Chapter 214
Chapter 214
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 214
Chapter Title: A Big One's Coming
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Forest Keeper Selection Day.
I returned early in the morning, took a thorough shower, and dressed neatly in the academy uniform that I rarely wore.
Azalea tied my necktie in front of Shiba and me as we sat at the dining table.
Looking at Azalea, who had to raise her hands high due to our height difference, a laugh bubbled up.
"Why are you laughing?"
"Nothing."
"What is it. Seriously."
Maybe she got annoyed at my chuckling.
Azalea pulled her hands away from the necktie, puffed out her cheeks, then lifted her flower petals and puckered her lips.
*Smack.*
An unexpected kiss on the lips.
"Make sure you wear the mask."
She handed me my old mask, which I hadn't carried in a while.
"I haven't been wearing it lately. Do I really have to?"
"...What if even more girls show up around you here?"
It wasn't full-on obsession, just possessiveness.
Living together had purged all the old poison from Azalea, turning her into a sweet, gentle girl.
"Shiba wouldn't like Mommy getting more sisters either, right? Isn't that so, Shiba?"
"Mommy?"
"Yeah, yeah, Mommy."
"Yay!"
"..."
Azalea's face stiffened at Shiba's tactless remark.
"Kuhuhu, see? He says he likes Mommy."
"Whatever, just put on the mask."
"Got it."
The gem had fallen out, stripping it of its artifact functions, but it was still plenty good at hiding my face.
After changing into the full outfit, I stood in front of the mirror.
A blue-themed design.
The color symbolized drawing inspiration from the leaves of blue trees, but to me, it just looked tacky.
"It suits you well."
"No matter how I think about it, maybe I should just wear something else."
"They give you separate clothes once you enter the selection anyway, right? Just bear with it this once."
Azalea patted my butt to soothe me.
Complaining like this made me feel like a high school kid whining about not wanting to go to school.
Wasn't that bad, though?
Azalea handled all the housework, so life had been comfy lately.
But now, I'd have to leave this place for a while.
I put on the mask from back when I was actively attending the academy and first met Azalea—not the new one I'd made.
I shaped the mistletoe that Cheondo had generously provided into a bracelet and slipped it onto my wrist.
Among the luggage I'd packed was that suspicious robe that had passed through Seri's hands.
*Click.*
As I turned the doorknob, Azalea came out to see me off, holding Shiba.
"Shiba. Daddy's off."
I brought my face close and said it. Shiba wriggled out of Azalea's arms and bumped his face against my cheek.
*Smack.*
A cheek kiss of a different sort made me grin.
"You should say 'have a safe trip'."
"Safe twip!"
I felt the weight of the bag on my back as I stepped out of the house.
After descending one step, I glanced back to see Azalea and Shiba smiling and waving.
They waved happily back.
'Heh, we're a real family now.'
Maybe this is the feeling a family breadwinner gets every morning on the way to work.
I wasn't too worried about Shiba.
Azalea and Shin Hye-young were there when I was gone.
Shiba had grown attached to them and seemed fine without me.
*Ding!*
A notification chimed from my pocket.
I pulled out my phone and checked the message. It was from Byul.
-Byul-ri: (photo)
The photo Byul sent showed her and Lee Se-young sitting in front of the TV, snacks in the center of the table, staring at their phones.
Byul looked bright and cheerful, while Lee Se-young stared at the phone lens in surprise.
The standout detail was that Lee Se-young had taken off her top.
The overwhelming presence of her 75F chest.
Soft, healthy white skin in a different way from Azalea's.
-Byul-ri: Watching the live broadcast!
-Me: No work?
-Byul-ri: Lol my bf's on TV, gotta watch this ㅋㅋ
-Me: Why's Se-young like that.
-Byul-ri: Dunno? Probably showing off her big tits or whatever.
-Byul-ri: (sticking-out-tongue emoticon)
Pfft.
I chuckled lightly and sent a message to Lee Se-young too.
-Me: (photo)
-Me: ???
-Lee Se-young: I didn't say take a pic, that bitch did it on her own
-Me: ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-Lee Se-young: Good luck
-Me: Yep
-Lee Se-young: And keep in touch
That was the last message from the girls. I pocketed my phone.
Alright, lots to do.
I hurried toward the academy.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Hey."
"Yeah."
"He ain't showing up?"
Aori tilted her head at Taeyang's words and peered at his phone screen.
"Participant list for this Forest Keeper Selection."
A few hours before the Forest Keeper Selection began.
7 a.m.
Cadets' photos taken in real-time at academies worldwide were being posted to the selection homepage.
Taeyang and Aori, participating from Seoul Academy, were on that list too.
With every refresh, more participant faces appeared.
Among them were members from the world's top academies.
"Kya~"
Every single one a beauty.
When it came to Wood People, it was always handsome men and beautiful women.
Taeyang zoomed in on a few photos and started rambling to Aori about the girls' faces.
He'd already done his homework on this stuff like a pro.
"Beauties that topple nations. The term fits perfectly. Here, I'll explain them one by one."
"I wanna see guys."
"Shut up and listen. First, the National Trees."
The National Trees from each country, flying their flags high.
Wood People who'd received the absolute best education, academy or no.
No matter how elite the academy cadets were, few could match National Trees.
Even that famous Jeong Si-woo had a record of losing to one.
"Baseline A-rank Hunters. Plenty of S-ranks too."
National Trees symbolized their nation's pride.
Born with overwhelming talent from the cradle, showered with national funds until they became maximum firepower.
They inherited thick World Tree blood, so Woodification was a given.
Growth aimed at reaching the Realm.
They trained not just to guard World Trees but to protect their nations from Flowers too.
This Forest Keeper Selection was their debut stage.
"Realm, huh... Don't World Trees hate Wood People who've reached the Realm?"
Taeyang scoffed at Aori's words.
"Ancient history."
Wood Spirit King. Heavenly Demon's連打.
With Flowers running rampant, the World Tree foundation was crumbling.
To face the endless big shots ahead, World Trees needed big shots on their side too.
Hence, they granted blessings and power from the start to raise someone up.
"Those are the World Trees' husband candidates, the National Trees... the ones we'll have to face."
Taeyang said it like it was no big deal.
"Shit, jinx. But that's not the point."
"What is?"
"They're hot."
Japan's cherry tree.
China's plum blossom. Ginkgo.
Canada's sugar maple.
India's banyan.
Russia's bird cherry.
America's mountain ash, and more.
Every one had that instant "whoa" visual.
Unique styles. Unique beauties.
But undeniably stunning and cool, impossible to rank.
Families with thicker World Tree blood produced superior stock—it was proven.
The National Trees with the world's thickest blood could crush dozens of idols, no contest.
No wonder humans got treated like trash as dating material.
"Wonder how pretty the elves were, living thousands of years with even thicker World Tree blood."
Aori stuck out her tongue in disgust at Taeyang lost in fantasy.
"...Gross."
"What, you bitch?"
"Ah, ah! Don't pinch!"
Taeyang stretched Aori's cheek like taffy, and she dropped her blank face to yell.
"Quiet down."
"Yes."
Taeyang and Aori shut their mouths at the instructor's immediate rebuke.
One thing was clear.
"Anyway, National Trees... are gods."
Men's gods.
Remember it well. Why do guys worldwide obsess over this months-long boring Forest Keeper Selection?
There was a reason those dizzying clips of National Trees flailing in dungeons went viral as GIFs.
No need to worry if parents asked, "What're you watching?"
Just say you're watching the wholesome documentary Forest Keeper Selection.
They'd go, "Aw, our son's watching something fun," and peel you an apple.
"...So gross. ...Ah. Ow. Ow. Let go."
"Stars we can never touch."
Mess with a National Tree wrong, and you'd drop dead in a blink.
At least until meeting the Wood Spirit King of the next generation.
'After meeting the Wood Spirit King, passing on all the messages... maybe I could throw my life away and go for it once.'
Sacrifice my life willingly.
Knock her up.
Wouldn't that make me a real man?
Taeyang eyed all the National Tree photos before swiping to the next.
There were photos of El Academy cadets.
Ranked below National Trees but top-tier academy. Every cadet here was skilled.
'Skilled means talented.'
Talent meant thick World Tree blood.
Thus, El Academy folks were all pretty and handsome too.
As he savored each photo, one guy caught his eye.
Black hair, wearing a mask. Name: Lee Si-heon.
"A mask? What, why a mask?"
Plenty of ways to ID someone without showing their face, so no issue.
But why bother with the hassle?
Aori, clinging to Taeyang's arm, saw the photo and her eyes sparkled.
"Because of his looks?"
"Nah."
"Why?"
"This guy's handsome."
Aori stated it firmly.
The stars etched in her eyes wouldn't stop twinkling.
"Weren't you just calling me gross for hunting pretty girls?"
"Top-tier. Maybe National Tree level."
"What? This guy?"
"Yeah. Looking at him makes my knots tingle."
"You saying that?"
Taeyang squinted, scrutinizing the faintly visible face under the mask.
Sharp eyes, sleek jawline—cool, sure.
"Isn't this level something I surpass?"
Aori spat at Taeyang's claim.
*Ptooey.*
Sticky saliva dangling from her cheek.
Taeyang's stone-hard lips twitched.
"Watch your damn mouth."
"...This bitch."
The trip to find the Wood Spirit King.
Looked like it'd drag on a bit longer.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The Forest Keeper Selection evaluates individuals and teams, among other factors.
With the broadcast spanning months, the criteria aren't too strict.
I've grown a lot too, so I doubt I'll trip over anything harsh.
[During the Forest Keeper Selection, Miss Cornus should be safe. Assassination is possible but unlikely—World Trees won't ruin the festival over it.]
Cornus's experiment success rate was slim.
If the festival tanked, it'd cost trillions, so even World Trees wouldn't decide lightly.
The Cornerus Family must've judged that way.
Cornus's secretary, Seong Ji-ho, told me this:
[At least during the Forest Keeper Selection, it might be good to make good memories with Miss Cornus.]
Don't ruin the mood.
No plans to.
The World Tree-Cornerus Family nerves seemed on hold until the selection ended.
'But that's not the only thing I need to worry about.'
I glanced at Cornus beside me.
She was dipping bread in balsamic vinegar and munching away.
"Shur."
"Out food hunting?"
"?"
Like yesterday, I'd injected her with surging power this morning too, so she looked much healthier.
As long as I kept managing her up close, nothing major should happen.
The real issue was:
'...Flower terrorism.'
I eyed Bead across the way, sitting next to Lim Jong-hyun in civilian cosplay.
"Huh? Si-heon, good morning~"
That damn bitch was suspicious.