Eat The World Tree

Jung Siwoo did not receive a penalty.

“Shit.”

“Why suddenly? Did I do something wrong?”

Startled by my sudden swearing during the class, Jin Dallae anxiously asked with her heart in her throat.

“No, it’s just…”

Suddenly, I felt an urge to wither and kill all the World Trees.

Having been beaten up by an Ent, almost dying upon meeting a Wood Ghost, and being toyed with by a World Tree in every possible way, now even the sight of trees disgusted me on my path.

“I can’t solve this problem.”

I nonchalantly answered and rested my chin on my hand, sighing. At the front, the professor incessantly continued his lecture on magical theory.

“Now, right here, I am removing the second circle of this Mad Fire spell. Does anyone know the interpretation?”

The classroom fell silent at the professor’s question, everyone speechless.

“It’s based on the Magnaroth Theory.”

“Hmm… Did you do some advanced studying? That’s correct.”

I carelessly threw out an answer, and an impressed voice came from the professor. The classroom began to stir.

-Why is he like that today?

-He must be studying hard.

-Which number is he?

Magic was ultimately about inputting commands. Plus, having undergone Hwangdo’s Spartan education, how could I not know?

I was reaping the benefits of increasing my study time by cutting down on sleep. I stretched and blinked my sleepy eyes.

Then, Jin Dallae leaned toward me.

“Do you… have something going on?”

She asked in a whisper, bringing a hand to her mouth.

While continuing to take notes, I tilted my head in curiosity.

“Why?”

“There have been a lot of rumors lately.”

“What kind of rumors?”

“Well… about the person wearing a mask. Only one person in the academy goes around with a mask, right?”

Jin Dallae looked intently at my mask as she spoke. She seemed to be questioning the rumors, which I understood. After seeing my face, which was worse than that of an orc, how could she believe those rumors to be true?

“What about it?”

Jin Dallae stared at me for a while, then with a “hmm…” as if thinking about something, soon smiled.

“They’re good rumors. About your skills, and many are curious about you. Also…”

“Also?”

Jin Dallae talked about the rumors but seemed to be enjoying herself.

I almost burst out laughing at her demeanor.

“Also…”

Should I tell her? My face betrayed my hesitation.

It was a curious feeling.

She used to be as cold as a block of ice, but now we had become close friends. I considered Jin Dallae someone I could rely on. She took care of Shiba when I was absent.

“It’s just praise. Your reputation around here has really improved.”

“Really? That’s a relief.”

Come to think of it, I had been too focused on training recently, neglecting my friends.

Jung Siwoo, Jin Dallae, and Sansuyu…

I haven’t had a conversation with Sansuyu recently. What was she doing now?

I tilted my head to look at where Sansuyu was sitting.

“……Hmm. Sniff.”

Sansuyu was dozing off, her arm pinched, a soft snore escaping her lips. Several students were entranced by this unusual sight.

“That’s all for today’s class. The next assignment will be submitted via email.”

The class finally ended. I looked at Jin Dallae packing up her things and suggested.

“Let’s go grab some food.”

She put her laptop in her bag and pretended to think for a moment, then nodded.

“Just the two of us?”

“Yeah.”

“……Okay.”

The last answer was in a slightly agitated voice.

---

[Connection with the World Tree is temporarily suspended.]

A chill penetrated my bones.

Like the lush leaves that bloomed in the refreshing spring, magic power etched all over my body started to flow out.

“Do you see any changes compared to before?”

Inside the personal training room, accessed through spatial magic, Baekdo casually asked while loosening her fists.

Indeed, the power was lacking. It was a bit distant from the overflowing sensation of power I felt in Purgatory. Maybe about 40%, no, 30% of that time.

Yet, it was still enough power to knock someone down. But having tasted overwhelming power, it was inevitably disappointing.

“It might take some time to use that power again. Your body needs to adapt first.”

“It seems so.”

“Today’s training is simple. Just hit and block with me.”

Baekdo beckoned with one hand, provoking me.

I knew I couldn’t win in a fight, but being provoked by Baekdo, not Cheondo or Hwangdo, was infuriating.

“A handicap.”

“What nonsense is this suddenly?”

“If our skills are similar, wouldn’t it stir up the spirit of improvement? Granting a handicap seems like a duty of a teacher.”

Baekdo observed me and then scoffed.

“Whether I give you a handicap or not, you’re still going to get beaten.”

This woman…

“One arm.”

“Fine, just my right arm then. Anything else?”

“Magic power.”

Baekdo retracted the magic power rising behind her back.

She was practically half a corpse, without magic power and unable to use her right arm. Even so, could I not win? Confidently assuming a stance, Baekdo still had a wide smile.

“Is that all you have?”

Baekdo spoke boldly.

“Add one more thing. During the match, I’ll grant you anything if you touch any part of my body besides my arms and legs.”

“Anything?”

“Yes, anything.”

I seriously adjusted my stance and pulled all my magic power into my body, ready to shatter the training room.

“Master, you’re digging your own grave.”

“What? Dealing with you is like handling a newborn. Do you know what people like you are called?”

Baekdo smiled gracefully.

“A loser.”

Loser?

I knew it, but I never thought I’d hear that word echo in my mind.

Loser. Loser… Loser.

I just felt dizzy.

“What if you lose after accumulating such bad karma?”

“You’re breathing heavily. Can’t even withstand a provocation, and you want to be a fighter?”

“…If I win, you don’t know what you’re in for. Remember, I have the nature of a lewd demon.”

“Not a scratch on you.”

“Like a dung beetle.”

A distinct vein appeared on Baekdo’s forehead.

“…What?”

“Why eat that? Might as well chew on radishes.”

“Eek!”

Baekdo, furious as if the world was turning upside down, clenched her fist. Her arm muscles swelled, and veins protruded, looking like a single hit could be deadly.

“You’ve crossed the line.”

“How did you get to your position if you can’t even take an insult from an enemy?”

I felt a shiver run through my body from the emanating murderous aura.

A clear hostility sent shivers down my spine.

“Could it be… Nah.”

Nevertheless, I continued, adjusting my uncomfortable breathing.

“Are you angry?”

“…!”

Baekdo vanished from sight.

At the same time, a vivid image flashed before my eyes. It was astonishing.

I saw myself being punched in the abdomen and flying away, as if it were a premonition passing through my mind.

‘What is this?’

Barely having time to ponder its nature, I instinctively twisted my body to dodge.

The magic power enveloping my body like armor began to quiver in the surrounding air currents as if it were part of my flesh.

My body bent, and Baekdo appeared in front of me. Her eyes widened slightly as I dodged her first attack.

Has my intuition improved? When I concentrated deeply, images like that reappeared, as if I was seeing a few seconds into the future.

It was said that hunters sometimes experienced this in extreme situations.

-Whoosh!

I thrust my left hand towards Baekdo’s shoulder. If even my fingertips touched her, I would win.

But a few seconds later, another image surfaced before my eyes. It was me, unable to block Baekdo’s punch as she changed trajectory and sent me flying.

-Bang!

I felt dizzy.

My lungs contracted in pain once and then twice from the arm I instinctively raised to block the attack.

My body was slammed against the wall.

“Kuhack!”

I moved too late and ended up allowing the attack.

“Get up already, what are you doing?”

Baekdo, standing at a distance with her arms crossed, chuckled and prodded me.

“I’m angry now…”

“That was the plan all along.”

Lies every time I opened my mouth. I got up again and took a deep breath. Black magic power began to slowly spread behind me.

Heukdo (Black Path).

A magic power trait like that of Cheonma, a sign of my power and proof that I could succeed Cheonma, burst forth uncontrollably.

“Now it’s getting interesting.”

As Baekdo finished speaking, I got up and rushed towards her.

A black crescent moon erupted from behind me, charging towards Baekdo.

A blade with frightening destructive power, created with almost 100% aptitude. Realizing it was impossible to block without magic power, Baekdo twisted her body to dodge it.

I charged at Baekdo, who was calmly breathing and smiling.

A fierce exchange of fists.

I used both hands and feet.

Whenever she created distance, I closed it.

The strength augmented by Heukdo barely allowed me to catch up to Baekdo, and now it was truly a clash of skill against skill.

My foot barely missed her chin.

Whenever I threw a punch, she lightly parried it with her palm.

“You certainly have talent.”

Even during the fight, Baekdo casually posed a question.

It was hard even to steady my breathing while swinging my fists. Panting, I replied.

“If I didn’t. Would I, hah, be here?”

“That’s true, but… is this all you’ve got?”

“I, haven’t even been, learning, for two months.”

“It’ll take at least half a year to even touch my flesh.”

I was determined to touch her no matter what.

Grinding my teeth, I drew back my right arm.

As I tried to use the first secret technique, Baekdo, noticing it, closed the distance immediately.

“Predictable.”

Face to face, my vision filled with Baekdo’s face. She dived in instantly.

A strong pain in my abdomen. The gathered magic power collapsed, and my entire bloodstream cried out in pain.

“Cough.”

I coughed hollowly, barely regaining my senses and stepping back.

The pain was now familiar and bearable as long as I maintained my breath.

‘I just need to touch her somehow.’

What could be the way? As I pondered,

‘Wait.’

A single plan popped into my mind.

“Are you not coming any closer?”

“Stop talking nonsense and wait.”

I mustered my scattered magic power with all my strength, forcing my body to move despite reaching its limit. My body creaked like an unoiled piece of scrap metal, but I had experienced reaching my limits several times before through past experiences.

Calculating the possibilities in my mind. Anticipating the landscape.

Using Heukdo seemed to make Baekdo’s movements more predictable than before.

‘Here I go.’

I took off and clashed again.

Fist against fist, foot against foot.

Baekdo moved as if she wasn’t tired at all. I was certain her complacency and underestimating me would become her downfall.

Just one opening to make contact with her body.

I stepped back once more, getting into position.

I pull back my arm, focusing all my magic on one point.

‘When the white flower blooms-’

“It’s predictable, isn’t it?”

‘-now.’

At this moment, with our faces closest together. Without using magic, I thrust my head forward with all my might.

A perfect motion, devoid of any killing intent or hostility.

-Thump!

I almost shed tears from the pain in my abdomen, but I endured it and flew forward.

-Bang, crash!

I was out of breath.

“Keh… Uh. Kekeke.”

A groan mixed with pain escaped, but I laughed as I picked myself up from the ground.

“Master.”

Baekdo’s face was crumpled.

“I just grazed you.”

Whether it was her nose, lips, or cheek, I wasn’t exactly sure, but I pushed my face forward anyway. And I etched the sensation of that touch in my mind.

In a nutshell, a slight collision had occurred.

“How about that?”

Baekdo said nothing.

“…”

“Anything?”

After waiting for a while, a subtle word fell from her lips.

“What are you talking about?”

It was a shameless claim, but I didn’t care.

Surely, there would be a witness in her consciousness.

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