Eat The World Tree

The essence of magic was to extract maximum efficiency with minimal mana.

Even when creating a single fireball, the key was how much mana could be saved while maintaining the same power.

A mage’s capability was evaluated by this standard.

The speed of chanting or the amount of mana was a separate talent.

So, one thought came to mind.

Could magic be used with demonic energy instead of mana?

Maximum power with minimal mana.

If I could convert the mana in the vessel into demonic energy and use it as a material for magic…

I could achieve at least three to four times the efficiency compared to the magic I had created so far.

Of course, there was a clear difference between the mana that helped trigger magic and demonic energy.

It was not about which was better or worse; they were fundamentally different. In extreme cases, magic could not be used with demonic energy, or I would have to craft it as if I were creating martial arts techniques directly.

The reason I was so obsessed with magic was separate.

I had reached the peak in martial arts, having learned from Cheonma countless times in the past.

In terms of hand-to-hand combat techniques, I had no shortcomings.

But more power and firepower.

The more urgent time became, the more restless my mind got.

For that, I wondered if I should seriously take up a job at a host bar or something.

“Lee Shiheon. Were you thinking about something else?”

Even the Sage—this monster—was difficult to deal with.

She was not an ordinary person, and how could I possibly seduce her by any means?

“Please focus.”

“Focus!”

I stroked Sephirot, who had climbed onto my lap, and continued moving my pen.

For some reason, the problems weren’t sinking in today.

“If there’s anything you don’t understand, feel free to ask anytime.”

Still, the learning process was smooth.

Once this lesson ended, it would be like taking a step closer to Hwangdo.

Since I had been taught by Cheondo, Baekdo, and Hwangdo, I always thought that I wanted to follow the strength of all three.

Hwangdo was currently regarded as an unmatched grand mage in this world.

Even the Sage highly valued her talent.

Maronnie also possessed similar talent to Hwangdo. There was a reason the Sage had her eye on her.

It was unclear what a woman who claimed to pursue neutrality had in mind when approaching Maronnie or Sansuyu.

For now, I just had to follow Hwangdo’s path.

---

-Scribble, scribble.

The sound of the pen moving.

That sound was getting closer.

Three days.

We were at the stage of wrapping up the first assignment given by the Sage.

With no choice but to stay up all night, I continued studying. Even Maronnie, who found this amount of work hard to digest in three days, sat next to me. ṝἈΝÖ𝐛ÊŠ

-Flap.

The sound of pages turning came from right beside me.

-Screech.

The sound of a chair scraping against the tile floor.

A cat cautiously approached.

Before long, Maronnie’s head gently leaned against my shoulder.

Blanche has been getting excessively touchy lately.

“Blanche.”

“……”

No response. When I looked over, Maronnie had her eyes closed.

It was obvious that she was pretending to sleep.

This darn cat had picked up all the wrong habits. Sometimes, she copied what Sansuyu did to me.

“Are you tired?”

I stopped writing and slightly raised my hand.

Waving my palm in front of Maronnie’s face, her long eyelashes fluttered faintly as if sensing the wind or warmth.

“Sigh.”

When I sighed, her shoulder trembled slightly.

That alone was enough for her to realize that I had noticed. But perhaps fearing that she couldn’t bear the embarrassment if she admitted it, she clenched her eyelids even tighter, pretending to sleep with all her might.

I glanced at the book in front of Maronnie.

The page was filled with notes.

Turning back the pages without her noticing, I saw that she had already finished solving her part of the problems long ago.

She had just been sitting by my side, pretending to work on the mid-section problems.

‘Since when did she start acting like this?’

It must have been after the day I helped with Sansuyu’s nursing.

Her behavior became suspicious around then.

Since that day, she’s become much more assertive in sticking by my side.

I didn’t know what it was like to experience subjugation.

Nor did I know what emotions drove Maronnie to pretend to sleep like this.

But looking at her actions, she was no different from a woman deeply in love.

Even during dinner, if there was something like sausage, she insisted on giving me one more.

And when I passed it to Sansuyu because I had enough, she glared at me with the face of an abandoned cat.

Whenever that happened, she always took one of my clothes as if in retaliation.

I didn’t know what she did under the blanket, but she fidgeted around.

At first, I almost thought it was some sort of cursed doll and felt creeped out.

“Is this so bad that I need to help her release it?”

When Maronnie had her desires fulfilled once, she didn’t react so strongly to touch.

-Flinch.

Maronnie’s face trembled at my words.

Her breathing quickened slightly, as if in anticipation. Swallowing her saliva, her throat quivered momentarily.

First, I needed to finish the assignment.

With only a few problems left, I tackled them while Maronnie clung to my right shoulder.

By the time I finished, it was 3 AM.

Everyone else was asleep, and I gently shook Maronnie’s shoulder.

Still, she didn’t wake up.

Left with no other choice, I held her under her knees and behind her shoulders, lifting her up.

-Gasp.

Maronnie, startled, held her breath. I hastily closed the book and left it on the desk, heading for the room.

-Click.

Lately, Sansuyu has also been staying up late often.

It seemed she was deeply engaged in investigating the Cornus Family’s experiment, and the Sage was assisting her.

“Mmm.”

As the door opened, a sleep-talking Sansuyu murmured from my bed.

She, too, had picked up bad habits from Maronnie, frequently occupying my bed whenever she could.

Unlike Maronnie’s more inappropriate motives, Sansuyu seemed to find comfort in my presence, like a mother’s scent, so I let it slide.

Though it drove me crazy to fall asleep with Sansuyu’s scent clinging to me.

In the darkness, I gently laid Maronnie on the bed.

Though I knew she was pretending to sleep, I cautiously placed her on the sheets. Her red face and slightly opened eyelids told me she was still awake.

As I turned to leave, Maronnie grabbed my hand.

“……”

“Blanche?”

Without a word, she clutched me tightly—pulling me closer with teary eyes barely open.

Her contact was noticeably more frequent today, as if she had made up her mind.

A National Tree’s mental strength wasn’t ordinary.

Considering that, she really must be struggling.

It was no wonder, given the immense power of the Tree Spirit King.

As she gradually tightened her grip on my arm, I swayed toward her.

-Thud, thud.

My feet took two steps forward, and my head lowered slightly.

I asked one last time.

“Are you really struggling?”

Maronnie’s lips parted slightly.

She seemed to want to say something but hesitated to voice it, instead digging her nails into my arm.

The power of the Tree Spirit King was something even I couldn’t fully comprehend.

Each day, it grew bit by bit.

The walking pheromone—another ability granted by the Tree Spirit King’s power.

In the future, such powers would likely increase, perhaps even those I couldn’t control.

“…Can’t you hold it in?”

-Nod.

“Sigh… I don’t know what’s going to happen, but are you okay with this?”

“……”

“You’re in a fragile mental state, Blanche. I told you this is because of my ability, but even I don’t know how this will turn out.”

It was true that I should console her and help her break free from the brainwashing.

Maybe I should just be rough with her?

So rough that she’d lose all affection for me.

No.

In her current state, Maronnie might be so shocked by my actions that she wouldn’t even be able to eat.

“…You.”

Then Blanche opened her mouth.

“You… made me like this.”

“That’s why—”

“I’m not asking you to do everything… just a little.”

She was pleading.

No, maybe it was not even pleading.

Considering how well Maronnie had held herself back until now, it was impressive.

It had only been four days, but still, I didn’t know the extent of the brainwashing.

After a long silence, I eventually covered my face and sighed.

“…Come to the bathroom.”

Maronnie lifted herself slightly, finally opening her eyes and getting up.

Her face was extremely flushed, but there was a hint of joy in it as well.

-Clunk.

I opened the door, let Maronnie in first, and then closed it.

I didn’t turn on the lights.

Unless I used some kind of mana, I wouldn’t be able to see Maronnie’s expression.

I could only barely make out slight movements.

Maronnie sat on the toilet.

“What do you want me to do? But remember, we can’t go all the way.”

I gave her one rule.

It must not end in sex.

This was really an addiction.

Hadn’t everyone I had been with reacted the same way?

Even the gentle Jin Dallae tormented me at night.

If I granted every wish of brainwashed Maronnie, it would really cause trouble.

“…The light?”

“Let’s leave it like this.”

“Okay.”

Maronnie’s hand reached for my waist first.

With me standing and her sitting on the toilet, it was inevitable.

Her hands slowly fumbled over my stomach before she rose slightly and hugged me tightly.

“……Haaah.”

-Thump thump.

I could hear her heart beating loudly.

“Can you hear it? …My heart. This isn’t really my feelings, right?”

“Blanche.”

“…Tell me, Lee Shiheon. Is it really, really not?”

“Don’t get swayed.”

As I spoke firmly, Maronnie seemed a little upset, digging her nails into my back.

“I still don’t understand.”

Maronnie’s hands reached up to caress my cheeks.

She took her time, as if memorizing every contour of my face through her fingertips.

Standing shorter, her head nestled against my chest.

Was she licking me? I could feel my clothes slowly getting damp.

It didn’t take long for the scent of Maronnie to fill the bathroom.

-Clack.

She started fumbling with my belt.

“Hey, that’s…”

“Just a little… as long as we don’t go all the way….”

“Even so.”

I had seen this slippery slope before—starting with just touching, but leading somewhere much further.

Maronnie gripped me even tighter.

No matter how hard she dug in, her nails left no marks on my skin.

“Is it only her you’re doing this for?”

“What?”

“Sansuyu… she’s just your lover. And I’m… brainwashed, right?”

She had definitely misunderstood something.

She must have seen what happened back then.

Could this have led to jealousy?

“…I like you too.”

“Hey, that’s not—”

“I’m not saying that right now! Right now….”

She cut off my words entirely, and instead, her hands were fiddling with my pants.

Slowly, it started escalating.

Since I hadn’t been intimate with anyone recently, my body reacted quickly.

When she unzipped my pants, my member sprung out forcefully, brushing against her chest and lower abdomen.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Maronnie stared at it in awe, almost like she was entranced.

Maybe “gone too far” was the right phrase.

Her legs gave out as she sat back down on the toilet, resting her face against it.

“……”

-Thump, thump. Thump, thump.

The sound of my heart echoed louder.

---

[Champi~]

Byeol’s voice rang from the other end of the phone.

With her smartphone wedged between her shoulder and ear, Champi chuckled cheerfully.

“Hey, Byeol.”

[How’s the work going? Is it progressing well?]

“Ah, of course. Guseul is still under surveillance, and as for the other hunters… well, we’ll see.”

Blood seeped toward her sneakers.

Not wanting to dirty her shoes, Champi took a step back.

[I’m counting on you!]

“…Yeah. Yeah. If the Vice President asks me, how can I stay quiet? If I want any scraps, this is what I need to do. Right, future President?”

[Future President, huh? You’re too much!]

That old man Mugung was far too conservative.

Or maybe it was not just conservative, but overly devoted to his country.

He’d do anything to raise the prestige of South Korea.

It was one of the reasons why the Korean branch of the Hunter Association stood so tall today.

No one could surpass Mugung in skill from the start.

That was why South Korea was now considered a leading nation.

They had absolute diplomatic superiority, early access to mana stones, and so on.

But in focusing so clearly on his goals, he often missed what was right in front of him, making him seem like a stubborn old man.

On the other hand, Byeol… well, she was flexible.

That was one reason Champi liked her.

[So, what about the traitors?]

Byeol’s voice turned serious.

“I sent them over. To that place.”

Champi put away her phone and looked down again.

Bodies torn to pieces.

[I’ve confirmed it.]

“Yeah, good work, Lehu.”

[Lehu~]

After hanging up, Champi shoved the phone into her pocket.

Then she stomped down on the corpse in front of her.

“…Damn it. Why?”

“Dead bodies shouldn’t be talking.”

His thigh flesh tore open, and the man couldn’t even scream, just shutting his eyes tight.

“Who are you supposed to be? Some kind of mentor? What, are you trying to spread Flower’s ideology?”

“…We shouldn’t have lost this fight.”

“Heh heh heh heh heh.”

A deep chuckle spread.

“Ha ha ha ha ha. This arrogant bastard. That’s why I hate the younger generation. They think they’re something special.”

“…!”

“Sure, today’s S-ranks are stronger than those of the past. I mean, compared to the Cheonma days, things have improved.”

“…Damn it.”

“But here’s the thing.”

They’re delusional.

“Just because you’re an S-rank and can throw around a bit of power, do you think you have some grand stake in this world? Do you think that siding with Flower will change the current balance? Are you stronger than a god?”

“…Urgh.”

The man frowned at Champi’s harsh words.

“Heh. It’s funny.”

Champi raised her head.

Seven corpses lay scattered around.

“The fact that you and I are both considered S-rank.”

“…You bitch!”

“Even among S-ranks, there’s a clear gap. I mean, come on, this proves it. A-rank hunters sneaking around and killing civilians are treated like S-rank calamities. Cheonma and the Tree Spirit King are both S-rank, aren’t they?”

Rank games were a joke.

In this world, you didn’t know until you fought.

“You’ll never, ever die peacefully.”

So all the S-rank hunters Champi killed—more than seven—were basically the same.

They were all alike in the end.

“I know, idiot.”

Champi stomped on the man’s head.

-Squash!

The skull cracked. The man’s eyes rolled to the floor.

Immediate execution.

Those who sided with Flower had committed such grave crimes.

Whether they were good or evil didn’t matter; they had meddled in her affairs.

“…Tastes bitter.”

Champi’s armor slowly peeled off her body.

After using her full strength for the first time in a while, blood spurted from her mouth.

“Heh, I’m screwed soon enough.”

Though the Forester Selection Competition handled the traitors, there were still many undiscovered ones.

How many more would be revealed here?

A dark cloud was looming over the world.