Chapter 4 – The Oak (2)

Silence enveloped the office.
Tick-tock, the sound of the clock’s hand echoed in my ears.

“…”
“…”

Meaningless eye contact persisted.
Dark green, captivating eyes scanned my mask before moving to the lower half of my tracksuit. They were filled with anticipation.
My throat felt dry. I gulped down the cold water in front of me and tried to find my words.

“Gulp… So, what’s going on?”

Somehow, I had caught the attention of a sacred tree and ended up at the Oak family’s headquarters.
I doubted that this entire sequence of events was merely a whim on her part.
Did she want something from me?
As a candidate for the World Tree’s husband, I had no choice but to be cautious in my actions and words.

“Hey.”

A cold yet enticing voice.
On the paper atop the desk, the name ‘Lee Se-young’ was written in small letters.

“Why did you come here?”
“Indeed?”
“Aren’t you curious to be called here suddenly, the first time we’ve met? Shall I tell you?”
“Ah… yes.”
“Really?”

Se-Young suddenly rose from her seat, closing the distance between us. Our eyes slowly neared one another, and my gaze naturally fell upon the exposed chestbone of her bent upper body. Oh, oh, oh, oh.

“Hey, what are you looking at?”
“I’m sorry.”
“Sorry? Why are you so bashful?”

Se-Young covered her upper chest with her hand and chuckled, seemingly amused.

“What’s your name?”
“Lee Si-heon.”
“The mask… whatever. It’s not like there’s only one or two unique people like you around.”

My throat was parched, and I continuously sipped cold water. How did I end up in this situation? The awkwardness, imprinted all over my body, made me want to flee as fast as possible. I remained silent for quite some time. Eventually, she spoke up.

“You have it, right? The Arboreal Ring.”

Her cherry-like lips uttered words that were laden with greed. The Arboreal Ring. I had it. It was always nestled in my wallet or pocket.

I had carefully stored it away, thinking it might come in handy someday, and now, it seems that moment has arrived.

“Hand it over.”

My hopes, however, were dashed to pieces by her subsequent words.

‘Hand it over? Damn, this thing?’

I could feel my face tightening, the sensation evident on the surface of my skin. I struggled to maintain composure as I spoke.

“… What’s a Wood Essence?”
“When your body reeks, our kind, the Mokin, are more sensitive to the smell than you humans.”
“I have it. I’m just asking, is it that important?”
“Did you not know its importance and still kept it? You’re a complete fool.”

Surprise flickers in Se-Young’s eyes.
A fox-like smile forms at the corners of her eyes once more.

“A medicine that aids the growth of Mokin like us. We can’t carry it around if we don’t have it. With this, our younglings can become fully-grown Mokin in no time.”
“So, you need this?”
“Yes, it’s necessary. We have no other means to acquire it. Our little ones are waiting. You know, the Oak lineage.”

I still haven’t been able to fully grasp the nature of the World Tree’s cosmology.

All I know is that the Mok, descendants of the World Tree’s seeds, have established themselves as nobles throughout the world.

And the nobility is arrogant.
To the extent that they could instantly kill the person before them simply because they dislike them.

“Hand it over and leave.”

And so, like this. If they desire something, they recklessly attempt to seize it.
Gazing at their raised eyes, their determination to not pay a single coin is clearly conveyed.
My face grew increasingly rigid, and my grip tightened.
It is astonishing that the squadron hasn’t been activated yet.

To be honest, my anger is rising.
There’s a limit to brazenness.

But I must endure.

I forcibly swallowed the curse words that reached the tip of my throat.
There was a barrier of social status to overcome before raising my voice. Even if I’m a pushover, I can’t let myself be a complete fool.
How can I not articulate this well with words?
I mentally calculate my next move.

“Don’t entertain such foolish thoughts. Unless you wish to make an enemy of the Orc family.”
“First, let’s confirm whether this is what you’re looking for.”

Clack – The orb on the desk glows red upon seeing the Sacred Tree.
Gulp, Se-Young’s throat moved. That alone allowed me to roughly gauge the value of this item.

“Now, leave-“
“Just a moment.”
“Aren’t you going to withdraw your hand?”

She lightly blocked her outstretched hand.

“This isn’t everything.”
“…?”
“I have two more at home. And more are planned to be acquired. Isn’t it better to trade than to steal?”

Although she was sweating, she made a firm proposal.
Se-Young stared into my eyes for quite some time.
She smirked, brought her hand to her mouth, and…

“Puhahaha!”

Soon after, she banged on the desk and laughed as if she were watching a comedy.

“Snort, chuckle, oh, this is hilarious. There are more of these? Tree rings? How will you prove it?”
“I could just go home right now, but is proof really necessary?”
“Are you bold or just foolish?”

Se-Young’s laughing face instantly hardened like frost in the depths of winter.

“Damn it, if you had just taken one quietly, you could’ve left the other two.”

A frigid voice reverberated within the room.
An ominous aura was felt instantly. The glare from her eyes seemed to crush her entire body.
Sweat trickled down her back.

‘Damn… Did I make a mistake? Evande.’

She needed to prove her worth, but no plan came to mind.
Should she reveal the potential husband? She considered it but shook her head. No one would believe that.
Rather than dying like this, it would be easier to just give in.

‘After all, there was no use for it anyway. Might as well consider it like stepping on shit.’

She hung her head in overwhelming powerlessness.
How laughable she was. The world did not flow as she had thought.

– Bubbling.

Suddenly,
She realized the anger she had been suppressing until now surged to the top of her head.
Her trembling eyes darted elsewhere.
A woman’s ripe breasts entered her line of sight.

Her forehead throbbed.
An odd sensation, one she had never experienced before, ascended her spine.

He furrowed his brow at the electrifying pain.

“Why? Don’t you like it?”

Se-Young’s smirking eyes were repulsive. Once I realized she didn’t even treat me like a human, her gaze became all the more irritating. I wanted to defile her, to trample her. Had I ever had such fervent thoughts before?

Perhaps it was due to my temperament. If so, I should have been suspicious. The lecherous demon and the headstrong leader were personalities I had inserted, not my true nature. I needed to overcome them. But for now, I wanted to cling to these fabricated personas. My entire being was focused on that woman.

“Ah.”

Snap.

It felt as though my veins were breaking.

– Flash!

【A Sub Quest has arrived! Sub Quests present suitable challenges based on your temperament and personality.】
【Temperaments [Lecherous Demon], [Headstrong Leader] confirmed. User permission verified. Assigning a challenge befitting your temperament.】

—
▶[Sub Quest: Worldly Transaction Law]
-Intimidate and satisfy the subject before you within 30 minutes.

-Quest Reward: Tree Ring x1
-If the quest fails: Death
—

【The hidden temperament within you, ‘Blessing of the Colorful Wood,’ is revealed. 】
【The unique ability concealed within you, ‘Arbor Compendium,’ is revealed. 】
【’Blessing of the Colorful Wood’ and ‘Arbor Compendium’ are confirmed to be innate abilities that Lee Si-heon possesses, and their potential is not depleted. 】

The moment my anger crossed the line.
A torrent of information surged through my head.
I clutched my throbbing forehead and calmly read the text.

—
▶Blessing of the Colorful Wood (S)
[Classification: Temperament]
-You are adored by plants and possess a natural constitution that instinctively subjugates the wooden beings before you. You can be the ideal partner for all wooden beings.
-Side effect: The desire for knowledge increases, and curiosity becomes insatiable.

▶Arbor Compendium (S)
[Classification: Unique Attribute]
-You memorize and store the information of the wooden beings you’ve encountered. As the compendium fills, corresponding benefits are granted.
—

“Ha, damn.”

An unforeseen, piercing voice emerged.

Gaining newfound abilities, I opened my eyes.

“What did you just say?”

A woman’s voice disrupted my focus.
Even that was irksome.
I lifted my head once more. My face was likely filled with lust.

Even when wearing a mask, one’s vile desires tend to reveal themselves.
Se-Young’s eyes, gazing at me, held an unfamiliar emotion which I hadn’t seen before.

Her face, even angry, was beautiful.
Contemplating her being sullied, my arousal swelled involuntarily.

“Ah…”

My exhaled breath shuddered.
I had been so deeply immersed in anguish just moments ago.
From the looks of the quest, escape seemed impossible.
Would I die if I didn’t satiate my hunger?
I begrudgingly submitted to the crude and ignorant situation. My mind grew cold, perhaps due to the lewd demon etched within my consciousness.
Fine. I’ll do as they command.

“Won’t you stay still? Don’t move. You, right now–”

[Squad Leader (F) activates]

“So this is how this world screws us over!”
“Gasp!”

I locked the office door.
Visibly flustered, she urgently began to mumble something.
The cell phone on the desk slipped into her hand.

“Wind Cutter!”

A faint blue fissure flickered in her hand, but no magic manifested from it.

“Wh-what? Th-the World Tree’s language isn’t working. Why is my magic… Why isn’t my mana moving?”

I didn’t know the reason, but it was fortunate for me.
I tore off the mask covering my face and simultaneously yanked Se-Young’s shoulder roughly.

“Stop, don’t come any closer. You have no idea what you’re doing. What’s gotten into you all of a sudden? Do you think you stand a chance against my family?”

I despised the sound of her voice and silenced her with a forceful kiss on her lips.

“Mmph… Mmff. P-please, stop. Please stop, …Hic.”

Se-Young writhed as my ragged breath touched her neck.
I pressed my lips to hers once more, thrusting my tongue past her feeble resistance.
Sloppily, our mouths intertwined.

“Ah, ah, ah… Chureup… Chun. Puha, what is this… This is my first time.”

Sucking on her red-stained lower lip, he slides his tongue in, taking in saliva. He moves his right hand from her shoulder to her ample chest, gripping it tightly. Se-Young’s body twists, and her absurd appearance prompts laughter.

“You’re a crazy one too, aren’t you?”
“No, chug… Chureup… No, no! Don’t pinch my nipple for a moment! Ouch! Chureup. Chun.”

Sweetness creeps into her once arrogant and chilly voice. He moves the hand that was fondling her breast, grabs her dress, and rips it off. Screech! Her black underwear is revealed through the torn fabric.

He twirls the pink nub over her disheveled bra and continues kissing her. All these actions come naturally.

“Stop, stop… Please, forgive me. What on earth are you trying to do?”
“Shut up and open your mouth.”
“Chug… Chureup… Chun! Ah, ah!”

Her legs lose strength, and she collapses onto the sofa. He pushes her down as she is.

The lingerie peeking out from between the dress that couldn’t fully cover her body was undeniably erotic.

I closed my mouth and gazed at her face.
Se-Young’s eyes, hazy and unfocused, stared directly at me.
Her hips twitched, as if pleading for something.
Was she always this beautiful? Yet, her face still irritated me.

“…Stay still.”
“Eek!”

I placed my hand on her lower body.
Se-Young’s fishnet underwear was not just damp—it was soaked.
As I playfully pressed the center of her vagina, arousal dripped onto my fingers.
Her body shuddered when I brushed her fishnet underwear with my middle finger.

Perhaps sensing that something was wrong, Se-Young urgently opened her mouth.

“Please… I-I did something wrong. I have a fiancé. So please don’t… Ah!”

Her strength must have weakened to the point where she couldn’t close her mouth properly.
Se-Young tried to persuade me with her garbled pronunciation.
I could keenly sense the allure she radiated.
I pulled back her underwear and inserted my finger.
Slurp! Slurp! Slurp! Slurp!

“You’re soaking wet.”
“N-no… It’s not… Not, not… Ah!”

After moving her fingers back and forth about five times, Se-Young arched her back as if she had reached her climax.
Covering her mouth with both hands, she let out a quiet moan.
I laid her down on the couch and lowered my pants.
Her dazed eyes widened as she saw my dick.

“Ah… ah…? Hic! Stop, stop it. If you stop now, I’ll forgive you. Even if you don’t do the ritual… I’ll forgive you, just go! Don’t come closer!”
“It’s already too late.”

Thrust.

“Uguk ♥”