At the Unity Temple, the Guardians of the Natural Tree of Heaven and the Flowers stayed by Lingmei's side.
After hearing everything Nic had told them, their expressions were heavy with sympathy.
Lingmei herself, however, looked shy and nervous standing so close to the Guardians she admired so much.
"I–I never thought I'd actually meet all the Guardians of the Natural Tree of Heaven! I'm a huge fan of you all! Can we take a photo together?" Lingmei said, her eyes sparkling.
Sakura smiled gently.
"Of course. Come here, let's take one."
They took photos together, and Lingmei looked genuinely happy.
Nic watched from afar. He had come intending to calm her down, but seeing how cheerful she already was, he realized there was no need to worry.
"…Alright. Time to use Love Archive," Nic muttered.
He returned to his lodging and saw Hinata and Marin chatting casually.
"Zeta, check Lingmei's Love Archive. Is there anyone connected to her, like when I looked into Kazumi's and Meilin's past?" Nic asked.
[ There are two people connected to Lingmei, Master Nic. Hinata, and another girl you've met before but the image is still unclear. ]
"A girl… alright. Let's see it directly."
Nic entered his room, locked the door, and activated Love Archive.
---
Slowly, Nic was pulled into Lingmei's past.
At first, everything looked normal.
Her childhood was peaceful. Her family seemed harmonious. There was nothing strange.
So Nic skipped ahead—to the time Lingmei entered Qwelin Academy.
That was when his attention shifted from Lingmei to another girl standing close to Aurelia.
"…That face looks familiar. Is this the girl connected to Lingmei?" Nic wondered.
[ Correct, Master Nic. That girl's past is connected to Lingmei and Hinata. ]
Nic nodded and continued watching.
Her name was Ochana.
She was extremely skilled at making medicines, potions, and various other creations. She and Aurelia were already in their final year, but Ochana chose to repeat a grade for reasons unknown.
"I don't really understand how your mind works… but can I ask you to look after something for me?" Aurelia said.
Ochana laughed.
"Haha, what is it? Milk for your future kid?"
"Not that, idiot," Aurelia replied. "I want you to look after my little sister, Hinata. She's shy and way too kind. I'm scared someone might hurt her."
"Oh, if that's all, don't worry," Ochana said firmly. "I won't let any guy here mess with that cute Hinata."
Nic now understood the connection between Hinata and Ochana.
He skipped further back—to the moment they first met Lingmei.
At that time, Ochana and Hinata were already close. Lingmei approached them, curious.
"Um… can I join you? What are you doing?" Lingmei asked.
Ochana turned toward her.
"Wait, you're really interested? Finally, someone who likes this kind of thing too! Right, Hinata?"
Hinata nodded.
"Sure. We're studying flowers and trees."
From then on, the three of them were always together.
Ochana, being the oldest, naturally became like an older sister to both of them.
Everything seemed fine—until one day, Lingmei suddenly changed.
She became quiet. Cold.
"Lingmei? Want some strawberry milk? Your favorite. I bought a lot earlier," Ochana said cheerfully, holding a plastic bag.
Lingmei barely reacted.
"I'm not really into milk right now. You and Hinata can have it."
"…Oh. Did you get tired of it?" Ochana said, still smiling. "If you want some later, just tell me, okay? I'll save one for you."
Before things got worse, Nic pulled himself out of that moment and shifted the timeline—to Lingmei's home.
---
The atmosphere changed instantly.
The warm, happy vibe of Qwelin Academy vanished, replaced by tension.
Lingmei saw her parents arguing—right in front of many guests during one of the lavish parties at their house.
Her mother strongly opposed Lingfeng for hosting these parties.
Lingfeng had already told her not to discuss this in front of others.
He grabbed her arm, and the argument escalated.
Lingmei couldn't hear everything, but afterward, her mother packed her things.
"Mom… where are you going?" Lingmei asked anxiously.
"My Lingmei… Mom is just leaving for a little while," her mother said softly. "Be good and stay with your father, okay?"
She kissed Lingmei's forehead—and walked out of the crowded house.
Lingfeng approached Lingmei.
"Lingmei, your mother lied. She's already sick of us. She doesn't love you anymore. She left without taking you, didn't she?"
Lingmei looked devastated.
"But… why? Is it because of these noisy parties?"
Lingfeng placed a finger over her lips.
"No. These parties keep our house lively. Come… let Father explain."
He brought Lingmei into his private room.
That was where everything began.
Lingmei was forced to sit and watch videos—videos that slowly shattered her identity and gave birth to her alter egos.
Themes of loneliness, hypocrisy, ego, emotions, betrayal, sacrifice—
they were drilled into her mind over and over again.
"Remember this, Lingmei," Lingfeng said after the conditioning ended.
"Being alone is better. Friends are fine, but never interfere in their problems. Don't help them. Walk your own path. Protect only yourself."
From that moment, Lingmei was ordered to greet the wealthy guests who came to their house—
a tool in her father's money-laundering schemes.
Nic watched silently, letting out a slow breath.
"…Patience. Let's keep going. I want the real trigger."
---
Nic fast-forwarded again to the moment everything truly collapsed.
Aurelia's entire class had already graduated.
Only Ochana remained behind by choice.
Then came a transfer student.
Shen Akira.
And from there, everything began.
Shen Akira was immediately praised for his many skills.
Teachers admired him. The student council praised him. Everyone adored him.
He sought out Ochana after hearing she was a talented alchemist.
"Hello. Are you Ochana?" Shen Akira asked with his gentle smile.
"…Yes. I'm Ochana. What do you need?" she replied.
"Are you alone right now?" he asked, glancing around.
Ochana nodded.
Shen Akira then made an offer.
"If you can make something like this, you can earn a lot of money. This is an order from Western."
Ochana hesitated.
"I can make it… but doing it here would be dangerous, wouldn't it?"
Shen Akira clapped his hands once.
"Don't worry. I already have a place for you to work. If you need anything, contact me. Once it's finished, I'll pay you immediately. Deal?"
Ochana hesitated—but then she remembered Lingmei's dream of meeting the Guardians and traveling there with Hinata.
She needed money.
"…Alright. I agree."
They shook hands.
"Great. I hope we can work together for a long time," Shen Akira said with a smile.
---
Now Nic understood.
Ochana was the cloaked woman.
He continued.
Ochana invited Lingmei and Hinata to accompany her while she worked.
At this point, Lingmei was already wearing her cold "mask."
"It's dangerous, right? If so, Hinata shouldn't go," Lingmei said.
Hinata immediately defended Ochana.
"Don't say that, Lingmei… Ochana will be alone. We should go with her, right?"
Ochana lowered her head.
"Lingmei's right. It is dangerous. If you don't want to come, it's okay… but if I succeed, maybe I can make your wishes come true."
"I can get anything myself," Lingmei replied flatly. "I have money."
That was the moment Ochana began to feel irritated by how much Lingmei had changed.
"What's wrong with you, Lingmei?" Ochana snapped.
"You've changed. You used to be the most excited whenever I invited you."
"And I have the right to comment on what you're saying," Lingmei shot back.
"Stop it, both of you!" Hinata cried.
"Ochana, calm down… Lingmei, let's just accompany her this once, okay? Since it's dangerous, we'll keep our distance."
Eventually, they gathered in the dark room where Ochana worked.
This was the moment Hinata would later see in her dreams—now clearer than ever.
"I did it! I actually did it!" Ochana laughed.
"It's terrifying… but beautiful, right? I don't even know what it's for—but I'll get paid!"
Lingmei stayed silent.
Hinata clapped, amazed.
"…Wait, how many did he order?" Ochana thought.
"One? But if I make two, maybe I'll get a bonus?"
She started working again—
SLAM!
"ENOUGH!" Lingmei slammed the table.
"Don't go too far, Ochana! The smell is already reaching us! It's dangerous!"
"Relax," Ochana replied calmly.
"I'll take responsibility. You don't have to get involved."
"Fine," Lingmei said coldly.
"Then I'll take Hinata away if something happens."
Hinata could only watch anxiously.
Then—
Something strange happened.
The ground beneath them shifted.
The table Lingmei was leaning on tilted slightly—
—and the dangerous liquid splashed upward.
Straight onto Ochana's face.
"AAAGHH!! MY FACE!!" Ochana screamed.
"S-SIS OCHANA!! WHAT HAPPENED?!" Hinata panicked and tried to rush forward—but Lingmei grabbed her.
"WATER!! THERE'S WATER NEAR YOU!! PLEASE—POUR IT ON ME!!" Ochana screamed in agony.
Hinata grabbed a bucket—
But Lingmei knocked it away.
The water spilled everywhere.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING, LINGMEI?! SHE NEEDS THAT WATER!!" Hinata cried.
"This is her problem," Lingmei thought coldly.
"That substance is dangerous. We might get infected. It's better to leave now than be accused of hurting her."
"DAMN IT! DO YOU HAVE A GRUDGE AGAINST ME, LINGMEI?!" Ochana screamed.
"I DID THIS FOR YOU TOO! WHY ARE YOU LIKE THIS?! HINATA—HELP ME!!"
But Hinata couldn't break free from Lingmei's grip.
They left Ochana behind.
"…Damn it… I'm going to die…" Ochana gasped. "Water…"
Then—water poured over her face.
She barely survived.
Her vision cleared enough to see who saved her.
Shen Akira.
"Are you okay?! What happened?!" he asked, pretending to panic.
From afar, Nic watched, furious.
"That bastard…" Nic muttered.
Ochana felt indebted to Shen Akira.
She told him everything—how she'd been betrayed by her friends, even by Hinata, whom she treated like a little sister.
Shen Akira acted sympathetic.
He promised he wouldn't abandon her. He would take care of her.
Ochana was grateful—never realizing he was the one who destroyed her.
Soon, rumors spread.
Ochana's face was half-destroyed. People said she conducted dangerous experiments.
Shen Akira pretended ignorance.
Teachers said they didn't need a student who stayed behind just to conduct insane experiments.
Students said no one should defend her.
Ochana's heart shattered.
"What is this…?" she cried.
"Why do you all hate me? What did I do wrong? I never hurt anyone… Why am I being framed like this…?"
Ochana was expelled from Qwelin academy.
She disappeared from public view, filled with hatred toward the world.
Once again, Shen Akira appeared—positioning himself as the only person who cared.
In truth, he had spread the rumors himself—
breaking Ochana's mind completely, molding her into someone who would obey him absolutely.
Nic finally understood.
The root of everything—
Shen Akira.
And Lingmei's father.
"…There's always trash like this in the world," Nic muttered.
"They make me sick."
To be continued…