Chapter 28 – Nothing Happened

“What do you know?”
“I don’t know?”

With a shrug and hands raised above the shoulders, the star pointed to the tree emanating a bluish energy.

“Since we don’t know, engage in conversation and find out. I’m not in tune with the trees, so I can only discern their emotions.”
“I thought about that on my way here, but how can a person speak with trees? It’s not my fault if I fail.”
“Well?”

The star gazed at the tree. Smooth and without a single piece of rough bark, the tree softly swayed its branches as if it had its own emotions.

“It seems this one is quite happy to see you.”

I saw it that way too.

Byul spread her palm, slapped me on the shoulder, and waved her hand vigorously before heading out the door.

“Then do your best! I’ll be back after watching the drama.”
“Are you leaving?”

*Thud.*

Byul left without responding to my question. Momentarily stunned, I sighed and cautiously approached the tree, resting my head against its trunk. It seemed like I was supposed to converse with it, but how could I communicate with such a common tree when it wasn’t the World Tree of Purity?

*Rustle, rustle!*

As I lifted my head, the branches swayed above me. They were so flexible that they resembled a dog’s tail.

What should I say? I rested my hand on my chin, deep in thought, and recalled the place where I had fought with Lee Seong-Han recently.

Those fanatical charlatans. I decided to start with a question about them.

“What are you to have such followers?”

As I spoke with a confident voice, the tree responded by swaying its branches from side to side.

It seemed as if he wanted to say something, but the conversation wasn’t successful.

“Can’t you speak?”
– Rustle.

As I tilted my head, the tree extended its branches toward me.

Is it asking me to grab them?
As I reached out and held the branch, a mature woman’s voice echoed in my head.

[Can you hear me?]
“…We can communicate.”

I never thought I’d find myself conversing with a bizarre tree.

“Who are you? You resemble the World Tree.”
[I don’t know. I’ve been in that place since I was born.]
“That place… the basement? What did you do there?”
[I did nothing. I was confined to a pure white room, simply breathing. Apart from the occasional robed people plucking leaves, nothing happened.]
“You don’t know anything, do you?”
[Yes, but what is the World Tree?]
“It exists, and its fanatics threaten lives whenever given a chance.”
[They seem like bad people. By the way, what’s your name? You’re the first person I can communicate with.]

So, it’s usually difficult to communicate, huh?

Having encountered so many preposterous situations, I had become rather unfazed by events like these.

What was surprising, however, was that the creature seemed quite normal. I had assumed it would be an unhinged, psychotic being since it was a deity worshipped by a cult.

With a gentle smile, it told me its name.

“Lee Si-heon.”
[What a lovely name!]

The branches swayed as if delighted to meet someone who could understand them. It seemed rather endearing.

I decided to engage in conversation, hoping to glean some information in the process. Cupping my hands behind my head, I spoke in the gentlest tone I could muster.

“So, can I assume that you were exploited without knowing anything about it?”
[I was exploited. You can see it that way. Did you kill them?]
“Yes. They were bad people. Why, do you disapprove?”
[I don’t mind… Actually, I’m more concerned about you than them right now.]

– Startled.

[I can feel a positive energy emanating from you. It’s warm, and reassuring…]

Oh, is it just my imagination?

I slightly stiffened my face as I sensed an inexplicable sticky emotion in the woman’s voice. It sent shivers down my spine.

The branches of the tree gradually reached out to me. It didn’t take long for my wrists to be bound by them.

[Excuse me, Lee Si-heon.]
“…What are you doing now?”
[No, I just wanted to stay like this. And it seems like you’re quite injured.]

– Hmm, hmm, hmm.

Upon realization, my body was enveloped in pure white magical power. A tingling sense of satisfaction welled up inside me. As I closed my eyes and focused, I could feel the shattered magic circuits mending themselves bit by bit.

It didn’t seem like the bizarre simulation I had thought of.

“…I apologize for the misunderstanding.”

I entrusted my body to the World Tree as it was. It wasn’t long before the tree started to speak to me.

[Lee Si-heon.]
“Uh-huh.”
[What will become of me?]
“I don’t know either. It’s not something I can decide.”
[Is that so?]

The rate of recovery for the magical circuit had increased significantly, and at this pace, it seemed likely that discharge would be possible in three days. It appeared as though he possessed abilities related to healing. He could inform Byul of this.

As he closed his eyes and embraced the warm sensation, the tree spoke to him.

[Lee Si-heon, but… what is an illusion?]
“You don’t need to know.”
[I feel like I should know.]
“Why?”

The World Tree of Purity, which had been biding its time, whispered softly into his ear.

[I don’t think you’re mistaken-]

…Huh?

-Squeeze.

The strength increased in the tree branch that gripped his wrist. Roots sprouting from an unknown origin beneath the soil began to climb up his body.

A single slender root slipped into his pants. It skillfully brushed against his thigh.

Goosebumps erupted, and the hairs all over his body stood on end.

【 The World Tree of Purity is startled. 】

“No, damn it. Damn it? Damn it! Hey!”
[Heaving a sigh. I was amazed from the start, how our wavelengths matched so perfectly… This must be Ji-ah from the heavens, right?]
“What kind of crazy bitch is Ji-ah, won’t you let go?”
[Even the soft belly fat is adorable. Hehe.]

Shit!!!!!

A huge tree root entered my mouth as I was about to scream in shock.

“Ugh, ack!”

I was mistaken. All these tree offspring in this world are sinful, except for our daughter.
I miss my daughter, Shiba. I haven’t even given her water yet. A smiling Shiba flickers before my eyes. Tears welled up and I raised my head.
The tree girl who had been binding me slowly moved her main body and climbed on top of me.

[Come on, mate with me, my love.]
“Who’s your love, you crazy bitch!!”
[You seem to have a preference for cursing during intimacy. Hehe. I’ll take it all… ….]

She wouldn’t listen to a word I said, insane.

Sticky sap oozed from a crevice lodged in the middle of the tree trunk.

Hell. Did Lee Se-Young feel like this, too?
I was sorry. If I had known it felt like this, I should have died instead of raping her. I had the confidence to apologize countless times.

[Hurry and erect it, my lord.]

With my last ounce of strength, I shouted resentfully.

“I-I’m a married man!”
[It’s possible!]
“You bastard!”

The roots, like threads, descended and suddenly burrowed into my pants, embracing my manhood.
The slender roots shook it up and down.

[Is this what they call masturbation? How is it?]

As if I could possibly enjoy being pleasured by a tree of all things!
I glared at the tree with a face that seemed familiar, as if I had seen it in some thin book somewhere.

– Hiss.

Uh.

– Throb!

Wh-what?

—
-Temperament: Obscene Demon (F)

Sexual desire becomes unbearable, and vigor surges. You can feel interest and pleasure in such intense lust.
—

This madness.

[Seobang-nim is feeling it too♡]

In a panic, I fervently recited the national anthem in my mind. Verses 1 through 4. Yet the energy of ‘possibility’ etched deep within me manifested throughout my body.

[I’ll put it in now.]
“Don’t put it in.”
[Hehe, after making something this big swell up. You too, join me in pure, passionate lovemaking, will you?]
“You weren’t like this before… Uhhhhh!”

The rigid fissure widens. The interior of the tree was so bizarrely soft that I nearly forgot my partner was a tree.

I momentarily lost consciousness as it felt like my soul was being drained.

【 The World Tree of Purity is sobbing! 】

– Flash!

I opened my eyes to the astonished cry of the system’s alarm.

[Oh, it’s my first time. *Sob*. I’ve never experienced this before. *Whimper*, *gasp*, *moan♡*]

That’s what I thought.
Oh no. I’ve strayed onto an inhuman path.

A sense of self-loathing welled up from deep within, and I closed my eyes and sighed.

Is this… what being violated feels like?
He who commits evil, shall have evil returned unto him. The tree that assailed me let out a cry drenched in pleasure.
It’s heavy. The bark is soft, so it doesn’t tear my skin, but it sends shivers down my spine.

However, the tree stopped moving at some point.

[*Gasp*…*Huh*?!…*Throb*♥]

The tree trembled, silently holding me in its embrace.
It appeared to be helplessly lost in ecstasy, unable to speak.

Shiba, I’m sorry.

Even in the midst of this, thinking about my daughter made my heart ache.
With the sole intention of escaping this place quickly, I jolted my hips.

[*Pant* Ah♡]

The tree appeared to have lost its senses, clinging to my body and incessantly moaning.

[Huff, ugh, uh]

The more I thrust, the weaker its grip on me became. Twenty times? Thirty times? The knot’s insides seemed to have convulsed about that much.

Throughout this, I was going mad at the fact that my cock was lodged in the hole. I was so furious. I longed to see Lee Se-Young and Cornus.

Squeak, squeak, squeak.

As I forced myself to increase the pace, the tree, which had been gripping my body with its roots and stem, whispered into my ear.

[Rice, it’s time. Inside the knot.]
“Damn it, for real.”

Muttering curses under my breath, I triggered an ejaculation spell.

– Fwoosh, fwoosh!

[Heave, ugh!!!]

The tree’s grasp on me gradually loosened. The tight, single-character knot was now wide open. I pulled my body back, leaned against the wall, and rested my hand on my face.

“…Ah.”

This is driving me insane.

“I feel like I’m going insane.”

I, Lee Si-heon, 20 years old.
I sold my body for ten million won.

– Kkiiiiik.

“Hello! Si-heon, you were having a nice conversation with Yumok…”

As I step inside, the cheerful smile on Star’s face, waving her hand energetically, gradually crumbles.

“…huh?”

A tree, panting harshly as it spews a white substance.
With my clothes disheveled and a tear-stained face, I bury my head in my arm, saying nothing. I couldn’t even indulge in petulant complaints due to the overwhelming shock.

“Si… Si-heon?”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
“Nothing… Nothing happened.”

Star, without saying anything, comes to my side and gently pats my shoulder. Overwhelmed with emotion, I lean my face into her embrace.

Later, after finishing the discharge procedures, on our way back home, she handed me several expensive elixirs.