Eat The World Tree

Inside the office, only the cool gazes of the two women could be felt.

In this place without Shiheon, Byeol, with a smirk, and Seyeong faced each other.

“Hey.”

“Yeah?”

Byeol, without saying anything more, sipped the bitter espresso despite being usually insistent on fruit juices. Seyeong, her friend, knew that today was different.

Upon thinking, the answer was clear. Seyeong deduced the change in the relationship between Byeol and Shiheon.

“You know you’ve crossed a line, right?”

A cold statement, as chilling as midwinter.

“Seyeong-ah. I genuinely came here with the intention of a serious relationship. Tell me the truth. I’ve heard everything from Shiheon.”

Shiheon probably didn’t spill everything. He must’ve ambiguously alleviated his guilt, saying it couldn’t be helped or something like that. The image of Shiheon with Byeol vividly surfaced in Seyeong’s mind.

“Do you even have a right to speak after enjoying it without resisting?”

“Shiheon did nothing wrong. It’s all because of your wickedness. I didn’t know you had such a fortress around you. NTR, was it?”

“Fortress, my ass. I told you to stop watching your silly comics. Even thinking of you two together makes my guts churn… Do you really know nothing?”

While some were aroused by their partners being taken, Byeol’s speculation was baseless.

Annoyed by Seyeong’s words, Byeol raised an eyebrow.

“What’s it really? I have to head out early today for a game raid, so spill it.”

“Damn gamer… Fine, shit. You’d probably find out anyway.”

Seyeong reluctantly handed over a thick file from her handbag.

“What’s this?”

“It’s all about the people targeting Shiheon.”

“Targeting Shiheon? Right, there was talk about him being kidnapped before… I purposely didn’t mention it in front of him to avoid bothering him. But why?”

Seyeong sighed with a troubled face, revealing her internal struggle. Seeing this, Byeol hardened her expression.

“He’s a candidate to be the World Tree’s husband.”

“Huh?”

Byeol’s obsessive behavior towards Shiheon was strange, and it was something that had to be clarified someday.

Seyeong started her story slowly. Although they often fought, she believed her long-time friend would understand.

She candidly started with the fact that she had been raped. She didn’t forget to add that this was a quest given to Shiheon. While her statements were inevitably biased, Byeol wasn’t someone who wouldn’t notice that.

“……Hmm.”

Byeol’s face turned grave.

Rape. No matter if it was a quest, the weight of that word wasn’t to be taken lightly.

She intended to clarify a few things but didn’t expect to learn about her friend’s strange sexual preferences. As she listened, Byeol finally asked what she had been wondering.

“Why do you like Shiheon?”

“Everything about him?”

Seyeong answered without hesitation.

“Why do I need a reason?”

She had fallen for him. When she realized this was uncertain. It wasn’t when she was raped. Even if her preference leaned that way, Seyeong wasn’t a woman to become addicted to intercourse. She had always had an ironclad will and could endure any form of torture.

It was just that…

Shiheon was the first one to climb that steep cliff for her. Their first encounter was full of mutual blame. A hostile relationship. Considering Seyeong never had relations with men before, Shiheon was technically the first man she formed a bond with.

Even if that bond was negative. It didn’t take long for that to turn around.

It wasn’t without passion. For some reason, she and Shiheon matched well physically, responding to even the slightest touch.

“What made you fall for him?”

To Byeol’s question, Seyeong shrugged. There were many things to say.

The charm of taking care of his clumsy self. The mutual guilt over their shared act. A secret was shared between them. His naive tendency to get in danger trying to help others. But more than all of that, the reason she liked him was…

The assurance that he would help no matter what when she’s in danger.

The trust that assurance could bring. The same dreams, like a fairytale. Since Seyeong knew both the vile and the affectionate side of Shiheon the best, she could answer that way.

It was too complicated and profound for others to understand, and even Seyeong herself couldn’t explain it adequately. No matter how much others found it odd. She could only generalize the nature of Shiheon, she realized after being raped by him.

What Shiheon and Seyeong shared wasn’t that simple.

Overlapping thoughts, hearts in harmony, and something even deeper. A red string that connected them. Perhaps it was fate determined by the World Tree.

…Even if the World Tree was now an enemy.

“If he wasn’t handsome, you probably wouldn’t have had sex with him, right?”

“What are you suddenly talking about?”

“Shit, then I would’ve had him all to myself. Should I overfeed him till he gets chubby? Chubby ones are cute, too.”

Sometimes, she fantasized about living alone with him.

With a sarcastic smile, Seyeong, trying to forget the dream-like scenes in her mind, spoke to Byeol.

“Anyway, do you like him?”

“…”

“You can’t forget him, can you?”

Byeol, too, couldn’t forget her first man.

Seeing a blushing Byeol, Seyeong spoke as if amazed.

“Listen to me.”

The relationship between Seyeong and Shiheon was indescribable in words.

Taking out her phone, Seyeong sent a message to a specific contact.

Kakaotalk!

Savior: It’s sorted.

Holding my pounding head due to a hangover, I looked at the phone screen. What couldn’t this woman do? I chuckled, but it wasn’t the time to reply.

[Spirit Enhancement Potion]

The packed drink that was next to my head. It was the reward for completing the sub-quest.

Even though I couldn’t understand the reason, the system said I completed the quest.

Even if I didn’t have relations with three people yet.

Its implication was clear.

“Tell me.”

“What do you want to know?”

Cheondo, eating a pudding of unknown origin on the sofa, looked at me with a sour face.

“Who’s the bitch that drugged me?”

Cheondo blinked, looking clueless.

“Who drugged who?”

“Someone among the masters did to me.”

“What?”

Cheondo put down her pudding. It was surprising to see her, of all people, put down something sweet. With a serious look, she took a deep breath.

“Do you really think you were drugged?”

“I’m sure. The quest condition was to have relations with three people, but I only did with two.”

“I don’t want to hear about your romantic affairs. If you’ve completed the mission, isn’t that the end?”

It made sense, but something felt off.

I wish I was conscious when it happened… such vile thoughts occurred.

Checking the Tree Register, I realized any intercourse without consciousness didn’t count towards the register.

“Can you call her?”

“… I want to eat pudding.”

“You finished it.”

Cheondo sat back on the sofa, enjoying the pudding with a mischievous smile. After finishing, she transformed.

“Uh… Dongsaeng? Hehe, Dongsaeng!”

The girl with yellow hair cheerfully hugged my shoulders. I stared into her eyes.

“Don’t touch. Just look into my eyes.”

“Dongsaeng? What happened?”

“You didn’t hear earlier?”

“…I was asleep, so I didn’t.”

Hwangdo’s face would show if she was guilty, but her expression was unflinching.

Rather, judging by how she hugged me joyfully after waking up, it seemed she genuinely didn’t do anything.

‘Baekdo? That person would never do such a thing.’

“Sister, did you, by any chance, approach me last night?”

“Heh! Am I allowed to?”

“Stop joking.”

“Hehe, did you figure it out? But I was too busy taking care of our Shiba last night.”

Who could it be? My heart felt uneasy.

“Can I hug you now?”

“Yes, yes, hug me all you want.”

“Dongsaeng~”

Suddenly,

Hwangdo hugged me tightly and patted my head affectionately.

“My Dongsaeng~ curly hair~ mischievous Dongsaeng~♪”

I thought Hwangdo was the most likely one, but was I mistaken? After pondering for a while, I changed my tone and asked her.

“Can you call Baekdo?”

“But I want to be with Dongsaeng.”

“Noona, let’s go out and play later.”

“Ah! Alright. I’ll call her quickly.”

Thump.

Baekdo, revealing herself, pushed me away and brushed off her chest as if disgusted.

“… What’s the fuss about?”

“I never thought you’d do it, but just to be sure, you didn’t come onto me last night, right?”

“Damn it, why would I? Just the thought gives me goosebumps. Stop your nonsense.”

The absurdity was that I was the one who had been taken advantage of, but the ones acting like perpetrators were upset. That said, considering what I did to Seyeong, I couldn’t really complain.

“Do you have any evidence?”

“My quest-”

“I already heard about that. But the World Tree might have changed the quest’s content, no?”

…Could that be possible? I pondered for a moment, scratching my head in frustration before getting up.

“Ah, is that it? This is driving me crazy.”

“Why would I want you?”

“Sigh… Are you hungry? I’m making shrimp fried rice.”

“Shrimp fried rice. I love it.”

I believed the World Tree, which wished for my death, wouldn’t suddenly change the quest. But asking the peach sisters if they drugged me was… a bit strange in itself.

“Peep peep…”

Just then, Shiba, dressed in a chick pajama, woke up and rubbed her eyes, searching for me. I hugged her, and she happily fell asleep again in my arms. Seeing the cute face of Shiba, my earlier frustrations melted away.

“Did our daughter wake up?”

“Peep! Peep!”

Patting her back, I moved towards the refrigerator to prepare breakfast. There were still ingredients Hwangdo had bought last time. As I opened the fridge to take out frozen shrimp and was about to fetch rice…

“?”

I noticed something odd in the nearby trash bin.

A large seed. Attached to it was some pulp. The distinct bite marks on it made me suspicious. I picked it up from the trash can.

“Master.”

“Is there something I can help with?”

“No, but did you buy something like peaches on your way here?”

“No.”

A peach seed.

Confused, I threw it back into the trash.

‘What in the world…’

It seemed like confusing events were happening right from the morning.

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