Chapter 70 – Lingering Doubts

As I poured green onion oil into the frying pan, I tried to suppress my nagging suspicions. I couldn’t help but have doubts, but without any proof, what could I do? Perhaps a passing succubus tree had ensnared me.

Despite the growing unease, the dish was quickly finished.

As I served up the shrimp fried rice, seasoned with a bit of dashi, pepper, and salt, I couldn’t help but ask Baekdo once more.

“Master, you truly didn’t assault me, did you?”
“Quit spouting such filth if you don’t want a beating… This fried rice looks delicious, though.”
“Ah, yes, please enjoy your meal.”

Baekdo snapped back at me before happily digging into her fried rice. Her demeanor didn’t suggest someone who had just engaged in an intimate encounter.

“The abundance of shrimp is delightful.”

I watched Baekdo with a narrowed gaze, and soon enough, I caught her smirking as she savored her meal. I grinned in response.

‘Well, do I really need to know who it was?’

Regardless of the method, this person is my benefactor who saved my life. If they don’t wish to disclose their identity, it’s only polite to respect their wishes.

However, I can’t help but cringe when I recall having an intimate encounter with myself and devouring peaches last night.

“Why are you smiling?”

As I was lost in thought, grinning, Baekdo inquired with an expression like she was looking at a madman.

“I just find it charming, the way you enjoy eating so much.”
“That’s absurd.”
“Usually, they call it an ‘oil fountain’ in that context.”
“Quiet.”

The assailant who attacked me at dawn… Although I don’t know who they are, I believe I will find out eventually.

If we’re together, someday.

* * * * *

– The light dances: Did you make it home okay?? >_< I heard from Se-Young
– The light dances: You’re not still holding onto that incident, are you? ㅜㅜ I’m genuinely alright

– Dancing in the Breeze: Huh???
– Dancing in the Breeze: ..Is this something to be scolded for?
– Me: It’s fine, haha.
– Me: Let’s play a game when we have time later.
– Dancing in the Breeze: ♥♥
– Dancing in the Breeze: (Emoji of a star with heart bursts)
– Dancing in the Breeze: (Emoji of a star with heart bursts)
– Dancing in the Breeze: (Emoji of a star with heart bursts)

It’s strange, but I feel like looking after her.

“Who are you chatting with? A girlfriend?”
“Just someone I know.”
“Really? You’re laughing so much just texting with an acquaintance?”

As I sat in the classroom, exchanging messages with the person in question, Gu-seul came up and peered into my face. When I tilted the phone screen to prevent her from seeing, Gu-seul’s eyebrows lifted in curiosity.

“From how it looks, she seems like a girlfriend to me…”
“I wish I had one.”
“Can you introduce her to me?”

I’m not sure if I could have a proper relationship even if I were to introduce her.

Gently expressing her refusal with a nod, Gu-seul took a seat with a snort. She fiddled with her cell phone a few times before turning her gaze back to me.

“Speaking of which, I heard you’re being targeted?”

She asked in her usual casual tone, a question seemingly out of place in the current situation.

“What are you talking about?”

Pretending not to know, Gu-seul glanced at me with a half-lidded eye.

“Didn’t you know? It’s a story that’s been circulating lately. It even pops up a few times on Everyday.”

After pondering for a moment, I soon understood.

Indeed, having been caught up in so many incidents within just a few weeks, it was only natural for rumors like that to surface. In fact, such stories had been spreading since the Jinmok Group incident. It’s frustrating to think of a person with no honor rising in status. Being criticized is commonplace, and it’s not unusual for groundless facts to circulate.

This time, it’s like catching a mouse while stepping backward from a cow.

Since it was true that I was being targeted, I didn’t say anything.

Truth be told, I’m not quite sure how I ended up in this situation.

Gu-seul asked in a hushed tone, her voice brimming with curiosity.

“But, seriously… what would you do if someone was actually after you?”

I tore my gaze away from my phone and looked at her. Her eyes, lost in thought, didn’t meet mine. She seemed like a woman hiding something, but she was being so blunt.

Considering this could be a signal, I simply answered truthfully.

“Someone targeting me? Well, then…”

I consciously raised the corners of my mouth.

“I’d have to inform my master.”
“Hehehe, you’re not cool at all.”

It was half-joking, half-serious.

Regardless, I had no intention of doing nothing. I had barely managed to regain my composure after the near mental breakdown from the previous kidnapping incident.

I have to hone my skills now that I have reached my master.

– Drrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Lee Se-young, who had just entered, yawned with a weary expression on her face.

Upon seeing me, she subtly furrowed her brow. She tapped her choker a few times, a signal to refresh it once.

“Ah… Did everyone enjoy Arbor Day? You didn’t do anything strange, did you?”

After conveying several announcements, Se-young sidled up to me.

“Oh, and Lee Si-heon, come with me.”

Knock, knock – she tapped my shoulder.

I wondered what had happened inside over the weekend, including Arbor Day. As I nodded and left the classroom, Se-young, who had stayed behind to relay a few more messages, followed me.

-Thud.

As the door closed, Se-young’s face, which she had been trying so hard to maintain a bright expression on, began to crumble under the weight of fatigue.

“Ugh… I’m really tired because of someone.”
“Is it difficult?”
“I live watching you, you little punk.”

-Pang, pang!

Se-young, who slapped me forcefully on the back, grumbled.

Se-Young’s expression grew serious as she placed a hand on my shoulder, whispering into my ear.

“The atmosphere is quite tense right now.”
“What?”
“Your story seems to have circulated among the World Trees a few times. Do you understand what that means?”

It wouldn’t be surprising for the World Trees to discuss my story, considering it was already a topic of conversation among the trainees. The World Tree of Purity was the reason I had arrived in this other world, so it was only natural for them to know about my existence.

However, the reaction seemed delayed. Considering that Flower had already approached me once, it was long overdue.

The crux of the matter was whether the World Trees were hostile towards me or not. After observing the World Tree of Purity, I concluded that not all World Trees were against me.

So, were they being conciliatory?

“Do I have to go somewhere else now?”

If the World Trees had mentioned me, the tree people would surely take this matter seriously. The thought of being interrogated suddenly crossed my mind.

“You understand well.”

Se-young gently stroked my hair. I took a moment to study her face.
It was a complex expression, a mixture of pride and bitterness.

It was only yesterday that I had completed the subquest. A wry smile formed on my lips.

* * * * *

The principal’s office.

Angelica, seated on the central sofa, gazed at the semi-transparent screen in front of her with a bored expression.

“…Hmm.”

Within the surveillance magic circle installed in the hallway, a scene of Lee Si-heon walking towards this place was being displayed.

‘A candidate for the husband of the World Tree, targeted by Flower as well…’

Angelica blinked her sleepy eyes and pondered.

In truth, it wasn’t unusual for a candidate for the husband of the World Tree to be targeted by Flower.

The husband of the World Tree was a means to restore the power of the World Tree.
Since ancient times, it had been a common occurrence for husband candidates to be murdered.

But.

‘Nevertheless, Lee Si-heon is special…’

Lee Si-heon was the sole individual Flower endeavored to win over. The danger he posed was so significant that they even received a divine revelation stating that if he could not be swayed to their side, he must be killed. Astonishingly, the World Tree of Justice had also given her a similar revelation.

‘What is it about that man that makes him so special?’

However, no matter how much she thought about it, Angelica simply couldn’t find herself interested.

After all, she was the type to lose interest if she didn’t take a liking to someone at first glance.

When she first saw him through the video, Angelica had not perceived any extraordinary radiance from Lee Si-heon.

Encountering someone who failed to capture her interest was always a tiresome affair. If not for the divine revelation, she would not have come here in person.

With that thought in mind, Angelica brought her hands together and clapped.

– Swish.

The door opened.

“Welcome.”

Upon entering the principal’s office, Lee Si-heon removed his mask as a gesture of politeness and scanned the surroundings.

“Sit here. We have much to discuss.”

Following Angelica’s guidance, Si-heon nodded and took a seat on the sofa opposite her.

“Lee Si-heon?”
“Yes.”

His gaze shifted as he calmly responded to Angelica’s solemn voice.

“First of all… let’s speak freely here. This place keeps all secrets safe. Relax. You’re aware of that, right?”

Si-heon gave a slight nod. Although the atmosphere was one of disbelief, Angelica’s words rang true.

The principal’s office, situated on the top floor of the main building, strictly guarded any secrets within its walls.

No conversations shared here could ever leak out, nor should they ever be allowed to. The moment they were to escape, everyone who had been privy to them would be regarded as defying the World Tree.

“I understand.”

But he was aware that there always existed an exception: the World Tree.

At that point, Angelica sighed.

‘…As expected.’

There was no light to be seen. The brilliant radiance emanating from the great individuals who had once ruled the world could not be seen in Lee Si-heon.

Why on earth would they try to win over a man like this?

Amidst her doubts, Angelica slowly posed her question.

“First, let me confirm: are you the one who contributed to the eradication of the Flower and resolved the dungeon rampage incident?”
“That’s correct.”
“And you’re also aware that you are being targeted by the Flower?”
“Yes.”

She was satisfied with the straightforward response. Finally, Angelica broached the main topic.

“Do you also understand the significance of this to the Mokinyo?”

To grasp the implications of her question, Lee Si-heon briefly met Angelica’s gaze.

His eyes, brimming with arrogance and self-assurance, showed not the slightest tremor, almost provoking a hollow laugh.

Was he seeking praise for his own merits to the point where it was insatiable? The gaze from above was truly uncomfortable, especially for the religious types. Holding such irreverent thoughts, Si-heon began to speak.

“To Flower, I am seen as either a helpful or detrimental being. Then, the World Trees must also be perceived as either helpful or harmful entities.”

That was the accurate response. Angelica nodded in agreement.

“The oracle has been passed down. It ordered me to keep a close watch on you.”

Lee Si-heon was like a thorn in the eye of the world.

Keep a close watch.

From that point, Si-heon was able to deduce one fact. Firstly, The World Tree of Resentment, which unconditionally seeks his demise, has no connection to the Mokinkyo, who hold the Five Great World Trees as gods. Consequently, there was a high probability that The World Tree of Resentment belonged to a faction entirely distinct from the Mokinkyo.

“Is that so?”
“Yes, so there are a few things I want to get clear answers on.”

Siheon calmly considered the choices he could make.

“…Are you asking for proof?”

Angelica, as always, nodded her head as if urging him to speak and waited for his words.

Siheon pondered for a moment before hesitantly opening his mouth.

“Honestly, how can I prove a future that even the World Tree itself doesn’t know?”

Angelica’s eyebrows tilted slightly.

“There’s no way to know.”

Unable to foresee even tomorrow’s fate, who could possibly know if he was causing harm to the World Tree? Lee Si-heon’s words contained not a single falsehood.

And Angelica knew that better than anyone else.

‘…He’s got guts.’

Angelica, the envoy of the World Tree that upholds justice. Her blue eyes, discerning her opponent, keenly pierced through Lee Si-heon’s true nature.

“It sounds like it could be harmful to the World Tree.”

At Angelica’s cold remark, the corners of Lee Si-heon’s mouth trembled under the weight of the oppressive atmosphere.

“I meant that I cannot give a definitive answer. Perhaps, the World Tree will decide my future.”

He was in the presence of a powerful being, akin to facing a lion.
One misstep could cost him his life.
Proving one’s righteousness in the presence of a god was more challenging than any other issue.

“What do you mean?”
“If I receive the grace of the World Tree, I believe I will never have a reason to oppose it.”

His words could be interpreted as disrespectful.
For a brief moment, Angelica found Lee Si-heon intriguing.

“Do you think you’re worthy of receiving the grace of the World Tree?”

Lee Si-heon thought to himself,

‘She’s incredibly particular.’

Yet, he didn’t stop the playful banter with his words.

“Do you think the World Tree of Justice will not grant me even a small favor?”
“They don’t bestow favors upon the wicked.”
“I believe that decision is for the World Tree to make.”

He was like a cunning serpent.
Skillfully navigating the line between irreverence and devotion.

And his target was none other than Si-heon, the lion. Due to this, Angelica could only comprehend a portion of his true nature.

“…Fine, the decision will be made by the World Tree.”

At her conceding tone, a sigh of relief nearly escaped Si-heon’s lips.

As she observed him, Angelica muttered to herself,

“He’s good with words.”

And that made him dangerous.
A typical double-edged sword.

While it was unclear if embracing him would prove helpful, it was evident that he was a hazardous individual.

However, she could not act based solely on the perceived danger. His fate, as he had stated, would be determined by the judgment of the World Tree.

“Let’s keep an eye on him for now.”

A flicker of interest sparked.
Freed from her expression of boredom, Angelica scanned Lee Si-heon’s face with her eyes.

“Alright, go on in. I apologize for asking such a question so suddenly. In return, I’ll ensure you receive a generous reward for solving this case.”
“Thank you.”

Lee Si-heon gave a single nod of his head, brushed his chest, and exited the principal’s office. Angelica, who trailed his retreating figure with her eyes, subtly lifted the corners of her mouth.

Indeed… there was no fault in his words.

Lee Si-heon was an individual whose next move was impossible to predict.