Chapter 121 – The Retreat (8)

-Did you bring me into your dream because you’re afraid to die?
-I’m not scared. A body that will vanish within a week anyway. There’s one thing I came to ask of you, as someone who’s dealt with your ancestors.

A favor, huh?
Judging by the nuance, it doesn’t seem like they’re trying to be hostile towards me.

There’s likely much to learn if I go along with it instead of brushing it off.

“I’m so exhausted, I could die…”

The hour hand points to its lowest position.
I get out of bed, massaging my swollen face to shake off the drowsiness.

My head throbs from a wicked hangover. Desperate for a glass of water, I hastily grab a bottle from the hotel fridge and chug it down.

-Gulp, gulp.

“Phew.”

I finish the 500ml water bottle in one shot.
Placing the empty bottle atop the fridge, I slap my cheeks hard with both hands to regain my senses.

-Slap!

Pain courses throughout my face.

Sleep eluded me.

“…Let’s go.”

I immediately stepped into the shower, washing and drying my hair before changing into a fresh set of clothes from my travel suitcase. My phone wasn’t fully charged, but I hastily unplugged it and stuffed it in my pocket.

The second day’s schedule wasn’t crucial. Most of the timetable consisted of optional activities or free time, catering to those cadets nursing severe hangovers.

I made my way to the hotel’s top floor, absentmindedly tousling my still-damp hair. Considering the circumstances, I might not be able to return today, so I decided to report to Lee Se-Young’s room. I located the room number I had heard the previous day and knocked on the door.

*Knock, knock.*

Could she still be sleeping?

I waited for slightly over a minute before I heard the door unlocking from the inside. It didn’t open; it merely unlocked. No matter how long I waited, there was no sign of her coming out.

‘She must be up to some trick again.’

As I opened the door, a pale hand suddenly reached out from within and grabbed me by the collar.

Her delicate hands forcefully pulled me in.

With a semi-forced entry into the room, the door closed on its own as if haunted by a ghost. Holding me by the collar, she brought my face close to hers.

“You arrived a bit early, didn’t you?”

Se-young’s half-naked body was warm, as if she had just been lying in bed. Her cheeks were flushed, and the corners of her mouth turned up.

“If it wasn’t for me, why would you be dressed like this? Be more careful.”
“A man… talking back?”
“What? No, sir… I don’t intend to do anything today…”

– *Woosh*!

The button on my shirt fell off all at once. What incredible force! Lee Se-young’s hand stifled the scream that was about to escape my lips.

Se-young had already shed her gown, like a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis.

“Heh, just holding hands while sleeping? Keep quiet and come inside.”
“I’m not in the mood, okay? Please, just let it go today.”

“Yes, I’ll let it slide. Si-heon is talking, so I’ll let him off the hook.”

Se-Young, gripping my wrist tightly, pulled my hand to her hidden place.

“But will this fellow forgive you!”

The two of us collapsed onto the bed as if falling. A layer of quilt covered us, muffling the screams escaping my lips so no one else could hear.

* * * * *

“Hey, why are you sulking over something like that? Where’s the rapist who dominated the backstreets of the academy? Lee Si-heon is dead. He’s all dead.”

I was going to leave after making up my mind and notifying her, but Se-Young let out a hollow laugh as she pretended to wipe away tears, wrapping herself in the blanket like a roll of kimbap.

“No, what are you going to do about this? All the marks are left.”

Below the collarbone, a lip mark slightly lighter than purple remained. When I was forced to bite and suck on it quickly, a scream naturally escaped.

He hadn’t screamed like this even when confronted by the World Tree of Healing.

“If you didn’t want this, you should have renewed our connection when we first met. I’m disappointed.”

Lee Se-Young said this as she slyly lifted her choker to take a look. In the middle of her slender neckline, a freshly imprinted kiss mark glowed a deep shade of blue.

Quick renewal, remember that. From now on, it’s renewal every time we meet.

“So, you didn’t like it?”
“…”
“You did like it. How did it feel when I pleasured you with my stocking-clad feet?”
“Ah, well…”

Her energy was drained. Of course, midway through the act, Se-Young, who lay beneath him, had pleaded for him to stop, but people tend to remember only the aspects that favor them.

As she lay down on the bed, Se-Young embraced him, her body pressing against his.

“Come here, my man.”

Her arms wrapped around his neck, and her lips touched his cheek before pulling away.

“You seem a little tired these days. What’s been going on?”

“No, I just have something going on today, so I might not be able to come at dawn. I just came to let you know that.”
“Really? That’s a bit disappointing…”

I gave a slight nod in response to the questioning, almost teasing glance.

“What’s the matter?”

If they found out I was meeting with the World Tree, they’d surely insist on accompanying me, no matter what. Sometimes, ignorance can be a blessing.

“It’s not really a topic I can share.”
“Is it a girl?”
“…”

Well, that was part of it.

Seeing my reaction, Se-Young’s eyes instantly sharpened.

“Let’s be transparent about relationship issues, at least. I can’t stand seeing you getting taken advantage of because you’re too naive.”

Se-Young muttered under their breath, refusing to allow this one exception. The problem was that this flimsy excuse hit the nail on the head for the actual issue. Did I really have to divulge every detail about the confession I received? After a long moment of contemplation, I finally let out a bitter sigh and opened my mouth to speak.

“I received a confession.”
“From who?”
“You know them.”
“Azalea? It must be her.”

You nailed it.

“True, it would be strange not to have feelings.”

Se-Young empathized with her, even though she wasn’t present. Do women share some common understanding? Perhaps it was more likely since Se-Young had some knowledge of Azalea’s story.

“So, what happened?”
“I turned her down. But she won’t give up.”
“Really?”

Se-Young asked, tightening her embrace around me.

“What do you think of her?”
“A good friend.”
“Ahh, I see. You don’t view her romantically. Is that it?”

When I didn’t answer, Se-Young continued for me.

“If you’re confident that you’ll never see her as a romantic partner, don’t give her any hope and just come clean. Or, are you afraid that it’ll ruin your friendship?”
“…”
“You’ve become quite indecisive since I last saw you. You’ve always been that way, but it seems worse lately.”

I had nothing to say.

Se-Young clicked her tongue and captured my lips in one swift motion.

*Smack.*

“…I understand. You don’t know when you’ll die, so you want to be more cautious in human relationships. And your personality is strangely progressive as well.”

I tilted my head and soon grasped the meaning behind her words. Monogamy was apparently considered a progressive concept in this world.

“I feel sorry that you always seem stressed about relationships with women because of me.”

“Why are you sorry? I’m the one who should be sorry.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

Se-Young shook her head.

“No, this isn’t working. I need to rephrase.”

Se-Young laughed bitterly and soon uttered a shocking statement.

“I like men with many women.”

What did she mean by that? I was so surprised that I couldn’t help but let out a bewildered sound. The statement seemed so hastily constructed that I doubted my own ears.

“…Excuse me?”

It was only after I asked again that Se-Young corrected her words with a sheepish expression.

“You got it wrong. I like Siheon, who has many women.”
“What do you mean?”
“So, don’t stress yourself and increase the number of women on your own. Shouldn’t we have a double squad for our baseball team based on the number of our children?”

It’s so absurd that I’m on the verge of bursting into laughter.
Se-Young, seemingly struck by a great idea, adds to her statement and abruptly rises from the bed.

“However, you can’t be a pushover. I’ll have to meet them in person and decide.”

Se-Young, now standing and holding a towel and clothes in her arms, looks at me and announces her plan.

“Don’t expect to see me today, stay far away from the lodging.”

Se-Young drapes a light garment over her shoulder to cover her body and pushes me towards the entrance.
I can’t quite grasp what she’s planning.

“What are you doing?”

Unable to hold back, I ask again.
Se-Young, with her feet on the threshold of the shower room, grins slyly.

“I’m going to meet Azalea. I’ll let you know tomorrow, so focus on your work.”

“…Huh?!”

– Thud!

The shower door slammed shut.

It seemed like it wouldn’t accept any rebuttal, as if a dark aura was emanating from within.

I immediately tried to go in and argue, but I was drained and ended up closing the entrance door instead.

– Click.

The sound of the door locking was heard.

There was no turning back now.

She said I liked having many women. Anyone who heard it would think it eased my burden, but knowing that, I couldn’t accept her words as intended.

‘Am I the weird one?’

I just wanted to avoid wearing clothes that didn’t fit me. Se-Young’s words crossed my mind, followed by Zodiac’s and Azalea’s words.

It wasn’t the first time I considered changing my perspective on relationships with women.

As I returned to my room, covering the exposed parts of my flesh with Lee Se-Young’s clothes, I thought:

‘If I just change my attitude…’

Everyone could be satisfied.

But-

“Sigh…”

A person’s deeply ingrained mindset doesn’t change unless there’s a significant catalyst.

I have changed quite a bit, though. Accepting Zodiac was a big step. As I held Zodiac in my arms, trying to rationalize my actions, I remember what crossed my mind:

“‘…It’s a pathetic idea, but what can I do when there are now so many people who matter more to me than my life?’

That’s exactly what I thought.

“‘Even I can see it’s just a well-crafted excuse to hold a woman close. To others, it must seem like garbage.'”

Was it because I had seen Lee Se-Young that very morning? Somehow, I ended up applying a completely different standard to Azalea than I did to Zodiac. I’m sorry. I was overthinking things back then. If I had calmed down and talked it out, maybe the outcome would have been different.

…It’s been a while since I realized this, but in this world, it doesn’t seem to matter if a man embraces many women. Lee Se-Young said she would create an opportunity for me to change my perspective.

“Thank you, I really do appreciate it.”

Entering the room, I gazed at my reflection in the mirror. My face, devoid of its usual color and blemishes, looked entirely different from what it was in the previous world. I had never considered myself to be good-looking in my life. However, with my high level of charm, I suppose others might see me that way.

Could it be that my appearance leads people to label me as someone who shamelessly pursues women? No, that couldn’t be it. They must sense something lascivious within me. Every woman I’ve been involved with, without exception, has called me a playboy.

If everyone else sees me this way, except for myself, then perhaps it’s time for me to stop denying who I am. As ludicrous as it may seem, if it’s true, then I should accept it.

– Swish –

I removed my clothes and changed into something more inconspicuous. This time, I took out a hat and pressed it deeply onto my head, ensuring it wouldn’t draw attention.

As I left the lodgings and walked far away, I cast a glance at the spot where Azalea and I had stood together.

I passed by that place and headed towards the temple I had searched for in the morning.

Breathing in the fresh air, it felt as if my head was being purified. Freed from distracting thoughts, I was now certain about what I needed to do.

As I reached the entrance of the temple, I lifted my hat and took in the vast expanse before me.

[You have arrived.]

The voice of the World Tree invaded my mind, strikingly similar to the one I had heard in my dream.

I responded to the tree with a more refreshed tone.

“So, what do you have to say?”

I ventured beyond the wooden door of the temple, which exuded an air of antiquity, as if it had guarded this place for a long time since its construction.

The temple, devoid of any occupants, was pristine but emanated a sense of loneliness.

…No, there was one presence. Upon closer inspection, I noticed a faint sign behind the new altar.

[Please, come further inside. So that I can see you.]

As the words of the World Tree of Time ceased, a woman suddenly emerged from behind the new warship.
A woman wearing a mask.
The striking woman with her short stature and pink hair bowed her head at a 90-degree angle without uttering a word.

Then she lightly gestured toward me.

Follow her?

I closely trailed the woman who had turned her back. Inside the building, a precious-looking container held fertility, awaiting me. It was an unfamiliar magic, reminiscent of what I fleetingly sensed from various trees.

“…place your hand there.”

A voice sprang from the woman’s mouth.

‘Is the conversation already over?’

Well, it seemed natural, as this was the only temple near the lodging.

‘Let’s finish quickly and leave. I have much to do.’

I extended my hand toward the fertility.

The moment my hand made contact, a surge of light enveloped me. The ramshackle wooden structures surrounding the area vanished from sight, and I felt my body floating.

– Flash!

[You’ve arrived, King Mokryeong.]

She slowly raised her closed eyelids.

Before her eyes, a tree even more massive than the one she had seen in her dreams extended majestically across the earth.