Chapter 532 – Sephirot’s Summons (3)

“So?”

I spoke, glancing at Sephirot and Marronnier seated next to me.

The long-haired little girl, namely Sephirot, the World Tree of Knowledge, was rubbing a large bump on her head, her lips protruding in a pout. Marronnier was blushing, her immaculate cheeks turning red as her knees were carefully gathered together.

It was due to the recent Panty Incident that Sephirot had received a resounding smack.

“Blanche hit Sephy. It hurts!!”
“This is your fault, Sephirot. Don’t do such things again. Understand?”
“Uhuh….”
“Do you understand or not?”
“I understand….”

Marronnier was firm. Internally, I admired Sephirot’s reluctant acceptance, her lips sticking out as if she felt wronged.

Could it be that Blanche was surprisingly good at educating children?

I’d heard that French parents are stricter than expected when it comes to their child’s character development. Even if a child desires a toy, they don’t readily buy it for them.

“Having seen everything already, what’s the big deal about a single pair of underwear?”
“…Mon Chéri.”

At her disgruntled expression and the glint in her eyes, I immediately whistled.

Women are said to appreciate empathy. Marronnier, slightly upset, fidgeted with her fingers. She glanced at me, her fingers brushing against mine, her cheeks puffed slightly.

“…I hate you.”

She couldn’t quite bring herself to express her anger, but her resentment was subtly visible.

Adorable. Even as time changes, Marronnier remains the cutest in the world. It seemed that Marronnier was more serious about her attire today than I had thought. Newly opened cosmetics littered the dressing table, and clothes from well-known luxury brands were piled up in layers.

– Tap, tap.

Then Sephirot, who had tapped Blanche’s thigh, asked her a question.

“Blanche, do you hate the Tree King?”
“That’s not what I mean. Thump!”
“Thump?”
“Don’t copy me.”
“Don’t copy?”

A cute child chiding another cute child.

It wouldn’t be bad to spend time observing this duo’s antics, but right now, I need to understand why Sephirot called me.

“Can we start the conversation now?”

At my words, Sephirot nodded her head. Marronnier was seated there.

“Blanche, it’s time to leave.”

In a voice feigning seriousness, Marronnier, head bowed, rose from her seat and approachedme. The petite but elegant Marronnier gave my shoulder a slight pinch.

“We’ll see… in a bit.”

Her sulky tone was endearing.

“Haha.”

Having sent off the sage in such a manner, I was now alone with Sephirot. Sephirot sat across from me, her innocent eyes blinking. Her mind seemed elsewhere as she sat on the sofa, kicking her feet and swaying her head side to side. For a being considered a global threat, she looked too childlike.

A stubborn child who enjoys throwing tantrums.

“Tree, grr!”

“Yes, huff… what’s the reason you summoned me, Sephi?”

Sephirot stretched her arms wide, her eyes aflame with intertwined excitement.

“Sephi, I have a query!”

A question. My complexion turned grave. Sephirot’s curiosity is never a boon. It isn’t only the philosophers who disregard the means to their ends, but Sephirot too. I retorted with a bitter smile, sensing the tension in the air.

“A query?”

“Yes!”

Sephirot’s feet jittered more intensely. Her pupils sparkled like the Milky Way. An unfamiliar aura emanated from her, so different from her usual immaturity.

Her eyes were dreamy, pulling you in more and more, the longer you stared.

“Another world’s Tree,” she murmured.

Sephirot, who had voiced that dangerous name with a peculiar accent, placed her hands on the table, stood up from her chair, and thrust her face towards mine. The distance between us narrowed. I could feel her breath on my skin.

“Did you battle? Did you?”

“…”

“Sephi, I want to play with it, I crave to understand!”

She rose from her seat, her excitement palpable. She stomped her feet and swung her clenched fists in circles, shaking her shoulders. Her reactions were akin to a child awaiting their Christmas presents.

“Kill it and bring it back to me!”

I ran my fingers across my stiff lips. The brutality of her words aside, it was a difficult request to comply with, killing the king and bringing him back.

“What are you so curious about?”

“It’s a trait I’ve never seen before! Body, power!”

“You want to inspect it yourself?”

Sephirot nodded vigorously. If one were to disregard the conversation and just look at her facade, she would indeed appear adorable… But the essence of her demand was to dissect the body and assimilate the knowledge.

She wanted to kill me, from another dimension, right in front of me. The thought left a sour taste in my mouth.

“That might be challenging.”

“If you promise to do it, Sephi will grant you many favors!”

As if anticipating my response, Sephi raised a finger.

“Firstly, all the lovers of the Tree King shall be protected.”

“…”

“Those whom the Tree King cherishes, Sephi will not particularly meddle with.”

‘Particularly,’ she says, not meddling. It sounded like a threat, as if she would interfere with my lovers if I didn’t cooperate. Even if she didn’t mean to utter that threat, it was a rather aggressive choice of words for a conversation with me.

“You’d do well to be careful with your words, Sephirot.”

Seemingly not comprehending my words, Sephirot tilted her head. She laughed innocently. Despite my warning, she didn’t understand. It felt like I was punching a wall of thorns. Sighing, I allowed Sephirot to continue.

“And another thing.”

“…”

“I will withdraw all hostility of the World Tree against the Tree King.”

“Is that possible?”

“Sephi can do anything.”

I questioned her again.

“Anything?”

“Yes, anything.”

“Anything, huh. So, can you do this too? Send me back to my original world.”

“I can do that.”

“Sephira spoke as though it were a mere truism, reciting information that held no particular import to her in an almost monotonous tone. I steeled my expression and looked at her.

“Are you serious?”

“Yes, I can transport you and your lovers to the world where the Tree King once resided.”

“Just by toppling that king?”

This time, Sephira shook her head. The price for such comfort would undoubtedly be steep.

“A trade.”

“…”

“Not with Mama, but with me. Form a contract with me, and I’ll fulfill any desire you have.”

“Huh.”

“But in return, you must fetch me anything I desire within your reach.”

Betray the sage and form a contract with her. The implications of her words were rather chilling. Did she know that Alba and I had spent some time together? It was a startling proposition. I could almost perceive the caution with which Queen Melia and Sage Alba viewed her.

‘She’s not just a naive child then.’

Even familiar information felt different when confronted firsthand. I immediately highlighted Sephira’s contradiction.

“If you could do anything, you could deal with the king yourself. Why do you need a contract?”

“The Tree King is an anomaly. His destiny is incredibly obscure! I want to keep him close and learn more.”

“Do you plan to kill me?”

“Huh? Why? That would be such a waste.”

Her curiosity about me didn’t diminish the weight of my question. Thankfully, Sephira promptly clarified her intention.

“Well, it’s a trial. I long to witness the Tree King in his full glory! To see you overcome the trial and emerge as the strongest human!”

“A fully-grown Tree King?”

Sephira was known to keep a close eye on those who piqued her curiosity, as I had learned from a sage long ago. Did she wish to see me in my final form as King Mokryeong? Even her, as the World Tree of Knowledge, seemed unaware of the full extent of King Mokryeong’s power. Or perhaps she had hidden intentions.

“And what do you gain from knowing about the king?”

“The demon of trials, it has transcended dimensions.”

Unlike the sage who had concealed the truth for three years, Sephira unveiled her knowledge and intentions without hesitation.

“Dimensions! Other worlds! There’s so much Sephi doesn’t know!”

Sephira spread her arms wide, her mana coalescing at her fingertips, vibrating with anticipation. The color of her mana wasn’t strictly blue. Red, yellow, blue. The mana of all colors trembled, pulsating within Sephira’s body.

“I want to explore other worlds! There’s so much I don’t know! More, so much more!”

An apathetic World Tree. Sephira was so fervent it almost seemed as though she was mocking the World Tree. Her eyes brimmed with an emotion akin to madness.

“Sephira, I want to know more!”

Was her inaction so far due to her already knowing all the knowledge this dimension had to offer? After some consideration, I posed a question to Sephira.

“Sephira.”

“Yes, do you wish to form a contract?”

“Just one question, there’s something you don’t know, isn’t there?”

“What is it!? What is it? Enlighten me!!”
“It’s a hypothetical situation. Suppose there’s something you don’t know…”

And to know that unknown, if you would have to shatter the world you’re living in and cross over to a different dimension.

What would you choose?

“Sephirot cannot stand not knowing something.”

At her words, sprung forth without a moment’s hesitation, I found my lips curling into a smirk.

“That’s right.”

To satiate my thirst for knowledge, I would do anything. Conversely, if it’s unrelated to knowledge, I would do nothing. Observing her, it seemed she wouldn’t care even if someone was threatening her life. Because for Sephirot, the only thing of interest was knowledge. She might even delay her reply till the very end.

The World tree that surveys the world. At the sight of The World Tree of Knowledge, I shrugged, readying my response.

“What do you say, a contract?”

The sage’s face flashes across my mind.

Urged by Sephirot, I pulled out the answer that had been buried within me.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

After my solitary encounter with Sephirot, I was, for the first time in a while, spending time alone with Bam.

She was thoroughly miffed, yet when I approached her, embraced her, and showered her with affection, she quickly melted. Since I seldom get to see her, she had primped herself diligently, only to be upset when my reaction was lukewarm.

“My little kitty must be very upset.”
“…”

Bam, cuddled next to me. When I brushed aside her azure hair, her smooth, wrinkle-free forehead came into view.

As I tenderly stroke that forehead.

-Softly, softly.

“…Sometimes, I feel like you treat me as a pet.”
“Do you dislike it?”
“I do.”

Her answer was more resolute than I expected. With a slightly wounded expression, she pushed away my hand from her chest.

-Ding!

The sound of the oven turning off echoed from the kitchen.

“Oh, it seems our meal is ready.”

Bam had prepared a meal for me who was too busy to even grab a bite. It was nothing more than a sandwich, but it was prepared by her. The mere thought of Blanche nibbling bread with her tiny cat-like hands made my mouth water.

-Thunk.

Upon opening the door, Bam, holding a tray as big as herself, muttered out of habit.

“Dinner’s here~ Wash your hands and get ready to eat… Oh-“

Perhaps caring for Sephirot had become second nature to her. Bam’s face instantly flushed. Oddly, being treated like a child didn’t feel bad.

“Give me dinner.”
“…Don’t tease me.”
“Hehe.”

Bam slammed the tray onto the table, hiding her flustered face behind her pigtails.

“Has it become a habit?”
“It just so happened.”

“It seems alright. There’s a ticklish sensation too.”
“What is that….”

I’ve heard dense experiences are crucial to prevent lovers from drifting apart.
Adding an odd quirk while romancing, it’s said to become a lasting memory.

“Treat me as you would Sephirot. I’m curious.”

Truthfully, my desire to see such a scene with Marronnier is overwhelming.

“I won’t….”

Initially, Marronnier who had pushed me away so fiercely, had no choice but to capitulate to my unwavering insistence.

“Fine! I’ll do it. But if Mon Sherry complains later, I know nothing of it.”
“Ah.”

With an apron on and her hair twirled into braids, Marronnier, her face flush with embarrassment, held my hand firmly.

“Before we dine… you ought to wash your hands.”