Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Starfruit
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When I opened my eyes, an unfamiliar ceiling loomed right in front of me.
'Did things work out okay? I didn't get my ass handed to me, so I guess I passed somehow.'
As I reached to rub my throbbing forehead, I felt something foreign on my arm.
Yellow liquid was dripping from a bag hooked to a long IV stand.
I'm alive.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Current Friends: 3] [Would you like to receive the reward?] 'Reward? That's not important right now.'
I shoved the status window aside where it wouldn't bother me and lay back on the bed, closing my eyes to relax.
I crossed my legs like it was my own master bedroom and got as comfortable as possible.
'I'm free now...!'
The realization that I'd escaped the World Tree's clutches, even if just for a moment, cleared my chest right up.
'Gotta enjoy this freedom quick, before it's gone.'
I took slow, even breaths, savoring the peace.
No phone was a bummer, but my private room came stocked with a TV, laptop, and everything else just for me.
A hero's suite for the guy who took down that cult.
-Click.
I flipped on the TV and channel-surfed for something decent.
'Wood Person Challenge... Know a Wood Person... Hateful Tree Bastard. Crazy, does this world flip out if a name doesn't have the wood character?'
But the content was weirdly entertaining, so I left something on and grabbed a banana from the bedside table.
Peeled it and popped it in my mouth—sweet flesh chewed smooth and soft.
-Yes, we see it a lot.
> -You know how the action goes?
>
-Wood-hoo~~!
"Unbelievable. Heh heh heh."
TV. Fruit. Comfy position.
Is happiness anything more? For me, relaxation was pure bliss.
I was deep in that sweet downtime when the door suddenly swung open.
"......"
My eyes locked with the nurse who walked in.
She was prim in her uniform, but seeing me sprawled out like a slob made her cheeks flush faintly.
"P-Patient, your clothes."
"Huh? Oh, when did this slip down?"
Maybe I'd been too zoned out watching TV, but my gown had slid open, exposing down past my collarbone.
I straightened up my clothes and tidied myself while thinking.
'Nurse blushing at this? Aren't nurses used to seeing guys naked?'
Blushing at my face was something else.
Wait, my face?
I instinctively touched my face—no mistaking it, the mask I'd been wearing was gone.
"Do you know where the mask I had on is?"
"Pardon?? Oh. Check the drawer under the bedside table."
"Thanks, sis."
I flashed a grin and thanked her, and her fingers fidgeted on the cart. Her throat bobbed like she'd swallowed hard.
I pulled the mask from the drawer and slapped it on backward.
Charm drops straight to 2.
"Ah..."
A sigh laced with regret slipped from the nurse's lips as she saw me masked up.
She covered her mouth with one hand, cleared her throat, and wheeled the treatment cart over.
"Time for a blood draw. Arm out."
"Got it."
The nurse gripped my arm, syringe in hand.
"Little sting."
Sting. As she checked the syringe gauge with her head down, she casually added,
"Now that you're awake, the vice chairman will stop by soon."
"Vice chairman—you mean Korean Hunter Association?"
"Yes."
She pulled the needle out matter-of-factly. Up close, I could sense the serious mana flowing through her.
No ordinary person. Having someone like this as my nurse really drove home what I'd pulled off.
"Rest well, then."
The nurse bowed slightly and left the room.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A few hours later.
I was rubbing my fruit-stuffed belly, fighting off sleep, when a knock came from the door.
-Coming in~
A super flighty voice. One I'd heard before, loud and brassy.
"Yah!"
The door opened, and a pale palm shot out.
She waved it wildly without showing her face, then spoke in that same bubbly tone.
"We're buddies, right?"
"......Who are you?"
"Aw~ Come on, us?"
The hand pulled back, and a face peeked out.
Bright yellow hair tipped orange at the ends, yellow star-shaped pupils. If I'd seen her before, no way I'd forget.
'Don't know her. But something's off.'
That fresh voice felt too familiar, nagging at me. I crossed my arms, racking my brain.
Come to think of it, one person matched that voice.
"......Teacher's friend?"
"Ding dong dang~ Hunter Name Fruits. Starfruit—call me Star. Also vice chairman of the Korean Hunter Association!"
"Ah, got it. Lee Si-heon."
"Knew that coming in. You're that ballsy kid who smacked Lee Seong-han's ass—the one we were tailing."
What a loud woman.
Every move was exaggerated, but her looks made it anything but clownish.
Star bounced over to my bed and leaned in close, face inches from mine.
Her big eyes narrowed to crescents, expression hardening.
"So? You really the one who cracked this case?"
Her words demanded the truth. I nodded tensely.
"For real?"
Star relaxed her face into a goofy grin and crushed my head to her chest in a hug.
"Thank you~"
I had nothing to say.
The feel of her chest pressing through the mask was too good.
Fence rule? Give it to the dogs.
"Good thing Se-young's guy has skills. She gets scary when she's mad~ If anything happened to you, I'd be dead meat."
"That so? Sit here anyway. Your legs must hurt."
"Ooh, manners too!"
Star plopped into the chair and grinned ear to ear.
That moment, I sensed trouble brewing.
"So? How'd you meet Se-young?"
"......"
Long story short: raped her by circumstance, turns out we click perfectly, been together since.
I couldn't spit out that neat summary.
"Is that really necessary?"
"Duh~ Girl turns down every arranged marriage, but drops to her knees for one guy?"
"......She really knelt?"
"Curious how she begged?"
I was, but shook my head. Better not know—guilt trip avoided.
Thanks, Lee Se-young. I'll pay this debt double someday.
-Rustle. Rustle.
Star peeled a banana from the table and munched away. Her casual vibe reminded me of Bead our first meeting.
"Anyway, thanks. Association will handle the reward."
Reward?
That word unleashed a torrent from me.
"Didn't do it for reward, but if you're offering... Mana boosters or training gear would be great. Armor works too."
"Pfft, bwahaha."
She burst out laughing, clutching her sides and wiping tears.
After giggling forever, Star thumbed away a tear and nodded.
"Got it, I'll push for it. Can't skimp on our rep."
"Much appreciated."
"Heh heh heh."
Chance to get stronger falling in my lap? No way I'd pass.
No pounding rice cakes here—the sticky rice came rolling to me. Not the type to starve at a feast.
-Munch munch.
Star peeled another banana, popped it in, and beamed. One bite, two, three. Finished, she licked her finger.
-Slurp.
She flashed a seductive smile, then got serious.
"Now the real talk. Got a favor to ask."
I tilted my brow at Star's words.
"Lee Seong-han's hideout—you know anything about that driftwood in the 42nd Branch basement?"
"42nd Branch?"
"Oh, you don't know that yet?"
Star spilled some classified intel right there.
Organization targeting World Tree massacres: Flower. Dozens of cults spawned from Flower.
Lee Seong-han's cult funneled funds to Flower.
"He moved too bold—spotted him quick, but spotting ain't catching."
"Really? Couldn't the World Tree handle it easy?"
"......This world's one where the World Tree can't flex big."
New info.
I marveled internally and shot back,
"You can just tell me this stuff?"
"Why not? You're Se-young's guy."
Her tone flipped bubbly again as she giggled. I feigned shock, body shuddering.
Too much—Star puffed her cheeks, caught her breath, and continued.
"Anyway, back on track. Know anything about that driftwood?"
"If it's the tree I saw then, honestly not much."
"Huh? It was calling for you, though."
The driftwood called me?
I cocked my head, and Star's eyes went wide.
"You really know nothing?"
"Yeah. Pretty much."
"Fine! Favor's something else anyway. So, uh... I want you to chat with the driftwood in this building's basement."
"Chat?"
"Yeah. Won't talk to me at all. Keeps asking for you weirdly."
Sounds like a huge hassle.
Seeing my face sour, Star started sweet-talking.
"Rare chance to talk to driftwood, y'know? Especially you—Wood Person vibes match trees perfect. You'll connect for sure."
"Oh yeah?"
"Don't wanna try? Talking to driftwood?"
Hell no.
I clamped my mouth shut, and Star recoiled like the sky fell, eyes bugging out.
"......No way. You really hate it?"
"What's in it for me?"
"Weird. Humans always list 'talk to driftwood' on their bucket lists."
What a pain this world.
I cursed inwardly as Star ventured cautiously,
"If I sweeten the pot, will you?"
"With what?"
She held up one finger.
"......One million won?"
"Ten million."
I shut my mouth, mulled silently, then grinned.
"Why not? Shit, let's go now."
"Whoa, Si-heon! You're a god!"
Star praised me in awed tones.
Say what you want—money's king.