Chapter 244
Chapter 244
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 244
Chapter Title: Surviving in the Forest (3)
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Cornus's appearance was so stunning that even calling her beautiful didn't do it justice.
Her breasts? Words fail.
The soft flesh on her thighs contrasting with her slender waist— just lying there gazing at her made time fly by.
Even though she wore relatively large clothes to accommodate her chest size.
'I can kind of see why some kings went mad over women and ruined their kingdoms.'
Those internet posts flaunting perfect figures.
And idols. A few pretty nobles who inherited World Tree blood.
Standing before Cornus, they were all just storks following a magpie.
Even among average looks, handsome men and beautiful women are born. Cornus was born with an even better body among the exceptionally attractive.
Why had no one approached her, despite her desperation to make friends?
Even attraction to beauty has its limits.
A face that chips away at the viewer's self-esteem.
If I quantified her charm stat, I doubt I could compete.
"Si-heon's face looks weird."
Forest bathing. Broad daylight.
Lying in the tent, staring blankly, Cornus grew bored and came over to poke at my stomach.
Rubbing my abs curiously.
She slipped my shirt up slightly, feeling the muscles between her fingers.
'...Isn't there a cafe like this in Japan?'
Cat massage cafes.
I pictured cats kneading with their paws.
Cornus looked more like a puppy than a cat, though. A slight difference.
No doubt about it—this was Cornus therapy.
-Swish~~~
Cool water flowing outside the tent.
The thin tent fabric filtered the noisy sounds of nature into something pleasant, like a nightingale's leisurely song.
Sprawled out, my mind cleared as if I'd washed my face in ice water from a winter basin.
-Crunch.
Slice up some watermelon here. Serve it on a disposable plate and eat it with chopsticks—that would be perfection.
Stuff a piece in your mouth and bite; sweet juice bursts out.
The refreshing chill slides all the way down your throat!
No mom's nagging about not eating in bed.
Nothing else needed. This was rest.
This was life.
-Poke, poke.
Cornus's fingers prodding my cheek.
"Why?"
"Do all guys' bodies look like this?"
Having toyed with my stomach, Cornus blinked her innocent eyes and asked.
She leaned over me, casting a shadow.
Breasts with prominent nipples. She hadn't worn a bra since I milked her once.
The large mug that had cradled her breasts until now sat in the tent corner like a sculpture.
"Pretty much. Though plenty don't. Why?"
"It's fascinating."
"Everything fascinates you."
She wasn't some kid dying to touch anything new.
Still, her cool touch evoked memories of lying on my mom's lap as a child.
"I'm bored."
"What's there to be bored about?"
This idle leisure was rare.
Especially during the first trial.
"...We'll be swamped soon. Enjoy the now while it lasts."
Taking it easy.
"How?"
"Hm. Well, usually do whatever you want."
"Nothing I want."
She pondered so deeply that I had no choice but to prop myself up slightly and grab her shoulders.
Smoothly. Without resistance, Cornus's body sank into the soft tent floor, enveloped by the plush earth.
She blinked up at me from my arm pillow. I gently withdrew my arm, laying her head softly on the ground.
"Just lie there. Like this. Then..."
"Then?"
"Listen quietly. The water flowing outside. The sound of dirt grains rolling under the tent."
"...Huh?"
"Or feel the cool floor. Relax every muscle, lie still, and close your eyes."
Got it. I'll try. Murmuring that, Cornus followed my lead.
Releasing all tension, eyes shut.
Once you start savoring that relaxation, you can't escape it.
Her shoulders always tense—she needed this more than most.
Of course, I needed rest too.
-Treat her like a friend. Normally.
I hadn't forgotten Ji-ho's request.
Cornus didn't grasp emotions well, but I had to give her as many new experiences as possible.
I guided her further.
"And smell the grass. Breathe deep. Suuuuck~~~"
"Suuuck."
"Haaa~ How's that?"
The warmth of another person right beside me.
The press of her shoulder against mine.
Then Cornus spoke.
"...You smell like Si-heon."
Uh. Unexpected answer.
"W-well, can't help it. We're in the same tent."
I stammered, and suddenly something soft and thin draped over my chest.
Cornus's arm.
"I like people's smells."
The sharp tip of her nose against my shoulder. Two breasts pressing into my arm.
Her hair on the tent floor tickled the back of my neck.
Breathing steadily, Cornus seemed to be savoring my scent.
'I haven't used that skill I just got.'
She genuinely liked my natural smell?
"Sweat smell."
"Should I move away?"
"My mom always smelled like sweat too."
Cornus's mother.
Relaxed now, she was reminiscing.
"Can't see her now, though."
"Must've been a good person."
"Yeah... don't remember well."
She peeked her eyelids open slightly.
Cornus was right there. Forcing her eyes shut, hugging my body, she moved only her lips.
"Mom was human like you, Si-heon... Always smiling. That's all I remember."
"Ah."
Humans smell different from Wood People.
It might repel some, but for Cornus, it was a fond memory.
"She was always with me."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. Always hugging me tight."
Once she started talking, even the usually quiet Cornus spoke fluidly.
"Did she smile more than now?"
"......No. Only mom memories come clear. Nothing else. Not even what kind of kid I was."
Not even what face she wore.
Suddenly, I reached to hug her with my left hand but stopped midway, feeling its emptiness.
This distance might be just right for now.
-Squeeze.
But she drew closer. Pressing into me. Trying to rest her soft cheek on my shoulder, but her huge breasts kept her chin from reaching.
I shifted sideways; her breasts squished, and her cheek finally settled on my shoulder.
Her cheek puffed up like glutinous rice cake.
Looking at it made me want to pop it in my mouth and chew.
I touched her hand. From the protruding wrist bone, along each knuckle. Her neatly trimmed nails would look great decorated.
Veins faintly visible under pale skin—barely noticeable usually, a bit creepy up close.
Stroking there tickled her; her breaths grew irregular.
Enjoying the sensation, suddenly she laced her fingers with mine.
-Squeeze.
Cheek puffed, one eye squinted shut. The other a half-moon staring at me.
"......Rest."
She softly closed her eyelids.
"I get it."
Feels comfortable.
"Is this... what friends do?"
Way beyond that.
Friends don't do this crap—normal ones don't even hold hands.
But Cornus truly needed human warmth.
This girl had wounds she didn't even know about. From childhood, she'd positively influenced everyone around her. Tougher than most.
Her secretary always said as much when talking about her.
Yet treated like an experiment just for being born into the Cornerus family.
-Squeeze.
Grip tightened in our laced hands.
It didn't take long for her cool hand to warm from mine.
Feeling our temperatures align, I closed my eyes.
Sleepy today for some reason.
'All the traps are set.'
Any approach to the area would signal me.
After channeling some recharged healing power to Cornus, I shut my eyes.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Will Si-heon-sunbae and Cornus-sunbae... be okay?"
Entering day four, most national sacred trees began forming teams.
Su-yeon sighed at Saku's words, clad in her fox mask.
She shook off blood from her white sword.
"They'll manage. Those two don't... look weak anyway."
"And they're not exactly normal friends, right?"
"......How should I know."
Cornus and Lee Si-heon.
Always together for meals. Sometimes even slept together.
Si-heon always wiped sleepy Cornus's mouth in the mornings.
-Hey, pick that eye gunk.
-Okay.
-Don't eat with it on.
To onlookers, they looked like a couple no matter what.
That aside.
"This year feels tough."
"What?"
"The atmosphere! You know, the vibe! It's ominous. So many dropouts already. Can't help worrying about those two."
Saku puffed her cheeks, clenching her fists.
"I know. But what can we do?"
Kim Su-yeon sighed.
The forest keeper selection's first trial had an unusually high dropout rate—even the national sacred trees noticed.
Thanks to Meihua and others, including China's group.
Though they had contributed too.
"Banya-sunbae, let's stop fighting. I'm tired."
Banya emotionlessly removed her socks.
Her bronze toes wiggled. A dark blood-red pattern adorned her instep.
"Why stop eliminating rivals?"
India, Korea, Japan. A team of national sacred trees only.
Banya hunted down as many cadets as possible.
To minimize competition.
Saku and Su-yeon preferred that, but... not to this nonstop extent.
"Banya-sunbae. We need sportsmanship. Teaming up like this... doesn't look good."
"Sportsmanship? In the forest keeper selection?"
Banya muttered blankly at Saku's plea.
Numerous cameras swarmed them.
Su-yeon, who had been quiet, backed Saku.
"What if we run into other national sacred trees like this? We're burning mana too."
Cadets were weaker than national sacred trees, but some were A-rank, and not all fights were easy.
Repeated battles would spell trouble against real rivals later.
"I'm handling that. No issue."
"Even with your superior spells..."
Banya spread mana to detect nearby objects and people.
Her scouting didn't stop there.
She shared vision with dozens of raptors overhead.
Banya spotted others first among national sacred trees, claiming first strike.
Still, teammates' requests deserved occasional heed.
"...Then let's rest for today."
Banya relented; Saku beamed.
Sitting on a rock, bare feet out, she fanned herself.
Saku and Su-yeon stowed weapons, leaning on trees or sitting to recover in their own ways.
Their forest keeper selection uniforms bore national flags and emblems on the chest.
Banya's featured three striking lion heads: the Ashoka Lions.
Beneath, Devanagari script proclaimed India's national motto.
Satyameva Jayate (Truth Alone Triumphs.)
She brushed the emblem once.
Banya gazed at the blue sky with eyes like deep abysses.