I became friendly with the Puzu Tribe family and shared a meal with them.
The next morning, when I woke up, it was still dark all around. A heavy, damp atmosphere clung to my whole body. The nearby trees rustled and swayed in the black wind.
“Fufufu, Kyahaha.”
I heard someone’s laughter. Were enemies lurking nearby?! I tried to sit up, but I couldn’t move. Was it sleep paralysis? In times like these, you’re supposed to close your eyes and breathe slowly. It’s okay, this is due to the dark power that pervades the forest. I have companions. If I’m attacked, someone should notice.
I closed my eyes and started counting. One, two, three… I opened my eyes and began counting again. One, two, three… Huh? One more time, I closed my eyes and counted. Two, three, four…
Haa, I’m starting to suffocate. I’m so hot, my head is spinning, and I can’t think of anything.
One, two, six, huh?
“Fufufu, go home, go home.”
That’s right, go home from here. Go home. Go home, go home, GO HOME, GO, HO, ME!
This must be a nightmare brought on by a fever. That’s right, it’s the spirits’ doing, their doing, yes, yes, ah, eh.
“Shouldn’t you open your eyes?” I need to ask someone for help.
When I opened my eyes, there was a black shadow peering at me.
Behind it, countless white lights were visible.
They were all someone’s eyes.
“Gah! Haa, haa, what was that?!”
The chirping of birds, the warm sunlight. What a nightmare I had. What a terrible way to wake up after a long time. I happened to glance to my side and saw the Puzu Tribe child I met yesterday sleeping next to me. Was this kid the cause of my feverish tossing and turning? Honestly.
As soon as I shifted my body slightly, the child woke up immediately and ran off. While it’s not like I minded him being there. Then, I washed my face with cold water, which made me feel a little better.
“Alright, let’s pack our luggage and set off.”
Morning finally arrived, so let’s hurry towards the spring. Just then, the Puzu Tribe father I met yesterday came over.
“You’re planning to leave? Then, it can’t be helped. I’ll guide you part of the way.”
That was a great help. If I got lost in this forest, I don’t think I’d ever be able to get out alive. He put his son in charge of his wife’s escort and took the front position for us.
“The spring where the spirits reside is called the Spring of Life. As its name suggests, it’s a land where pure water gushes forth. However, for the past few months, the river water has begun to dry up. Apparently, the spring’s water is diminishing. We should really handle this ourselves, but we lack the strength.”
It seems a skilled magician was sent, but they were defeated. The fog that enveloped the forest was still heavy and suffocating. It felt as if the poison dissolved in the mist was gradually eroding my body.
Go home, go home…
That eerie voice still lingered in my head. Was it due to the humidity? I had a headache.
“My wife is pregnant right now. She’ll be having a sister or brother soon. But in this state, raising a child will be impossible.”
“I see. What bad timing.”
Is everyone else okay? I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being watched the whole time. Was this also the spirits’ doing? If so, why only me? I think Elana, who is more skilled in magic than I am, would be a greater threat.
“Arisugawa, your face looks pale. What’s wrong?”
“Uh, ah, I’m fine.”
Was it that noticeable that Sharin noticed? I suddenly felt a strange sensation in my right arm.
A large centipede was crawling on my hand!
“Ugh, gross! Get off!”
I hurriedly swatted it away. Where did it go? It must still be lurking around here somewhere.
“A centipede this big was just here. It might have gone that way.”
“Really? Where? I don’t see anything.”
Everyone else looked around their feet, but they insisted there was no centipede. Was I mistaken?
“Are you really okay?”
“I just have a slight headache.”
If that’s the case, Sharin started walking again. Am I tired? It happens sometimes. Let’s keep moving without worrying about it.
“…”
Even so, I still felt like someone was watching me from time to time. I looked back, but no one was there. Yet, I could feel a presence so strongly. Could it be that none of them noticed?
The tree that just passed by my side, it looks familiar. And that rock too. Am I going in circles?
“Hey, doesn’t the scenery look the same?”
“What did you say? Are you lost? Go back?”
Huh? What did you say? Sharin, right? Everyone turned to look at me. What, what are you looking at? Could the target of your gaze be them? Something was rustling at our feet.
Spiders. There were many small spiders. Calm down, this is a hallucination. Someone is trying to undermine me. But who?
Now that I think about it, the Puzu Tribe’s wife said she uses illusion magic. Is she doing this?
“That’s right, you only realized it now? Who would invite someone to the spring?”
