Eat The World Tree

Chapter 258: The Leaf’s Choice (2)

chapter 258: the leaf’s choice (2)

[greeting.]

“good day.”

[is that all?]

a booming voice reverberated throughout the room.

the place where the tree, merri, was planted was a space filled with bright, white light radiating from all directions. it seemed that this light served as a substitute for sunlight.

the soil on the ground was not ordinary either. it was densely packed with magical energy, and if i scooped it up with a trowel, it seemed like it would be useful for many things.

[see? this is why humans are hopeless. who just gives a simple greeting when asked?]

there were women who could imitate the voices of children, and the voice merri was making now was quite similar to that type. if you thought of it kindly, it could be considered a cute voice; if not, it would be an annoying one. among the people i knew, maronnie had the cutest voice, but this one was slightly more childish.

however, unlike maronnie’s clear and pleasant voice, this one was oddly unpleasant. maybe because it came from a tree. despite being twenty-eight, it didn’t sound like it.

i responded with an awkward smile.

“i’m sorry, i don’t know much in this area since i’m from an inferior species. if you could teach me, lady merri, i would try my best.”

swallowing my pride was something i could do over and over again. if it could get me through this, i’d even lick the roots. but i knew this: if someone set their mind to tearing a person down, they could nitpick anything.

i learned that in the army. a real soldier could chew you out for an hour just over your rank and name.

[when did i say you could call me merri? do you think my name is a joke?]

“no, i think it’s a very beautiful name.”

[beautiful? ha, who are you to judge me?]

see? a person who’s pretty skilled at grinding others down. she seemed like the type who grew up bothering others, like a princess. not a hothouse flower, but a living tumor, a tumor.

[you’re a cadet here to undergo trials, a cadet. not a national tree, not a tree person, just an inferior cadet. but if your attitude is this bad from the start, what am i supposed to do? are you crazy, or do you think you can take me lightly?]

“i apologize.”

[which academy did you attend? what’s your name?]

“el academy.”

[ha, even el academy has fallen so low.]

merri rapidly spat out insults directed at me. in times like this, trying to fight back would be pointless. you just had to quietly bow your head, clasp your hands, and wait for time to pass. of course, that doesn’t mean you can let your mind wander. otherwise, you might get hit with a “what did i just say?” backlash.

[this is why i hate humans; they lack basic decency. what’s your name?]

“lee shiheon.”

[lee shiheon? even your name sounds trashy, like a criminal.]

-chuckle.nôv(el)b\\jnn

[do you have a lover?]

“...no.”

[figures. anyone dating you would be an idiot.]

as merri harshly criticized me, humans, and even lovers from all angles, i thought to myself:

‘...i’m craving some tofu.’

i wasn’t really craving it, but while i could understand insults directed at me, it was hard not to feel slighted when she dragged lovers into it. i kept my head down and said nothing.

somehow, i would get through this.

the only thing i could do was try to match this woman’s? tastes to the best of my ability.

before long, merri shouted.

[enough.]

“pardon?”

[get out.]

i hadn’t even gone through any trials. when she said that, i dumbfoundedly asked again. then merri shouted so loudly that i had to cover my ears.

[get out! i’m not in the mood to give you a trial today!]

“...understood. i’ll return at the same time tomorrow.”

just before leaving, i bowed as obsequiously as possible.

we sat across from each other at a round table in a small room, having tea and snacks while chatting. i lightly waved the paper i had in my hand, almost as if boasting.

-maronnie blanche.

that was the name written on the paper of the person i was to meet today.

maronnie had introduced herself as lonnie, hiding the fact that she was a national tree. she even went as far as saying she was from manhattan academy. i didn’t know the reason, but she seemed to want to appear as a regular person. when we were in the dungeon, we might have called each other by name during that intimate moment. but i was too frenzied at the time, so i didn’t remember clearly. maronnie probably remembered it the same way.

today would be the day her secret was revealed.

“got nothing to say? no? really?”

“...ha. ah, geez! seriously.”

blanche, who had slumped over the table, covered her forehead with her hand.

“...i’m so unlucky.”

she muttered quietly to herself. maronnie, who had buried her face in her arms, lifted her head slightly to look at me. she had a look that resembled a cat on the table, staring at me with wide eyes.

“hey.”

“yeah?”

“since it’s already out, i’ll just say it. as a national tree, i command you: don’t acknowledge me.”

“so, are we just going to sit here quietly for two hours?”

“.....”

“or was this not our first meeting?”

we had agreed to bury and forget what happened back then. technically, our first encounter was in the basement. that’s the official story, but honestly, i needed maronnie’s power right now.

“it was... our first meeting, i guess.”

maronnie agreed. she raised her still-red face and slyly extended her hand like a cat’s paw.

“then let’s start with greetings again.”

“lee shiheon.”

“...maronnie blanche. you might not have known, but i’m a national tree.”

we clasped hands. feeling the soft touch of her hand, i slightly tightened my grip for a handshake. it wasn’t a bad thing to reestablish our relationship. if maronnie was willing to do that.

of course, even if she slapped me and walked out right now, i wouldn’t have much to say.

‘how much did i actually do back then?’

i didn’t remember much after getting hit by magic. i vaguely knew maronnie said something to me, but the memories got fuzzy over time.

ultimately, the choice was maronnie’s. as i looked at her, she stared blankly at our clasped hands.

“maronnie?”

“......”

her eyes looked dazed as she stared at our joined hands, like a girl’s eyes. when i released the handshake, maronnie took her hand back and stared intently at it. she seemed to be deep in thought.

“huh?”

-sszzz.

“huh? wh-what?”

her cheeks flushed. maronnie’s face turned red up to her ears. suddenly, she shivered and stood up from her chair.

“...what’s wrong?”

“w-wait. don’t talk to me....”

what’s wrong with her suddenly? her reaction was so intense that i was taken aback too. i slowly stood up and looked at her.

“are you hurt?”

“...huh? yes. yes! i am. why is this happening to me suddenly?”

flailing her hands in confusion, maronnie spoke nonsensically. i activated the power of healing as i approached her. as i tried to reach out to her, she flinched in surprise. forcing her hand into mine, i infused her with healing power, but something felt stuck in the middle.

‘but she’s healthy.’

the power had no effect at all.

i tilted my head as i held maronnie’s small, white wrist and looked up. she didn’t seem like the type to pretend to be sick, but then i noticed that her face had turned as red as a bomb about to explode in a game.