Ch.148148. Flowers That Bloom at Night

The party that defeated Buoongyi, or rather, Behemoth.

Though they wanted to celebrate their victory together, the reality was a group hospitalization.

“Cough. Haaah.”

Amon lay in bed, slowly inhaling through his oxygen mask.

While landing the final blow on Behemoth had been successful, his injuries weren’t completely healed.

When he delivered that final strike, his skin burns had only recovered enough to grip his sword, and his lungs had only healed enough to allow him to run.

In that condition, he had leapt back into battle against a monster made of heat, so it was no wonder his body was in such poor shape.

“Kuuu…”

Amon was barely breathing, like a certain space lord from a famous movie series.

Each breath brought searing pain, but he was in no position to worry about that right now.

“My lord. Do you need any more medicine?”

Amon turned his head toward the sweet voice coming from beside him.

Sunhwa was sitting there with a gentle expression, peeling an apple with a soft rustling sound.

Whenever he looked at her, countless questions welled up from the depths of his heart.

Why would someone bring apples as a get-well gift to a person on oxygen?

And why was she peeling them in front of him only to eat them herself?

When Amon finally couldn’t hold back and asked about this, she blushed slightly and replied.

“I’ve always wanted to try it. In Joseon, peeling apples well is a symbol of being a good wife.”

At her words, Amon’s gaze shifted to the apples she had peeled so far.

She had started by peeling them in one continuous strip, then when she got bored, she carved a rabbit, and now she was carving a statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin.

‘What the heck. How did she do that?’

Amon stared at her carving in amazement.

Interpreting his look in her own way, Sunhwa squirmed.

“My skills are still lacking, so don’t look at me like that.”

If this was “lacking,” what would be considered acceptable?

‘The standards for Joseon housewives are incredibly high.’

Feeling awe at the unexpectedly high standards for being a good wife, Amon changed his question.

“What about the hanbok?”

“I always wear hanbok everywhere.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

The hanbok itself wasn’t the issue.

After all, in America, you could see men walking around in nothing but loincloths.

What Amon was questioning was why, of all things, she was wearing a hanbok with the jeogori top unfastened.

When Amon pointed at her cleavage visible through the unfastened jeogori, she smiled softly.

“In Joseon, this is proper etiquette when a woman is nursing her husband.”

‘Don’t lie.’

He almost blurted that out, but Amon managed to hold back and nodded instead.

‘Our traditions must be good traditions.’

As a Native American, Amon was a man who knew how to respect diversity.

If that was Joseon culture, it deserved respect.

Besides…

‘I do feel like I’m getting healthier.’

Since it was clearly effective in various ways, he didn’t bother to point out the truth.

Rolling his eyes as he finished his thoughts, Amon nodded as if he understood.

To Sunhwa’s love-struck eyes, even that gesture looked adorable, and she smiled gently.

A pink atmosphere began to flow between the two.

Knock knock

Just then, a visitor came to Amon’s hospital room.

“Doctor?”

“They already did rounds this morning.”

“Then it must be Sonia.”

Since Amon couldn’t get up from the bed, Sunhwa opened the door for him.

As the door opened, just as she expected, Sonia and Kathy appeared with sullen faces.

“What are you wearing?”

Under Sonia’s sharp gaze, Sunhwa hurriedly closed her jeogori and bowed her head.

“I apologize, Ju… um…”

“?”

“Mistress… ah, how do I express this?”

Sunhwa had crammed English through her learning implant, but such unfamiliar terms weren’t included.

After all, how often would anyone use the term “mistress” in daily life across time and cultures?

While Sunhwa was unintentionally flustered, Amon spoke in a cavernous voice.

“Mistress.”

“Ah! I apologize, Mistress.”

At that one word, the corners of Sonia’s mouth turned up.

They say one word can pay a thousand nyang of debt.

She stopped questioning Sunhwa and instead expressed her concern.

“Be careful, this is a hospital. People in the hallway might see you.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, Mistress.”

Having passed the obstacle that was Sonia, next came Kathy.

Sunhwa was about to address Kathy with the same title without hesitation.

But Kathy cut her off before she could.

“I’m in no position to criticize you, so you don’t have to do that.”

Kathy shrugged and entered the room.

At those words, Sunhwa’s face brightened.

And so, Amon’s two lovers entered his hospital room.

One of them dragging an IV stand.

They would have liked to nurse Amon themselves, but coincidentally, Sunhwa was the only uninjured person in Amon’s party.

Kathy had broken bones while blocking Behemoth’s attack, and Sonia had suffered burns while rescuing and healing people in the steam.

Ironically, Sunhwa, who had fought closest and longest against Behemoth, had no significant injuries thanks to the cold generated by her sword.

As a result, caring for Amon, who needed someone to attend to him, became Sunhwa’s responsibility.

“Can I have some apple?”

As Sonia and Kathy entered the room, Sunhwa took out apples.

When the two nodded, apple slices appeared before them at a speed reminiscent of factory machinery.

Tossing an apple slice into her mouth, Kathy said:

“The apples sent by the Jerusalem government this time—I have some in my room too. Could you peel them for me if I bring them?”

Kathy asked while tapping her broken right arm. Sunhwa gladly accepted.

“You too?”

Remembering Sonia, Sunhwa turned to look at her.

Sonia shook her head.

“I can eat by myself.”

Just then, Amon cut in with his resonant voice.

“You’re not eating them with the skin on because it’s troublesome, are you?”

“Why not? The skin is rich in fiber.”

“And pesticides too, I bet. Just peel them before eating.”

“It’s too much trouble…”

“Sigh… Sorry, Sunhwa. Go confiscate the apples from Sonia’s room. Tell her to peel them in front of me if she wants to eat them.”

“That amount of pesticide is fine!”

“No! That’s dangerous! You’ll end up like that Behemoth!”

Easy to forget, but in a world where environmental destruction has replaced most vegetables with GMOs and proper farmland is scarce.

Amon didn’t believe that the few remaining farms would have enough conscience to use harmless pesticides for consumers.

At Amon’s warning, Sonia paled as she recalled Behemoth’s appearance.

“…Really?”

“Yes.”

Of course, pesticides alone wouldn’t cause that, but for a lazy lover, this white lie was worth it.

In the end, Sonia was persuaded by Amon and promised to peel apples in front of him before eating them.

After starting their conversation on the topic of apples, they chatted about various things before beginning to discuss their future plans.

“For now, demons won’t be able to launch a frontal attack on this hospital.”

Not only had they expended a huge force like Behemoth, but more importantly, the hospital was currently filled with numerous holy knights and Horde operators.

Even in their injured state, Getia didn’t have enough resources to face such a force head-on.

“But they might still try to assassinate us like before, so don’t let your guard down.”

“Kathy and I are sleeping together, so don’t worry.”

Sonia showed confidence, adding that she had placed barriers near the entrance.

“Good. Then the hospital should be fine. Next, about the dungeon—we’ll tackle the remaining dungeons as soon as we’re discharged.”

Though they had detoured to deal with the Horde, Amon and his party hadn’t forgotten their main objective.

“With the Hordes gone, there shouldn’t be anything left to interfere with our dungeon raids.”

The reason they had targeted the Hordes first was because controlled Hordes could enter dungeons.

Since dungeons were dangerous in many ways, being stabbed in the back could be fatal.

Therefore, eliminating the Hordes as a potential threat was the obvious choice.

“Getia will just have to sit and watch while we raid the dungeons.”

It had already been confirmed that demons couldn’t enter dungeons created with divine power.

So while Amon explored all the dungeons in Jerusalem, there was nothing Getia could do.

“For now, focus on recovery. Once we’re all healed, we’ll start exploring in earnest.”

The party members all nodded in agreement.

*

“By the way…”

As the meeting disguised as a hospital visit ended and before everyone returned to their rooms, Sonia stood at the entrance and asked a question she had been holding.

“What’s with that apple sculpture?”

Sonia pointed at the apple carved in the shape of Admiral Yi.

Sunhwa’s cheeks turned red as she answered.

“Bridal training…”

“What?”

“In Joseon, this is how we train to be brides.”

“Wow… Joseon really is harsh on women.”

The image of Joseon in Sonia and Kathy’s minds became slightly distorted at that moment.

***

Several days passed.

Amon had his oxygen mask removed and received his final examination before discharge.

“They said I can leave tomorrow morning.”

Amon told Sunhwa after returning to his room from the examination.

Afterward, he ate the apple Sunhwa peeled for him, spent some time in bed, and then went to sleep.

Rustle.

As usual, Amon closed his eyes after finishing his evening prayer. But that night, sleep wouldn’t come.

‘Breathing feels strange.’

It felt awkward after having the oxygen mask removed.

He tossed and turned a few times, then started searching for his phone to play a hymn to help him sleep.

As Amon fumbled for the shelf beside his bed, he happened to notice Sunhwa sitting by the window.

“Aren’t you sleeping?”

“Hmm? Ah. I can’t fall asleep.”

“…You don’t have to guard me that closely.”

Amon immediately realized she was watching for potential assassins.

“We said in the meeting that assassinations…”

“Mossad.”

“?”

“When the Israeli government sent apples. There was a listening device in the core.”

“…”

“Don’t worry. I removed it. They’ll pretend not to notice. I guess it’s because we’re Vatican intelligence.”

“Sigh.”

At Amon’s deep sigh, Sunhwa smiled bitterly.

“I’ve realized lately that in this world, stabbing someone in the back is just too common. I used to think only Westerners did that, but looking back, Joseon wasn’t much different.”

“Sigh…”

“That’s why you’re all the more precious to me.”

“Ungh?!”

Amon, who had been breathing diligently through his oxygen mask, made a strange noise.

Sunhwa wore a triumphant expression, pleased with her successful surprise attack.

“What? Do I not seem like someone who would say such things?”

“Khelock. No, that’s not it.”

“夜寒則月下花愈珍矣 (When the night is cold, the flower under the moon becomes more precious.)”

“What?”

“Heh. I won’t tell you.”

Sunhwa smiled victoriously again, as if she’d scored another point.

It was an expression based on the assumption that Amon wouldn’t understand Classical Chinese.

That provocative(?) expression chased away all of Amon’s sleepiness.

‘Well, well.’

She didn’t know.

She didn’t know that Amon had been learning how to recite poetry from a gentleman named Hong Gil-Dong in his dreams.

Contrary to her expectations, Amon could compose Classical Chinese sentences too, if not with perfect form.

‘So that’s how you want to play it.’

Suddenly, Amon wanted to make that smug face blush.

He recalled the Classical Chinese she had composed and, keeping in mind the method of composing a response poem that Gil-dong had taught him, recited his answer.

“花乃擧首 夜寒亦忘矣.”

“Eh?”

Now it was Sunhwa’s turn to be surprised.

“Just now…”

“I’ll say it again. 花乃擧首 夜寒亦忘矣 (The flower raises its head, forgetting the cold night). You look pretty when you’re confident.”

Sunhwa’s face turned as red as a radish.

Of course, they had already confessed to each other, but having one’s inner thoughts exposed when you thought they wouldn’t be discovered was a different matter.

Having scored a point, Amon chuckled and said:

“Thank you.”

“Amon? Suddenly?”

“For believing I’m a trustworthy man in this kind of world. I’m grateful for that.”

“Then I’m grateful too. For seeing me as a woman.”

“As I always say, even without me, you…”

“I know. But you were the first to tell me that.”

Whoosh!

Just then, a breeze came through the slightly open window.

As the wind blew her hair, it revealed the right side of her face that had been hidden by her hair.

The scar that she would normally have covered by pressing down her hair.

But instead of covering it, she smiled at Amon.

“Can you see this?”

She summoned her sword and showed him the inscription.

– 今知正路惟戀愛 (Now I vow to walk only for love).

Reading those words, Amon smiled sheepishly.

“Maybe I should engrave something like that on my sword too.”

She chuckled and returned her sword to its scabbard.

Then, habitually hugging her sword, she took out her pipe and lit it.

Realizing they were in a hospital room, she hurriedly tried to put it out.

“I should quit this sometime.”

As she grumbled while trying to extinguish it, Amon said:

“Why? I’m better now.”

“You wouldn’t like the taste of tobacco, would you?”

“…Oh.”

In case her meaning wasn’t clear, she touched her lips.

Amon understood her meaning without needing such a hint.

He offered weak encouragement for her determination to quit smoking.

“Fighting. If you need help, I’ll help you.”

“As a matter of fact, I do need one thing.”

“Hmm? Just tell me.”

At those words, she unfastened her jeogori as if she had been waiting for this moment.

The moonlight coming through the window revealed her body clearly.

“?!”

Facing the flustered Amon, she smiled mischievously.

“I need a stress reliever to replace cigarettes…”

Amon was about to refuse immediately.

How could they do such a thing in a hospital?

But just as the words of refusal were about to escape his throat, they retreated when he saw Sunhwa’s expression.

Anxiety.

He could read the slight insecurity about her appearance that still remained.

‘Well, years of trauma can’t be healed in just a few months.’

Looking at her melancholic smile under the moonlight, Amon’s heart stirred.

In the end, he decided to do as he had done with his other lovers.

Following his heart, Amon got up from the bed and approached her.

He brushed aside her hair and deliberately kissed her scar.

Surprised by his unexpected action, Sunhwa’s eyes widened.

“What are you suddenly…?”

“You’re beautiful.”

“…”

That one phrase was enough.

The slight self-doubt remaining on her face completely vanished.

She put down her pipe and sword, and wrapped her arms around Amon’s neck.

With eyes that had regained confidence, she looked into his eyes and said:

“Actually, I’ve only quit smoking for three days. I was planning to wait a week.”

“We can do it now. You brushed your teeth.”

“Do you have to say that in this atmosphere? A man who already has two women?”

“Sorry.”

“If you’re sorry, then do well. It’s our first kiss.”

Her face drew closer to Amon’s.

The moonlight that had been shining on her hid behind clouds.

That night, the two confirmed their feelings for each other in the hospital room.

*

<Epilogue>

“Sniff.”

Sunwoo lay in his hospital bed, sniffling.

Having volunteered as bait for the operators, he had completed his mission despite suffering injuries that broke his arms and legs.

Although he couldn’t appear in the battle against Behemoth, his contributions to the operation to eliminate Maxwell were significant.

But the treatment he received in return…

“Damn it. How can my own sister not come to nurse me even once?”

It was ice cold.

Of course, he’s not a sister complex.

But when he’s this injured, wouldn’t it be normal for her to nurse him at least once?

But until the last day before discharge, his sister didn’t visit him for more than an hour, saying she had to nurse her lover.

“Anyway, our ancestors were right. Once a woman marries, she becomes a stranger.”

Sunwoo grumbled to the empty air as he spent his last night in the hospital.