Eat The World Tree

[Why isn’t he coming?]

What was that damn trial anyway?

No matter how much I acted a little, just a little mischievous, was it right for someone to change like that so quickly?

[…Stupid bastards.]

They were all the same.

No one approached me consistently.

Everyone harbored some dark scheme in their hearts; no one truly wanted to support and assist me, a tree.

It had been like that for a long time.

[…Is it because I can’t become the World Tree? Is that why?]

I was certainly not a tree worthy of becoming the World Tree.

If I were the World Tree, could they have belittled and looked down on me like that?

“That tree is too picky. All it does is curse whenever it gets the chance. No one could like it.”

Was I too picky?

It’s not that I didn’t speak up; other trees were the same.

I knew those guys didn’t like me.

“Whenever I look at it, I just want to snap off its branches. It’s small, shouldn’t be too hard, right?”

Most of them talk behind my back.

That was fine. At worst, they were just inferior beings gossiping behind my back.

Thinking like that helped me suppress the rising anger.

“I don’t think I can satisfy you.”

But the reason I felt so empty now was that he was the only one who directly expressed his dissatisfaction to my face.

That’s why he left a stronger impression and stirred my heart.

And it wasn’t even a satisfying curse, just saying he couldn’t meet my expectations.

[Lee Shiheon.]

Merri murmured.

[Lee Shiheon, Lee Shiheon.]

Feeling down just because of that one guy was overwhelming.

[…Why am I even bothered by this?]

It was not like we were going to meet for long anyway.

We didn’t share any emotions, and we’re nothing to each other.

I was just the tree giving out trials, and he was just a cadet from El Academy here to take the trial.

It’s simple. Our relationship was just that, and even if it flared up, it would fizzle out in a few days.

He danced to my tune for a week, but that was it.

[Haah.]

The water couldn’t reach my roots anymore.

Exhaling oxygen, I blankly stared at the light.

[…I want to become the World Tree.]

The dream and hope I had consistently looked up to since I was young.

I wanted to spread my branches wide too.

[So great that I can embrace everyone.]

I wanted to crush the noses of those who ignored me and live surrounded by people who genuinely like me for the rest of my life.

[…]

People who liked me.

Would there be such people?

Even if I became the World Tree and people approach me to pick my flowers, would they really like me?

The world didn’t revolve around me.

I realized this a long time ago while trapped in this solitary room, surviving only by being fed nutrients.

Would things change if I put in more effort?

If I grew my roots bigger and bore greener leaves and fruits?

…What if I tried to hold on from now on?

I thought these days about how things might change if I just said, “I’ll work hard. I’m sorry.”

Clack.

The sound of the door opening.

I lifted my sagging branches and straightened myself up.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t him, but at least it was someone who could deliver his answer.

[How was it?]

My voice came out more subdued than usual.

The caretaker looked silently at the ground, hands clasped respectfully.

“I came to deliver a message.”

[What about him… No, what about Lee Shiheon?]

“It’s related to Lee Shiheon.”

I couldn’t see him.

It was hard.

He’d think about it a bit more.

The man’s words were becoming softer, always making me anxious whenever his time to visit came.

Nearly a week had passed since then.

Yet the memory of his face and scent was still vividly imprinted in my mind.

[What’s it this time?]

After a pause, the man opened his mouth.

“I came to inform you that Lee Shiheon’s trial tree might change.”

Something I never thought about.

[What?]

I couldn’t believe my ears.

I had managed countless Forester Selection Competitions up to now, but I’ve never heard of such a thing.

The second trial had clear rules.

You couldn’t just change your trial tree because you didn’t like it.

[What are you talking about?]

“I cannot provide further details.”

[Why not?]

“Do you remember the exception clause in the Forester Selection Competition?”

Everything that happened in the competition could be slightly adjusted or altered at the command of the World Tree.

Of course, there were many World Trees, so they couldn’t just do as they pleased, but changing the trial tree for the second trial was something a World Tree could easily adjust.

[…What.]

In short, another World Tree had changed Lee Shiheon’s trial tree.

I was too dumbfounded to speak.

The human I looked down on had passed the second trial with the protection of another World Tree.

And I couldn’t say a word about it.

The other side was of a higher rank than me—another World Tree.

I was talking about the highest tier of the caste system.

[…]

An unspeakable sense of injustice surged inside me.

I understood, but it hurt.

[So… I’m just supposed to shut up and accept it, right? I’m not a tree that can become a World Tree anyway. I’m going to be discarded soon.]

“That’s not true.”

[What do you mean it’s not?]

Emotion spilled out of my mouth.

[What do you mean it’s not!]

My branches stood up stiff.

A drop of water fell from under my leaves.

[Because I’m small. My trunk is small, my roots are short, and I’ve acted like a child my whole life, is that why?]

I knew.

[I was going to say sorry. Yeah, I was a bit harsh. But this… this isn’t right.]

A brief look of surprise crossed the man’s face.

His emotions didn’t matter to me anyway.

This guy had also spoken ill of me at some point.

[Just one time, let me see him. Is that so hard?]

“It’s not something I can control.”

[Let me see the World Tree.]

The Tree Network.

That was the so-called connection link only the World Trees share.

After the Tree Spirit King and Cheonma, it had been restructured multiple times, so now only the upper-tier World Trees could use it.

I, too, was connected to the Tree Network.

But as a non-World Tree, I could only barely stay connected without being able to communicate meaningfully.

I could only receive one-way messages from the higher World Trees.

This inefficient system resulted from several incidents where the Tree Spirit King and Flower exposed the positions and secrets of the World Trees multiple times.

But with permission, I could approach as well.

Of course, I lacked both the power and the justification for it.

I was too aggrieved to say anything else.

My branches trembled at the tips.

I clenched my roots tight.

I had cried so much that my clothes were drenched.

[…]

It was tyranny.

But I couldn’t say anything.

I knew all along that the contempt I had shouted towards humans and the way I mocked those beneath me, changing situations as I pleased, wasn’t much different from the current situation.

Since I remained silent, the man straightened his clothes and slowly began to speak.

His voice, sounding like he deeply regretted it, was unpleasant to hear.

“It seems that’s how things have turned out. I’m sorry. It looks like your role in the second trial has come to an end as of today, Merri.”

When the second trial ends,

I’d be stuck here again for years, just taking insults.

If I didn’t grow properly, at worst, I might be released into the wild.

They called it “release,” but in reality, it was the same as killing me.

Trees grown in soil filled with magic and nutrients could not survive properly in rough, dry earth.

I’d wither in no time, unable to absorb any nutrients.

“Take a good rest.”

I couldn’t say anything.

There was no way to change this situation.

I couldn’t even express my feelings.

[Hehe.]

A weak laugh escaped my lips.

[…At least,]

I want to meet him in person.

What did he really think of me deep down?

Did you find me annoying too?

It must have been tough, but you never know.

If he approached me because he genuinely wanted to win my favor and was that kind to me,

I could at least apologize.

[If only I could talk.]

-Sssss.

The branches shrank.

The roots surfaced and took their form.

I wanted to at least say something.

[Hubby~]

Small roots tightly wrapped around my waist.

The branches hugged my underarms, and the roots embraced my waist. If it were a human, it would be like wrapping both arms and legs around me, holding me as close as possible.

I looked at the World Tree of Healing, rubbing its soft tree body against my cheek.

[…I did well, right?]

“Yeah, yeah, you did well.”

[Kyaaa!]

As I patted the tree’s body with my hand, its voice exploded with joy as if it would take off.

Was this a tree or a person?

-Smooch, smooch, smooch, smooch, smooch.

A saliva-like liquid smeared all over my face.

A cheek kiss should at least feel like a proper kiss; I couldn’t tell if I was being treated like a husband or a pet dog.

[One of my assigned people was missing, so I just switched them. And since you were troubled by the second trial, hubby, I figured it’d be easier this way.]

Nepotism at its finest.

Was this why they said networking was so important in life?

When the World Tree of Healing used her branches, no one dared to say a word.

Thanks to her, I could no longer meet Merri, with whom I had been making significant progress.

‘Is this a good thing?’

I had planned to thoroughly change Merri’s mindset, but now that seemed unnecessary.

‘Well, better to smoothly pass by playing the role of hubby a few times rather than risk uncertain bets.’

I glanced at the World Tree of Healing clinging to me, then turned to look at Maronnie, who was standing far away, glaring at me with a strange look.

When my gaze shifted away from the World Tree, she tightened her grip around me, as if trying to grab more of my attention, and spoke.

[…Hubby, you smell so good.]

“You sound like a pervert.”

[At this moment, everything from one to ten is mine.]

Do as you please.

When was my body ever mine anyway?

“…Lee Shiheon.”

“Yeah?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Maronnie looked like she wanted to say something but lost her nerve, puffing up her cheeks and turning away.

Did they say she was bound?

If I was not mistaken, the way she’s sitting there with that pouty expression, like a tragic heroine, wasn’t for no reason.

If she was bound, shouldn’t she generally follow my words?

“Blanche.”

“Don’t call me that!”

“Honestly, it’s your name, even if you’re a National Tree. It’s only right to call you by it.”

[I agree with hubby~]

With the World Tree of Healing backing me up, Maronnie bit her lips tightly.

“…I hate it. It feels weird.”

Considering she was showing such refusal, it didn’t seem like she’s fully bound.

‘Or maybe, as Taeyang said, the bond isn’t fully established yet.’

Somewhere in between being bound and not bound.

An unstable state that could break at any time.

They say you need to maintain the relationship and whisper constantly to establish a full bond.

Curious, I subtly probed Maronnie.

“Do you want to sit on my lap too?”

A comment that wouldn’t be surprising if I got slapped for it.

If you said this to someone you’re not close with, it wouldn’t be strange if you ended up in jail.

I glanced at Maronnie, who was now looking down at my lap.

When I opened my arms, she shook her head vigorously.

“Are you crazy?!”

She said that, turning her head sharply, but soon returned her gaze to me. A deep sense of conflict was visible.

Her face gradually turned red, and eventually, she slowly crawled over and sat in front of me.

Rather than sitting on my lap, she sat with her back to me. Looking ahead, I saw her covering her face with her hands.

Looking at her like this, it seemed she was bound after all.

“Really, I must be crazy… I don’t know anymore…”

I placed my hand on top of her head, feeling the soft texture of her hair.

As I gently stroked her, she leaned back slightly, resting in my embrace.

[Hubby, what about me?]

“I got it.”

[Hehe.]

As I softly patted her head, I realized something.

Maronnie therapy had its value too.

They said binding was akin to brainwashing, but seeing how she clearly expressed rejection, it was evident that she’s not fully bound.

I finally understood Maronnie’s current state.

Two days left until the second trial ended.

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