NOVEL NEXT Chapter 7 - The Flower on the Cliff
Scene 007: The Flower on the Cliff
Eden.
It’s said that this is the place where God created mankind long ago. The Isaachel family manages it because the hero Alonso Isaachel, who was baptized by God here, once defeated the armies of the Demon King that threatened the world. Empowered by divine authority, Alonso ensured that his family would continue to oversee this sacred place for generations to come… or so the original story goes.
But that’s just part of the setting.
Eden wasn’t a key location in the story, so it was unfamiliar to me too. I always thought of it as a vague, ambiguous place, somewhere like the space between life and death. But now, standing here, I couldn’t help but look around in awe.
“So, this is how it’s portrayed in the game…” I thought as I followed Bella, still amazed by everything around me. The more I saw, the more mysterious the space became. Where I stood should have been too dense with trees for sunlight to reach, yet the forest was as bright as noon.
“This place has a much higher concentration of mana than the outside world,” Bella said.
Mana—the blessing God bestowed upon humans at the dawn of time.
Without turning, Bella asked, “Do you know, Count? Long ago, humans were free from sickness and could live forever, thanks to the infinite mana that flowed from this place.”
That must have been the happiest time in human history—paradise, untouched by pain. But, as with all stories, that happiness didn’t last forever. As Bella continued, her voice took on a bitter edge.
“Well, that all ended when humans, tempted by demons, learned magic.”
Our ancestors, who mastered the forbidden art of magic, angered God and were banished from Eden. Of course, that’s just an old legend. These days, any human can use magic, especially in the Mekhael Empire, where magic research is the most advanced in the world. From royalty to commoners, it’s normal for everyone to use magic—though that brings its own set of problems.
That’s why some magicians insist that magic is a sin, pointing to the legend of humanity’s banishment from Eden as proof. Maybe they invented the Eden legend to warn people not to overuse magic. Regardless, it’s a well-known story that every citizen of the empire is familiar with.
“God is truly merciful, don’t you think? Even after abandoning us, He saved us when we were in danger. Fufufu…”
Before I knew it, Bella had walked up alongside me, quietly laughing to herself.
“…It does seem that way,” I replied.
“Oh dear, I just realized—of course, the Count wouldn’t know, would he? Hehe. You were born without any mana, after all. Fufufu.”
“…Bella.”
“Yes?”
“Are you alright?”
Bella’s face was flushed—she looked almost drunk.
“Hm? Count, did you just ask if I’m drunk?”
“”I didn’t ask if you were drunk; I asked if you’re alright.”
“I’m perfectly fine, as you can see!”
“I see…”
She was definitely suffering from mana sickness, likely caused by the high concentration of mana here. That’s one of the reasons Eden is so tightly controlled: mana exists in all things, from stones to humans to massive monsters. It’s a natural law in this world. But this place has the highest concentration of mana anywhere.
While high concentrations of mana can heal any injury, they can also be dangerous—causing nausea, dizziness, and, in severe cases, death. That’s the double-edged nature of eden.
‘I’m a mana cripple, so I don’t have to worry.’
Luckily, Bella had an exceptional amount of mana, so it seemed she was only mildly intoxicated. As expected, from someone from a prestigious family.
“So why won’t the Count apologize to me? Do you think I’m a joke?”
I take that back—this woman was definitely drunk.
“You’re not a joke,” I replied.
“Then why did you say 500 Kael? Why!” Bella puffed out her cheeks and glared at me.
“500 Kael? Ah, right…” I remembered what she was referring to. It was right after I arrived in this world, the first time I met her.
“Am I worth only that much to you? I’m completely disappointed!” she snapped.
“If I disappointed you, I apologize.”
“Do you really think an apology is enough? Did you really see me as that cheap?”
“”If it were the current you, maybe I would think so.”
“You idiot!”
Bella began slapping me with her palm. Her strikes were slow and clumsy, so I just stood there and took them. With her strength, she wouldn’t be able to hurt my thick layers of fat anyway.
“I hate you!”
“I know.”
“You think money is everything?!”
“Money is everything.”
“You’re just a useless pig who can’t even use magic!”
“Sorry. I’m not a magical pig.”
“I hate how easily you admit things!”
Her flailing hand gradually slowed until she grabbed my collar. In a slightly trembling voice, she asked, “So… how much?”
“…What do you mean?” I asked.
“My value!” she insisted.
Sigh… I didn’t expect this.
“Are you still hung up on that?” I asked.
“…Just answer. How much would you pay for me?”
I was at a loss. Bella seemed determined not to let me go until I gave her an answer. I had no choice but to think carefully—I couldn’t afford to make a mistake here and risk getting on her bad side.
After a pause, I finally spoke.
“I can’t buy you.”
“What do you mean? You’re rich, Count! You can buy anything!” Bella exclaimed.
“Yeah, I’m rich. I can buy whatever I want. But the reason I gave up on you is because you’re someone that even my wealth can’t buy.”
Bella looked intrigued by my words.
“…Tell me more.”
“I can’t use magic; I have no athletic ability and no remarkable talent. If I had to say, being born rich is probably my only talent.”
“That sounds so unfair…”
I ignored her comment and asked, “Let me ask you this: if I had paid 50 billion Kael instead of 500, would that have made you open your heart to me?”
“…”
“Of course not. Money is both my best and last resort, and you’re the only one it doesn’t work on.”
Bella blinked, then suddenly exclaimed, “Pathetic… As expected of you—kyah!”
She stumbled drunkenly and tripped over her own feet. I quickly caught her arm.
“Don’t worry.” Her arm felt so delicate in my hand.
Bella Isaachel was the woman who fought against the players until the very end.
A flower on the cliff is still just a flower, I thought. It never breaks in the storm, but it bends so easily when touched—a flower with fragile beauty.
The Saintess of Mekhael, braver and nobler than anyone, was, in truth, a fragile woman. Yet, she was the one flicker of hope in this world.
“No matter how useless I am, I can still hold up someone like you.”
Bella straightened. “My mana seems to have stabilized. That probably means we’re close to the center. I don’t need any more help.”
As expected, she had sobered up a little. I let go of her arm without protest, though her face was still slightly flushed—a sign she was still a bit tipsy.
We walked in silence for a while. Bella, who had been walking beside me, was now far ahead. She wasn’t stumbling anymore, but I couldn’t shake the worry that she might trip again.
I wasn’t sure how much time had passed when Bella finally stopped. “We’re here.”
The view opened up before us. I couldn’t believe there was such a place in the middle of the forest. Beyond the vast grassy field, I could see the horizon, and in the center stood a single, solitary tree. This space must have been created by the mana of its owner.
We had come here because of something Sora once told me.
“Eden? It’s basically… God’s playground.”
“The gods?”
“Yeah, the beings who gave humans the blessing of mana. You could call them parents.”
“So, it’s a playground for parents?”
“Haha, yeah, that works. Parents always want to stay close to their kids, after all. This place is the only one where the gods can exist.”
“Oh… But if they’re the parents, what does that make you? A grandma?”
“…Oppa, are you nuts? Calling your sister a grandma? I’m the Goddess of Gods, the absolute. I created all of them, so I’m their doctrine, their light.”
“What are you, a cult leader?”
Someone was walking toward us from a distance. I knew right away this was the owner of the eden.
“Tristan, show some respect,” Bella quietly urged, pressing down on my shoulder.
I knelt on one knee to greet the master of Eden. One step, then another. As the figure got closer, their face became clearer.
“…Damn it.”
The moment I recognized the face, a curse slipped out in my mind. It was a face I had seen for decades, always wearing the same mischievous smile.
“Welcome, Oppa.”
The master of the Eden was my younger sister.
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