Chapter 452 – The World Tree of Growth (1)

Descanso Garden.

A vast duke’s estate located in California, USA.

A family with a long history, established by Asian aristocrats who pioneered the territory in the late 19th century. However, it is a well-known fact among history enthusiasts that the family’s power significantly weakened after suffering immense losses during King Mokryeong’s reign.

Nowadays, the protracted American civil war has left them in a state of near ruin, with only a single living family member remaining—a frail girl lacking both arms and eyes.

‘She even attempted suicide multiple times, weighed down by despair for her life.’

Having endured innumerable hardships during the war, she remains unable to see the world’s light, as her eyes have yet to be healed. Though it is unclear why such a hapless child was singled out, it is undeniable that I must take her in myself.

– Huung!

The blade extending from Ebony’s hand sliced through the air as it approached.

– Tak, tadak!

Her footwork had become much more refined compared to last time. Ebony’s skills were growing day by day, so much that it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say she was making rapid progress.

“Huh, huh…!”

She swung her sword abruptly. Barely twisting her wrist, Ebony managed to block my attack. Her magical power blazed like a fierce flame.

The fatigue was evident on Ebony’s face, clad in a pristine white tank top. Her calves were tense and her body was drenched in sweat. Her movements had noticeably slowed down. As I continued to press her without stopping, her stance gradually began to crumble.

After exchanging a few more blows, in a split second!

– Huung.

A thrust landed squarely on Ebony’s chest.

“Ugh!”

– Cheeky duck

Ebony fell into the mud soaked with water. Her shoulders heaved and her back swelled and shrank, as if she didn’t have the energy to rise from her position.

The backs of her hands and wrists were covered in scars, and her ankles were wrapped in bandages. Tears of anger welled up in her bloodshot eyes.

“Well done.”

Setting down my sword, I approached the fallen Ebony and knelt beside her.

‘She definitely has talent.’

The way she engaged in psychological battles from time to time, as well as the fluid movement of her wrists, were impressive. In terms of swordsmanship, Ebony confidently surpasses anyone I know.

Tuk, thud… Drops of sweat fell like rain. Ebony’s arm, which was struggling to lift her off the ground, trembled like an aspen tree.

“…Just one more time.”
“Do you want to continue?”

– Nod.

Ebony nodded, her expression resembling someone being chased.

She’s overly motivated. Am I pushing her too hard? No matter how useful my abilities are, Ebony is still quite young.

‘How did she become so driven?’

It must have been since the raid on the cradle.

In a perilous situation where a single misstep could be fatal, perhaps an opportunity for something significant had arisen.

Even without clinging on like this, my skills continue to improve, yet I can’t pinpoint the issue. It’s not as if I’m pressed for time like myself.

“What’s difficult?”
“…No.”
“There’s no reason for you to be pursued like that.”
“…If I become strong quickly, it would be… good for you too.”

I stood up, reached out, and helped Ebony to her feet before picking up my sword once more.

“Is it because of the Flower?”
“…”

Ebony turned her head away in response to my question. I knew she wasn’t one for conversation. Like a child who had forgotten how to speak due to trauma, Ebony rarely opened her mouth, save for a few exceptional cases.

“…Stickers.”
“Huh?”
“If I collect all the stickers, you’ll grant my wishes, right?”
“Ah, well, yes.”

Ebony stood up and retrieved the sword lying on the floor.

A hand scarred by a burst blister on the palm. Blood had formed between the cracked nails.

I warmed up and spoke to him.

“By the way, Ebony.”
“…”
“I’m still your older brother.”

To be called an old man by a sky-like teacher,
Even though I’ve aged a bit, I’m still not old enough to hear that.

“Copy me, big brother.”
“…”

Somehow, with a mix of contempt in her gaze, Ebony’s reply never came.

* * * * * * * * * * *

“Daddy.”

Baby bear overalls, baby bear bag, and baby bear sneakers.
Following her mother’s taste, from underwear and socks to head-to-toe, she’s adorned with teddy bears.
Wiki, clutching the bag strap with her tiny fist, trailed behind.

“Is our daughter ready?”

“Yes!”
“The ticket?”
“Here it is!”

Wiki unfolded the crumpled zoo ticket and beamed brightly.
A free admission pass for three people. I couldn’t exclude them after we promised to go together.

Seeing Wiki’s shark-like teeth as she smiled broadly, my heart melted.

“Are you sure it’s okay to go to the zoo? I don’t think there’s an animal our daughter doesn’t already know about.”

Wiki shook her head at my concern and tightly grasped my hand.
Her two tiny fists fit snugly in my palm like walnuts, looking adorable.

“I love doing anything with Dad!”

Ah, I can’t help but wonder whose daughter has so much charm.

“Hehe, ah, I’m a bit thirsty. Can you bring Daddy a glass of water?”
“Yes!”

Wiki went out of the room, her skirt with a bear tail swaying back and forth.
I watched until Wiki left, then closed my eyes and focused my mind.

The person who promised to go to the zoo with us wasn’t alone.

– Ugh.

As my hearing dulled and my vision seemed to stretch into darkness, suddenly everything lit up in a flash.

“Come out.”

The open fields. Rocks scattered throughout, large enough for a girl to hide behind.

I yelled through a crevice in one of the rocks.

“Son of Man.”

That very one who had climbed so relentlessly during this cradle raid.

“…”

After a moment, strands of jet-black hair protruded from the gap in the rock. As soon as I saw it, I thrust my hand in and yanked the hair.

“You wretched girl.”
“Ah! Ah! Ah!! Let go, let go!”
“What hurts for someone with the same body as me?”
“Yikes…!”

-Wham!

From the Son of Man’s hand, a wave of energy erupted, and a massive gust of wind swirled around us. The crown resonated and magical power coiled around the Son of Man’s hand.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

I clenched my hand tightly, grasped the head, and slammed it to the ground.

With a resounding *crash*, the man’s face was imprinted onto the ground.

The hand imbued with magic trembled.

“…Why are you doing this to me?”
“Don’t play the victim. You’ve got nothing to say.”

Forcing the recollection of our daughter’s memories in order to take over my body – he must be held accountable for that.

“Zoo seizure.”
“No!”
“Oh? Won’t you stay still?”

I grasped his flailing hands and pinned his thighs down with my left knee, immobilizing him. His face, tightly gripped, let out an agonizing cry.

“I…I’m going to the zoo too…”
“Then why did you cause trouble?”
“What did I do…? Isn’t it all your fault?”

The man turned his head to look at me, his face contorted with anger.

“You abandoned your daughter and lover, leaving them behind to live well on your own-“

*Smack!*

“Ouch, don’t spank me!”

Lifting up the black skirt, I smacked the tight, smooth buttocks with all my might, and a scream escaped from Inja’s mouth.

With Inja’s bound body on my lap, it was the perfect position for spanking. It was too late to struggle like a fresh fish. Spreading out my palm, I unhesitatingly slapped Inja’s buttocks.

*Slap!*

“Ugh!”

*Crack! Smack!*

“Ah, ugh!”

With their head lowered, Inja could only let out a series of groans.

Carrots and sticks for dealing with the king’s offspring. If I discipline them so they won’t misbehave again, they’ll eventually tuck their tails and submit.

“It hurts…”

Inja, with eyes squeezed shut, gave up resisting and shivered.

Their once-pale buttocks now blazed red like an apple.

“Will you listen or not?”
“……”

Inja kept their mouth tightly shut, refusing to say a word. It was the expression they wore when feeling angry and defiant.

*Crack!*

As I struck her buttocks harder, Inza gasped in surprise and tears welled up in her eyes.

“It hurts!? Stop…!”

*Smack!*

Inza would only become modest after receiving a spanking every now and then.

*Swish! Swish! Swish!*

“Ah, oh… agh!”

As her small whimpers turned into shrieks, Inza put aside her pride and urgently spoke.

“I’ll listen… I can listen, all right…!”

Inza, with her underwear pulled down to reveal her cheeks, murmured while covering her face.

“Speak respectfully.”

“…If I do, it’s all right, right?”

Even after subduing her temperament like this, within a week, she would act as if nothing had happened and start fighting for control again.

There’s no need to feel guilty for treating her this way, as her true self wasn’t the innocent-looking girl she appeared to be.

Once the restraints were removed, Inza crawled to pull up her underwear.

The fierce energy that filled his gaze only moments ago had significantly dissipated.

If he had caught on a bit later, I would have had to resort to using erotic means. Observing his sullen face, I stood up from my seat.

“Set up the sensory link.”

“…Are you sending me to the zoo?”

“Yes.”

A glimmer of life returned to his eyes. They say if you laugh after crying, it’s like growing horns on your behind, but is that really true? Instead, I thought he might refuse to eat churros, claiming his pride was hurt. Now I have no idea.

* * * * * * * *

Fun times indeed pass by quickly.

The zoo trip, which felt like a break from work, flew by in the blink of an eye.

“Daddy, Daddy… Look, a rabbit!”

With my adorable little hare of a daughter in tow.

【Rabbit! Rabbit…! Aaah!】

The Australian rabbit man.

As promised, he ate a few churros and offered Wiki various snacks in his hand. Wiki’s face, smiling happily as she bit into her ice cream, seemed like a memory that would last a lifetime.

‘Kids are adorable.’

They even visited the amusement park, and Wiki and Inja were on the verge of pure happiness. Taking the time despite being busy turned out to be a good decision.

“*Gasp, gasp, gasp!*”

Wiki gasped with excitement at the sight of the baby bear. When he placed a bear sticker on her soft cheek, she showed her gleaming white fangs and snuggled up to him.

They spent some leisurely time like that. As the sun set and evening came, unfortunately, it was time for Wiki to part from her father.

【*Pant, pant.*】

Cutting off her senses so she wouldn’t hear Inja’s voice, she used space magic to visit the sage’s residence… Wiki’s face, gripping his hand tightly, was etched with sadness.

“Dad, when will you visit next…?”
“I’ll come often.”

Though I said that, there might be times when I can’t visit due to being caught up in battles.

After gently caressing Wiki’s cheek a few times, we bid farewell. I attempted to capture Wiki’s near-tearful expression on my phone, but I stopped when the sage caught me in the act.

Right before parting, the sage said to me,

“Are you going to pursue the camellia?”
“Yes.”
“…It’s not a bad idea, but it might be better to hurry.”

There’s no harm in heeding the sage’s words. There are times when I question their motives, but for now, it’s just a piece of advice and should be fine.

After waving goodbye to the regretful Wiki, I was only able to return to my castle after the sun had set.

Once the rest was over, thoughts of work returned. In the castle corridor, I surveyed the land outside the window.

“The land… It’s much better now.”

After Sayoungmok’s intervention, the desolate land finally acquired the conditions necessary for plant growth. As the World Trees could regulate the growth rate of the plants, food concerns would be alleviated in just a few months.

What remained to be addressed were defense and strength.

No matter how formidable one’s power, it would be impossible to single-handedly endure all the frontlines in the forthcoming war. Not only were talented individuals needed to command elite legions, but also figures adept in economics, politics, and social affairs.

“Indeed.”

There was much to be done, but the question was where to start. The ideal solution would be to assemble a group of influential individuals and unite them.

At present, there was only one person capable of achieving this: The World Tree of Growth.

My feet halted at her chamber door, and I opened it without knocking.

*Creak.*

The World Tree of Growth’s quarters were exposed as the door swung open. She had been tapping on a screen, and her head whipped around to face me.

“Oh, hello. Hehe.”

Things seem to be going well. Judging by the plentiful cotton above her head, Cotton appears to be in quite a good mood.

“What are you doing?”

As I casually inquire and approach, the text on the computer screen naturally catches my eye. The World Tree of Growth confidently displays the content on the screen.

[Hey everyone! Here are the children I nurtured today~!]

“There are so many people on the internet. Technology has come a long way these days.”

The World Tree of Growth beams with pride.

Hmm… uh.

What are you up to?