Chapter 121
Chapter 121
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 121
Chapter Title: Training Camp (8)
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-Are you pulling me into a dream because you're scared of dying?
-I'm not scared. This body will disappear within a week anyway. As someone who has matched strength with your ancestors, I have one request.
A request.
From the nuance, it didn't seem like she was planning to turn hostile against me.
Rather than overthink it, there were plenty of things I'd only learn by going there.
"Man, I'm seriously exhausted..."
The clock's hands pointed straight down.
I dragged myself out of bed, massaging my puffy face to shake off the drowsiness.
The hangover was brutal—my head throbbed. Desperate for water, I bolted up and chugged a bottle from the hotel fridge.
-Gulp, gulp.
"Hoo."
One 500ml bottle, downed in one go.
I set the empty plastic bottle on top of the fridge and, to snap myself awake, slapped both cheeks hard with my palms.
-Slap!
The sharp pain across my face chased the sleep away.
"...Let's go."
I headed straight to the shower, finished up, dried my hair, and pulled fresh clothes from my travel suitcase, changing into something neat.
My phone wasn't fully charged, but I yanked it out and shoved it in my pocket anyway.
The schedule for day two... I could skip it.
Most of it was optional participation or free time anyway, to accommodate hungover cadets.
I ran a hand through my still-messy hair as I made for the hotel's top floor.
Depending on how things went, I might not make it back today, so I headed to Lee Se-young's room to report in.
I found the door with the number she'd given me yesterday and knocked.
-Knock, knock.
She wasn't still asleep, was she?
After waiting just over a minute, I heard a click from inside—the lock disengaging.
But the door didn't open.
No matter how long I waited, there was no sign of her coming out.
'What kind of prank is this now.'
I opened the door, and suddenly a pale white hand shot out, grabbing my collar.
That slender hand yanked me inside with surprising force.
A semi-forced entry. The door slammed shut behind me like a ghost had pushed it.
She kept hold of my collar and pulled my face close to hers.
"You got here quick."
Se-young's half-naked body was still warm, like she'd just rolled out of bed.
Her cheeks were flushed, and the corners of her mouth curved up.
"What if it wasn't me? Why dress like that? Be more careful."
"A man... talking back?"
"Pardon? No, Teacher... I wasn't planning on doing anything today..."
-Rip!
The buttons on my dress shirt popped off in an instant.
What kind of power was this?
Agh! I stifled the scream that nearly escaped as Se-young's hand clamped over my mouth.
Her body had already shed the robe like a chrysalis emerging.
"Pfft. I said we'd just hold hands and sleep, right? Shut up and come in."
"I'm really not in the mood today? Let me off just this once."
"Yeah, sure, I'll let you off. Can't say no to our Si-heon, can I?"
She gripped my wrist firmly and guided my hand to her secret place.
"But will this guy forgive you?!"
We tumbled onto the bed like we'd been shoved.
A layer of blankets muffled any screams so the neighbors wouldn't hear.
*****
"Come on, getting mad over something like that? Where'd that academy back-alley rapist who ruled the shadows go? Lee Si-heon is dead. Totally dead."
I'd made up my mind to announce it and leave...
But when I wrapped myself in the blanket like a kimbap roll and pretended to wipe away tears, Se-young let out a hollow laugh.
"What am I supposed to do now? Look at all these marks."
A faint purple lip mark lingered just below my collarbone.
She'd forced her mouth on me and sucked hard—screams came naturally.
Even when the World Tree of Healing got me, I hadn't yelled like that.
"If you didn't want it, you should've renewed it when we first met. I'm disappointed."
Lee Se-young said that while lifting her choker to show me.
Midway along her slender neckline sat a fresh kiss mark, blazing bluish-purple.
Quick renewal. Note to self.
From now on, renew every time we meet.
"So, did you hate it?"
"......"
"You liked it, though. How'd it feel when I used my stocking-clad feet?"
"Uh, well..."
All my energy got sucked right out.
Of course, midway through, the Se-young under me was begging me to stop—but people only remember what suits them.
I flopped back onto the bed, and Se-young slapped her body atop mine like a sticker.
"Come here, you punk."
Her arms wrapped around my neck as her lips brushed my cheek and pulled away.
"You've looked tired lately. Something going on?"
"No, just... I might not make it back tonight because of some business. That's all I came to say."
"Really? That's a shame..."
Her eyes narrowed seductively, like she was testing if I meant it. I gave a small nod.
"What kind of business?"
If she knew I was meeting a World Tree, she'd roll up her sleeves and insist on tagging along no matter what.
Sometimes, ignorance is bliss.
"Kinda hard to explain."
"A girl?"
"......"
Well, that too.
Seeing my reaction, Se-young's eyes sharpened in an instant.
"I don't care about anything else, but women's issues? Total transparency. Can't stand seeing you, ultimate nerd that you are, get played for a fool."
She was dead set against it, but barking up the wrong tree—though that wrong tree hit the nail on the head for a different issue.
Should I spill every detail about the confession?
After agonizing over it, I let out a heavy sigh and opened my mouth.
"I got confessed to."
"Who?"
"You know her."
"Azalea? That's her, right?"
Nailed it.
"Yeah, it'd be weirder if you didn't fall for her."
Se-young empathized with the absent girl's feelings.
Did women just have that kind of intuition?
Maybe because she knew at least the basics of Azalea's story.
"So?"
"I turned her down. But she won't back off."
"Hmm, really?"
Se-young tightened her arms around me as she asked.
"What do you think of her?"
"Good friend."
"Aha. Not romantically. Got it."
When I didn't reply, she continued for me.
"If you're dead sure you'll never see her as a woman, cut her off clean—no room for ambiguity. Or is breaking the friendship too much?"
"......"
"You've gotten so indecisive while I wasn't looking. You were always like that, but lately it's worse."
No words for that.
Se-young clicked her tongue, then stole a bite of my lips.
-Mwah.
"...I get it. Not knowing when you'll die makes you cautious with relationships. And your personality's weirdly progressive."
I tilted my head, then got it.
Monogamy must be seen as progressive in this world.
"Sorry you're always stressing over my girl problems because of me."
"Why sorry? If anyone's sorry, it's me."
"Nah, that's not it."
Se-young shook her head.
"This won't do. Gotta rephrase."
With a bitter smile, she dropped a bombshell.
"I like guys with a lot of women."
What?
I could only gape in shock.
It reeked of being hastily made up, enough to make me doubt my own ears.
"......Pardon?"
Only after I asked did Se-young realize her slip and correct it with an oops face.
"Poor wording. I like my Si-heon having a lot of women."
"No, what."
"So don't stress—just rack 'em up. Gotta field a double squad for our kids' baseball team, right?"
It was so absurd I let out a hollow laugh.
Se-young piled on, jumping out of bed like she'd had a genius idea.
"But you can't get played for a fool. I need to meet her first before you decide."
She gathered towels and clothes in her arms, glanced at me, and declared.
"Cancel any plans with me today. Stay far away from the dorms."
She draped a light top over my shoulders to cover up and shoved me toward the door.
No clue what she was plotting.
"What are you gonna do?"
I couldn't hold back and asked.
Se-young, one foot on the bathroom threshold, flashed a mischievous grin.
"Meet Azalea. I'll tell you tomorrow—handle your stuff."
"......Pardon?!"
-Thud!
The bathroom door shut.
No arguments allowed. A black aura seemed to emanate from inside.
I nearly barged in to argue but felt drained and just shut the front door instead.
-Beep.
The lock clicked.
No turning back now.
She likes a me with lots of women. Anyone hearing that would think it eased my burden—and knowing that, I couldn't take it at face value.
'Am I the weird one?'
I was just refusing clothes that didn't fit.
Se-young's words flashed through my mind, followed by Empress Dowager's and Azalea's.
This wasn't the first time I'd thought about fixing my views on relationships.
Covered by Se-young's clothes over my exposed skin, I headed back to my room, pondering.
'If I just change my attitude.'
Everyone could be happy.
But—
"Hoo..."
A deeply rooted mindset doesn't change without a major trigger.
It had shifted a lot already.
Just accepting Empress Dowager was proof.
Back when I held her, rationalizing it—what had I thought?
'...It's trash logic, but what can I do with so many people more important than my life.'
Yeah, that was it.
'Even I see it as overly packaged justification for collecting women. Trash to everyone else.'
Maybe because I'd seen Se-young that very morning.
I'd ended up applying a totally different standard to Azalea.
Sorry. I overthought it back then.
If I'd calmed down and talked properly, the outcome might've been different.
...I'd realized that ages ago.
Sleeping with a guy who has lots of women seems fine in this world.
Se-young was stepping up to give me that trigger.
'Thanks, but really, thanks.'
Back in my room, I stared at my reflection.
Minus the improved complexion and blemishes, it could've been from my old world.
I'd never once thought myself handsome.
But with high charm, others must see me that way.
Is that why they call my face a playboy's? Nah, probably not. They sense something sleazy in me. Every woman I've connected with says the same: playboy vibe.
If everyone but me thinks that...
Maybe I'm the one denying reality. Laughable or not, time to accept it.
-Rustle.
I changed out of her clothes into something normal, then grabbed a cap, pulling it low to avoid eyes.
Leaving the dorms, heading far away.
I glanced at the spot where Azalea and I had stood together.
Passing it, I headed to the temple I'd looked up that morning.
Breathing the crisp air cleared my head.
...Free of distractions, I knew exactly what to do.
Reaching the temple entrance, I lifted my cap and took in the wide-open space.
[You've arrived.]
The World Tree's voice invaded my mind.
Uncannily like the one from the dream.
With a clearer voice, I spoke to the tree.
"So, what do you have to say?"
I passed through the antique wooden doors of the ancient temple—guarding this place for ages since refinement—and entered.
The empty temple was pristine but lonely.
...No, not quite.
Focusing, I sensed a presence behind the offering box.
[Come further in. So I can see you.]
As the World Tree of Time spoke, a woman popped out from behind the box.
A masked woman.
Petite with pink hair, she bowed 90 degrees in silent greeting.
Then beckoned me lightly.
Follow her?
I tailed the woman closely as she turned. Inside the building, a valuable-looking urn of fertilizer awaited.
Unfamiliar mana. Similar to what I'd sensed faintly from various trees.
"...Put your hand there."
A voice from the woman.
'They've already coordinated everything.'
Makes sense—no other temple near the dorms.
'Wrap this up quick. Lots to do.'
I reached for the fertilizer.
The moment my hand touched it, a burst of light enveloped me. The shabby wooden structure vanished from sight, and I felt my body float.
-Flash!
[You've come. Wood Spirit King.]
I lifted my sealed eyelids.
Before me loomed a tree far grander than in the dream, sprawling majestically from the earth.