Tied in handcuffs, I stared intently at the moldy ceiling in the dim room.
I was kidnapped.
After much consideration, I concluded that there seemed to be a World Tree that harbored a grudge against me.
These crazy bastards were forcing me into death without any reason or explanation.
Despite the desperate situation, my sharp senses were still looking for a way to escape.
"Draw."
I would leave everything to luck.
While the effects of luck varied, it ultimately led to a better situation than the current one.
Turning over, I somehow managed to bring up my status window in front of my hand.
First was the Mineral Water.
I had enough saved points. After tapping a few times, suddenly, a burst of light spilled out, and a pure white bead rolled out.
▶Transfer Bead(C)
[Category: Consumable]
Can summon one of the items you possess.
(A new item is added to the store.)
Just one for now.
I moved my hand to draw again.
-Clink.
Suddenly, the handcuffs felt loose.
"?"
I felt a slight return of my magic.
It was a defective product.
I intended to escape by drawing, but I was taken aback by the unexpected stroke of luck.
'Maybe I can unlock this?'
I roughly extend my magic to understand the magic circle drawn on the handcuffs.
There was a pattern there that would be impossible to decode for an average interpreter.
'The principle is to understand and tear it apart.'
Interpretive magic had the characteristic of piercing through the opponent's magic and eradicating it, so it also had a corresponding learning curve.
A magician armed with rigorous senses. A philosopher who has piled up mountains of theory.
You needed to conquer both fields for interpretive magic.
Many magicians had despaired because of it and gave up their dreams.
But I could do it now.
-Crack!
Light sparkled, and the handcuffs cracked.
A few weeks ago, my magical abilities had grown enough when I interfered with Sumpee's barrier to prevent Cistus's explosion.
The loosened handcuffs seemed breakable with a little force.
Should I run away like this?
I couldn't. I didn't even know where the entrance or exit was. If I carelessly went out and got caught, it would put me in an irreversible situation.
'Let's wait.'
Until the right time.
With the transfer bead in hand behind me, I summoned the most helpful item I could currently retrieve.
-Woosh!
I hid the pink bead beside my head and let out a heavy sigh.
Since I was kidnapped, the academy should start moving soon.
I didn't know how much time had passed, but it seemed to have been several days.
Thanks to the potion, my body was still energetic.
'I don't know what they're thinking…'
Honestly.
This was my limit.
I hated this life where I was aimlessly thrown around.
I felt like I had to see with my own eyes who was doing this, and I felt like I had to break that branch with my own hands.
In other words, my anger had been rekindled.
Heat surged to the tip of my head.
There was no need to choose the means and methods.
The opponent was just trash anyway.
I just needed to counteract with a fitting method.
-Clang.
The door opened.
A wooden person, wearing only underwear, approached me with a flushed face.
With every step, sap dripped from their knotholes.
[Human.]
A voice that could be perceived as horrifying depending on the listener.
While handcuffed, I stood up and met the eyes of that tree.
[Sex…]
"Shut that mouth."
I commanded.
The tree, filled with lustful desire, halted immediately.
[Tha… Ah… Uh…]
Pink dawn.
The mind-control artifact I obtained after defeating Lee Seonghan.
Perhaps this power was similar to those women's powers.
"Come here, brat."
[Yes.]
I made sure to deeply engrave my authority inside.
If there were no allies here for me,
I just needed to create one myself.
I had no intention of selling my body to bastards like them.
I placed my hand on the tree's shoulder and stared directly into its eyes.
[…Ah♡]
The tree let out a tiny moan.
A faint engraving appeared in the eyes of the crazed tree.
It might be possible.
Perhaps I could counteract them.
The despair that had seeped deep into my veins was now consumed by rage and meant nothing.
I clenched my teeth, looking at the scars on my arms.
She always thought that man had a gullible side,
But she never expected him to so easily throw himself away this time.
Detached, awkward.
But always honest in expressing his feelings.
However, Jin Dallae didn't let him go just like that.
She had anticipated Lee Shiheon taking on the responsibility this time as well.
"Are you sure about this location?"
"Yes."
In response to Lee Seyeong's sharp gaze, Jin Dallae answered confidently.
Somewhere on an island in the Pacific.
A place not even recorded on the dungeon map.
Right before being separated from Lee Shiheon, Jin Dallae, who was half-mad with rage, managed to use her unique ability.
She left a trace of her spirit with him.
Although the spirit disappeared upon magic contact, its energy remained, allowing her to determine its location.
The distance was quite far, which took some time, but…
"…Yes. This is it."
Lee Seyeong sighed and rubbed her face with her hand.
"Thank you."
Jin Dallae looked moved by Lee Seyeong's concern but also looked worried about Lee Shiheon.
"Please take me with you when you go."
One should repay a favor.
"Okay."
Seeing Jin Dallae's determined eyes, Lee Seyeong nodded.
In reality, they were short-handed. Having Jin Dallae, who was on par with the active staff members, would be a great help.
Above all, she was the key who knew the coordinates.
"Then."
-Creak.
After bidding farewell to her class professor, Jin Dallae exited the building next to the artificial dungeon.
Seyeong frowned, and not long after, the door opened again.
"Professor."
Sansuyu.
She looked uncomfortable, as if she had lost a pet.
Seeing the entrance of the scion of a prestigious family, Lee Seyeong sneered despite her discomfort.
'Crazy.'
Yesterday, Cheonma contacted her, offering to help.
It was shocking enough, but then the heir to the Jinmok Group promised to assist, and now the eldest daughter of the Cornus family had appeared.
The situation was likely going to become much bigger.
Jin Dallae walked towards the dormitory in a daze.
How could she expect to concentrate in class in this situation?
Looking at the gradually setting sun, she tried to uplift her sagging spirits.
Right now, she just wanted to be still.
-Thunk.
Nothing greeted her as she returned to the dormitory.
It wasn't time for school to let out, and it happened to be the dorm staff's day off.
But the current atmosphere wasn't all that bad.
The tranquility, with its own atmosphere, seemed to mirror her emotions.
-Clop, clop.
She ascended the stairs.
Her feet led her, somewhat intentionally taking the long way, to stop in front of a particular room.
Lee Shiheon's room.
The face of the child she had seen that day flashed in her mind.
Strangely, the child who had disliked her.
Perhaps he was still waiting for his father.
She reached out to the doorknob.
-Thud.
The door was easily unlocked.
'It's open.'
Taking a short breath, Jin Dallae slowly opened the door.
Beep. The sound of the disengaged door lock echoed.
The room was dark, void of any light.
Soil from a plant pot was scattered all over the floor.
"Peep, peep."
A sound that seemed fragile and sorrowful.
Seeing the smaller figure of Shiba, Jin Dallae, forgetting to remove her shoes, held the small body close.
"Peep! Peep!"
Startled, Shiba scratched at Jin Dallae's face and body.
She didn't care about the red marks on her face.
Did they stay like that for a long time?
"…Peep."
Shiba's fierce resistance gradually weakened.
And Shiba, without a word, snuggled into Jin Dallae's embrace.
She could clearly feel the child's longing for her father.
"…"
Jin Dallae, with fierce determination in her eyes, made up her mind.
And precisely the next day.
To rescue a student from the academy, unofficial actions commenced.
Actions were taken quietly.
But there was no need for too much silence.
That would be boring in its own way. Just smash the targets right in front of you.
That was the only mindset I learned from that trashy father.
Over the past few days, the dozens of trees that entered my bedroom have been completely brainwashed by me.
The fact that the brainwashed trees prioritize my words over the women's was already confirmed.
These trees didn't converse with those bastards.
Our wavelengths matched. It was the first time they had communicated so well.
"Report, you bastards."
[… Today, they did nothing inside. They maintained their weapons and seemed to be communicating somewhere.]
"Tell me what they said on the phone."
[The voice was faint, but it seems like tonight will be decisive.]
"Yeah, I figured as much."
I casually responded to the tree, then applied force to my handcuffed hands.
-Clang!
The weak handcuffs fell to the ground.
I didn't know how long they'd been playing around.
I drank the water on the bedside table.
-Gulp, gulp.
The trees' eyes wavered in time with my throat's movements.
These idiots kept doing this.
"Huff."
Exhaling contentedly, I checked my condition.
My magic was at its peak. I could fight.
Or maybe there was no need to fight?
Aaaah!
A scream came from somewhere, followed by the sound of a chainsaw.
It was time.
I rose from the bed.
My tattered pants dragged on the ground.
"Let's go, kids."
[That sharp gaze… so cool.]
"Tree No. 1, shut up."
[Yes…]
I thought this trait was useless, but since it saved my life once, I guess I should be grateful forever.
I walked out of the room with a swagger.
"Why is this happening all of a sudden!"
The girl known as Beta's surprised voice rang out pleasantly.
"You!!!"
Alpha, seeing me perfectly fine, looked horrified.
She struggled to fend off the attacking trees.
Considering that I was in such a state just a few days ago, I feel rather impressed.
"What on earth did you do!"
"Did just what you guys did."
Control, brainwash, or whatever it's called.
I was sure that my trait of being loved by trees and having the same ability would have the upper hand.
If you didn't like it, why didn't you do it yourselves?
I sneered at them.
"Lee Shiheoooon!!"
Alpha flew at me with a roar, pushing through the trees and calling my name.
Why did she hate me so much?
Initially, I was curious, but now I hardly cared.
-Whizzz!
A chainsaw aimed at my neck.
Had I transcended death? Or was it because I was at my peak?
It now just seemed slow to me.
-Flash.
It was like a mirage.
Heukdo (Black Petal).
The black petals, resembling a poppy, slashed across the chainsaw's blade.
-Spark!
The chainsaw cracked.
A shocked Alpha's face came into view.
Without hesitation, I snapped her arm, striking her face with my elbow.
"Huff-"
-Thud!
Alpha fell unconscious, blood oozing from her pretty face.
"Sis…ter!"
A wounded Beta screamed plaintively through the trees.
Her resistance was short-lived; with the trees joining in, she was soon on her knees.
"This bastard…"
I chuckled at her hateful tone.
"Bastard? So, what does that make you guys who turned an innocent student into prey?"
"Shut up."
I looked around.
Between wooden buildings, no tree untouched by me was in sight.
These crazy sisters actually wanted to make me the prey of this entire village.
'She's really crazy.'
Even thinking about it sent shivers down my spine.
What would have happened if I hadn't drawn the transfer bead during that draw?
Well, there would have been a way at that time.
"So, which bastard ordered you to do this?"
I lowered my voice.
Beta's eyes trembled with fear. I had no intention of showing mercy.
"Who's the World Tree you guys serve?"
"…"
As I mentioned the World Tree, Beta began to defiantly glare at me.
When I was about to use the pink dawn on her…
-Boom!
A crack appeared in the sky.
A familiar power.
They had finally come.
"Ah, damn it."
I spat out an expletive and ordered the trees to tie up both Alpha and Beta.
I then draped my tattered school uniform over me and looked behind.
A familiar face appeared.
"Isn't it too late?"
The hunters and instructors, each holding their respective weapons, made a bewildered face.
Dozens of trees were bent over. It must have been an odd sight of the enemies all defeated and me standing triumphantly over them. I didn't know what they saw in me.
If I had to… put it into words.
The King of Trees.
Seyeong was standing there with a face half delighted and half dumbfounded. There was Jin Dallae with a relieved face, and for some reason, Sansuyu looked annoyed. Inside, I wondered why so many had come.
"What is it? Haven't you defeated them all?"
"…Master?"
Cheondo, gracefully descending from the sky, rolled her eyes to take in my appearance. She was wearing a slightly different outfit, a traditional dragon robe. The attire underneath wasn't her usual latex.
"You've become stronger."
Cheondo's words sounded proud. I smiled along.
"So, they targeted my disciple, huh?"
"Yes, those damn bastards."
Cheondo glanced at Alpha and Beta for a moment and then turned back to me.
"Siheon."
"Yes."
"I have something to say about the situation you're in."
I grinned.
Let's discuss that later. First of all-
"First-"
"Handling the aftermath?"
"Right."
She turned her head again to look at the unconscious Alpha and Beta. They would be moved to an interrogation room. A place so horrible they would never want to think of it again.