Chapter 20
Chapter 20
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Azalea Petal Fall (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Why are you suddenly training?"
Lee Se-young, who had been silently watching my training, asked. I smashed the temple of the last remaining wooden dummy and turned to her.
"If I told you something's going down at the academy in three days, would you believe me?"
Bad cultists are coming to attack in three days.
Just like spilling hotteok syrup everywhere, I casually revealed the future event. Lee Se-young irritably narrowed her eyes at my words.
"What happened between you and that guy?"
"A lot happened."
Starting from the fact that the man hated World Trees. To trying to recruit me.
To me, it was like a refreshing rain in a drought. A sweet temptation that felt like salvation would descend if I grabbed it. But gorgeous flowers usually hide poison.
"Anyway, I need to toughen up. I have no intention of handling this alone, but I should increase my survival chances, right?"
"......Does it have to be you?"
I silently lifted the corners of my mouth.
"It has to be me."
That had been my plan from the start.
Use this incident as a stepping stone to raise Azalea's favorability and assassinate the adulterer.
"That's why I need your help too, Teacher."
"With what?"
"I thought you'd brush me off once or twice. What's up with you?"
"......Shut up. This is serious. Depending on the circumstances, I might have to tell someone else."
That was obvious.
An academy full of established heroes could offer advice and assistance to resolve this.
There's a limit to what one person can handle.
"Asking for help is fine, but if it ends up being all rumors and no substance, a few written reprimands won't cut it."
"What are you talking about?"
"It means I don't know yet if what I heard will actually happen."
Lee Seong-han hadn't given me the exact time and place.
That meant there was a chance what I heard was a lie, so we had to be cautious.
"Prepare simply but thoroughly. We can't cry wolf and make it all for nothing."
"What exactly happened between you and that guy?"
"Didn't I tell you? He told me to bring down the World Trees. Do you know something?"
Bring down the World Trees—
Her face visibly hardened the moment she heard it.
"Hey..."
"Yes."
"He really said that? Exactly like that, not a single word off?"
"There might be some variance, but the nuance, the content—it's definitely anti-World Tree thinking."
"......"
Lee Se-young swept the top of her closed basket and clicked her tongue. Irritation was plain on her lowered face.
"You know something, huh?"
"Of course. Who doesn't? Those crazy terrorists popping up every other day for the past few years."
With that, she explained a few things.
About how young World Trees growing around the world had become deadwood—dead trees.
A mad group that pierced through tight security and pursuing hunters to achieve their goals flawlessly.
"If that's true, how do we handle what's coming in three days?"
Se-young didn't answer, just stared piercingly at her phone screen before speaking to me in a voice dripping with worry.
"Listen to me carefully."
"Yes. What is it?"
She stood and closed the distance step by step.
Striding forward. Her serious gaze locked straight onto me, and I stood still until she was in my arms.
"Can't you just skip the academy that day?"
"I don't know what you're getting at, but no."
"Just stay in the training grounds like today—no, the dorms. It's too big to ignore......"
In short, she was worried.
"First time seeing a teacher defending criminals."
As always, I shrugged, planning to poke a little and move on.
"I'm not kidding. And you idiot—"
But Se-young pressed even closer. Now we were close enough to feel each other's breath.
"......If you like it, it's fate."
"Yes, yes?"
"You're not a criminal, you bastard. We're fuckbuddies. Forgot?"
"Uh...... yeah? But can a teacher say that?"
At my question, Lee Se-young finally flushed bright red and pulled back. She fanned herself, but her face showed no sign of cooling.
"Still, skipping that day is impossible."
"Why!"
"More importantly, Teacher, doesn't this feel off? Why are you looking out for me like this? What happened between us?"
I shifted the topic while bringing up the question I'd ignored until now.
Between Se-young and me. Excluding the sex, there honestly wasn't much.
Had we dated? Or shared stories that would spark affection?
I knew sex could create bonds, but she had feelings that couldn't be explained by that alone.
Se-young glared at me sharply and spat venom.
"What, you getting ideas? Do I need a reason to look out for you?"
She sighed heavily.
Then pretended to ponder before slowly starting.
"It started off like trash. I was gonna shake you down. You raped me."
I nodded, and Se-young gently grabbed my collar.
"But women's bodies are sneaky... After that day, my lower belly ached. Remember the underwear I wore when you asked me out for drinks?"
Black pantyhose panties, definitely. They tore nicely.
"Hehe, I half-expected it. Any woman matches once in bed, and she loses her mind?"
Se-young licked her upper lip.
"In short, sex with anyone creates attachment, and if it drags on, they become boyfriend material or hubby candidate."
Releasing my collar, Se-young stretched her stiff neck and took off her coat.
"But don't get ahead and confess like an idiot. You're ugly, so no husband material."
She was cruising, then curved hard.
Calling me hubby candidate seconds ago—what the hell.
I chuckled wryly and sheathed my sword. Suddenly, I recalled the romance fantasy of Lee Se-young I'd glimpsed back then.
"Fine, then after this is over, let's hold hands and hit a movie."
"Did you just take my words for shit?"
"You hate it?"
Shrug if you want.
I shrugged, and Lee Se-young ground her teeth.
"......Didn't say I hated it."
That damn sex bond.
"So you're really stepping up that day?"
"Still on that?"
"Honestly, I don't think you can do much."
Coming from Lee Se-young of all people, it was worth hearing. As an academy instructor, she was plenty strong.
"I acknowledge your talent from just now, but...... humans and Wood People are worlds apart."
"Liberation, you mean?"
At my words, Se-young nodded slightly and shed one layer of clothing.
Under her pristine white tank top, well-defined 11-pack abs stood out.
"There's a reason Wood People are nobility. Not only are our base stats higher, but half our structure is like a World Tree."
Wood People,
Offspring between World Trees and humans, fundamentally made of wood.
Since this world's World Trees are revered as gods, Wood People being demigods isn't far off.
But blood thins over generations.
Thus, sometimes regular humans catch up to Wood People now.
Sometimes.
Meaning usually not. Plus, very rarely, those who inherit strong World Tree power exist.
They can temporarily make their bodies equivalent to a World Tree.
We call it
Liberation or Woodification.
-Crack, creak.
Woody bark rose on Se-young's body, covering it like well-forged armor.
Two massive branches sprouted from her temples, and thick roots enveloped her lower body.
The somewhat brutal sight was no longer human, but plant.
"Think you can beat me like this?"
Her voice had roughened, turned aggressive.
"This is too dangerous. Give up. Terrorists are involved."
"If I can fight—"
"What?"
"Will you leave me be if I can?"
The over-2-meter monstrous Wood Person wielded a giant hammer in one hand.
Liberation forms and attributes vary per Wood Person, so this was Se-young's unique style.
Pretty reliable-looking. Womanly enough to fall for.
"You're serious?"
"Yeah, sure."
The only way to prove worth is to fight directly.
It'd be good training, and battling a liberated Wood Person was valuable experience.
Worst case, even if I lose, I have to step up to befriend Azalea.
"Can do it even with a real sword swing?"
I drew my sword from its sheath. Shing—the sharp friction sound pointed the tip at Se-young.
"......Try it."
"Yes, ma'am."
"But if you lose, sleep with me one night."
"Uh......"
That form makes it sound shocking.
She'll come back, right? If not, I'll bite my tongue.
"Got it for now."
Permission granted—the match began.