Chapter 242
Chapter 242
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 242
Chapter Title: Surviving in the Forest (1)
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Tribal mating was something that happened whenever eyes met by chance and the mood struck.
There was no process of judging the partner's face, sexual appeal, money, or social status.
I want to do it with the man in front of me. If that feeling arose, the Baobab Tree way was to pounce forcefully and go for it.
Come to the bed. I'll do it.
She had stunning looks and enjoyed semi-coerced coupling.
That was how they ensured the survival of their species.
Many children died before reaching adulthood. So they bred a lot and saw what stuck.
'Ah.'
But Bao's case was different.
Bao had taken on the role of National Tree due to her brother's belated escape.
As a child, she had fought desperately, but by the time sexual activity became possible, she was already being treated as the National Tree.
Even so, her body's instincts must have remained.
-Drip.
A milky fluid trickled from her privates. She lost herself and indulged messily.
Twice, maybe three times. At first she lunged, but then realized and ended up pinned, whimpering like a beast.
After screaming a few times like that, he fled as if running away.
The coupling had been so intense her legs shook, and it was deeply etched into Bao's mind.
It was a brief lapse.
'In the end, I didn't get to ask.'
Where her brother was. What he was doing, acting so recklessly even when his precious little sister called out to him.
Bao irritably furrowed her brow.
The pain of her first time? A fond memory?
If her heart wasn't moved, it was nothing. No big deal.
The only regrettable part was that she couldn't do anything herself midway through.
And above all, that man.
He hadn't skimped on talk about food, had he?
"...Annoying."
Covered in sweat, Bao curtly stared at the milky fluid splattered on the ground.
When hunting and chasing prey, there was a tradition of consuming parts of the animal's body.
Instinctively, she scooped up the fluid on the ground with her finger.
"I'll catch him no matter what...."
As Bao tried to stand from the ground.
Suddenly, strength drained from her legs, and she collapsed.
"Hah... Ugh."
Her whole body ached.
Were all those blows from back then still lingering?
She hadn't noticed in her excited state.
Her body screamed and creaked like an unoiled machine.
Lee Si-heon.
Bao inwardly repeated the name of the man who had taken her first time.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I threw a punch into the air.
-Bang!
The sound of air exploding rang in my ears.
Not bad. I smirked while loosening my right shoulder.
Stat increases aside, enhanced martial aptitude.
It was power perfectly suited to me. My body felt lighter than imagined.
Partly due to raised stats, but manifesting the Heavenly Demon Divine Art was simpler now.
The Spirit Tree King's power was undoubtedly mighty.
Far beyond any authority or trait, it held infinite value, extendable in any direction. It was clear I'd been wasting this talent until now.
"Hey, bro. So, how was it?"
I pushed aside vines descending from trees while moving my arms.
"What."
"C'mon~ Obviously the thing in the dungeon."
The sun clung to my side, persistently asking as we pushed through the forest.
What did a National Tree's body taste like? What was the scent, the feel?
"Why are you curious about all that?"
"You made me lose my sex drive, so I need this to feel alive."
Is that my fault?
I showed reluctance, and Taeyang clicked his tongue regretfully.
↓ The artifact indicating Cornus's location now pointed south.
Proof we'd crossed the map's midline into the eastern region of Forest Survival.
Late afternoon on day 3. Four days left.
After fighting Bao, we'd cleared the dungeon, so food was plentiful.
We'd encountered a few cadets along the way, but Taeyang and Aori had handled them without me needing to move.
'Yellow, was it.'
The mysterious figure slicing through cadets in the east.
On day 3, still lingering in the east suggested Cornus was likely that rumored identity.
'How skilled was Cornus again?'
It had been a while since I'd sparred with her, and she wasn't at the level of freely massacring cadets.
Comparable to or below a National Tree among cadets, but top-tier. At least the Cornus I'd faced was.
Such a Cornus massacring cadets seemed unlikely.
Maybe an experiment effect kicked in.
Her condition must have been terrible. Even if I started healing her, would it show that much effect?
I'll know when I meet her.
Of course, there was something to do first.
"Time to split up soon?"
The three around me turned their gazes to me.
"As expected, we travel in pairs?"
"Yeah."
Cornus had circumstances she couldn't speak of. If this got back to the two of them, who knows what they'd say.
Taeyang, who roughly knew my and Cornus's situations—excluding the milk—sighed helplessly and backed off first.
Aori nodded in understanding, hiding her regret.
Since I'd hinted from the start I'd peel off midway, I-hyang smiled amiably, saying she got it.
"For real? That's too bad... Say hi if you see me later. Hehe. Here's the food."
Saying that, I-hyang handed over all her backpacks. Since she wasn't fighting, she volunteered as porter.
Four backpacks. Excluding what she'd started with, all were ones I'd obtained.
"Give me one, you guys keep the rest. Too cumbersome to carry all."
Taking them all would eliminate food worries for this trial, but it'd be heartless.
I-hyang had handled all the chores to minimize my effort. Taking only what I could eat alone was right.
"...Really? W-Wait a sec!"
I-hyang sat immediately and opened the backpacks.
She stuffed the one for me full of various foods.
Fruits on top to avoid crushing. Sturdy cans at the bottom. Neatly packed and handed it over.
"Here! Hehe."
Taking the backpack, it felt heavy in my hands.
Seemed to have more food than the one I'd just gotten as dungeon reward.
Is this country hospitality?
"Taeyang, can't you learn from her?"
"Huh? No way. I-hyang's just that nice...."
"Try being nice sometime."
Taeyang shook his head vigorously. His role was tough love and training, apparently.
"Anyway... You guys can survive on your own, right?"
"If we don't run into the strongest National Tree like last time, I can carry I-hyang and run."
Nothing unbelievable from boastful Taeyang. His skills were real, so no retort.
I gave him a curt glance, then shouldered the backpack.
"After the trial, let's eat together when we meet. With her too."
As Taeyang finished, Aori stepped forward briskly and bowed.
"Your Majesty, see you later."
Aori, who seemed to have three screws loose from her bold first meeting, was starting to become readable after chats.
Still not a bad kid.
Minus the occasional blatant jokes that were dizzying. A cute younger sibling type.
We parted ways, splitting off.
Now just find Cornus.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I thought we'd meet soon once the artifact direction changed.
Time was evening.
No need for sleep anyway, so I kept moving.
Spreading mana with minimal consumption to scan surroundings let me advance plenty even in the dark forest.
-Rustle, rustle.
Pushing through the underbrush.
I grew increasingly urgent. For a very annoying reason.
'Is Nursing Girl okay? It's getting urgent.'
Cornus's breasts. The image stuck in my head wouldn't leave.
After Cornus first complained of pain, I'd watched her.
Over three days, after two, her breasts swelled with milk to the point of feverish mastitis.
To the extent she'd shamelessly bare her chest.
Of course, maybe not this time.
Unlike then, this was combat, and above all, my authority healing hadn't continued.
When my healing authority treated her body, her breasts had swollen over 30% in an hour.
If I don't heal, no milk.
Hypothesis, but probably correct.
But not healing worried me about Cornus's health.
'...If her breasts hurt, worst case.'
Bad health, second worst.
Either way, I had the solution, so I needed to meet Cornus ASAP.
'If she'd gotten the artifact, we'd have met much sooner....'
No way to get it? Regret useless.
I kept advancing, ears perked.
Still, my prediction she was relatively close wasn't wrong.
↓ (Nearby) Evening timing. Few cameras roaming.
A bit further ahead. A faint voice reached my ears.
-...Ugh.
A dizzying woman's pained moan.
The soft tone like a small cute bell trembling was distinguishable even from afar.
I followed the voice as if entranced.
Parting grass and vines, a simple shelter with cleared surroundings appeared.
Cornus was there.
"......"
Light yellow hair shining under moonlight from the sky.
Mana in her body greatly depleted, hinting at numerous fights.
Clothes bore slight bloodstains, who'd know how many times.
Her condition was poor.
Sneakers worn white, fabric torn—who knew how much running.
Leaning against a tree, eyes closed, venting pain.
Seeing her, relief escaped first.
"Haa."
"...!"
Reacting to my breath, she jolted awake.
She instantly drew the sword beside her and pointed it at me.
"...Who?"
One-handed sword form, other hand covering chest, sword extended toward me.
Cornus's sword was strangely near destruction.
Like a blade struck at stone dozens of times. Teeth all chipped.
Impossible with normal mana infusion. Oddities abounded.
Upon notice, even mana quality differed.
It was Cornus, but somehow much changed.
"It's me."
I straightened from crouch, showing my face to Cornus.
"...Si-an?"
"Not Si-an, Si-heon."
"...Si-heon."
"Right. You okay? You look in bad shape."
More than my question, Cornus seemed relieved first, slumping back against the tree.
Shoulders relaxed, sword hilt dropped, she spoke with her usual expressionless face.
"...I searched hard for Si-an."
"Yeah, looks like it."
Sneakers and sword state told all.
Wait. Did she wander just looking for me without dungeon plans?
Chill ran down my spine.
"Food. You didn't eat for three days straight, did you?"
"...Yeah."
"Just wandered looking for me? Because I said so?"
-Nod.
Cornus nodded silently.
"Found you, so good."
No wonder her face was pale.
I approached Cornus immediately, caressing her face.
Forehead, cheeks quite cold.
Three days fasting was doable as intermittent, but by my standards, Cornus was a patient.
I opened the dropped backpack right away. Used magic for a campfire too.
-Crackle, pop.
White noise in the silent place.
And healing.
Activating healing authority to her forehead, felt like soul-sucking sensation.
Cornus rapidly drained my authority, but her complexion improved greatly, color returning.
"Better now?"
Cornus nodded at my words.
"...With Si-an, it gets better. Amazing."
Yeah.
The authority just used could save dozens easily.
Cornus's health was that bad.
Seeing color return to Cornus, I relaxed.
'For now, one worry down.'
Healing side effect would show soon, though.