Chapter 232
Chapter 232
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 232
Chapter Title: Teaming (3)
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"What?"
The forest, choked with thick underbrush, was eerily silent.
The first trial of the Forest Keeper Selection Tournament, where fierce battles were raging elsewhere.
-Sorry if it's rude since we just met... but, uh, um, wanna do it with me?
Is she crazy?
That was the simultaneous thought of all three people present.
'What the hell is with her?'
Lee Si-heon was at a loss for words.
'What the fuck did this crazy bitch just say?'
Taeyang doubted his ears.
"Uh......"
Aori wore an expression like she couldn't understand why those words had come out of her own mouth.
I-hyang swallowed hard, not grasping the meaning, and the tense atmosphere dragged on for several seconds.
-Crackle, pop.
Only the sound of sparks from the campfire filled the air.
Staying like this would only prolong the awkwardness. At the very least, he had to make it clear they had no intention of fighting.
"What did you just say?"
Unable to hold back any longer, Taeyang spoke up, and Aori immediately countered.
"I'm wronged."
"Wronged my ass."
It hadn't been intentional.
But seeing Lee Si-heon, she suddenly felt an irresistible urge to say it.
It wasn't a thought bubbling up from her brain—it was a boiling desire from deep inside that surged out through her mouth.
"For real, it's true. I'm wronged."
"Ignore her. She's always been a bit weird."
Taeyang continued, pressing down firmly on the top of Aori's head.
Si-heon, still stiff-faced, tilted his head slightly.
His eyes turned to Aori.
Her eyes were strangely flushed. Even as she protested to Taeyang that she was wronged, they stayed fixed on him.
"Yeah... sure."
Strange kid. Yeah, she seems like it. He swallowed the thought that surfaced in his mind.
At Si-heon's awkward response, Taeyang thought.
'This should get us out of it.'
He was just as baffled.
The moment he saw Lee Si-heon, his mind had gone completely blank. His thoughts had frozen.
Taeyang desperately searched for words to salvage the situation.
'What do I say? That Aori suddenly went berserk because she wants to fuck you?'
Is that even something you say out loud? Obviously not.
The problem was Aori's sudden outburst in the first place—why was he suffering for it?
As Taeyang glanced around, his eyes landed on a woman blinking her innocent eyes.
She was someone Taeyang and Aori knew.
I-hyang was pointing at herself from behind Si-heon's back.
"...Huh? Isn't that Taeyang?"
Perfect, fuck yeah!
"I-hyang, it's I-hyang, right? I was scouting around and thought I heard a familiar voice."
Taeyang unleashed a rapid-fire explanation.
"Oh, that's why? I got startled for a sec."
"Hey, I-hyang... Didn't expect to see you here, huh?"
"Yeah? Hehe, hey Aori."
I-hyang fell for it hook, line, and sinker. Aori, catching on to Taeyang's intent, waved cheerfully, and I-hyang smiled and waved back.
"You guys know each other?"
"Yeah, friends from Seoul Academy."
Friends.
There was no way someone as pure, kind, and accommodating as I-hyang could be friends with these two weirdos.
She was the type who called everyone a friend because she got along with everybody.
A brief silence. Then an exchange of glances.
-Gurgle.
"I'm hungry..."
Aori suddenly clutched her stomach.
Starting with the growl from her belly, the tension eased a bit.
*****
📰 Breaking News This year's Forest Keeper Selection Tournament is enough to stir up a huge storm in Korea. With Jeong Si-woo's absence, no one expected much from our side in this first trial. 💬 Comments — ㅇㅇ Just watch Kim Soo-yeon this year. — JeongSiwooOppafan Siwoo oppa ㅠㅠㅠㅠ — ㅇㅇ ↳ Reply Are you in every post, you fuck? Go to Siwoo land. — JeongSiwooOppafan ↳ Reply What are you saying ㅡㅡ — ㅇㅇ Hey, don't badmouth Cornus! — ㅇㅇ ↳ Reply Why do these damn sword gallery fuckers keep overflowing? Not much excitement even on popular Korean internet community sites.
But when the trial began...
Korea's academy cadets, expected to underperform, started pulling off upsets one by one.
📰 Breaking News [Exclusive] Korean Academy Cadet Faces Off Against France's National Tree! 📰 Breaking News Lee Si-heon. Day 1 of Forest Keeper Selection: Astonishing Results Even Hunter Experts Didn't Predict... "Lee Si-heon... I did investigate the cadets, but he's really unpredictable."
"What makes you think that?"
"He started with the sword, used fists in the tournament against Jeong Si-woo... and now he's going out as a mage? No idea why, haha. But the important thing is he got results."
TV, internet, Muketube, and various media outlets buzzed with stories about Lee Si-heon.
Instructors who knew him gave interviews, which spread through communities, sparking all sorts of reactions.
💬 Comments — ㅇㅇ Who's this guy on TV? (Gif of Marronier vs. Lee Si-heon duel) Isn't that the opponent's National Tree? How'd he do it? — ㅇㅇ If I knew, I'd be an expert, dumbass. — PassingHunter It's a survival trial for a week, looks like the National Tree got caught trying to conserve mana. Significant, but something that could happen. — ㅇㅇ You can see them talking and negotiating if you look closely. 📰 Breaking News How to Eat France's National Tree Like Cake. (Final clip of Lee Si-heon and Marronier talking.) Bagette cut! — ㅇㅇ Lmao they really went there ⭐ Top Comment — ㅇㅇ (13.424 likes) She's actually super pretty. Physique's a bit lacking but damn cute. — MiniRae Don't you know her fanclub has tens of millions? You don't know who Lee Si-heon is, but you'll get death threats lol — ㅇㅇ (52.13 likes) Look closer, her physique's not bad. Just overshadowed by other National Trees. Check those pale thighs. — ㅇㅇ Winning by stripping her and getting murder threats? Wtf — ㅇㅇ Idc who Lee Si-heon is. (Meme of Marronier's disheveled clothes) He touched her body, right? This fucking bastard. A mere cadet taking down a National Tree? Utterly absurd.
But it happened again in another region.
Bead versus the Baobab Tree in a one-on-one duel.
Unlike the brief clash between Si-heon and Marronier, this was a bloody melee.
Against Africa's National Tree, renowned for top-tier combat prowess.
Normally, even matching up would be impossible.
-Boom! Boom!
Bead's skillful movements flashed across TV screens.
Even in slow motion, her climbing trees and firing arrows left a deep impression on viewers.
A close-combat brawler against a relatively weak-in-melee archer.
Yet Bead put up an admirable fight.
— ㅇㅇ Full? Luck (Meme of Korean flag waving in the wind) — ㅇㅇ France's National Tree yesterday, now Africa too? — ㅇㅇ Casters went silent. — ㅇㅇ Live: Lee Si-heon clears Marronier Dungeon. Traveling with the National Tree. The momentum didn't stop there.
Lim Jong-hyun, long seen as Jeong Si-woo's rival, crushed opponents in succession for impressive results.
Cornus went on a rampage, dashing through the forest and taking down nearly fifty cadets.
💬 Swordsmanship Gallery & Sword Chan All Cheer On Our Goddess Cornus (Cheers) ⭐ Top Comment — No Disputes Allowed Objections? You're right. Counterarguments? You're right. — ㅇㅇ I acknowledge. — ㅇㅇ Is this allowed? — ㅁ ↳ Reply It'll get deleted if rep tanks again. That's sword gallery for ya. Unstoppable momentum.
Was that the right phrase?
Everyone was performing without exception.
This unbelievable turn of events reached everyone's ears, and those hearing it late couldn't believe their eyes and ears.
Yo, Koreans took down National Trees!
Slashing through dozens of cadets!
As the rumors swelled like waves, different thoughts brewed in various minds.
Some hypothesized Cornus's experiment had succeeded.
Others explored the potential of Lee Si-heon and Bead.
'Things have definitely changed a lot.'
Watching from afar, Cheon-do thought so, noting Si-heon's improved movements using only magic without Heavenly Demon power.
Baek-do was frustrated seeing no fists from Si-heon. Hwang-do waved a cheering stick, squealing in delight.
Meanwhile, in his studio apartment.
"Daddy! It's Daddy!"
"Hehe... Does Shiva like it?"
"Daddy strong!"
Shiva, perched on Azalea's lap, pointed excitedly at the TV.
Hye-young and Dal-rae watched proudly, smiling at Si-heon's strong performance.
Lee Se-young and Star, up all night watching TV too.
"......What the hell."
They stared at the recording with dumbfounded faces.
"Was Si-heon always that strong?"
Se-young shook her head at Star's question.
"How don't you know if you're his girlfriend! He's my boyfriend too anyway!"
They'd thought he'd struggle until the National Tree showed up.
Marronier had to conserve mana too, so maybe he could escape if lucky.
But he smashed her and negotiated.
When the two entered the dungeon, Star and Se-young had rubbed their eyes in unison, as if scripted.
"That kid... he's definitely not weak."
Star scratched the back of her neck.
"Marronier?"
Se-young asked, and Star nodded.
"I don't get how she lost like that... She's a genius. Backed by her nation too."
"Oh... that. The kid meant to be National Tree went missing?"
"Yeah."
Anyone in the know had heard Marronier's backstory.
National Tree news spreads nationally.
But Marronier was a prime genius mage.
A monster mastering top-tier magic from childhood.
Of course, none of her advantages played out in that fight.
Did she go easy?
No.
Si-heon's movements were too clean, ending it quick.
If Si-heon's actions lagged even a fraction.
If dodging magic took bigger motions.
Marronier might've countered instantly.
Pushed him instead of negotiating.
His decisive suppression proved real skill.
And he hadn't even gone all out.
Talent surpassing National Trees.
Everyone denies it now... but more would realize soon.
"...Ugh. What even happened."
Se-young chuckled at Star's groan.
She was surprised too, but Si-heon hadn't changed overnight.
He'd barely known how to fight at first.
"Still, glad he's okay."
If his skills suddenly died, it'd worry her sick.
He'd grown strong without her noticing.
Feeling her heart race, Se-young stroked Star's head as she held her.
"Hey. Why do I feel like a cat?"
"Watching that kid makes me wanna raise a cat."
"Can't argue."
But that cat... no, Marronier.
Watching Si-heon and Marronier made her feel chills. Just imagination?
-Pet pet.
"Nyaong."
"What're you doing?"
"Just felt like it. Think Si-heon would like cat impressions?"
He would. That guy...
Likes any girl.
Se-young gazed at Si-heon's mask on TV.
Just looking brought a soft smile to her lips.
She could push harder today.