Chapter 52
Chapter 52
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Shiba, Finally Human (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Shiba is strong.
That's a fun, cool, sexy unchanging truth.
One that needs no proof, like an axiom.
At least, that's what Shiba himself thought.
"Chirp!"
In the dark room, Shiba waited endlessly for Dad.
Clutching a handful of dirt, blankly shaking its sprout. Shiba felt good.
"Peek~ Chirp~"
What would today's water taste like?
Six drops—no, seven today!
Lost in pleasant imaginings while waiting, Shiba suddenly noticed its body had grown a bit.
"Peep?"
Slightly raised trunk.
Overflowing mana.
Aware of its own growth, Shiba realized in a fleeting moment how to change its form.
Shiba focused on the tip of its sprout, then gathered mana there.
-Pop!
"Peep?!"
Ba-da-ba-bam!
Shiba made hands!
Ignoring the celebratory fanfare echoing in its head, it poured strength into its roots next.
"Pip?!"
Shiba made two legs!
-Thud.
The pot, unable to support the enlarged body, rolled off the nightstand.
Shiba, freed from the pot, now had a small 30cm body. With bark covering its skin, it was unmistakably a first-generation Wood Person.
The sprout atop its head swayed with every head movement.
"Pip, pip!"
Shiba panicked at the sudden emergency.
Unable to adapt to its changes, it wailed desperately for Dad.
Growing is scary.
The body hurts from growth.
Wiping tears from its eyes with both arms, Shiba stood and toddled toward the door.
Then, oops.
It lost balance and fell. A red bump formed on Shiba's forehead.
"......Peep?"
Touching its forehead, Shiba burst into loud sobs from the stinging pain.
"Peeeep.... Daa! Da!"
Shiba frantically called for its guardian.
It crawled to the door, but its body was too small.
Clutching its forehead with both hands and sobbing uncontrollably, Shiba plopped down right there, overcome with grief.
"Puh, sob, peek."
After crying for a while, the sobs gradually subsided.
It hurt so much, but Dad wasn't coming.
I'm hurting like this!
He should be rushing over in a single bound—where the hell is he? What if I disappear like this!
Suddenly resenting Dad, Shiba wiped its tears and puffed out its cheeks.
He'll realize how important I am if I disappear, right?
-Hop.
Shiba stood up.
Think about it!
Last time he left me like this, it took days before he came back.
I must be a tree he picked up from under a bridge or something.
Thinking that, tears welled up again.
"Peep."
Sniffling, Shiba resolved inwardly.
I'll run away from this hateful house. I'll teach that clueless Dad how precious I am.
Gazing resolutely at the doorknob, Shiba declared its firm will.
"......Peep."
But right from the start, Shiba faced a massive obstacle.
The front door it had to cross to leave the house.
Shiba realized its hand couldn't reach the doorknob. It dawned on it.
This can't be.
Shiba despaired at the fact that this slanted world was tailored for humans.
No choice now. It had to run away another way.
Glancing around, Shiba eyed the fridge, where the space below looked spacious enough.
"Pip."
Shiba declared.
As long as he doesn't see me, it'll be fine.
Shiba's goal was revenge on the Dad who abandoned it, after all.
Harboring wicked thoughts, Shiba toddled over and squeezed under the fridge with grunts.
In that cramped space, Shiba curled up and covered its eyes tightly with its tiny hands. This way, it wouldn't be seen.
Preparations complete... now just wait.
Shutting its eyes, Shiba stayed curled up motionless for a long time. Imagining Dad's panicked face made it chuckle inwardly, but recalling he still hadn't come soured its mood to tears.
"Peek. Chirp."
Shedding tears drop by drop, Shiba eventually fell asleep using dust as a pillow.
-Click.
The fridge door opening woke it.
Shiba rubbed its eyes and sat up. Seeing feet under the fridge, its face lit up.
Confirming it was Si-heon, Shiba wriggled out from under the fridge.
Now he'll know I'm gone, right?
But Si-heon, showing zero interest in his daughter, flopped onto the bed with a dazed expression.
Watching from under the bed, Shiba was shocked.
"......Chirp."
Dad. Bad.
Thoroughly miffed, Shiba spread its arms wide, grabbed the middle of the bed frame, and climbed up.
Planting both feet on its father's chest, it scowled deeply at the father lost in dreamland.
"Peep."
For some reason, it didn't matter anymore.
Shiba suddenly recalled Si-heon's face, the one who'd been with it since birth.
He's worked so hard—maybe forgive him just this once.
Time heals all wounds; after a nap, the anger melted away.
"...Nngh."
Si-heon frowned at the weight.
Startled, Shiba tried to climb down, but hesitated, finger to lips in thought, then knelt and snuggled into his arms.
Its heart melted in the warm embrace.
-Squeeze.
Shiba spread its arms wide and hugged him.
Its short arms didn't even reach his back, but the full-body embrace from its father softened Shiba's face.
If only it could stay like this forever.
Why does he keep going out?
"Daa."
Calling for Dad, Shiba closed its eyes.
Infused with Tree Pill energy, its gradually growing body now shrugged off the growth pains easily.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ What the hell is this?
Waking in the morning, I felt a weight and looked down. Some kid was sprawled over me.
About 1m tall. Sprout on its head.
Its immature skin was translucent, protected by dark brown bark covering its upper body.
Light green bob cut. Puffy cheeks.
And a sprout on top.
Anyone could tell it was Shiba.
My hand unconsciously stroked its hair.
"......Peee."
It let out a contented breath. A reddish blush caught my eye.
'Why'd the kid suddenly turn like this?'
I dug into my pocket for my phone and checked the screen. Hangover headache made me grimace.
-Wood Person Growth Stages.
I searched online. Clicked the top result, and a long post with emoticons popped up.
📰 Wood Person Growth Guide Hello~ Fruits here. Today's topic: Wood People! The sacred beings believed to be born between World Trees and humans. Let's dive into their growth stages! 😏 Wood Person (木人). A new race born between World Trees and humans. 🤩 Did you know Wood People's growth is almost identical to humans'? 😏 Wood People grow in two ways. One: from sapling! The other? Drumroll... 🎉 Yes! Some are born directly in human form! Why the split? Simple: depends on whether the human or Sacred Tree is the "host body"! If human-hosted, born as a human baby. If Sacred Tree-hosted, as a seed. Wood People can emerge as either! 😊 Wait, are all seeds from Sacred Trees babies? Nope. Female trees that aren't Wood People can make babies without male Sacred Tree seeds. Everyone knows this, right? Only Wood People and humans need male-female relations! Trees enjoy relations too... ahem. 😏 Anyway, how do the babies grow? Surprisingly, both seeds and human-form babies eventually grow into human shapes! 🎉 Dizzying.
Forcing myself through the post, I gathered that a seed turning human-form was totally normal.
'Trees can make kids without mating?'
That explained it.
I'd wondered how babies happened. Turns out that's the deal.
Pregnancy you can't dodge just by pulling out—or not.
'Hold on. Does that mean this one's really my kid?'
"Chirp."
I looked away from the phone at Shiba.
Just woken, Shiba rubbed its eyes, glanced at my chest, then met my gaze.
Its daughter's eyes trembled with unknowable emotion.
"......Daaa?"
Shiba clung to my chest, rubbing its cheek. My heart ached.
It truly saw me as Dad. Even if not, it is.
"Peee, peep! Chirp."
Still chirping, not speaking yet.
Form changed a lot, but the cuteness remained unchanged.
I supported Shiba's clinging body with my arm and got out of bed. Hugging tight to me, it dangled like a banana on a tree.
"...Problem is how to raise the kid."
Scratching my messy morning hair, I looked at Shiba. It adorably tilted its head.
Need clothes first. Can it eat food?
"Peep?"
Peering into its open mouth, I saw proper baby teeth.
Should eat solids. Gotta check later if human food's okay, but probably fine.
Azalea and Cornus eat human food, after all.
"How'd my girl grow so big?"
"Peep?"
Stroking its head, Shiba closed its eyes, savoring my palm.
That cuteness brought a natural smile.
I thought.
'What now.'
Until now, easy as just a tree.
Human form changes everything. Balancing school and childcare is the worst parenting move.
"Uh... Shiba."
"Peep?"
"Can you turn back into a tree?"
Shiba looked puzzled.
I pointed at the fallen pot on the floor. Understanding, Shiba smiled and touched it.
"Chirp."
Bark on its skin swelled, reverting to a small sapling.
Now too big for "sprout," I replanted it fully in the pot.
Whew, relief. No sudden daughter scandal.
Now, what's left...
Ah, Azalea.
"Dad's stepping out for a bit."
-Chirp? Peeek!
I petted Shiba once, washed up quick, changed clothes.
Yesterday's drunken mistake.
Might need a deep bow of apology, so I dressed neatly and headed to the door.
"Peep!"
Just as I was leaving.
Shiba came toddling from the room and hugged my leg tight.
"Daaa. Euh, uuh."
Not chirps—different wails.
True, father-daughter bonds transcend words; the emotions hit me fully.
"Shiba, Dad has to go. Okay?"
Patting its shoulder, I gently pried it off.
Stepping back, Shiba freaked and clung again.
"Uuhng!"
...Gotta go.
I pinched my brow.
Lovable, but such a hassle of a daughter.