removed his staff from his lips again.

"Even if that person is Raviel?"

"Even if it's Raviel."

No.

"Especially because it is Raviel."

Certainly, I think it will be enjoyable.

Holding Raviel's hand and explaining this world I created. Talking about what plans I had and the thoughts I pondered while making this place.

I will explain to Raviel once again what kind of person I am, and that Raviel will acknowledge it once again. To be recognized deep within my heart that I am such a person would surely feel as sweet as my heart melting.

Would she be amazed? 'Indeed, you are my wife.' Would she empathize? 'I am truly happy to have a virtuous person as my companion.' Would she join me? 'Yes, you wounded flowers. I too, along with Gong-ja, will take care of you.'

How happy would that be?

That's why I won't do it.

"I will not invite Raviel to my sanctuary."

It's something that shouldn't be done.

"Ever."

There was, again, always a wizard-like air in the actions of the Wand of Ages.

Deception. Secrets. Unsaid words.

Even in the casually thrown words, there was bone, or at least some fishbones embedded.

However, the words just now were pure. They were like the flesh of a fish carefully deboned for a newly teething child, safe to swallow without chewing.

And when I did not know what to say, I just blurted out the truth.

"You have made some effort, at least."

"Is that supposed to be a consolation? I'm getting the urge to brew a new pot of barley tea and pour it right into your nostrils."

"Right. Hmm. ...And the third reason?"

"For the Tower Master."

Those words were also incredibly gentle.

With a gentle face and soft voice, the wizard said,

"It was impossible for me. It would probably be impossible for the current pillars too."

The same reason the princess had hinted at to me.

The wizard kindly stated the reason he had been eyeing me from the beginning.

"Therefore, someone else has to do it."

"Whether it's you, the Sword Emperor, or someone else entirely. Someone who is not a pillar. But preferably, you."

The wizard's lips closed and then opened.

"I hope you—"

Make it easier for the Tower Master, he wished.

The voice of the Wand of Ages landed lightly, like a leaf, in the garden of these withered flowers.

7.

We had a housewarming party.

I called myvassals. I did not call Raviel.

There's nothing more to say about the latter. The conversation I had with the Wand of Ages says it all. This garden is a place where the flowers are the masters, a flower garden that does not receive visitors.

"In the future, we may be able to accept [mourning visitors]."

I said.

"Among these children, there might be those who have families or loved ones. If these children wish to reunite with them, then I must allow it."

"Indeed. So they are mourning visitors."

Estelle, who had raised the water level of the sea by crying once more, wiped her eyes with a handkerchief handed by Sylvia and continued.

"It's kind of like a communal cemetery... No. A rehabilitation hospital might be more fitting. It's more correct to call them visiting guests rather than mourning guests."

"Ah, certainly."

"But for a rehabilitation hospital to accept visitors, it needs doctors, nurses, and public service workers."

Estelle continued while blowing her nose into Sylvia's handkerchief.

"I will naturally take on the role of the head nurse... That is, the [gardener] here. As I mentioned earlier, gardeners exhibit absolute strength surpassing the head of the family in the flower garden they protect..."

"Sylvia. Just so you know, she's blaming you for how she ended up like this."

"No way!"

Using only her thumb and index finger, Sylvia received the handkerchief and made a truly disgusted expression.

"No, no, no, no. That's absolutely nonsense! The Advisor has always been! Something was! A bit strange about her!"

"Grand Chamberlain. Do you want to get hit?"

"This is exactly what I mean! Resorting to violence! Adviser, as someone called an adviser, do you only know physical solutions to political problems?"

"All wars are originally a continuation of political solutions. And everything that happens in this world is physical. So... do you understand what I mean?"

"That you're asking to get hit!"

"Mass and velocity are consistent. It's just the direction that's been misguided."

For a moment, Sylvia swung a hammer and and Estelle swung a greatsword, each aiming for the other's head.

Uburka's voice came through as he munched on salt-vanilla popcorn as white as his own skin.

"Ugor. Daddy, do I not need to stop them?"

"Son, before asking me, shouldn't you be thinking about acting like an adult without being told?"

"Father, what do you think I've been doing all this time while you were away? Ugor. Now it's time for Father to experience the hardships I've endured while our house was unattended."

"The housewarming hasn't even started, and my family is already falling apart."

I sighed deeply.

Ah. I just sighed and didn't actually stop Sylvia and Estelle. Kids are supposed to grow up fighting each other.

After letting them be, I looked around at the other people present.

"Director. Kim Yul-ssi."

I said.

"Would you take care of managing this flower garden?"