## Chapter 171 – The Place I Was Born and Raised (8)
“…Sis, you can talk?”
“Yeah… Hehe…♡”
I stare blankly at my sister’s eyes, which hold a dim light for a moment.
Could I have misheard? Thinking that, I speak to her again,
and she responds with a weak, small smile that seems to drain the strength from anyone who sees it.
Chaeyun stares at my sister, who opens her mouth as if taken aback by the unexpected event, answering my call.
This is only the second time she’s created a “flowerpot,” so it’s natural that she might not know everything.
It’s better this way. If we can communicate, I can find out about this “flowerpot” thing as it is.
And I might be able to clean up easily without bothering Minjung to handle it,
so for now, let’s try talking to the flowerpot in the form of Na-eun noona, who is smiling brightly in front of me.
“If you could talk, why were you quiet?”
“Huh…? Well, because Master didn’t order me to speak…?”
My sister tilts her head, looking as if she’s asking, “Why are you asking such an obvious question?”
Her pure smile almost makes me wonder if I asked something strange.
“…Because Master looked troubled when I didn’t move… that’s why I spoke…
How is it? If I can speak and move, will Master… not be troubled?”
Her voice is small and hoarse, and she answers my question with a somewhat clumsy tone.
So the reason she’s been staring blankly at me was because she was waiting for my order?
And she moved without my order because she saw Chaeyun and me worrying about her?
But Jiyou didn’t even react, let alone answer, no matter what I said…
Even if they’re the same flowerpot, could there be slight differences between individuals? I don’t know.
…It’ll be faster to ask the woman in front of me than to worry like this.
“Sis, no. Do you know what you are? If you do, can you explain it to me?”
As Chaeyun told me, what’s in front of me now is not the Na-eun noona I knew.
I acknowledge once again that she’s a completely different being in my sister’s form and ask her identity.
“…Me? Hehe… I’m a ‘flower’ to be offered to Master, and a ‘flowerpot’ that protects this flower.”
“…A flower to be offered to me? What does that mean?”
“Huh? That’s…”
Just as I was about to ask, retracing the part I didn’t understand even after hearing the story,
the fatigue that had been bothering me since earlier is making my eyelids droop.
Damn it, is it because I got more excited than usual? No, it’s a slightly different kind of fatigue…
It’s the same fatigue as when I used the blue and green powers to their limit… Why?
I didn’t use any powers today, so why am I so tired? I’m so dizzy.
My head moves following my vision, which is swaying as if I’m drugged.
The encroaching fatigue transforms into a haze and torments me,
and unable to withstand the pouring sleepiness, I lay my head on the soft bed and closed my eyes.
The voice of Na-eun noona, which had been constantly ringing in my ears, gradually fades away,
and the voice of Chaeyun calling my name gradually gets closer. That was my last memory of the day.
——————————————–
“…It’s a relief that he just fell asleep.”
I was surprised when Master, who seemed fine until just now, suddenly collapsed,
but thankfully, it seems he just fell asleep, exhausted from the ‘ritual to become a creator.’
“By the way, I’m also surprised that I’m blooming a flower for the ritual for the first time.
To think that a ‘flowerpot’ maintaining a personality in a simple human body exists.”
“…Ehehe…♡ I’m sorry. You must be confused since you haven’t had ‘the qualification of the Queen’ for long…”
I put the head of Master, who fell asleep as if collapsing, on my lap and fix his disheveled hair,
then turn my gaze to the flowerpot that had been quietly watching this scene and speak to it.
The flowerpot smiles foolishly as it did to Master, gets off the bed, and kneels before me.
“No, it’s not your problem to apologize for, so don’t worry about it.
As you said, it hasn’t been long since I gained ‘the qualification of the Queen’ and saw ‘the memory of deep roots.’
It’s because I didn’t know about you, so you don’t need to apologize.”
“…Hehe… You’re so kind, Queen…♡”
The woman named Na-eun, whom I met for the first time, didn’t seem to have this light atmosphere,
but the flowerpot’s expression is always playful, and a subtle sexiness flows from her smile.
She somehow resembles me a little; could it be that even things like this follow the master?
Well, that aside, there’s something I need to tell her.
“The fact that you call me ‘Queen’ means you know your role, right?”
“Yes! My role is to protect this flower needed for the upcoming ‘ritual’ until Master gains ‘the Creator’ and ‘the qualification of the King’…♡”
I’m relieved to see that the flowerpot understands its role properly.
The beautiful flower blooming on the flowerpot’s head must be protected no matter what.
That’s why I made her into a flowerpot to protect my flower.
“I’m glad you understand properly. You’re indeed my flowerpot.
To think I’d find such a cute and obedient flowerpot at Master’s family home…♡”
“Thank you… Queen…♡ I’ll definitely live up to your expectations and protect the flower…♡ Haup…♡”
When I put my toe on her chin as she smiles bashfully,
the flowerpot’s expression brightens like a puppy being loved by its owner,
and she starts licking my foot with her tongue. She’s so cute after all…♡
“Then, Queen, what should I do until the day of the ritual…?
Should I hide? Or should I act like this human…?”
“That’s right. It seems the other ‘Queen candidates’ haven’t realized their roles yet,
and Master hasn’t accepted that he’s a ‘Creator and a King’ yet…
Until then, you can’t just hide, can you.”
The flower blooming on her head is an offering needed for the ‘ritual’ for me to be recognized as a Queen.
But the other Queens haven’t realized their true roles yet,
and Chanwoo oppa, the master of the ritual, Master, hasn’t accepted his existence yet.
We have to wait for the other Queen candidates to prepare the flowerpots, and for Master’s awakening too…
At this rate, it seems like preparing for the ritual will take longer than the ritual itself. What should I do…?
Preparing for the ritual. Hiding her during that long time would be the safest,
but that method is dangerous as it could negatively affect the flower that was bloomed with difficulty.
Then the remaining method is…
“…Okay, then act as the owner of that body… ‘Shin Na-eun,’ and prepare for the ritual.
You can do anything to protect the flower. Do you understand?”
“I understand, Queen. From now on, I am ‘Shin Na-eun’ and your flowerpot♡”
I send her back to her daily life to minimize the stress on the flower,
and order her to protect the flower until the ritual and thoroughly eliminate any elements that interfere with it.
As soon as she heard my order, her clumsy speech immediately became mature.
And the size of the flower blooming on her head gradually decreased,
until it became so small that it could be mistaken for a hairpin even when viewed up close.
“Hehe, good. Then let’s go back to ‘your house’ now.
I also need to prepare to go with Master to meet ‘the human who became a Creator.'”
“Yes, I understand. Queen…♡”
After bowing her head to me one last time, she changes her torn stockings and underwear,
and I watch my flowerpot leave the motel room first, then look down at the sleeping Master.
“…Master mentioned ‘a woman with mysterious silver hair.’ That’s…”
I run my fingers through Master’s hair, who is already fast asleep,
and recall the story Master told me a few days ago while walking the streets of Busan at night.
‘The will of the root’ that appeared before me yesterday through Jiyou’s body.
An existence that appeared before the chosen race of the creator among the countless races that existed in ancient times.
That existence showed me ‘the memory of deep roots,’ the memory of the creatures chosen by me.
Chosen creatures, beings on a different level from the petals that simply take over human bodies and grow, like me.
Memories of beings who were chosen by the creator and gained the qualifications to live as companions of great people.
I was really happy when I read ‘the memory of deep roots.’
I’m a being chosen by Chanwoo oppa, by the creator who will be born anew.
My role isn’t the prosperity of the race, but to assist him as the creator’s companion.
To fulfill that role, while reading ‘the memory of deep roots,’
I read the memory of a woman named ‘Iria’ who almost became the companion of the king of the roots.
The first petal born, not a petal that takes over a human body and grows,
but the first human woman to accept a petal born to give wisdom and power to humans.
And a woman who fell in love with the king of the roots and became the first companion of the creator,
the first woman to become ‘a human who became a Creator.’
A woman with beautiful silver hair and a mysterious atmosphere, as Master described.
‘The memory of deep roots’ called that woman’s name ‘Iria.’
Why is such a woman calling oppa, calling Master?
I don’t know what she’s thinking, but if she’s thinking of interfering with Master…
“….Ah!”
While I’m deep in thought, a vibration sound that breaks my concentration rings from the desk.
Careful not to wake Master, who is resting his head on my lap, I stretch out my hand,
and bring the cell phone that is placed on the desk.
The cell phone is Master’s… no, oppa’s,
and the person who called is oppa’s mother.
As soon as I saw the screen, my finger automatically answered the call,
and I immediately cleared my throat and greeted her in the most polite voice possible.
“Ah, ah! Yes! Hello, Mother! This is Chaeyun. Haha… Yes!
Oppa is a little drunk right now… Yes! I’ll be right in!”
