Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Drinking Parties Always Spell Trouble (1)
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A week had already passed since Baek Do took down Mok-gwi.
A lot had happened in the meantime.
First off, there was a news article about how I'd joined Do Won Hyang and helped resolve the rampage incident. Naturally, everyone around me lost their minds—my inbox filled up with check-in messages from Lee Se-young and Azalea, guild recruitment offers, you name it.
Of course, now that I'd decided to join Do Won Hyang, no other guild caught my eye.
I turned down all the recruitment pitches coming my way, citing reasons like wanting to hone my skills.
I spent the remaining training period sparring moderately with Baek Do.
-Whoosh!
A straight-line attack coming right at me.
I twisted my elbow to block the punch.
After deftly defending against the chain of follow-up moves, Baek Do's face lit up with satisfaction once the spar ended.
"You're still a long way off."
Even with that hint of approval on his face, he wouldn't toss me a single compliment. Classic Baek Do.
I unwound the bandages wrapped around my arm and bowed my head.
"Thank you."
"No need. It's only natural for a master."
Our relationship—which used to feel like it could snap at any moment—had stabilized considerably when it came to training, at least.
That's how I felt, anyway. And I suspected Baek Do felt the same.
Of course—
"Still, I like watery peaches."
"Bullshit."
—we still didn't get along otherwise.
Anyway, after training, I'd head down the mountain for a shower and return to the cabin. By then, the sun would be setting, leaving me with nothing much to do.
Chatting with San Su-yu only lasted a short while before she'd doze off, so I'd kill time on my phone.
-Pip, peep.
I stroked Shiba and lay down on my bed.
Once today was over, I'd head back to the academy.
This time, as I scratched the chin of the grooming sprout, I recalled my first time here.
The mentor-disciple bond that had formed out of nowhere.
My first meeting with Baek Do... what could I even call it? Total disaster.
We'd fought tooth and nail over a single peach, grinding our teeth like we wanted to kill each other.
Acting like kids. What a lame way to behave.
But things weren't all that different even now. Just the other day, our peach debate got so heated that Cheon-do had to lecture us for two hours.
'Still, it was pretty hilarious.'
Maybe this counted as its own kind of memory.
I curled up the corner of my mouth at the thought.
Bickering over trivial reasons, cracking up over silly topics.
Things I never could've imagined back then.
If I hadn't come to this world, I might've been holed up in my room right now, gloomily grinding games like some shut-in.
Thinking about it that way, maybe coming here was a blessing in disguise?
...I pulled Shiba into a bittersweet hug.
-Peep?
I closed my eyes, watching my cute daughter tilt her sprout quizzically. Peering deep into my own heart.
At some point, I'd come to cherish moments like this.
******
"Uwaaaah!"
-Peep!
The next day, I caught an early flight back to the academy.
The air in the dorm felt so sweet after so long. My mood, sunk from the long flight, surged right back up. Even Shiba chirped excitedly.
I stretched once, then set Shiba down on the bedside table.
I flopped onto the bed and spun the return gacha five times in celebration.
⚙ GACHA RESULTS ⚙ ▶ Mineral Water (F) x 4 -Details omitted ▶ Tree Pill (B) x 1 -A rare elixir for growing sprouts. Infused with mystical energy, it greatly aids young saplings' growth. Humans who consume it will regret it. Tree Pill. At least I broke even.
Since I'd handed all my leftovers to Se-young last time and couldn't test them, now was my chance.
I got up from the bed, hugged the pot with Shiba planted in it, and held out the Tree Pill.
"Come here, my little girl!"
-Pip?
"Know what this is?"
The bead pulsed with a strange energy. Shiba tilted her sprout and peeped curiously.
-Piiip, peep.
Like a perfectly molded rice cake, it touched the sprout and melted like fresh cotton candy, absorbing into the sprout and soil.
Sloooowly.
-Peeeeep~
Shiba shook her head side to side, letting out a pleased cry.
Did it take time to absorb? Aside from the soil and sprout glowing faintly, there were no big changes.
Maybe give her a few more?
As I reached for the gacha button again, my phone buzzed in my pocket.
[Hey, Si-heon?]
A familiar guy's voice. Jeong Si-woo.
"Yeah, what's up."
[Heard you did something big last time?]
"You heard about that already?"
I kept tapping the gacha while answering.
Mineral water and fertilizers piled up on the bed like junk.
"Man, you get into all kinds of shit."
[Haha, come on. Nothing compared to you.]
"Nothing my ass."
I chuckled at Si-woo's humility.
While San Su-yu and I stopped a rampage downtown, this guy had been dungeon-crawling with his mentor.
No wonder his name kept topping portal sites every evening.
True to his munchkin archetype.
"So, why the call?"
[You back at the academy?]
"Yeah, just got in."
[Some same-year cadets are drinking right now. Come join.]
The start and end of college life. Booze.
I kept smashing the gacha button.
'No quests right now, perfect.'
Up till now, dieting had kept me from any real leisure. A few drinks with Se-young was it.
Honestly, I was intrigued.
My old college days... Thinking back still brings tears.
Solo meals, assignments, novels, games. Four words summed up a life worse than the neighbor's dog. I'd wasted time indulgently, convincing myself it was fun.
Any real college memories?
Hooked up once with a like-minded female classmate by chance. That was it.
And even that ended with a one-sided dump during my corporal stint.
Bottom line: I'd never had a proper college experience.
'Should I go?'
Could I finally be an in-crowd guy?
-Flash!
Lost in thought mid-gacha spam, a sparkle hit.
"Ooh yeah."
[What's up? Suddenly.]
"...Nothing."
I mumbled an excuse and slowly read the window.
⚙ ITEM ACQUIRED ⚙ ▶ Trait Fusion Ticket (S) [Type: Consumable] -Fuses two traits into one of a higher realm. Gacha law: mindless pulls yield the best stuff. Kinda random, but damn, great mood.
Decision made.
I donned the mask from the table and told Si-woo I'd head over.
[So you're coming?]
"Hey."
[Yeah?]
But first, this.
"Any girls?"
[Obviously.]
"On my way."
Time for drinks.
But first, use the fusion ticket.
I ripped the coupon and selected two traits.
Late Bloomer and Blessing of the Lewd Tree.
The rest were low-rank or personality wreckers—no need to touch 'em.
⚙ TRAIT FUSION ⚙ 【 Late Bloomer (EX) and Blessing of the Lewd Tree (S) are fusing. 】 【 'World Tree of Purity' is flustered. 】 【 Coercive manifestation canceled. 】 A golden glow filled the room. Shiba peeped in surprise.
I stroked her head and checked the new trait.
⚔ NEW TRAIT ⚔ ▶ Wood Sovereign (-) [Type: Trait] -You're born with a constitution that instinctively subjugates Wood People before your eyes. You can become the ultimate groom—or more—for all Wood People. -Absorbs Late Bloomer's abilities. [Effect 1] Extraordinary Growth: Potential greatly increased. (Current Potential: 20) [Effect 2] In Full Bloom: Excels remarkably in various fields. [Effect 3] No Giving Up: Mental strength greatly increased. NEW! [Effect 4] King of Plants: Tree Encyclopedia bonuses surge. Additional talents and stats gained from intimate acts. The changes weren't huge.
Almost no new powers, but overall growth across the board.
'In Full Bloom' and 'No Giving Up' got amps like "remarkable" and "greatly." And a new one: King of Plants.
'King of Plants?'
Tied to the Tree Encyclopedia.
I'd only glanced at it with Se-young once, and it barely factored in otherwise. Maybe bumped wind magic aptitude a bit.
'Was gonna collect entries after powering up properly.'
Growth had been too rapid; it fell by the wayside.
I opened the status screen and pulled up the Tree Encyclopedia.
📚 Tree Encyclopedia 📚 【 Opening Tree Encyclopedia. 】 -Current Entries: 2 □ Emperor Oak (011) □ World Tree of Healing (993) -Current Bonuses: [Healing Authority, Regeneration] [Wind Magic Aptitude Increased] "World Tree of Healing? What's that?"
When did that sneak in and stake a claim on my powers?
Since abilities stolen via Blessing of the Lewd Tree logged here, my two traits clearly shared a deep link.
But extra talents/stats from "intimate acts"?
'At this point... might as well go around bedding them?'
A sleazy thought slithered through my mind.
The kind a latent criminal might have. It meshed with my Lewd Demon trait. My anger issues, born of societal grudges, piled on the impulse.
Every trait etched into me screamed for dopamine hits.
📜 SUB QUEST 📜 ▶ [Sub Quest: Satisfy Your Desires]
A quest reacting to your urges! Enjoy a fulfilling sex life.
-Mate with 3 Wood People within 30 days.
-Quest Reward: Virility Booster x1
-Quest Failure: Death.
Time Remaining: 29 days, 23 hours, 59 minutes. The status screen reacted in tune with my inner turmoil.
I slapped my forehead and let out a heated sigh at the new trial.
"...Lewd Demon."
My trait.
"What a fucking trash trait."
The quest was this:
Fail and die again.
"Die if I don't get laid? Bullshit taken to a whole new level."
To dodge sub quests, I couldn't even think dirty thoughts?
Loosened inhibitions lead straight to trouble.
I took off the mask, splashed my dry face, and bit my lower lip.
Three. Just three.
Sure, this world had spots where you could pay for it, but Wood People playing nobles wouldn't stoop to that sleaze.
Why would they ever need cash?
Selling body? That's human underclass shit.
Of course... I wasn't short on Wood People nearby.
I scrolled through my contacts.
-[Yellow Cute Dummy] 010-6xx..
-[Azalea] 010-2xx...
-[Teacher Lee Se-young] 010-51x...
-[Sunbae (Streamer)] 010-125x...
-[Goroshi] 010-42xx...
-[Sticky Girl] 010-24xx.....
Six.
But none I could just cross lines with willy-nilly.
30 days left.
That's all I had.
"Fuck my life."
I sneered a curse and headed out for drinks anyway.