Serial Runaway Event (10)

Those who could not control their power and turned into monsters were called Ents. Humans who stole the power of trees were called the Corrupted.

In this world, everything was influenced by the will of the World Tree. Therefore, it was only natural that the terms used to address someone change based on how they used the World Tree's power.

Then…

What should a corrupted World Tree be called?

At first glance, many believed that a World Tree, which stood for absolute good, could never be corrupted. Just like many believers in other worlds, the churches of this world also denied the possibility of a deity's corruption.

However, if one traced the annals of history, one could confirm that, only a decade ago, a corrupted World Tree did exist.

This shocking revelation stirred an uproar,

But many deliberately chose to look away. Yet, the truth remained unchanged.

Some scholars defined its existence away from the public gaze.

If the World Tree was referred to as Shinmok (神木) - a Divine Tree,

Then they believe the Corrupted Tree should be called Mokgui (木鬼) - a Tree Demon.

Such Tree Demons were believed to be dormant deep within this world's oceans, skies, and land. The scholars whispered these truths among themselves, never defining them for the outside world.

-Krrrrr-

Thus, the newly born Tree Demon…

Neither looked like a monster nor an Ent, but a mutated form of the World Tree.

At a glance, it might be mistaken for a colossal beast. However, the aura emanating from within was undoubtedly that of the World Tree. And not just me, but everyone present felt it.

The imperfect descent of an evil deity.

How many Ents and trees must it have absorbed to take on that form? I was not in a state to continue the battle.

Just when death seemed to be the only fate awaiting us,

"You're still alive."

The soft voice of Cheondo warmly enveloped the back of my neck.

"Master, you're…!"

"Captain, why the hell did you arrive so late?"

Roshi and P showed their respective reactions, visibly relieved. I, too, loosened the tension in my shoulders and lowered my throbbing eyelids.

"Phew. No need to rush to death."

"You thought of giving up your life? Seems a bit early for that."

"Don't talk nonsense."

A massive tendril targeted Cheondo's back.

-Swooosh-

The severed tendril helplessly hit the ground. Perhaps due to the termination of the support magic, I couldn't even see her draw her sword.

"Still, surviving that explosion was impressive."

"Hehe, I thought I was dead for sure."

Cheondo's eyes, with a mischievous glint, fluttered in the wind.

"Did you learn anything?"

"Not much. Only memories of shattering things."

"You're indeed like Baekdo."

"I hate being compared to her."

Cheondo sheathed her sword, chuckling more than usual today.

"Well, consider this training and a lesson. Watch carefully. All of it will serve you in the end."

Her hair turned stark white.

Baekdo, once her eyes opened, grabbed my shoulders, shaking me, and then turned to confirm my presence.

"Third disciple. I, too, don't like the comment that you resemble me."

Baekdo, after a brief comment, gathered all her magic.

"The words spoken now are those of Cheondo."

The massive Tree Demon started approaching Baekdo, its huge armor writhing.

-ROOOAR-

A deafening roar filled the abandoned factory. The ultrasonic waves caused stone dust to fall from the ceiling.

"Shiheon, watch and learn."

Baekdo's serious voice sounded eerily similar to Cheondo's as if she was the one speaking directly.

"It's not easy. But I believe you can learn."

The air pulsated.

Baekdo, floating in the sky, radiated a bright blue glow, clenching her fists.

"Let's begin."

Stepping back, she assumed a stance.

I capture that mysterious technique with my own eyes.

"One. The white flower that blooms is called Baekdo (白桃)."

Describing every stance and its name, she systematically began to destroy the approaching plants.

"Two. The white thing that blooms all at once is called Mancheop Baekdo (萬疊白桃)."

Two roots that came from opposite directions were turned to dust.

"Three. The one that blooms in red is called Mancheop Hongdo (萬疊紅桃)."

White and red flowers scattered in response to her movements. This time, the two falling flowers converged to a single point.

"Fou. The one with two energies is referred to as Barae Boksa."

The massive fist of the Tree Demon aiming for her was pierced and shattered at that focal point.

-ROOOAR-

From behind the screaming demon, Cheondo whispered to me,

"Five. The flat one is called Gamboksa."

She gestured, and the Tree Demon's neck was severed. Despite this, the Tree Demon still regenerated. She looked at me with compassionate eyes and said,

"Six. The pointed and round one is called Yongan Boksa."

The names of each fruit.

Each form contained its own truth.

Those stances, imbued with mysterious energy, each had its own power, and the combined movements soon integrated into one form.

"Seven (七)."

As I captured the last movement,

"The one that sheds its coarse fur is Cheondo (天桃). Or it's also called Seungdo (僧桃)."

The previously massive Tree Demon, now turned to dust, floated in the air. Baekdo, summoning pure magical power and looking emotionless, stared down at me,

"This represents everything passed down about the Peach Tree. It combines fist, sword, and inner strength. Do you understand this technique?"

I silently nodded, facing the blossoming flowers of various colors. Following Cheondo's words, Baekdo laughed sardonically and said to me,

"You really are a genius."

Thud- She placed her hand on my head.

Time, which had momentarily stopped for me, began to move again.

The goosebumps on my skin didn't seem to end.

The inspiration they bestowed upon me was incessant.

Today, I finally recognize and acknowledge their tremendous power accumulated over a long period.

We trusted each other for the first time as master and disciple.

It was the moment I truly became a disciple.

An unnamed pharmaceutical company.

A few men with mop handles appeared in that place, thick with the stench of dead bodies.

"Is it here today?"

"Yeah. I think finishing up here should do it."

Wondering what on earth had happened, the sight of the torn-apart bodies made it hard for the men not to scrunch their brows.

"Was it Baekdo? She really did a number on them. Is this really the power that a single person can have?"

"Who knows? But why would a C-rank hunter worry about that?"

All they had to do was clean up these corpses and continue their job.

The man, who chuckled, was agreed with by another. In their eyes, the power of an S-rank hunter was beyond human comprehension.

They wiped the blood with their mops and removed the bodies. Though they gagged a few times from the sight, the compensation they'd received made the nausea worth it.

"Did you hear? Students from the academy were also involved in this."

"Yeah, Sansuyu and… who was it? Lee Shiheon? They were getting an award of gratitude just yesterday."

"Lucky them. Working with Baekdo, getting accolades because of her. Hehe."

The series of rampaging Tree People incidents and Spring Peach Blossom's resolution.

Not long ago, a commotion arose because of that. Stories about Baekdo and her team filled the front pages of newspapers, from portal sites to real-time searches; even news broadcasts covered the incident.

The drug distribution and the subsequent rampage of the Tree People.

As it was directly linked to public safety, the citizens didn't hold back in criticizing the current government's incompetence.

"Speaking of which, wasn't it that Lee Shiheon guy?"

"Really?"

Gradually, the name "Lee Shiheon" began to gain traction.

Having resolved the cult incident previously and being the solution to the Tree People situation this time, the value of an unknown like Lee Shiheon had skyrocketed.

He was being scouted by numerous guilds.

The fact that various families had their eyes on him was evident even without newspaper articles.

"Isn't it impressive? It's my first time seeing a human rookie getting so much fame."

"Impressive indeed."

One man, speaking with admiration, was met with a sarcastic retort by another.

"They just want to make him a star. A human, but a hunter. A human, but an El Academy student. Isn't that perfect for making a star?"

"Well… What about Jung Siwoo?"

"Oh, he's a candidate to be the World Tree's husband."

That was right. Jung Siwoo was no less than a saint, beyond reproach.

"But who really is this Lee Shiheon?"

No matter how much the Hunter Association wanted to make a star, there had to be some value to justify the numerous articles about him.

With that thought, the man imagined Lee Shiheon's appearance and reached out to remove the severed hand lying on the table. A letter shot out from the hand, which was clenching something tightly.

"…What is this?"

A handwritten letter.

The man instinctively sensed that the letter wasn't ordinary.

He opened the envelope and read its contents.

A positive response to drug distribution and a chilling promise to assist. At the end of the letter was the brief name of a family.

The Cornus family.

The man, wiping off his sweat, murmured quietly,

"This… is probably…"

A new wave of commotion seemed imminent.