Du-du-du-du-du!
The helicopter carrying the fainted sisters took off into the sky with the loud noise of its propellers.
There was a lot of commotion, but… in the end, I couldn't hear the sisters' answer.
The reason they tried to kill me.
I overheard through a tree person once that the kidnapping was not their idea but an order from higher up.
Du-du-du-du!
Squinting in the morning sun, I watched the helicopter from a distance.
Outside the dungeon, back at the El Academy.
Due to treatments and investigations, I hadn't seen familiar faces for quite a while. Maybe that was why.
When I arrived at the academy, I felt hostility in their eyes.
Gulp.
Someone poked my back.
"Don't you have something to say to me?"
Turning my head, Jin Dallae, with her sharp, cat-like eyes, stood there.
"…How have you been?"
"Don't be ridiculous."
She chuckled. Just a few minutes ago, Jin Dallae looked full of worries, but now she seemed a bit better.
"Nothing happened, right? Please, please don't disappear on your own. It worries me sick."
"Why would you be sick over it? It should be me."
"…It means don't make me indebted and then just die. Can't you even do that much for a friend?"
Jin Dallae always emphasized the word 'friend'. I heard from Seyeong that Dallae worked hard in tracking me down.
How did someone who disliked me so much become this close? Beneath my mask, I couldn't help but smile.
"Thank you. Truly."
The fact that someone was moving for my sake felt good. Many others besides Jin Dallae were ready to help me, even though externally, I was just another human with the status of a nobody. If I were to fall, they made it seem like I was destined to be saved.
… It was not like someone like me deserved it.
My lips turned bitter.
"I think choosing to be friends with you then wasn't a wrong choice… Why are you making that face?"
As I reflected on the past, Jin Dallae's face turned red.
She seemed about to say something, but then she bit her lip and averted her eyes several times. She then pulled at her collar and cleared her throat.
"Ahem. I… I've just never been thanked before."
She was just like an awkward person when it comes to relationships.
Or was it just with me? I genuinely wished she'd relax a bit.
Tap tap.
"Siyeon."
And there was another woman who was awkward in relationships. I turned my head to Sansuyu, who was tugging at my clothes.
"It's Shiheon, not Siyeon."
"…Shiheon."
"Why?"
Sansuyu playfully slapped my shoulder.
"You haven't attended training since that day."
… Right now?
"I'm sorry… I was kidnapped, so I couldn't help with the training."
"It's okay if you know. And you owe me for the help."
"Owe you?"
"Miho said that friends should help each other naturally."
Sansuyu's expression, which had just softened, returned to its previous emotionless state.
"And if you help, you should be compensated properly."
"Heh heh, really? What can I do for you?"
"The spicy rose tteokbokki. It's their new item."
"The car's here. Go on in, I'll buy it for you later. Jin Dallae, you too."
Jin Dallae, having heard me, moved forward while fanning her still-red face. Just before boarding the car, she seemed to recall something.
"Ah, right. About that child…"
Shiba.
The sudden mention sent chills down my spine.
"Shiba? Wh-why? What happened to Shiba?"
"Calm down. She's in my room, even had a meal."
Thump.
A wave of relief washed over me.
Thank goodness. I felt my breath return. The surprise made me break into a sweat in such a short time.
Seeing my relief, Jin Dallae, standing by the car, was staring blankly at me as if expecting something.
"So… I did well?"
"Yes, you did. Thanks."
After chuckling at my follow-up to her 'did well', Jin Dallae boarded the car, and so did Sansuyu. Now, it was just me left. As much as I wanted to immediately follow Jin Dallae to see Shiba, my mode of transport was unfortunately predetermined.
"Hey, aren't you coming?"
Lee Seyeong, tapping on the hood of her car, was next to a woman with crimson hair who was leisurely smoking. As always, Cheondo exudes charisma. Her outfit, looking even more like tights today, only added to that aura.
Shiver.
As I settled into the familiar passenger seat, both of them got in.
Inside the car, which hadn't started yet, the silence was soon broken by Lee Seyeong's words.
"Did you tell everything?"
I had explained the circumstances of my kidnapping a few hours ago.
"That's it."
"…I see. So I'm frustrated. Some unknown guys are messing with my life."
Vroom.
The engine started. As Lee Seyeong stretched out, reclining in her seat, her armpit was exposed. Clearly, it was a deliberate move. She smirked teasingly.
"You still got that perverted streak, huh?"
"It's the first time I've seen someone check like that."
"They say it doesn't even get up when it's really tough."
"Please mind your words in front of the master."
"Right. We're alone after a long time."
Covering her mouth, Lee Seyeong sneakily glanced behind. Cheondo sighed in exasperation.
"…You, being flirty with the professor."
"And you, being the most provocative master around."
"Shut it."
Cheondo, annoyed, covered herself with a draped robe. She was aware of how she appeared.
I chuckled, seeing her like that.
"Hey."
Then Lee Seyeong whispered into my ear after glancing between Cheondo and me.
"You didn't, you know, with her, did you?"
"Do you think I'm crazy to mess with the master?"
I formed an X with both hands. Lee Seyeong seemed to understand and exhaled in relief.
"Couldn't be. Especially not you."
"What's with me?"
"You, who flirts with strangers."
I couldn't argue because it was true. But the fact she kept mentioning 'flirting' was somehow cute.
"Anyway, let's move on from that."
After a few clearing coughs, Lee Seyeong steered the conversation forward. She signaled to Cheondo behind her, who then began to speak.
"Cutting to the chase, Lee Shiheon, you are currently being targeted."
The mood became grave, and I straightened up, listening intently.
"I was already aware of that."
"Right. The problem is that it's not just one or two organizations targeting you."
Cheondo pressed between her eyebrows with her index and thumb.
"Why didn't you tell me about being the candidate for the World Tree's spouse?"
"I didn't want to become a husband."
"Is that so? Ensure that you don't hide anything from me from now on."
"Yes."
Cheondo crossed her legs. The intricate holes in her tights almost revealed her skin, which looked as smooth as jade.
"Are you aware of 'Flower'?"
Cheondo started the conversation with a playful tone.
"I have a general idea. However, there might be some misunderstandings, so please explain."
"Alright. Think of 'Flower' as clans that despise the society controlled by the World Tree."
There was bitterness in her voice.
"They intend to save humans from a world where their fate is controlled by the mere words of the World Tree. It's a noble cause if you think about it."
"It seems you agree somewhat?"
Her words didn't sound entirely negative, so I asked. Cheondo responded by closing her eyes.
"If you exclude their dirty methods, their intention isn't wrong."
"I see."
"Anyway, 'Flower' is a coalition of seven organizations. They're collecting the prophetic leaves."
I focused, not familiar with some terms she mentioned.
Cheondo looked at me closely, her lips slightly parted.
"One of those leaves is you, Lee Shiheon."
"…."
"There's a prophecy that they must kill you if they can't convert you."
"What?"
Startled, I turned to her. Lee Seyeong clarified.
"Remember when you met Lee Seonghan?"
"Ah, back then… but wasn't that some unrelated cult?"
"Minor organizations usually act without understanding the higher-ups' intentions. A blindly-following cult makes a good tool."
I roughly understood.
"The problem is, not only 'Flower' is after you. It's damn unbelievable, isn't it?"
Cheondo, nodding at Lee Seyeong's words, pulled out a long cigarette holder from her robe, loaded with tobacco.
Flick.
She lit it and opened the car window. Everyone inside was a smoker, so no one minded.
"The World Tree of Resentment."
"Who's that?"
"I don't know either. Considering it's not known yet, it must be similar to the World Tree of Healing."
Sigh. Cheondo exhaled a thick smoke.
"World Trees, by their mere existence, can intervene in the spouse selection system. Considering the penalties you've received from your orders, it's likely him exploiting it."
"Why the hell is that bastard after me?"
"… Don't you see any connection?"
I saw no relation. I had one unresolved issue, but it wasn't connected to the World Tree of Resentment. My prospective spouse should be…
'Wait a moment.'
A thought crossed my mind.
Who was the target for my spouse candidacy?
I assumed it was the World Tree of Purity.
Because it was the one who had responded to me till now.
When I mentioned my pants on the first day, and when I spoke of my disdain for the world, it was always the World Tree of Purity that responded.
The system never clarified anything.
Just the cryptic phrase about being the first spouse candidate and a word about being worthy of it.
If multiple World Trees could control the spouse orders, it meant the World Tree of Purity might not be my prospective tree.
Then what?
Which tree did I commit that act with before coming to this world? Who was the woman asking me to take responsibility, and what was with the World Tree of Purity?
Who was my daughter's mother?
"…Wait a moment."
"It seems something's on your mind."
"It's not that…"
I felt my head heating up and took a deep breath, seeking a moment of solace. Both Lee Seyeong and Cheondo patiently waited, observing me with sympathetic looks.
World Tree of Purity.
'What are you?'
No answer came. Maybe it never would.
Just as my knowledge was forcibly implanted when I first came to this world, a groundless certainty took over me that, perhaps, I would never be able to communicate with the World Tree again.
However, there remained a hint of its existence.
-Shiba is our daughter.
That fact was firmly in my mind. The "our" was clear, pointing to the unjust treatment I had received since coming to this world.
If the intent was to mess with me, then setting a reward for the quest would be abnormal. Also, letting me modify the status window by spending points was inconsistent.
In the end, it was simple.
When a World Tree wanted to kill me, only she stood by me. Without any complaints, she did so blindly.
"Have you sorted out your thoughts?"
If my suspicion was right, then the identity of this World Tree of Resentment would naturally fall into place.
I replied softly,
"Yes."
I now knew for certain which World Tree brought me to this world with intentions leading to my demise, all thanks to her clues.
"Are you worried?"
I didn't answer Cheondo's question. Perhaps misconstruing my silence, Cheondo continued.
"Don't worry. A master should protect their disciple. You focus on honing your abilities."
I appreciated her words. However, I was never really worried.
In fact, it felt refreshing. Until now, I felt like blindly trudging through a thicket, but for the first time, it felt like I caught a glimpse of the sky beyond the dense brush.
Lifting my head towards the tightly packed forest canopy, I faced the world head-on. A newfound confidence surged within me that I could make my way out.
"Thank you."
…I now had a clear goal.