Chapter 268 – Twist the Tree (9)

“I mean you.”

2cm before the two hands touch each other. Maintaining a hair’s breadth of distance.
We had to lower our heads to see each other’s faces as the distance closed.

“You mentioned it before, didn’t you? What did you mean by not showing up for the second trial?”

Slow walking pace.
Marronnier, descending the stairs with bashful steps, asked me.

“You wouldn’t understand even if I told you.”
“Tell me.”
“It’s nothing major. The tree responsible for me harbored a terrible hatred for humans. It simply didn’t seem like it would let me pass.”
“What? Is that possible?”

It was possible.
There wasn’t a shred of fairness in this second trial alone.
Not only were judgments biased, but in the worst cases, like mine, some individuals weren’t even given a trial at all.

“…That’s true. It’s not something you can hear with a smile.”

Accepting the implausible situation, Marronnier smiled awkwardly. For Marronnier, this was an infinitely lighter trial than for me. “Bring the one you love.” I’m not sure what they expect by making such a request, but it pales in comparison to my own burden—it’s like a heavenly blessing.

“So, are you forfeiting?” I asked.
“I’m not sure.”

We’ll see soon enough. Mary, the tree spirit assigned to me, gains a sense of superiority by belittling her opponents. Though a tree, she’s not unlike a human. Such individuals are often plagued by their own feelings of inferiority, and asserting their superiority is a kind of defense mechanism.

“How can you be so sure?”
“There are ways.”

Conversations reveal character. Personality exudes from one’s speech—I may not be an expert, but it’s something I’ve learned from my father. Mary seemed to take great pleasure in conversing with me, much more than I anticipated. As she hurled verbal insults my way, she secretly waited for me, even calling out to me until dawn. She seemed to truly enjoy the attention and treatment I provided.

Aristocratic in nature, yet still a child at heart.

It was no coincidence that she had the image of an undisciplined young lady.

The tendency of the upper class to conceal their true selves was not evident in her. She was utterly honest with her emotions and seemed to desperately yearn for someone to cherish her. For some unknown reason, she was ill-treated in this place.

“Perhaps something happened in her past. There must be a reason why she couldn’t become independent. You often see people like that.”

She had received an education, but was unfamiliar with hardships. Accustomed to a pampered life, she could only scorn and dismiss the difficulties. Even if her circumstances were reversed, it would be the same. Incapable of doing anything, she locked herself away in her room, decaying from the roots.

“The more focused one’s mind is, the more affection one feels, even in brief encounters.”

If Mary’s personality had been different, I would have employed a different approach. But this was perfectly suited for Mary as she was now.

“You… you’re frightening.”

Maronie was taken aback.

“It feels like I’m observing A.B.”
“A.B?”
“Yes, the German national emblem. He’s… incredibly cunning, and full of tricks. That makes him quite dangerous.”

The German national emblem. I’ve heard that name before.
He was said to be on the same team as Bell and Marronnier. I mentally noted his name in case we encountered him in the future.

Time flew by as we chatted and moved along.

“We’ve arrived. This is the place.”

Marronnier stopped in front of the door and took a deep breath. He then placed a hand on his chest and glanced at me.

-Gulp.

“Are you a good actor?”

I heard the sound of swallowing.

“Acting as if you’re in love?”

He looked up at me and nodded.

“Why not, should we embrace each other?”
“Wha- No! What absurdity… Don’t even hold my hand.”

My remark was meant as a joke, but it elicited a vehement response.
Marronnier, covering his crimson ears with both hands, turned his head away from me.

I heard the sound of intense breathing, perhaps an attempt to subdue the flush of redness.

Time passed, and the true Marronnier grasped the doorknob.

“I-I’ll go in first! Come in when I tell you to come later.”
“Alright.”

Simultaneously with her response, Marronnier twisted the doorknob and opened the door. I decided to eavesdrop on Marronnier’s conversation, leaning against the wall beside the open door.

[Blanche!]

A seductive woman’s voice echoed in my ear. Following that, I heard the adorable Marronnier’s protest.

“…I told you not to call me that.”
[Our cute Blanche. How have you been?]

It was a friendly conversation. After exchanging a few pleasantries, the voice from the tree asked her.

[So, did you bring your beloved?]
“…I did bring them, but do I really, really need to show them?”
[Of course! I wish they had a beautiful name like Marronnier.]

Cautiously, Marronnier sought confirmation of the ordeal.

The other tree’s intentions were unclear, but its voice was very bright.

‘…A pretty name.’

But that tone.
Strangely, it seemed familiar.

– Lee Si-heon.
– What a pretty name!

The voice felt familiar.
Perhaps it was just my imagination. I might be tired from meeting so many people lately.
It wasn’t a big deal.

“Come in.”

I snapped back to reality at Marronnier’s words.
I waited behind the door for a moment, then stepped inside.

Marronnier stood right by the entrance. The tree towered straight up in the distant center.
I could see the trees with an enigmatic, bluish aura.

Smooth, without any bark.
A familiar shape…

‘…’

My steps came to a sudden halt.

“This is the tree that bestowed the second trial upon me. Say hello.”

Marronnier, unable to bring herself to hold my hand, tugged at the fabric of my sleeve and blushed shyly. The opposing World Tree remained silent. The World Tree of Healing – why was she here? Had she not seen my face? If that were the case, it would be fortunate.

[…]

I slowly retreated.

“What’s wrong?”

Marronnier blinked her innocent eyes, inquiring about the situation. In that instant, a dozen torments crossed my mind.

“Lee Si-heon?”

When she whispered my name, the branches of the opposing World Tree quivered.

Simultaneously, a chill ran down my spine, and goosebumps rose all over my body. I immediately sensed that I was in trouble, and turned around to flee the room.

– Crash!

“Uh, you, what’s the matter?”

The door flung open violently and slammed against the wall. Marronnier’s flustered face flashed by, but that was not of importance. I crossed the threshold and hurried into the hallway.

The eyes of the cadets, who were returning from their encounter with the tree in the basement, fixated on me.

My chin.

Something snagged my foot. A cold sweat trickled down my back. Looking down, I noticed the fine roots extending from the room, tightly grasping my ankle. Behind me stood a marronier with a somewhat absurd expression on its face.

“…Oh dear.”

[Stand, stand…]

“Chewing…”

My field of vision abruptly shifted. The floor inverted, becoming the ceiling, and my body spun through the air like a kicked soccer ball. It felt as if I were riding a sky train at an amusement park.

*Boom!*

I fell to the floor and dragged myself along. The cadets gazed at me in astonishment, but there was nothing they could do. My opponent was the World Tree, the epitome of power in this other world.

I entered the room, desperately reaching my hand out. The skillfully stretched branch shut the door as soon as the marronier entered.

*Boom!*

The door closed in futility.

Simultaneously, a familiar voice called out from behind me.

The icy sensation of the fine roots coiling around my shins and knees, rubbing against them with a sticky touch.

[My dear!]

“Eek!”

Instinctively, I reached out for Marronnier. She, who was momentarily dazed by the sudden situation, grasped my hand.

-Crack!

The sound of bones resonating throughout my body. A scream burst from my lips. Not from pain, but from sorrow. Memories deeply embedded in my mind resurfaced, causing me to instinctively cry out.

“Ah, ah, ah!”

Startled by my intense reaction, Marronnier forcefully pulled me towards her. Then, in a desperate voice, she yelled at the World Tree.

“…Wh-why are you doing this all of a sudden, Tree-nim!”

[Blanche, wait a moment. It’s… it’s you, right? Oh, please let go of my hand!]

“I-I brought the one I love, and yet why-“

Having already lost all reason, the World Tree of Healing mobilized its branches and roots to completely entangle my body.

Setting aside the sly touch that crept toward her groin, this cool sensation would never be forgotten.

She was clothed, and it had been a long time since she had heard her voice, so she hadn’t realized.

Perhaps if they could calm down and reminisce about the past while conversing, things might be different. But such a rough touch like this brings them back to that day.

“…Ah, ah!”

Marronnier, gripping my hand tightly with both of hers, was straining and dragging herself toward me.

[Blanche! Let go!]
“I can’t let go! Today, today is my turn!”
[…What are you talking about? Let me go now!]

“Why the hell am I your husband!”

Did she anticipate that she wouldn’t be able to endure being pulled with both hands? Marronnier, who had been whining, embraced my arm and yanked it as if hurling her body at me.

“You, why are you suddenly… What on earth happened with the tree deity!”
“It was-“

– Swoosh.

My arm slipping out of Marronnier’s grasp and falling away from her chest.

At that moment, my body was drawn into the embrace of the World Tree of Healing.

– Throb.

The tree, risen from the earth, pressed down upon me as it was. The World Tree of Healing, clad in pure white garments, akin to those of a saint. It was astonishing that such attire had been placed on a tree. My head spun as I beheld the white panties adorned with lace.

[…You!]

Tears trickled from her leaves as she enfolded me in her embrace.

[Ah, ah. Wonderful. You’ve become even more dashing since we last met.]

A tree limb grasped my shoulder, and her arm-like branch, planted into the ground, lay me down. The roots of the World Tree coiled around my waist, as if desiring to become one with me. She drew nearer.

No.
Damn it, no.
This wasn’t what I wished for.

Her bountiful branch pressed firmly against my nose.

[Let’s not part ways this time.]

“Ah!”

When I regained consciousness, I was covered in dirt.
In a panic, Marronnier called the caretaker, and only after they arrived to intervene did the World Tree of Healing manage to calm down.

My clothes were torn halfway.
Marronnier brushed the dirt off my shoulder and made a pouty face.

“…”
“What’s wrong?”
“…I don’t know.”

Is this really the time for you to sulk?

I’m not chaste, but I almost felt threatened by chastity.
Have you ever seen a knot wrapped in lace panties? It’s maddening.
Marronnier’s face flushed red. As if blaming me, her hand tapping on my body gradually grew more forceful.

“[…I’m sorry, Blanche. I was just so happy to see you, I couldn’t help it.]”
“Even the World Tree doesn’t know what to do anymore.”
“[But, Blanche. I hope you understand. My husband and I…]”

“What do you mean, I should understand! I know there’s something between you two. But, but this is the person I brought!”
[…Sob]

You certainly have a way with words.

“You should have told me beforehand if there was such a thing!”

Just sitting there without uttering a word, I received the brunt of the anger as well. Yet, I feel wronged. My intentions were solely to help Marronnier. How could I have known that the tree responsible for him would be the World Tree of Healing?

“Idiot.”

No matter how much I displayed my resentment, Marronnier didn’t seem to hear me.

“Are you hurt?”
“No.”

There are no visible scratches, as everything has already regenerated. Marronnier sighed and glared intensely at the World Tree of Healing.

“I would have been truly furious if he had been hurt. I asked for him to be brought here.”
[I’m sorry…]
“Why are you apologizing to me?”
[I’m sorry to you as well, dear.]

The World Tree of Healing spoke in a dying voice, stifled by Marronnier’s energy.
Taking another sip, I informed the World Tree of Healing.

“I’m not your husband.”
[What!]

Let’s say I was raped, and there’s nothing I can do about it.
It did help me a lot too. More importantly, I have a lot of karmic debt, so it’s not my place to talk.
But it’s not love.

[…But the love we shared last time.]
“When did I?”

I thought we would never meet again. But since this has happened, it was necessary to address it once more.