Chapter 283
Chapter 283
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 283
Chapter Title: Eden (2)
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Breathing in, a faint coffee aroma wafted through the air.
The tall ceiling lights dimly illuminated the surroundings. Beneath them, dozens of books filled with unknown scripts were piled up like mountains.
Right up until we'd arrived, the Sage must have been immersed in reading, as a half-open book lay on the desk.
It was an antique tome written on pink parchment.
Curiously, in the center of the room was a small garden plot. Scattered haphazardly within it were countless bear and dolphin plush toys, along with heaps of mud-caked books.
A crayon tree was drawn on one of the expensive-looking books.
Looking further ahead, two separate rooms branched off to either side. Beyond them loomed a grand glass door.
Through the violet glass door, a glimpse of a library could be seen.
It was surrounded on all sides by circular bookshelves, with a spiral staircase rising as if to pierce the ceiling.
I lowered my gaze again.
"Tree King~!"
There sat a tiny child who couldn't have been more than a meter tall, perched with muddy feet.
She had tied her long white hair—which was longer than her own body—around her waist, pointing enthusiastically as she did.
"Tree King?"
Marronnier was the first to voice her confusion.
Tree King.
As far as I knew, the only being who had reigned as king among the trees was the Wood Spirit King.
How did this little kid know I was the Wood Spirit King?
She looked just like the Sage's daughter, but I couldn't exactly interrogate a child, so I decided to play dumb for now.
I knelt down, forcing the friendliest smile I could muster.
"What's your name?"
I extended my hand slightly as I asked.
The golden-eyed child flashed a bright smile at my words and toddled over.
But as she got close and looked at my face...
"...?"
She tilted her head as if something was off, like Shiba shaking its cotyledons when it was just a sprout.
But that puzzled expression didn't last long. Soon, she made a tiny jump—barely as high as her thumbnail—and leaped into my arms.
"Whoa there."
She was light as a feather. Her body felt so fragile it might shatter with the slightest force, her limbs short and stubby.
I scooped her up effortlessly.
A big-eyed white puffball floated up into the air.
"So cute..."
"Siheon, let me hold her too."
The child's expression was like an emoticon made of initial consonants, staring right at me.
It was just like those adorable text faces you see online sometimes.
Marronnier and Cornus were instantly smitten with the kid. It didn't take long for the three adults to crowd around her.
"Is she your daughter? What's her name?"
"...Ah. Well..."
The Sage rubbed her cheek with a wry smile at my question.
"This is the World Tree of Knowledge."
World Tree.
This little one?
Even Merry, who was twenty-eight and wasting away in her room, hadn't become a World Tree.
At that moment, our lively chatter fell silent.
A hush descended.
The little girl buried her face in my chest.
Her cuteness remained unchanged, but suddenly, an aura of dignity seemed to emanate from those narrow shoulders.
"...I haven't touched her."
Cornus suddenly tried to distance herself.
"M-Me too."
Marronnier took a step back as well.
I'm totally uninvolved in this situation.
Acting this way toward the World Tree of Knowledge might doom your entire clan to extinction. Even as the eldest daughter of a national tree and pureblood noble, it seemed unforgivable.
I mechanically bowed my head low.
The World Tree in my arms stared intently into my eyes with her golden gaze.
Staring.
For a very long time.
"...Uh."
So, what did that make me, hugging her the moment I saw her? The worst criminal?
No, she came to me first, right?
I could already imagine myself making pathetic excuses as handcuffs clicked on.
My body stiffened, and I stayed frozen for a while until the Sage finally spoke up, unable to bear it.
"It's the first time Sephirot has run to an outsider like that."
"R-Really? Is that unusual?"
Ignoring my question, the Sage approached with arms outstretched.
For a fleeting moment, I felt the urge to bury myself in that maternal embrace, but I handed the child over. She nestled right into the Sage's cleavage.
Sephirot turned her doll-like face to look back at me.
"As you know, Participant Lee Si-heon is special. You know that, right?"
Wood Spirit King.
Or maybe my affinity with trees just matched perfectly.
I still remembered Star telling me something like that when I first met the World Tree of Healing.
"Did she just wake up?"
"Yeah..."
"Close your eyes? Good... There you go~ Good girl. Pat pat."
Watching them as she gently wiped away eye gunk with a sliver of mana...
It was the kind of scene that, if painted and hung on a city street, a hundred out of a hundred passersby would mistake them for mother and daughter.
"Anyway, let me continue the explanation, so listen carefully. The three of you will undergo the third trial here in Sephirot's library for about a month."
The Sage stroked Sephirot in her arms as she spoke.
"Food, shelter, research, training, studying—all of it will be handled here."
"So we can't go out?"
"You can leave anytime if needed. But since magic and signals from outside are blocked here, you'll have to transfer back to the preliminary venue to contact anyone."
The Sage paused, scanning the three of us, then set Sephirot down on the rectangular garden plot.
The World Tree of Knowledge toddled over and sat atop the books.
"Your individual tasks and trials differ, so feel free to peruse anything else in the library during free time."
"A-Anything?"
"Of course."
The Sage smiled at Marronnier's astonished voice.
"Eden's... magic... I..."
Marronnier gasped with joy between each breath, barely containing her excitement.
Cornus followed up.
"...Are there any books on swordsmanship, by chance?"
"Whatever Participant Cornus can imagine, it's all here. Be it a clown's ridiculous love story or a dime-a-dozen pessimistic poetry collection. If it holds any value as knowledge, Eden preserves it all."
World Tree of Knowledge.
As the overseer of that concept, did this child possess commensurate wisdom?
At the very least, Eden seemed brimming with knowledge I'd never even dreamed of seeking.
*Gulp.*
At that moment, saliva slid down my throat.
If I played my cards right, I might uncover info on myself.
Or even broader—on Flower, the current World Trees, everything.
Maybe even the veiled World Tree of Purity.
My fists clenched.
'Purity.'
I called her in my mind. But no response came.
A fleeting unease washed over me. I mentally summoned my status window, but here, even the connection to World Trees was severed—no sign of the familiar panel appearing no matter how I called.
A space completely isolated from the outside.
Even blocking World Tree access.
The Sage stepped forward with a faint smile.
"Your rooms are here."
-Creak.
The door opened on its own without a touch.
We followed her into the room.
It was fairly spacious, with three beds, wardrobes, fluffy blankets, and mattresses—decent enough, though no distinct personal divisions.
Lodging for the three of us. The wardrobes were stuffed with spare clothes, even proper underwear prepared.
Personal items readied in advance, knowing we'd come.
One bedroom, one bathroom, one kitchen, one bath.
So we'd all share this room.
Glancing sideways, Marronnier looked extremely flustered.
Cornus seemed unfazed, but Marronnier clearly couldn't accept living together.
"We have to share?"
Too timid to speak up to the Sage, she just fidgeted, so I asked on her behalf.
"Yes."
"But with one guy and two girls... I'm fine, but the girls might feel uncomfortable."
The Sage blinked at my question.
"Is there a problem?"
Then, as if remembering something, she covered her mouth.
"Ah... Right."
Wood Spirit King. Her face seemed to recall the word as she placed both hands on her belly and smiled.
"No need to worry about that."
"It's not about worrying, it's—"
"The bathroom and toilet are soundproofed, so no sounds leak out. The changing room in between too."
"What about sleeping?"
"It's just sleeping, isn't it? Good chance to bond too."
With that logic, I had nothing to say.
Marronnier seemed hung up on cohabiting, but I couldn't spot any more grounds for protest.
Honestly, I didn't care.
Living crammed with women was routine now.
Lewd Demon trait aside, I could handle urges fine.
Compared to months ago bunking with the Peach sisters in skin-tight full-body suits plastered to every curve, this was a cakewalk.
"If it's still a burden... you could room with me."
The Sage offered an alternative.
"There are two beds, but one is Sephirot's."
"Ah..."
If I went, I'd probably curl up on the floor.
Pathetic and hilarious.
"No changing room either."
"Why no changing room?"
"It was meant for one person originally. No soundproofing either, so bathroom noises would leak."
"......Just tell us to stay together."
It felt like she was implicitly telling us to behave, so I deflated and said it.
"We're grateful for this. Yes."
"...Huh? You can stay with me if you want? Actually, that might be more efficient now that I think about it. Plenty to discuss with Participant Lee Si-heon."
But the Sage seemed serious, inviting me again.
This woman had no sense of gender boundaries.
I waved it off and proposed another plan.
"How about rooming with Marronnier instead? Cornus and I crash together sometimes anyway."
Marronnier jolted in shock at my words.
"S-Share a bed!?"
"Yeah."
Of course, Cornus's recent dawn fiasco had banned it, but...
With the setup like this, we'd manage.
She'd been scolded once, so no funny business.
The Sage blinked nonchalantly, then looked at Marronnier.
"Does Participant Marronnier want that?"
"...Uh, um, well."
Marronnier glanced at us hesitantly.
After agonizing, she bowed her flushed head and confessed honestly.
"I think the original plan is fine..."
It was over.
Room assignments finalized.
The Sage clapped, led us to the kitchen, pointed out the fridge's ingredients and foods with explanations, then herded us back to the original room.
"Then, shall we get started right away? Anyone urgently need to make contact?"
Third trial meant no need for check-ins—they'd understand.
Sun and Aori could wait a bit.
As for Bao, his loss, not mine. If he was salty, he should've challenged me sooner.
All three of us shook our heads.
"Then, everyone except Participant Lee Si-heon, head into the library. I'll explain how to use it soon."
Clapping her hands, the Sage beamed amiably.
Marronnier and Cornus headed to the violet door as if compelled, drawn to the tens of thousands—or more—books inside.
They were itching to dive in.
I wanted in too.
But she had words for me.
After sending them off, I faced the Sage alone.
"...So."
A person who knew full well I was the Wood Spirit King.
By the time Sephirot had crawled out in the Sage's room and locked eyes with me again, the Sage had dragged the two into the library and returned.
"You want to know why I left you alone?"
Now it was one-on-one.
Or two-on-one.
Sephirot toddled toward me step by step.
I watched her approach as the Sage gently placed a hand on her shoulder, smiling maternally.
Why leave me behind.
I had a rough guess.
She'd probably lay out some knowledge or events I didn't know, explain them to force a choice or nudge me.
...Should I start by asking what she knows about me?
Arms crossed confidently, I asked her.
"So, what's the deal? With the lunatic who got dragged here after stabbing a tree."