Chapter 252
Chapter 252
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 252
Chapter Title: Don't Do This
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The room was lit up.
-Rustle.
Brushing her snow-white hair back, Maehwa flipped the pages backward.
Her mind was too troubled to fall asleep.
Her body, still buzzing from the aftermath of battle, felt like it needed to immediately clash fists with a worthy opponent.
'Hold back. Just hold it in.'
Causing a scene here wouldn't gain her anything.
There were still plenty of opponents left, and many more fights ahead.
She was the kind of person who could endure anything for the sake of her future.
'But.'
Maehwa thought as she turned the pages.
'That guy back then.'
The black-haired man in the mask. He had handled her sufficiently, alternating between sword, fists, and magic.
Even though there were three Sovereign Trees there, she had thought she had a solid chance of winning. What had she misjudged?
"Hmm."
She had suffered the humiliation of her body sinking into the ground due to some inexplicable force.
Alternating between questions and her own answers, the only thought in her head was that she needed a rematch.
-Rustle.
Maehwa flipped the page with a smiling face.
Among the photos of El Academy cadets lined up there, she took in the face of the masked man.
"Lee Si-heon."
The name of that man from back then.
Repeating it to herself, Maehwa smiled.
Because there were still many fights left ahead.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Wow, this is really shitty."
A curse slipped out involuntarily.
"Coming back and still fighting and rolling around."
It wasn't even that white-haired lunatic from before.
I didn't hate the thrill of battle or the pleasure of victory. In fact, compared to others, I quite liked it.
If someone came right now asking for a spar, I'd accept without complaint.
But right now, I wanted to rest.
Sleeping on the dirt floor was only healing for a day or two; what I craved was the softness of my bed.
"No matter how much you call it camping or whatever, nothing beats the bed at home. Don't you think so?"
As I tightened my arm around her neck, Bao's body trembled violently.
"Haa, haa."
Her whole body was drenched in sweat.
Given how much we'd battered each other, it was only natural. Fortunately, the room's furnishings hadn't been broken.
Twister.
A technique where you secure the legs in a back position and twist the neck in the opposite direction, simultaneously choking the cervical and spine.
I'd modified it slightly.
Bao's body was so combat-optimized that I had to bend her much further than with others.
To anyone else, it would look like her spine might snap.
That's why Bao wasn't twisting her body out of sheer stubbornness right now.
A little rougher movement, and she'd be half-paralyzed.
-Drip, drip.
Sweat dripped onto my arm.
Her skin was soft unlike her strength, and with joint locks, various parts inevitably touched.
It was true I had no time to pay attention to the feel of her chest or stomach.
"You, if you tap out here—"
"Then what."
Bao struggled.
But she wouldn't get free.
"I'll kill you."
"Then stay like this."
Bao was also holding back her Authority.
If she used it, she'd escape easily. If she really thought she was about to die, she'd use it herself.
Emphasizing that, I added more pressure, and her body twisted with a bone-cracking sound.
-Crack.
"I'll win."
Was she being stubborn?
Even as her eyes clouded over, she didn't use her power.
A battle maniac with a personality that never broke promises.
In Africa, fights were considered sacred, so they had a custom of never breaking promises—Bao seemed the type.
-Crunch.
Adding more force made her body shake violently. She was starting to struggle to endure the pain without her Authority; her breathing grew ragged.
Jiggle.
Her breasts shook.
"Isn't it time to give up?"
"Shut... up."
-Crunch.
"Guh, urk."
No matter how big and well-developed she was compared to other women, there was a huge difference from my body.
Even if our raw strength was similar. Weight class difference.
Once I pinned her down with body weight and locked in the technique, she had no chance.
'I have no idea why I'm rolling around on the bedroom floor like this.'
40 minutes of tussling was pointless for both of us.
I twisted her body to a dangerous level.
-Crunch!
Finally sensing a threat to her life, Bao stopped struggling and grabbed my arm with her hand.
Her pain must have crossed the threshold; she clamped her mouth shut and said nothing.
It was a hand with no strength left.
"......Ngh."
I lost.
She wouldn't even give the simple signal; she endured with sheer grit. Her mental fortitude was impressive.
'No choice.'
I choked Bao out until she passed out.
It didn't take long for her rigid, log-like body to go limp and soft once the tension released.
-Thud.
Bao's hand fell limply.
I released her and sat on the bed, wiping my sweat.
'This girl's a bit crazy.'
Sighing as I looked at her closed eyes.
As I wiped my face with a towel, a scent wafted to my nose.
The room was filled with the floral fragrance unique to Wood People. Mixed with milk and baobab flower scents. Overwhelming. When would my room reclaim its own smell?
Shower first.
I quickly rinsed off the sweat, grabbed a glass of cold water, and returned to find Bao still sprawled on the floor.
Since she was out cold anyway, I roughly stripped and changed her clothes, then nudged her exposed belly with my foot until she opened her eyes.
"......"
The moment she lifted her eyelids, Bao took in my face.
"...Lee Si-heon!"
Her eyes rolled back as she lunged at me.
-Flop.
But her balance crumbled, and she collapsed immediately.
No wonder after just waking from passing out.
I sipped from the mug, then set it on the nightstand.
"I won, right?"
I smirked down at the fallen Bao.
"...No."
Bao denied it instantly.
"I didn't lose."
"You passed out first."
"I wasn't ready."
Her wide golden eyes glared at me like they wanted to devour me.
Ridiculous. By win-loss standards, it was 100% my victory.
Denying the obvious was just pathetic.
She knew it too, grinding her teeth before a timid voice finally emerged.
"If we go again... I won't lose."
"Yeah?"
"Fuck. Fine, I lost today. Happy now?"
"That's obvious. So, no reward for the winner?"
As the conversation progressed, I hugged a pillow on the bed and nodded toward her.
The pillow felt so soft and nice.
If I sweet-talked this fight-worshipping girl right, maybe I'd get some answers.
"Why should I give you anything?"
"You lost."
"...I haven't lost yet. I can win if we fight again."
"Under the same conditions?"
"Obviously."
Her pride was sky-high.
Her defiance was so absurd it made me laugh.
"Fine, if that's what you think, who am I to argue? But that's beside the point. I won today, so let me ask something. Why are you looking for that old man?"
I spoke quickly to cut off any retort.
Bao pondered for a long time before slowly giving her answer.
"You really want to know?"
"Yeah."
She stroked her own skin.
Letting out a sigh like a lifelong loner, she muttered.
"Just didn't sit right. My brother running off."
A brutally honest answer with no lies mixed in.
"That's it?"
"What more do you need? He left, I got super busy. Stuck with pointless duties."
"Nothing else?"
She tried to beat me up over that?
"......Haa."
There was more. Bao rubbed her forehead. A curse nearly escaped her lips.
"Do you know what that bastard said when he left? He won't come back until he fights Hyperion."
"Hyperion?"
"Some tree from legends.... As if that exists. What an idiot."
Hyperion.
A familiar name. Come to think of it, the gem embedded in the mask I wore was called Hyperion's Gem.
It was originally a ring, altered by the World Tree of Purity's meddling.
Was Hyperion treated like a mythical figure here?
"There. Satisfied?"
She glared at me like a ghost the moment she finished.
I thought it over and came up with one hypothesis about her motives.
"So, you're worried about your brother, so you're looking for him?"
"What bullshit is that? Didn't you hear anything I said?"
Bao scowled fiercely. The translation device worked great.
"I don't give a fuck if that scarred freak dies somewhere. But damn it, he has to pay for making me a Sovereign Tree."
For someone saying that, her follow-up had way more emotional weight.
Probably some mix of both reasons. Otherwise, no way a crazy bitch would barge in and wall-slam out of nowhere.
'At least she's not connected to Flower.'
A girl looking for her brother.
I got her situation. Suddenly becoming a Sovereign Tree? Fair to feel wronged. But swinging fists on sight? Over the line.
"I get the situation now."
"So you'll tell me?"
"Nah, why would I?"
I shattered her hopeful question outright.
Too annoying to tell her.
Even if I did, she couldn't catch up anyway.
I gave Bao one last look.
"What're you waiting for? Get out."
"......"
Bao staggered to her feet, nearly falling before steadying herself.
She stood at the door, glaring at me.
"...I'll remember this."
Remember or not.
I fiddled with my phone, which I'd pulled out after ages.
Planning to contact those who'd been waiting for my ordeal with Bao to end.
Bao glared a while longer, then slammed the door loudly as she left.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 🌿 Sacred Tree Speech 🌿 [Hey, aren't you bringing it quick?] "Sorry."
The second ordeal of the Forest Keeper selection tournament.
Leaf's Choice.
The difficulty was simple but hard. That was the point.
They gathered various Sacred Trees likely to become World Trees, and if they permitted it, you qualified for the next ordeal.
In other words, the trees decided whether Sovereign Trees and cadets passed or failed on a whim.
🌿 Sacred Tree Speech 🌿 [Ugh, really, this is why humans are no good~ The thing I hate most in the world is humans.] The executive, who was human, frowned slightly.
In a room just over 10 pyeong. A Sacred Tree born in an environment perfectly tuned for tree survival. Nicknamed 'Merry,' she spoke in a slightly more relaxed tone upon seeing the Wood Person next to the human.
🌿 Sacred Tree Speech 🌿 [Well, whatever, a Wood Person... that's tolerable. The water today wasn't bad. Next time, bring a ton of expensive fertilizer too~♪] "Um, Lady Merry."
🌿 Sacred Tree Speech 🌿 [What?] "The task you'll be handling this time..."
At the man's words, Merry snorted.
🌿 Sacred Tree Speech 🌿 [Oh, that? Yeah, I know. Just give them an ordeal casually... Pass if I like them, send 'em packing if not, right?] "Yes."
🌿 Sacred Tree Speech 🌿 [Don't worry~ I'll be a World Tree soon enough. I can handle that much. Or are you looking down on me?] "No, ma'am."
🌿 Sacred Tree Speech 🌿 [Good~ Go on. Let's see who I'm judging...] The two photos the man held out.
Seeing the two faces in them, Merry smiled.
🌿 Sacred Tree Speech 🌿 [Im Jong-hyun, Lee Si-heon...] A smile at Im Jong-hyun. Then Merry looked at the photo next to it and suddenly shook her leaves.
🌿 Sacred Tree Speech 🌿 [......Human?] Inferior species.
Tree supremacist.
Recognizing his true nature, Merry spread her branches wide.
🌿 Sacred Tree Speech 🌿 [You two. Why are you assigning me something like this... Hold on.] The sight of the inferior species desperately trying to score points.
Thinking about it, it might be a bit fun.
🌿 Sacred Tree Speech 🌿 [...Whatever, proceed as is.] "Is that okay?"
Merry shook her leaves with a giggling voice.
🌿 Sacred Tree Speech 🌿 [I just had a fun idea.]