Translator: Leo Editor: Frappe
Within 10 seconds, it grew to become a palm-sized, green plant wherein a green bud the size of a fist developed on top of it.
Crack!
It broke open then from it flowed transparent, slimy fluid that fell on the carpet.
Intense stench immediately diffused in the air.
This caused Angele to jump up from the bed and look at the plant frowningly. Once the golden bird saw Angele already awoken, it flew away from the windowsill after fluttering its wings.
Cough! Cough!
The broken-open green bud started coughing as if it was a person. The plant soon leaned down and acted seemingly as if it choked on the slimy fluid.
I apologize for interrupting your nice dream,
an old woman’s voice came from the bud,
Did you notice recovering faster than usual while you’re here in the heart of the tree?
Angele avoided the slimy fluid and stood in front of the bud, his brow still furrowed.
Who are you?
he questioned in a whisper,
Is this plant a tool for communication?
I’m your contact. I think all of you right now have the same question. Sadly, this is a one-way message. I won’t be able to receive your feedback. Your lunch shall soon be delivered, so help yourselves. After lunch, you shall know how depressing this place is and… Damn it, Newbass! The only thing you know is eat! Come back! Come back…
Chi! Chi!
The voice soon became noise, and the message stopped there.
Angele looked at the slimy fluid on the carpet—speechless—and the room smelled like it had been soused with disinfectant potion.
He massaged his temples several times.
Fine, lunch… The strange message explained nothing… but whatever.
He waved his hand, and the slimy fluid floated up high, becoming a transparent ball and flying out of the window.
Angele returned to his bed for the opportunity to take some more rest. He noticed that the room was indeed aiding in his recovery—mentally and physically. The old man said that this place was called ‘the heart of the tree’. Perhaps that ought to be the reason for his fast recovery.
Angele could hear faint noises coming from outside as he continued to lie down. It sounded like many children doing menial jobs.
Move! Let’s go! Move!
they were shouting, and their voices were getting nearer.
Angele sat up and looked outside.
What’s going on?
He looked out the window with a flabbergasted face.
Beside the green plant, at the edge of the brown-wood windowsill.
A group of crème-filled, black biscuits were lined up and climbing up the window with their short legs.
In the hands of this biscuits grasped black spears that were as though they were made with flour.
For justice!
the biscuit-leader raised up its spear and shouted with a cute, child-like voice.
For justice!
Gourmandism shall fall!
The other biscuits, too began shouting, though they were only yellow random things.
The biscuit-leader started giving out orders,
Now! Biscuits of the Helios Family, line up! Biscuits of the Julie Family, line up! Rest of you, follow me!
The biscuits divided into three groups after finding out their positions.
The biscuit-leader turned around and watched Angele stood up.
Damn it! Brothers! Attack!
he pointed toward Angele his black, long spear.
You, ultimate evil! For the peaceful life of the biscuits! You shall fall!
Go!
Defeat him!
Angele walked to the windowsill tongue-tied. The scene where biscuits were running to him was amusing, and he did not know how he should react to it.
The food delivery was here. He finally understood what the voice was implying.
So that’s how the food is delivered… The biscuits are probably my lunch then.
With a flick of his finger, a fireball materialized and floated above the biscuits.
Oh! No! I’m being roasted!
My heart… my heart!
The biscuits fell to the ground and the cream in them began to melt. Attractive, milky fragrance wafted in the air.
Well, sorry, I guess.
Angele deeply exhaled. He picked up one of them when they stopped moving and sent it into his mouth.
The combination of the crisp of the biscuit itself and the creaminess of its filling was refreshing. There was just right about enough sugar content to make it tasty.
Oh! God! God! Damn it! What have you done! You’re a murderer! It’s a massacre!
a plump bread roll climbed up the windowsill.
It started crying and wheezing upon seeing what transpired, but its ‘tears’ were just powdered white sugar.
The cream biscuit families are wiped off the land in just one day? God! No… it’s not real…
Angele didn’t care; he caught the bread roll and sent it to his mouth.
Chomp!
He bit the bread roll in half, and it stopped talking instantly.
It’s good.
The bread roll was lightly toasted, crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, and the sweetness from the wheat flour and white sugar were perfect.
Angele was satiated after eating up all the food that climbed up the window.
There was not much food, but they were surprisingly sating.
He rested a bit more after having lunch. Soon, on the opposite side of the window, a rectangular door gradually appeared on the golden wall.
Creak!
The door opened, revealing an arched hallway within.
The hallway was built out of brown wood. From time to time, there were people passing by.
Angele stood up from the bed and walked to the hallway and looked around.
His room was located amid the wall of a large, ball-shaped hall.
The walls were painted black and covered with small doors. A long spiral staircase connected the rooms, which led to the lower level of the hall.
Angele stepped out of the room he was in. It was quite noisy in the hall.
On an empty area beneath the staircase were several tall chairs mantled with red blankets.
The chairs were well arranged. People were already seated on some of them.
The whole time, people were walking out of the rooms. They walked down the flight of stairs and took a seat in one of the chairs as if they were waiting for something.
Many people were talking to the people they were familiar with.
However, some of them were strangers and were checking the surroundings constantly. Angele saw several familiar faces, and some of them came from the same rift as he was in.
He stood by the door without a noise. Seconds later, a person wearing a white maid uniform approached him and bowed to him.
Welcome to the heart of the tree. The winner of the competition will be announced soon. Please take the cores with you and wait in one of the seats.
The maid’s voice sounded like a young girl.
However, Angele saw the maid’s face filled with wrinkles and her skin as dry as barks. She was an old woman who looked like she was nearly dying.
Angele stayed calm and nodded slowly,
Understood.
And, this room shall be yours whenever you’re in Dark Wizard Tower. Please memorize its location,
the old woman advised.
Sure.
All right, let’s head down the stairs.
The old woman started walking to the left side of the hall.
Angele accompanied the woman. There were still people stepping out of the rooms, also guided by maids in white. They went to head down the staircase as well after listening to the explanation.
Angele blended into the crowd and quickly arrived at the bottom level. He made sure there was no restriction on the seat selection and sat down on a chair at the front-left corner.
Commander Lion is here!
a loud voice echoed in the hall.
At the back of the hall, three people emerged out of nowhere in front of a closed black gate.
The three’s gender varied. The one in the lead was a tall man with a thick beard, and following him, there were a man and a woman. Both of them were blond, and all of them had attractive characteristics.
The tall man looked around before he walked to one of the chairs and sat down with a blank face alongside his company.
Commander Kaelyn is here!
A short, gray-haired man wearing a luxurious black tuxedo appeared in front of the black gate. He pursed his lips into a gentle smile and sat down on a chair quietly.
People slowly quieted down, and they focused on a small platform at the front of the hall.
Three golden light-columns landed on the black platform seconds later.
The light-columns were not intense; they brought a hint of warmth to the hall.
Three people appeared in the golden columns one by one.
The ceremony is being supervised by Count Hosla and hosted by the head of the change department, master Sando!
the voice echoed in the hall again.
Two women and one man were standing in the light columns—all of them wearing golden hemmed, white outfits.
At the front-most was a beautiful woman who had long, green hair and a few wrinkles on the corners of her eyes, her light-blue eyes shining slightly.
When the voice mentioned master Sando, the woman nodded at the audience and smiled gently.
Count Hosla was standing at the right side of Sando and nodded at the audience as well. He was an old man whose hair had already turned white.
Meanwhile, at the left side of Sando was a young girl who had a deadpan face. She was likely just Sando’s assistant, considering how her name wasn’t mentioned.
The three people on the platform successfully drew the attention of the audience.
