TopAppnovel Chapter 104 : Chapter 104
Chapter 104 : Chapter 104
Chapter 104: Flower Blooming in the Mud (6)
“Proof of a reason why we should be equals……”
“Yes. After all, you do not truly believe me when I say I can see the future, do you?”
At my words, Baek Ha-seong wore an expression as if he had heard something amusing.
“Why do you think that? I actually spoke as if I believed you.”
“You are asking something obvious.”
Yes. It was an incredibly obvious statement.
Because…….
“If you were someone who believed things so easily, you would not be standing here right now.”
That was simply Baek Ha-seong’s personality.
Just as I said, if Baek Ha-seong had an easygoing personality, he would have died long ago and would not be in this place.
The Baek Family had been that persistent in their desire to eliminate Baek Ha-seong.
Fortunately, it seemed my answer pleased him.
“I see. That is true. You are quite sharp, are you not?”
“That is because I have the talent to see the future.”
“Mmm, yes. The credibility of those words has certainly increased a step further.”
“Even so, it does not change the fact that you still do not believe me.”
Baek Ha-seong nodded at my remark.
“That is also true. Information like that is something you could easily find out through the people around me.”
“…….”
“So, what will you do now? I am quite curious as to how you intend to prove yourself.”
Baek Ha-seong spoke as if he would not be easily convinced.
'In truth, it is not that difficult.'
In fact, it was quite easy.
It was simply a matter of mentioning a fact that only the leaders of the direct lineage of the Baek Family knew.
Yes, up to this point, it was very simple.
However.
'The problem is what comes next.'
What I was about to say was no ordinary story.
It was one of the most sensitive issues for Baek Ha-seong.
Therefore, it was unavoidable that I hesitated even at this final moment.
But.
'I must not do that.'
Hesitating would be poison.
It was a situation where appearing confident was not even enough; showing a wavering appearance was bad.
Thus, I steadied my heart and answered Baek Ha-seong’s question in a calm voice.
“The Baek Family.”
Of course, I could not finish my sentence all at once.
'What…….'
The atmosphere shifted the moment I mentioned the Baek Family.
As if the comfortable atmosphere from moments ago had been a lie, the air around Baek Ha-seong and me suddenly became as cold as ice.
“…Talking about the Baek Family in front of me. Is it courage or recklessness?”
“It is neither courage nor recklessness. It is merely proof.”
“Now I am even more curious. This proof of yours that is significant enough for you to dare mention the Baek Family.”
Baek Ha-seong said that and glared at me intently.
It was likely a silent permission for me to speak.
“…The Baek Family labeled you as evil, but I know that is not the case.”
“…….”
“The reason why you had to cause the bloodshed in the Baek Family. I know that reason, which the rest of the world is unaware of.”
Baek Ha-seong remained silent at my words.
But that was only for a moment; at my following words, he finally showed a reaction.
“Even if your world rejects you, I know. You are not wrong; you are merely a flower that bloomed in the mud.”
“You……!”
The composure Baek Ha-seong had maintained until now vanished completely.
It was a natural reaction.
The words I had just recited were exactly what the woman Baek Ha-seong truly loved had said, without a single syllable being out of place.
'Because those were the words Han Seora spoke.'
Therefore, such a reaction was truly expected.
And just as I anticipated, Baek Ha-seong stopped testing me and spoke.
“I see. Now I finally understand why you spoke of mud and essence at the beginning.”
“…….”
“So. What is the reason you are saying those words now? Judging by your tone, it seems you even know what happened to her……”
His eyes, which watched me as he took a moment to breathe, were incredibly sharp.
As if he would kill me instantly if I spoke even a single word of nonsense.
“Do you wish to mock me? Telling me I have no right to act so boldly here when I could not even protect my own person?”
“…Of course not. I know it was something that happened before you could even do anything.”
“Then why did you bring this up? You had better answer properly. Because that will determine whether you live or die.”
It was an incredibly intense reaction.
I had expected it to some extent, but honestly, I did not know it would be this much.
'To think these words are enough to make Baek Ha-seong lose his reason.'
But at the same time, it was understandable.
This was a reverse scale for Baek Ha-seong.
It was the greatest mistake of his life, one that he could never erase.
'It is right to take a breath and pause here.'
In this state, the conversation could not proceed.
If things went wrong, my life could truly end right here, just as Baek Ha-seong said.
Therefore, the priority was to calm Baek Ha-seong down.
“It seems no matter what I say, it will be useless in this state.”
“What?”
“You are agitated, are you not? You know yourself that we cannot have a conversation like this.”
Baek Ha-seong flinched slightly at my words.
He must have felt it too after hearing me.
The fact that he was more agitated than necessary.
'Well, I am not that worried.'
Although he was showing a quite aggressive side now, I knew.
Baek Ha-seong was an extremely rational and logical person.
Did I not say it earlier?
If he were the type of person who trusted others easily and was easy to handle, he would have died long ago.
'This is in the same vein.'
If he were a man who would ruin things because he could not handle his emotions, I would never have brought this up in the first place.
As if to prove my thoughts, Baek Ha-seong quickly calmed his heart and admitted it in a composed voice.
“It seems I became excessively agitated, just as you said.”
“Are you all right now?”
“Yes. Though I am not exactly in a pleasant mood.”
That was only natural.
If someone were to dig through my painful memories, I would certainly not be pleased either.
I never expected that in the first place.
'What I wanted was just enough for a conversation to be possible.'
Yes, exactly that much.
As long as it reached that point, hope existed.
“Then, may I continue?”
“Go ahead. After all, you did not bring this up just to end it here, did you?”
“…I understand.”
After Baek Ha-seong gave his permission, I immediately continued.
“I remember exactly what she said. Not a single syllable is out of place.”
“Indeed. I was surprised because not even a single syllable was different.”
“And I told you at the beginning. I have the talent to see the future.”
“…….”
“By now, you must have realized what it is I am trying to say.”
Baek Ha-seong hesitated for a moment before he finally spoke.
“No way.”
He spoke while trying his best to remain composed, yet he could not hide the trembling in his voice.
“Are you saying that she is… alive?”
“Yes.”
“How? Why? How on earth……”
Baek Ha-seong was confused, as if he could not understand.
I understood him completely.
He had just heard that the woman he thought was dead—the source of his guilt for all these days—was actually alive.
“I have not finished my story yet.”
But.
My words were not over yet.
“At the beginning, I started by talking about the Baek Family. I could have simply repeated the words she said from the start, yet I went out of my way to grate on your nerves regarding the Baek Family.”
“…….”
“You understand what that means, do you not?”
The light in Baek Ha-seong’s eyes had dimmed significantly at my question.
It was a stark contrast to how he looked when he first heard that Han Seora was alive.
“She is alive, but she is being held by the Baek Family. Is that it?”
“Yes.”
“As for the reason… I do not think I even need to ask to know.”
He did not add anything else, but I could tell just by his voice.
Baek Ha-seong’s prediction was by no means a positive one.
And that prediction was correct.
'The reason the Baek Family kept Han Seora alive was solely to bind Baek Ha-seong.'
On that day when he first caused the bloodshed.
The Patriarch of the Baek Family had actually not killed Han Seora.
Since Baek Ha-seong had already shown an act of rebellion, there was no guarantee he would not do it again.
Therefore, they kept her alive to continue pressuring Baek Ha-seong.
'And now, they have kept her alive to kill him.'
The Baek Family also knew.
They knew that Baek Ha-seong’s revenge would not end with just that one night of bloodshed.
Thus, they kept her as a sacrifice to create an opening on the day Baek Ha-seong inevitably returned.
'I do not think that is something a human being would do, but…….'
That was just how the world was.
Where there were normal humans, there were also abnormal pieces of trash.
Seeing this, it seemed the theory of innate depravity did not arise for no reason.
It was then.
“I have understood everything you said. That she is alive and imprisoned by the Baek Family.”
Baek Ha-seong spoke again, having finally finished organizing his thoughts.
I answered immediately.
“That is correct.”
“And since you brought this up… I suppose it means you know where she is being held?”
“Yes. If I did not know, I would not have brought it up in the first place.”
Just as Baek Ha-seong said, I knew where Han Seora was imprisoned within the Baek Family.
And as I just stated, if I had not known, I would not have even mentioned it.
Nothing could be done with only the information that she was alive.
Think about it.
What if he invaded with only the information that she was alive, and things went south, leading the Baek Family to kill Han Seora?
'That would truly be irreversible.'
That was why I spoke based on certain information that appeared in the story.
Fortunately, it seemed Baek Ha-seong believed me.
“I see.”
“Do you believe me?”
“It would be strange not to believe you when you even perfectly mimicked the words she said to me.”
“Then……”
“The cooperation as equals that you mentioned. As a condition for that, it is more than perfect.”
I briefly thought, 'Can I finally gain Baek Ha-seong’s cooperation?' but…….
As expected, life did not flow that easily.
“However, I do not believe everything.”
“What does that mean……”
“I admit that what you said is true. It is information you could not have known unless you saw her in some form.”
“…….”
“In some form, that is.”
So, what Baek Ha-seong was trying to say now was…….
'Are you saying I might be a spy for the Baek Family?'
Damn it, this is ridiculous.
The problem was that it was even more annoying because it was not entirely incorrect from a logical standpoint.
'Yes. If I think about it coldly, it could be that way.'
A scheme to lure him to the Baek Family by intentionally leaking information to eliminate him.
He could certainly feel that way.
But…….
'Honestly, after I have done this much, should you not trust me a little?'
In the novel, I really liked his personality—how he acted coldly and rationally even though he seemed to do whatever he wanted.
But experiencing it directly, I did not have such thoughts.
At this point, is he not just a complete paranoiac?
'Damn it, I cannot even argue with him about it.'
I had finally made it this far.
But what if I were to get angry here?
Then it would truly be the end.
Therefore, while inwardly cursing this world where the weak had no choice but to bow.
I maintained a calm voice outwardly and asked Baek Ha-seong.
“Then what do I have to do?”
“Why are you asking me that? Is that not a problem you have to prove?”
“…You know as well as I do that it is not as easy as it sounds.”
I spoke with a look of grievance.
At that, Baek Ha-seong asked back.
“I think I am already being quite considerate.”
“Excuse me?”
“I could have threatened you with your life instead. Yet, I am not doing that. Is this not the maximum courtesy I can show you?”
“…….”
I had nothing to say because he was so confident.
Moreover, because he was a man capable of doing such a thing, I was even more speechless.
However, I could not just stay still like this, so I slowly spoke.
“…But I have no further means of proof. I can only ask you to believe me.”
“Is that so? Indeed, it is not an easy task to prove that seeing the future means you are not an enemy.”
Baek Ha-seong nodded and readily agreed with my words.
But I would not be fooled anymore.
I had been tricked once or twice; it was obvious he was going to say something nonsensical again.
And as expected, Baek Ha-seong spoke.
The problem was that I had only expected him to say something nonsensical.
“Then there is an easy way to prove it.”
“What is it?”
“Attack me. That will be the fastest way.”
I had not anticipated the sheer scale of that nonsense.
It seemed that no matter what, things had gone completely and utterly wrong.