Eat The World Tree

Chapter 264

My chest ached.

“…Pervert.”

I never expected to hear such a thing. I went in to ask something about the trial, but what came out of Sansuyu’s mouth was shocking.

Was I treating her too much like a child? Anyway, I had already seen everything, so maybe I was being overly sensitive. That thought crossed my mind. It was not like I could deny the truth, though, so I couldn’t help but feel a little upset.

I had forgotten that Sansuyu was an adult woman. Luckily, there’s a milking machine. She seemed embarrassed, but now I didn’t have to do it manually anymore.

Creak.

I opened the door and entered my room.

In the living room, Bao, who I had tossed onto the bed carelessly yesterday, was sitting on the sofa with a half-asleep expression, brushing her teeth.

Naturally, she was barely dressed. Bao didn’t seem to care that I could see her body.

She was brushing her teeth in my room. With my toothbrush, making sure to clean every corner so thoroughly, I doubt she’d get a cavity.

When I asked irritably, Bao finally took the toothbrush out of her mouth. I watched to see what she would say. Instead, she smirked at me and put the toothbrush back in her mouth.

“…So what? Does it matter?”

“What do you mean, it doesn’t matter?”

“If you’re so bothered, fight me over it. Or keep brushing your own with your… stuff.”

“…….”

I decided not to respond.

After what happened yesterday afternoon, we had become oddly close. I was not sure if she realized that one more loss would make her my servant. As I opened a new toothbrush, I looked at Bao. That smile in her eyes was the smile of a victor.

“I figured it out yesterday.”

As she started brushing again, Bao spoke.

“Figured what?”

Bao smirked at my question.

The only thing that happened yesterday was a few hours of grafting work. Though Bao lasted longer than usual, it wasn’t enough to concern me. No matter how much her stamina increased, as long as I have my sexual skills by my side, I had nothing to fear.

But Bao was confident.

“Next time, I won’t lose.”

In fighting, and in sex.

I seriously wanted to learn where her confidence came from.

“Sure, whatever.”

I replied indifferently. Bao, who had gotten close to me before I realized it, spat the foam into the sink. We looked into the mirror, and in the reflection, Bao’s eyes were glaring at me. Her burning gaze was one that could devour me.

“I’ll be the one who wins in the end.”

“Give it a try.”

I didn’t know what’s going on in her head, but there’s only one match left.

But responding to provocation with provocation suited me just fine.

“If I lose, I’ll be your servant.”

I threw Bao’s words from before right back at her.

“Hah.”

Zhoorrr.

The foam swirled down the drain, disappearing into the sinkhole.

I smiled inwardly at Merri’s voice, which had softened considerably since before.

The effects were faster than I expected.

Whether it was because the fertilizer and water suited her taste, or because Lim Jonghyun had upset her, I didn’t know, but I felt that my evaluation in her eyes had risen a notch.

But I couldn’t afford to be complacent.

I still bowed humbly and put on the friendliest face I could.

“Did you sleep well last night?”

In hopes of becoming even slightly more attractive to her, I had long since abandoned any sense of shame, putting on a walking pheromone and bringing water and fertilizer.

When she saw the fertilizer, Merri’s leaves started to sway like a puppy’s tail.

[Hey. Hah. What do you care whether I slept well or not?]

“…I overstepped for a moment. My apologies.”

[…Hmph. Just do well from now on. Got it?]

“Yes.”

There are different types of scolding.

Even though I got yelled at for a small greeting, Merri’s mood didn’t seem too bad. I shouldn’t get upset at her insults.

There’s something you could only know by looking deep into the roots of this tree. Even while swearing, there’s a sense of welcome. Trees that were stuck in their superiority complex always liked it when I acted submissive.

That insult was probably a positive one.

“I brought more fertilizer today.”

[Spread it.]

“Yes.”

I walked around her trunk, sprinkling the fertilizer. As expected, Merri absorbed it, glowing with a soft green light. Her leaves swayed gently, as if spinning a pinwheel through her whole body.

[Ahh~]

As I sprinkled some water to make it easier to eat, she seemed to be in absolute ecstasy. Her body shook so violently, with even a bit of a nasal tone, that I worried she might uproot herself.

At this point, should I try talking to her?

I carefully opened my mouth.

“Um, Tree Lady?”

[What?]

“How about trying a massage?”

[…What?]

A while ago, while endlessly drawing items, I managed to obtain something decent besides the milking machine, fertilizer, and water.

▶ Tree Massage Oil (C) [Category: Consumable]

Enhances liquid circulation! Makes bark firmer!

Want to become more beautiful? Let your lover give you a massage!

[What nonsense is this all of a sudden?]

“Hehe. I thought it might be helpful to you, so I learned it from an expert.”

I scratched the back of my head with a silly smile, then slyly pulled out the oil for the tree.

It felt like I was pushing my limits a bit, but it’s fine. I just needed to let her know that I had this skill and capability.

[No.]

It didn’t take long for Merri’s response to come.

[Are you crazy? You think some inferior being like you can touch me? Ridiculous.]

As expected. I would have been disappointed if she had allowed it so easily. That’s the superiority of a tree. I could see right through her.

“Everyone else liked it, though.”

I muttered dejectedly. This seemed to catch Merri off guard, and the tips of her branches quivered slightly.

[……Anyway, no! Why do you keep talking back? Do you want to die?]

“Oh, my apologies! I’ll be on my way then, hehe. Please enjoy your meal.”

[Hey, I didn’t say you could go ye—]

Bang!

I made sure to act as hurt as possible.

I closed the door and leaned my back against it. Now Merri couldn’t see me. This way, the connection with the tree would last a bit longer, and I could still hear her voice.

[…Seriously, damn it.]

Her voice sounded somewhat frustrated. I stepped away with a much lighter expression.

If I kept repeating this process a few more times, her fondness for me would start to grow. Then she’d either give me a trial or ask me for something. All I had to do was fulfill that request, and the second trial would practically be over.

I was lucky that Merri was arrogant but not too smart. …No, maybe it wasn’t luck. How great it would’ve been if I had met a fair and just tree from the beginning.

I brushed the dirt off my legs as I walked down the hallway. There wasn’t much left.

Day 4.

After days of cautiously testing the waters, Merri finally asked me the question carefully. It was such a pleasant surprise that I almost wanted to cheer internally.

For a tree to allow physical contact from an inferior species like me would be a huge step forward.

“I’ve been diligently learning for you, Tree Lady. Even if my skills are lacking… I won’t ruin your mood.”

Hidden confidence wrapped in appropriate humility. No matter how much she looked down on me, I couldn’t always stay humble. At moments like this, I needed to inspire some trust so that she’d think, ‘Huh? Maybe I should give it a try.’

While consuming the fertilizer, Merri pondered for a long time.

[Hmm, mmm….]

Her branches swayed, almost as if she were a person resting her chin in thought.

[Maybe… just once?]

As soon as her faint answer came out, I didn’t hesitate to move.

I immediately took out the oil from my pocket and rubbed it on my hands, moving behind Merri.

[Hey, hey! I didn’t say yes yet.]

“Just try it once.”

[You, you foolish inferior creature.]

Giving a massage wasn’t difficult. As I ran my hand along the tree’s bark, I could feel the smooth outer skin of the wood. Trees raised under the guidance of the World Tree Foundation tended to have such soft bark.

There’s no risk of the bark peeling even if it rubs against human skin.

[Did you really learn this?]

“Yes.”

I did learn from an expert.

I secretly watched videos from a MokTube channel where someone had been doing tree massages for decades. Not only did I have potential in swordsmanship, but apparently in this area too. There’s no way I’d end up getting cursed after giving a good massage.

“Here we go.”

I gently stroked her split branches with my oil-covered hand.

The smooth branches became slick and shiny with oil. I applied a little pressure, careful not to hurt her. I extended my fingers to the leaves and lightly massaged them as well.

When my fingers touched the leaves, Merri’s body trembled as if startled.

[Your hands… seem to go in weird directions?]

“What do you mean, weird directions?”

Come to think of it, there was something called leaf caressing. It was one of the things I learned when Taeyang implanted knowledge into me.

To me, though, she was just a tree. A rather dynamic one, but still a tree. Without much thought, I pressed down on the leaf veins.

“It’s just a massage.”

I slightly shifted her leaves to apply some pressure to the leaf veins. I’m merely copying the touch of an expert, so there’s no hidden intention behind it.

[Hmm. You better not have any ulterior motives. Touch something weird, and you’re dead.]

It was like stimulating the lymph nodes located under a human’s armpit. Running my oiled hand from the inside of her branches down to the leaf veins. It was not strange that Merri reacted as if it was inappropriate.

‘Though I did learn it by watching.’

Not bad.

Looking at Merri’s clenched teeth, I asked her,

“Tree Lady?”

[Ugh, what?]

“How does it feel?”

[I don’t know, you idiot!]

“Try to relax your body a bit more.”

-Slap.

[Ugh!]

I pressed my palm down on her upper branch, and the sound was like smacking a person’s flesh. The more relaxed she became, the more human her skin felt. Was she really a tree? It’s fascinating how she could move her branches like they’re part of her body. Her structure seemed entirely different from the trees I usually knew.

[Hey.]

Not long after, Merri called out to me.

“Yes?”

[Why don’t you ever call me by my name? Do I look like a joke to you?]

She seemed to have completely forgotten that she snapped at me for using her name when we first met. I smiled awkwardly and answered.

“Last time, you told me not to call you by your name.”

[If you think the time is right, just call me by my name! Do I have to teach you that too? This is why inferior species…!]

“Oh, then… Lady Merri?”

[That’s better. But your hands are still going in weird places.]

What’s weird now?

I checked my position, and my fingertips were touching the edge of her undergarments. Ignoring the fact that these insane creatures put pink underwear on a tree knot, I couldn’t quite grasp the situation since I wasn’t touching a person.

At least the fabric was sturdy enough to hide the knot underneath.

“My apologies.”

I shifted my hand elsewhere as I apologized.

[Well, you’re not bad at it.]

Satisfied overall, Merri leisurely waved her leaves.

[From now on, include this in the schedule too.]

“Yes.”

Now I was being treated like a full-time servant.

I might be grinning sourly on the inside, but everything was going according to plan. I needed to teach this naïve young lady that there’s no such thing as a free favor in this world.