Chapter 538 – Shiba, the Unfriended (1)

Since that day, I could perceive the strengthening of the bond between Alba and me.

“What is all this?”

The sage had arrived, arms laden with various items. As I took the objects from her, Alba’s face lit up with a radiant smile, clearly seeking praise.

The idea of such a noblewoman demonstrating such kindness was astonishing.

“All you need. This is a potion, and there are sandwiches, medicines. Regardless of your robust physique, you must ensure proper nutrition… I’ve also prepared some essential nutritional supplements.”

“…A potion? Isn’t that made from people’s secretions?”

“It’s fine, it’s not from other trees.”

If it’s not from other trees, could it possibly be from her? Upon shaking the potion bottle, I noticed a white fluid swirling within.

“Why is it white?”

“Because I made it with white.”

Her answer to my skeptical query was delivered with an air of nonchalance. Intriguing. I swirled the potion side to side. The liquid inside the slightly viscous glass bottle shimmered.

The books I had read stated that all secretions of a tree wizard can serve as potion ingredients. Reflecting upon this, I was able to connect it with an image of Alba from three years prior.

– Would Wiki be able to consume it all? Hadn’t the breast milk been weaned off already?

The memory of the sage bottling colostrum in a large glass jar typically used for brewing alcohol in the kitchen surfaced. Wiki’s growth was considerably rapid, and I remembered her drinking quite a bit of milk even during sleep. The sight of mother’s milk flowing from white breasts seemed erotic, and I had watched for a while…

– Everything has its use.
– Doesn’t it spoil?
– No, it doesn’t.

Impossible.

‘Breast milk matured potion?’

A crude name, but it seemed to possess utility. In this age, even the sap of renowned wizards is used as a life-saving potion. It is only natural that breast milk, too, would hold fresh and potent magic.

‘Just by drinking Cornus’s milk, my magic power had increased.’

My gaze unabashedly fell on Alba’s chest.

– Swelling.

So this was the reason behind Wiki’s extraordinary magic power!

“Could this be…?”

“…I’ll leave it to your imagination.”

Her size was certainly substantial. The texture, pleasing. As I appreciated her bountiful bosom akin to licking a bountiful milk pouch, Alba’s cheeks blushed shyly.

Upon closer inspection, the amount of magic in the potion was far from ordinary. A single drop could completely fill a modest hunter’s mana. With this rate, one bottle could easily revive hundreds.

Truly, a chest of miraculous abundance! Everyone I knew was quite remarkable…

“Is it possible for anyone producing breast milk?”

“Yes. The child you’re thinking of could do it, too.”

My thoughts had inadvertently drifted to Cornus, and it showed. After the Marronnier of wine, comes the Cornus of potion.

“Ahem.”

I stowed the three potions Alba handed me among my essential items. To craft more of these, one needs to possess a second one. It undoubtedly qualifies as a rarity.

As the preparations concluded with the securing of Alba’s gifts, the time to part ways loomed. Alba, removing her hat, asked with a hint of trepidation,

“So, what will you do now?”

Given that our unlikely alliance persisted, I was compelled to focus more on what lay ahead.

“First, I must protect Shiba.”

Gradually, the World Tree and the ‘Flower’ might reach out to confront the Devil of Trials. Moving forward, I intend to exclude the sage entirely from my plans.

“Summon me if you require assistance.”

Alba gazed upwards at me, her eyes moist. Her irises, reflecting the sunlight, sparkled.

“May I have desires of my own?”

Blue, occasionally golden. Her eyes bore hues akin to a blend of sapphire and topaz. Her fair skin was devoid of any pigmentation, simply a pristine white.

“Why not…?”

If there were desires, they’d presumably be carnal. She was a brazen woman.

I removed Alba’s hat.

“You? Ah!”

Her long, white hair danced in the morning breeze. Her dress fluttered. The woman, who hadn’t known love for many seasons, darted to retrieve her hat from me. I bowed my head, making a small show of affection.

As I wrapped my arms around her waist, Alba’s feet rose to their tips. With my strength supporting her unstable balance, Alba, now resting against me, tapped my chest.

“Ugh, you really…”

As the hat obscuring our faces was lifted, the blushing face of Alba was revealed.

“I wish for you to always be on my side.”

Though the sentiment evoked a sense of guilt, many matters demanded swift resolution.

* * * * * * * * * *

“How did you deal with the disobedient troublemaker?”

Melia, swirling her wine glass, let out a small ‘ah’, resurfacing an old conversation.

“Managed somehow.”

This statement originated from a question I had posed to Melia previously. What should one do when faced with a persistent nuisance that defies control? Naturally, Alba was the nuisance in question. Unable to kill her, Melia advised me to make her mine. I had even considered employing subjugation.

“It worked out. We understood each other well. The issue wasn’t as significant as anticipated.”

“Well, that’s favorable. Who would dare to defy the king?”

Melia, with an air of smugness, unfolded her legs and leaned forward on the table, resting her chin on the back of her hand. Her dress barely covered her nipples. Although her cleavage could be deemed enticing, it failed to seize my interest.

“So, are you still on duty?”

Melia had requested me to intimidate the keeper of the dimensional gate—a task given to me in lieu of revealing the location of the World Tree of Resentment.

“I won’t pursue it just yet, for the trial takes precedence now.”

Once the trial had concluded, there would be a brief interlude until the next demonic tree was disclosed. Melia’s task would commence from that point.

“Hmm. There’s no issue if it’s a tad delayed,” she conceded.
“Yes.”
“It’s nearly spring, and things are bound to grow more tumultuous.”

Lost in some fanciful reverie, Melia chuckled ominously, her gaze fixated on something behind me.

“Seems like you have an intriguing tale to share?”
“Indeed, the world is replete with delightful stories. Shall I share one?”

Free information is delectably sweet as honey. With a playful giggle, Melia raised her hand after a brief pause.

“The World Tree of Knowledge has approached the trial.”

Just as I’d anticipated.

“Oh, you’re not startled? That’s disappointing.”

Melia, her expression stern, clicked her tongue.

Sephirot sought knowledge of the King. The likelihood of approaching the King of Trees had naturally been in my contemplations. Having refused the proposal, it was evident she would seek him out.

“Then, are you aware of this as well?”

Her propensity for leaking information today was unusually high. Awaiting Melia’s words, I was left with no choice but to feign shock.

“The Champion of the World Tree is gradually stirring.”

For someone aware of their true identity, the news was quite startling. The World Tree of Justice had indeed made a considerable move.

“…Huh.”
“Ah, finally, a semblance of surprise from you.”

The date for the demon of trials’ subjugation might be brought forward significantly.

* * * * * * * * * * *

“Relax your grip.”
“No.”

Byul’s grave voice resonated, as though it could tear through Se-Young’s throat.

“Won’t you loosen up?”
“I said, no.”

In Se-Young’s hand was a long syringe, a nutritional injection filled with a potion remarkable for enhancing magical power. True to the term multi-talented, Se-Young possessed fundamental medical knowledge.

“The needle won’t penetrate unless you relax!”

Se-Young’s face contorted in frustration, causing Byul to jerk her arm away in terror.

“Ah, no! I detest injections!”
“Shiba, soothe her. Grab her!”

Byul was glowing with fury. It was no easy feat to subdue a hunter on the brink of ascension, despite the numerous injuries on her body.

“Good heavens…! Why such a fuss over a single injection!”
“Stop it, Shiba. Okay? Be good… Shiba? Damn! Ahhhh!”
“Sister, please, quiet down. Why swear in front of the child?”
“Dallae!”

Aaaaaah!

Byul’s cries of agony echoed throughout the hospital. Shiba was at a loss, unable to comprehend Byul’s outburst.

The haunting memory of being forcibly injected as a child had morphed into a phobia, a trauma etched deeply into her psyche. Shiba’s gaze quivered in alarm, a stark contrast to her usual resilience, her ability to stoically endure even the most grievous of injuries.

“Kweeek!”

Chirping cries. Flailing struggle.

Byul, though possessing an impressive natural ability to recover, required more intensive treatment if she wished to return to her usual state swiftly.

“Thank you. Byul, this child, is such a fool…”
“No, not at all.”

Tears, reminiscent of chicken dung, trailed down Byul’s cheeks. In her hand, a strange game featuring peculiar girls was in progress. Tree Archive… A scene unfolded where girls, apparently students, were engaged in conversation with the protagonist. It was a game seemingly akin to Kakaotalk, designed to cultivate affection. Byul, noting Shiba’s interest, proffered her phone.

“Hehe, does Shiba want to play this too?”
“…What?”
“There are kids your age in it. It’s incredibly cute. This game is the path to becoming an insider.”

Upon witnessing Byul’s enthusiastic promotion of the game, as if she were advertising an injection, Se-young clicked her tongue and playfully smacked Byul on the forehead.

“It seems more like a game to become an outsider, not an insider.”
“Ouch! You’re mean. You’re always like this, but doesn’t Si-heon also enjoy such games?”
“That’s why the poor fellow was a loner.”
“Don’t speak harshly of Si-heon!”

‘Dad, playing such a game?’ The thought sparked a flicker of interest.

‘Friends…’

Earlier, she had noticed a feature which allowed conversations with peers. Perhaps it was a simulation of sorts? Utilizing it could potentially make the ‘Making Friends’ quest easier to accomplish. Shiba resolved to download the game as soon as she returned home.

Sub-quest. [Path of the Insider]

The objective was to make three genuine friends. If each party acknowledged the other as a friend, the quest would be completed. However, forging such profound connections was no easy task.

In the contemporary world, individuals were constantly busy, measuring each other based on their connections and lineage. Gone were the peaceful days of yesteryears. Shiba held the firm belief that there could be no such thing as a perfect friendship.

“Let’s catch up later.”
“Let me know when you start the game!”
“Beeep. See you later.”

After bidding farewell to Se-young and Byul, Shiba found herself consumed by contemplation, even on her journey home with Dal-rae. The thought of making friends was incessantly reverberating in her mind.

“Hehe.”

Dal-rae, who was at the wheel, glanced at Shiba.

“Do you have something on your mind?”

Distressed over failing to make friends.
Her mother’s daughter was struggling to adapt at the academy.
Who would ever voice such concerns to their parents? Shiba couldn’t afford to burden Dal-rae with her worries.

“Mom… How did you become close with Dad?”

She posed her question indirectly. Shiba’s gaze was directed out of the window. Just before Azalea could respond, a familiar figure shrouded in black rags flitted across Shiba’s field of view.

“Mom? Hmm~”

Perhaps reminiscing about her father had lifted her spirits.

Azalea wore a radiant smile as she spoke.

“I received a chocolate.”

“…?”

“No particular reason.”

“A beep?”

What an unconventional strategy for fostering camaraderie. Shiba, caught off guard and comprehending Azalea’s tale piece by piece, was left trembling with bewilderment.

This was a tale she had encountered a few times before, but never had she realized that it had been the inception of it all.

‘…Gifts given. No reason?’

She etched it into her mind. Having become lovers and professing love until now, weren’t they among the top 1% of relationships in this era?

“At first, I thought it was a stalker, but as I pondered, they all evolved into memories.”

“Is that so?”

“Indeed~”

Shiba scanned her messenger. She had a few acquaintances from the academy, but their relationships were too nebulous to label as friendships. A foreign name seized Shiba’s attention.

[Bam]

A member of the fledgling team that behaved similarly. Older women like Saku and Soo-yeon were somewhat intimidating, and Bam, younger but of the same age, seemed a more fitting choice.

‘Maybe it’s time to give it a shot.’

She swallowed.

Shiba’s fingers, having passed over her saliva, commenced movement.

[You’ve sent a gift and a message! Check it out now! Wooden Chocolate 60g]

A response arrived shortly after.

[Bam: ?]