Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Rebel
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While the green onion oil sizzled in the frying pan, I suppressed the nagging suspicions that kept bubbling up. I really do suspect it, but without proof, what can I do? Guess I have to assume it was some passing Succubus Tree that fucked me.
Separate from my deepening doubts, the cooking itself was finished quickly.
I plated the shrimp fried rice—finished with shrimp, a dash of seasoning powder, pepper, and salt—and asked Baek Do once more.
"Master, you really didn't jump me, right?"
"Cut that filthy talk if you don't want to get smacked...... This fried rice looks tasty."
"Ah, yes. Dig in."
She snaps at me once, then happily wolfs down the fried rice.
Not the behavior you'd expect from someone who'd just had sex with a man or woman.
"Lots of shrimp. Nice."
I eyed Baek Do with narrowed gaze, then smirked at the sight of her savoring the food with a grin.
'Yeah, do I really need to know who it was?'
Whatever the method, she's the one who saved my life.
If the person herself doesn't want to come clean, isn't it polite to respect that?
Still, picturing her handling business solo last night and devouring that peach... it's kinda hot.
"Why are you grinning like that?"
Lost in my imaginings with my lips curled up, Baek Do shot me a look like I was some lunatic.
"Just... you look pretty eating so cutely."
"What a load of enlightened bullshit."
"Most people call that charm."
"Shut it."
The culprit who jumped me at dawn... whoever it was, I'll find out eventually.
Since we're together, someday.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 💬 Messenger Chat — Dancing Berry Did it go well?? >_< Heard from Se-young — Dancing Berry That thing back then... you're not still hung up on it, right? ㅜㅜ I'm really fine — Dancing Berry Yeah??? — Dancing Berry ...Is even this pathetic? — Me Yeah, I'm good lololol — Me Let's game sometime when you're free — Dancing Berry ♥♥ — Dancing Berry (Star hearts popping emoji) — Dancing Berry (Star hearts popping emoji) — Dancing Berry (Star hearts popping emoji) Feels weirdly bittersweet, but I wanna look out for her.
"Who ya texting? Girlfriend?"
"Someone I know."
"C'mon, grinning like that at texts from 'someone you know'?"
Sitting in the classroom exchanging texts with Star, Bead pokes her face in.
I tilt my phone screen away so she can't see, and her eyebrows shoot up.
"No matter how I look at it, smells like girlfriend..."
"Wish I had one."
"Introduce me?"
Dunno if she'd even date properly if I did.
I subtly shake my head in refusal. Bead huffs, plops down in her seat, fiddles with her phone a bit, then glances back at me.
"Oh yeah, heard you're being targeted?"
Asks casually, out of nowhere.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
I play dumb, and she side-eyes me.
"Rumors floating around lately. Pops up on Eta a few times too. You didn't know?"
I pause in thought, then get it.
Makes sense—got dragged into that many incidents in just a few weeks, bound to spawn some rumors.
Actually, this kinda stuff exploded after the Jinmok Group incident.
Some no-name rises up, pisses people off. Getting hate is par for the course, baseless stories spread like wildfire.
Like stepping back from a cow and catching a mouse this time?
Since it was true I was being targeted, I said nothing.
Hell, I don't even know how I ended up like this.
Bead asks softly, curiosity brimming.
"But hey... if someone really is gunning for you, what're you gonna do?"
I look up from my phone at her.
Her eyes gaze blankly, lost in thought, not meeting mine. I know she's hiding something, but to ask so directly?
Seeing it as another sign, I answer honestly.
"Someone gunning for me? Then what..."
I consciously curl my lips.
"I'd tattle to Master."
"Pffft, not cool at all."
Half joke, half serious.
Either way, no plans to sit idle.
That kidnapping almost broke my mind; barely calmed it down.
With Master here now, gotta hone my skills.
-Rumble.
Lee Se-young enters, yawning with a tired face.
She spots me, subtly frowns, taps her choker a few times. Means refresh it.
"Aah... everyone have a good Arbor Day? Didn't just do weird shit, right?"
After announcements, she strolls over to my side.
"Oh, and Lee Si-heon, come out."
Tap tap—she pats my shoulder.
Wonder what went down over the weekend including Arbor Day.
I nod and exit the classroom. Se-young finishes relaying matters to the rest, then follows.
-Thud.
Door closes, and the forced brightness on Se-young's face crumbles into exhaustion.
"Ugh...... All 'cause of you, fuck."
"Tough?"
"Living vicariously through you, punk."
-Smack smack!
She slaps my back hard, grinning.
Then her face hardens slightly, hand on my shoulder, whispers in my ear.
"Things are kinda serious right now."
"Huh?"
"Heard your name's come up a few times among the World Trees. You know what that means?"
If students are talking, why not World Trees?
I came to this world because of a World Tree; of course they'd know about me.
If anything, their reaction's late.
Flower already approached once—too late by far.
Key is whether those World Trees are hostile.
Seeing the World Tree of Purity convinced me not all hate me.
So, recruitment then?
"Where do I gotta go this time?"
If World Trees mentioned me, Wood People would take it seriously.
Idea of interrogation flashes through my mind.
"You get it."
Se-young ruffles my hair. I glance at her face.
Complicated mix of finding me pathetic and bitterness.
Finished that sub quest just yesterday. Ha, bitter smile tugs at my lips too.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Principal's office.
Angelica sat on the central sofa, bored expression fixed on the translucent screen before her.
"......Hmm."
The surveillance magic circle in the hallway showed Lee Si-heon walking toward here.
'Husband candidate for a World Tree... and targeted by Flower no less......'
Angelica blinked her sleepy eyes, thinking.
A World Tree husband candidate getting targeted by Flower wasn't that unusual.
Husbands were means to restore World Tree power.
Candidates getting killed happened often since ancient times.
But.
'Even so, Lee Si-heon is special...'
He was the one Flower uniquely tried to recruit.
Her danger so great that if she couldn't pull him in, she had to kill him—per oracle.
Surprising: World Tree of Justice gave her a similar oracle.
'Just what makes that guy so special.'
But no matter how she thought, Angelica felt no interest.
If not love at first sight, she tuned out.
First time seeing him on video, no outstanding light from Lee Si-heon.
Meeting unappealing people was always tedious. Without the oracle, no way she'd come here herself.
With those thoughts, Angelica clapped her hands together.
-Creak.
Door opens.
"Come in."
Entering, Lee Si-heon removes his mask out of courtesy, scans the room.
"Sit here. Lots to talk about."
Si-heon nods at Angelica's guidance, sits on the opposite sofa.
"Lee Si-heon?"
"Yes."
Her grave tone makes him sharpen his gaze, answer calmly.
"First off... speak freely here. All secrets are safe. Be at ease. You know?"
Si-heon nods lightly. Skeptical vibe, but her words true.
Principal's office on the top floor of the main building guards any secret solemnly.
Conversations here never leak—and mustn't.
The instant they do, all who passed through defy the World Trees.
"Understood."
But he knew World Trees were always the exception here.
Angelica sighs once.
'...As expected.'
No light.
No brilliant glow like from history's greats.
Why try recruiting such a man?
Doubts swirling, she slowly poses the question.
"First, confirm: you contributed to wiping out Flower, and resolved the dungeon outbreak?"
"Yes."
"And you know you're being targeted by Flower."
"Yes."
His crisp answers pleased her, at least.
Angelica finally gets to the point.
"You know what that means to the Woodfolk Faith?"
To gauge her intent, Si-heon eyes Angelica briefly.
Her arrogant, confident gaze unwavering—almost funny.
When he should be praised, she's probing.
That top-down stare is nauseating. Especially from zealots.
With irreverent thoughts, Si-heon speaks.
"To Flower, I'm either helpful or harmful. Same for the World Trees."
Spot on.
Angelica nods.
"Oracle came down. Watch you closely."
Lee Si-heon was a thorn in the world's side.
Watch closely.
From that, Si-heon infers one fact.
First, Doom's World Tree trying to kill him unconditionally unrelated to Woodfolk Faith worshiping the Five Great World Trees.
Thus, high chance Grudge's World Tree forms a separate faction.
"I see."
"Yes. So I want firm answers from you."
Si-heon calmly weighs his options.
"......You mean prove it?"
Ever her style, Angelica nods as if go on, waiting.
After long deliberation, Si-heon speaks haltingly.
"Frankly, how can I prove a future even the World Trees don't know?"
Her eyebrow twitches slightly.
"No way to know."
Can't even see tomorrow, who knows if he's harmful?
No lie in Si-heon's words.
And Angelica knew that best.
'......Got guts.'
Emissary of Justice's World Tree, Angelica.
Her blue eyes pierced his essence clearly.
"Sounds like you could harm the World Trees."
Chilling pressure in her cold words makes his lips quiver.
"I can't give absolute assurance. My future's probably up to the World Trees."
Before the emissary.
One slip, head rolls.
Proving righteousness where gods exist—harder than anything.
"Meaning?"
"If I receive the World Trees' grace, I won't oppose them."
Arrogant-sounding, perhaps.
For a moment, Angelica felt interest in Si-heon.
"You think yourself worthy of their grace?"
Si-heon thinks inwardly.
'Damn picky.'
But doesn't stop talking.
"Does the emissary think Justice's World Tree wouldn't grant even a speck of grace?"
"Not to villains."
"That's for the World Tree to decide."
Slippery weasel.
Dancing nimbly between irreverence and piety.
Against her, the emissary.
Thus, Angelica grasps part of him.
"......Yes, the decision's the World Trees'."
Relief nearly escapes Si-heon at her acknowledging tone.
Angelica mutters inwardly, watching him.
'Good talker.'
That's why dangerous.
Classic rebel vibe.
Dunno if useful if kept close, but definitely hazardous.
Can't eliminate based on risk alone.
As he said, World Trees decide his fate.
'Watch for now.'
A spark of interest.
Bored expression gone, Angelica scans Si-heon's face.
"Got it. Go on in. Sorry for the sudden grilling. But I'll reward you generously for that incident."
"Thank you."
Si-heon bows once, sighs in relief, exits.
Watching his back, Angelica smirks faintly.
Indeed...... nothing wrong with his words.
Lee Si-heon: impossible to predict where he'll bolt.