Eat The World Tree

[Mr. Lee Shiheon?]

‘Yes.’

[It seems there’s been a problem.]

From where the elder stood, looking down at the Dowon, the World Tree spoke to me.

‘What problem?’

[Your absence has been prolonged… There was some turmoil.]

I nodded, absorbing the World Tree’s words.

‘Figures.’

It was expected. My other self in that timeline disappeared without a word, not returning to the lodging. Though I was in the past, the present time did not stop. A month in the past equated to a day in the present. From that perspective, it’s been a night since I disappeared.

[No. I’ve sent a telepathic message to the priestess that you were away for a bit. It should be conveyed soon.]

‘That’s a relief.’

If I moved to the other timeline, the lifespan of the World Tree rapidly decreased. There were many I wished to see, but what could I do but hold back?

Sitting down with a thud on the dirt ground at the mountain top, I took in the wide Dowon at a glance.

[Are you satisfied with what you’ve achieved in the meantime?]

Taken aback by the World Tree’s sudden question, I shrugged.

‘I’ve gained plenty.’

[Then I’m truly glad. I am happy to think I was of help to you.]

‘Just pleasantries?’

[Well, you could say that.]

The dawn that was red when I was talking with the Cheonma had now turned into the morning’s sunset.

I closed my eyes and concentrated on the surroundings for a moment.

The hustle and bustle of the morning, like the innkeeper’s footsteps or the tofu vendor’s voice, spread out at this moment. Every time training ends and I look down from the top of the mountain, I can feel the peace of this place for a moment.

Such a delightful atmosphere. I thought this every time.

[You are remarkable.]

‘…Hey.’

[Yes?]

‘Stop with the flattery. What’s all this for?’

[Think back to the emotion you felt when you saw that woman’s death. I’m feeling something similar.]

“Ah, now I get it.”

I didn’t understand before, but now I seem to grasp the World Tree’s emotions. She must have wanted to change something about the future, bending her head to someone with no connection to her.

[Still, it’s true you are remarkable. That spirit of yours is worth emulating.]

“You’d do well in social life.”

[I’ll be dead soon though.]

“Hahaha.”

I let out a chuckle. Enough with the idle talk; time to move. Holding torn clothes in one hand and scratching the back of my neck with the other, I slowly generated mana in my body.

Then, I looked behind me.

The training ground, as if carved out of the mountain, was empty. The ground was dug up, and trees were uprooted as if a crane had passed through. I carelessly extended my hand to the site of the disaster.

-Whirr!

The mana emitted from my fingertips gathered, filling the land and raising the trees. I couldn’t make the once-wilted grass grow again, but this was enough to consider it restored.

[What will you do going forward?]

Receiving the power of Cheonma went smoothly. I carefully checked for any incorrect parts in the martial arts sequences and minor movements, and though the eighth form was still dangerous for me to use, I made sure to learn how to use it properly.

Managing the Dowon went without a hitch. Running around, I’ve drastically reduced the crime rate here.

“There’s a lot to do… but it’s simple.”

Just doing my best.

The fact that my actions could affect the present meant that I had to do everything possible.

“I also need to create an identity.”

The house where I lived when I came to this other world. And an identity.

Whether the World Tree of Purity arranged it or if it was something my past self prepared, I was not sure yet. However, it was necessary to create an identity just in case. Especially since South Korea issued identity cards to all citizens, it was best to arrange an identity when one had a certain degree of power.

Fortunately, Hongyeon has many diplomatic connections, so she could be of help.

[I hope everything goes well.]

The World Tree sincerely spoke to me.

‘You too.’

The World Tree of Time and I had precisely aligned interests. Initially uncomfortable, this relationship has grown on me.

It has been a month and a week since I arrived at the Dowon. As time passed, I became more skilled at handling tasks, and my schedule began to clear up, allowing for some leisure time.

My muscles have become firmer than before, and the scars from fighting Cheonma have gradually faded.

“…Here’s the ID you requested. I still don’t understand why you wanted this.”

“Thanks.”

“It cost a bit. And there were some unexplained expenses. What happened?”

“Think of it as me returning everything I’ve received from you.”

The amount of money I’ve saved while at the Dowon, excluding living expenses, made me honestly think it’s fair to deduct the value of a house from my salary.

“Tsk, fine. Just make sure you do your job properly later… Are you getting any sleep these days?”

“Insomnia makes it easier not to sleep.”

Hongyeon grudgingly nodded, and I gave her a sly smile. Her furrowed brow was a common sight in this family-like workplace.

“I’m off then.”

“Take care, Young Demon!”

Today, I was leaving work early. As I raised my hand and walked out, the employees of the Dowon all bowed at a 90-degree angle.

Smirking at their respectful behavior, I descended from the very top of the Dowon. The accomplishments in just over a month have completely marked me in many people’s eyes as the Young Demon. Now, people greeted me wherever I go.

“Hello, Young Demon!”

“Yeah.”

Kids playing with a ball rushed over when they saw me.

“Are you heading out after work today?”

“That’s right.”

“Wow! Cool. I want to be like you, Young Demon!”

While chatting with the kids and catching up, I felt a gaze on my back. Many changes had occurred during this time, yet the Peach Sisters I knew remained the same.

A white-haired kid was hiding behind a tree, secretly watching me. Baekdo, whom I had encountered once before, was still following me around.

-Zzzt.

At first, I didn’t think much of the explicit gaze. The distance, which was about 10 meters on the first day, began to close with each passing day.

Today, it’s 5 meters. She followed me well, hiding behind walls, trees, or pots.

-Clop clop.

As I continued walking, she hurriedly followed at the same speed.

-Thump.

If I stop, she also stops, trying to hide her presence.

Today, Baekdo brought along her sibling Hwangdo, as I could sense the presence of two people. Baekdo, with only her head peeking out while holding onto the lid of a pot. Hwangdo was following her from behind, wearing a bored expression.

I wondered what they were discussing. As the distance closed, I could faintly hear their conversation.

-Baekdo, is he really a bad person?

-Don’t doubt me, Hwangdo. People like him definitely sneak off at night to do bad things.

-What bad things is that brother doing?

-Uh, umm… anyway, bad things! Today, I’m Baekdo Holmes. I must capture this man’s disgraceful acts and strip him of his Young Demon title.

-Baekdo, did you read a detective novel again?

Baekdo Holmes. Such a childish notion. But those novels are indeed entertaining, perfect for passing time.

Judging by Hwangdo’s bored voice, it seemed she was reluctantly playing along with Baekdo’s forced rhythm.

‘I told them I had no intention of becoming Cheonma. Are they getting anxious?’

After not seeing them for a while, here they were again. My increasingly prominent position seemed to be a thorn in Baekdo’s side. It’s nice that she cared about Cheondo’s future, but her lack of trust in me felt precisely the same, both now and in the past.

I pretended to take a side path, stopping at a fork in the road. Leaning against a wall, I waited for Baekdo. When she followed me in, our eyes met exactly.

“Eek!”

“Why are you following me?”

Baekdo froze the moment our eyes met. Immediately, she puffed up her upper body as much as she could, like a small animal facing a larger one.

“Oh, no, that’s not it…”

Knowing she was doing something wrong, Baekdo stiffened, trying to find an excuse, then suddenly shouted at Hwangdo, who had followed her in.

“Is this where Baekdo went?…Ah, caught.”

“Ssshh, it’s your fault, Hwangdo! You didn’t hide properly!”

Hwangdo’s eyes widened.

“Eh? Why are you blaming me suddenly?”

“Can’t even hide properly? But you’re so good at hiding weird magazines.”

“They’re not weird magazines!”

Hwangdo raised her voice, stung by Baekdo’s criticism. Apparently, she was offended by the insult to her magazines. The real-life sisters exchanged insults, and I watched them, dumbfounded.

“Baekdo always criticizes the magazines. It’s a legitimate hobby!”

“What kind of hobby is that? I read the magazine you asked me to buy last time, and it was filled with nothing but weird stuff! ‘Suck all my fluids~?’ What fluids? What does that even mean!”

“It’s, it’s, it’s not weird! It’s weird that Baekdo imagines such things! A lot of people read that magazine!”

The argument was becoming absurd. I listened to their quarrel, and when it seemed like there would be no end, I finally spoke up.

“What are you two even doing?”

Hwangdo proudly told me,

“Baekdo said that brother is a very bad person. We have to follow him and gather evidence- eep!”

“Hey, really!”

A betrayal faster than light. Baekdo covered Hwangdo’s mouth and glared at me.

“What… what are you going to do… about it?”

She knew she was in the wrong.

“Didn’t I tell you before?”

“Words and actions are different!… right?”

Baekdo was concerned about Cheondo, but from my perspective, who saw Cheondo every night, I hadn’t noticed such behavior. Just last night, I was eating sausages and singing along to the PreCure opening.

‘I did bring it up once.’

I casually asked while watching a cartoon if there was any trouble. Cheondo just shook her head with an indifferent expression.

-Why ask that?

-Oh, just wondering.

-Don’t worry about me. I’ll catch up soon. What comics did you bring today?

She seemed to worry about her lack of skill. She might have something to hide, but it didn’t seem like she was ready to talk about it.

“Even if that were the case, this is between Cheondo and me.”

“…….”

Baekdo closed her mouth at my logical rebuttal. She must have thought it made sense too.

However, unable to control her frustration, her cheeks puffed up, and her mouth turned down. Her eyes began to moisten and blur.

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