I suddenly woke up from sleep.
There was no particular reason. I just woke up because it was a bit too warm, a bit too stifling. My mind was still half-asleep, in a dreamlike state.
I tried to toss and turn to catch my breath, but for some reason, my body wouldn’t budge at all. Even though my brain was clearly telling my body to move, it refused to comply.
I thought maybe I was experiencing sleep paralysis, but since my head moved perfectly in accordance with my will, it seemed that wasn’t the case.
Instead, I turned my head around to observe my surroundings. Only then did I realize why I couldn’t move.
When I turned my head to the left, I saw Anne, and behind her, Selian. They were using my left arm as a pillow. Then I turned my head to the right and saw Luna, followed by Lindy. They were using my right arm as a pillow.
When I slightly lifted my head and looked down, the first thing I saw was Presia curled up like a cat sleeping on my stomach, reminiscent of the old days at the Academy when she’d visit my room as “Meow” to sleep.
And below that, even lower, Yuli and Lilith were hugging my legs like pillows.
Apparently, I’m the only one in this group without restless sleep tendencies. Comparing myself to others, I have relatively calm sleeping habits, relegating me to the underdog position during sleep. Survival of the fittest, one might say.
I’m not exactly upset about the situation of being surrounded by beautiful women. After all, I was once a man. However, it matters little since I am now in a woman’s body, and they are all mere friends.
I did worry, albeit briefly, that I might inadvertently take advantage of them in my sleep. But the concern was unwarranted since I was completely immobilized with both arms and legs occupied.
So, I simply enjoyed being surrounded by these beautiful women and closed my eyes to go back to sleep.
“Welcome. Although we greeted each other yesterday, let me introduce myself properly. My name is Lunia, and I serve as the leader of the elves living in this forest.”
Despite holding a position equivalent to a king in human society, Lunia was respectful and courteous, unlike the arrogance one might expect. She was quite different from any emperor I knew. And to clarify, this is not an insult toward the emperor. Lunia possessed grace within her courtesy, while the emperor held steadfast strength beneath his arrogance. They simply had different styles.
“Chief Elder. The reason for my visit today is…”
While allowing the others to explore the Elf’s Forest as they pleased, Lindy and I, the hero, were the only ones invited to the elder’s quarters.
“Tsk. I understand you’re in a rush, but please take your time. Rushing can sometimes ruin things.”
Lindy was about to get straight to the point, but Lunia placed a finger to her lips, then stood up and presented us each with a cup.
“This is a flower tea brewed with the dew from dawn. It’s quite effective for calming the mind, though I’m not sure if it suits your tastes.”
Looking into the cup, I could see a single flower floating on top of pinkish tea water. It looked as though the flower was simply placed in the water instead of steeped in boiling water, contrary to usual practices.
Taking a small sip, I tasted a subtle sweetness mixed with floral fragrances, a luxurious sensation incomparable to any expensive tea I’d tried before.
“Hmm, it seems you’re enjoying it. I’ll make sure to send some with you upon departure,” Lunia said with a chuckle.
“A-ah, thank you…”
“Then, let’s hear why you’ve come to the Elf’s Forest, shall we? I already have an idea.”
“Right…”
As Lunia prepared to delve into serious discussion, Lindy began her explanation. The tale of me, the hero, and our resolution to embark on the expedition to vanquish the Demon King, the formidable demons we will face, and Lindy’s fragile state that hindered our journey were detailed in a long, elaborate explanation intended to gain approval.
Lunia listened attentively, nodding her head and encouraging Lindy until she finished.
“In short, you wish to take Alicia, a human, to the Spirit Realm.”
“Yes…”
“Of course, the pathway to the Spirit Realm isn’t just any location, but it’s not one we can indiscriminately deny access to either, so don’t worry too much about that. While others might need extra consideration, since Alicia is a hero, I doubt the Spirit King will have any major issues with it.”
Fortunately, Lunia gave her approval easily, as Lindy had anticipated. The primary goal had been achieved.
But we couldn’t be satisfied just yet. Our ultimate goal was to seek forgiveness from the Spirit King and have Lindy’s restriction lifted.
“However, are you aware? I can’t assist much further. The Spirit King tends to be stubborn and doesn’t always listen to my words fully, so persuading them will be entirely up to you two.”
“No, that’s more than enough for now. Asking for more would be like thievery,” I said, waving my hands in disbelief, causing Lunia to giggle and cover her mouth.
“Hmm, Lindy seemed so concerning when she first left the Elf’s Forest, but seeing how she has formed a connection with someone like you, I can rest assured.”
“Ah, no, thank you. I’ve actually received a great deal of help from Lindy.”
When Lunia praised my character, I humbly denied it. This wasn’t just out of modesty—I genuinely felt that way.
In fact, without Lindy’s aid, I wouldn’t have been able to arrive at this point. I wouldn’t have been able to uncover my true identity before becoming Number 3, and she provided immense support during my time as a hero.
Still, I’ve never offered Lindy any proper compensation, exploiting her feelings for me, using her without any substantial reward. The only thing I’ve managed to give her is a portion of the hero’s stipend I receive from the emperor, which, strictly speaking, isn’t even my own to give.
Nevertheless, I truly did feel gratitude for Lindy, who went to great lengths for me.
“Even so, Lindy can be mischievous at times, I suspect Alicia might have found that troubling. In fact, Lindy fell out of favor with the Spirit King partly due to her mischievous tendencies…”
“A-hahaha! I didn’t know our Alicia thought so highly of me,” Lindy interrupted loudly, laughing as she joined our conversation.
We were right in the middle of discussing Lindy when she chimed in loudly. Somehow, I had a clear understanding of what prompted her to do so, typical of Lindy’s character.
“Alright, then follow this path. You might be startled by the unfamiliar sensation, but you’ll adapt quickly.”
The place we visited together, said to be a gateway to the Spirit Realm, was one of the lakes within the forest.
Apart from its crystal clarity, perfectly reflective like a mirror, there was nothing too unusual about it compared to other lakes.
“Wh—You mean we walk into the water?”
“Yes, don’t worry too much.”
“But the water…”
Even so, the command felt bafflingly absurd.
“Are you scared? I can hold your hand, Alicia. I wouldn’t mind holding your hand.”
“…No. It’s fine. I’m not a toddler,” I replied quickly, rejecting Lindy’s offer as if speaking to a child, then marched toward the lake center.
The water lapped at my ankles, then my waist. After a few steps, my entire head was submerged in the lake. To my surprise, opening my eyes underwater caused no irritation, and taking a breath revealed no water entering my mouth either.
Looking around, it became apparent that instead of being beneath the lake, we were in a mysterious and magical place.
“Alright, we’re here. This is the Spirit Realm.”
I hadn’t felt any sensation of crossing dimensions, yet we instantly arrived. It was a little disappointing since I’d expected something more spectacular.
“Squawk…”
Suddenly, a chirping sound came from nearby. Turning my head, I saw a bird floating in mid-air.
“Hm? What’s a bird doing here…?”
“Oh! That’s not a real bird—it’s a low-class wind spirit! Don’t bother it unless you want it to get annoyed, okay?”
Despite Lindy’s warning to leave it alone, I couldn’t help but be intrigued. Spirit Summoners were rare, so this was the first time I’d seen a spirit up close. While Lindy could manage low-class spirits, they were typically too inexperienced to take a physical form in the material world, so to me, they were just a breeze I faintly felt.
Slowly extending my finger, the supposed bird spirit, glowing with a faint blue light, circled me once before landing on my fingertip. Unlike wild animals, it didn’t flee at my approach but instead remained placidly perched on my finger.
Lifting my other hand slowly, I gently stroked the tiny spirit’s head with my finger. The little creature tilted its head curiously, submitting itself to my touch. It chirped, clearly pleased, as I scratched under its neck.
Raising my head again, I looked around. Beyond the wind spirit on my finger, many other spirits were scattered about the area. There were running children, adult women playing tag, a panther sleeping on a tree branch, a gecko flicking its tongue on a rock, all of them spirits.
True to their fantastical reputation, each spirit was incredibly cute, grand, and beautiful.
A little greed began to stir in me.
