Chapter 219
Chapter 219
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 219
Chapter Title: One of Us Is Flower (5)
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"You okay?"
I grabbed her shoulders and whispered into Cornus's ear. She gave a small nod.
"...Yeah."
-Step.
We entered the dark room and closed the door behind us.
-Thud.
In the silent emptiness of my room, where not a sound could be heard, Cornus let out a long exhale and lifted her top.
Steam seemed to rise from her soaked bra.
Three days.
A short time, but I'd stuck by Cornus's side, observing her condition.
We'd spent so much time together that even Saku, whom we ran into at mealtimes, had asked if we were dating.
A single bead of milk dripped from Cornus's erect nipple.
'...Just as I thought.'
Several things had been confirmed.
Ever since Cornus regained some of her health, her body had slowly begun producing milk.
Whenever she used the healing power, her breasts swelled to the bursting point.
The healthier she got, the more of that fluid her body made—it was a fact.
'But why the power, of all things?'
It hadn't happened when she used it on others.
This was a unique change only Cornus experienced.
My hypothesis: The Cornerus family's experiments had altered her body, and now it was reacting this way because I'd healed what her frail constitution couldn't produce before.
'Not that I can stop the treatments.'
I supplied her with power every morning, so I had to drain her regularly, once every two days.
"Si-heon... hurry."
She shook her body lightly, her breasts swaying side to side. Pain furrowed her brow.
I moved behind Cornus and grabbed her chest in a back hug.
A sweet, sugary scent wafted from the nape of her neck.
I desperately suppressed my rising lust.
I squeezed her breasts from bottom to top, like milking a cow.
Her ample bosom barely fit in my hands. She let out a pained moan.
I squeezed harder, and white milk sprayed out.
"...Hngh."
A moan laced with pain, yet lewd in the moment.
I kept kneading her breasts up and down without stopping.
After a few tries, I got the hang of it. Cornus trembled and leaned back against me.
I cupped one nipple with my hand to keep the milk from splashing everywhere.
'Maybe I need a milking machine.'
One of those cup-like things. Applying pressure with it on her chest might be easier.
Cornus writhed wildly.
Her ass rubbed against my lower belly, blanking my mind for a second.
"Si-heon... your face."
"What."
"Does it hurt for you too...?"
Her exposed nape. The soft fuzz carrying her scent. Her wet eyes looking up.
Cornus, innocent of any lewd thoughts even now, endured like she was in a hospital treatment.
That made suppressing my urges even harder.
"...Hoo."
I exhaled, my head dipping without thinking.
The closer I brought my face, the stronger the floral scent mixed with milk—like milk tea brewed to perfection.
-Squeeze.
My legs buckled, pressing her ass harder against my crotch.
Even after rigorous training, her body remained soft.
The preliminaries started tomorrow.
A long tournament like this... one slip-up could lead to disaster.
To prepare for the worst, teaming with Cornus was unavoidable.
'Can I keep an eye on her, take responsibility, and still find Flower...?'
Even Byul said it was practically impossible and told me to enjoy myself.
But there was still time, so I'd wait and stay vigilant.
"Si-heon... the other side too."
"Got it."
Her breasts bore handprints from how hard I'd squeezed.
I tamped down my desire and moved my hands to the other side.
*****
"Any movements from Flower?"
"...None confirmed yet."
The conference room held church officials and administrators.
In the solemn space, they exchanged glances as conversation flowed.
"Hmph. This is the stage prepared by the exalted World Trees for the Forest Guardian preliminaries. Even Flower couldn't invade this sanctuary, could they?"
The archbishop sneered at the concerns raised by some administrators, his eyes narrowing.
Would Flower make a move here? Doubting the necessity of World Trees was Flower's raison d'être. It wasn't impossible.
The gathering included church members and even S-rank hunters.
Defying the archbishop, Isabella spoke up.
"Protecting the sanctuary is our duty. This is the cradle of saplings."
The cradle of saplings.
The term for the stage of the Forest Guardian preliminaries.
The soil quality here was the finest in the world.
Mana density was thick too, perfect for growing World Trees.
Naturally, dungeons spawned frequently.
Typically, dungeons here served as preliminary stages or fueled national tree growth.
In the 21st century, dungeons were resources. The opportunities they offered were vital for nurturing talent.
"...We've observed Flower using dungeons as a means. We can't rule out an attack on the cradle."
"Unnecessary worry, Isabella."
"......"
Isabella fell silent at the archbishop's words.
In this volatile global situation, ready to erupt at any moment—didn't he know how dangerous such conservatism was?
"Sister Isabella is right. Who knows if Flower sympathizers lurk among the preliminary cadets?"
"Are you insulting the World Trees' children?"
"You know that's not what I mean, Archbishop."
"Hmmm."
The archbishop stroked his goatee, deep in thought.
If word reached the proxies or the pope, it could spell trouble.
After much deliberation, he turned to the priest beside him.
"What do you think, Priest?"
The archbishop's closest aide, Priest Aaron.
The imposing man replied.
"We should prepare, of course. Isn't that why we're gathered—for the off-chance?"
"Mm, true."
"We have plenty of priests, knight orders, and hunters. The sanctuary's starlight defenses are active too. Even if they come, no issue."
"Well said."
Aaron addressed the room.
"No matter how they prepare, it won't matter."
Though titled a battle priest, as the archbishop's right-hand man and guard, he wielded real power.
They decided to prepare against a Flower attack.
Isabella nodded, though unease lingered, with the archbishop's approval.
-Thump thump.
A desk pounding echoed from across the room.
"Enough vague talk—what's your point? Be specific."
Brown-green streaked hair. Petite frame.
Champee propped her chin, lounging arrogantly as she questioned them.
"Such rudeness to the archbishop!"
"Enough."
A bishop raised his voice, but the archbishop calmed him.
S-rank hunters mentoring cadets and national trees in the preliminaries.
Individuals surpassing mortals, capable of soloing dungeons. Asymmetric powerhouses.
Equivalent to knight captains in the World Tree church.
Better to avoid pointless arguments.
"You. How about softening your tone a bit?"
Champee stuck out her tongue at Eletta's words.
"But I agree. We must prepare for the worst. Without a concrete plan, this is pointless."
Eletta spoke with half-lidded eyes.
"Not about possibility of attack. Lives are at stake."
"So what? A survey?"
Champee scoffed.
As she mocked, rooting out Flower among the preliminary participants was near impossible.
If mere underlings, their unique mana signature might distinguish them.
But Flower wouldn't use pawns on this grand stage.
All they could do was restrict unverified artifacts to lower risks.
The World Trees had more to lose, not Flower.
"Shall we consult the national trees? Marronnier, Banya, etc... Some have abilities to read minds or prophesy."
"Hmmm."
S-rank hunters were scarce, thanks to the Heavenly Demon and Wood Spirit King.
Growing national trees were S-rank candidates, but still lacking.
The elite remained after weeding out the middling—but the Black Moon incident, the World Trees' blunder, still stung.
"Reading minds... might work to pick out Flower sympathizers."
National trees' unique abilities could help.
The question was Flower's preparations.
With global broadcast, chaos here challenged World Tree authority.
The cradle had ironclad security.
If breached, word spreading would embolden Flower—worst case, sway the Hunter Association.
"Sage, any words?"
The archbishop, looking troubled, asked her.
Sage Sephirot.
Undeniably, the one with greatest say here.
Her clone had sat silently, now shaking her head.
"No movements yet... Nothing we can know for now."
If the sage said so, no way to track Flower currently.
Or perhaps she knew but timing wasn't right.
"Instead, press the stalled fronts."
If Flower awaited one big strike, hit their divided forces elsewhere.
For now, that was all.
*****
The next morning.
Lately, spending time with Cornus had become routine somehow.
After pulling all-nighters two days straight, I finally slept—only to wake with her right in front of me.
"You're up?"
She lay on the bed, speaking nose-to-nose.
I rubbed my eyes, sitting up.
"How's your body? Still any chills?"
"Much better since you massaged me."
Yeah. Now my name's just Si-heon.
She thrust out her chest to prove it. I pinched her cheek lightly and got up.
After washing, I donned my gear.
Black combat suit—resistant to all but extreme impacts.
Small tears auto-repaired, with magic heat resistance and temperature control.
The suit itself was an artifact.
"Tell me if it hurts."
"Okay."
Daily power infusions, no drugs needed—her face brimmed with vitality.
I pulled out my phone to check the schedule.
This Forest Guardian preliminary. First stage:
-Forest Survival.
A survival game in a dungeon.
The staple event of the preliminaries, weeding out half the cadets in one go.