Chapter 163 – A Needed Conversation (3)

What are you doing?

【 (+_+) The ‘World Tree of Purity’ smiles brightly. 】

One day, the World Tree of Purity vanished.
Shiba’s mother. The woman who left home returned without knowing her place.

“…Why did you suddenly reappear when you vanished without a trace?”

【 The ‘World Tree of Purity’ cheekily sticks out its tongue. 】

“Since when do trees have tongues?”

It’s bewildering. She had disappeared without warning, leaving me with a sense of unease. Why return now?
Of course, I didn’t harbor much resentment. Both positive and negative emotions have faded with time.

If there’s one thing she could be reprimanded for, it’s neglecting Shiba.
What gall does this woman have, abandoning our child without providing any support?

【 (Shock) The World Tree of Purity lowers its eyes. 】

“Hehehe. Welcome back.”

I tossed out a joke and grinned.
There’s still that fondness from when I first arrived in this world.

-Rustle, rustle.

As we were discussing purity, the blanket stirred once, and Se-Young’s face peeked out.

“…Why are you talking to yourself?”

Her eyes lifted suspiciously.
Perhaps due to the correction she received yesterday, her gaze had softened.

“Come in quickly. I’m cold.”
“But it’s summer…”
“You’re completely naked. If you’re cold, you’re cold, damn it.”

As I was pulled by the arm and laid down on the bed, a solid sense of weight enveloped my entire body.
Se-Young’s slender hand cradled my cheek.

-Whump.

A faint scent of sweat lingered in the blanket that now covered the both of us.

“You made a huge mistake yesterday.”
“What kind of mistake?”
“…I had been holding back, but you made it all come undone.”
“Ah, so that’s why you screamed like that yesterday? While scratching with your fingernails.”

Instead of responding, Se-Young embraced me tightly, to the point of frustration. Her soft breasts were pressed down like pancakes.

Her skin was so fair that the bluish veins appeared visible beneath the surface. It was the same skin that I had indulged in the previous day, burying my nose, sucking with my mouth, and licking with my tongue.

“You’re finished now. You’re done for.”
“Heh, the one who couldn’t bear it and fainted sure talks a lot.”

Repeating her short-tongued sounds, Se-Young’s eyes resembled those of a cat about to play a prank. Her face possessed a three-dimensional quality that seemed ready to leap out at any moment. Gazing at her pert nose, she suddenly offered her lips.

Was it a kiss?

– Smooch.

As I thought, it was a light peck on the cheek. She then embraced me once more.

“Since I’m not good at expressing love, and I’ve never received love… I don’t even know how to give it. Understand this just this once, you little one.”
“Suddenly? Alright.”
“…I really like you a lot.”
“Me too.”

Closing her eyes, she gently caressed my cheek.

He lifted her chin with his fingers. Moist eyes locked onto his own.

“Perhaps for the rest of my life.”
“Didn’t you say you hate cheesy stuff?”
“You always get sentimental at times like this.”
“So, you don’t love me?”
“…I love you.”

Peck.

A light kiss.

At the same time, we giggled as we faced each other with an acorn poking out from between our hair.

* * * * * * *

That’s how it happened.

Se-Young’s weary voice came through the phone. Her reception of abundant love was palpable even from afar.

‘…’

She must have been up all night.

As Star tapped away on the computer keyboard, she gently touched the prominent veins on her forehead. Her wrist, which held the cell phone, braced with tension.

“You little bastard!”

A torrent of curses spewed forth.

– …

“Insane, you’ve prepared all the plans to take down Flower, and now… suddenly, you’re backing out? Seriously?”

– … I’m, I’m sorry.

“Se-Young, this isn’t something you can just apologize for and move on. I haven’t seen Si-heon for months, only focusing on checking and refining the plans with cobwebs practically growing on me… And now, out of the blue, you say, ‘It’s like that now~♡’? What am I supposed to do with that? Should I just accept it, saying, ‘Oh, our dear Se-Young suddenly changed her mind?'”

A barrage of vitriol poured out relentlessly.

Even over the phone, the response was clearly flustered.

Of course, the plan could be canceled at any time.

It was still in the conceptual stage, with great caution exercised due to the inherent risks.

“I get it. I understand what you’re saying.”

But the thing is…

“However. But…”

A single pitiable word, tightening its grip around one’s throat.

“I too… love rice cakes,” she sobbed.

The Vice President of the Hunter Association. Starfruits Star.
How could she, occupying such an exceedingly high position, be reduced to this pitiful state by the mere mention of ‘rice cakes’?

Star glanced at the mirror next to her monitor.
Her face, marred by sagging dark circles, looked desperately pitiable.

Although those dark circles were the result of late-night gaming sessions, they provided ample grounds to trigger her emotions at this very moment.

“I can’t take it anymore.”

– Huh?

“The plan has fallen apart; I can’t let it end like this. Despite being the Vice President, I was dispatched to the Flower Frontline… Siheon even went to great lengths to help! What!?”

The Vice President stepped up to the front line. In military terms, it was as if a corps commander had appeared in a single unit without any reason. She had personally come this far and dealt with the work, yet she couldn’t obtain anything.

In essence, Star desired just one thing.

“…This should be an engagement ring.”

She was utterly sincere.

“Seyoung, we need to collaborate on this. How… should we make a hole in a condom? But Siheon almost always ejaculates inside me. Why am I not getting pregnant?”

– …Hey.

“Huh?”

As Se-Young was cautiously contemplating about 109 different ways to hold Siheon accountable, she spoke up.

– Siheon… is right here.

A shiver ran down her spine! Her legs trembled, and she sat down with a thud.

Why is she only mentioning this now? Before she could even make an excuse, a playful male voice came through the phone.

– My sister?

“…….”

– Heh, heh, heh. Are you suggesting we puncture holes in condoms?

A voice clearly half surprised and half teasing. Seyoung’s yellow hair, reacting to her emotions, shot up toward the ceiling like magic. Her face flushed crimson.

“…Si, Siheon, you know it’s just a joke, right?”

– Just listen to her voice.
– Hehehehe.

A stalled mind. The swiftly spinning brain cells burnt out in an instant, and all thought ceased.
Despair overwhelmed Si-heon.
As if it wasn’t bad enough to speak so crudely in front of the person they liked, the ‘first wife’ herself had directly discerned it.

Indeed, it was evident that Lee Se-Young’s malicious scheme was to reduce the number of wife candidates.
Si-heon’s voice began to fade.

“Yeah… I might as well commit suicide. I liked you, Si-heon.”

“Wait, hold on… Sister. I’ll contact you separately later. Don’t cancel your plan.”

“…What are you talking about?”

“Killing Flower. I’ll do it instead of Se-Young. Let’s make a plan together.”
“Hey, don’t suddenly speak informally.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“…You jerk.”

Tiki-taka over the phone. They seemed like a happy couple with great chemistry.
However, Se-Young’s words did not register in Si-heon’s mind.

“Together?”

Yes. Together.

“Plan together…?”

Plan together!

A flag firmly planted itself in the mind of the star who had ceased thinking.
Truly, this was a moment of opportunity.
Engaging in conversation at the office, they drew a grand scheme of buying tickets to Hong Kong together after an intense discussion.

“Please look after me, Siheon… No, Senior Siheon.”

-Yes?

“From today, you’re the big shot.”

The star’s happiness circuit began to overload. Taking into account all the novels, Japanese comics, and games they had consumed while cooped up at home, the path ahead was crystal clear.

Lee Siheon’s plan was indeed impressive. However, the Hunter Association declined due to the elevated risks involved. But what if they, the star, were to make an appearance?

S!
T!
Fruits!

‘Association President… Mugung. That old man has been quiet lately.’

Let it proceed! No one can stop it, except for the Association President. Demonstrate the formidable determination reminiscent of the protagonist in a drama. With this, capture Siheon’s flag! Simultaneously, pierce the heart of the man with an arrow!

The narrative teaches her body the allure of a worldly woman.

“Hehe… Hehe.”

– Their thoughts wander to peculiar fantasies.

A smile began to bloom at the corner of the star’s fractured lips.

* * * * * *

“Then go in.”
“Are you leaving tomorrow? You don’t need to see me off, really?”

At my question, Se-Young blushed shyly and placed her hand on her lower abdomen.
Her expression revealed the passionate marks left by the nighttime mischief.

“…I’ve received plenty of send-offs.”

Indeed, I had.

Se-Young’s overnight transformation into a gentle soul is a bit disconcerting, but she will likely become fierce once more starting tomorrow.
I know this person well, having spent several days with them.

Let’s give a hug before departing.
When I spread my arms, Se-Young looked around and approached, embracing me.

“Well then, work hard, you rascal.”

– Thud!

As soon as the door closed, I picked up my phone and headed downstairs. Azalea… Cornus. There were many people to see, but before that, I briefly held my cell phone and dialed again.

– Tureureu, click!

A call in the morning, naturally it would be answered.

[Dongsaaang~ What’s the matter?]

A familiar nickname accompanied by a sweet voice. Not a brother, but a same-aged friend. Somehow, it felt both comforting and bittersweet. The sound of a hair dryer could be heard over the phone.

“I thought of you and called. Are you drying your hair?”

[Yeah. Shiba is drying her hair.]

“Can you switch to Shiba, please?”

[Shiba? Hmm… It’s a bit complicated today.]

At my request, Zodiac hesitated. As if hiding something, she chuckled awkwardly.

“Huh?”

[Come over after the retreat is over.]

“…Uh. Okay. It’s not a big deal, though.”

I merely asked to make a phone call with my daughter, but she seemed to be obstructing it.

Could they be hiding something?

– Whi-ing.

At the noisy sound of the hair dryer, Hwangdo spoke hastily.

[Ah, I have to use teleport soon… I’ll hang up!]

To anyone observing, it’s clear they’re flustered and hiding something. Or could Shiba be upset with me? My daughter who goes berserk whenever she sees her dad? Strange. Although she spent three months in the past, the actual gap is only a few days.

When she was in the dorm, we were always together, except when I was outside. I played with her a lot.

Shiba somewhat accepted that I was going to the retreat. After all, my daughter understands what I say.

‘…Hmm.’

I’ll come back after the retreat is over. There are only about two days left, so I should find out soon.

I stared at the disconnected call screen and returned to the address book.

The future to confront now involves Sansuyu, Cheondo, Baekdo, and Hwangdo. The future is uncertain, but at the very least, three people have gone missing. Of course, I had to take responsibility for the actions I had taken prior to this.

Azalea, caught in [Affinity Above Normal: Obsession]. I had to convey my response to Azalea, who had confessed in a drunken state.

‘How should I handle this?’

Even if I were to call, what should I say? Speaking up from this standpoint… It’s not easy.

I already brought shame upon Azalea once by rejecting her confession, so shouldn’t I also experience an equal amount of embarrassment? If that’s the argument, then I would have nothing to say, but Lee Se-Young’s case was different. Se-Young and I had spent enough time together to see through each other’s true feelings.

Nonetheless, my worries come to a halt. I immediately contacted Azalea from my address book.

– Toot.

The call disconnects before even a single ring finishes.

“[…Hello!?]”

Azalea’s voice, which came through instantly, had a higher pitch, as if she were utterly perplexed.