Chapter 284 – Eden (3)

“So, what happened? To the lunatic who was impaled on a tree and then dragged here.”

If they know this much, my life is nothing short of a ridiculously entertaining movie.

An unsightly event, but one that marks the beginning of my journey. The sage slightly raised the corners of his mouth but showed no other reaction.

“Excuse me?”

I can’t tell if they know or not. Judging by how calmly they accept the extraordinary situation of being impaled on a tree, it seems like they might know everything about me, but it’s hard to say for sure. After all, in this world, being impaled on a tree is treated as a normal sexual desire.

As I tried to read the sage’s expression and got lost in thought, Sephirot crawled over and grabbed my knee.

“Tree – King!”

She grabbed the fabric near my crotch with both hands and pulled it vigorously.

“Yikes! Lee – Si-eon!”

After watching her whine for a while, I turned to the sage and asked with my eyes.

What should I do with this child?

“How about a hug?”
“Mmm. Shall we?”

As I lowered my hands, Sephirot leapt up for a comfortable embrace. Sephirot sat on my arm, gripping my collar to keep from falling backward. The child’s eyes stared deeply into mine once again.

“Let’s sit down first. It’s a bit odd to stand and talk.”

Fortunately, there were plenty of desks and chairs, so I sat in a nearby chair while holding Sephirot. The sage brought a cup of coffee and some refreshments, which I placed on the desk.

“What do you wish to say?”

*Crunch!*

As I asked my question, I heard the sound of a snack being chewed in my arms.

*Crunch.*

Looking at Sephirot in my embrace, I saw that the child had taken a chocolate chip cookie the size of their face from the plate next to us and was chewing it with delight. They had small teeth, but they chewed quite well.

The sage gazed at Sephirot with honey-dripping eyes and slowly began to speak.

“Participant Lee Si-heon.”
“Please, address me casually. You’re a mentor, and you’re older.”
“Should I?”
“Yes, yes. Anyway, I’m not well-versed in this area of knowledge, so what is your name?”
“Well, I don’t think you need to know that.”
“……”
“Instead, I can tell you about the sage. Since you’re my counterpart, I should treat you accordingly.”

Regarding the sage.
I nodded, realizing that this might be my only chance to hear about it.

“Guardian of the World Tree of Knowledge. That’s all I know. I never imagined the World Tree would be like this child.”

I wasn’t particularly interested in the ecology of the hunters.
My work kept me so busy that I typically didn’t investigate anything unless it was directly related to my job.

However, I had recently come to understand that I needed to take a step forward in the world.
Not long ago, I started looking through articles and books about various hunters.

For example, the basswood and Eletta.

I had also looked into Jung Ho-Moon, who used to be considered S-class in the past. Currently, he’s reported as missing during a dungeon raid. Quite astonishing. But that’s not important right now.

I conducted my own research, but most records regarding the sage had been erased.

“Guardian. Yes, that’s correct. If you know that, it’s as good as knowing everything.”
“Everything?”
“Yes, that’s right. Sephirot?”

At the sage’s words, Sephirot swallowed a chocolate chip cookie.

“Uh-huh.”

The World Tree of Knowledge – outwardly, she appeared no different from a child. However, her golden eyes, which had been shining continuously, held a bizarre quality, as if they could uncover everything about me.

“Sage. My contractor. Dammit!”

Mother?

“The World Tree of Knowledge doesn’t intervene in the world in any way, except for the purpose of satisfying one’s thirst for knowledge!”

Sephirot let out a series of chirps as she cried out.

“So, even Mama cannot directly interfere!”
“Did you understand?”

Suddenly, Sephirot began to speak rapidly, as if a dam had burst. After finishing her words, she placed a chocolate chip back in her mouth, and I could tell she was indeed connected to the World Tree.

“What does it mean not to be involved in the world at all?”

Sephirot answered my question, her voice as delicate as a chick’s.

“A guardian of knowledge!”

What on earth did that mean?

“It’s a nickname that was given to Sephirot a thousand years ago. Literally, our purpose is solely to record history and knowledge; we possess no other power but to preserve it.”
“…”

A thousand years. I immediately closed my mouth, struck by the sheer expanse of time that had just been revealed. It was possible that she was even older than the Five Great World Trees.

Naturally, the power to safeguard such an extensive span of knowledge must be beyond imagination. And yet, didn’t Sephirot seem too young for that?

As if reading my thoughts, the sage traced a smile at the corner of his mouth before launching into another explanation.

“The World Tree of Knowledge is a being with infinite curiosity. Its body has merely adapted to the whims of the wind.”
“Is that so?”
“It might change if it ever feels the need, but who knows. According to records, it hasn’t changed for 3,000 years.”
“Three thousand…”

I lowered my head and looked at Sephirot.

“You’re quite something, aren’t you?”
“I’m awesome!”

She raised both arms and shouted, “Sephirot is incredibly powerful!”

I gently patted her head, and Sephirot laughed. She seemed no different from a child. I wondered if living for so long caused one’s mental age to regress. Was that an impolite thought?

“Sephirot enjoys beings who can satisfy her curiosity.”
“Tree King!”

Ah, so that’s why she’s interested in me?

I had many questions about King Mokryeong’s name and power. That’s when I suddenly understood why the sage had brought me here. Sephirot appeared to be entirely obedient to the World Tree of Knowledge, and with her immense power, she could have done anything.

“Did you bring me here to meet Sephirot?”
“What? No, that’s not it.”

The sage, with a wave of his hand, sighed and took a sip of coffee. I was thirsty as well and took a sip from my cup. The aroma and flavor were better than I had anticipated.

“Lee Si-heon is a character caught in the midst of turmoil. The World Tree of Knowledge moves solely to satisfy its curiosity. Its only concern is how to quench its thirst for more knowledge.”
“So, the World Tree wants to know about me? Can I interpret it that way?”

The sage shook his head from side to side.

“You are here to face the third trial, nothing more. To acquire better skills and keener perception. Eden and I are merely facilitating that purpose.”

I rested my chin on my hand and vigorously stroked Sephirot’s head.

It seemed plausible that they had gathered information about me and then summoned me here.

The World Tree of Knowledge’s interest in me seemed to align with my expectations to a certain extent.

‘Am I here just to undergo the third trial?’

The sage’s words momentarily shifted my thoughts.

Sephirot, dutifully abiding by the sage’s guidance. If there was a reason behind her actions, it was likely connected to Sephirot as well. She had said she would teach me the ways of the world, imparting magical knowledge and nurturing my strength and vision.

I momentarily held my breath.

“Is that the will of the World Tree?”

The flow of air came to a halt before resuming once more.

“Hehe.”

The sage responded with a quiet chuckle.

‘If she is following the World Tree’s will, then this person might not know the reason either.’

Sephirot had wanted to help me. Of course, being a sage praised for his wisdom, he might have a few reasons that he could surmise. Yet, he might believe there was no need to disclose them to me.

I laughed bitterly.

‘This one and that one… I can’t see through them all.’

Only by examining them pathologically can I appease my inquisitiveness.
The opponent is indeed a worthy individual.

Isn’t the situation too advantageous for me?
If I think that, then something must be amiss.
In this case, either I’m infinitely foolish compared to my opponent, or my opponent is weak.

‘Did they say there was no ill will?’

The opponent is a person who could be considered the finest mind among seven billion.
If I merely threaten that I have learned some politics under a member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, is there anything else I can expect but to be exploited?
The sage’s age might not be as advanced as Sephirot’s, but having weathered a significant passage of time, their experience in this psychological warfare would be considerable.

What I can do in such a situation:

-Snicker.

Familiar.
Just as it was with Lee Se-Young, as it was with Heaven, and as it was when I encountered the Heavenly Demon in Do-won.

I must set aside all the pride I have built up and learn by enduring humiliation at their side.

The opponents I’ll face in the future are far from ordinary. The only chance I had to seek the wisdom of the sage was when they approached me with some semblance of friendliness, at least when they weren’t adversaries.

Only then could I ascend.

“Ah, understood!”

Clap – I applauded.

As I laughed with ease, the sage’s eyes widened in surprise. Perhaps my response was unexpected; he extended his hand while still embracing Sephirot.

“By the way, do let me know your name later. I look forward to our future trials, esteemed Sage.”
“Ah, yes. Hehe. But, you see, I don’t have a name.”
“You don’t have a name?”
“Sage. That moniker is sufficient.”

I gazed at Sephirot. It seemed to be true.

“Still, not having a name is a bit strange, don’t you think? Aren’t there many good ones?”
“Are you going to bestow one upon me?”

Indeed, there were many. I was quite adept at creating names.

Hadn’t I also named the renowned World Tree of Time?

Like Tae-yang, I spoke with a bright and cheerful expression reminiscent of a character in a boy’s comic, intending it as a light-hearted joke.

“How about Wiki? Since she’s the World Tree of Knowledge…”

The sound of laughter came from just below.

“Pfft!”

Sephirot couldn’t contain her laughter, covering her mouth as she snorted. Her face showed she couldn’t hold back her amusement.

“Wiki! Wiki!”

Sephirot began to repeat the name, clearly taking a liking to it. I smiled and looked ahead.

“…”

The sage, wearing a stern expression, was glaring at me.

“Ah, is the name not to your liking? Haha.”

“…Si-heon.”

My title changed from Mr. Si-heon to Sir Si-heon. The low, cold tone sent chills down my spine.

“That name doesn’t seem quite right.”

“…I apologize.”

I resolved not to push the matter further.

* * * * * * * *

“So, how did it go?”
“What?”
“…You met with the Sage, didn’t you?”

Dinner time.

It seemed trivial to mention that we met and talked. The conversation had been cut short when I mentioned my name, which she didn’t seem to like.

Along the way, the Sage apologized for being too serious, but there was no undoing the tense atmosphere that had already been created. The conversation was ruined. If Sephirot hadn’t continued speaking to us from her embrace, we might have passed out, suffocated by the heavy air.

“It’s no big deal.”
“The Sage’s expression was quite unusual.”

What’s with Wiki…?

I was joking, but it left me feeling disheartened. Marronnier, who had changed into the pajamas prepared in the dressing room, stared at me for a while before letting out a sigh.

“Why would the kindhearted Sage… You didn’t do anything strange, did you?”

Strange? That’s a stretch.
It’s truly unfair.

I undid my tie and casually hung it on the table. It was 8 p.m.
If desired, one could study or research in the library, or even eat.

Sansuyu was still engrossed in her book on swordsmanship and hadn’t returned yet.

“……”

Marronnier kept looking at me as if I were an insect.
She seemed to have made quite a misconception. Just by observing Marronnier’s reaction, one would think that I had somehow managed to firmly grasp the milk of a sage.

I know how to appease her. Why on earth would I try to work on a sage?

“I haven’t done anything like that, other than with you.”

Lee Se-Young was a painter, so she was exempt.

With a sigh, I searched my wardrobe for clothes.
A white T-shirt and shorts… that shouldn’t be a problem.
The room was a bit warm, so it seemed alright to dress lightly.

“Me, not me… You didn’t?”

Then I felt the gaze from behind me once again.

Wondering what she could be misunderstanding now, I looked back to see her face flushed red.

“What’s with you again?”

Could it be the binding spell at work? Was there even the slightest chance that he would react to my words?

Marronnier glared at me before lowering her head with a quick dip.

“…I don’t know. Pervert.”

The situation was maddeningly absurd.