Eat The World Tree

I did nothing wrong.

What was this inferior species? No perseverance at all.

They just gave up, only thinking about the trials. What was I, a tool to give them trials or something?

Did they mistake me calling them by name, thinking they were on the same level as the tree people? Ridiculous. Anyway, they’re human.

[Unbelievable.]

I deserved everyone’s love. That’s what being a tree was about.

I sat at a rank far above humans, on the top tier of the caste system.

Did I really have to feel this bitter emotion toward such a lowly creature like a slave, or worse?

-Creak.

Crack, creak.

The heat surging through my body still hadn’t subsided. Even after getting a massage, my body felt stiff for some reason.

[… Ridiculous.]

Humans get discouraged for such absurd reasons. Running off in a fit.

Wasn’t it natural for inferior species to be annoying? All humans should have their brains slightly adjusted and be used as slaves.

I felt heavy and uncomfortable. Just the fact that I was feeling this emotion because of an inferior being was such a waste.

But then again, they were human.

The opponent was a human. Spineless, cowardly, easily brought to their knees.

If I just cracked their joints a bit, they’d grovel on their own.

It’s obvious they’d come back trembling with fear if I sent someone to threaten them.

And even if I didn’t send anyone, they’d come crawling back. That cowardly face behind the mask. I had seen that expression more than a few times.

[All this over one trial.]

Were they really that upset that their friend passed? How could someone be so narrow-minded?

Such human-like thinking, with their limited conscience.

“Lady Merri.”

[What.]

The words came out irritably in response to Lim Jonghyun’s voice in front of me.

“I’ve come to give my status report.”

The regular formality. A daily event between the tree and the knight protecting it, reporting on what happened.

Not a human, but a tree person. At least they could manage this.

Lim Jonghyun had just passed the second trial.

The second trial had so many loopholes that it wouldn’t be strange for issues to be raised. Just stamping approval would be enough to move on to the next trial.

No one could point out the flaws. Even if someone had a grievance, the side reporting to the World Tree would be cast out of society.

I think part of why I could act like this was because of that.

Or should I say it was a benefit?

After all, wasn’t this how I should be treated?

Considering my position, wasn’t it okay to let someone who stood out pass the trials?

[Go ahead.]

“Yes.”

Lim Jonghyun began his regular report.

For some reason, his insolent stance annoyed me today. His curt responses too, and while he used formal speech, he kept talking back.

Even among nobles, there’s a hierarchy.

Just looking at his raised eyebrows made me irrationally angry.

What did he have over that human? I couldn’t help but think about it.

[…]

“Today, I trained for the upcoming selection competition…”

Apart from showing his face regularly, he made no efforts or gestures of sincerity.

It’s not that I was stuck in some outdated mindset where sincerity was a must.

But had this guy ever offered me a single drop of water?

Or given me fertilizer I had never tasted before?

A massage for someone like me, locked in the same space every day?

Listening to my worries?

I knew.

A tree person couldn’t act as an emotional trash can.

Unlike humans, who had no tree rights. They were no different from pets. On the other hand, tree people had rights.

-Lady Merri.

[…]

-Your clothes are beautiful today as well.

But no matter how I thought about it, I was more drawn to that man than this guy.

But what could I do? He was already disappointed, pouted, and had stormed out of the room.

-Lady Merri.

[I did nothing wrong.]

“…Excuse me?”

[… Sorry. No, leave.]

Lim Jonghyun bowed his head, confused, and left.

That man, when he left, turned his head several times, smiled, and said he’d be back later.

The difference was obvious.

It made no sense that I even had these thoughts.

[… Inferior species.]

I tried to cheer myself up.

In just one hour, it’d be time for my fertilizer. The sweet fertilizer with a drink of water would soothe all this pent-up frustration…

[Oh.]

I guess he was not coming today.

[No, no. He might still come, right? Humans are predictable. They’ll probably come back, tearfully apologizing, saying it was their fault.]

With that thought, I smirked.

Remembering the lowliness of inferior species, I straightened my two roots.

They were all the same.

What difference did it make to ponder like this? They were mere disposable tools, after all.

[Ah~ How long are you going to make me wait, really!]

Just wait. When he came back, I’d curse him out rougher than usual.

So he’d never think of rebelling again.

I smiled, waiting for him.

-Tick.

But no matter how long I waited, even as the sun set, he didn’t come.

When I was young.

When I first sprouted my shoots in the soil drenched in sunlight, many nobles who had been waiting for me blessed my birth.

They said, “Here, another noble tree has been born, allowing this noble lineage to continue to grow.”

Even though the world I saw as a sprout was small, I could tell from the treatment I received what my status was.

I was a great existence in this world.

[Feed me.]

“Lady Merri. Your meal will be served in 30 minutes.”

[Is that a problem? Hurry up and give me water! Water!]

I was used to a life where being served was natural.

No matter how busy the schedule was, if I changed my mind, everyone would frantically rearrange the plans. If I cried out in hunger, they would bring me the most delicious food.

After all, I would become a World Tree one day.

Everyone loved me.

Once I grew by drinking water, honor and power would naturally flow to me.

So you’d better align yourselves with me now.

I only realized not too long ago that this thought was wrong.

-…It seems difficult again this year.

Becoming a World Tree wasn’t easy.

So far, I hadn’t been able to become one.

To become a World Tree, I had to spread my roots deeper than any other tree.

I had to grow far superior in size compared to others.

If not, I had to create my own authority through magic. I had to be extremely intelligent or accomplish something other trees couldn’t.

A World Tree didn’t just happen by waiting.

However, by the time I realized this, I had already passed a certain stage of growth.

In the end, I was replanted in this harsh place.

Growing my roots was painful, so I neglected my growth.

I had always thought the sun would be there, so I wasn’t desperate about spreading my branches wide.

Unlike the old days when I was praised as a tree with great potential to become a World Tree, now I was well aware of how much my name had diminished.

…I knew.

Clinging to the glory of the past, still under the delusion that I would be revered.

A tree that misses its prime was hard to grow. The older I got, the more rings I accumulated, but nothing else.

The average height of a nut tree was 3 meters.

But I was only half of that…

I was far too small and narrow to become a World Tree, and lately, I had noticed the tree people eyeing me suspiciously.

[…Hey, bring me food.]

“Ah, yes, I’ll get it.”

That was what they said, but…

[Massage.]

“…I’ll call an expert right away.”

I could see through them.

I could clearly see them smirking inside, mocking me subtly, as if I wouldn’t notice.

-What should we do with Merri, that tree?

-I don’t know. I heard from the World Tree that if her growth remains stunted, there’s a chance she’ll be left to grow naturally.

-Ugh. She should really learn some humility, that one.

That one.

Now I even heard such things.

It hadn’t been long since I realized how low I had fallen.

The more I realized it, the more I clung to my rank.

Did these lowly, inferior species dare to look down on me? Weren’t the tree people still below me?

Then why? Why did they keep speaking so carelessly?

As I took up tormenting humans as a hobby while sitting here, I realized I had become a foolish tree, filling my inferiority complex by belittling others.

The young humans and tree people thought I was a great existence.

When I gave them trials, they performed them desperately. It was somewhat amusing.

It’s funny. The way they make those frantic faces, trying to please me.

-Lady Tree.

And so, that’s how it was.

One unusually resilient person showed up.

It excited me.

Unlike the others who hid behind masks, this one seemed to genuinely want to treat me well.

I couldn’t know their true thoughts, but at least it was clear they were trying to make me as comfortable as possible.

-Is this relaxing for you?

-Why are you so late today? I called at 4 a.m., and you showed up at 4:12? Does that make sense?

Whenever I called, they would come running.

They put food so delicious in my mouth that I would look forward to hunger.

They gave me massages that made my whole body tingle.

Inferior species. No, honestly, that didn’t matter.

It’s true that I was immersed in the sensation of being treated well again after a long time.

If I was honest with myself, it was that feeling.

So, if they left me now, maybe it’s only natural.

-Tick.

[Why aren’t they coming…]

My leaves drooped.

[Why aren’t they coming!]

Was this what it felt like to have a fun toy taken away?

Why were there so few people who treated me as a tree?

-Creak.

Just then, the sound of the door opening.

Right, it was about time.

[Hey, Lee Shiheon. I told you-]

When I checked in front of me, the person standing there wasn’t him.

As usual, it was the tree caretaker in a suit. He glanced down at me.

[…I was waiting.]

“Lady Merri?”

[It’s nothing. So, did you pass on the message?]

The man showed no change in expression at my words.

With a blank gaze and an empty smile, he mumbled the same words he always did.

“He said he won’t come.”

Another hit.

Did he think I wouldn’t notice those contemptuous eyes?

But more than those annoying eyes, the fact that the human wouldn’t come shocked me more.

[…Tell him again. Yes, tell him I’ll give him a trial. Then he’ll come, right? He’s also just-]

“I understand. I’ll pass it on tomorrow morning.”

[Morning? Hey. Right now!]

“Lady Merri.”

A low voice pierced the air.

“It’s 5 a.m. Please also consider the thoughts of the participants.”

I felt strength leave my branches.

My roots trembled.

I was being ignored. Just because I couldn’t become a World Tree, now they were ignoring me.

[…Ha. What are you?]

Silently bowing his head, the caretaker stood there, as if waiting to be scolded.

Merri’s voice began to shake slightly.

[Again, it’s my fault?]

Once again.

[Ha… you… no… Ah.]

A leaf dropped and rolled near her roots.

As time passed, she muttered in a voice that was crawling back into itself.

[…Then, tell him in the morning.]

“Yes. Have a good evening.”

-Thud.

The cold sound of the door echoed.

Merri sat there blankly, surrounded by air thick with inferiority.