Chapter 167
Chapter 167
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 167
Chapter Title: Welcome Back?
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-Chirp, chirp.
Birds chirped outside the window.
-Throb.
When she opened her eyes due to the pain in her lower abdomen, it was already morning.
'Ugh.'
Her pelvis and waist ached.
Had she gone too long without exercising?
Recalling Lee Si-heon, who had kept groping her soft flesh in the early hours, her face heated up.
'...Still.'
They had sex.
She shouldn't have. She mustn't get swept up in it.
As she rolled over, Lee Si-heon's face came right up to her nose.
"Gasp..."
So close... It was suffocating.
Was he asleep?
She held a finger to his nose to check his breathing. Air came out at regular intervals.
"......"
'He's asleep... A kiss should be fine, right?'
Carefully. Very slowly.
She brought her lips to his and slipped her tongue inside bit by bit.
"Mm..."
So happy...
Maybe because it was morning, his mouth felt even warmer. His lips were rougher.
A silly smile spread across her face.
He wouldn't find it annoying, right? No... He can't find it annoying.
They had to be together forever. Forever.
At the voice in her heart, she reached out both arms and acted a bit cute.
She took Si-heon's sleeping hand and placed it on her waist. With her other hand, she moved his opposite hand from the pillow and laid her head on it.
She wished he'd stroke her... But hoping for that unconsciously might be crossing a line?
Now in an embracing position, she extended both her arms this time.
-Squeeze.
"Si-heon fills my arms... Ughhh..."
Oh god... Perfect.
Mine. All mine.
Revenge she couldn't take herself? No regrets.
Even if she hadn't sought revenge... He was more precious than that.
'I don't want more people... But if he truly loves only me.'
She wanted to keep him in her pocket forever, but the world wouldn't allow it.
"......"
"Smack, smack."
She kept tangling their tongues, stroking his rough nape with her hand.
He looked like a child in his sleep.
Was this how to lead? Like this?
She poked his unresponsive tongue with hers, mimicking last night's amazing rhythmic movements.
-Flash!
In that instant, Si-heon's childlike sleeping eyes snapped open.
"Eek... Pwah."
Startled, she pulled her head back, and Si-heon grinned mischievously before wrapping both arms around her.
Her heart pounded.
"Y-You were awake?"
"From the start."
"......"
"It was cute."
"Ugh, seriously..."
Her cheeks burned; her face must be beet red again.
Si-heon hugged her back tightly, laughing as he rubbed his face against her cheek.
Puppy-like skinship, but it felt so good.
Like he was marking her as his.
Yes... I'm yours. You're mine. I'm yours too.
His hand touching her was fine, his skin brushing hers made her smile. What bond could be deeper?
Few things in the world had given her such certainty.
Even the mother who bore her had betrayed her.
......But maybe this man wouldn't.
His touch was warm enough to melt her deep-seated distrust of humans.
'Still, just in case... He might leave me someday.'
Forever. Until death, even if she died first... Forever...
She had to keep him in her sights.
"Hey."
"Yeah?"
"If anything happens, tell me right away. No... If it's something serious, consult me first. Got it?"
"......Yeah. You too."
She never wanted to forget that warm touch.
Like her dad. She wouldn't lose another loved one.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ ['Tree Encyclopedia' has added Azalea Tree.] ⚔ ENCYCLOPEDIA ENTRY ⚔ □ Azalea Tree [Encyclopedia No: 041] [Scientific Name: Rhododendron mucronulatum Turcz] [Other Names: Azalea Flower, True Flower, Heaven-Earth Flower] -Plant Kingdom Wood Person. Azalea Order, Azalea Family, Azalea Genus. -Deciduous broadleaf shrub of the Azalea family. Distributed in Asia etc., height 2~3m. Small branches have scale fragments. -Flower Language: Moderation, Purity, Joy of Love. 'The pure-hearted you captivates many hearts and never lets them go. However, your innocence leads to lonely and painful days.' -Aptitude: [Spirit Affinity] -Unlock Info: 78.53% [Encyclopedia unlock perk: Greatly enhances stat growth, spirit operation, and affinity aptitude.] "Whoa..."
After seeing Azalea off. She opened her status window for the first time in a while and gazed at it.
It was filled with all sorts of info, but the first thing that caught her eye was the ability gained from her relationship with Azalea this time.
'...Spirit Affinity.'
Spirit arts. She was interested, but she already had plenty of combat means.
Spreading herself too thin might mean missing both rabbits.
'And the gains are pretty big.'
The longer time passed, the more tangible the Wood Spirit King's power felt.
Once stats exceeded 10, they tended to stagnate.
But the Wood Spirit King's ability raised them effortlessly without extra effort.
'If we assume I've almost fully awakened my potential now...'
Filling the encyclopedia with the Wood Spirit King's power in a mostly awakened state was the ideal growth path.
'This makes not touching the encyclopedia until now actually helpful?'
In her past life, her potential had reached its limit.
Thanks to pushing her body to the absolute extreme in training, she wasn't at a realm level, but she'd grown enough not to lose to most opponents.
She might even have been able to kill a weak World Tree with her own hands.
'Status window.'
⚔ STATUS ⚔ 【 Name 】
>Lee Si-heon (World Tree Husband Candidate)
【 Age/Height/Weight 】
>20 / 187cm / 84.18kg
⚡ Strength: 9.8 💨 Agility: 9.2 ✨ Magic Power: 12.6 💪 Stamina: 8.7 🍀 Luck: 10 🛡️ Endurance: 8.6 📊 Intelligence: 7 💖 Charm: 9 ⭐ Potential: 15 □ Unique Traits (2)
>[Tree Encyclopedia (S)] [Combat-Type Physique (S→SS)]
□ Held Skills (2)
>[Black Path (-)] 【Divine Art of the Heavenly Demon (S)】 - NEW!
□ Temperaments (4)
>[Wood Spirit King (-)] [Sword Talent (B→A)] [Magic Talent (B→S)] [Lewd Demon (F→B)]
■ Authorities (2)
>[Healing (-)], 【Remnant of Time (-)】 - NEW!
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Due to growth progression, potential has decreased.] [Your potential is absorbed into temperaments! Multiple temperaments' grades increase.] [We pay respects to your mental fortitude that endured the horrific pain of your body being torn apart.] [Kingly aura confirmed. Partially modifying status window.] Something had changed a ton.
She hadn't checked her status in a while, but noticeable updates included the new authorities section and skills.
The upgraded Combat-Type Physique. And the various talents.
Above all, the precious Divine Art of the Heavenly Demon she'd earned herself.
But what stood out most annoyingly... was the Lewd Demon's growth and the new authority.
▶Lewd Demon (B)
[Classification: Temperament]
"Among the perverts I know, you are the pinnacle."
-Bonus to all sexual acts. Failing to vent lust causes unbearable agony akin to wanting to die. And you can get aroused by anything! Truly eat them all up?
"...Fuck."
No wonder the F-grade Lewd Demon had been so hard to endure—it had grown in the meantime.
"What a slutty ability."
How long had it been since she cursed at her own stats?
With the World Tree of Purity back, it felt like old times.
Back then, she'd rolled around doing all sorts of crazy things.
Now, fond memories worth reminiscing.
She scrolled down to check the authority presumed from the World Tree of Time.
▶Remnant of Time (-)
[Classification: Authority, One-Time Use]
"lch, vertraue, dir"
"The one tree. That remembers you."
"......No ability description?"
The description had German and Korean sentences, but no actual authority details anywhere.
It was from the White Willow, so it'd surely help someday... But not knowing was frustrating.
She scratched her nape and closed the status window.
She could check favorability, earn points, and do a gacha pull, but she'd put it off.
-Creak.
Opening the hotel door and stepping out.
Casually dressed, phone shoved in pocket, she wandered the hotel.
'Where's Cornus?'
The soft-cheeked, round-eyed retriever cuter than a sunflower, with pure innocence.
Being with her was so comforting it deserved to be called Cornus Therapy.
And she loved tteokbokki unusually much.
"Oh? Hey, Si-heon~"
Walking the hall, a familiar girl greeted her cheerfully.
"Hey. Do you know where Cornus is?"
"Lady Cornus? Probably drinking in the auditorium."
"......Huh? Cornus?"
"Yeah. She was so cute... Hehe."
Cornus... Had she evolved?
The cadet's face lit up recalling yesterday, giggling.
Had she gone from Pikachu to Raichu while he was gone?
If true, no surprise.
"But Si-heon, you... might be in danger."
"Why?"
"Hmm..."
The female cadet stared at his face, blushing faintly.
"N-Never mind. Something like that. Heard there was an issue. Urgent?"
"Nah... Anyway, auditorium?"
"Yeah. They played drinking games last time."
After casual goodbyes, he headed to the auditorium.
No way... That Cornus.
The girl who'd stuck to him since she had no friends, now proactively making pals?
Felt like his close little sis leaving his arms to roam free.
He opened the auditorium door upon arrival.
-Creak.
Alcohol stench hit simultaneously.
They'd partied till morning; some cadets lay wrecked in the corner.
And strong drinkers still going.
In the midst, Cornus was giving a speech.
"...Real swordsmanship is, pow! Like this!"
"Kuhuhu, what's Lady Cornus's real swordsmanship? Sword arts?"
"That's it, real swordsmanship!... I want tteokbokki."
"Ahaha, tteokbokki again."
Seemed like a sword arts debate. Cornus mimed swings, eyes spinning.
"......Why are you laughing?"
"I'm not."
"Si-heon always laughs at me too. Is there a reason?"
"What's your deal with Si-heon, this Lee Si-heon?"
Yet her face stayed expressionless. Amazing.
Hearing his name, Cornus tilted her brows and puffed her cheeks slightly.
"Si-heon... I don't know."
Why wouldn't she know him?
"He's a stranger."
"But you keep mentioning him."
"Who...?"
"You, Lady Cornus."
"Hmph, don't know. Who's Si-heon?"
Why ask others about him?
"You said you'd introduce friends, then vanished."
"......No, hehe, well. Something came up. Forgive Si-heon, Lady Cornus. He's pitiful."
"I forgive. But... you left without a word..."
Yeah, sorry about that.
Cornus must've struggled without him.
Losing a reliable group project fixed member hurts.
Especially in 'form groups with people you like.' With only 2-3 friends, it's chaos.
Then slackers join, creating bus-riders.
But them drinking together meant she'd turned absence into opportunity and bonded.
Half-teasing tone. Teasing Cornus was her charm anyway.
Cadets knew boundaries. Noble through and through.
"...Anyway, I don't know Si-heon."
"Pffft."
Barging in now... Would not end well.
He quietly backed out of the auditorium.
Apologize to Cornus later.
'Remaining time...'
Meet the teacher, kill time casually?
She said no need, but skipping would make her sulk. Time to prep and go.
Back from auditorium, he prepared in his room.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The training camp ended.
What to say. It ended boringly.
Barring day one, no activities enjoyed. Post-return: rest, meetings with cadets, drinks.
Parted with teacher, to contact later. Soon talk closely with Star too.
Return flight quick.
Back home, sun already dusk.
At dorm room door, rolled shoulders, stood before it.
'......Cheon-do.'
Master. Hwang-do, Baek-do.
First meeting since past life.
She wouldn't remember him, but new emotions for him.
Pocketed trembling left hand, opened door with right.
3 months.
-Click.
"Kyaa! Quick, quick!"
Hwang-do's bright voice from door gap.
Half-open door revealed Hwang-do stamping feet urgently.
Flawless cute face as always.
Opening fully.
-Thud.
Shiba stood in entryway.
His daughter waiting, round eyes wide.
Fresh from kindergarten, chick-like uniform adorably cute.
"Shiba?"
"Shi~ba, quick, do what you learned."
Hwang-do clapped behind, urging Shiba.
Shiba wiggled tiny hands open-close.
Shaking head side-to-side, green hair like nature's swayed.
Shiba parted lips, hesitated long, looked at him, slowly, clumsily opened mouth.
"......D-Da...ddy."
Body froze mid-hug into room.
Had he misheard?
"Wel...come...back?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ ['World Tree of Purity' cheers brightly!] In the past, upon returning, Shiba had leveled up once more.