Eat The World Tree

Following the Sage’s guidance, I visited nine slum areas.

Four were under the management of the Flowers, and five under the nominal control of the World Tree. Yet, I couldn’t grasp what this woman was trying to tell me.

“Shall we head back?”

The Sage smiled at me, her clothes covered in dust.

It was a face I couldn’t read.

She always wore a bright smile, but I couldn’t tell what was on her mind, making it hard for me to feel close to her. It was clear that hiding her true self was second nature to her.

“Sage.”

“Yes?”

“So, what is it that you want?”

Did she want something from me?

No matter what people said, the Flowers were scum.

It was all a matter of perspective. For Taeyang, it could seem different. After all, growing up under the protection of the Flowers meant he could get food and survive.

That’s why I didn’t say anything when he spoke about the Flowers.

Even Taeyang didn’t deny it when I called them a vile organization.

He knew it, too—what really happened in those slum areas, despite their supposed guardianship.

Though I didn’t know the full picture, even Taeyang was one of their test subjects.

I tried to stay composed, no matter the situation.

But knowing what I did, how could I possibly feel when the Flowers were mentioned?

The Sage quietly looked into my eyes, her pale, white pupils reflecting.

“I don’t want anything.”

“People like you usually desire something the most. Just say it.”

After a brief moment, she spoke.

“All I want is for you to make your own choice. Sephirot only records knowledge and history—I just want to witness your path.”

“So why did you show me all this? Some kind of new-age gaslighting?”

“It’s about opening your eyes to what you’ve been ignoring. It’s something we couldn’t do for the previous Tree Spirit King.”

The Tree Spirit King again.

I furrowed my brow beneath my mask.

“Facing what you’ve ignored will only cause suffering. Do you want to make me suffer?”

“It’s too cruel to call it the price of power. After all, it’s a power you didn’t even ask for. But knowing more will help you make better choices. I won’t force you.”

“…Fair enough.”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Her words were too theoretical.

“So, what’s next?”

“Have you memorized all the coordinates?”

“It’ll take at least a week to memorize them all.”

“Then every morning until you’ve learned them, let’s repeat this routine together.”

“And after that?”

“This time, let’s talk about broken systems. If you’ve seen the negatives, you should also see the positives. I’ll explain which countries are on the verge of collapse, how Korea’s foreign policy works, and the consequences of the Flowers’ terrorism.”

A lesson, huh.

I admitted, I lacked knowledge in that area.

Even if history felt familiar, the existence of magic and the World Tree had changed key figures and events.

The Sage’s face lit up as she listed the things she would teach me.

I glanced at her and sighed inwardly.

What exactly was the World Tree of Knowledge hoping for?

Sometimes, it felt like it was all just entertainment.

Sitting high above, watching us like some experiment, selecting one of us to nurture and unleash into the world.

That was how it felt, even if it made no sense.

The World Tree, proclaiming neutrality but behaving inconsistently.

There was definitely an agenda.

“Showing me the true nature of the Flowers and the World Tree—is that supposed to benefit you somehow?”

Or was she just here to observe me?

The Sage was careful to provide unbiased information.

Still, all I heard were unsettling truths, with no one spared from corruption.

“…Overthinking will just give you headaches.”

“I’ll be fine. Luckily, it seems I didn’t inherit baldness from my father.”

“Pfft, that’s not what I meant. Think of this like middle school lessons—just take it easy. I’m only passing along what I know.”

“…Alright.”

I could only take it in calmly.

At my dry response, the Sage bowed her head slightly.

“If things were normal, you should have been living an ordinary life.”

“I’ve come to terms with it.”

“…That’s good to hear.”

“And I’ve found a lot of people I care about, too.”

Whether I could change their doomed futures was still unknown.

Even if I didn’t understand her view of the world, I could understand what she was saying.

“To be honest, I hope you’ll be one of the people I care about. Things have been… a lot lately.”

Damn, I had too many enemies.

Just having one more ally—or at least not another enemy—would be nice.

Fortunately, the Sage didn’t twist my words. Instead, she gave a faint smile.

“I promise, neither I nor Sephirot will turn our backs on you. You are valuable.”

I hoped so.

I returned to Eden, and the first place I headed to was my room.

-Click.

The moment I opened the door, the scent of a wooden doll’s body flooded the space.

Has someone been working out here?

I paused briefly, trying to identify the strange yet sweet scent lingering in the air.

It was Maronnie’s scent.

Turning my head, I saw Maronnie sprawled out on my bed, deep in sleep.

She had likely laid down right after washing her hair, as a towel rested on the bed, and the sheets were still damp.

I reached out and grabbed Maronnie’s shoulder.

“Are you a cat or a puppy?”

There was magic training during the day.

Sansuyu may not have much talent in magic and takes different classes, but Maronnie and I were once firmly on the path of magic.

Regardless of the Sage’s ulterior motives, it would be a loss not to learn magic.

“Hey, hey. Get up.”

“…Mmh.”

“If you’re going to sleep, at least do it in your own bed. Why are you sleeping in mine?”

After murmuring a bit in her sleep, Maronnie cracked open her eyes and looked straight at my face.

“Lee Shiheon?”

Our eyes locked.

“Oh.”

-Thump thump.

The sound of a heartbeat. Was the binding acting up again? Maronnie’s face turned as red as a stove igniting.

“….”

“What are you doing here?”

“…Do, don’t you knock?”

“It’s my room. Why would I knock? Get up, the Sage is calling us.”

“The Sage? Oh, right, we’re in the middle of a trial.”

As she sat up, still groggy, her hair was a mess, probably from lying down right after washing it.

It was damp and sticking out in all directions.

It reminded me of a kitten’s scruffy fur, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

She was cute, after all.

“W-why are you laughing?!”

“Nothing. But what are we going to do about my sheets? They’re soaked.”

“Ah….”

Maronnie fumbled around on my bed, looking guilty. Then, as if something came to mind, she clamped her mouth shut and avoided my gaze.

“…Switch it with mine.”

“Fine. Now turn your head.”

“Why?”

“Look at your hair.”

I pointed to the wall mirror, and Maronnie finally noticed her messy hair.

Before she could protest, I slid behind her and began smoothing her hair.

It reminded me of the times I helped Seyeong or Jin Dallae wash up at night and combed their hair. Whether due to experience or talent, I’d gotten quite good at it.

I dried her hair with magic and carefully tidied it by hand.

“What are you doing?!”

“Stay still.”

In no time, her hair was perfectly done.

“Ugh, I hate people touching my hair.”

I tied her hair into twin tails with black ribbons, the usual style she wore.

Her straight, pale blue hair looked pristine.

“Wow.”

Despite her complaints, Maronnie admired her reflection and glanced at me with some amazement.

“…You seem used to this. Who else have you done this for?”

“Plenty of people.”

“P-plenty…?”

I used to do it for Sansuyu sometimes, too.

Though lately, I hadn’t had to, as she’d been waking up late. For some reason, whenever she stayed with me, she’d fall into a half-asleep state, leaving me to take care of everything.

I placed the last hair tie on the nightstand and gestured toward the door.

“Let’s go. Time for magic class.”

“Wait… my staff.”

Maronnie grabbed her staff from beside her bed and followed me barefoot, wearing white stockings.

“Took a little longer than expected.”

“I-I’m sorry!”

“It’s fine. Have a seat.”

The Sage smiled at Maronnie, and we both sat in two chairs that had appeared out of nowhere.

Magic training.

It was more like a math exam than a training session.

Magic, after all, was a phenomenon that arose from meticulous calculations. I remembered struggling when I studied under Hwangdo.

“We’ll start with the basics. You’ve heard this before, haven’t you, Lee Shiheon?”

The Sage addressed me before starting the lesson.

I tilted my head, wondering if I had.

“Your mentor, I mean.”

“Oh, you mean Hwangdo? Yeah, I’ve heard similar things.”

“Haha, Hwangdo was adorable.”

“Come to think of it, how did you meet her?”

It was a bit off-topic, but the Sage smiled as if fondly recalling the past.

“Well… It was in a dungeon. I helped a staggering girl who was on the brink of death. She had an unusual hair color—a red-haired child who begged me for help. She was fascinating. Three personalities in one body.”

She must have been talking about the three who were still weak back then.

“Wait… You took on a disciple? I thought you didn’t take students.”

“I’m willing to teach anyone who asks. It’s just that most people don’t get far under my guidance.”

“…The Sage’s disciple.”

Maronnie clenched her fists, staring at the Sage with admiration.

Her gaze was so intense it felt like it might bore holes into the Sage’s clothes.

“Hwangdo was a genius. She didn’t need teaching to excel. If anyone deserves to be called a grand mage, it’s her, not me. No one can match her talent. That’s why I taught her.”

“I see.”

“Oh, she used to say she wanted to find a love she could dedicate her life to. I wonder how she’s doing now.”

The Sage’s glance in my direction felt deliberate.

I hadn’t seen Hwangdo lately.

She had been too busy, and all I heard was that she occasionally watches me on broadcasts. I rarely met her in person.

Still, I heard about her from time to time.

Apparently, she was doing fine—unsurprising, given that her body contained three masters of their respective fields.

“Shiheon!”

Lost in thought, I felt a tap on my knee—Sephirot had appeared.

“Want a hug?”

“Meow!”

I had no choice but to pick her up and place her on my lap.

Maronnie looked horrified, glancing at the Sage, but it wasn’t the first time this had happened.

“Now that Sephirot is here, let’s stop chatting and get back to class. You both have the aptitude, after all. By the way, how skilled are you currently?”

“We can use almost every known spell. The effects and efficiency aren’t that different from others, though.”

Maronnie answered first.

I didn’t know much about magic myself—just enough to use what we were taught at the academy. I could handle the most advanced spells from the curriculum, but that was about it.

Still, even that was enough to harm S-rank opponents.

Magic output depended on the quality and quantity of mana.

If I pushed hard enough, I could manage.

My natural affinity for wind magic suited me well.

“So, Lee Shiheon struggles with quantity, and Maronnie with quality.”

The Sage nodded and raised her hand.

The library shook, and books began to fall from the sky.

-Thud!

The books stopped just before hitting the floor, and with a gesture, the Sage placed them on our desks.

“Let’s study all of these, shall we?”

Fifteen books. Each 190 pages.

Not an easy task.

It reminded me of cramming for midterms when Hwangdo dumped a pile of research papers and spell diagrams on me, saying it was nothing.

“Ugh.”

After training, traveling through the past, and now back to studying.

Maronnie seemed equally overwhelmed.

We didn’t just have to read—we had to understand, solve, and memorize everything until it stuck.

“It should take about three days, right?”

The path to greatness in magic was never easy.