Chapter 246 – One Cadet, Three National Trees (1)

– Sizzle.

Spreading the buldak sauce on the golden-brown pork belly.
The pork belly flaunts its glistening, deep red sauce, expressing its presence over the open fire.

Buldak whole pork belly skewers. Cornus loves spicy flavors, so I selected the best ingredients from the ones I had and prepared this dish.
I’ve also sprinkled a moderate amount of salt for seasoning.

“How is it?”

Cornus’s eyes widen as soon as she takes a bite of the pork belly.
She immediately looks at me with her round, sparkling eyes.
Her expression seems to ask how I managed to create such an incredible dish.

“It’s delicious.”

Cornus keeps her eyes fixed on the pork belly and devours the food in a hurry.
Watching her eat is like observing a puppy enjoying a treat, and I can’t help but smile the entire time.

I’m glad she’s enjoying the meal.

That incident happened yesterday. I had worried throughout the dawn that our morning encounter would be awkward. However, in the end, the concerns I had did not come to pass. Perhaps it was an event Sansuyu couldn’t bring herself to discuss either, as she only cast fleeting glances in my direction without directly questioning me.

‘Only one more day remains.’

Today marks the sixth day. Precisely seventeen hours are left until the deadline of the first trial.

Initially, it was quite tumultuous, but now I’m enjoying the experience as much as I did at the end. After a long while, I had a proper rest. My body had somewhat relaxed, and my mind found some respite. Naturally, this lengthy week spent in the forest wasn’t entirely comprised of enjoyable moments.

‘I have one more thing to worry about.’

Sexual desire. This damned lustful demon grows increasingly stronger. Already, two people have shared intimacy with me within the span of a week. I even came close to causing a disaster by laying hands on Sansuyu, the very embodiment of innocence.

Considering the results, it was beneficial for me. However, it is true that lately, I feel my self-control is lacking.

Did I suppress my sexual desires too much in the past? Or, after returning from the past, did I indulge in such a debauched lifestyle that my body adapted to it?

-If I can’t have sex, I’ll become incapable of living!

Such a line, which seemed like it belonged in a cheap novel, echoed in my head with Byul’s voice.

I washed my face, feeling overwhelmed with guilt. I’m dizzy, but there’s no denying that King Mokryeong’s power within me is growing stronger by the day.

Even at this very moment.

“Someone else is coming.”

A ghostly intuition. My ears twitch.

Though I hadn’t unleashed any magic, I could faintly sense someone else’s presence from far away.

I could even distinguish their gender. Those three were women. A baffling sensitivity had taken root within me.

During the Forest Keeper selection process, as the number of individuals in the Arbor Encyclopedia increased one by one, my worries gradually transformed into conviction.

I rose from my seat.

“Sieon?”
“I’ll be eating there. I’m going to stand guard for a moment, then I’ll be back.”

I retrieved the staff. The staff, which flew through the air, wrapped itself snugly around my right hand.

“Is it tough? I can do it.”
“Nah, if it were tough, I wouldn’t have gone alone. Just stay put.”

Sansuyu nodded at my persuasion. Leaving her behind, I ventured into the forest and pondered.

‘I don’t even know who they are.’

Although I can only sense faint traces now, it is by no means a detrimental ability. Even if I maximize my lust, it rewards me with something valuable, one by one. I would have disregarded it if there were no benefits.

*Creak.*

The sound of bones echoing as I loosened my body.

‘…Even if I go as far as Morocco, as long as I reach Seoul, it’s enough.’

No matter how intrusive the force may be, as long as it’s helpful, I have no choice but to accept it.

Originally, I was someone who had nothing. Becoming this strong must have come at a price. I’ve known for quite some time that I’ve changed.

However, it was necessary to put a halt to any lascivious activities for a while, even if it wouldn’t last long.

* * * * * * * *

“Two people.”

Prajna muttered.

“By the lake, where the tents are pitched. A man and a woman. Someone who appears to be a mage is approaching.”

“Have we been discovered?”

Prajna’s brow furrowed slightly at Saku’s question.

“The magical energy coming toward this place is being disrupted well enough that our opponents shouldn’t be able to detect us. Their magic can’t even reach this far.”

“Is that so?”

In other words, don’t disregard me.

I genuinely asked out of curiosity, but if the response is like that, I’m left with nothing to say.

Feeling disheartened, Saku scratched her cheek and donned gauntlets on both hands.

An ancient martial art of the Yoshino family that simultaneously handles both elemental and bladed techniques. As the elemental spirits merged with her entire body in combat, she could unleash formidable power without the need for using magic.

Soo-yeon, who had been watching Prajna from behind, drew her sword from its scabbard and asked her,

“Are we going to catch them again this time?”

Of course.

As she responded with silence, Soo-yeon and Saku took the lead, making their way through the dense foliage. Prajna followed them.

“It seems like we haven’t had to fight much today.”

Including this encounter, there were about three people. The significantly reduced frequency of meetings indicated that an unusually high number of participants had dropped out. Perhaps fewer than a hundred remained after the second trial. From the third trial onwards, there might only be thirty people left. In some cases, the schedule for the Forest Keeper Selection Tournament could be drastically shortened.

“Hey, Soo-yeon.”

Did Saku sense that atmosphere? She asked Soo-yeon in an extremely cautious voice.

“Our selection… It’s going on for six months, right? 180 days.”
“Yes.”

Soo-yeon answered Saku’s question as if to ask why she was inquiring about that.

The Forest Keeper Selection proceeds slowly over an extended schedule. In order to choose candidates worthy of the honor of becoming a Forest Keeper, even the potential of the trainees is assessed. It takes a considerable amount of time to meet numerous mentors.

The first trial is relatively easy.

Survive among the monsters and obtain food by conquering dungeons. Competition between the trainees is also part of the trials, but it is not essential. There is no need to fight. They can help each other if necessary, or they can enjoy themselves. From the moment when teamwork became possible, it was allowed.

There is no advantage to be gained by eliminating someone.

They wouldn’t collide unless there was a special reason. The atmosphere had been subtly tense.

Of course, this time was different.

“If we get eliminated like this… What happens during the next trial?”
“They’ll decide on their own.”

Soo-yeon responded to Saku’s question.

There were too many individuals flaunting their abilities in this selection match.
No matter how much the contest presented an opportunity to showcase one’s worth…

“…Here it comes.”

Prajna’s words dropped.

“Just one.”

The selection match was an opportunity.
This is why some participants tended to engage in unnecessary actions.

Because they had to inflate their own worth.

The bravery that stemmed from such a mindset, which wasn’t true courage, could surprisingly be found quite often.
Ordinary people would call it tenacity.

*Creak*.

A man stood on a tree branch, looking down at the three of them.
Wearing a white mask, he inspected the faces of Prajna, Soo-yeon, and Saku, then cocked his head.

Saku’s eyes widened as she caught sight of the man.

“Huh? Uh, uh, uh! That person…!”

Just as Saku, who recognized Lee Si-heon, was about to cry out in joy.

“Si-heon-“

Prajna reached out first.

“Thunderbolt. Lightning Bow.”

Prajna’s tattoos vibrated intensely, and arrows of lightning appeared from behind her back. More than dozens of arrows, a massive swarm of them, changed their trajectories as if they were all sentient, flying toward the man.

“Uh, uh, Prajna! Wait, wait!”

Saku, in a hurry, tried to stop Prajna and looked at Soo-yeon.

“Soo-yeon, that person…”

But it was too late.

The attack had already been launched. Regardless of whether they knew each other or not, the moment Prajna’s magic targeted him, his fate was already sealed.

– Zzzzzzzt!

The lightning arrows surged toward him.

Siheon sat perched awkwardly on a tree branch, gripping a staff about his own height that pointed toward the ground. The eyes within his mask stared intently at the surrounding magical arrows.

Slowly, his staff began to rise. A black staff, its material unknown and suspicious in nature—an enigmatic artifact. The staff’s end aimed toward Prajna.

Remaining seated, Siheon let out a soft grunt.

“Wind Lotus.”

His dry voice slipped past his lips.

– Whooooosh!

At that moment, a gust of wind swept through. The leaves of the towering tree trembled incessantly.

Between the dense foliage, dozens of magical arrows poured down like eagles through the gaps. Overwhelmingly powerful wind-attribute magic.

The massive wind arrows he conjured soon merged into a barrage, hurtling toward Prajna. Two arrows collided, dispersing the magic of their respective attributes.

– Kwa-ga-ga-ga-ga!

A deafening roar tore through the forest.

“…What?”

Prajna’s eyes quivered.

This was unforeseen. It shouldn’t have been in her grasp. How could this happen?

*Crackle-snap!*

Soo-yeon cleaved the arrow charging towards Prajna in two.

A magical arrow that fell at her feet flickered like a mirage at the edge of their vision before vanishing.

Their powers were evenly matched.
However, they were outnumbered in terms of magical prowess.

“…”

Prajna’s lips trembled. Her heart momentarily palpitated.

The man remained perched on a tree branch, gazing down at the trio.

As if unaffected by having deflected the national tree’s magic.

*Click.*

He maneuvered the staff again. Arrows materialized anew, melding in midair.
Their appearance evoked that of a colossal turret.

“Si-heon, hand it over.”
“Whose side are you on, anyway?”

“We don’t need to fight. If you apologize and we part ways—”

Saku’s words were once again interrupted by Si-heon’s subsequent magical barrage. Prajna also reignited her magic. Soo-yeon didn’t respond to Saku’s words, instead drawing her sword and climbing the trunk of the tree.

Soo-yeon ascended at a terrifying speed, the white mana on her sword shimmering unnaturally.

Lee Si-heon glanced at Soo-yeon and extended his hand to counter Prajna’s bombardment. An equal number of attacks met in the air, their mana clashing once more, giving rise to a fierce gust of wind. Lee Si-heon’s magic manifested a touch more slowly, but his S-class talent was undeniable.

Moreover, his hands-on experience also favored him. Unless faced with a baobab tree of unusual power, the engagement was straightforward.

*Whoosh!*

Soo-yeon’s sword sliced through the branch on which Lee Si-heon was perched. He immediately conjured a foothold in midair and maneuvered his staff.

Arrows erupted at point-blank range, accompanied by a deployed shield.

Perceiving the flow of magic, Soo-yeon’s sword severed the arrow the moment the spell materialized.

‘…Impressive.’

The magic was potent.

Had he truly discovered his talent in magic? It was hard to believe that not long ago, he wielded swords and fists instead of spells.

The speed of his magical manifestations was unrivaled among his peers. While the power might surpass that of Marronnier and Van Agya, his strengths more than compensated for any shortcomings.

– Skreeeek!

He forced the blade through the barrier. A sound akin to nails on a chalkboard filled the air as the shield shattered. Lee Si-heon knocked the blade away with his hand and promptly swung the staff he held in one hand like a blunt weapon.

– Whoosh!

Dodging the makeshift club, the distance between them increased.

A barrage of magical attacks followed.

The surroundings blurred with the dispersing fog. As if acquainted with other magical properties, sparks and lightning crackled around him.

His attempt to obstruct his field of vision was evident.

‘We must not let the distance grow.’

It would be fair to regard Lee Si-heon as a walking fortress.
A mage who excels in close-quarter combat.
With a considerable amount of magic at his disposal, a mistake could lead to hours of drawn-out conflict.

Soo-yeon resonated magical energy throughout her body’s blood vessels.

“…Hundred Layered Heart Technique.”

A swordmaster’s skill—though she had not yet fully mastered it, her use of the technique alone wielded considerable power.

“Crescent Moon.”

As she executed her swordplay, lacerations appeared in the space surrounding her, tracing the path of her blade.
The magic Si-heon unleashed disappeared in an instant, as if it had never existed.

In its place, pure white petals filled the void.

Though her view was obscured by the dense petals, the motion of magic was visible in her now faded, pure white pupils.
She kicked off a tree trunk, charging toward Lee Si-heon’s location.
Taut, pure white threads followed her sword as she grasped it firmly.

Thrust.

It was destined to be pierced.

*Suddenly!*

A black blade sliced through the pristine petals and impaled Soo-yeon’s shoulder.

‘A sword?’

An unforeseen attack. The blade burrowed into her shoulder.

Blood gradually stained Soo-yeon’s clothes.

‘When did this happen?’

Her movements halted like a stone. The image of a masked man reflected in her white pupils. His hand gripping the sword hilt pulled the blade from her shoulder and thrust it toward her neck.