Eat The World Tree

Chapter 307: Puppy, Kitten (2)

Maronnie whimpered as she stood on tiptoes with a flower in hand, reaching for a book atop the shelf.

“Ugh, why can’t I reach...!”

Being short had its disadvantages—many of them. In seduction, in life, and even in mundane tasks like pulling out a book from a high shelf, height was an asset.

She wondered what it would be like if her legs were just a bit longer.

As that thought passed through her mind, a shadow fell over her head.

A massive chest rested lightly on Maronnie’s head.

“.......”

It was a chest as grand as a mountain.

When Maronnie had once faced the grandeur of the Louvre Pyramid, it had left her in awe. Now, she felt that awe again, here of all places.

“Here.”

Sansuyu handed her a book. Without realizing, Maronnie received it with both hands and gazed at it.

Despite being quite old, the book was in perfect condition.

Maronnie brushed off the dust on the cover and wiped her sweat, grinning slyly.

[A Mindset for Creating a Partner.] First edition.

Printed in the 1800s, it was a love and marriage guide authored by the world’s greatest seductress, the Sorbus alnifolia Alephonia.

A classic work on noble love, the book had nearly vanished from existence when the printing house burned down, leaving only a few copies. The publication was also indefinitely delayed due to Alephonia’s sudden change of heart, making it a legendary dream among French women.

-This book must not be published. Women could control men at their whims if they read it. No one shall be allowed to read this book.-

It was rumored that only two copies existed worldwide, but even so, Eden had preserved one.

“What kind of book is that?”

At Sansuyu’s question, Maronnie laughed awkwardly and stepped back.

“It’s a, uh, magic book!”

“Is that so?”

It was magic. The magic of seduction.

Sansuyu, too, held a few books in her arms, cradling them as if they were treasures, the volumes nestled against her chest.

“What about those books?”

Maronnie showed curiosity, but Sansuyu, with her usual expressionless face, said nothing.

Knowing some Korean, it wasn’t hard to read the titles.

[Like. Love. Confession.]

[Preparing for Separation.]

‘Separation?’

The concepts of the two books were worlds apart. Maronnie momentarily doubted her Korean skills. Was Sansuyu preparing for separation? From whom? Lee Shiheon? Their bond was special. RaNộ????ЕṠ

‘No way. I must have misunderstood.’

Such confusion wasn’t rare. Maronnie often mixed up word meanings. After all, words often carried multiple interpretations.

Though filled with doubts, Maronnie swallowed her curiosity and refrained from speaking about the books.

“Have a good time, then.”

Sansuyu stroked her books with a slightly softer expression than usual. Yet, paired with her faint smile, it left Maronnie with a twinge of unease.

Sansuyu’s departing figure looked weary.

‘For now...’

Maronnie had her own concerns. Returning to her lab, she opened the enormous book. Its preface welcomed her.

-First, understand love thoroughly. Do you love that person?-

Reading every letter and font in detail, Maronnie clenched her teeth.

“...Love.”

Her hand, moving unconsciously, rested over her chest.

The more she thought, the more her heart raced.

Her cheeks turned red, sweat clung to her hands, and warmth radiated around her navel.

Her mouth dried, and she worried about him, felt compelled to help him.

Skipping the mortifying phrases in the opening chapters, Maronnie flipped to the final section.

[Chapter 12. Just in Case: How to Detach from Someone You Love.]

“I don’t love him.”

Recently, she’d begun recognizing the seriousness of her situation.

Whenever she got closer to him, she found herself flirting like a cat, her coquettishness beyond her control.

If these were truly her feelings, she could accept them. But Lee Shiheon had said otherwise.

-You might want to believe you still love that person. However, sometimes it may feel like a lie.

Her emotions were undoubtedly love.

An innocent maiden, unversed in love, had come to know it painfully well.

The despair of an unattainable love secretly brought tears to her eyes.

-Does your heart still race when you see that person?-

‘Yes.’

-But if unwelcome doubts keep circling in your mind, it might be time to reconsider.

As she immersed herself in the book, Maronnie confronted her feelings.

That overwhelming sensation of losing control over her own body. The yearning to weave him into her everyday life.

There was a slight shift between the three of us.

Maronnie became colder, and Sansuyu also stopped asking me for things as much as before.

Was it because what I said to the two of them that day struck harder than I anticipated?

Even if we had grown distant, there was still work to do.

Once this situation was resolved, it’d be time to prepare for Flower’s assault.

[Master~ Master~ I’m your loyal spirit~♪]

I watched as the tree beetle spirit flitted around me cheerfully.

“You seem carefree.”

[Carefree? No way! I’m super busy!]

Eleonore landed on my shoulder, playfully poking my cheek.

“Oh? Busy with what?”

[Thinking about Master~ Dreaming of Master petting me~]

[...Eleonore is taking lessons to become a queen one day, Master.]

[Luci, who told you to butt in?]

Unable to hold back, Luci chimed in, only to be met with Eleonore’s sharp reaction.

I clicked my tongue and kept walking.

After I sent Luci ahead to the spirit realm, Eleonore had become even more playful.

‘It’s about time to move quickly now.’

I joined the Forester Selection Competition to fulfill requests from Cheondo and Byeol.

Cheondo’s request was already accomplished.

I’d made an impression on many National Trees and built close connections with a few.

Among Koreans, there were few who didn’t know my name now.

What remained was Byeol’s request: preparing against Flower.

‘I still dislike the idea of helping the World Tree, but...’

In a broader sense, it was also beneficial to me.

For all their animosity, the World Tree hadn’t made a move to eliminate me.

On the other hand, Flower had shown signs of either wanting to kill me or recruit me.

Flower’s internal strife was becoming apparent.

This upcoming assault would undoubtedly reveal much.

Even the Sage was moving in response.

She informed Sansuyu and Maronnie about Flower’s impending attack.

Soon, she planned to gather the three of us for a serious discussion.

She said she was asking for our help in exchange for teaching us magic.

I agreed, in part, because I couldn’t ignore the deaths of civilians.

‘But there’s one thing I need to settle first.’

I stepped inside the church.

At that moment, a green spell flew toward me from a distance and struck above my head.

Boom!

It was a lethal spell using the power of wood.

But before I could even react, the tree beetle spirit conjured a barrier.

[...]

Silent, the Hornbeam Tree gazed at us.

Cistus’s body still lay before her.

[Th-that brazen wench!]

[Princess, please stop.]

I released a small burst of magical energy, freezing the two spirits in place.

I hadn’t expected the Hornbeam Tree to submit within just a few days.

In the end, I’d have to use that method.

My hand reached toward my belt.

Deprived of water and nutrients, the Hornbeam Tree spoke in a desolate voice.

[If it weren’t for you, I could have saved more humans. Hic. Lady Cistus...]

“Still stuck on that?”

The Hornbeam Tree glared at me with hatred. I dismissed the spirits with a wave of my hand.

Now it was just the two of us.

The knots on her bark were still damp.

As I reached for them, the Hornbeam Tree flinched and pleaded.

[Please, just let me go now....]

“I will.”

It was an utterly distasteful act, but if there was no other way...

It was time to cross the line.

I pulled down my waistband.