Ch.224224 – The Little Prince and the Roses 5

# 224 – The Little Prince and the Roses #5

Gu Hyena was a friend who knew the joy of freedom.

After spending a long time in a dark corridor and finally being released, she was now a famous celebrity at the peak of her popularity.

In her early debut, she appeared on screen in a shocking role as a high school girl possessed by a ghost in a horror movie. Now she was Gu Hyena, an actress who didn’t limit herself to any genre, from romance to comedy.

And apparently, this person had gotten her hands on a special “Golden Arrow.”

“I should get help from Sua?”

Kwon Sua was the one who had given Gu Hyena the most help in debuting in the entertainment industry when she was in high school.

At that time, Kwon Sua still had influence in the broadcasting industry since she had only recently retired.

“Giving Hyena the possessed high school girl role that I was supposed to take was the right decision, even looking back now. It’s a lifelong favor. Now it’s time for Hyena to repay me.”

I wasn’t sure where Gu Hyena had gotten this “Golden Arrow,” but if it truly contained the secret of creation, there was no guarantee she would easily hand it over to us.

I was expecting some conflict, but Kwon Sua seemed confident in many ways.

Vroom-. Screech-.

We parked the car at the broadcasting station where Gu Hyena was currently filming a variety show, and as we looked around, we ran right into Gu Hyena coming out of the building.

Gu Hyena was always a pretty girl, but after becoming a celebrity and hiring a personal coordinator and makeup artist, she truly radiated. It really is true that position makes the person.

“Don’t stare so intensely.”

Thwack-! Yang Juhui elbowed me in the side. She must not have liked how I was looking Gu Hyena up and down.

Yang Juhui’s elbow made a loud sound but didn’t actually hurt, though I had to pretend to be in pain like a Shiba Inu that got a light tap on the head.

“Ow!”

“I didn’t hit you that hard. Don’t overreact.”

“Fine.”

Anyway, Gu Hyena seemed startled to see us. Her slanted eyes widened like a full moon, and then she opened her arms to hug Yu Dahui, Yang Juhui, and Kwon Sua.

“What brings you here without any notice!”

“Actually, I tried calling you several times, but you didn’t answer.”

“Did you call my fifth phone? That’s my weekend phone, so I can only be reached on weekends. If you want to contact me on weekdays, you should have called my third phone.”

It seems busy celebrities have multiple contact numbers. While the women were hugging Gu Hyena, I slowly observed her.

Partly because she was a friend I hadn’t seen in a long time, and partly to sense the energy of the “Golden Arrow” that Gu Hyena might possess.

While I was conducting my reconnaissance, the impatient Yang Juhui asked:

“Hey, Hyena. You have that golden arrow, right?”

Yang Juhui was still a girl without any strategy or plan. Asking so directly might ruin even things that could have been resolved easily.

“I do, why?”

Actually, being direct is often best. Saves time for everyone.

There’s a reason why the direct approach is called the right approach, isn’t there? I quickly added to the opportunity Yang Juhui had created before it flew away with the wind.

“Something went missing from my box. It’s an extremely important item, and I don’t know what might happen if it falls into someone else’s hands. Could I possibly see it?”

“You want to see my lucky arrow, right?”

Rustle, rustle-. Gu Hyena rummaged through her handbag. And from inside, she pulled out an arrow that truly gleamed with golden light—or more precisely, the arrowhead part.

It had a very sharp shape and was also adorned with intricate hieroglyph-like engravings. The force it emitted was peculiar.

“That’s it!”

Finally, we found the answer. After going around in circles to many places, reaching the finish line was quite a moving moment. The question was whether Gu Hyena would willingly hand over that object to us.

Although it was originally mine, I had no proof to show for it.

That meant I couldn’t do anything if Gu Hyena refused to return it.

“Hyena! That’s what we’ve been looking for! Can you give it back to us?”

Dahui sincerely appealed to Gu Hyena. Not many people could maintain their sanity in the face of Dahui’s sincerity.

Gu Hyena crossed her arms and seemed to be contemplating for a while, going “Hmm-.”

“I just picked it up when it was lying on the street. But since I picked it up, things have been going really well for me. I even got the role I was competing for.”

A glimpse of greed flashed in Gu Hyena’s eyes. The golden arrowhead in her hand seemed to shine brilliantly for a moment.

Gold tends to bewitch people, after all.

“Okay. I’ll give it back.”

But Gu Hyena readily handed the arrow to us.

“We’re in the same pirate crew, after all. I don’t believe in superstitions like this anyway. You forge your own destiny. Speaking of which, I’m thinking about retiring from the entertainment industry soon.”

Gu Hyena had a more straightforward personality than I expected.

What was this talk about retiring from the entertainment industry?

Even Kwon Sua, who was most closely associated with her, asked in great surprise:

“Hyena, retirement? What do you mean?”

“I’m already twenty-five now. I think it’s about time to start my second life. I fought a lot with my adoptive father when I was balancing high school and entertainment activities. I want to reconcile with him now.”

“Your adoptive father is the director of K Broadcasting Station, right?”

I recalled that Gu Hyena grew up under an adoptive father who showered her with as much affection as a biological father would. He strongly opposed her becoming an entertainer.

—Do you think becoming an entertainer is as easy as a child’s dream!

—I’ll prove it to you!

Gu Hyena eventually proved herself with her talent. About 8 years have passed since then. After 8 years in the entertainment industry, Gu Hyena seemed to have a lot on her mind.

“Even when surrounded by countless people, it feels empty without family’s congratulations. Now I want to focus more on the people around me and my family. And my adoptive father is starting to pressure me to get married.”

Swish-.

Saying that, Gu Hyena handed me the golden arrow. I carefully took it from her, but it was sharper than I expected—it seemed like I could get hurt if I held it wrong.

Thump, thump, thump-.

As soon as it touched my hand, the arrow began to pulse as if it were a living creature. It was even hot like a fully heated kettle, making me involuntarily exclaim “Ah-!” and shake my hand.

“Ouch, hot!”

But strangely, the arrow stuck to my palm and wouldn’t fall off. Just as I was about to be dumbfounded by the situation, text appeared before my eyes.

“Arrow of Love: Contains mysterious power that has existed since the beginning of time. Anyone struck by this arrow will feel deep affection for the being before them.”

The true identity of the golden arrow was an object that made people fall in love when struck. It could well be called Cupid’s arrow, like those appearing in myths.

“To think the secret of creation was love.”

I felt slightly disappointed. At the same time, I also felt romantic. Love is when you and I combine and grow. And by becoming “us,” it expands even more.

“So this world was indeed created by love.”

While I was expressing great admiration, I felt something like an intense gaze from somewhere. When I came to my senses, we were standing in a strange shop-like place.

Gu Hyena was bewildered.

“What? Where is this? What’s going on? Suddenly?”

“This is the Infinite Shop.”

“You got it right away. I can’t leave this place freely, but I can invite other beings. You’ve got the arrow. I’d like you to hand it over to me.”

Aion of Infinity, Omega, who had invited and even come to greet me, reached out her hand to me. The reason she was staying in Gaeryong was to find the golden arrow.

However, I couldn’t help but feel troubled.

“Well, I’d like to give it to you, but it’s melted into my palm and become one with me?”

“Is that so? It seems it has chosen you.”

Infinity narrowed her eyes.

She soon let out a small sigh.

“Another failure this time. I’ll have to aim for the next one.”

“Are there more arrowhead-like objects?”

“Yes. Creation split its overwhelmingly powerful force and hid it throughout the world. The problem is that because of these split powers, that being is gradually being forgotten.”

Infinity’s explanation was simple.

Aion of Love, who split his own immensely powerful force. That being was trapped in various boxes and gradually being forgotten by people.

That’s why the concept of ‘love’ is becoming blurry in this world.

“…Could Korea’s unprecedented low birth rate also be…?”

“Yes. Such things happened because love was hidden. It’s just a consequence. But now it will be resolved. If the arrow has truly become one with you.”

Swish, swish-.

Aion of Infinity circled around me. It was as if she was trying to look me up and down.

“So how is it? The feeling of becoming a new being after getting the arrow. And don’t you feel strong affection for the people in front of you?”

Have I become a new being? I’m not really sure. But the idea of being struck by Cupid’s arrow and falling in love with the person in front of me was quite interesting.

“Me first!”

Pop-!

Just then, Dahui, who had sprung out from somewhere, caught my eye. Soon, Yang Juhui, who quickly grasped the situation with animal-like instinct, growled.

“You fox! You’re trying to be the first one he sees to monopolize his love!”

“That’s so unfair!”

Everyone started growling and fighting, which was quite a funny sight. At the same time, I felt puzzled.

Why wasn’t I feeling anything? Despite becoming one with the arrow, I didn’t feel any change or fluctuation in my emotions.

My inner self was just splashing like the waves of the sea as always.

“I see.”

Then I realized something. It was like a thought that had been sitting in the deep cosmic depths, deeper than the bottom of the ocean.

I was already loving them to the limit, if you could call it that. I had sacrificed myself, burning myself up for the connections given to me, for the seasons, for all that time. It was eternal love.

“Love is the time you invest. Just like the Little Prince came to love his tiny planet, his sheep, his rose, and even the baobab trees. The time spent together is what can be called love.”

And love could make us into something better. That’s how we’ve been until now, and that’s how we’ll continue to be.

“Everyone, let’s get married.”

I expressed my overflowing affection. There’s nothing left for us but to get married.

Soon Yang Juhui burst out laughing.

“Weren’t we already going to get married? Are you proposing again suddenly?”

“Stop discouraging Yeongwon!”

Dahui growled, and Kwon Sua trembled with emotion.

“No way! Actually, I don’t mind, but as revenge for the old days, I just wanted to reject a confession once!”