Chapter 246
Chapter 246
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 246
Chapter Title: One Cadet, Three State Trees (1)
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-Sizzle.
I brushed some fire chicken sauce over the pork belly slices crisping up nicely on the grill.
The glossy red sauce glistened as the pork belly asserted its presence over the crackling campfire.
Fire chicken pork belly skewers. Since Cornus loved spicy food, I'd picked these out from the ingredients I'd gathered and whipped up a meal.
Sprinkled with just the right amount of seasoned salt for a savory kick.
"How is it?"
The moment Cornus popped a piece into her mouth, her eyes went wide.
She looked up at me with those sparkling, round eyes.
Her expression screamed, How did you make something this amazing?
"It's delicious."
Cornus kept her gaze locked on the pork belly. She wolfed it down greedily.
Watching her munch away like a puppy enjoying a treat kept a smile plastered on my face the whole time.
Glad she's eating well.
After what happened yesterday, I'd spent the early hours worrying if things would be awkward when we met in the morning. But thankfully, my fears didn't come true.
It must have been an unspeakable incident for Cornus too—she just shot me a sideways glance but didn't outright ask me about it.
One day left now.
Today was day six. Exactly seventeen hours until the deadline for the first trial.
It had been eventful from the start, but I was determined to enjoy the end as much as possible.
Taking a real break for the first time in ages.
My body had finally relaxed, giving my mind some breathing room.
Of course, not everything during this long week in the forest had been fun and games.
I've got one more thing to worry about.
Lust. This damn Lewd Demon trait was getting stronger by the day.
Already two people I'd tangled with physically in just a week.
I'd even nearly committed the blunder of laying hands on Cornus, the epitome of innocence.
In the end, it worked out in my favor. But lately, I couldn't deny my self-control was lacking.
Had I suppressed my desires too much in my past life?
Or had my body just adapted to a debauched lifestyle right after returning from the past?
-If I can't have sex, I can't survive!
A line straight out of some thin book echoed in my head in Star's voice.
I rubbed my dry face, steeped in self-loathing.
It's a mess. But one thing I couldn't deny was that the Wood Spirit King's power inside me was growing stronger.
Even now.
Someone's coming again.
Ghostly intuition. My ears twitched.
I hadn't spread out my mana, but I could faintly sense someone's presence from far off.
I could even tell the gender. Three presences—female.
This inexplicable aura detection had awakened in me.
During the Forest Keeper selection, as the Tree Encyclopedia added entries one by one, my suspicions gradually turned to certainties.
I stood up.
"Siheon?"
"Keep eating there. I'll stand guard for a bit."
I recalled my staff. It flew through the air and settled perfectly into my right hand.
"Is it tough? I can do it."
"Nah, if it was tough, I wouldn't go alone. Just stay put."
Cornus nodded at my persuasion. Leaving her behind, I ventured into the forest, thinking.
I don't know who exactly, but...
The presence was still faint, but it wasn't a bad ability by any means.
It amplified my lust, sure, but it handed out nice rewards one after another.
If it were useless, I'd ignore it.
-Crack.
Stretching made my bones pop.
...Doesn't matter the path, as long as I get to Seoul.
No matter how irritating the power, if it helped, I had to accept it.
I'd started with nothing, after all. This strength came at a price.
I'd known for a while that I'd changed.
Still, I needed to cut back on the naughty stuff for a bit.
Though I doubted it'd last long.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Two."
Banya muttered.
"By the lake, near the tent. One man, one woman. The one who looks like a mage is heading this way."
"They spotted us?"
Banya's brow furrowed slightly at Saku's question.
"I've scrambled the mana flow toward them so they can't detect us. Their mana hasn't even reached here."
"O-Oh, really."
In other words, don't underestimate me.
She'd only asked out of curiosity, but that response left her speechless.
Saku scratched her cheek dejectedly and slipped on her gauntlets.
Spirit arts and fist techniques wielded together—the ancient martial art of the Yoshino family.
Spirits merged with her entire body for battle, unleashing terrifying power without mana expenditure.
Suyeon, watching Banya from behind, drew her sword from its sheath and asked.
"Gonna catch them this time too?"
Of course.
Banya answered with silence, and Suyeon and Saku took the lead, parting the underbrush.
Banya followed behind.
"Still, we haven't run into many fights today."
Including this one, about three people. The encounters had clearly dropped off, meaning an abnormal number of dropouts.
Probably under a hundred left after the second trial. By the third, maybe only thirty.
The Forest Keeper selection might wrap up sooner than expected.
"Um, Suyeon-unnie."
Saku must have sensed the mood too.
She asked Suyeon in an extremely cautious voice.
"Our selection is supposed to last six months, right? 180 days."
"Yeah."
Suyeon replied as if wondering why she was asking.
The Forest Keeper selection unfolded slowly over a long schedule.
To select talent worthy of the honor, it evaluated cadets' potential. It required time to meet numerous mentors.
The first trial was relatively easy.
Survive among monsters, conquer dungeons for food.
Competition among cadets was part of it, but not mandatory.
No need to fight. They could help each other or just relax.
Teaming was allowed from this point.
No benefit in forcing dropouts.
Without special circumstances, they avoided clashes. A subtle atmosphere prevailed.
Of course, this time was different.
"If we keep dropping them like this... what happens to the next trials?"
"They'll adjust accordingly."
Suyeon answered Saku's question.
This selection had too many show-offs flaunting their skills.
Even if it was a chance to prove their worth...
"...Incoming."
Banya spoke.
"One."
The selection was one big opportunity.
Thus, some participants went out of their way to do unnecessary things.
To inflate their value.
This false bravery from that mindset was surprisingly common.
Normal folks called it recklessness.
-Thud.
A man perched on a tree branch, looking down at the three.
He wore a white mask. Confirming their faces, he tilted his head.
Saku, spotting him, widened her eyes.
"Huh? W-Wait, that's...!"
The moment she recognized Lee Si-heon and nearly shouted in delight—
"Siheon-unnie—"
Banya struck first, reaching out.
"Thunderbolt. Lightning Bow." ⟨ Electric Thunder, Shooting Bow ⟩
Banya's tattoo vibrated fiercely, lightning arrows materializing behind her.
Dozens of them. The massive volley shifted trajectories like living things, hurtling toward the man.
"W-Wait, Banya-unnie! Hold on—!"
Panicked, Saku tried to stop her and turned to Suyeon.
"Suyeon-unnie, that's..."
I know.
But once the attack launched, it was over.
Acquaintance or not, the moment Banya's magic targeted him, his dropout was all but sealed.
-Zzzzap!
Lightning arrows surged toward him.
Si-heon hunched on the branch, staff pointed downward—about his height.
His masked eyes fixed on the arrows.
Slowly, his black staff rose. An artifact of dubious material.
Its tip aimed at Banya.
Still seated, he murmured softly.
"Wind Lotus." ⟨ Wind Lotus ⟩
A dry voice slipped from his lips.
-Whoooosh!
A whirlwind erupted.
Tree leaves rustled ceaselessly high above.
Through the dense foliage gaps, dozens of mana arrows poured down like eagles diving.
An overwhelmingly superior wind-attribute spell.
His massive wind arrows formed a flock, raining toward Banya.
The arrows collided, mana scattering in elemental clashes.
-Kaboom!
A thunderous roar shook the forest.
"...What?"
Banya's eyelids twitched.
Unexpected. She hadn't held back. Why?
-Crack!
Suyeon sliced an incoming arrow in half.
One mana arrow hit the ground near her feet, shimmering like heat haze before vanishing.
Power equal.
But outnumbered in spells.
"......"
Banya's lips quivered. Her chest churned momentarily.
The man still sat on the branch, overlooking them impassively.
As if parrying a State Tree's magic meant nothing.
-Click.
He moved his staff again. New arrows synthesized in the air.
Like a massive turret.
"Siheon-unnie, hold on."
"Whose side are you on?"
"We don't have to fight. Apologize and part ways—"
Saku's words cut off again under Si-heon's follow-up barrage.
Banya unleashed more magic.
Suyeon ignored Saku, drew her sword fully, and scaled the trunk.
Suyeon ascended at frightening speed. White mana on her blade roiled ominously.
Si-heon glanced at her, extended a hand to counter Banya's volley.
Exactly matching numbers. Their mana clashed mid-air, whipping up fierce winds.
Outpaced in casting speed. Si-heon had S-rank talent too.
Plus battle experience favored him.
Unless it was some special baobab power. The skirmish was straightforward.
-Slash!
Suyeon's sword severed the branch Si-heon perched on.
He instantly formed air platforms, maneuvering his staff.
Barrier deployed alongside point-blank arrows.
Reading mana flows, Suyeon cleaved the arrows the moment they formed.
...Impressive.
Heavy magic.
Had he really only picked up magic recently? Unbelievable skill for someone who'd wielded sword and fists until lately.
Casting speed unmatched among peers.
Raw power might trail Marronnier and Banya, but his strengths covered the gaps.
-Screeech!
Forcing her blade between barrier gaps.
A chalkboard-scraping noise as it cracked.
Si-heon slapped the blade away with his hand, then swung his staff like a club with his other.
-Whoosh!
Dodging the swing widened their distance.
Relentless barrages followed.
Exploding mist clouded vision.
He'd mastered other elements too—lightning and flames sparked around.
Obvious ploy to obscure sight.
Can't let him create distance.
Si-heon was a walking turret.
A close-range mage specialist.
With that mana pool, it could drag on for hours if mishandled.
Suyeon vibrated mana through her meridians.
"White Core Realm." Sword Saint technique. She couldn't match it yet, but her version packed plenty of punch.
"Half Moon." ⟨ Half Moon ⟩
Her sword stroke slashed burns across space along its path.
Si-heon's magic vanished as if never there.
Replaced by pure white petals.
Vision blocked by dense petals, but her pale pupils tracked mana flows.
Kicking off the trunk toward Si-heon.
A white thread trailed taut from her gripped sword.
Thrust.
It should have pierced.
-Stab!
A black blade burst through the white petals, stabbing her shoulder.
A sword?
Caught off-guard. The blade dug in.
Blood spread across Suyeon's clothes.
When?
Her movement froze like stone. The masked man reflected in her pale pupils.
His hand gripped the hilt, yanking the sword from her shoulder and pressing it to her throat.