At an unknown place inside Sherwood Forest.
"Ugh... Damn, I feel like I've been passing out way too much these last few chapters… This way I might end up being replaced as the protagonist…"
I mumble unreasonable stuff as I get up…
Around me is a light green grass field with a pound of water in its center, surrounded by tall trees. A small meadow inside a dark forest.
"It's nighttime already…"
There's a dark sky above me, illuminated by so many bright stars that I can even see relatively well my dark surroundings.
"At least the sky is pretty."
Though the moon is missing from the picture…
"More importantly, how did I even get here…?"
Besides that, I don't feel any pain either as I move my body. I take a look at my hand, and it is perfectly fine. Why are my wounds healed?
…
Did I die---!?
My train of thought is interrupted once I notice many lights of a deep green hue moving in the air, performing many exotic patterns.
"What are those…?"
I notice they're those tiny creatures from before I passed out… Fairies?
Now that I can look at them more calmly, I notice that they don't have a determined shape. Quite the opposite, they distort and deform with every move, in random patterns. Sometimes, as if by coincidence, they turn into recognizable shapes, but soon change again.
When I saw them for the first time, they were translucent, and almost disappearing. But now I can see them shining in a vivid color. Also, there's a far greater number of them.
"Beautiful…"
They shine and dance in the air, seemingly not caring about gravity. They go from the pound, to the grass and then to the top of the trees in continuum, but unpredictable movements. They seem to bump at each other from time to time, but soon after, they continue their own dance. The combination of their dance as a whole should look like utter chaos, with each one dancing in whatever way they please… But the way they complement each other from time to time, as if by accident, turns the spectacle into something quite pleasant to watch.
Some of them even start to dance on me, in a pattern as if they were inviting me to dance as well.
"Aren't you a fortunate one? I've been here for such a long time, and yet they`ve never even approached me once…" A clear voice suddenly rings next to me.
Before I had even noticed, there was already a girl, of about my age (I think), sitting next to me. Emerald green eyes and a blonde long hair. She was surrounded by something akin to a silver aura. Her slim figure gave an impression of fragility, which was complemented by her sorrowful gaze. She was sitting at the grass while staring at me, her head resting at her knees while she wrapped her arms around her legs. And---!
I quickly turn my head the other way!
Why is she nakeeeed???
Completely naked, all of her translucent skin was exposed for the whole world to see!!!
Translucent---?
"I cannot even remember the last time I've talked to someone…"
I'll always remember the first time I saw an actual naked woman in front of me…
C-caham! C-calm down, me!
"…"
I glance at her sideways from time to time, hoping she'll notice she's not quite up to par with the dress code. But the person in question doesn't seem to care.
She continues to stare at me with a bored face…
Bored? Maybe something else…
But she doesn`t seem to notice the amount of self-control I`m exercising right now! Is it okay to look!? She doesn`t seem to be concerned in the least!
'When people say nothing, it means they are giving their consent, right?' Is something only an utter asshole would think! But right now I see that even my brain is working overtime trying to justify something that I shouldn't do!
…
But, what if instead of ogling her, I simply looked at her respectfully?
Of course, this is merely for scientific purposes.
I mean, who is she, where did she came from, how did she even appear out of nowhere!?
We have to properly analyze this situation, right???
Then it's alright if I ogle at her, right---!!!???
Nooo!!! Wretched brain! Why would you only work overtime for something like this!?
Before I could solve my internal moral dilemma, the girl in question stood up and walked up right in front of me…
…
"…"
............….
"Whyyyy arrreeee yoooouuu a maaaaann????!!!! Daaaamniiiit!!!!!"
I thought I was dead, but now I`m sure that`s not the case. How could a dead person want to die so much!?
This memory will go right to my heartbreaks list, right next to that time in first grade when I confessed to the girl I liked and she called her friends to laugh at me, and said I was an ugly loser…
Ahh, kids, so pure in both good and evil…
…
He looks at me, startled for a second, and then begins to laugh.
"Ahn? Ah! Pft!!!! *giggles* Sorry, I'm naked, right!? Let me put on some clothes!"
Suddenly, a black frilly dress materializes over his body.
I don`t even have enough MP anymore to comment on how much it suits him…
But I think I`ve seen someone who looks just like him somewhere before.
Still laughing, he continues.
"The living are really interesting after all!!! Hahaha! It's been a long time since I've last laughed like this! You appeared here out of nowhere and without knowing anything this is the first thing that comes up your head? Did I disappoint you? Or do you prefer it this way? *giggles*"
"Good to know you`re having fun… Wait… Huh?"
The… 'Living'?