Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Our Ugly Little Shiba
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It's already been two weeks since I started skipping the academy.
A lot has happened in that time.
First off, under the pretense of becoming friends, I resolved Azalea's inner turmoil.
I killed Lee Seong-han. And ended up in the hospital.
There, I ran into Star and got offered up as tribute.
What I really wanted was to flip the media upside down with a sex scandal, but in this rotten forest of giants, getting eaten by a World Tree just earns you, "What's the problem if you're enjoying it?"
In the end, I suffered an indelible wound, and I poured out my heart to Se-young to heal it.
Of course, it wasn't without gains.
First, favorability.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Favorability menu has been updated. ⚔ STATUS ⚔ 🌍 World Trees (2) ▶ World Tree of Purity: ♥♥♥♥♥ (100/100) ▶ World Tree of Healing: ♥♥♥♡♡ (71/100) 🌿 Wood People (3) ▶ Lee Se-young: ♥♥♥♥♡ (86/100) ▶ San Su-yu: ♥♡♡♡♡ (38/100) ▶ Azalea: ♥♥♡♡♡ (40/100) *Favorability registration possible from (50→30). (VIP1 customer perk: minimum favorability reduced.) 【 World Tree Auction 】 - 【 Favorability Menu 】 ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ New Sacred Tree bond with World Tree: 8030p deposited. There was major progress in favorability, especially.
Excluding that damn World Tree of Healing, it was about what I'd expected. For VIPs, the ranks naturally climbed from all the gacha pulls. Honestly, with new systems popping up whenever I forgot about them, I'd given up on even reading them.
Bottom line: the points spent on pulls were almost fully recovered. Now I could spin the gacha without worry.
And I drank the elixir Star gave me as an apology, boosting my magic power too.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ ⚡ Strength: 5.3 🛡️ Endurance: 4.6 💨 Agility: 4.0 💪 Stamina: 4.7 ✨ Magic Power: 5.7 In exact numbers, that's about it.
My magic power control improved day by day, accelerating my physical growth.
Thanks to magic power reopening my growth plates, I'd even grown about 3cm taller.
Doesn't this prove magic power is all-powerful?
Yeah. The ones with lots of magic power are strong from the start, and to bulk up, you need elixirs. San Su-yu is a prime example—she was born with a magic power tank strapped on.
Anyway, compared to when I first arrived, I'd undergone a perfect ugly duckling transformation.
Not a pig anymore. I've got some charm now.
With skills too, I could coast on my looks from here on out.
Yeah, a life full of ups and downs.
With my skills proven in that last incident, I figured I could finally enjoy a decent life.
Make rice cakes at the MT!
Belt out a killer song at the talent show!
Some girl cures her insomnia listening to my recording!
Harboring such devious popular guy fantasies, I arrived at the academy.
I'm back.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Shiba, you waited a long time, huh?"
The first thing I did upon arriving at the academy was feed Shiba.
-...Swish.
Shiba's sprout, whom I hadn't seen in ages, was drooping sadly.
As if signaling its anger, Shiba turned its sprout away toward the window so I couldn't see.
"Sh-Shiba."
-Squeak, peep!
Now it's even making sounds with its leaves.
When did the kid get this smart?
Amazed inwardly, I moved to the window. Shiba turned its sprout toward the door again.
Door side, then window; window, then door. It kept turning its head away.
Seeing that, my heart burned.
'...My own dad got sliced up by a knife and raped by a tree, and it can't even cry for me.'
Sulking just because I skipped a few meals.
If it had starved for two full weeks, it'd be wailing for mercy, but I'd asked Se-young to water it occasionally, so it had only missed a few days at most.
In short, this little Shiba punk was throwing a tantrum over my absences.
Oh. Thinking of it that way, it's kinda cute.
-Peep! Squeak!
-Daddy, why didn't you come!
Suddenly, Shiba's actions started sounding like words.
Is this... advanced prenatal education?
I sprinkled clean mineral water and stroked Shiba's sprout.
-Pii.
Gently tapping with my finger seemed to calm it down; it finally showed me its sprout.
Shiba's sprout had grown quite a bit since last time. Kids grow like weeds.
"Alright, watered and all—wanna head outside for a bit?"
It was about time for cadets to head back to dorms.
Time to reunite with San Su-yu and spar. Imagining her shock at my growth made me smirk.
As I reached for my coat—
-Thud.
Something tipped over on the desk.
A bottle of mineral water had fallen, spilling everywhere.
"Ack!"
I caught my breath and rushed to wipe it up.
Mopped it with a nearby towel and prepped to head out again.
-Thud!
The sound again.
This time, a fresh bottle had toppled, cap off, water pouring out.
Impossible under normal circumstances.
I wiped it, warily prepped to leave again.
-Thud.
Water fell again.
From the desk again. With a stern face, I approached the bed.
-Piiip! Pee!
Shiba chirped happily as I sat. Adorably so.
But why was my kid knocking over water bottles? With some unknown force, no less.
"Why'd you do that, Shiba?"
-Pik? Pii?
But I'm a good adult.
Ten years since I vowed to always be kind to my child, no matter what.
I knew better than to scold my kid for weird behavior.
"Shiba, why do you keep doing that? Huh? Shiba."
I murmured while stroking the sprout. Shiba seemed deflated.
-Piyuu, squeak.
It let out a pitiful whimper. My resolve weakened at the cuteness.
Kids act out for their parents' attention and love, right?
Maybe Shiba felt anxious seeing me always heading out.
"Shiba..."
-Pik....
I whispered softly to Shiba.
"...Why is my sprout so sensitive? Grow up and become a novelist, okay."
-Piiiik?!
Shiba gave off vibes like it wanted me to stay.
No helping it. No parent beats their kid. With a fire-attribute mom, I'd be the water-attribute dad.
But it's just a sprout.
What to play?
I eyed Shiba tilting its sprout curiously.
-Pik?
Then it hit me. Train it right, and maybe it could talk?
I sat cross-legged, enunciating clearly at Shiba.
"Repeat after me. Ah-ee-oo-eh-oh."
-Pi-bop!
"Ka-na-da."
-Squeep!
Not happening, huh. I crossed my arms, pondering. Fair enough—not even born long, expecting too much.
"Okay, something easier? Left sprout."
-Pik!
I held out my hand. Shiba placed its left sprout on my finger.
"Right."
-Tap.
"Both."
-Tap.
It understood every command, nailing the tasks.
I clapped nonstop, exclaiming in awe.
"Whoa, my kid's a genius! Can you do this too? Bang!"
I shaped one hand like a gun and mimed firing.
Shiba poked its stem with one leaf—
-Pik, piiiiik!
And wailed in agony, collapsing pathetically on the floor.
I gave a standing ovation. Amid the crowd's cheers, Shiba pointed to its other leaf with one, begging for pets.
I stroked Shiba endlessly.
-Peep, pik~♪
Shiba shook its head side to side happily with every touch.
What next?
I made a V-sign with my fingers and balanced the sprout on it.
Trying random ideas, time flew till night.
Problem: kids have endless stamina.
-Pik, peep.
Past 9 PM, Shiba showed no signs of tiring. Kept demanding pets and play, whining.
I finally escaped after fulfilling every demand.
Spring dorms were still cozy.
Warm air scented with fresh spring filled the halls; potted seasonal flowers smiled along the corridors.
-Grrrgle.
'Hungry.'
Hit the gym, the library—my stomach was now protesting loudly.
Dad's feelings unknown to his daughter; hadn't eaten a thing.
Heading to the first-floor salad bar, I spotted Bead entering her room.
Suited up, looking pretty sharp.
I stopped; our eyes met. Bead brightened her face and waved wildly.
"Shi-ha! As in Si-heon!"
Shepherd dog vibe today?
The black suit suited her well.
"Feels like forever. You okay? Heard it was a huge deal."
"Fit as a fiddle. Skipping class legally felt great."
"Pffft. I get it."
Bead laughed heartily.
Looks like a perfect girl friend from heaven, but she doesn't see me as a friend.
No idea why.
All I could guess: she approached this ugly mug from the start, so maybe ulterior motives.
I smiled casually.
"Grabbing food—wanna join?"
"Gasp, just ate."
"Cool. Next time."
"Academy tomorrow."
Sure.
I waved and headed to the salad bar.
Flashed my dusty cadet ID, entered the cafeteria, picked food, sat.
A feast of Korean dishes before me.
Sweet bulgogi and spicy stir-fried pork welcomed me.
I devoured it hide-and-seek style. Ate fast; belly full quick.
Stuffed, exiting— a familiar woman entered.
Pink bob cut, matching sweatshirt, skirt showing thighs. She froze spotting me.
"Ah."
Dark circles faded a bit. Eyes wide.
Azalea stared speechless at my masked face.
"Wh-when... did you get back?"
She stammered, then clenched fists and spoke.
Face flushed.
Awkward with strangers?
Didn't seem so with Si-woo.
Still, calling me friend meant favorability up some.
"Got here today."
Casual reply; Azalea nodded. "Oh, I see."
Silence stretched. Awkward.
Maybe she's hung up on last time?
Apologize? Nah, tough Azalea apologizing? Unimaginable.
I spoke first.
"Don't sweat the last thing."
"...Huh?"
Her eyes rounded at my gentle, conclusive tone.
"I wanted it. Hate me? We forget it happened."
"Wh-what do you—"
Truth: her favorability isn't sky-high.
So I answered honestly.
No biggie, water under the bridge.
She sees me as savior; flip it, she's mine too.
Twisted debt. If she'd accepted me as friend early, no mess—but hindsight.
Anyway, matter closed. Back to normal, no regrets for either.
Up to her if we stay close.
"Take care."
I climbed stairs to my room.
Azalea stood at the entrance, staring blankly.
Heading back, it hit me.
'Oh right. Gotta give her the chocolate.'
The pile I'd bought on the way was still stashed in the dorm corner.