Chapter 453 – The World Tree of Growth (2)

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~Tree Café, a gathering for those who love nurturing~ Asamo~
[New post: 155]
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[Title]: Showcasing our little ones~~^^* [Author: SproutMom]
(Picture of Growth holding a potted plant with a hint of chest bone exposed)
Hello everyone~~~~ >.< I hope you're all having a delightful day today..
The weather is so pleasant, and our little ones absolutely adore the sunlight~
I encourage everyone to venture outside! It would be perfect to head out for a picnic with some nutritious fertilizer in tow, so I thought I’d leave this message~
How did you all spend your day today..^^

[Comment 6]
Neulbom: It’s been getting quite hot recently.. Omija is quite refreshing^^
YoungBaeAhjae: The picture is… really beautiful..

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The website accessed by the World Tree of Growth was a gathering place for mature trees.
And yet, she was so boldly active in this space.

Considering his age, one might understand, but isn’t his behavior quite different from his appearance?

It felt like a stark contrast, as if an innocent-looking high school girl was jingling coins in her hoodie pocket and playing cards with an elderly man at the village hall.

“…”
“The photo turned out lovely, didn’t it?”
“Uh, um… yes.”

I can’t believe one can be happy with something like that. It’s such a cost-effective body. I smiled awkwardly. The World Tree of Growth began to carry on with the story at her own discretion.

“This child’s name is Suho~”

-Mongsil! Mongsil!

Cotton swayed gently overhead. I found my gaze drawn to the movement, as if someone was poking freshly made tofu with their finger.

“Cute, right?”
“…It is cute.”
“Right? Right? I raised this child myself.”

No, it’s more you than the child.

Perhaps she has a mental age even lower than Mary. At one point, I felt the desire to bring Mary here and settle the matter with a trivia quiz.

“…Is this truly the World Tree of Growth?”

The Queen of Plantlife. Just hearing about her, she seems quite finicky and difficult to handle. However, after observing her behavior since her abduction, only her awkward and innocent aspects are accentuated.

That’s not to say she’s as outrageously brazen as Freesia. She’s someone who, when given a hint, takes care of matters on her own.

“Growth.”

“Yes?”

Holding the mouse, I skimmed through the writings left by Growth.

[Sprout Mom]
[Posts 234 Comments 1621 Attendance 13]
[Upon meeting leveling conditions, (saplings) -> will level up to (trees)]

Ugh. She’s caused quite a stir in such a short time.

‘And why did you take the photos like this?’

Images revealing themselves little by little, along with a flowerpot. Perhaps because she took them alone, risqué areas were frequently exposed, causing a flood of recommendations from middle-aged men.

“Did you intentionally take these photos like this?”

“Yes? What… is something wrong?”

“No. Why did you take it like this?”
“Well… The kids show up better this way.”

Because of the flower pot?
I clicked on the post with the highest number of recommendations and checked the picture.

As expected, due to taking a selfie while holding a flower pot, the back of the head and the lower body clad in leggings were clearly visible.

“…You’re banned from the internet.”
“What?!”

The startled World Tree of Growth made a face as if the world had come to an end.

“But, I agreed to introduce our child at the upcoming gathering.”
“…Sigh.”

As I let out a sigh, the cautious Growth rubbed her hands together.

It was fortunate that she wasn’t completely foolish since no information revealing her face or location was exposed. This place was under Flower’s influence. It was only natural that writing like this would cause security issues.

“I’m sorry…”

Is this her true nature, or is it a high level of acting?

Also, seeing Cotton shrink made me feel somewhat disheartened.
As I stared intently at the growth, I sighed and moved my hand.

*Challang.*

With a light flick of my fingers, two cans of juice appeared.

“Here.”
“…Ah.”
“Let’s talk. You’ll be responsible for deleting the cafe posts later.”
“Yes.”

The World Tree of Growth, with a mind like a flower garden, sat beside me on the bed, knees together, and head bowed. It’s been more than a week since her arrival, and we’ve grown accustomed to interacting in our own way. Though patience still appears to harbor some dissatisfaction, she takes care of her own matters. Healing and Mary are practically the same; those two work the hardest.

“Are the kids doing well?”

We began with light conversation before diving into the main topic. The World Tree of Growth brightened at my question, and she started to share more stories.

“Of course~ With Suho, Ji-ah, and…”
“Do you name all of them?”
“Yes.”
“

In response to my question, growth seemed like a natural occurrence.

“Why… Mmm. Because it’s my child?”
“A child who doesn’t know where they’ll go once they’re grown?”
“It doesn’t matter.”

After taking a sip of orange juice, Cotton raised the corner of her mouth and happily murmured.

“It’s all about leaving traces of my life. Even though I was kidnapped… my actions don’t change. Everyone remembers me as a mother.”
“What makes you so sure?”
“Where does certainty come from? If you reason that way, there’s no one to trust in the world.”

Neither Mary nor Healing adapted as quickly to being kidnapped as Growth did.
Rather, it was Growth’s adaptability that made me more suspicious of her.

Could it be that she’s planning an attack through the World Tree network?
She seems to be enjoying herself too much for that, though.

“Flower, you aimed to create a world where trees and humans are equal, right?”

Upon hearing my words, Growth pondered for a moment before speaking softly.

“For now.”
“And… you didn’t kill anyone when you attacked the cradle.”
“It just happened that way.”
“…That’s enough then. That’s sufficient.”
“What are you thinking?”
“…….”

Growth didn’t say anything after that.

“What I do doesn’t change. Raising children, finding places for them. It’s merely the difference between doing it in a cage and doing it outside.”

“Only, it’s somewhat enjoyable now. Everything is new.”

I don’t know the age of Growth.
Perhaps it was older than the five great World Trees I knew, or even the World Tree of Time.

Being naive and ignorant of the ways of the world.
Judging from the use of the expression “cage,” Growth may have been trapped and placed in a situation where there was no choice but to raise children in confinement.

I can’t figure out all of that on my own, and I won’t naively let down my guard just because I heard the story this time.
I felt like I knew what this individual was thinking.

“Is that so?”
“Yes.”

The World Tree of Growth, tapping on her phone, showed me the screen.

“…I’ve erased it all.”

Her face was slightly gloomy. I said casually,

“As long as you don’t take pictures, you can do it.”
“Really?”

The cotton flowers stirred. Growth’s eyes widened, and she snorted in excitement.

“Then I’ll sign up again. Really?”
“Yes.”
“Really, truly?”
“Get permission from me when you write instead. If I’m not there, ask Gu-seul for permission.”
“Oh… Why?”

She might leak some information. If that really happened, I would confiscate all her belongings.

* * * * * * * * *

It was a mistake.

“Can I upload this?”

I shouldn’t have said that to Growth then.

“Excuse me, excuse me?”
“It’s Cotton.”
“Yes?”
“How many times has this been?”

In the morning, I’d write, “Morning,”
At lunch, I’d write, “Lunchtime,”
And when it’s time to eat, I’d post, “Mealtime,”

It has become an environment where I can’t help but feel overwhelmed.

“So… Why do you write about every single one of them?”

Suho, Ji-ah, Wendy, and Leor.
I’ve heard their names so many times that I’ve completely memorized them.

I don’t understand why I have to listen to these children’s growth journals, yet it’s strangely entertaining because they’re so eloquent.

“And, can’t you change this way of speaking?”
“…What do you mean, the tone?”

Dear Hyeonnim.
Emoticons like ‘^^’ and ‘><'.
Overuse of ellipses.

Every time I listen, I get goosebumps at how well they pull off a middle-aged human’s tone.

“How old are you?”
“I haven’t counted since I was a hundred.”
“Ah, I see…”

There was a reason for that tone of voice.
I nodded with a warm heart.

As I reached out and gently touched the pile of Cotton between the top of my head, the World Tree of Growth tilted her head.

“Feel free to upload it.”
“…!”

The World Tree of Growth, who pressed the writing button with a wide smile.

Soon, she smirked at the countless comments that began to pour in.

‘It’s good.’

As long as you’re happy. Now, let me eat something as well.
I put a spoonful of rice in my mouth and chewed on the homemade Jangjorim that Gu-seul had made. The saltiness hit my palate, and the rice went down smoothly.

-Gulp.

At that moment, a slightly thrilling sensation coursed through my body.

‘Ah.’

It was lust. That insufferable sexual desire returned once more.
This periodically occurring phenomenon sometimes lost its edge if not dealt with in a timely manner.

After briefly checking the state of my body, my first step was to calculate the time.

It had only been a few days since I last satisfied my lust, when I resolved it with my mouth. The cycle returned unexpectedly quickly.

Much faster than anticipated.
As I pondered the reason, I recalled a recent instance when I had playfully smacked the rear of an attractive individual.
That seemed to have ignited this desire.

‘…Sigh.’

What can one do?
I turn my head to gaze upon The World Tree of Growth. She is dressed in form-fitting attire, often referred to as a clingy outfit.

It’s not that I lack the intention to exercise restraint. But I wonder if it is wise to squander the trust we just built through yesterday’s conversation.

Gu-seul had momentarily stepped away.

‘I have no choice but to endure it for a while, then release it.’

Due to King Mokryeong’s nature, unable to relieve sexual desire through self-pleasure, a woman’s body is essential.
Until now, it has been Gu-seul fulfilling that role. I resolve to wait for her.

* * * * * * * * * *

“As soon as you come home from work, a life of being a plaything.”

Gu-seul’s resigned words spilled out of her mouth with a tinge of sadness.

“…Doesn’t it smell?”
“Not much.”

The scent wafting from a woman’s body was what it was. Above all, the fragrance of the wooden people felt sweet to humans.

I lay down haphazardly on the bed, leaning on my back, and embraced Gu-seul from behind as she rested her buttocks on my lower body.

Her body was damp from exertion.

– Squeeze.

“Even if you touch it like that, it won’t get wet. Why not just use love gel?”

Rolling Gu-seul’s beads around and feeling the crevices made no difference. The only moisture I could feel was the sweat in her groin.

Gu-seul, turning her head to look at me, giggled and leaned her back against my body.

“No matter how much you rub it…”

There was no need to go as far as penetration; simply rubbing against her thighs was enough to satisfy sexual desires.

Gu-seul yawned with boredom while clinging to me, then turned to look back at me.

“Should I give you a little moan?”
“What?”

At her sudden proposal, I furrowed my brows, and Gu-seul covered her eyes with her hand and opened her mouth.

“Hmm…uh, huh…uh, ah…”

Her waist twitched, and Gu-seul’s body twisted. Gasping for breath, she shuddered in my arms.

“Clothes…oh…!”

– Twitch, twitch!

Both her thighs began to tremble as if completely losing strength. However, soon after, Gu-seul removed her hand from her eyes and spoke with a playful smile.

“What…about this much?”
“You’re good.”
“Aw, come on, don’t be a buzzkill.”

Though her words were bland, the sensation of her underwear rubbing against her vagina had become more pleasurable. Gu-seul, who was stroking my glans while feeling her own underwear, murmured.

“But what are you going to do without me?”
“Well…”

I’d have to look for another solution then. Upon hearing my response, Gu-seul coyly raised the corner of her lips.

“I’m going on a business trip for a month starting tomorrow.”

This time, the retrieval of the demonic artifact is carried out by me alone, without Gu-seul’s involvement. I had planned to satiate my lust either locally or by occasionally returning to make use of Gu-seul. But now, she was suddenly gone.

“Did you forget? There’s a deal taking place in our European territory.”
“Ah…”

Now it makes sense.

– Swoosh! –

I exhaled, feeling my sexual desire surging. So, who should I turn to now?

My damned body was making it painfully clear.