6~ Chicken b*tt!
“Tick, tock…………”
A cool sensation at the tip of his nose, like the rhythmic tapping of a young girl’s tender fingers.
“Wake up, sleepyhead~ Wake up~”
After a while, the girl tapping Dilin’s nose seemed to grow impatient. Seeing that prodding his nose wouldn’t rouse him, she suddenly produced a wooden hammer labeled ‘10T.’
Gently awaken the slumbering soul!
Dillin jolted awake, drenched in cold sweat, as he sat straight up from the ground.
Huh?
The crisp morning air cleared his muddled thoughts. But there was no little girl with a wooden hammer in sight.
Was it a dream?
The rustling leaves, the morning dew mingling with the scent of wildflowers and fresh grass, the refreshing coolness of the air punctuated by the chirping of orioles—it all painted a peaceful picture. The sun was already high in the sky, its golden rays blessing the earth and filling nature with vitality and warmth.
Surrounded by such beauty, Dillin felt inexplicably refreshed. Bathed in the morning light, a smile crept onto his lips, even though he couldn’t quite recall what had happened before he lost consciousness.
He rubbed his groggy eyes, feeling well-rested, energized, and stretched his petite waist with a few soft, comfortable moans.
Ah, my hair’s a mess… it’s already sticking to my face…
Still half-asleep, Dillin instinctively tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, tidying up her tousled bangs.
Well, I should wash my face, find a hair tie, and tie my hair up.
Still dazed, Dillin wandered over to the nearby lake, walking with the elegance of a feline in stride.
As she reached the water’s edge, a cute little squirrel leapt past her, splashing water onto her chest. The droplets slid down her curves like morning dew rolling off a leaf.
“Hmph.” Despite her damp clothes, Dillin wasn’t upset. She bent down lithely, her delicate hands petting the squirrel’s fluffy head, her smile brighter than the morning sun.
The squirrel, clutching a pinecone, blinked its large, glossy eyes. Normally, such timid creatures would flee at the sight of a human, but this little critter not only didn’t resist but also pressed its head against her hand, like a pet cat begging for affection.
“You shouldn’t be running around near the lake; drowning wouldn’t be fun.” Dillin held the squirrel by its little armpits and spoke to it face-to-face.
The squirrel seemed to understand her warning, nodding its tiny head in agreement.
“Go on now.” Gently placing it back on the ground, she waved goodbye.
Watching the squirrel scamper away, she cupped the clear water in her hands and splashed it on her cheeks. The cold water woke her up further, and in the reflection of the lake, she saw the trees, the flora, and her own image—all peaceful and serene.
“……”
But Dillin’s smile froze. Her face stiffened.
In the reflection, a stunning golden-haired girl mirrored her widened eyes, her expression shifting from surprise to shock before she toppled onto the grass in sheer disbelief.
What the heck?!
“M-Me???” Dillin’s pupils dilated, her lips trembling as she looked down at her tiny, unfamiliar hands and the terrified elf girl in the lake’s reflection.
“Is… is this me?!” Her voice rang out, clear and sweet, like a crystal cup tinkling against a silver spoon.
“Haha… hehe…” Dillin forced out a few hollow laughs.
“It’s still a dream… right?” she murmured to herself. She approached a nearby pine tree, staring at its gnarled bark while taking a deep breath. Then, without hesitation, she rammed her head into it!
“BOOM BOOM!”
“THUD!”
The first sound was her head colliding with the tree. The second was the Elf Miss collapsing onto the ground, her vision blurred with golden stars.
“Chirp chirp chirp! (What’s wrong with that girl down there?)”
“Squeak squeak… (Does she think her head is harder than tree bark?)”
“Chirp chirp chirp! (She seems… clueless? Not very bright?)”
“Squeak squeak squeak… (Should we leave her here alone? Is that safe?)”
The impact of Dillin’s assault caused the pine tree to sway, and the nest of squirrels above began chattering animatedly.
“Owwww… it hurts….” Dillin, who hadn’t held back, rubbed her throbbing head. Her emerald-green eyes brimmed with tears as she struggled to rise.
Why? Why does this stupid dream feel so real?!
“Oh, that’s rough. What’s this?” She massaged her lower back and pulled out a jade pendant from her pocket.
Upon closer inspection, it looked familiar—it was the identity badge given to formal students at Coleman Academy during enrollment. Carved onto it in human script was her name: Dillin.
“Isn’t this… my student ID??”
Dillin gazed at her surroundings: birds chirping, flowers blooming, the breeze ruffling the willows. By the lake, her reflection revealed rounded cheeks, serene emerald eyes, and an adorable childlike face marred by a sword-like black-and-white birthmark stretching across her face.
Wait, birthmark? No… that’s not a birthmark…
“Ahh! Ow, ow…” She pinched her pointed ears, sharp and exotic. The pain forced her to confront an unimaginably grim reality.
My dude… where did you go?
At that moment, fragments from her memory surfaced: the bizarre flyer, the mysterious portal to an ancient tree shrine, the sacrificial ritual… Suddenly it all came rushing back!
If she didn’t figure this out now, she’d truly be brain-dead.
This was definitely the elves’ doing!
Before Dilin could curse them, her brain short-circuited.
“Pointed ears, screw you…”
But her words trailed off.
As a veteran member of the “Antidepressant Bar” (Level 11) and an honorary member of “Absurdity Bar” in her past life, Dillin had a knack for dropping curses at every opportunity. But now, something stopped her lips from spewing insults.
It was her instincts—her body was instinctively resisting and rejecting any vulgarities. This resistance felt as if it had been carved into her DNA, like an innate muscle memory that made her utterly unable to utter foul language.
What the hell?!
If I just force myself to insult their parents?
“Fck… cough cough*!” Before she could finish, Dillin started choking on her saliva.
This body literally couldn’t say any dirty words at all!
