Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Trouble Always Brews at Drinking Parties (2)
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Sex or death.
A quest so vulgar it made me question if I was even the World Tree's husband.
These tree bastards clearly got off on the idea of their fiancés getting stolen.
And not just anything—sex, of all things.
Couldn't they filter out quests like this? A surge of injustice welled up inside me.
'Don't these fuckers have some weird fetish?'
The sudden thought was worth considering. NTR. Unless that was their taste, the World Tree was definitely deceiving me.
The fact I'd been desperately ignoring: the World Tree loved me.
But if I failed the quest, she'd kill me?
No matter how you sliced it, where in the world was there such bullshit hypocrisy?
That disconnect had me thinking lately. What if the affinity and all that was just a lie? Like some movie where they were all playing me.
I had plenty of evidence. Half the otherworldly knowledge I possessed had been force-fed to me when I dropped into this world by the World Tree of Purity.
Yeah. There was no way those old hag trees actually loved me from the start. It was a world without beautiful romance.
'This damn curiosity. If only I hadn't poked that tree.'
If I could go back to the beginning, it was clear all World Trees were untrustworthy scum.
Even the knowledge I had was suspect now. I couldn't help but laugh.
"Ha."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ 'World Tree of Purity' opens her eyes while half-asleep. My footsteps halted.
Lost in those thoughts, I'd already arrived at the bar before I knew it.
I placed my hand on the cold doorknob. Just before opening it, I quietly asked the World Tree.
"You on my side, right?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ 'World Tree of Purity' nods repeatedly. "Then why the fuck is the quest like this?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ ……. No answer came.
Probably some extenuating circumstance, or maybe she was trying to trick me.
But in my current position, with death breathing down my neck, I couldn't take that positively.
"Sigh. Fine. Not like I'm gonna actually become her real husband."
-Creak.
I flung the door open, and the sharp scent of alcohol wafted out from inside.
A rowdy beer hall. Familiar faces of cadets who'd come for a drink after mentor class caught my eye.
"Hey, Si-heon!"
Bead, the first to lock eyes with me, waved cheerfully.
"Si-ha~"
"Soo-ha."
"Puhihihi."
I played along moderately, and Bead burst into her usual goofy laugh.
I adjusted my mask. I couldn't take it off for a while.
My current charm was 7. The mask boosted it to a max of 8.
I was on the verge of escaping obesity, but my looks hadn't hit the cap yet. Once obesity was gone, that lost point in appearance would return, so to hit a solid 9 charm, I needed the mask's effect non-stop.
A bit further in, I scanned the table. Si-woo spotted me and broke into a beaming smile.
"Si-heon's here? Sit here, sit."
The boisterous atmosphere quieted at my entrance.
Was I the guy who wasn't supposed to show up?
Trembling inwardly with anxiety, I took a seat, and a subtle tension hung over the table.
"……."
It wasn't hostility. More like curiosity and doubt in their eyes.
The table, surrounded by three sofas, had nine people total.
I remembered their names, but we hadn't really talked before.
Maybe I could make some friends.
If I played it right, even snag a girlfriend or a one-night stand.
It was an academy, but the vibe was like college—no big cultural difference from my old world. Hell, even here, orgies happened at retreats sometimes.
'Come to think of it, everyone's like Ivy League kids here.'
The "academy" label had made me forget, but the cadets were starting to feel familiar.
"Hey, you became a hero, huh? Puhihi."
Bead shouted brightly then.
"Tell the others that story. What happened in mentor class—you all saw the articles, right?"
Once the words were out, the cadets who'd been chatting in pairs started opening up.
"How was it?"
"Heard DoWonHyang's elite squad only. How many were there?"
They started awkwardly with formal speech, but as tongues loosened with a few sips, it turned casual like any college kids.
"How was Baek Do?"
The girl next to me asked with admiring eyes, and I shuddered.
"Whoa, dude. Don't even mention that guy. Know what he asked? If I preferred dikbok or mulbok."
Said mulbok, and he glared like he wanted to kill me, then made training harder.
I flexed my internet forum storytelling skills, vividly recounting it, and the cadets burst out laughing.
"No way, bullshit?"
"Nah, total true story."
But his skills were insane.
I added that on.
Describing how he shook off that massive tree like a rat had them gaping, shivering as they imagined Baek Do.
Some girls even cooed in that flirty voice.
"So jealous~"
Baek Do as the root of girl crush vibes. Made sense.
But mentor wasn't like that. Mental age of a total kid.
Not liking the praise, I trashed Baek Do passionately, and they cracked up like I was too desperate.
Girls wiping tears from laughter approached.
"But you're hilarious. Thought you were quiet."
"Got a bit of otaku in me."
"Uh, yeah. First glance, thought total loser... Oops."
"Fuck."
"Puhuhuhu."
Did this mean I could fit in the class now?
Human honor suddenly felt important.
I looked at Si-woo, smiling warmly as he listened.
"But you did a ton too, right?"
"Me? Nah, just cleared a few dungeons."
Gasps rippled around.
"That Jeong Si-woo, humblebrag bastard."
"Ugh, humility off the charts."
"No, seriously! You guys can do it soon too!"
Si-woo's rebuttal had the girl next to me—Kim Soo-young?—pouting.
"Soon?"
Si-woo clamped his mouth shut.
"……Three years?"
Politely saying we're far off. Highlighted talent gaps, but they just tsked familiarly.
"Still, Si-heon and Jong-hyun will catch me quick?"
Cadets glanced between me and Im Jong-hyun.
"Yeah. Jong-hyun's... family and all."
"Si-heon's helping DoWonHyang, so skills must be good?"
Some recognition. Jong-hyun, who'd been quietly drinking, grinned at Si-woo's words.
Classic bad boy aura.
Not full thug, but blonde-tanned pretty boy looks.
"Wait up, asshole. I'll catch you soon."
"Ooh~ Im Jong-hyun~"
"Teasing me?"
Exchanged words with Si-woo, rough laugh from Jong-hyun.
Then our eyes met.
"Anyway, me aside, Si-heon too? What was your entrance rank?"
Seemed innocent, but I felt the condescension.
One of the guys who disliked me.
Line that could kill the mood, but his looks saved it. Some girls eyed his brashness fondly.
The one called Shin Jeong-ah seemed totally smitten.
"My rank? 152nd, I think."
"What?"
"Huh?"
Honest answer drew shocked reactions.
Made sense—guy who aided in the cult incident and trained under Baek Do at 152? Implausible.
"152nd? Then what's with those articles?"
Jong-hyun's blatant mockery. Then he smirked, like he'd figured it out.
"Kekeke, boosting a human cadet too much, no?"
"Hey, don't diss humans."
"Jeong Si-woo, you're a husband candidate for a World Tree."
Me too.
Wanted to snark back, but didn't want to sour the vibe, so kept it light and fun.
"I'll climb quick. Awakened a few months ago?"
"Kuh. Anyone who saw Si-heon fight can't call him weak."
Si-woo backed me, and Soo-young shot her hand up.
"I saw! Where Azalea and San Su-yu were."
"Huh? Really?"
Unexpected—she giggled.
"Don't remember? You saved me then. All us cadets there, you, Si-woo, and San Su-yu protected us."
No clue. Too busy fighting.
Hacked and slashed instinctively, saved a few maybe, but didn't register.
That opponent, Lee Seong-han, was too persistent. Shoulder wound still throbbed.
"Did I?"
"Whoa, doesn't remember. Hurtful."
"Sorry."
"Why apologize? Hehe."
Explained why she'd been chatty. Helped me blend in.
I smiled lightly, and Bead piped up, pressing two index fingers together.
"What's with you two?"
"Bead, jealous again?"
"Puhihihi. Hey, Si-heon's bestie is me. We've been buds since dorms day one."
"For real?"
Soo-young's wide eyes questioned me.
Jong-hyun's question ignored? Glanced—he was drinking with others, no follow-up.
'But she doesn't even see me as a friend?'
Awkward to deny, so I nodded.
Soo-young extended her hand with a bright smile.
"Then besties with me too."
Uh... what? Green light?
Saved her unknowingly and gained favor? Or just from bantering tonight.
Shook hands vaguely, then focused on drinks.
Buzzed, chit-chat flowed. Learned cadets' stories naturally.
Dorm first-floor cat's adorable. This prof deserves bad eval.
Silly stuff, perfect for bonding.
Everyday trivialities.
Listening, I realized what had bound me since coming here.
Obviously the World Tree bitches.
Not that—sharing food chats brought warm, cozy normalcy.
Until now, swept up in fantasy hunter bullshit.
'Gotta live more chill from now on.'
After dragging three to a motel, of course.
"Hey, cheers! Cheers."
-Clink!
We downed booze, spilling freely.
Some time passed.
Moon lower, Si-woo stood.
"Round two?"
"Me! Me! Si-heon too."
Bead bounced first.
"Why me."
"Just come!"
Still wanted fun, no complaints.
Si-woo read my face, nodded. Soo-young slyly raised hand.
"Me too."
Round two: Soo-young, Si-woo, me, Bead, and chubby guy—Oh Deok-ha? Felt relatable.
"Five? One more'd be perfect."
Si-woo whipped out phone, dialed smoothly.
"Yo, Azalea. Made it back? Nah, just drinking, heading to round two—wanna join?"
Azalea.
Guys flinched at the name.
"M-me too?"
"Kinda craving round two..."
Azalea that popular?
Si-woo's side: whiny voice.
-……Just got back. Jerk.
"For real? But it's fun here."
-Mmm, wanna sleep.
Si-woo sounded down.
"Rare chance, even called Si-heon. Aw..."
-…….
"Rest well. Hanging up?"
-Where?
Heard up to there, rest fuzzy.
Si-woo chatted more, pocketed phone, grinned.
"Round two."
Pure social king energy.