Eat The World Tree

Chapter 341: Misidentification

The sky over El Academy, with its time difference, remained as dark and gloomy as ever.

Thud!

4 a.m.

I almost stumbled while trying to open the door, as a bout of dizziness overtook me.

My head ached, my body was tired, and I couldn’t help but chuckle at my own sorry state.

“Did I overuse my authority? I need to get inside quickly.”

So much had happened today.

I lost my temper, gagged from disgust at the knots, and even ran into someone I thought I’d never meet again in my life.

How many years’ worth of shocks did I experience?

There was a lot to think about, but tonight, I’d just sleep soundly.

As I opened the door, the quiet and dark entrance lit up.

“Well, it’s already bedtime after all.”

Moving silently, I peeked into Shiba’s room, where she was sleeping peacefully.

“Peep-peep! Snore. Peep-peep! Snore.”

How could I resist smiling like a proud dad?

I gave her cheek a gentle poke, careful not to wake her, and quietly closed her door.

Even after drinking a glass of cold water in the kitchen, the house remained silent.

I used a spell to clean myself up, threw on a casual short-sleeved shirt, and headed into the bedroom.

“Dallae, are you here?”

I called out, but there was no response. Was she still at work?

Rustle.

As I climbed under the blanket, I felt a faint warmth from the top of the bed.

Ah, she was asleep.

Would she be startled to wake up and find me next to her?

Not wanting to disturb Jin Dallae, I slid next to her, giggling softly, and wrapped my arms around her gently.

Poof.

Warm, soft, and smooth. The faint scent of a person.

Leaning into the cozy bed, I closed my eyes, feeling like I had nothing to envy.

“Inhale, exhale. Yes. This is life.”

This was what it meant to live.

A bed that warmed naturally without being occupied. The long-forgotten scent of a person was driving me crazy.

Yes, this was the scent I had been missing.

Not the damn green, floral aroma, but this human pheromone.

Her body was hot, a slight sweat from her dreams. Just the smell alone made the lust demon inside me whisper, “I’m back, aren’t I?”

Jolt.

I was on the verge of dozing off, but her soft skin against my embrace created an odd phenomenon—I was sleepy but couldn’t sleep.

The hand that had been wrapped around her waist rose lightly to her chest.

Her large breasts, firm beneath her bra.

Through the fabric, I could feel their elasticity and softness perfectly.

Unable to resist, I slid my hand inside her clothing.

Squish!

My hand slipped under the bra, squeezing with the strength Jin Dallae liked. Startled, she let out a soft gasp.

“Hup!”

A short moan escaped her as she twisted her body.

Turning toward me, she looked into my eyes and tried to push me away.

It was the usual scene of forced play. As I fondled her chest, I pressed my lips against hers.

Smooch.

Her soft lips. Her ragged breathing.

“Huff—Wait—Ah, ah…!”

As I gently teased her nipples, she didn’t know how to react. For some reason, her response felt cuter than usual today.

The scent of femininity wafting from her was richer and more provocative than the Jin Dallae I knew.

More like a human scent than a wooden one.

As I prodded her lips with my tongue, she stubbornly kept them shut. They were unusually moist and smelled faintly of milk. I licked persistently.

My other hand gripped her butt tightly, my fingers exploring within. Finally, she gasped in surprise and opened her mouth.

Smooch!

Her saliva flooded into my mouth. A familiar taste.

Her underwear was visibly soaked.

As I caressed her naturally, she eventually stopped resisting, gripping my shoulder instead.

“…Wait, just a moment.”

Her sultry voice echoed sweetly.

Clunk.

Suddenly, the sound of the front door opening startled us.

“…Why aren’t you answering your phone at this hour?”

It was Jin Dallae’s voice, filled with worry, as she stepped into the house.

Hearing her, I opened my eyes wide.

“…Huh.”

My hand was already inside, and the woman beneath me, who had just climaxed, covered her face with both hands.

Flinch, flinch!

She parted her legs slightly, swallowing the saliva I had left.

After a moment of hesitation, she leaned in to kiss me.

The faint scent of milk and baby powder lingered.

Swoosh.

Her hand timidly brushed against my groin. Enraptured by the atmosphere, she began to fondle me.

That’s when realization struck.

Could it be…?

“…….”

Who was she?

“You.”

Jin Dallae’s icy voice sank low.

It felt as if she could stab me to death and bury me in cement at any moment.

“…Yes.”

“Do you have anything to say?”

“I mean… I do, but…”

Thud!

Her furious glare made me tremble like a frightened mouse.

“…”

“Someone spent the entire night wandering around the academy, clutching their phone, worrying about you.”

Jin Dallae’s face twisted in frustration.

I flinched, trying to placate her, but her piercing stare left me helpless and stammering.

“…”

It was clear that my relationships with women extend far wider than expected.

She must have guessed as much, knowing me well enough to understand it might be worse than she had anticipated.

Still, seeing someone close to her caught up in it seemed to be a big shock.

‘How did it come to this?’

I wasn’t trying to make excuses, but there was a reason.

“Why did you do it?”

“…Well, I thought it was you.”

“You can’t even tell me apart?”

I could.

It’s not just sweet talk—I could recognize her entirely, even without wrapping myself in magic.

But today, I was too injured. My body had only just recovered, and my sensory abilities were severely dulled.

I was in such a state that I wouldn’t have reacted even if a civilian stabbed me from behind.

And yet, I still ended up on top of a woman in this condition.

I was truly a beast driven by lust.

“…”

Next to Jin Dallae, one woman fidgeted nervously, rubbing her legs together, unsure of what to do.

It was Shin Hye-young, Shiba’s nanny, her face beet red as she hung her head.

“…I-I could’ve pushed you away, but I didn’t. That’s on me.”

“Hye-young.”

“Y-yes?!”

“It’s not your fault. You worked all day, and I told you to get some rest. That’s not a crime, is it?”

Rustle.

“Beep…?”

In the middle of this courtroom-like scene, Shiba, having woken up, toddled into the living room.

“Ah, Shiba! Mommy and Daddy are busy right now, so go with your—”

Before anyone else, Hye-young noticed Shiba and spread her arms to scoop her up.

At that moment,

“Daddy?”

Spotting me, Shiba slipped out of Hye-young’s grasp and ran straight toward me.

She dived between my arms, ducking under my armpit, and launched herself into a leap.

Flap, flap!

Her speed was like a freshly caught mullet flailing out of the water.

In a crouched position, Shiba soared high into the air and stretched her arms toward me.

Slam!

“Beeeep! Daddy! Daddy…!”

As soon as she landed in my arms, she burst into tears, rubbing her face against me, causing a commotion.

Shiba’s sudden intrusion into this solemn atmosphere made me almost smile involuntarily, while Hye-young, flustered, fidgeted and looked our way.

“Have you been waiting long, sweetie?”

“Beep… Why didn’t you come see Shiba?”

“Daddy’s sorry. There, there. Didn’t you say you’d be okay, my sweet girl?”

Her words were much clearer and more precise now.

She had grown so much, becoming smarter while I wasn’t watching.

As I patted Shiba’s back, I glanced at Jin Dallae for her reaction.

She was staring at me and Shiba with eyes sharp enough to kill.

“…Sigh.”

After letting out a sigh, she smiled softly.

“Hye-young, I’m sorry. Could we have a moment, just the three of us?”

“O-oh, yes.”

Hye-young glanced at me shyly, her face still flushed, and bowed her head slightly.

“I-I’m sorry.”

“No, I should be the one apologizing.”

Perhaps it was because Hye-young had been swept up in the mood halfway through and ended up taking the lead.

After Hye-young left, Jin Dallae sighed once more.

“…Do you know why I’m upset?”

“Beep. Beep.”

“It’s not that you… have many women. I’ve come to accept that; it’s just your nature.”

“What do you mean, my nature?”

“So, was this ‘misidentification’ not part of your nature?”

Misidentification, she said.

“I swear, it won’t happen again.”

…

“…I’ll try harder to control my urges.”

When I said that, Jin Dallae got up from her chair and took a step toward me.

She spread her arms and hugged me tightly.

“They say that the one who loves loses. I guess it’s true. Seeing as I still love you…”

“…”

The guilt burrowed deep into my chest.

Shiba, nestled in her parents’ embrace, wiped her tears.

“Mommy… are you and Daddy fighting?”

“No, sweetie. Why would Mommy and Daddy fight? We’re too busy loving our Shiba.”

With practiced ease, Jin Dallae stroked Shiba’s hair and kissed her forehead.

Then, she glanced up at me with a sharp glare.

Hurry up.

The pressure in her gaze was palpable, so I quickly planted a kiss on Shiba’s cheek.

Smooch.

“Beep? Beep heehee.”

As long as Shiba is smiling, that’s all that matters.

“Sweetie, can Mommy and Daddy have a little time together? Is that okay?”

“…Beeep.”

“If you wait just a little, Daddy will play with you all day!”

“Beep?! I can do it!”

Shiba toddled energetically out of our arms and walked away.

She stepped outside, presumably to join Hye-young.

Was it selfish of me to wish Shiba had stayed in the living room?

Jin Dallae watched Shiba’s retreating figure with a loving gaze before raising her hand.

I froze in fear.

Swoosh.

She gently ran her hand through my hair, glancing around the room.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“…No, I’m fine.”

“Liar. Your energy feels different than usual. Do you really think I wouldn’t notice? Ugh, come here.”

She knelt down to my level, matching my gaze, and pulled me into an embrace.

Her hand softly stroked the back of my head as she closed her eyes, trembling slightly, as if soaking in the sensation of holding me.

“I understand that you have feelings for many people. That’s not something I can control. Even if this was a mistake… you’ll probably keep doing it with others, won’t you?”

“…”

She was not wrong.

“This is our home. A place where you live with your daughter and me. Can’t you just love me here?”

“I understand.”

“Then why did you do it?”

Caught in her trap, I couldn’t answer.

Seeing my hesitation, Jin Dallae let out a soft chuckle, locking eyes with me.

Her deep gaze, as she leaned closer to rub her nose against mine, radiated a longing for affection.

“Did everything go well?”

“As well as it could.”

“Even though you’re tired, you still have energy to move your hips? That means you’re good to go, right?”

Jin Dallae dropped the formal tone and kissed me on the lips.

Her soft yet persistent movements, mixed with the faint scent of flowers and the unmistakable scent of her humanity, stirred my body.

I could feel the difference clearly.

Jin Dallae slipped her tongue inside my mouth, wrapping her arms around my neck and pulling me down onto her chest.

My neck was pressed against the softness of her chest.

Her shadowed face wore a smile brimming with obsession.

The string of saliva connecting our tongues broke, dripping slowly like a half-closed faucet.

Jin Dallae stared at me, waiting for something. She was entirely passive.

Whoosh.

Knowing what she wanted, I acted accordingly.

I wrapped my arms around her waist, pressing our stomachs together.

My hands moved to her shoulder blades.

Squeeze!

I hugged her tightly, as if she might break. So tightly that she gasped for air, her face flushing red from the pressure.

Her chest felt like it might burst.

“Ah… Uh.”

Her hips lowered, and she pushed her bottom backward.

I tapped her lightly before lifting her body into the air.

The unstable position seemed to add to her excitement, and she began emitting a faintly seductive scent.

I carried her into the bedroom and laid her on the bed.

“You…”

Before she could say another word, I interlaced my hands with hers and kissed her again.

We exchanged emotions through actions rather than words.

“Did you know? We’re off for two months.”

Classes had ended. The Forester Selection Competition, the finals, and the graduation ceremony had all concluded.

The return of cadets who participated in the competition would have coincided with the start of the next semester, but since the competition was canceled, it was a moot point.

There was still plenty to take care of, but also plenty of time off.

Jin Dallae smiled slyly, like a fox.

“…If you understand, then hold me. Rougher than usual.”

“Rougher than usual? You might not survive.”

I asked, trembling.

Jin Dallae, with her bold preferences, had been exploring new knowledge about intimacy and progressing rapidly.

“Women’s bodies are very flexible.”

Jin Dallae pulled down the straps of her underwear, her ample, soft chest now accentuated as she leaned forward.

“…Hurry up. I still need to prepare a meal.”

She was confident in my healing authority. No matter how severe the injuries, my powers could heal them.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have access to my authority right now.

As I looked at her pale skin, I made a decision.

Perhaps it was time to address her intense preferences and find a healthier balance.