A Flower That Eats Humans 98

## Chapter 98 – 검은 뿌리 (4)

“Excuse me for saying this, Director, but I don’t think this is the time for this.”

“Why? Why do you think so?”

“…Huh?”

In the quiet office, the Director, who was reading the documents while flipping through the papers, asks, pushing up his glasses.
The hacker hired by our research institute stole a large amount of data and one of the power sources,
and fled, so we formed a team and immediately chased after him, but Dr. Jung Ah-un and the male entity intruded.
As a result, we were deprived of the power source, the data to be recovered, and even the experimental subject No. 4.
But why is this man so calm?

“…Hmm, what’s the status of the media control?”

“…Yes, this incident has been concealed in all media, but we couldn’t hide everything.”

“You mean the male entity.”

“Yes, it’s difficult to conceal the giant tree that entity created.
Of course, we are blocking civilian access and collecting samples of the tree for investigation, but…”

“…I see, it’s not ‘of this world’? Just like the other power sources.”

I hand over the report received from the researcher and report to the Director,
but he seemed to have read what I was going to say from the large amount of data he had.
The Director, who quietly threw the pile of data on the desk, looked at his wristwatch and got up from his seat.

“It’s almost time, let’s wrap up for today and go home.”

“Yes? Where are you going, Director…?”

“I’m going to take care of the things you’re so worried about.”

The Director gets up from his seat and goes to the large mirror in the office to fix his tie.

“…The worries you have are the worries of everyone in this research institute.
Of course, I’m the same. Jung Ah-un is the most outstanding person in this research institute,
and at the same time, the most insane human being. What is that crazy human aiming for?”

“…I don’t know, I’m sorry.”

“He got what he wanted the most, and a week has passed since that incident,
so he must have almost recovered from his injuries and is making plans.”

“…Should we strengthen the security level of the research institute? He could be here right now…”

Then, the Director’s hearty laughter filled the small office,
and the Director, who had fixed his clothes, turned around and came to me, straightening my clothes.

“You don’t need to worry about anything, because he’s not aiming for here.”

“Then where on earth…”

“I’m going to Busan from now on, because that’s where Jung Ah-un is aiming.
If I were him, I wouldn’t waste my energy here where there’s nothing.
If it’s him, if it’s Jung Ah-un, he’ll be aiming for something bigger and more enormous.”

Heading to Busan, what on earth is there that makes him do that?
All sorts of questions arise, and at the same time, I feel relieved.
The relief that comes from the fact that Jung Ah-un is not aiming for this place,
I feel it flowing through my blood, and only then do I realize that my whole body is stiff with tension.
The Director, who finally brushed the dust off my shoulder, moved his feet,

“…Excuse me, Director. There’s something I want to ask you.”

“…What is it?”

I called out to the Director who was turning around, I, the leader of a mere special team.
It’s not a low rank, but I’ve had a lot of experience in reading people’s faces before coming to this position.
The reason why the Director is heading to Busan, what Jung Ah-un’s goal is there,
I know that I can’t hear that fact with my rank.
So I won’t ask this.

Because what I’m going to ask the Director right now is not that.

“…Why did you bring Dr. Jung Ah-un into the research institute?
Even to the point of getting rid of the leader of the special weapons development team and putting him in the team leader position?”

Among those who were sacrificed in Jung Ah-un’s cruel ‘experiments,’ there was also the leader of the special team, my predecessor.
What was the reason for catering to such a devil, even sacrificing the people of the research institute?
I was waiting for a word to wash away the questions that had been festering in me,
but the answer was too futile and absurd.

“Talent.”

“…What do you mean…”

“Overwhelming talent, that’s the reason why we brought him into the research institute even though we knew his danger.”

With those words as the last, the Director smiles and walks out of the office.
I couldn’t catch him anymore, and I leaned my body as if collapsing on the sofa in the office.

“…Ha… hahaha…”

————————————————–

“…So, you are…?”

“Um, yeah… it turned out that way.”

They are sitting in the living room, facing Lapus, the creator who created them.
Seo-hee is looking around her with an unbelievable expression,
Soo-ah, who has finally regained her energy, is just standing there blankly as if she has no interest,
and Chae-yoon is staring at Lapus with a curious expression as always.
She looks back at me and asks for help, as if this situation where many eyes are on her is burdensome.

“…First of all, everyone calm down, I know how you feel, but…”

“You shut up and clean up the house.”

“Yes, I understand.”

I tried to help Lapus, but I was scolded by Seo-hee for no reason,
and I clean up the vines that I made yesterday that burst out through the house.

“I don’t care about anything, if you’re really one of the people who made us, answer me.”

Seo-hee suddenly gets annoyed and stands up from her seat, glaring at Lapus.
I pretend to clean up the vines and eavesdrop on the women’s conversation.

“…Why did you erase our memories? And what did you erase?”

“…It’s the story I told that man yesterday, it’s going to be a bit long.”

Lapus, calming Seo-hee in a calm tone, tells the story she told me yesterday.
The ten creators in ancient times, and the small discord that existed between them,
The first flower created by that discord, and the tragedy that started from that flower.

“…Whatever the case, there’s no excuse for the wrongs I’ve done to you. I’m sorry.”

“…”

The atmosphere suddenly became quiet, what should I do?
Did something go wrong? What should I do in this case…
…Just shut up and keep cleaning.

“…That’s enough.”

“Huh?”

“Oh, what’s wrong with you, sis? I thought you were going to grab her by the hair and fight.”

“…Is that what my image is usually like?”

Seo-hee seems to be thinking quietly, then she gets up from her seat and stretches out her arms.
Chae-yoon, who looks up at Seo-hee as if she’s surprised, teases her as always.
I honestly think it’s a bit unexpected too.

When I told her about the time I met Virgilago before,
I hesitated a little to let her meet Lapus, seeing her confused.
In a way, it’s being denied their existence by the creator,
I wondered if it would really be for them to face such a painful past that they don’t even remember,
Unlike my thoughts that I was worried about, Seo-hee gets up with a relieved expression.

“…Are you really okay? You can grab her by the hair until you feel better, like this kid said.”

“…I’m okay because I got an apology, but if she came out brazenly, I would have really grabbed her by the hair.”

“…Are you guys? Are you okay? Really… don’t you hate me?”

Seo-hee hides her reddened ears, whether she’s embarrassed or awkward, and leaves her seat.
Lapus, who is watching her with surprised eyes, seems a little embarrassed,
She looks back at Chae-yoon, Soo-ah, and Nabi, and asks, even stuttering.

“…Um, I don’t really care. Just ‘Oh, there was something like that in the past!’?”

“…I don’t have any thoughts either.”

“Seo-hee unnie is just sensitive, so don’t worry about it.”

“…Was it just me?”

Soo-ah answers roughly, scratching her cheek with a face that still doesn’t seem interested.
Similarly, Chae-yoon, who doesn’t seem to be interested in the matter, is busy teasing Seo-hee.
Watching them chattering with each other without even paying attention to herself,
Lapus seems to be confused as to whether this is right.
I approach her and put my hand on her shoulder.

“…What’s wrong?”

“No, I was sure these kids would be angry with us…”

“…Um, isn’t it the same as what I said yesterday?”

“Huh?”

They are ancient creatures.
A creature that takes away the body of a human and takes away all of that human’s memories, personality, values.
Even if the essence is a forgotten existence from long ago like Lapus, that existence is now living in the present.
Too much time has passed for them to be angry at the creator who denied their existence,
And like me, they may not be able to feel the existence in front of them right now.

“…I see.”

“Ah, why are you suddenly like this?”

Lapus, after hearing my words, carefully gets up from the sofa and hugs Chae-yoon, who was teasing Seo-hee.

“…I’m sorry, and I wanted to do this at least once.
I apologize once again for using you because of our greed.”

“…It’s okay.”

Chae-yoon, who is also hugging Lapus who hugged her, gently hugs her.
…I’m glad it worked out, I was wondering if something was going to happen again.

“Therefore! Please take care of me from now on.”

“…What should we call you?”

Lapus, who has regained her energy, smiles brightly and raises her small body to greet.
Soo-ah is looking at her and seriously thinking about what to call her.

“Call?”

“…That’s right, she’s the one who made us, so mother? No, that seems to be a problem in terms of appearance…
But it’s a bit…”

Lapus smiles and says, looking at them.

“Why? I have a name too. Iran, Song Iran. Just call me that.”

“…Then I will. Iran unnie.”

“…But what happened to the original owner of that body?”

“Ah, don’t worry too much about that. The consciousness of ‘Song Iran’ and me, the consciousness of ‘Lapus’ are mixed,
I am ‘Song Iran,’ and I am ‘Lapus’…”

The women who have become friendly and are chatting.
I can rest assured and come back now.

“…What are you resting for? Hurry up and clean… huh? Hey, where are you going?”

“I have somewhere to go for a while, I’ll clean later, so play a little.”