Young Master's PoV: Woke Up As A Villain In A Game One Day - Chapter 246: The Tree King Wept… Apparently

Chapter 246: The Tree King Wept… Apparently

I landed on the ledge, just a few inches short of the cliff’s edge.

And immediately—

I started running.

I ran past Lily, who had been guarding the ledge and was valiantly fending off a tree-crab that had somehow climbed up the cliff.

Without so much as a glance at her fight, or even an offer to help, I ran straight into the forest, still holding the two girls in my arms.

Meanwhile, down in the canyon, Michael started planning his own escape the second he saw me sailing through the sky with Alexia and Juliana tucked under and over my shoulders like a pair of stolen money bags.

But the problem was that the Tree King had now become very committed to murdering Michael.

Which meant he needed an opening to ’retreat with tactical finesse’ — which was jargon for cowardly running away.

Now, I should clarify one thing: I wasn’t there to witness what happened next. I had already fled the scene like a responsible survivor.

So, there are two different versions of the story of how Michael escaped the Tree King.

The first is what Michael told me himself.

According to him, he dodged several spiky roots lashing out to impale him, cut down what he couldn’t dodge, and tanked the ones he couldn’t cut down.

At one point, he was driven back by the Tree King.

So — Michael claims — he raised his longsword high, sinister shadows swirling around its dark blade, then plunged it into the ground.

The shadows spread from his sword like an unholy tide and drowned the whole canyon in pitch-black darkness.

The Tree King roared in blind confusion… when Michael lunged at it and brought his blade down toward the creature’s neck.

But before he could decapitate it, the Tree King began to… cry.

Yes, that’s right.

According to Michael, a Spirit Beast…

The Tree King…

Began to cry

And then it spoke!

Yes!

It spoke and said, “Please, oh great Michael! Spare me! I have a young wife and even younger children waiting for me at home!”

Moved by its tragic plea, Michael spared the Tree King out of compassion and walked away, leaving the battlefield with the grace of a righteous hero.

When he reached the cliff, Lily swooned at his nobility.

Then, impressed by his boundless empathy and unmatched strength, she hugged him.

That’s Michael’s version.

…And then there’s the version Lily told me later.

According to her, Michael did plunge his sword into the ground. And when the canyon was swallowed by the sea of darkness…

Michael immediately abandoned his heroic dignity and bolted while crying and screaming and praying all at once.

He grabbed Kang, who had gone completely berserk by then, and conjured a wide stone pillar using my copied power.

The pillar shot upward from under their feet like a makeshift elevator, carrying them toward the cliff.

By the time it reached the top, Michael was clinging to Kang like a terrified child clutching his teddy.

The moment he stepped onto the ledge, he nearly tripped, then ran off into the woods yelling, “Run, run, run!”

Now, who’s to say which version is true?

The answer might shock you.

…It’s Lily.

Lily’s version is true.

Anyway, once Michael and Kang vanished into the forest, Lily rolled her eyes and stepped back from the ledge herself.

By now, dozens, if not hundreds, of tree-crabs were already scaling the cliff wall to come after us.

But as soon as the first of them stumbled over the ledge—

—THWOOOM!!

The ground exploded under their root-legs.

The ledge shattered like a bursting dam.

Shards of rock and dirt rained into the canyon.

A thundering rock slide followed, burying the first few rows of tree-crabs under tons of rubble.

You see, during the time we were down there, Lily had planted a few landmine-like Cards around the ledge. The beasts had triggered them when they tried to climb over.

And just like that, our escape was secured.

•••

After making sure we were far enough into the woods, I slowed to a stop.

Huffing and puffing, I gently lowered Juliana onto the mossy ground.

Two steps later, I set Alexia down as well, laying her perfectly on her back.

Her ladyship was still sleeping like a princess who had somehow missed the part where we were running for our lives.

“Never…” Juliana panted, pushing herself to her knees. “Never do that again! Please! Leave me to fate next time, just don’t do that!”

I managed a breathless chuckle. “Oh, come on! It was fun! You even screamed in excitement!”

Juliana glared at me with the fury of someone who had just survived a theme park ride built by a madman.

I happened to be that madman.

“I screamed because I thought my spine was about to snap from the g-force!” she shot back.

I laughed, watching her collapse back onto all fours, trembling like a leaf.

My laughter, however, faltered as I once again realized just how little that cavewoman outfit actually covered her.

Too much skin.

It was too much skin.

I mean, sure, Juliana usually wore low-cut tops or high-slit skirts. I’d even seen her in bikinis whenever we went to the beach.

But this? This felt downright indecent.

So I coughed and dutifully looked away like the gentleman I unquestionably am.

…Then I looked back.

Hey, in my defense, I wasn’t oogling! Heavens no!

I was merely conducting a very thorough, very professional injury inspection for my Shadow’s well-being.

Juliana must have caught the pause because she suddenly whipped her head up and locked gazes with me. “Eyes up, Young Master.”

I threw my hands up innocently. “What? I was just checking to make sure you didn’t have any scratches.”

Her eyes narrowed.

“Deep, severe scratches,” I clarified quickly. “The kind that could lead to infection and eventual tragic death, you see. I just want you to live a long and happy life.”

She scoffed and moved to stand up straight.

That’s when two details caught my eye.

First, a blue rose vine design tattooed along the curve of her right thigh.

Second, an anklet made entirely of fake nails wrapped around her left foot.

I tilted my head, curiosity winning over propriety.

The rose vine made sense — it looked tribal, stylish, and a bit mysterious. I had seen that tattoo before. It suited her.

But the anklet? The fake nail anklet? That was new. Just what kind of accessory was that supposed to be?

“What is that?” I asked before my self-control could kick in.

Juliana glanced down at it, then back up at me. A slow smile bloomed on her lips. I did not like that smile.

—Swish, swush

But before she could answer, two humanoid shapes burst out from the overgrown bushes to our left.