Eat The World Tree

Chapter 11: Hoping To Get Closer (1)

[ A legendary artifact appears! ]

The best things came when you spun the gacha without thought.

Oddly, that was something with gacha games.

Unexpected luck popped out and all that.

-Pop!

A red ring popped out of thin air and accurately landed on my stomach.

▶Ring of Hyperion (SS)

[Category: Equipment]

Upon wearing, magic increases by 3 immediately and receives a huge bonus in magic operation. The magic gradually increases until it reaches 10. (This equipment is bound.)

“Uh, uh-uh-uh?”

I was startled and tried to get up but rolled off the bed.

An item like this suddenly appeared? Was this that so-called munchkin drift?

I stared wide-eyed, fumbling with the ring, and the ring that had identified its owner resonated in red.

“Oh, ohh!”

I couldn’t help but admire it.

I couldn’t resist as I looked at it and was about to slip the ring on my finger when…

['World Tree of Purity' reaches out!]

[Compulsion activates!]

The ring disappeared.

Literally, it became light and vanished.

“…….”

After a long daze, a bright red gem was thrown at me as if floating in the air.

▶Hyperion’s Gem[Revised] (SS)

[Category: Consumable]

-Can be used on equipment items. The following abilities are added to the used equipment.

Upon wearing, charm immediately increases by 3. The user receives a huge bonus in magic operation, and charm gradually increases until it reaches 8.

My eyes, looking at the gem, were trembling like a trembling willow.

-Shiver.

“Explanation.”

To my surprise, a chilling voice jumped out of my mouth.

[(Sorry) 'World Tree of Purity' apologizes.]

“Why did you do that?”

['World Tree of Purity' explains it was inevitable.]

“No, you insane stubborn tree. What was inevitable? Tell me honestly, were you pissed off because my charm is low?”

There was no response from the World Tree.

I pinched my forehead and heaved a deep sigh.

“Hoo…”

This was really give and take.

I was already frustrated with no way to increase my magic recently. What did it want me to do when it suddenly put a wrench in my plans?

Well, fine.

A legendary was still a legendary.

I often indulged in delusions where I looked more handsome than celebrities.

But the fact that the dream of a great magician flew away so easily made me feel depressed.

-Hum!

The vibrating red gem.

I brought the mask that was on the desk and placed the gem on it.

The resonating red crystal melted like water when it touched the forehead of the mask, and a description window appeared in front of me.

▶Hyperion’s Mask(SS)

[Category: Equipment]

-A mask that has accepted Hyperion's gem, it's ugly, but it seems that with time and energy, it could become stylish.

Effect 1: Charm is fixed at 2 when wearing the mask.

Effect 2: Upon wearing, charm immediately increases by 3 and receives a huge bonus in magic operation, and charm gradually increases until it reaches 8. (This equipment is bound.)

It was not bad.

It was not bad, but why did it feel so disgusting.

With a bitter smile, I turned the mask over.

The pure white light fluttered like petals and disappeared.

['Attribute:: Ugly Appearance' disappears.]

I took off the mask and looked in the mirror.

My skin reflected in the glass was shining as if coated with honey.

---

There were academic classes in this world, too.

Primarily, they were subjects like Korean, Mathematics, or the History of the World Tree.

“The formula for cubic functions…”

However, the difficulty level of the problems was not high.

Most were problems that could be solved by high school underclassmen, so they were tedious for me.

‘I’ve already finished studying the History of the World Tree in the library. The magic class is in the afternoon.’

There was nothing to do.

I yawned, burying my face in my arms, and then I heard a groaning sound next to me.

“Uugh…….”

Guseul was struggling with a math problem. Her squinting, worried eyes were quite cute.

Sneakily checking, she was still on page 2, solving a 3-point general advanced problem.

“Sigh, why is this so hard?”

She scratched her neat hair and feigned a shout in a small voice, then stealthily looked my way.

“……Hey, you’re good at studying. Teach me.”

I mixed some formulas and taught her some tricks, and Guseul, with an enlightened face, smiled brightly.

“It was a super easy problem! Hehe, thank you.”

It suited her well with her pretty face.

Her unconsciously revealing posture or appearance accentuated her neck and chest. Maybe she made several boys cry when she was young?

-But who would be friends with you? You’re like a hideous rapist.

Then suddenly,

The words said by our homeroom teacher, Seyeong, came to my mind.

Thinking about it, I had no redeeming qualities.

Potential and such were only understood due to age. To outsiders, weren’t I just an ugly pig wearing a mask?

And if you ask if I had a good personality, I had a restraining order.

The police station staff west of my dormitory and I recognized each other by face.

“Is there something on my face?”

“Sorry, I was thinking about something else.”

With a ‘What?’ She smiled thinly and started solving the problems again.

Friends…… Friends, huh.

[The main quest has arrived.]

In the meantime, an emotionless voice rang in my ear.

It had been quite some time since I enrolled; I wondered when it would come.

I straightened my posture and read the text.

---

[Main Quest 2. The Way of an Insider]

▶Congratulations on enrolling in El Academy. The path to becoming a husband of the World Tree is treacherous. Skill, connections, honor, and money. The theme to evaluate you this time is 'connections'.

▶The number of tasks assigned to you is[1].

-Make 3 friends among the students of the Academy.

[Quest Reward]

-Wishing to Get Closer x 3

[In case of quest failure]

-You die.

Time remaining: 6 days, 23 hours, 59 minutes.

---

Make 3 friends.

This was indeed a ridiculous command.

The progress was written in the translucent window that popped up at the bottom right of my field of vision.

[Current Friends: 0]

※Friendship is recognized when the goodwill is over 40 and when the other person recognizes you as a friend.

The closest people to being friends are 2: Jung Siwoo (Goodwill 30, Interested) Jin Dallae (Goodwill 13, Disgusted)

‘Really now.’

This was frustrating.

Excluding Jung Siwoo, the person closest to me was Jin Dallae.

‘Why does she despise me?’

Did I really look that bad? Although, I did stare at her quite intensely back then.

If a fat and ugly girl who was lost in thought stared at me for more than 20 seconds…

Hmm. I admit it would be distasteful. So, how should I make friends?

“What is this problem?”

The voice brought me back to reality.

Just as I was about to open my mouth towards the one pointing at the 4-point problem with the tip of a pencil, with a puzzled face.

“Eh?”

Something clicked in my chest.

Current friends: 0.

The second closest person to me was Jin Dallae, and her emotion towards me was disgust.

I calmly asked the person tilting her head.

“Hey.”

“Hmm?”

“Are we friends?”

It was a somewhat cringeworthy and embarrassing word to utter.

Guseul blinked her eyes and answered with a calm smile.

“Yes, we’re friends! My first friend since coming here.”

She didn’t question the intention behind my inquiry and simply showed a cute expression as if trying to instill that understanding.

The expression that appeared on her face was too serene to be just serene.

“What are you doing?”

“Nothing.”

I realized goosebumps were rising on my back.

---

“Welcome to the hologram practical combat class.”

The instructor nodded at the students sitting around the large training room.

“As written in the class description, this class is a practical training to enhance combat abilities using holograms.”

“To give you an analogy… Yes. You’ve all used the training room where your wooden dummies appear, right? It’s the same, but think of the dummies as monsters.”

Thanks to that tree, my skills had indeed improved rapidly.

While listening to the instructor, I looked around.

The instructor’s explanation was one thing, but finding a friend was most important to me right now.

‘I can’t stand the sight of dying because I can’t make friends, even if I get expelled from the academy.’

I glanced around and saw Jin Dallae sitting and chatting with Jung Siwoo.

After finishing his explanation, the instructor clapped once and spoke the final word.

“Then, form teams with whoever you want. Groups of three.”

Now was the time.

I reflexively stood up.

“Siwoo~ Let’s be together. I want to ride the bus once.”

“Isn’t it you who should be driving the bus?”

I approached the two who were conversing.

Dallae, who was clinging to Siwoo’s arm, tensed her face upon seeing my mask.

I spoke in a carefully sweetened voice.

“Jung Siwoo. Is there a spot left in the team?”

“There is, but you… Oh!”

I hung onto Siwoo, thinking I would be immediately cut off if I suggested it to Dallae.

“Come in. Is it the first time since the entrance exam? It’s Shiheon, right?”

“Yes. Nice to meet you. Jin Dallae, we… met once before, right?”

Upon my words, Dallae quickly recovered her expression and waved with a forced smile.

“Yes. Nice to meet you.”

“You can be informal.”

“It’s okay.”

Seeing her clearly draw the line, I could see the tough road ahead.

However, there were no signs of her opposing teaming with me, so it was decided to always have this team for this class.

Two swordsmen and one wizard, Jin Dallae being the wizard, the balance wasn’t bad.

“Alright, let’s start with the first team formed. The swords and staves provided are mass-produced, but they are real, so be careful.”

Drawing the sword from its sheath, the sharp blade revealed itself. It was my first time holding a real sword, but rather than worry, excitement sparked within me.

As our turn began, we entered the dome.

Inside, an artificial dungeon based on a forest was laid out.

“Wow, this is amazing.”

“Is this your first time seeing something like this?”

“How can humans live seeing these artificial dungeons? It costs a fortune just to experience this once.”

Siwoo, who had his sword on his hip, responded like a child, making Dallae chuckle as if teasing him.

Seeing them, I felt left out again, but it was expected.

We ventured deeper into the dungeon in silence.

-Growl, Growl.

Soon, seven wolves revealing themselves from the bushes began to surround us.

Siwoo positioned himself, aware of my presence.

“Shiheon, let’s cover Dallae and slowly deal with the approaching wolves.”

“Got it.”

Grasping the sword, I raised my focus.

Dallae, who seemed stone-cold towards me, was still serious in her training, gathering her mana.

Blue masses floated above her.

I recognized what it was.

‘A spirit user?’

Handling spirits was a known rare talent. Did she have such abilities?

Guarded, I positioned myself when, without any incantations, the blue mass shot toward the surrounding wolves.

-Smash!

Blood splattered, and the wave of mana compressed the hide.

One wolf died instantly, and feeling threatened, the others started to charge at us.

“Here they come!”

Reacting to Siwoo’s shout, I moved in response.

I thrust the sword into the mouth of the wolf that charged at me first.

-Gag!

With a short scream, I kicked the wolf’s heart and blocked another, aiming for Dallae’s throat with a roundhouse kick.

I thrust into the throat of the fallen wolf, and its struggling body went limp.

The martial arts learned from the wooden dummies were more effective than I imagined.

“You’re surprisingly good?”

“Of course I am.”

I responded modestly to her seemingly surprised remark and lowered my sword. To my ears, her words sounded like:

-He seemed so weak, but moves well?

Given her expression, my thought was probably correct.

Meanwhile, Siwoo, a fellow human, had already killed four wolves and was returning.

“Shiheon has improved a lot. Seems talented.”

“You noticed that while fighting?”

“You know my skills.”

It may have seemed a bit arrogant, but no one pointed it out.

After all, Siwoo was the tentative first place. If you had the power, you could be arrogant.

‘Should’ve looked at this guy’s swordsmanship too.’

I realized it from observing the wooden dummies. It seemed I had a natural ability to mimic swordsmanship.

Should I call it mimicry?

Watching someone move, I naturally saw the path of the sword, and muscle movements could be predicted.

Probably, this was also due to my latent potential.

We also dealt with the subsequent monsters easily, and our team, being the first formed, successfully completed the first conquest of the hologram dungeon.

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