Eat The World Tree

Chapter 7: Pleasureless Responsibility (2)

“This year’s freshmen seem promising.”

The faces of the confirmed entrants were displayed on the wide beam projector.

The academy executives around the room began expressing their opinions with somewhat excited expressions.

“Should we operate a special advancement class for this year’s students?”

“We can’t. No matter how many skilled individuals there are, cramming all elite students into one class will surely provoke a backlash from the woodworking association, claiming discrimination.”

“However, the gap in abilities is especially large among this batch of students. Such students should receive more proper education.”

The teacher who said there was no need to operate an advancement class frowned, seemingly displeased.

“Still, having an advancement class…”

“Do you intend to waste the potential of students who can develop now?”

“That’s not what I meant!”

The atmosphere in the meeting room was gradually heating up.

Originally, such a thing should not have happened. The ‘Advancement Class’ that was abolished 10 years ago is already a concluded subject.

“In the past, the gap in abilities between the students was minimal, so there was no need for an advancement class. But now it’s different, isn’t it? Just looking at students Jung Siwoo and Sansuyu proves it.”

Jung Siwoo, Sansuyu.

Two talented individuals showed the most prominence among this batch filled with so many skilled people that they were called the ‘Green Generation’.

When those two names were mentioned, the teachers nodded their heads.

“Well, student Jung Siwoo is supposed to be the husband candidate of the ‘World Tree’. Having him should appease any complaints.”

“Yes… Sansuyu’s father also holds a significant position in the woodworking association.”

The conversation was leaning positively. The teacher who initially opposed seemed to be frustrated as she touched her forehead.

It was then.

“That’s fine.”

A clear voice resonated from the center of the meeting room.

“The person who will become the husband of the noble World Tree cannot receive the same education as the mediocre. Continue as planned in the Korean branch.”

At the center, sitting cross-legged on a huge desk with a noble posture, she declared the conclusion to this meeting.

The Principal, Angelica.

The envoy who represented the World Tree of Justice.

No one could ignore her words except for the sublime existence of the World Tree, and thus, the teachers had to bow their heads.

“I heard the man who is to become the husband of the World Tree is in the El Academy Korean branch. It seems there are quite a few talents; I’m pleased.”

“Th, Thank you, Principal.”

“I’ll be going then. Is there anything else?”

When the person in charge nodded, one of the supervisors raised her hand.

“There is… a student who is on admission hold.”

The teachers’ surprised eyes gathered on that supervisor.

‘Don’t you have any tact!’

It was a situation that could only be thought of as such.

Angelica approached him with a thin smile and asked as if it was a matter of course.

“Who is it?”

“… It’s prospective student Lee Shiheon. He had a match against Jung Siwoo.”

“Oh my, poor thing. So? There isn’t a problem just because he had a match with the top student of the grade, is there?”

“No. Prospective student Lee Shiheon exchanged several blows with student Jung Siwoo.”

Angelica placed her ample chest on her crossed arms and asked the person in charge.

“Is that something remarkable?”

“…No. It was conducted without magic, so there would be quite a few students who could exchange several blows with Jung Siwoo among the new admissions.”

“Then why is he on hold? Explain.”

The supervisor opened his mouth, fumbling with the front of his suit.

“From what I saw at the scene, the way he held the sword and swung it seemed like it was his first time wielding one. He seems to have a special trait, so I thought he needed attention.”

“His first time wielding a sword? But why is he in the academy?”

Angelica’s matter-of-fact question left the supervisor without an answer.

To apply for admission to the academy, one needed to have learned swordsmanship and magic from a young age.

This was why the academy was called a school for the nobles.

For such reasons, few people were admitted to the academy.

“…I think it’s an awakening. That’s also why he came to the academy. Otherwise, there is no reason to apply for admission.”

The supervisor finally gave his answer.

Awakener.

Those with high potential growth-related latent ability stats developed unique traits postnatally.

“An awakener.”

Angelica drew out her words.

Awakeners had become great people for generations.

“Can you take responsibility for that statement? He won’t be expelled disgracefully before even taking a midterm, will he?”

“…….”

The supervisor, Man Sejeok, couldn’t utter a word.

He had no intention of gambling with his teaching position.

However, anyone who watched that duel firsthand would have understood what Man Sejeok was trying to say.

From the inane technique to the foolish posture and awkward breathing.

Yet, prospective student Lee Shiheon demonstrated peculiarly exceptional movements. Even Jung Siwoo was taken aback by his astonishing maneuvers.

“…….”

“Please respond.”

“Pr, Principal! This is Supervisor Man Sejeok’s first time dealing with admission tasks. Please let this one slide…”

The helpless person in charge pleaded, rubbing his hands together, seeking Angelica’s forgiveness.

Man Sejeok thought,

‘If what I saw is real, that ugly kid could become a splendid hero.’

It had been a while since he saw a student with a promising future, so he had dared to speak out.

However, he never dreamed that those words would lead to him digging his grave. He should have held his tongue.

“I’ll take responsibility. He’ll do well. That student.”

“Supervisor Man Sejeok!”

“Hmm?”

He normally would have kept silent.

Who wouldn’t in this situation, with the principal present?

He had no intention to vouch for a student whose face he didn’t even know.

“What is it?”

Yet, the reason he spoke up was simply-

“Because I became such an A-grade hero.”

It reminded him of his own past.

“…….”

“…….”

Silence enveloped the meeting room.

Supervisors and teachers were looking at their neighbors with worried expressions.

The one to break the lengthy silence was none other than…

“It seems alright. Let’s admit him. However, if his grades are bad, he’ll be expelled.”

Lee Seyeong.

She, sweating profusely, raised her hand while sneaking a glance around.

---

[You passed, hand over the Tree Circle Pill.]

“How did you get my phone number?”

[Is knowing the phone number of new students that hard?]

A call suddenly came from an unknown number, and it was a coercive call from Lee Seyeong.

“You’re so impatient, Teacher.”

[I’m not your teacher. I’m a second-year teacher.]

“Anyway, I can give you the Tree Circle Pill, but please do me a favor. Filter out some promising talents from the list of admitted students and bring them to me.”

[What? Are you joking?!]

“No, you can do at least that much. You know my address, right? Oh, and bring pizza on your way. Sweet potato shrimp pizza.”

[……Insane. Fine.]

Surprisingly, Seyeong obediently responded and hung up.

‘What’s with her? The last time we met, she was so eager to eat me alive.’

I don’t know. There must have been a reason.

I lay sprawled out, looking at the ceiling.

“I’ve been admitted. I’ve received the compensation.”

The moldy ceiling was similar to the one from the rented room I lived in before.

The only things that changed were me and the world.

“I’ve found a goal too.”

Capture the tree people and fill up the manual. Then, I would give the World Tree a piece of my mind.

Given that there was no reaction from the World Tree or the status window when I had this intention, it seemed like they didn’t know about my plan.

‘They might be pretending not to know… but that would be too depressing.’

For a while, I planned to focus on gathering information and improving my skills.

I lacked too much information at the moment.

I needed someone who could provide me with more specialized information, as research on the internet had its limits.

“World Tree, can you tell me about this world?”

['The World Tree of Purity' shakes its head.]

“Incompetent thing.”

['The World Tree of Purity' seems to be upset.]

My relationship with the World Tree had always been such that it hurriedly responded when called but never actually helped me.

“So when exactly is the love of the World Tree coming?”

The Love of the World Tree, which was the reward for this admission quest.

It made promises of the arrival of a gift and then took off without a trace.

Yet, the experience of the quest wasn’t meaningless.

I gained some knowledge from reading books in a library near the El Academy Korean Branch.

‘The World Trees’

As mentioned before, in the N-1 district, five World Trees form the roots of this planet.

[Justice], [Diligence], [Fortitude], [Sacrifice], [Prosperity].

World Trees, each governing a concept, were revered as gods in this world, and beneath them, dozens of lesser World Trees were said to exist.

In short, there was a hierarchy among the trees.

[5 Great World Trees] > [World Trees] > [Spirits and Saints] > [Elders] > [Old Trees] > [Holy Trees] > [Youth Trees]

To summarize, it’s something like this.

This hierarchy was recognized only for trees where the energy of the World Trees remained. Regular trees didn’t receive special treatment.

And the difference between a Tree Person and a tree was… simply a matter of evolution. Tree People, a mix of trees and humans, were treated as nobility in the human world.

A lineage blessed by heaven, so to speak. It was said that the first Tree Person was born from a woman who had been intimate with a World Tree in the past.

‘Typical logic of a king.’

Those with acquired privileges who wore the guise of god’s agents.

Whatever they did with their power wasn’t my concern. My focus was solely on returning to my original world.

The only one I was somewhat interested in is this World Tree of Purity.

Her? Him? Either way, the World Tree of Purity was not in the category of the 5 Great World Trees.

It was second-ranked in this world’s hierarchy, like Kshatriya, not Brahman, if likened to the caste system.

‘But the problem is, nobody knows about the World Tree of Purity.’

I had carefully asked the librarian, and the reaction was as if I was spouting nonsense.

Clearly, it was a tree of no repute.

A thing that only knew how to rot its husband.

‘There’s no gain if this world doesn’t recognize the World Tree of Purity.’

Announcing myself as the husband of the hidden World Tree would undoubtedly lead to disgrace.

I’d probably be treated as a cultist. This world was sensitive to such things.

I wanted to live quietly for a while.

-Ding Dong!

Just then, the bell rang.

I opened the door, thinking Seyeong had already arrived, but a man holding a parcel was there.

“Is this Mr. Lee Shiheon’s place?”

“Yes.”

“This is an item left under your name at Tree Corporation. Please accept it.”

The man, with a cap pressed down, emotionlessly handed me the box and left.

-Thump!

I entered the room and opened the box to find a light green seed.

What was it?

When I held up the seed, a holographic window appeared first.

---

▶Love of the World Tree(?)

[Category: Miscellaneous]

-A seed impregnated by the World Tree of Purity.

---

After reading the information, I couldn’t help but utter a dumbfounded voice.

“What?”

I calmed down and read the message again.

-A seed impregnated by the World Tree.

“What does impregnated mean?”

[Carrying a child. Gestation. Conception. The standardized word is 'pregnancy'.]

“No, I’m not asking for the meaning of that word right now.”

After contemplating for a while, I had to give up on thinking.

So, to explain the situation I was in right now, it was like this.

“She has passed her child onto me. This crazy World Tree.”

A deep frustration emerged.