Double Speak - The Cuckoo Falls (3)

"Why are you training all of a sudden?"

When Seyeong, who was silently watching my training, asked, I struck the last remaining wooden dummy in the neck and asked back to her.

"Would you believe it if I told you something would happen at the Academy in three days?"

I heard that some nefarious cultists will attack in three days.

The way I nonchalantly spoke of future events made Seyeong, who heard this, narrow her eyes anxiously.

"What happened between you and that man?"

"A lot happened."

Starting from that man-hating the World Tree to him trying to persuade me.

To me, his words were like rain in a drought. It was a tempting proposition that seemed to bring salvation if I grabbed it. However, usually, behind beautiful flowers, poison was hidden.

"Anyway, I have to train. I don't intend to solve this alone, but shouldn't I increase my chances of survival?"

"…Is it something only you can do?"

I silently raised the corners of my mouth.

"It is something only I can do."

That was my thought from the beginning.

I planned to use this incident to gain Jin Dallae's favor and eliminate the adulterous man.

"So, I need the teacher's help too."

"What is it?"

"I thought you would resist at least once. What happened?"

"…Shut up. This is a serious matter. Depending on the situation, I may need to inform others."

It was natural.

If the Academy was full of established heroes, receiving advice and assistance to solve this incident would be possible.

There was a limit to what one person could solve.

"Seeking help is fine, but if it ends with just rumors, a few apology letters won't cut it."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I don't know yet if what I heard will really happen."

Lee Seonghan did not tell me the exact time and place.

This meant there was a possibility that what I heard was false, so it needed to be verified.

"Prepare simply but adequately. It is not a rule that we should unnecessarily cause trouble and become a scapegoat."

"What exactly happened between you and that man?"

"Didn't I already say? He suggested that we bring down the World Tree. Do you know anything about it?"

To bring down the World Tree-

Upon hearing those words, Lee Seyeong's face noticeably stiffened.

"Hey…"

"Yes."

"Did he really say that? Did he say that to you without a single error?"

"There might be some inaccuracies, but he certainly had anti-World Tree thoughts both in nuance and content."

"…."

Lee Seyeong, with a click of her tongue, slid her hands over the closed basket. Her frustrated face was lowered.

"You seem to know something."

"Of course, who wouldn't know? Those insane terrorists have been popping up for years."

She then opened up about a few things.

She spoke of the young World Trees growing around the world and how they had turned into dead trees.

A group of insane people meticulously achieving their goals, bypassing the strict security and pursuing hunters.

"If that's true, how will we resolve what will happen in three days?"

Seyeong, without answering my question, kept glaring at her phone screen, then spoke with a voice dripping with worry.

"Listen to me carefully."

"Yes. What is it?"

She stood up from her seat and closed the distance step by step.

Step by step. Seyeong was staring straight at me with a serious gaze, and I stood still until Seyeong reached me.

"Do you have to go to the Academy that day?"

"I don't know what you are talking about, but no."

"Just like today, you just have to be in the training ground or the dormitory. Just to neglect it...the matter is too big."

In other words, she was worried.

"I've never seen a teacher defend a criminal before."

As always, I shrugged my shoulders, giving her a moderate response.

"This is no joke. And you-"

However, Seyeong pressed even closer. Now, we were at a distance where our breaths could touch each other.

"...If you like it, it's a date."

"Y-yes?"

"You're not a criminal, you bastard. We're sexties, remember?"

"Oh... right? But, can a teacher say such things?"

At my question, Lee Seyeong finally reddened and created some distance between us. She fanned her face with her hands, but the heat on her face did not seem to be subsiding.

"Still, it would be unreasonable not to show up that day."

"Why!"

"More than that, teacher, isn't it strange? What happened between you and me that you care so much for me?"

With the shift of the topic, I put forth the question I had been ignoring.

There hadn't been any significant incidents between Seyeong and me, excluding the time we slept together.

Did we go on a date? Or did we share any intimate conversations?

I did feel a connection after sleeping together, but it seemed there was an emotion in her that could not be explained by that alone.

Seyeong glared at me sharply and spat out harsh words.

"What misconception do you have? Do I need a reason to care for you?"

Ah- She sighed.

And then, seemingly lost in thought, she slowly started to speak.

"It was a miserable encounter at first. I intended to rob you. And you… assaulted me."

Nodding my head, Seyeong gently grabbed my collar. The fabric tightened around my neck.

"Do you remember the underwear I was wearing when you asked me out for drinks that day?"

I definitely remember it as black pantyhose. It felt thrilling to rip.

"Hehe, I was partly intending it. Wouldn't any woman lose her mind after a physical relationship?"

Seyeong licked her upper lip.

It looked quite seductive.

"In short, when someone sleeps together, feelings develop, and that can lead to becoming potential lovers or spouses."

Releasing my collar, Seyeong stretched her sore neck and took off her coat.

"Well, don't rush and confess or anything. You're so ugly. I wouldn't want you as a husband."

It took a sudden curve.

It was pretty cheeky to call me 'lover' just now and then say this.

-Pft.

I smirked and sheathed my sword. Suddenly, I recalled Lee Seyeong's romantic fantasy.

"So, after this is over, let's hold hands and go to the movies once."

"Did you just understand my words as nonsense?"

"Do you dislike it?"

If not, never mind.

Shrugging my shoulders, Seyeong clenched her teeth.

"…I didn't say I dislike it."

So, what was this connection after sleeping together…

"So, are you really going to act on that day?"

"Are you still on about that?"

"Honestly, I don't think you can do anything."

It was a painful remark, especially coming from Seyeong. As she was an instructor at the Academy, she certainly had substantial strength.

"I acknowledge your talent from what I saw just now… but there's a big difference between humans and Tree People."

"Are you talking about Liberation?"

Nodding slightly, Seyeong took off another layer of her clothes. Well-defined abs were visible beneath the white tank top.

"There's a reason why Tree People are considered nobility. Not only do we have higher basic abilities, but half of our structure is also similar to the World Tree."

Tree People, children born between the World Tree and humans, had a base of wood. Since the World Tree of this world was worshiped as a god, it wouldn't be strange for Tree People to be considered demigods.

However, as generations passed, the blood of the World Tree was diluted.

So, now, there were often cases where a human could match a Tree Person.

Occasionally.

It usually didn't happen.

Moreover, occasionally, there existed individuals who had inherited the power of the World Tree by quite a significant margin.

They were said to be able to temporarily make their bodies equivalent to the World Tree.

We called it,

「Liberation」or「Woodification(木質化)」.

-Creak, wood creak.

The wooden armor emerging from Seyeong's body covered her body like well-trained armor.

Two large branches extended from each side of her neck, and thick roots covered her lower body.

The somewhat brutal sight was no longer human but of a tree.

"Do you think you can win against me now?"

Her coarse voice had turned aggressive.

"It's too dangerous. Give up. It involves terrorists."

"If I can fight-"

"What?"

"If I can fight, will you leave me alone?"

The over 2m tall giant Tree Person had a massive hammer in one hand.

Each Tree Person had different forms and qualities of Liberation, so this must be Seyeong's form.

It was quite impressive. I would have fallen for her if she were a human woman.

"Are you serious?"

"Yes, why not."

Proving worth was only possible by directly fighting.

It seemed like it would be good training, and fighting against a Tree Person using Liberation would certainly be a valuable experience.

I would have to act when the time comes to become friends with Jin Dallae, anyway.

"Is it possible to fight with real swords?"

I drew my sword. Swoosh- the tip of the sharp sword pointed at Seyeong.

"… Let's try."

"Ok."

"But if you lose, you have to sleep with me for one night."

"Oh…."

Hearing that in this form was quite shocking.

She would revert back, right? If she didn't, I was confident I could bite my tongue off.

"I understand for now."

It was the start of an agreed-upon duel.