Chapter 281
Chapter 281
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 281
Chapter Title: The Third Trial
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Our first contact with Flower was over.
That night, I didn't do anything special and just lay down in bed right away.
There was a lot to sort out in my thoughts and emotions. When I found out Bead was Flower, I can't even count how many times I thought about just pouncing on her.
Once you get a certain impression, it's hard to shake it off.
'Lee Se-young died to Flower. So then...'
I wondered if entering Flower would erase that future.
But what about Cornus's future? And Master, Empress, White Sword's futures—how would I shape those?
The more I thought about the future, the more my head felt like it was splitting open.
Knock, knock, knock.
A light knock echoed. After a brief wait, Sun came in.
"Bro."
"Yeah, what's up?"
"Just came to chat."
Sun plopped down casually on the chair next to the bed, crossing his arms and closing his eyes.
I lay on the bed and stared blankly at the ceiling along with him.
With my hands clasped behind my head, we both spaced out for a good while.
"Bro."
"Yeah."
"Want me to recite Slum Sun chapters 1 through 9?"
"No need."
"Tch."
A moment of silence.
"So, what're you gonna do about Flower?"
"Dunno."
"Personally, I don't think going in would be a bad move."
It was an unexpected statement.
Sun had always left decisions up to me until now. This was probably the first time he'd voiced an opinion so directly—excluding the tree-devouring stuff, anyway.
"Because of Bead?"
"Nah. You think I'd recommend her just 'cause I chatted with that psycho? Think about your own personality, bro. You're too soft on women."
"Why bring that up out of nowhere?"
"The explanation's a bit long, so I'll get there step by step."
I'm not really the type to cherish every connection around me.
But the bonds I formed before going back in time—strangely enough, I tended to cling to them.
The reasons... well, various things.
During that old man's Heavenly Demon training, when I was in agony, those people came to mind.
My life wouldn't have been guaranteed without them from the start.
Sun knew some of my backstory.
Maybe that's why he was offering advice. As I pondered that...
"If you've got too much on your plate, it might be right to let go of a few things you're holding onto."
"Yeah?"
"...Your duties might end up being a huge insult to your lovers."
Probably a lot of that to come.
"To draw out the Wood Spirit King's power right away, you'd have to seduce women or force relations. You think your lovers would be thrilled?"
"Nah."
"Delay the choice?"
Then I'd die.
"Or stay half-committed?"
Then their lives would be in danger.
"So you're saying drop everything?"
All the relationships built up so far. Honor. Money. All of it.
Abandon status and name, then do what I must in a place where Lee Se-young, Azalea, Cornus, and Heavenly Capital don't know me.
"...Not an easy call."
"Heh heh."
Sun snickered at my hesitation.
"Silly bro. Do you know why I handed you the Wood Spirit King seat outright?"
"Why?"
"Ah, this'll take time too. Long story short. Mm. You've got people to embrace with that power, right? Princess Shiva, Cornus sis."
Sun muttered casually, grinning like it was no big deal.
"But I've already checked them all out long ago."
Sun shrugged and crossed his legs.
Tap tap tap. His foot bounced repeatedly. His lips were blue, face pale like he might drop dead any second.
"Couldn't cut ties. Couldn't pick and choose enemies."
Sun said.
"Bro."
Quietly.
"I acknowledged you as king because even if you gain power, I don't have much I want to achieve anymore."
Straight talk. Any lingering doubts I had about Sun having ulterior motives vanished clean.
"Don't live as foolishly as I did."
The inheritor of the Wood Spirit King's power.
Maybe this guy had his own messes between World Trees and Flower.
His voice carried a sincerity I hadn't heard from him lately.
To his words, thick with regret, I had no reply.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The third trial was a concept I was fairly familiar with from my own experience.
Mentor. Mentee.
Memories flooded back of first meeting White Sword, bickering over nicknames like "Takkie" and "Moolie."
Bzzz, bzzzzz—
Camera artifacts floated through the air again.
Now even this felt routine, so when my masked reflection hit the lens, I gave a slight nod in greeting.
The number of participants had dwindled noticeably. A few more trials, and the Forest Keeper selection would end.
It'd only been a month and change, but the event was progressing fast.
'Making sure Flower has no time to prepare?'
I snapped to attention and stared straight ahead.
In front stood as many A- and S-rank hunters as participants, lined up before the Pontiff.
"You are the young blood just beginning to awaken your talents."
The speech continued. Surrounding hunters nodded slightly along with the Pontiff's words.
"And these heroes above you? They were prodigies just like you in past selections."
Hunters from previous Forest Keeper events chuckled at his words.
They too had once sought guidance from more experienced hunters.
"Guidance passes down. Great magic, swordsmanship. Wisdom of life and the World Tree's blessings."
With that final line, the Pontiff stepped down.
"As former Forest Keepers did, so the young ones must gain more experience. Now it's time to pass on that strength."
Hunters, heroes—top powerhouses began descending from their seats.
Mentor selection was entirely free-form.
Mentors from the first and second trials would scout and choose mentees themselves.
Key criteria: Would their skills help the mentee? Could they offer better advice than others?
Once mentors chose, it was mentees' turn.
If a mentee liked the mentor's abilities and wanted their trial and lessons, acceptance sealed the third trial.
No worries about not getting picked.
Just reaching this stage proved their talent.
"Anyway."
I unfolded the info sheet and checked the hunters' names.
Some familiar, others from recent news articles I'd seen browsing the internet.
National reps and celebs always on variety shows.
And guild-verified powerhouses.
"...Why so many S-ranks?"
Plenty of A-ranks mixed in, but I'd already spotted over forty S-ranks.
How many before Wood Spirit King and Heavenly Demon?
Makes sense—Korea alone has a few, so worldwide? Jaw-dropping numbers, naturally.
World-class event, top-tier recruitment.
Flip, flip.
I flipped through pages, memorizing names for a while.
Then someone yanked hard on my collar.
"Hey."
Familiar snappy voice. I turned to see a shorty grinning up at me.
Serviceberry.
"Why're you here?"
"Fuck off, can't I be?"
"Thought you hated events like this."
Flipping a few more pages, there was Serviceberry's certification photo, flashing a V-sign. Next to it: Elena. Someone she despised.
"S-rank boom lately."
"Ah, got it."
"Hunter IDs brighten by year since '98. Older ones are the real deals."
"Why '98 as the baseline?"
I replied with a question, and she smirked, flashing her hunter ID.
Black with a purple tint. Issue date: 1998.
Just her debut year, I figured.
"So, you my mentor?"
"Crazy? What could I teach you? Maybe Cornus, but not you."
Had a hunch, but no dice.
Serviceberry planted hands on hips and snorted.
Wonder what growth spurt—or lack thereof—leads to a body like that.
The thought crossed my mind, but I kept it zipped.
"...Whatever. You've already got one anyway. Cornus too."
"Got one?"
"You'll see soon. Oh, speak of the devil—there she comes."
Serviceberry pointed rightward.
I followed, hearing crisp heels approaching.
Click-clack.
A woman approached.
Her outfit stood out completely from the crowd.
A long dress hiding pristine white heels beneath its hem, black butterfly seal.
Oversized pure-white hat veiling her face like a witch's.
Evoked Enlightenment-era Europe.
Mysterious yet enchanting. Even amid modern-clad mentors and mentees, no jarring disconnect. She owned it perfectly.
Felt something similar from White Sword once.
The woman walked slowly our way.
Click-clack. Leisurely steps.
"Catch you later."
"Wait, who's she?"
"No clue?"
Someone came to mind, but...
Who I know who'd wear that? Only cosplay nut Aori.
Serviceberry gave me a deadpan look, then pointed at the woman again.
"The Sage."
Sage. Tree of Sephirot.
Guardian of the World Tree governing knowledge.
The woman there halted against the breeze, hand pressing her hat.
Brim lifted slightly, revealing her face to me.
Silver hair in a half-updo, smiling features. Like a duchess.
Our eyes met; she smiled faintly.
"Hello, participant Lee Si-heon."
Tall—didn't crane up at me like most women.
Not taller than me, though; on tiptoes, eye-level perfect.
Sage Sephirot. Heard of her.
Appearance obscure, first sight.
"Mentor spot open?"
"...Ah. Yes."
Got lost in her look, spaced out.
Sage chuckled lightly, eyes narrowing without glancing at Serviceberry behind me.
"Since participant Lee Si-heon is a mage too, I'd like to mentor you. What do you say? Want to hear other mentors first?"
Her words implied this was a now-or-never shot.
Gentle tone, but chills listening.
The Sage.
World's top mage, scholar, intellectual.
Strongest? Debates rage. Best mage? Unanimous.
...What to say?
The space magic I use now? Her creation.
From theory to manifestation—all her work.
I just followed.
Only one answer here.
"...Let's do it, Mentor."
No clue what the Sage was thinking, but her rep rivaled Heavenly Demon's in modern times.
Couldn't pass this up.