Chapter 242 – Survival in the Forest (1)

Tribal intercourse is spontaneous, occurring when the mood strikes, without any regard for the other’s appearance, sexual allure, wealth, or social standing.

The desire to be with the man before me was overwhelming. This was the Baobab way, to act on such impulses without hesitation.

Come to the bed now. Leave the rest to me.

Baobab, a striking figure, relished in these semi-coerced unions.
Such engagements were crucial for the survival of their species. Given the high mortality rate among the young, they had to reproduce prolifically.

“Ah.”

However, Baobab’s situation was different.

Due to his brother’s tardy escape, Baobab had assumed the role of the tribe’s leading figure. Having experienced fierce disputes in his youth, by the time he was sexually mature, he had already been living as the tribe’s leader.

But it seemed that some primal instincts persisted.

– Drip, drip.

A creamy liquid flowed from her vagina. She indulged in the sensation, losing herself to the pleasure.

Two, maybe three times. Initially, she was the aggressor, but soon found herself underneath him, crying out like a wild animal.
After several cries, he abruptly left as if fleeing. The vigorous mating had left her legs trembling, the memory firmly etched into Baobab’s mind.

It was a fleeting transgression.

“I couldn’t resist after all.”

Where was her brother? What was he doing and why did he disregard the words of his sister Hae-nul?

Baobab’s eyes narrowed in irritation.

The pain of the first experience? The memories?
When her emotions were uninvolved, it meant nothing. The sole regret was her inability to contribute midway.

And then, there was that man. He didn’t hold back his words about Baobab.

“…So annoying.”

Drenched in sweat, Baobab stared at the creamy liquid spattered on the floor.

Hunting, chasing the prey, and the tradition of consuming parts of the beast’s body.
Instinctively, she swiped a finger through the fluid on the floor.

“I will certainly capture him…”

Just as she was rising from the floor, her strength suddenly deserted her, and she sank back down.

“Ugh… Argh.”

Every inch of her body ached.

Was the echo of the blows she had received still resonating within her? She hadn’t realized in her state of arousal. Her body creaked and cried out like an unoiled machine.

Lee Si-heon.
The name of the man who had taken her virginity echoed in Baobab’s mind.

* * * * * * *

He threw a punch into the air.

-Boom!

The sound of the air bursting echoed in his ears.
Not bad. A smirk spread on his face as he loosened his right shoulder.

The enhancement of his combat skills was apparent, along with an overall increase in his capabilities.

The power was perfectly suited for me, making my body feel lighter than I had ever imagined.

The increase in my abilities played a part, but the manifestation of the Heavenly Demon Art seemed simpler than before. King Mokryeong’s power was undeniably potent. It held an infinite value that could extend limitlessly in any direction, far surpassing any other power or trait. It was unmistakably a talent that had been wasted until now.

“Brother, how did it feel?”

I maneuvered my arms, slicing through the vines descending from the trees.

“What do you mean?”

“Obviously, I’m referring to what happened inside the dungeon.”

Tae-yang inched closer to me, persistently questioning as we navigated through the forest. He was curious about the taste of the national tree’s body, its scent, and how it felt.

“Why would you want to know all that?”

“I lost my carnal desires because of you, brother. I need to hear this; it’s the only thing that makes life worth living.”

Was it my fault?

Tae-yang clicked his tongue in disappointment at my reluctance.

[↓]

The artifact indicating Sansuyu’s location now pointed southward. It was evidence that we had crossed the median line of the Forest Survival map and ventured into the eastern region.

Late afternoon on the third day. Only four days remained. Since we had attacked the dungeon after our battle with Baobab, food was plentiful.

We had encountered some cadets along the way, but even if I stayed still, Tae-yang and Aori took the initiative.

“Did they call her ‘Yellow’?”

An unknown figure in the east was rumored to be ruthlessly cutting down numerous cadets.

Considering the location remained in the east even on the third day, it was highly probable that Sansuyu was the person in the rumors.

“What was Sansuyu’s skill level?”

It had been some time since I had competed against Sansuyu, but she wasn’t proficient enough to freely slaughter cadets. Her skills were comparable to or slightly inferior to the national tree, but among the cadets, she was the best. At least, the Sansuyu I had competed against was.

However, it seemed unlikely for Sansuyu to massacre cadets.

Could it be the result of some experimental effect?

Her condition must have been at its worst. Even though I had started the treatment, could it have such profound effects?

We would find out once we met her.

Of course, there were tasks to be undertaken before that.

“Should we start splitting up?”

The gaze of the three individuals around me focused on me.

“Do you two intend to stick together?”

“Yes.”

Sansuyu had her unspeakable reasons. I wasn’t certain what kind of reaction I would receive if this story reached these two.

Tae-yang, who was somewhat aware of the circumstances between Sansuyu and me—excluding the matter of breastfeeding—stepped away first, as if he had no other choice. Aori also indicated understanding. She nodded, her regret thinly veiled.

Since I had hinted from the beginning that I would leave midway, Lee Hyang had known as well. He offered a congenial smile.

“Really? That’s a shame… Say hello when we meet again. Hehe. Here’s some food.”

Lee Hyang extended all her backpacks, declaring, “Since I don’t participate in the battles, I should at least serve as a porter.”

Four packs. Save for the one Lee Hyang had from the get-go, all were gathered by me.

“Hand me just one. You carry the rest. It’s a burden to haul too much.”

Taking all of them would doubtlessly relieve us of any food concerns for this trial, but it would feel too impersonal. As far as possible, I had assigned Lee Hyang all the sundry tasks to spare myself the labor. It felt right to take only enough for my consumption.

“… Really? Then, give me a moment!”

Lee Hyang immediately settled down and unbuckled her pack. She began to stuff it with various food items, filling it to the brim. The delicate items, like fruit, were placed on top to prevent them from being crushed. The sturdy cans were relegated to the bottom. Once it was neatly packed, she handed it over to me.

“Here you go! Hehe.”

Upon receiving the pack, I felt its substantial weight in my hand. It seemed to contain more food than the pack I had just earned as a reward in the dungeon.

Is this the famed rural hospitality?

“Taeyang, can’t you learn from him?”
“Eh? I can’t. Hyang is truly kind….”
“You should strive to be kind too.”

Taeyang, shaking his head incessantly. His role apparently was to chastise and instruct.

“Alright then… Can you folks survive on your own?”
“If we don’t encounter the strongest amongst the national trees like the last time, we can run even with Hyang on our backs.”

There’s nothing reliable about Taeyang’s assurances. His skills are authentic, no objection there. But after a curt gaze, I slung the pack onto my back.

“Let’s dine together when we meet after the trial. With him as well.”

As Taeyang’s words ended, Aori, who had been trailing along, bobbed her head in agreement.

“I’ll see you later, King.”

Aori, who had seemed to be missing more than a couple of screws upon our first meeting, became a little more comprehensible as we conversed. He wasn’t a bad kid. Except for his propensity to crack blatant jokes, which was a tad disconcerting. He was a likeable younger brother.

We bid each other farewell and went our separate ways.
Now, all I had to do was find Sansuyu.

* * * * * * * *

I had assumed we would meet soon from the moment the direction of the artifact had changed.

It was evening.
Since I didn’t need to sleep, I continued to move.

By spreading my magical power to the brink of exhaustion, I could discern the objects around me and navigate, even in the darkness of the forest.

The rustling of leaves underfoot echoed as I forged through the underbrush.
My urgency was mounting, for a particularly bothersome reason.

‘I hope Suyu is alright. I’m getting anxious.’

Sansuyu’s chest. The image was firmly lodged in my mind and refused to leave.
Ever since Sansuyu had first expressed her pain, I had been keeping an eye on her.

Judging from the progress over three days, by the end of two, Cornus’ breasts would brim with milk, swollen to the point of engorgement. She’d lose her self-restraint, brazenly unveiling her chest by shedding her upper garment.

Of course, this might not occur.

Unlike back then, the current situation is a battlefield, and crucially, the healing facilitated by my divine power had not continued. When my healing ability had cured Cornus’ body, her breasts had swelled by over 30% within an hour.

If I abstained from healing, there would be no milk. Although this is conjectural, my prediction was likely correct.

However, refraining from treatment is a concern due to Cornus’ precarious health.

‘…The worst-case scenario would be if her chest hurts.’

If her overall health deteriorates, that’s the next worst thing.

Regardless of the situation, I needed to meet Cornus as soon as possible, holding as I did the solution to her predicament.

‘Had Cornus procured the artifact, our reunion would have been much quicker…’

Had I failed to consider a method for her to acquire it? It’s useless to entertain such regrets now.

I remained alert, continuing to press forward.

Despite everything, my prediction that Cornus would be within a reasonably close range had proved accurate.

[↓ (nearby)]

The time was evening, a period with a remarkably low number of patrolling cameras.

As I ventured further, a faint voice echoed in my ear.

-…Ah.

A woman’s agonized moan.

The voice was soft, reminiscent of a tiny, adorable bell trembling, distinctly identifiable even from afar.

Enchanted, I followed the voice. Weaving through the grass, avoiding the vines, a makeshift shelter, moderately tidied up, came into view.

There, was Cornus.

“……”

Her light yellow hair, bathed in the moonlight descending from the heavens, shimmered. A significant amount of mana had been drained from her body, suggesting she had been engaged in numerous battles. Her clothing bore traces of blood, hinting at the number of times she’d been wounded.

Her state was far from ideal. The white fabric of her sneakers was torn, indicating her numerous frantic pursuits.

Cornus, leaning against a tree with her eyes closed, writhed in pain. Upon seeing her, a sigh of relief escaped my lips.

“Ah.”
“……!”

Jolted awake by the sound of my breathing, she immediately unsheathed the sword beside her and brandished it toward me.

“…Who’s there?”

Holding her chest with one hand, she extended the sword with the other in my direction. Cornus’ sword was strangely near its breaking point.

It was as if looking at a blade that had struck a rock dozens of times, its edge completely worn. Such an occurrence would’ve been impossible had I imbued it with mana in the usual manner. The anomalies were more than one or two.

Upon realizing this, the characteristics of her mana, too, seemed different.

“It is Sansuyu, yet she seems markedly different.

“It’s me.”

Rising from my crouched position, I reveal my face to Sansuyu.

“…Si-eon?”
“Not Si-eon, Si-heon.”
“…Si-heon.”
“Indeed. Are you well? You don’t appear to be in good shape.”

Rather than answering my question, Sansuyu, seemingly relieved, slumped onto a spot and rested her back against a tree. Loosening her grip on the sword hilt and allowing her shoulders to sag, she addressed me with her characteristic impassive face.

“…I diligently sought out Si-eon.”
“So it seems.”

The condition of her sneakers and sword were a clear testament to her efforts.

Hold on. Was she roaming aimlessly, not even contemplating clearing the dungeon, solely in search of me? An eerie chill ran down my spine.

“Have you… abstained from food for three whole days?”
“…Yes.”
“Did you wander solely in search of me? Is that what I asked of you?”

– She nodded.

Sansuyu, silent, bobbed her head in acknowledgment.

“Now that I’ve been found, it’s sufficient.”

Her face, now that I noticed, was unsettlingly pale. I promptly moved closer to Sansuyu, caressing her face. Her forehead and cheeks were alarmingly cold.

Three days of fasting might be regarded as a minor inconvenience, but by my standards, Sansuyu was a patient. I immediately unzipped the backpack I had set aside, conjuring a bonfire in the midst of the space using magic.

– Thud, thud, thud.

White noise fills the silent space.

And then, the healing process.

As I wield my healing power, placing it on Sansuyu’s forehead, I felt an immediate drain, as if the soul itself was accelerating. Sansuyu’s complexion, which had snatched away my power in an instant, improved significantly, her pallor starting to regain its healthy hue.

“Do you feel better now?”

At my query, Sansuyu nodded.

“…I recover when Si-eon is around. It’s quite intriguing.”

Indeed, it would be.

The power I had just utilized could easily save dozens of lives. Sansuyu’s health had been that dire.

Observing Sansuyu regain her color, I let out a sigh of relief.

‘At least, that’s one less worry.’

Even though the side effects of the healing process would soon manifest.