Flowers in bloom.
Walking for thirty minutes while continuously avoiding traps. It would probably take an average person two hours, but Dirk advanced briskly as if he were walking on a paved road. The hand supporting me was steady, and there was little vibration. Once again, Dirk is amazing.
As I swooned over my darling's handsome form, light began to peek through the gaps in the trees—perhaps the forest was finally ending. The moment Dirk took one more step forward, the air... the wind changed.
There was a brief sensation like we had passed through some kind of barrier... but why did we pass through it without doing anything?
“Sorry, Dirk, take five steps back.”
“Okay.”
Dirk stepped back five paces. Again, we passed through the barrier. So... it's not like we can’t leave. What’s the purpose of this barrier? Monster deterrent…? But there aren’t any monsters around here for some reason.
“Hmm…”
This barrier… it feels kind of nostalgic. A barrier. A divider. Isolation… As I was spacing out, a sloth had quietly approached us.
“You guys passed through the barrier! You’re not bullies, right!?”
“Bullying is the worst.”
“We aren’t.”
I wasn’t entirely sure what it was getting at, but bullying is uncool. I answered honestly for now.
“Alright! You guys, chosen ones! I’ll guide you!”
Following the sloth, we found a village. At first glance, it seemed like a normal village, but its residents all had something in common.
Outsiders. Flowers blooming out of season. Beings that should not exist.
“Fluffy paradise…”
Bodies of sheep with goat faces, wolves’ ears with squirrels’ tails… This is… kind of great!
“Me… meow…”
“I love you more than anything in the world!”
As I was being tempted by all the fluff, my darling—currently in the form of a kitten-sized black panther—snapped me back to my senses. My darling is truly wonderful! The fluffiest man in the world.
“… You're weird.”
“Rosarin’s love for fluff isn’t exactly normal…”
“Ugh…”
I can’t help it! I just really love fluff! I’m currently satisfying my fluff cravings with my kitten-sized black panther darling!
Still, there are a lot of beast-headed people. The villagers glance at us but don’t approach.
“Onecha, pre…tty…”
A brave girl with a kitten head and a fox tail approached me. Probably because of her beast head, her speech was halting.
“Thank you. You’re adorable too.”
I lightly patted her head, and she fluffed up her tail and froze… then burst into tears. Huh!? Was touching her against the rules!?
“Nyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!”
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry! Did you not like that!? Oh—uh, look, snacks! These are yummy!”
“Sna…cks?”
She sniffed the cookies. Seems like she stopped crying. I unwrapped them and placed one in her hand. I gave one to Dirk too. I fed him a bite. To show it was safe, I ate one myself. Mmm… the butter flavor is rich… Crunchy…
“Nya! Nya… nya… nyuuu…”
She seemed to really like the cookie. She looked sad when it was gone. So cute!
“Here, have another.”
“Nya!? ………Nyu… th…ank… you… thank… you…”
Tears in her eyes, she tried her best to say thank you. Beast heads were like with Pochi too—they can be changed easily.
“………………… Huh? Oneechan, what did you do… I can talk!?”
The villagers began to murmur. Ah, I wasn’t supposed to do that? I debated whether I should revert her back, but then the girl dropped a bombshell.
“Oneechan, are you a god!?”
“I am not.”
The villagers started murmuring again. Everyone, please calm down. I’m just a slightly mischievous marquis’ wife. I’m no god. That’s defamation. Please stop.
“You, god?”
“No, I’m not.”
“You, meet god. Come.”
Guided by the sloth, we were taken to the center of the village. To the source of the anomaly. And then… I collapsed.
“Rosarin!?”
In front of me was a statue wearing a Hannya mask… probably a woman. I say “probably” because she was wearing armor full of spikes and blades. Why such a threatening get-up?
There was no doubt—it was Kotoba Watase, Rin’s relative.
“I had a feeling it was you!! Kotooooooo Nechaaaan!!”
As I pounded the ground in helpless frustration, I heard mechanical whirring.
“Gigi… Verification. Confirmed as the Awaited One.”
It looked a lot like our Navi-kun, but with caterpillar tracks for feet. So that was the sound I heard. It also had horns and a tail—perhaps designed to match the villagers here.
“Welcome to the Forgotten Village! I am the administrative AI here, and my name is Kamisaman.”
“Kamisama, is this god?”
“No. She is far greater than I am. She must be welcomed immediately. The long years of waiting have paid off. Finally, we’ve met. O’Awaited One… I have waited so, so long for you.”
“Got it! Banquet, will prep!! Festivals fun!!”
Well, I’ve figured out this place is related to Koto Neechan. But I had a distant look in my eyes, sensing nothing but trouble ahead.
What do you think about this chapter?
