Chapter 512 – A Fateful Challenge (2)

The next day.

After taking over the tasks to be handled alongside Tae-yang, Gu-seul called for En-ga-he-ro and Hong-yeon to join them.

The purpose was to announce the trials and inform about the absence of the crown in the parallel world’s kingdom.

“Do you know anything, En-ga-he-ro?”

After explaining everything, I first asked him, who once served King Mokryeong. The elderly man, stroking his long white beard, bowed his head regretfully and asked for my forgiveness.

“I’m afraid I cannot comment on the trials.”

The loyalty of the subjects is directed toward the late King Mokryeong. The same was true for the individuals I encountered in the tower. That ‘Duke’ likely believes in King Mokryeong’s prophecy more than I do.

“Is that all you have to say?”

I observed En-ga-he-ro in silence. He narrowed his eyes and raised his hand. En-ga-he-ro bowed his head, breaking out in a cold sweat, and cast his gaze downward.

‘…I can’t just outright eliminate it.’

Engahero wields control over Gu-seul. She is an indispensable informant within my forces.

Moreover, Engahero possesses a similar or even greater influence than Hong-Yeon in District 2.
‘The Ruler of the Nameless Trees.’
Gathering the support of the dishonored trees without flower language, akin to a powerful noble embraced by commoners during the medieval times.

I gazed at Gu-seul. As our eyes met, she offered a bitter smile.

‘I need to learn more about her and that old person…’

“Tsk.”

It’s best not to entertain the thought of removing an unavoidable thorn. I wiped that idea from my mind. The matter at hand concerns trials.

“While I cannot speak about the trial, I can provide you with a personal statement.”

Noticing my rather tepid reaction, Engahero clasped his hands together and requested permission to speak. I granted it with a slight nod, and he proceeded to answer.

“The Demon of Trials, Your Majesty, seems to pose a significant threat to the Five Great World Trees and the Flowers.”

“Explain why. Is it to increase their power?”

“The half-formed crown cannot utilize its own strength. And as you mentioned, their body has been damaged, correct? The essence of the World Trees is required to restore that body. It’s safe to say that, in their current state, they share the same flaws as Your Majesty. While their power is undoubtedly formidable, it is not enough to topple the resilient World Trees.”

“Hmm.”

Could that be true? The opponent I faced was a cunning and devious hunter, already adept in wielding magical power, able to pierce through the very fabric of dimensions. To be honest, I didn’t foresee him being defeated.

“No.”

Engahero shook his head.

“The Five Great World Trees can be considered on par with a being that has ascended to a higher plane. However, we cannot overlook those who support them from behind the scenes.”

“Behind the scenes?”
“Sephirit. And… the king of the World Trees, the highest of them all.”

I may not know the latter, but I am familiar with the former. The World Tree of Knowledge, nurtured by the sage, seems to have quite a complex story surrounding it.

“Sephirit is the World Tree of Knowledge, as well as the World Tree of Bystanders. But she only remains motionless when…”
“When she’s not interested.”

Engahero nodded in agreement. She doesn’t intervene in any situation unless it’s for the purpose of acquiring knowledge. In other words, she can freely intervene when dealing with beings that pique her interest.

Alba had taken advantage of this weakness to approach us when she was in charge of the sage. Perhaps Sephirit could also act like the former sage.

“The moment she takes action, even a demon of trials would struggle to withstand her.”

The keeper of all the world’s knowledge,
the ruler of Eden.

“Sephirit was once an innocent child.”
“…”

Engahero raised his head. His dry eyes scanned my face before shaking it from side to side.

“A child’s fascination lies in tearing off an insect’s limbs. She is oblivious to her own cruelty. She’s too young to grasp even the most basic ethics. She simply follows her curiosity. The pleasure of accumulating knowledge—Sephirot is no different from a drug-addicted wench.”
“So this is why you warned against trusting the sages.”

Engahero nodded, signifying the first time some information was exchanged between us.

“And then?”
“How about waiting for the demon of trials to crumble on its own?”

Wait for its self-destruction, and then infiltrate in the end.

“We can diminish the power of the World Tree and Flowers simultaneously.”

Using barbarians to control barbarians (以夷制夷).

Indeed, if such a monstrosity were to act, the destruction of the nation would not be the only outcome. Perhaps, even the Flowers would bear a significant scar. For me, that’s a welcome development.

“How can you guarantee he won’t come after me?”

“The devil never engages in a battle without a decisive outcome. Though it may devour its own flesh in an attempt to grow stronger… it will eventually crumble under its own weight.”

Even without interpreting it so extremely, the idea of delaying our intervention was quite an enticing proposition. I glanced back and forth between Tae-yang, Gu-seul, and Hong-Yeon.

“It seems reasonable to me, brother. Although the evidence may be somewhat lacking, the old woman understands that creature’s psyche better than anyone.”

Hong-Yeon nodded in agreement. It seemed that she placed a fair amount of trust in the old woman’s advice. I stroked my chin, as the power of choice was mine.

“…However.”

After much thought, I furrowed my brow. My head throbbed with pain.

It was undoubtedly a solid suggestion.

“If things simply flow in that direction, there would be no reason for this to be a trial.”

Moreover…

“How many more people must die?”

If we do nothing, people will continue to perish. And then there was one more thing.

“What if he plunders the World Tree and regains his power?”
“…That’s unlikely.”
“That man is me too. A lunatic who’s caused at least twenty more years of chaos than I have.”

He must have struggled through more challenging times than I have.
As one ages, there may be shortcomings, but his cunning cannot be overlooked.
Just as I’ve experienced miracles, isn’t he capable of performing miracles too?

“So, are you going to find him now? You said you couldn’t win.”
“If I risk my life, there’s a possibility.”
“Then there’s a chance you could die too, right?”
“If he grows stronger, I won’t even have that chance.”

My conversation with Gu-seul was rapid-fire and intense.

“What do you plan to do?”
“Depending on the situation, I think it might be necessary to rally forces for a while.”
“What? With the Flowers and the World Tree women?”
“…Yeah, something like that.”

Although it churns my insides, the enemy is still the enemy.
Regardless, the choice is mine.

I had no alternative but to repeatedly contemplate my options.

Alba looked at me and smiled.

“So, you came here yourself?”
“I have a lot to think about.”

Intelligence and knowledge have their limits, even if one tries to expand them. When time is scarce, it’s impossible to come up with answers on your own, and there inevitably comes a moment when one must rely on the intellect of others.

A king who rises above others faces many moments of choice, and thus, has an even greater need for the advice of others.

“Your interpretation of Sephirot is accurate. She would do anything for the sake of knowledge, even more so if it involves King Mokryeong from another dimension.”

Of course, one mustn’t be biased. It’s important to listen to the opinions of many others and ultimately make a decision for oneself in the end.

Even if the outcome is incorrect, naturally, blame should not be sought.

It is entirely my responsibility.

“Is that so?”
“Yes. Do you need my help again?”
“…Well, it’d be nice to have it, but it’s fine even without it~”
“Hehehe.”

As her soft skin grazed my stomach, she climbed on top of me and cradled my head.

“How adorable.”

Alba gently pressed my lips with her fingernail, then removed it, and slipped her tongue between my parted lips. Her noble body entwined above me like a deviant. Our lips, locked in a long kiss, finally separated. A subtle sweetness lingered on my tongue.

“What about food?”
“I ate before coming. What about you and Wiki?”
“We’re doing our homework right now. Your master is… well, she’s a sleepyhead.”
“…So, that’s why it happened again?”
“Do you not want to?”

To be honest, it’s a bit burdensome after losing the crown. It’s not that I dislike embracing her, but I keep thinking I shouldn’t be doing this.

*Clank.*

“…”

But what could I do?
I was already bound in handcuffs, having become a plaything.

“…When I first saw you, I didn’t think you’d reveal so much of yourself.”
“Did you forget? You were the one who got me drunk and attacked me.”
“Back then, you were so innocent. You probably clung to me while whining incessantly.”
“Be quiet.”

The sage pulled a round object seemingly from thin air and pushed something into my mouth.

“Ugh!”

A round, potion-like substance entered my mouth and my body suddenly grew hot and feverish. As the heat surged into my lower abdomen, my vision began to blur. Alba took out a suspicious-looking incense burner, placed it on the bedside table, and whispered into my ear.

“Swallow.”

Her voice was half-threatening. In my daze, I nodded and swallowed the potion.

“My elixir must’ve been quite taxing on you. I made this medicine.”
“…While I was dreaming, the elixir did take its toll on me. But why does this medicine appear so weak?”
“Because I put it in.”

Relaxed muscles. The sage, who had been caressing my body, slowly moved his hips…
I pulled aside the white teddy bear underwear and slid my throbbing cock into her sticky, hot vagina.

– Squelch.

The scorching, entwined sensation, as if filled with thick liquid.

‘How can anyone see this and think of nobility?’

I closed my eyes, watching the sage bounce her hips above me.

– Clink.

After undoing the handcuffs, Alba firmly grasped my hand.
She gently stroked our interlocked fingers, baring her fangs as her chest heaved.

“I’ll cover us with a blanket.”
“…Mm.”

A drowsy sense of being invaded.
A large blanket was draped over the two of us, and soon after, the mattress began to quiver intensely.

“Huff, gasp… Hehehe.”

The sage, emerging from the blanket, laughed enchantingly.
She kissed my lips and playfully nipped at them.

“…Are you sleepy?”

The more intellectual one is, the easier it is to be conquered by pleasure.

I couldn’t bear the heated water and wrapped my arms around the sage’s waist. My crushed chest heaved beneath the soft blankets.

“Touch me.”

The skin enveloped by fingers. I squeezed the lower part of the breast and slowly pushed upward as if extracting milk from a cow. The sage, so endearing, caressed my cheeks and stroked my hair. It hadn’t been like this when we first became intimate.

Looking back, we had gone through a lot together in the past three years.

“Heh, ah. Uh, mmm…”
“Sister…?”

Her waist shuddered, rubbing her drenched thighs against mine, while she let out an agonizingly enticing sound. The sage’s eyes narrowed, and with her lovely lips, she whispered a dizzying secret into my ear.

“Sister… I’m being devoured.”

Damn this vulnerability. Clusters of mulberries fell onto the white pillow, crushed beneath our entwined bodies.

The pristine white pillow quickly became sullied with shades of purple.

I embraced the sage’s waist as she lay on my stomach and flipped her over. Taking the initiative to press her down, a blissful moan escaped from the sage’s mouth.

“Oh… Ahhhhh…”

Her white hair swayed gently. The world’s greatest magician, now resembling a whimpering woman, tightened her legs around my waist.

– Thud.

Suddenly, the surrounding magic dissipated. Noise leaked out of the room, but there was no time to pay attention to it.

My master might hear it. Is she out of her mind?

“…Huh, hmmm… You…?”

Seemingly experiencing even more pleasure at that moment, the sage rubbed against my shaft, and I could only thrust it in, losing myself in the sensation.

“Ah, ah! Aaah…! Yes, you… Yes!”

Her skin, as pale as moonlight, trembled. Unable to hold back, I withdrew and released a vulgar fluid, leaving traces of our passionate affair on the sage’s lower abdomen and chest.

Lying down like a hunted bear, the woman exhaled contented breaths.

“Hmm, ah.”

Only after satiating my lust did I regain my senses, realizing that I had been devoured by this damned woman.

The teddy bear underwear I wore today bore the face of a grinning bear.