HIF 50

As Much as I Want to Give

A large white building came into view. Crimson flower clusters were gently cascading down upon it.

“It looks similar to the building we were just in.”

“Right? But this place is more spacious, Yi-han-ah. There are several rooms too.”

The building had rounded walls and a sharply pointed roof. A wide fence surrounded the perimeter.

I walked towards it. Underfoot, the crimson flowers were crushed as I stepped on them. The momentarily flattened flower clusters bounced back to their original plump state as soon as I lifted my foot.

I glanced back briefly. The green grass underneath was barely visible. Only vivid red flowers were strewn all over. For a moment, the thought that it felt like walking on a blood-red path flitted through my mind, and I shook my head.

Brushing off the meaningless thought, I resumed walking.

◇

I stepped inside the building. The interior was also pure white.

I climbed the flat, shallow stairs lining the wall. This building also had the third floor as its highest point.

As soon as I stepped onto the last stair, a spacious hall spread out before me. In its center, a white pillar similar to the one in the previous building rose up. On top of it rested a crystal ball as red as the sun.

Raen placed his hand on the crystal ball. A reddish light softly spread around it.

“It’s functioning without issue. That’s a relief.”

“Are we sending a message from here, hyung?”

“That’s right. We’ll stay for a few days and then head to the eastern region.”

“Alright, Raen. We can start tomorrow.”

I looked around the building. Rooms were only on the first and second floors. Walking in step with Park Yul, I found myself standing before a first-floor room door.

“How about this room, Yi-han?”

He clicked the door open. I stepped inside.

Instantly, a cool breeze swept through the room. Park Yul, who followed me in, seemed to have used Clean magic. Not a single speck of dust remained in the room.

The room was quite spacious. On the wooden bed, a pale gray blanket was neatly folded. In front of the large window stood a round table and a wooden chair. On the table was an empty glass vase.

“This room is good too. I’ll stay here.”

“Alright. I’ll be right upstairs, so if you need anything, come up anytime.”

“Yes. But hyung, who originally lives in this building?”

“No, no one lives here. Why do you ask?”

Then why is the room so tidy? As I was thinking that, Park Yul continued with a voice tinged with laughter.

“Ah, the room is clean? When people send messages, they often stay here. Those who come and go tidy up, so that’s why.”

Everyone cleans up as if it’s a new house. I nodded. But did I just voice my question out loud?

No matter how much I thought about it, it was one of two things. Either my thoughts are easy to read, or, because I haven’t had much interaction with others, I simply didn’t know that everyone can make guesses to this extent.

While pondering which of the two it was, a small creaking sound was faintly heard.

I saw Park Yul’s back as he stood by the window. The spring breeze swept in through the open window.

The clear midday sun poured down upon Park Yul. Behind him, crimson flowers were lavishly spread out. The sky was still blue without a single cloud. Park Yul’s golden hair fluttered slightly in the wind.

Park Yul swiftly turned his back towards me.

“The breeze is cool today too. Get some good rest, Yi-han-ah.”

I nodded. Park Yul gently ruffled my hair, then closed the door and left.

The room seemed to have fallen quiet. I sat in the chair by the window. It was a bit hard since it was wooden.

I picked up the vase placed on the table. The chill of the glass surface vividly touched my palm.

‘Why did they put this vase here?’

Outside the window, there were so many flowers, yet not a single one here that could be placed in it. There were no stems, and even if forced by magic, the flower clusters themselves would soon disappear.

I spun the vase around and placed it back. A hollow thud echoed on the desk. It was the sound of emptiness.

Outside was the opposite. It was never empty. Even if the piled flowers below disappeared, new flowers would be covering them. As if filling that void.

‘It’s peaceful.’

Suddenly, that thought came to me. Infinitely peaceful.

Clearly, countless flowers had disappeared here and would continue to disappear. Yet, on the surface, it looked as if nothing was happening.

Of course. What happens in unseen places cannot be known.

The sun was slowly setting. The spring air was thick.

◇

I woke up at a dim dawn. Blue sunlight was pouring in through the window.

I sat up in bed. Inhaling the clear air, my mind sharpened.

‘There was the Plains of Falling Flower Rain quest.’

Today, I needed to seriously think about that quest. It was better to quickly finish what needed to be done.

I went outside the building. Perhaps because it was early, the wind carried a cold scent.

Circling around the white wall, a spacious area unfolded between the side of the building and the fence. A long wooden bench was placed against the wall.

I plopped down on the ground and leaned my head against that bench. Lifting my head, I felt crimson flowers dropping like raindrops onto my face.

Swish.

A sound quietly echoed, parting through the flower clusters as someone approached. Soon, brown hair fluttering in the wind came into view.

“What are you doing, Seon Yi-han?”

When I answered that I wasn’t doing anything, Min Joo-hyuk stood beside me and quietly looked down at me. Min Joo-hyuk carefully brushed off the flower clusters that had fallen on my face.

“What are you thinking about?”

There wasn’t really anything to answer here either. I shook my head. As I silently looked up at Min Joo-hyuk, he grinned and plopped down beside me. The wind blew strongly.

“Right now, Raen hyungnim and Song Ha-gyun hyungnim are sending a message together.”

“Already? But it’s still early.”

“That’s true, but if we start quickly, it’ll end faster too.”

Hearing that, I realized I shouldn’t be sitting here like this either. I should quickly start making gifts with flowers.

No matter how much I thought about it, there was only one method. I turned my head towards Min Joo-hyuk.

“I have a favor to ask.”

“What is it?”

Min Joo-hyuk asked in a bright voice, as if telling me to just say it.

I dug through the ground and found a small flower about the size of a finger joint. And I held it out to Min Joo-hyuk.

“If there’s something you want to make with this.”

Watching quietly, Min Joo-hyuk let out an “Ah,” as if he had just realized something. With a light flick of his hand, a thin, delicate stem grew slowly from the flower.

“What do you want to make?”

“You’ll know when you see it. Anyway, thanks.”

I coiled the stem into a circle. By carefully weaving the ends together, a shape began to form. It seemed like I could manage this much without too much trouble.

“A ring?”

“Right. How is it? Looks like it has some heart in it, doesn’t it?”

“How could something made without heart even exist?”

What… artwork…? As I blinked silently, Min Joo-hyuk added in a light tone,

“You made it yourself, putting your heart into it. If that’s not artwork, what is?”

Maybe Min Joo-hyuk always thought that way when he drew. It was a good mindset.

And the part where he said I made it with heart was what I liked most. It felt like quest success was right in front of me.

“Yeah, thanks. But, could I ask for a few more?”

“How many do you need?”

“Uh…”

I didn’t need to specify the exact number for the four people I planned to give them to. I might mess up while making them. But saying a specific number felt too shameless.

“Just… as many as you feel like giving.”

Of course, asking like this wasn’t exactly modest either. Then, maybe Min Joo-hyuk would make about two for me.

While I was lost in thought, a thick cluster of red flowers burst from the ground. From a distance, you could mistake it for the sun rising from the earth.

Realizing the situation, my body flinched. I grabbed Min Joo-hyuk’s arm.

“No, wait. Put them all down.”

Min Joo-hyuk stared at my hand gripping his arm and spoke.

“Why? You said as many as I feel like giving.”

Was he serious? No. Seeing the corners of his mouth curved into a smile, it was definitely a joke.

Calmly, I squeezed his forearm. Then, the mountain of flowers slowly settled down. Thank goodness. Min Joo-hyuk looked at my expression and placed a reasonable number of flower buds in front of me.

“Give me your hand, Min Joo-hyuk.”

“Wow. You’re making mine first?”

His hand was bigger than I expected. I placed a flower bud on Min Joo-hyuk’s finger and began weaving the stem.

Min Joo-hyuk watched what I was doing, then turned his head to the side. Waving his other hand in the air, he continued.

“You’re good at this. Have you made one before?”

“No. It’s my first time.”

Min Joo-hyuk paused his hand gestures briefly. Then, he continued in his usual tone.

“So I’m your first?”

“Uh-huh.”

Even though it was my first time, I was making it so smoothly. Maybe I was more skilled with my hands than I thought.

While I was focused, I thought I heard Min Joo-hyuk say, “Thanks.” I nodded and finished tying the knot.

“It’s done.”

As I said that, a Quest Window appeared before my eyes.

A good start. I just needed to keep this up. As expected, I shouldn’t have hastily judged it as difficult before trying. There’s always a way to get through anything.

Just then, I felt something lightly placed on top of my head.

Huh, what’s this? I grabbed it and brought it down. It was a wreath densely woven with red flowers of slightly different shapes and colors on a green stem, formed into a circular shape.

“Here. Mine’s done too.”

Min Joo-hyuk’s voice reached me. I looked up at him.

Min Joo-hyuk properly placed the wreath I had been holding back on my head. A gentle weight settled atop my head.

“Oh… thanks.”

“No big deal. Anyway, are you planning to give gifts to the other hyungs too?”

“Yeah.”

Min Joo-hyuk tapped his fingers on his knee as if pondering for a moment, then continued.

“Then, instead of flower rings, how about these?”

Three small, transparent glass bottles appeared in the air. The glass surfaces reflected the sunlight, glowing faintly.

“Havarium. You put flowers inside and then fill it with the solution.”