The butterfly seedling was an elemental monster that would appear today and cause a mess. It had slowly grown its strength under the world tree’s roots. I didn’t write an exact reason why, but I would be angry too if over a thousand people suddenly barged into my home.

Kim Suho, Chae Nayun, and Rachel had defeated it together in the original story. It would leave behind an important gift called the butterfly seedling’s dust for Rachel and Kim Suho.

“Come here.”

I glanced behind me in case Rachel ran away. We only managed to kill four monsters that earned us 6 points each after walking around the world tree. I wouldn’t blame her if she ambushed me and took my points.

“…”

Rachel unhappily followed as I tried to find as many monsters as possible. I checked the time.

[1:13 P.M.]

I couldn’t remember precisely when the butterfly seedling appeared. Do I have to keep walking around the world tree?

“I think the monsters are on the outskirts of the island.”

Rachel finally spoke. All the cadets hunted near the outskirts too.

“No, I don’t think so. “

However, I rejected her suggestion as she pouted. I continued walking until I saw her trying to escape.

“Where are you going?”

“… Just checking if there’s anything nearby.”

She followed me again after a dry excuse. After 30 minutes of wandering around the world tree…

Wooong—

I felt an unusual vibration like an earthquake. I looked towards the epicenter and saw a seedling resembling a butterfly emerge from the world tree’s giant root. Chae Nayun and Kim Suho were also nearby.

“Follow me.”

I guided Rachel with a serious expression.

***

Kim Suho walked through the forest with Chae Nayun because she kept getting lost.

“Hey, what do you think about Kim Hajin?”

The forest was still dark. Chae Nayun suddenly asked Kim Suho out of boredom because they couldn’t find any monsters.

“Kim Hajin?”

Kim Suho tilted his head as he stared at Chae Nayun.

“Why? Is he on your mind?”

“No, just that… don’t you think he’s hiding many secrets?”

The light sphere, the archery duel, and what happened in Paris. Chae Nayun thought there was more than meets the eye with Kim Hajin.

“I guess you’re right,” Kim Suho vaguely replied.

“What’s with that reaction?”

“What? You said he’s hiding secrets, and I agreed.”

Kim Suho evasively answered and smiled. He felt fairly certain that Kim Hajin liked Chae Nayun from their conversation in Paris.

“So what’s he hiding?”

— I’ve been thinking about her for far longer than you. And I’ve been watching over her all this time. So I know far more about her than you.

How much did he like her to say something like that? Kim Suho didn’t know because he had no such person.

“Hey, tell me.”

“Why ask me? You should find out for yourself.”

Kim Suho teased Chae Nayun with a smile.

“You…”

Woong—

An unusual vibration rang out. Kim Suho and Chae Nayun stared at each other before running towards the epicenter. They spotted a strange butterfly in an open field under the world tree.

“What’s that?”

It looked like a butterfly with wings. However, its wings were weaved from tree roots, and leaves grew on its face and body. It looked like a craftsman had carved it rather than a living creature.

“It’s an elemental monster.”

Kim Suho noticed how the spiritual existence absorbed the world tree’s vitality to form a body. He held up his sword as Chae Nayun pondered whether she should use her sword or bow.

“Is it strong?”

“Looks like it.”

Chae Nayun chose the sword. Finally, the butterfly seedling moved. Kim Suho and Chae Nayun flinched from its chilling eyes.

“It looks super strong.”

“…”

Koooong—!

A large tendril tore through the ground. Several roots followed until it reached a dozen in every direction. They wriggled and struck down at Chae Nayun and Kim Suho. The two of them jumped back to dodge the roots.

Koong— Koong— Koong— Koong—

The roots endlessly swung at them.

“Hey! I think we need to cut them off!”

Chae Nayun shouted as Kim Suho nodded in agreement. They swung their sword against the flying roots. Kim Suho’s blade easily severed one, but it was simply too tough for Chae Nayun. Magic power made the giant roots as hard as steel.

As Chae Nayun struggled, a streak of red light shot through the darkness and struck the root. The bullet didn’t physically damage it, but a fire burned it. Chae Nayun swung at the weakened root and easily severed it. Then a wave of crescent moon sword qi flew towards the butterfly seedling, but it barely dodged.

Chae Nayun turned towards the source of the two attacks.

“Eh?”

She saw the strange combination of an average-looking guy with a princess. Kim Hajin and Rachel had come to their assistance.

Koong!

More roots shot up from the ground. Kim Hajin retreated outside of range while Rachel gracefully dodged.

“When did you guys come?”

“Attack the main body!” Kim Hajin shouted from behind a bush.

“What?”

“The main body! Not the roots! Use your bow for today!”

“What are you doing back there?”

A root struck again as Chae Nayun shouted and hurriedly blocked with her sword.

“Hey! Support me like before!”

Rachel sent a wind blade instead of Kim Hajin and pushed the root back. Chae Nayun’s sword surged with magic power as she slashed the root in half.

“Oho.”

Chae Nayun liked the sensation compared to cutting down a living creature. She felt like she could improve. Magic power surged, and her blade extended to 4 meters. She swung the magic longsword with all her strength.

***

“Argh.”

Chae Nayun went wild with her sword when a bow suited the situation better. I instantly emptied an entire magazine to slow down the butterfly seedling. A part of the butterfly seedling’s wings tore off each time a bullet hit. The butterfly seedling didn’t like it even though my attacks couldn’t detach its wings.

A root appeared from its back and swept the ground. I couldn’t react as it shot towards me. The vicious flying root suddenly stopped. A single sword had blocked it. Rachel appeared in front of me like a hero.

“…”

She silently looked back at me as I immediately retreated to a safe distance and more roots popped up. Although Rachel managed to dodge them, they eventually multiplied and surrounded her. A root struck her stomach and sent her flying. Rachel crashed into a tree some distance away and slumped down. I watched as she coughed up blood, but noted that it wasn’t a fatal blow thanks to her qi reinforcement. Still, she wasn’t in good shape.

Tong!

Evandel’s seed jumped out of my pocket as I wondered whether or not to take out the Desert Eagle. It bounced towards Rachel like a rabbit and stuck to her wounded stomach. Rachel writhed in pain and didn’t notice. I reluctantly let it be.

“That damned butterfly.”

I glared at the butterfly seedling flying in the distance. If I could just break those wings, Kim Suho should be able to handle the rest, but I couldn’t take out my Desert Eagle.

“Huuu.”

I had no other choice. I took a deep breath and imbued stigma’s magic power into the training handgun’s magazine to refine the bullets with the fire attribute. Unfortunately, I could only refine three bullets and wondered if that would be enough. I could worry later as I aimed and pulled the trigger. A bullet struck the butterfly seedling’s wing and exploded.

“Huh?”

I muttered in a daze and rubbed my eyes in case I was seeing things.

“What?”

I wasn’t going crazy. The butterfly seedling lost its wings and fell to the ground. Its wings didn’t tear, but completely burned with a single bullet. My magic power couldn’t possibly have such power. I carefully observed the surroundings.

Sure enough, I spotted a woman in the bushes. Boss, disguised as Seo Ijin, held onto a bead-like object and greedily looked at the butterfly seedling.

“Ah.”

It wasn’t my attack, but hers. She made it look like I shot it down and undoubtedly wanted the butterfly seedling’s dust.

Kim Suho charged at the fallen butterfly seedling and severed it in half.

A golden dust suddenly lit the sky like fireworks. However, this wasn’t the butterfly seedling’s dust. Boss had thrown out a sleeping powder. I covered my nose and mouth as I looked around. Kim Suho could resist status effects to a certain degree, but the beautiful sight dazed him. Chae Nayun also appeared half-drunk.

Meanwhile, Boss made her move. I tried to stop her, but an explosion of light suddenly occurred. My jaws dropped.

***

Rachel felt drowsy under the golden dust sparkling in the sky. She felt sleepier than ever before. It seemed like an elemental’s power, but she closed her eyes since they defeated the monster. She couldn’t believe that Kim Hajin blew up the butterfly seedling with a single bullet. She felt safe enough to take a break.

Please let me take at least third place if first place is too much to ask…

Suddenly, she felt an intense light even with her eyes closed. She slightly opened her eyes and saw a golden clump of light on her stomach. It shone brilliantly and formed a human shape. Rachel stared at the light embracing her. It wasn’t a light, but a child around 3 years old. For some reason, Rachel felt familiar with the child’s face. Soon, she realized why. The child looked like her younger self.

The girl warmly embraced her as the injury on her stomach began to heal. Rachel subconsciously stroked the child’s hair, who innocently smiled. Rachel smiled back.

However, her face stiffened when the child spoke. She wanted to ask the child to repeat it, but her eyes slowly closed as a golden dust fell.

The child had called her Mommy.