Chapter 308 – Dogs and Cats (3)

Exposed to the open air, my nether regions feel refreshingly cool.

‘I can’t believe I’m doing this willingly. Just a month ago, the sight of trees alone triggered convulsions.’

The reason I ended up in this state is because I got stuck to a tree. No matter how foolish I am, I’m not one to repeat the same mistake twice.

【The World Tree of Purity vehemently objects! This is promiscuous!】

After a long absence, the purity she held dear is also scraped away.

‘Damn promiscuity. How many women are involved?’

Even a gourd would keep quiet if it had its face shown and scratched just once.

‘On paper in Korea, Jindalrae is already my mother, you fool.’

【(Choked up) The World Tree of Purity widens her eyes.】

Without my knowledge, Azalea had confirmed Shiba’s identity. Fortunately, because of her noble status, there was no need to be ignored or belittled anywhere we went.

“Let’s be realistic. Don’t you realize I’m doing this because you keep your identity so well hidden?”

The World Tree of Purity did not respond to my words at all.

“She’s upset again and ran away, just like my daughter.”

*Sigh.*

At my sigh, the hornbeam’s body trembled. Even without eyes, I could feel the tree’s gaze upon me.

While I was bickering with purity, the tree was intently staring at my penis.

“[…Vulgar human. So inflated with pride.]”

It hadn’t even grown yet. No, there were no signs of it getting bigger. Was it nearly impossible to get excited by the sight of a single tree, even with the help of a lustful demon?

I inserted my finger into the well-formed knot. The moderately warm and soft knot felt as good as a woman’s vagina. Ridiculous.

– Poke, squelch, squish.

“[…Ugh. Again. My knot…]”
“If you had just been more open, none of this would have happened.”

[…Lie!]

The hornbeam tree sharply accused me like a piercing wedge.
That was the answer.
I intended to collect the compendium anyway.

A tree that betrayed the World Tree of the Flower faction. Could there be a better specimen for my collection?
It lay before me as if someone had prepared it just for this purpose.

I delved my fingers deeper and deeper, exploring the knot.
Perhaps the size of my cock would pierce through the tree.
I had thought so, but the hole in the female tree was curved upward.

– Zzzrrrrk.

[Huh, ugh… Sistus, please grant me hope.]

I gathered the ample wet sap with my hands, evenly smearing it around the tree.
I sneered at her.

“If he cared about you, he would have come to save you when I abandoned you. Your clothes all torn, your pussy exposed as you were tied up. He didn’t come to save even one person.”
[Don’t spout nonsense!]
“Am I wrong?”
[Oh… clothes…]

I teased her insides like scratching with my fingernails. The hornbeam writhed in pleasure.

The branches tremble violently, and leaves fall to the ground.

As if forgetting the verdant hue she once possessed, the dull brown intensified.

“Accept it already. He abandoned you. He was never a virtuous person to begin with. He’s the kind who’d sacrifice a child to create a duplicate of himself.”

“[…He is the one who will bring salvation to humankind… You have no right to speak so carelessly about him!]”

The hornbeam tree shrieks as it gnaws on knots.

“[He was the first to donate money to the forsaken church, saving the children. *Sob*… What have you hunters accomplished all this time? The World Tree?]”

Even as she succumbed to pleasure, her voice wailed like a scream.

“[…Hunters even killed our children. He was the first to save starving children.]”

“But?”

-*Stab*-.

“[Gasp, *sob*… Ah. I will never… betray him. Ah!]”

Utterly emotional.

The weary hornbeam, panting before me, now began to divulge even the information it had been concealing.

Originally, this place was a church that took in and raised orphans. She had cared for the children here for several decades, but with the Hunter and the World Tree cutting off their support, the church had even suffered from exploitation. It was Flower who approached her, and naturally, the powerless hornbeam and the church were absorbed into their faction, looking toward the same revolution.

I could roughly see the entire history of this church.

“I understand.”

However, it’s not something I should sympathize with. With the woman’s moans ringing in my ears, I forcefully pushed my fully-erect cock into the tight knot.

The inexperienced knot’s walls stretched wide, and the hornbeam screamed in response.

[…] Ugh, so intense… This is dangerous…!?]

Without hesitation, I delved into the deepest part of her. Pulling my hips back once, I aimed with my hand and thrust inside, reaching the very end.

As the cock penetrated the elastic body of the tree, the skin of the bulging abdomen protruded outward.

Suddenly, I recalled the time before I arrived in this world. It was a curiosity too embarrassing to share with others. The reality here was bafflingly different. In this place, making love to trees was normal, and many people harbored an affection for them. My circumstances, in which I could only achieve faster growth by collecting illustrated records, seemed to be tailored to this world.

Now, there was no lustful moaning of a woman coming through my earphones. There was no warm, soft tofu to grasp either.

Still, my goal wasn’t to satisfy my sexual desires. My mood remained sour.

However, I couldn’t help but wonder if it was true that I had inherited the power of King Mokryeong, whose name and face I did not know. It felt as if my brain was boiling with excitement. It was different from being overpowered by someone else. I was doing this to subdue myself.

*Smack! Smack!*

Each time I moved my waist, a groan escaped my lips. If she had been a human instead of a tree, she would have been a nun clad in priestly garments, devoted to loving children.

[…Ah, please, please… Sistus, ah!]

Unknowingly committing an unforgivable sin, and should he realize it, he wouldn’t hesitate to take his own life. The hornbeam tree knew nothing.

Flower. Among them, what kind of being was the most malicious Sistus? Am I still trapped by stereotypes? No.

I may not know about the other leaders, but that one was certainly not someone who would devote themselves to the children.

– Thud!

The roots of the tree seemed to be uprooted.

– Plunk!

I climbed onto the toppled tree. The quivering cock was placed between the knots.

[…Ah, huh, ugh…]

The roots of the tree, which had been resisting so much, slowly started to coil around my waist and thighs.

[…It feels… good, but it shouldn’t…]

The worth of power that Tae-yang cried out, his mouth parched.

It was the power of King Mokryeong, who had ascended to the pinnacle of a single concept, ruling over all and subjugating even the World Trees, corrupting them in the process.

【A hornbeam will be added to the ‘Arbor Encyclopedia’.】

With the voice in my ear fading away, I let out a sigh.

“Take your time telling me.”

【’Walking Pheromone (F)’ has been upgraded to ‘Walking Pheromone (E)’.】

“What you were mistaken about, and what you must do from now on.”

I whispered into their ear.
For her, it must have been an incredibly sweet voice.

As was often the case with trees that had discovered pleasure.

—

Hornbeam [Encyclopedia Number: 712] [Scientific Name: Carpinus laxiflora]
– Alias: The Head of the Trees.
– Plant Kingdom. From the Birch family, Hornbeam genus. Deciduous tree. It grows up to 15 meters in height. The leaves, which grow abundantly, are egg-shaped. In Korea, it is also called Gyeonpoonggeon.
– Flower Language: Wealth
– Aptitude: X

-Open information: 67.15%]

[Acquired abilities slightly increase due to the relationship with trees.]
—

* * * * * * * *

Don’t practice slowly for a long time.
If I had enough time, that is what I would have done.

Determined to take down a tree, I charged at it, only for the hornbeam to suddenly lose its senses and cling to me.

[…Ha, ha. Heh.]

Semen surges within the knot.
The satisfaction shown by the woman’s view is absent, as if her voice swung my cock.

I tried to insert my cock into the knot.

[…Ah, again…♡]

“Capinus laxiflora.”

[…]

I called her name.
In order to maintain our connection and keep my mind as distracted as possible, I unveiled the truth about Cistus.

At first, they firmly ignored my words, saying they wouldn’t believe me. However, as my presence within them grew more substantial, they gradually began to heed my words.

After more than two hours, they slowly accepted me.

“Whew.”

With a sigh, the tree trembled. As I stepped on it barefoot, the branches gently encircled my ankles. It wasn’t a strong grip, but rather a soft embrace.

Unbeknownst to them, my image slowly etched itself into their mind, distinct from that of Marronnier. It was only natural, as this was the first time I’d intentionally used my abilities.

“Do you still not believe me?”

“[…I don’t know.]”

An honorific slipped from the mouth of the hornbeam tree.

“[If I don’t see it for myself…]”

“Then see for yourself.”

Though I plundered this place, it wasn’t devoid of priests.

The magic of the hornbeam tree was a power that other humans couldn’t even dream of; if left unchecked, there was a high possibility that Flower would reclaim it someday.

Although he doesn’t seem to know much at the moment, this individual could become an effective spy if he so chooses.

“Tsk.”

His mouth tastes bitter.

He had anticipated that one day he’d use this ability, but now that he has, it feels filthy. Even though it’s a form of subjugation, its effect isn’t all that significant; it merely amplifies his presence within the person. It also highlights that his abilities are far from reaching King Mokryeong’s level.

The power grows with each use. However, the experience is far from enjoyable.

“Listen to me.”
[…]
“How you should act from now on.”
[Why should I listen to you?]
“Well, do I need a reason?”

He inserts his cock into the hole.

[…Khat, ah, ah… I was wrong, please stop. No more. No more.]

“It’s late.”

As I continued to thrust into her, I outlined her future course of action. What she should do if Flower arrives while waiting here. How to infiltrate.

There’s no need for contact. We’re breaking up. But when we meet again, she’ll have enough information. I’m too busy to care about everything about her right now. I needed a chess piece.

– Squelch!

[…Ah, mmm, oh, ahh!]

The wailing branches of the hornbeam tree swayed gently.

* * * * * * *

Exhausted.

Maintaining unwanted relationships several times quickly tires the mind.

Upon returning to my room, the first thing I did was wash my soiled body. I cleaned up the sticky sap and bark from my lower abdomen, and then I sprawled out on the bed.

If I close my eyes for just a moment, a sage will come and ask me to attend a lesson. As I was drifting off to sleep, I suddenly realized something.

“Ah, that’s right.”

Cornus.

The thought that I hadn’t provided her healing today made me spring up and search for her.

As I walked out of the room and arrived at Eden’s library, I saw Cornus sitting with her back to me.

– Rustle, rustle.

Her appearance, focused on the content of the book while flipping through the pages, revealed a seriousness that was seldom seen. Watching her, I felt as if I could become lost in her intensity.

“…Hmm.”

Cornus furrowed her brow and raised one eyebrow, as if stumbling upon a difficult passage. I lightly tapped her shoulder with my hand. Startled, she swiftly turned to look at me.

“Si, Si-eon?”

With both hands, she pushed the book away and blinked several times. I gently pinched the nape of Cornus’s neck and continued speaking.

“You didn’t receive healing today.”

Every morning, or around noon, the accumulated power is used for treating Cornus. While it couldn’t entirely restore her health, it did manage to improve her worst physical condition to the point where daily life was possible.

If healing wasn’t used, she would return to her frail state within weeks. Even if it meant sacrificing my own combat prowess, I had spent days generously pouring healing into Cornus.

As a result, I had been sleeping more lately. Regardless of my actions, I didn’t tire, thanks to the power of the World Tree of Healing. As long as I used that power on Cornus, like other hunters, I needed to succumb to sleep at least once every few days.

“…Ah, treatment.”

Cornus held my hand, which was on her nape, as she hesitated for a moment. Her eyes were filled with deep concern.

“What’s going on?”

I couldn’t help but ask, as her condition seemed strange. Cornus shook her head as if to say it was nothing. Then, she looked straight into my eyes with her unblemished gaze.

“You don’t have to continue…”

The words carrying a nuance of rejection tumbled from Sansuyu’s lips.