Chapter 257
Chapter 257
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 257
Chapter Title: The Leaf's Choice (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Sometimes when my mind gets cluttered, stepping into Cornus's room solves most problems.
"Si-heon?"
She opened the door in her pajamas and tilted her head like a squirrel the moment our eyes met.
"What's up?"
The transparent fabric of her pajamas and the underwear peeking through weren't what caught my eye first—her soft cheeks were.
-Squeeze.
I grabbed her cheek and pulled.
-Streeetch!
Her cheek stretched out like mochi. These magical cheeks made all of today's fatigue vanish in an instant.
"Eung."
She'd learned by now that slapping my hand away or showing her displeasure was pointless, so she didn't even try to stop me from tugging.
I naturally stepped into her foyer and closed the door behind me.
The room was filled with her bodily scent.
"What'd you do today?"
She stood in the entrance, looking up at me.
Her stretched cheek revealed the inside of her mouth. Her cute, red tongue sat atop her neat white teeth.
Pulling on her cheek made it twice as adorable.
"You're touching me too much, Si-heon."
-Smack.
I finally got slapped on the back of the hand.
Pretending to be upset, she tilted her eyebrows.
She stomped off into the room, making a big show of her anger. I watched her back from the sofa, and before long, she came rattling back with a teacup.
She'd returned to her expressionless face, as if she'd never been annoyed with me.
Elegant hospitality was second nature to her.
She swiftly set up the teacup, placing snacks and tea neatly in front of me.
She lightly placed her hand on the teapot lid and poured gracefully. With a slight bow of her head, she offered me the cup.
Moments like this brought glimpses of the old Cornus.
"The tea's delicious. You brew it well."
I savored the aroma and flavor before giving her my honest praise.
I'm no tea connoisseur, so I couldn't tell high-end loose-leaf black tea from a teabag, but it was made by Cornus of all people—of course it was delicious.
"Tasty?"
"Yeah."
"...I wouldn't know. I can't really taste it. So why are you here?"
Bao was still sleeping in my room.
I couldn't exactly lay out my bedding next to him, so I'd come over to hang out.
Sun and Aori's room was an option, but their conversations were so lewd it was hard to butt in. Those two treated vulgar banter like everyday talk, and being around them made me feel like I'd catch it.
This atmosphere was perfect for me.
A warm, cozy air with someone calming beside me. And delicious black tea. Just being next to her was healing.
"Your side is the most comfortable."
When I said it honestly, Cornus slyly averted her gaze.
Her teacup showed no signs of being touched.
"Why?"
"Who knows."
I'd always chalked it up to her having a knack for drawing people in and being good with others, but watching her now, it really seemed like an innate talent.
"Staying over?"
If she was okay with it, then hell yeah.
Before long, we'd finished the tea. We turned off the lights and slipped into bed.
Sleeping together was familiar enough that there was no awkwardness between us.
I laid my head on a spare pillow and drifted into deep, restful sleep with a calm mind.
I never felt sleepy under normal circumstances. My healing powers recovered even fatigue, so I didn't need sleep to get by.
But next to Cornus, surprisingly, I could sleep every single night.
"Wake me if it hurts."
"Yeah."
With that, I closed my eyes.
Instead of my usual nightmares, I had a slightly happier dream that night.
It was a dream of drinking milk loaded with sugar.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A milky scent filled my mouth.
It wasn't just a faint trace—it was thick, like I'd chugged a full glass first thing in the morning.
"......"
What the hell.
A weird dream? Sleeping next to Cornus had me hallucinating now?
I turned my head, and there she was—already awake, clutching the blanket with both hands and staring right at me.
Her eyes seemed rounder than usual.
The two large peaks rising prominently over the blanket were annoyingly prominent today.
"Cornus."
"...Yeah."
"You didn't do anything to me last night, did you?"
She shook her head vigorously.
Cornus wouldn't lie. I trusted her implicitly, so I scratched the back of my head and let go of the suspicion.
"Alright? Tsk, got it."
A chill ran through me, but smacking my lips somehow made me feel oddly happy.
Anyway.
The second trial started today.
Unlike the first, there would be no filming this time.
Trees hated being recorded, and they sometimes made absurd demands, so the World Trees had banned broadcasts.
They couldn't just sit by and watch their reputations tank.
The sight of those arrogant trees wouldn't look good to the public anyway.
There were advantages to broadcasting, but after weighing the conditions, they'd decided against it.
Instead, participants' trial results would be posted separately on the website.
I left Cornus's room and headed to mine to prepare.
I'd half-worried she'd trashed the place, but fortunately, most of my stuff was still intact.
I changed into my participant uniform and joined the trial.
No speeches this time. We'd received personal notices and could meet our assigned trees at a time of our choosing.
I sat in a chair, waiting for Im Jong-hyeon, who'd just gotten his notice.
Had that guy passed too?
Did he even have the skills? The questions popped up, but they cut off as he turned and walked out.
My turn. As I stood, he paused and looked at me.
His expression was seriously grating.
I flashed a casual smile and stepped forward. He stared daggers from behind before leaving.
I ignored his gaze and headed to the reception desk.
"Hello."
"Ah! Hello, Cadet Lee Si-heon. I really enjoyed watching your performance in the first trial."
The staffer handling El Academy cadets lit up and extended her hand the moment she saw me.
"Really...?"
"Of course. Haven't you checked the internet? It's buzzing everywhere."
Come to think of it, I hadn't looked yet.
I'd spent most of my personal time wrestling with Bao and forgotten.
"Not used to this kind of attention, haha..."
I pondered how to respond and settled on playing it humble with an awkward smile.
She smiled as if she found it cute and said,
"Aw. Once this selection ends, you'll be swamped."
"You think?"
"Ahaha, definitely~ Especially after fighting a Sacred Tree. I still can't quite believe it."
I hadn't wanted my name spread this far.
The trials had oddly pitted me against nothing but elites. I'd even had to drop my status window a few times.
"When else would I get to fight Sacred Trees? If we went all out, I'd definitely lose."
"Pfft, true. Most wouldn't even dream of trying."
That was the best way I could explain drawing with a Sacred Tree.
Security prevented Sacred Trees from using their full power.
Wood People unleashed explosive potential when freed. My point wasn't entirely wrong.
"Oh, right—the trial details. I got excited hearing all the buzz about you, Cadet Lee Si-heon. Head to the basement below. Your World Tree candidate is in... Room D-521."
D-521.
I memorized it inwardly.
"Same room as Cadet Im Jong-hyeon?"
"Yeah?"
"Yes. You can enter anytime, but it's best to coordinate with the tree. Quite a few get eliminated for offending them."
Offended them into elimination? Really?
The staffer delivered it like obvious fact, utterly unfazed.
The second trial might not go smoothly.
Before leaving the desk, I cautiously asked the staffer,
"At least dropping by today to show my face wouldn't hurt, right?"
"Of course. The sooner, the better. It'll show the tree you're the most eager."
As she spoke, Im Jong-hyeon's glaring face from moments ago flashed in my mind.
Had he known we were assigned the same tree? A chill ran down my spine.
First impressions mattered. Obviously.
Even rational folks favored the early bird over the clock-puncher.
Especially arrogant trees living off their superiority.
"Got it."
I snatched the papers she offered and hurried to the basement.
Weaving past other cadets, I reached the area housing potential World Trees.
I rushed to D-521, grabbed the doorknob, and yanked.
-Clunk!
It wouldn't budge past halfway. Someone had beaten me to it.
"Hoo."
(In Use) The sign hanging on the door.
Regretfully fiddling with the knob a few more times, I stepped back.
There was a bench for waiting participants, so I slumped onto it with a sigh of disappointment.
No helping it.
No matter how petty trees got, they wouldn't nitpick over who arrived first... right?
But if they pushed, who knows.
'Can't get eliminated.'
With Flower potentially showing up, I had to stick it out to the end.
It wasn't just about strength.
I'd need these social skills too.
I unfolded the papers I'd just received and read the details.
A photo showed a tree with striking green, pointed leaves, dressed in elegant clothes.
My brain short-circuited right there. Trees wearing clothes was completely beyond my common sense.
'...That's underwear, right?'
The fabric-wrapped curves subtly exposed. I slapped my palm over the photo—I couldn't look.
🌿 Tree Profile 🌿 Name: Mary Species: Hazel Tree Height/Weight: 2m 16cm / Undisclosed Likes: Delicious water and fertilizer, pranks Dislikes: Humans "......"
-Dislikes: Humans.
Why did I always draw the short straw with these damn trees?
-Clunk.
Then the door opened.
Im Jong-hyeon stepped out, glanced at me, smirked, and brushed past.
I didn't have time for his mocking face right now.
A tree peered out through the gap.
Wedding-dress-like fabrics draped between its branches.
At the top, a jeweled tiara crowned it.
Each leaf gleamed vibrant blue-green without a single blemish, proving its noble origins.
I scowled at the tree.
🌿 TELEPATHY 🌿 "What are you doing?"
The tree spoke.
🌿 TELEPATHY 🌿 "Humans must lack manners? Not even a greeting. And you're late too.... What else to expect from an inferior species." Her words stabbed sharply into my ears.
Having inherited the Wood Spirit King's power, I prided myself on communicating with trees better than anyone.
Her voice rang vividly in my ears, like tuning into a local broadcast.
What do I do?
My future was starting to look worrying.