Chapter 268
Chapter 268
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 268
Chapter Title: Seduce the Tree (9)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"You know."
Two centimeters before our hands touched. Maintaining that precarious distance.
As we drew closer, we had to tilt our heads down to look at each other's faces.
"Remember what you said last time? About skipping the second trial—what did that really mean?"
A slow walking pace.
Marronnier, descending the stairs with shy steps, asked me.
"You wouldn't get it even if I told you."
"Tell me anyway."
"It's nothing much. The tree in charge of me has a severe case of misanthropy. No way she'd ever let me pass."
"What? Is that even possible?"
It was possible.
Fairness? In this second trial, there was none to speak of.
Biased judgments were par for the course. Worst case, like with me, they might not even give you a trial at all.
"...That's not something I can just laugh off."
Struggling to accept the unbelievable situation, Marronnier gave an awkward smile.
Unlike me, Marronnier had an incredibly easy trial.
Bring your loved one. I had no idea what they were after with that request, but compared to mine, it was a walk in the park.
"So, you're forfeiting?"
"We'll see."
The tree in charge of me, Mary, was the type who put others down to boost her own sense of superiority.
A tree, sure, but no different from a human. Those kinds were usually slaves to their own inferiority complex.
Acting superior was just a defense mechanism.
"How can you be so sure?"
"I've got my ways."
Conversation reveals character.
The personality seeping through words—I wasn't an expert, but Dad had taught me how to read it.
Mary took genuine pleasure in talking to me, more than she should have.
She'd hurl insults with her words but subtly kept me waiting. Enough to drag me out until dawn. And she loved being treated well.
A noble, but a brat.
It wasn't for nothing she came off as a spoiled young lady.
She lacked the upper-class habit of hiding her true self.
She was brutally honest with her feelings, desperately craving someone to treat her like she mattered.
For some reason, she was being neglected here.
"Probably some past trauma or reason she couldn't stand on her own. You see that type a lot."
Educated, but no clue about hardship.
Grown soft from being coddled, all she could do was look down on others.
Even if fortunes reversed, it'd be the same. Locked in her room, rotting from the roots up.
"The more starved for affection, the quicker they bond, even in brief encounters."
If Mary's personality were different, I'd have approached her differently.
This was perfect for the current Mary.
"You're... scary."
Marronnier looked stunned.
"Feels like looking at Evie."
"Evie?"
"Yeah, Germany's national tree. She's... sly as hell. Full of tricks. Dangerous because of it."
Germany's national tree. I'd heard the name.
She was on the same team as Bell and Marronnier, right? Might run into her later, so I filed the name away.
Chatting as we walked, we arrived quickly.
"We're here."
Marronnier stood before the door, taking a deep breath. Then she placed a hand on her chest and shot me a sidelong glance.
-Gulp.
"Can you act?"
I heard her swallow.
"Act like my lover?"
She nodded, looking up at me.
"Why not hug and go in together?"
"N-No way! Don't be ridiculous... And don't even hold my hand."
It was just a joke, but she reacted fiercely.
Grabbing her flushed ears with both hands, Marronnier turned away from me.
Probably trying to calm her blush—her breathing came in hot, ragged bursts.
Once she'd composed herself, Marronnier gripped the doorknob.
"I'll go in first! Come when I say so later."
"Got it."
With my reply, she twisted the knob and opened the door.
I leaned against the wall by the open door, eavesdropping on Marronnier's conversation.
[Blanche!]
A sultry woman's voice tickled my ear. Followed by cute Marronnier's complaint.
"...I told you not to call me that."
[Our cute little Blanche. Have you been well?]
Friendly banter.
After a few exchanges of greetings, the tree asked her.
[So, did you bring your loved one?]
"...I did. But do I really, really have to show them?"
[Of course! Someone with a pretty name like Marronnier's would be nice.]
Marronnier cautiously reconfirmed the trial.
The other tree's voice was bright and innocent, whatever her intentions.
'...Pretty name.'
That tone.
Felt weirdly familiar.
-Lee Si-heon.
-Such a pretty name!
The voice rang a bell.
Just my imagination? Maybe I'm tired from meeting too many people lately.
No big deal.
"Come in."
Marronnier's call snapped me out of it.
I'd been waiting behind the door. I paused a beat longer before stepping inside.
Marronnier was right by the entrance. The tree stood tall in the center, far off.
A tree shrouded in a mystical bluish aura.
Smooth bark, no rough exterior.
A familiar shape—
'......'
My leading foot froze mid-step.
"That's the tree giving the second trial. Say hi."
Unable to hold hands, Marronnier shyly tugged at my sleeve, cheeks pink.
The other tree hadn't said a word yet.
The World Tree of Healing. What the hell was she doing here?
Hadn't she seen my face?
If so, that was a relief.
[......]
I subtly backpedaled.
"What's wrong?"
Marronnier blinked her innocent eyes, wondering what was up.
A dozen dilemmas flashed through my mind.
"Lee Si-heon?"
She whispered my name.
The World Tree's branches twitched.
A chill ran down my spine, goosebumps erupting.
I knew I was screwed. I spun and bolted from the room.
-Crash!
"W-What are you doing?!"
The door flew open, slamming the wall.
Marronnier's panicked face flashed by, but it didn't matter.
Over the threshold, into the hall.
Cadets returning from their tree meetings underground stared at me.
-Thud.
Something snagged my foot.
Cold sweat dripped down my back. Looking down, fine roots from the room coiled around my ankle.
Behind me, a baffled Marronnier.
"...Shit."
[Si... Si...]
"Fuc—"
My vision flipped.
Floor became ceiling as my body spun like a kicked soccer ball.
Like riding an amusement park roller coaster.
-Thud!
I hit the ground and skidded.
Cadets gawked in shock but couldn't help.
The opponent was a World Tree, pinnacle of this world's power.
Even as I desperately reached back from outside.
A branch slammed the door shut the moment Marronnier entered.
-Bang!
The door shut emptily.
Then, a familiar voice from behind.
Cold fine roots wrapping my shins and knees, rubbing stickily.
[Hubby!]
"Eek!"
Instinctively, I reached for Marronnier.
She snapped out of her daze and grabbed my hand.
-Crunch!
My whole body cracked. A scream burst from my lips.
Not pain—grief. Memories rooted deep resurfaced, making me shriek instinctively.
"Gah, ugh!"
Startled by my reaction, Marronnier yanked with all her might.
Then shouted desperately at the World Tree.
"...W-Why are you doing this all of a sudden?!"
[Blanche, wait. It's you... right? Ow! Let go of my hand!]
"I-I brought my loved one, why—"
The unhinged World Tree of Healing wrapped me with branches and roots.
Setting aside the tendril creeping toward my groin. That chilling touch was unforgettable.
Clothed, and her voice after so long—I hadn't recognized.
If she'd calmed down for a chat reminiscing old times, maybe.
But this rough handling brought it all back.
"...Ugh, uuuugh!"
Marronnier gripped my hand with both of hers but was being dragged helplessly.
[Blanche! Let go!]
"No way! Today, he's mine!"
[...Hubby, what are you saying?! Leaving me like this?!]
"Fuck, why am I your hubby?!"
Maybe realizing she couldn't hold with just pulling.
Grunting, Marronnier threw herself at my arm, hugging and tugging.
"Why are you... What's with you and the tree?!"
"There was this thing—"
-Pop.
My arm slipped from Marronnier's chest.
In that instant, my body was sucked into the World Tree of Healing's embrace.
-Creak.
The tree rose from the soil, pinning me down.
World Tree of Healing.
Dressed in pure white like a saintess.
Shocking they'd even clothe a tree like that.
Lace-trimmed white panties—I whipped my head side to side.
[You!]
Tears dripping from leaf-eyes.
She hugged me with her whole body.
[Haa, haa. So good. You've gotten even more handsome.]
Branches gripped my shoulders.
Laid me on the floor, her arm-like limbs plunging into the ground.
Her roots coiled around my waist.
Like she wanted to become one with me. The knothole drew near.
No.
Fuck no.
This wasn't what I wanted.
Her ample branches mashed against my nose.
[Don't leave me this time.]
"Aaaah!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ When I came to, I was covered in dirt.
Panicked Marronnier called the supervisor, who came and restrained her before the World Tree of Healing finally calmed.
My clothes were half shredded.
Marronnier brushed dirt off my shoulder with a pouty face.
"......"
"What's up."
"...Dunno."
Is now the time for you to sulk?
I nearly felt threatened like I was losing my virginity or something.
Ever seen a knothole wrapped in lace panties? I'd lose my mind.
Marronnier's face reddened. Her hand tapping my body like blaming me grew rougher.
[Sorry, Blanche. Got too excited.]
"Even you don't know better now, World Tree."
[But Blanche, please understand. Hubby and I—]
"Understand what?! I get you two have history. But, but right now he's the one I brought!"
[......Hing.]
She talks well.
"You should've warned me if there was something like this!"
She'd sat silent, and now sparks flew my way too.
But I'm innocent.
I was full of intent to help Marronnier. Who'd guess her tree was the World Tree of Healing?
"Idiot."
No matter how I showed my grievance, it fell on deaf ears for Marronnier.
"Hurt anywhere?"
"Nah."
No unhealed scratches, all regenerated.
Marronnier sighed, glaring hard at the World Tree of Healing.
"If he'd gotten hurt, I'd really get mad. I asked him to come."
[Sorry...]
"Should you be apologizing to me?"
[Sorry, Hubby.]
The World Tree of Healing spoke in a dying voice, cowed by Marronnier's aura.
And I laid it out for her.
"I'm not your hubby."
[No way!]
Rape's unavoidable, fine.
It helped me a ton too. And with my karma, who am I to complain.
But love? No.
[B-But our love from last time...]
"When did I."
I thought we'd never meet again. But now, time to set it straight.