Chapter 249 – Plum Tree (2)

“They’re approaching.”

The national tree of China, advancing towards us while violently stirring the grass.

As soon as Prajna’s words ceased, it entered my senses. The Plum Tree. A deeply-rooted tree, renowned as one of the strongest among national trees.

‘The speed is extraordinary.’

It seems to have no intention of concealing its power.

It exudes a terrifying force. Feeling such intensity here is astounding. The palpable weight, which typically could only be experienced in a real confrontation, cast tension upon the faces of the surrounding national trees.

At the very least, it must be on par with the Baobab tree or even more powerful.

Hoping it would simply pass by is a foolish thought. It’s clear that it’s heading our way with the intention of targeting us.

“It seems like they’ve used an artifact… Let’s wake the others first.”

Without needing any further words, Saku and Cornus burst forth from their tents or sleeping bags.

There was no one present who couldn’t sense the massive surge of magical power steadily drawing closer.

“What’s happening?”

Flustered, Saku leaped from her seat, firing off questions in her native language instead of Korean. Cornus, still groggy, nervously gripped her sword.

“…Are we going to fight?”
“Yes.”

Suyu rubbed her eyes as she stood by my side. Responding to her inquiry, I glanced up at the night sky.

Beneath a dense, gloomy darkness that filled the forest, the pale light from the blue night and the yellow moon danced around the lakeshore. Cameras were capturing our images in the vicinity.

[Jiing]

We each readied our weapons.

Our team, including Cornus, consisted of at least five individuals with national-level prowess.

“Do they really think they can win against us?”

In response to my question, Soo-yeon, who had been standing in place, murmured as she unsheathed her sword from its scabbard.

“I come because I have confidence, and I possess the necessary skills. After all, I’m someone who has never lost in a duel with a Gukmok.”

A little over two hours.

“Can’t you compete with three national champions?”

At my question, Soo-yeon smiled with a face still showing tension.

“…Well, we’ll have to try and see.”

She never says she’ll lose. Surely, she can’t admit that, not even out of pride. There are only three national champions present.

“If I lose, it’ll be all over the internet, right? Heh.”

East Asian relations aren’t bad, unlike the world I lived in, but the rivalry is substantial. As much as the enthusiastic cheers and support pour into the Korea-Japan matches, a tense tug-of-war continues between Korea and China. So… if I make a mistake, I could face harsh criticism if I lose here.

“If three Korean candidates are eliminated by the Chinese Gukmok… You know what will happen when an article comes up, right?”
“Oh, damn.”

“Don’t even think about attempting to escape with Sansuyu. If you flee from here, it will become a scandalous story.”

The words that followed made me feel a pang of guilt. After all, we’re not even a team with the three national treasures, so isn’t it just a matter of running away for two hours? That was indeed what I had thought.

“We would also like to tell you to run if you can, but… It’s not good to be criticized for something like this. Don’t worry, we won’t lose.”

Soo-yeon speaks as if she’s guaranteeing it. However, she gently bites her lower lip, as if she’s nervous.

“And…”

Her dark eyes turn towards me.

“…You’re more extraordinary than we imagined, aren’t you?”

I’ve already fought against two of the national treasures. It seems she meant it in that sense, but who knows? I need to know how strong Plum is before I can make any judgments.

As for the role of a mage, it’s simple. There’s nothing easier than casting spells from the back lines.

However, if Plum possesses more power than I anticipated, there’s a chance he won’t be able to rely solely on magic in battle.

I unzipped my backpack from where I had been sitting and retrieved a potion.

‘The healing power isn’t quite ready yet.’

My mana had dropped to less than half after casting spells so recklessly, and I needed to refill it. Cornus was in a similar situation, so I handed her a mana potion.

-Gulp.

The potion tasted similar to an electrolyte drink. I downed three consecutive bottles of the mana potion.

“Can you fight? If you can’t, it’s okay to rest.”

Discarding the empty bottle on the ground, I asked Cornus. She pointed to her sword and confidently squared her shoulders.

“I want to fight, too.”

She wore a triumphant expression.

Her childlike pose, with one hand on her hip, was so endearing that I playfully pinched her cheek once.

-Jjuwook.

Cheeks stretching like glutinous rice cakes, Sansuyu’s eyes narrow as she calmly accepts the touch.

“You pulled my cheek again…”

-Smack!

Getting hit on the hand has become a routine. Gently rubbing the back of my struck hand, I prepared to fight again.

Saku, who had been watching us, stealthily approached and whispered in my ear.

“Si-heon, Si-heon.”
“Yes.”
“…Are you two really dating?”
“No.”
“It’s suspicious…”

We may not have a typical relationship, but we’re not dating. A breastfeeding relationship? I know it’s strange, too. I can’t explain it because it’s so complicated.

-Tick.

I hear a noise like something catching at the edge of my ear.

Thud.

‘The sound of a trap going off.’

It seems they’re entering without a thought. Even if traps are sprung in succession, the momentum towards this place doesn’t die down. However, there’s no damage from the traps significant enough to stop them.

Before they knew it, the distance had closed, and their opponent was now close enough to see with the naked eye.

The camera lenses trembled nervously.

*Thud.*

The surroundings grew eerily quiet.

*Thump.*

A man emerged, stepping through the trees.

Long limbs and a muscular, well-proportioned body, his face so delicate that one might mistake him for a woman. His swaying, pure white hair was more than enough to prove that his name was Plum.

“Hmm…”

His unfocused eyes swept across the area. His colorless lips parted, and his tongue slipped out, licking the corners of his mouth.

His gaze locked onto Kim Soo-yeon, and then, for a moment, onto Prajna and me.

A sly smile spread across his face.

“…Worth a try.”

His voice was a dull murmur, accompanied by a smile that seemed to savor this moment with his entire body.

At the same time, the magic that Prajna and I had prepared struck him.

Binding or restraint. If you can tie your feet, that’s enough.

A magic circle materialized in thin air, from which magical arrows poured forth. Ranging from earth magic that made the ground so muddy it was difficult to approach, to a towering wall of fire that boasted such firepower it deterred any attempt to come near.

He exerted the utmost constraint without revealing his own abilities or strength.

‘After all, the national title… I won’t use my power unless I get close to the final trial.’

If he didn’t exert his full power, he could last about two hours.

– Tinkle.

That’s what he thought.

– Tinkle.

‘…Huh.’

Unexpectedly, it was far from ordinary.

The sound of a bell jingling reached his ears.

In an instant, the space where he had been standing warped, and the man disappeared from sight, leaving behind a web of cracks, like shattering glass.

– Flash!

Plum appeared before him, as if he had teleported. He was impossible to see.

The aimless spells either dwindled mid-flight or exploded upon touching the ground, leaving only futile magical ripples in the air. Plum’s hair swayed in the breeze blowing from behind.

“How about using something other than magic?”

Just before leaping, Soo-yeon advised me as she infused her sword with magical power.

“Si-heon, I think that would be better—”

Soo-yeon, who had been looking at me.

– Clang.

Her body was abruptly flung away by Plum’s swift kick. His speed still remained invisible to the naked eye.

Soo-yeon, having flown away, landed in the gravel using her falling technique, while I stood next to Plum, gazing at his face.

A countenance that didn’t spare me even a glance. He looked intently at Kim Soo-yeon, ignoring my presence beside him.

Indeed, Plum’s speed was beyond my expectations. Rather than simply moving, he had folded space itself to make his leap. His level of mastery was strikingly different from any opponents I had faced thus far.

A sense of disbelief settles on the faces of everyone gathered here.

‘…White.’

The subject of the rumor that Lee Hyang had whispered about. It must have taken considerable prowess to cause such a commotion in the forest.

It makes sense that he would dare to infiltrate this place alone, akin to the powder keg of the first trial.

He must have had ample confidence.

With a flick of his fingers, he creates a sword.

-Shiririk.

In an instant, the staff contorts and forges a black blade.

Now, the battle shifts to close combat.

Without hesitation, I swing my sword to strike at the throat. Yet, Maehwa’s neck bends, deftly avoiding my attack.

“…What?”

Only then does Maehwa look at me with a baffled expression.

“Do not disturb.”

Surprisingly, the Chinese is difficult to decipher. As the words reach me through the translator, Maehwa’s body vanishes from sight once again.

-Tingling~!

‘The sound of a bell.’

As my ears grew deafened, the surrounding space distorted.

My neck twisted in the direction he appeared.

I had missed twice, but I was close enough to catch up on the third attempt. I stepped back, evading the fist aimed precisely at my face.

*Huung!*

Plum effortlessly dodged the sword I swung horizontally.

“…What?”

Plum blinked in disbelief, as if he hadn’t anticipated my counterattack.

*Ting!*

Suddenly accelerating, he lunged at me with a grin. Once to the left, and once to the right. As I backpedaled, I deflected his fists with my sword a few times, and then he swooped at me with both arms.

I fell back, widening the distance and moving out of range.

“You.”

His gaze was filled with astonishment. His previously bored expression turned to one of intrigue as he looked at me.

“…Are you strong?”

How was he phrasing it in Chinese? The translator stuttered, struggling to convey the meaning.

As Maehwa attempted to charge at me once more, Sansuyu intervened between us, brandishing her sword in his direction. She too, never falters in a contest of strength.

Tracing a clean arc, her sword drew a solid line close to Maehwa’s neck, forcing him to step back to evade it.

After clashing with Sansuyu’s sword and fists several times, Maehwa retreated a step.

Sansuyu in battle is not to be underestimated. Now that her mana has been replenished, her skills are absolutely on par with those of the national tree.

“You too.”

Maehwa’s face, as he looked at Sansuyu, grew increasingly delighted. It was similar when Saku confronted him.

Saku, who fights using her hands and feet like a fox, scurrying around on all fours. She couldn’t even exchange a few blows before Soo-yeon had to take over once again.

“You too.”

Even when struck by Prajna’s magic, Maehwa never allowed a carefree smile to leave his face.

Like a boy entering a playground filled with blocks, the innocent expression on his face just before a fight seems oddly unsettling.

“…Sieon.”
“Yeah.”
“That person is odd.”
“I think so too.”

I wholeheartedly concur with Sansuyu’s opinion. He’s been strong since before, but there’s nothing particularly unusual about that. If he had possessed a normal train of thought, he wouldn’t have considered entering this place in the first place.

This fellow is strikingly similar to Baobab.

Initially, S-class talents typically exhibit one or more flaws in their personalities. This is true for me as well, and for all the individuals I’ve encountered.

Nevertheless, it’s still worth the effort. After several bouts, less than an hour remains.

Even if it’s impossible to bring him down, we were more than capable of stalling for time.