Chapter 264 – Twist the Tree (5)

My chest aches.

-…Pervert.

I didn’t expect her to say that all of a sudden. I went in to ask something about the ordeal, and the words that burst from Sansuyu’s lips were shocking.

Am I seeing her as too young? I’ve already seen everything, so maybe I’m being overly sensitive. I can’t deny there’s some bitterness in being confronted with harsh facts.

I had forgotten that Sansuyu was, in fact, a fully grown woman. I’m grateful that she has a milking machine. She seemed embarrassed, but at least I didn’t have to do it manually anymore.

– Squeak.

I open the door and enter my room.

In the living room, Baobab, who I had carelessly thrown onto the bed yesterday, was sitting on the sofa, brushing his teeth with a drowsy expression.

His clothes are, of course, completely off. Baobab doesn’t seem to think much of me looking at his body.

“Hey, isn’t that my toothbrush?”

I was in my room, diligently brushing my teeth, making sure to reach every nook and cranny to prevent cavities.

Upon hearing my anxious question, Baobab finally took the toothbrush out of his mouth. I waited to see what he would say, but instead, he smirked at me and placed the toothbrush back in his mouth.

“…Well, it doesn’t matter, right?”
“How does it not matter?”
“I’ll clean your semen with your toothbrush, so if you’re bothered, let’s have a fight.”
“……”

Let’s not talk.

We grew closer because of what happened yesterday afternoon. I wonder if he knows that if he loses one more time, he’ll become my servant. As I unwrapped my new toothbrush, I looked at Baobab. The mischievous glint in his eyes was the smile of a victor.

“Yesterday, I finally figured it out.”

As he resumed brushing, Baobab spoke.

“What else?”

Baobab grinned in response to my question.

Even if I called it the incident from yesterday, all we did was have sex for hours.

It was noticeable that Bao had lasted longer than usual, but it wasn’t concerning. No matter how much his stamina increased, there was nothing to fear when in the company of the enchanted sphere.

Yet, Bao was confident.

“I won’t lose next time.”

Not in a fight, nor in sex.

The source of this newfound confidence was intriguing, and a part of me genuinely wanted to learn from it.

“Fine.”

I replied curtly. Bao, who had come to stand beside me, spat bubbles into the sink. As we looked at each other’s reflections in the mirror, Bao’s face seemed to glare at me. His eyes burned with a predatory intensity.

“I’ll be the one to win in the end.”
“Go ahead and try.”

I wasn’t sure what his hidden agenda was, but there was only one contest left.

Still, it was in my nature to meet provocation with provocation.

“If I lose, I’ll be your servant.”

I echoed the words Bao had spoken before.

“Hmph.”

– Gurgling.

The foam washed away by the water in the sink disappeared down the drain.

* * * * * * * *

[You’re here?]

I smiled inwardly at Mary’s voice, which had become much gentler than before.

The effects were faster than I anticipated.

Whether it was the fertilizer and water that suited her taste, or if Lim Jong-hyun had upset Mary, I wasn’t sure. But it seemed that various factors had combined to raise her evaluation of me by a notch.

However, I couldn’t afford to be complacent.

I continued to bow my head humbly and wore the most amiable expression I could muster.

“Did you sleep well last night?”

It had been quite some time since I had removed my mask, fearing that even a hint of allure might seep through. I acted as a walking pheromone, bringing her water and fertilizer.

Upon seeing the fertilizer, Mary’s leaves began to quiver like a dog’s tail.

[Hey. Hmph. Hey. What does it matter to you if I sleep comfortably or not?]

“…I strayed from the topic for a moment. I apologize.”

[…Sigh. Do better from now on, understood?]

“Yes.”

There are various types of scolding.

I received a curse for a small greeting, but Mary’s mood itself wouldn’t be bad. One shouldn’t take offense to the other person’s cursing.

There are things that can only be known by looking deep into the roots of that tree. There’s a sense of welcome even when being cursed at. A person infatuated with tree superiority is bound to enjoy my groveling behavior.

That curse must have been a positive one.

“I brought more fertilizer today.”

[Sprinkle it.]

“Yes.”

I scattered the fertilizer around the tree’s trunk in a circular motion. As always, Mary emitted a light green glow as she consumed the fertilizer. Her leaves rustled gently as if pinwheels had been inserted all over her body.

[Mmm~]

Spraying water intermittently to make it more palatable, they seemed to go wild with pleasure. Their body convulsed with a nasal sound, trembling so intensely that I worried they might be ripped out.

Perhaps now was the time to strike up a conversation.

Cautiously, I opened my mouth.

“Excuse me, Tree-sama.”

[Why?]

“Have you ever considered receiving a massage?”

[…What?]

Not long ago, during a draw, I acquired more than just a milking device, fertilizer, and water. I got my hands on some rather useful items.

—
▶ Tree Massage Oil (C)
[Category: Consumable]
– Promote smooth fluid circulation! Enhance the resilience of the outer layer!
– Yearning to become a beauty? Entrust yourself to your lover’s massage.
—

[Why the sudden mention of such a thing?]

“Hehe. I thought it might benefit Tree-sama, so I sought the wisdom of an expert.”

I let out a mischievous laugh, scratching the back of my head. Then, slyly, I revealed the oil I’d acquired, specifically intended for the tree.

This time, I feel like I’ve gone a little too far, but it’s alright. I just want to show that I possess these skills and abilities.

[No.]

It doesn’t take long for Mary’s response to reach me.

[Are you insane? Thinking you, a mere lesser being, can lay a hand on me? Absolutely not.]

Just as I expected. I would have been disappointed if she had given in too easily.
This is the essence of tree superiority.
Their thoughts are all too clear.

“Everyone else seemed to enjoy it.”

I grumble dejectedly. At that, Mary appears somewhat flustered, and the tips of her branches quiver.

[… Anyway, no! Why do you keep talking back? Do you want to die?]

“Ah, I apologize! I-I will take my leave now, hehe. Enjoy your meal.”

[Hey, I didn’t say you could leave yet–]

– Slam!

I put on my best wounded act.

I close the door and lean my back against it. From now on, Mary won’t be able to see me.

Then, the connection to the tree stretches a bit further, allowing me to hear Mary’s voice.

[…Seriously.]

Her tone seems somewhat resentful. I step back with a much more relieved expression.

If we continue this way a few more times, her fondness for me will gradually grow. Then, she’ll either place me in another trial or request something from me. As long as I comply, the second ordeal would essentially be over.

Fortunately, Mary is arrogant but not very intelligent. …No, fortunate isn’t the right word. How wonderful it would have been if I had encountered a just and fair tree from the beginning.

I stroll down the corridor, brushing the dirt off my legs. It won’t be much longer.

* * * * * * * *

[Massage, you say. Does it feel good?]

Day 4.

After diligently observing for several days, Mary finally asked cautiously. It was a moment that brought me immense satisfaction.

For a tree to permit physical contact with a mere inferior species would be a significant step for me.

“I’ve studied hard for your sake. Even if my skills are inadequate… I won’t ruin your mood.”

Confidence concealed within appropriate humility. Regardless of how much my counterpart looks down upon me, I mustn’t always maintain a subordinate stance. In such instances, I must inspire trust, prompting the thought, ‘Hmm? Should I give it a try?’

Mary contemplated for a while as she absorbed the nutrients.

[Hmm, umm…]

Her branches swayed as if a person were deeply pondering with their chin resting on their hand.

[Maybe just once… should I let it happen?]

I didn’t hesitate when her hesitant response emerged.

Immediately, I moved behind Mary and applied the oil I’d taken from my pocket to my hands.

[Hey, hey! I haven’t answered yet.]

“Please, just try it once.”

[This, this fool… thinking they’re inferior.]

Massaging isn’t difficult. As I swept my hand over the tree’s bark, I felt the soft outer layer. Trees cultivated under the guidance of the World Tree Foundation typically have such smooth bark.

There’s no worry about getting scratched, even if it brushes against human skin.

[Really, did you learn this?]

“Yes.”

I learned from experts.

I observed and absorbed the techniques of those who have been practicing tree massage for decades through various videos. My potential has been honed not only in swordsmanship but also in this area. At worst, there won’t be a situation where I give a massage and receive verbal abuse.

“Let’s begin.”

With my oiled hand, I gently stroked the split branch once.

The soft branch shimmered with the applied oil. I exerted just enough pressure, careful not to cause any pain.

Tae-yang gently reached out his fingers to the leaves and caressed them delicately.

Upon feeling Tae-yang’s touch on her leaves, Mary’s body shuddered, as if taken by surprise.

[You, your hands keep going to such naughty places?]

“What, naughty?”

As Tae-yang thought about it, there was indeed a method of caressing leaves. It was among the things he had learned during the time when Mary was imparting knowledge from the sun.

To Tae-yang, though, she was simply a tree — albeit one with a slightly more dynamic movement. Without giving it much thought, he pressed firmly on the leaf veins.

“It’s a massage.”

He slightly adjusted her clothing, applying a bit more pressure to the veins of the leaves. There was no ulterior motive, as his technique was an exact copy of an expert’s touch.

[Hmm. You don’t have any hidden intentions, do you? Be careful—if you touch something strange, you’ll regret it.]

In terms of a human body, this action was akin to stimulating the lymph nodes located above the side of the chest. Tae-yang swept his oiled hand from the inner part of the arm, all the way down to the lymph nodes.

Mary’s reaction to being cunning is not unusual either.

‘I learned it through estimation.’

It’s worth a try.

I asked Mary, who clenched her teeth in response.

“Tree.”

[Uh, what?]

“How do you feel?”

[I don’t know, you rascal!]

“Loosen your body a bit more.”

-Slap.

[Oof!]

As I applied force to my palm and struck the top of the tree branch, the sound resembled that of hitting human flesh. The more it’s loosened, the more it resembles human skin. Can this really be a tree? It’s also astonishing that it can move branches as if they were its own body. It appears that its structure is different from the trees we usually know.

[Hey.]

It wasn’t long before Mary called me.

“Yes?”

[Why don’t you call me by my name? Am I a joke to you?]

She seems to have completely forgotten her insistence that I not call her by her name when we first met.

I responded with an awkward smile.

“Last time, Tree-nim told me not to call you by your name.”

[When you think it’s appropriate, you should call me. Do I need to teach you that too? That’s why you’re an inferior species!]

“Ah, then… Mary?”

[Yes. But your hand keeps going to strange places?]

What’s strange about that?

Upon checking the location, my fingernails were touching the edge of her underwear. Putting aside the twisted thoughts of these insane individuals for dressing her in pink underwear, it’s hard to gauge what’s appropriate when it’s not even a person I’m touching.

Fortunately, the fabric of the underwear was thick enough to obscure her private area.

“I apologize.”

I moved my hand to a different spot while apologizing.

[Well, it’s not like you’re bad at this.]

Mary seemed satisfied overall, leisurely swaying her leaves.

[From now on, include this in your schedule.]

“Understood.”

Now I’m completely treated as a servant.

Although I inwardly sneered, everything was going according to plan. I had no choice but to teach this naïve young lady that in this world, no favor comes without a price.