Eat The World Tree

Shiba’s mornings started early.

“Beep.”

She rubbed her eyes as she rose from her toddler bed. With her father gone, there’s no reason to be clingy.

As summer subtly approached, the sun started to rise even at dawn. For a young, growing tree absorbing sunlight, nothing could be better.

-Creak.

She drew the curtains and basked in the sunlight. The room brightened under the tilted red rays of the morning sun.

A shadow naturally formed around Shiba. Her lips felt parched, causing her to frown.

-Rustle, rustle.

Instead of Shiba’s shadow, a giant branch grew on the floor. An occasional surreal phenomenon seen in the first-generation Tree People. Though she appeared human, her shadow sometimes took the form of a tree. Young Shiba wouldn’t be able to understand this.

The once-tiny sapling was gradually growing.

The bud leaves that were once on her head have disappeared, and branches were poking out from her hair. If she touched it, she could feel a hard bark growing above her scalp. The other kids seemed able to control it. Strangely, she couldn’t, so Shiba raised her hand and fiddled with her branch.

“Beep.”

A feeble sound. It might be because her throat felt dry.

Shiba turned her body back toward her bed. With her tiny hands, she fumbled with her phone, and her father’s face appeared on the screen.

“Hehe…”

A giggle escaped her lips. But the lingering emptiness at her waist soon hardened her smile.

Holding her phone to her chest, Shiba clutched her chick doll, ‘Suba,’ and dashed to Jin Dallae’s room.

“Mom.”

“…Mmm?”

Jin Dallae stirred awake at Shiba’s voice. Though still drowsy, she stretched out her hand and gently patted Shiba’s head before anyone else. When Shiba climbed onto the bed, Jin Dallae stretched her arms out and tenderly embraced her.

“Shiba misses Daddy…”

She muttered this within the warmth of her mother’s arms.

Even without Lee Shiheon, Shiba had grown steadily. Once just a tiny four-year-old, Shiba had now grown to about the size of a seven-year-old.

She could speak clearly now and express her thoughts well.

Maybe she took after her father. She got lonely easily, but she didn’t say it. She knew her dad was busy.

Expressing oneself and expressing one’s true feelings were different. Right now, she wanted to see her dad, but she told her mom she’s fine. Shiba has already learned to tell little lies.

But today, for some reason, she wanted to throw a bit of a tantrum. This was a rare occurrence.

“Do you miss Daddy?”

“…Yeah.”

It had only been a little over a month. For Shiba, who had always grown up in her dad’s embrace, his absence felt even more significant.

Was she being too greedy? Compared to before, things were much cozier now. When her dad was at school, she was left alone in a flowerpot, but now, her mom was always by her side, and she even had teachers. In comparison, her time with others had increased significantly.

…Yet.

Shiba held her hand to her chest.

“Mom, here feels so dark…”

Two hours out of twenty-four. Aside from the time spent sleeping, those two hours were the only time baby Shiba could spend with her dad when he attended school. Those two hours felt happier than any time now.

Jin Dallae was startled awake. She patted Shiba’s back repeatedly, pouring out all her love. But sometimes, no amount of affection can fill a void.

“Daddy will come back soon.”

“Really…?”

“Of course. Daddy loves Shiba more than anyone.”

“Then why doesn’t he come to see me?”

“He’s getting ready to become an even cooler dad.”

“I want to see him now.”

“When he’s even cooler, you might think differently, don’t you think?”

“…”

“He’ll be twice as cool.”

“Twice as cool… I like that.”

“Right? Then let’s wait just a little longer, Shiba.”

-Smooch.

A kiss on the cheek.

Raising Shiba, Jin Dallae had gradually taken on a more maternal role. Shiba wiped her tears on Jin Dallae’s chest, her expression slightly calmer.

-Thump, thump.

Shiba didn’t know how to describe this feeling. It felt as if her dad was going far away. Not right now.

But soon, she felt she might not see him for a very long time, especially because of the dream she had last night.

-Bang!

In her dream, there was a single gunshot, and the mask her dad always wore shattered.

[Shiba is feeling really lonely.]

Jin Dallae’s voice echoed through the phone. I stayed silent for a while before finally speaking up.

“…Really?”

It was bittersweet to know Shiba hadn’t forgotten me. I knew my relationship with Shiba had become more distant than it used to be.

Even though I was always away because of work, I had hardly ever been gone this long. It had been almost two months since the Forester Selection Competition began. In Shiba’s young life, that was almost a third of her life without me.

[She usually doesn’t fuss… But today, more than usual.]

What was I supposed to do with my little daddy’s girl? It’s not that I didn’t want to see her.

No one wanted to see her more than I did. If loving Shiba were a competition, I’d win hands down. If it were possible, my dream would be to live a normal life with Shiba, far from competitions and the Flower. I never thought I’d be the type to dote on my child, but now I understood why they said kids were like your heart outside your body. Especially Shiba—she was growing so quickly as a tree, there’s unique joy in watching her thrive.

So that’s why I was talking to Jin Dallae on the phone and receiving pictures of Shiba.

[…Are you struggling?]

“Probably so.”

I answered Jin Dallae’s question.

Things weren’t easy. I was here at the competition as per Byeol and Master’s request, but I could be targeted anytime. There’s a high chance I might not be able to see Shiba.

Jin Dallae and the nanny… I felt bad for Shiba, but I had my reasons for setting up this environment for her.

“Please console her well. You’re her mom.”

[…Mom? Hehe. Are you acknowledging that?]

“It’s not about me acknowledging it. Shiba’s the one who decided that.”

We exchanged a few more words and ended the call.

In the early morning just before dawn, Maronnie, who had endured a long night, succumbed to sleep before I did. Left alone in the training ground, I continued perfecting my spells. After asking the awake Sage to step outside and call, I returned, set my phone on the desk, and turned to look at the Sage.

“Enjoying the eavesdropping?”

“…Just a little? I quite like seeing the human side of you, Shiheon. Don’t ever let that go.”

“Ah, right. And if you’d share some of the information you know, perhaps you’d find even more kindness directed your way.”

-Cheep, cheep.

As I conversed with the Sage, I stroked the sleeping Sparrow and Woodpecker on my lap. Creating spells at my level was simply impossible without the help of these spirits.

Usually, spirits didn’t assist with things like this, but these two were uniquely generous in their support, for which I was grateful. It’s rewarding to give them my magic without holding back.

On my phone screen, Shiba’s sleeping face, the latest picture I received, served as the wallpaper.

“Is that your daughter?”

“She’s adorable, isn’t she?”

The casual tone made a slight smile appear on her lips.

“Children’s smiles are always lovely. Though beauty and ugliness endlessly change, there have always been things that remain beautiful.”

“…Do you always have to put things so complicatedly?”

“It’s a habit.”

The Sage raised her hand and gently touched the photo on the screen. As her finger made contact, a gray lock screen spread across the display. With a few motions, she easily unlocked it.

“Did you know? The residue of magic can linger even in something as simple as this.”

Due to my rapid growth, my magic leaked out unless I was especially careful. Although I had learned from Cheonma how to conceal my power, I didn’t use that technique here.

I shrugged. Unlocking a phone just by recognizing traces of magic… Not something most people, except the Sage, could do.

“Alright, take a look at this.”

I handed her a paper summarizing the spell I’d been working on. The Sage accepted it from me with a look akin to one gazing at a foal taking its first steps, and then began to read.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

The concept of mixing dark energy with magic had taken considerable time, but it was worth it.

After a few rustling sounds as she turned the paper, the Sage rounded her lips and nodded slightly, her eyes widening a bit.

“Not bad.”

“Really?”

“Well, would I say it was real if it weren’t?”

My shoulders relaxed. I leaned my whole body weight against the back of the chair, letting out a sigh of relief.

“Hah…”

“Have you thought of the questions you wanted to ask?”

She had mentioned answering three questions for me.

“Questions, huh~”

Still in the afterglow of crafting a spell, I looked back at the Sage and asked lightly,

“Are you still wearing teddy bear panties today?”

A joke.

“…You.”

“Kidding, kidding.”

I wouldn’t actually ask the famously wise and knowledgeable Sage about her underwear. Besides, I already know her taste from past glimpses. From where the desk was positioned in the training ground, you got a clear view of the entrance, and thanks to the height of the stairs, you could catch a glance every now and then. Today’s pair had a teddy bear with a ribbon on its head.

“These were chosen by Sephirot. If I don’t wear them, she’d shed tears…”

“Alright, alright.”

“Don’t brush it off so lightly.”

“Yes, yes, I understand.”

“……”

I adjusted my posture before things went further.

There were more than a few things I wanted to ask. But first, I tapped the two sleeping spirits and sent them back to the Spirit Realm.

Now, the first question.

Considering my current situation and assuming I could trust the Sage, I had narrowed it down to three key questions. Slowly, I opened my mouth.

“Cheondo.”

My three mentors—Hwangdo, Baekdo, and Cheondo—were ties that couldn’t be replaced.

“I know that she’s cursed by the World Tree.”

“…And?”

“They say the curse will only lift if the one who cast it dies. Do you know much about this?”

“It’s information known to only a few.”

If the Sage, who’s affiliated with the World Tree of Knowledge, didn’t know, then no one would.

According to Champi, Cheondo was currently aiding the World Tree. As a henchman working to eliminate the Flower, despite her hatred of the World Tree, she’s assisting the family’s archenemy. There was something I wanted to understand about that, too.

“It’s true. So, what exactly are you curious about?”

The Sage responded openly.

“The reason Cheondo is helping the World Tree and the World Tree that cursed her.”

“Isn’t that two questions?”

“Let’s count it as one.”

“…Impossible to argue with you. Very well. It seems Shiheon doesn’t quite trust me, so if sharing a bit of goodwill will help…”

It would’ve been nice if she’d left off that last part. I was nearly moved.

With an amused smirk, I waited for her to continue.

“The World Tree of Justice. It might be easier to explain it as the World Tree that founded El Academy.”

“One of the Five Great World Trees?”

“Yes. It’s a tree that can’t stand injustice. But that’s only from the perspective of the World Tree.”

A World Tree governing the concept of justice. Its agent was Angelica.

“I don’t know the exact words exchanged between the World Tree and Cheondo.”

“So, you know a little, is that it?”

The Sage nodded before continuing. This must be why she’s counting this as one question, despite there technically being two. It felt like a bonus answer, considering she couldn’t provide a definitive one.

According to Champi, Cheondo’s actions in assisting the World Tree were supposedly to restore Dowon or to cleanse the dishonor of the Peach Tree family. But that’s just speculation. I waited, and soon enough, she spoke.

“…The promise was to return the thing most precious to Cheonma.”

“What?”

What could that mean?

“The most precious thing… though I’m not sure what that is.”

To return it. Something precious.

The two words spun in my mind, unable to connect to anything concrete. There’s more than one thing of great importance to Cheondo. Perhaps Champi’s assumption was correct. It could be something related to her father, the previous Cheonma. I wanted to ask about Dowon’s downfall too, but I refrained.

“Does that answer your question?”

“…It doesn’t answer everything, but it gives me a general idea.”

“Then, please proceed with the next question, as I have morning tasks to attend to.”

My second and third questions.

I’d already decided on them. One was about Sansuyu’s illness. Even though I’ve been applying healing power to her regularly, I wondered if complete recovery was possible.

The other question was about the timing of the attack following the Forester Selection Competition. This final question was something even the Sage might not know, so I asked it casually to gauge her reaction.

The Sage answered without hesitation, almost as if there was nothing she didn’t know.

“The 14th.”

The Flower’s plan fell from her lips.

“Many trees will perish.”

She added, with a hint of pleasure, the news that Flower’s archenemy, the trees, would burn.