◈ Episode 098

A ruin where all sorts of mysterious plants grew in disorder. There was a car leisurely driving on the asphalt where tree roots were digging into every corner.

"Hmm, hmm."

Kim Yi-hyun tapped the steering wheel with his fingers and hummed a ballad from his memory. Today, he was in a particularly good mood. Rather than being high-strung, he should say he felt comfortable.

'It's been a while since I've been able to walk around alone with peace of mind like this.'

The first time I went to Bastetira was the last time. Even then, I was not completely at ease because I had an important purpose of kidnapping, or rather protecting, Ainoa.

On the other hand, what about now?

There is not a single human figure in sight. Occasionally, a monster may be seen, but it just passes by. It is rare for a monster to run and chase a car.

The exhaust sound of the car, the humming. No other noises are heard except for the sounds you intended. It feels like a quiet drive.

It was a pleasant silence.

'Sometimes we need times like this.'

Of course, I got permission to go out and use the vehicle.

… … A walk. Really?

Have you been living a lie? Just going to get some fresh air.

It would also be a good idea to bring along an agent who is willing to help…

Hey, I'm just going out for a bit, why are you doing such a big deal?

hmm.

I received such a happy acceptance.

Normally, I would have to contact the management team and go through the formal process, but there was no reason to go that far when all it took was a word from the research center director.

The word 'walk' was not a lie.

'There are other purposes, too. But I'm doing it for two reasons.'

There are just things to take care of while you're at it. I've brought all the necessary supplies. I've also traced the source of the rumor and figured out exactly where it is.

After a while the car arrived at the entrance of the forest.

"Oh my, I came out too far."

I was once again shocked. How on earth did that reserve agent end up in such a remote place? It seemed like life in the underground facility was quite stifling.

In the rap, it is summarized as 'I'm glad you came back safely.' There are some parts where the explanation is lacking, so I think the agent in question must have muddled things up.

But if it were all true, it would be a creepy tale.

'Like a forest that causes mental disorders.'

Some agents have already accepted it. It is basically a closed lifestyle unless they go on business trips. It is not uncommon for them to become overly immersed in each issue.

"Actually, the atmosphere is quite...."

I parked my car in a suitable open space and looked around the forest. Even though it was broad daylight, the sunlight was not very strong. The trees were twisted and twisted in an odd way, blocking out the sunlight.

The dents on the tree trunks resemble human faces. If you look away, they seem to come alive and wriggle without you knowing. A damp and eerie atmosphere permeates the entire forest.

'If I had come here knowing nothing, I would have been a bit nervous.'

In parts that are far removed from the main episode, like now, the game knowledge is still valid. Unlike in the case of Bastet, there is almost no need to worry about unexpected problems arising.

"Let's see."

Kim Yi-hyeon took out the items he had packed in his trunk. Various camping equipment. He had packed a lot of things here and there. If it had been before, it would have been quite difficult to take them out.

'I'm definitely feeling better.'

The physique itself hasn't become any weaker, but at least its abilities have more than doubled compared to when it was a 1-star.

The blade was left roughly under the driver's seat. Even though I brought it, there didn't seem to be any situation where I would need to pull it out. Even if a monster appeared, it was much easier to use a spell in terms of aftermath.

"Okay, good."

After finishing all the setup, he sat down on a folding chair. In front of him was a barbecue grill and a table. The once dreary forest had turned into a campsite.

'If you just sit back and relax, it will come out on its own.'

I know the setting of 'the guy' very well. He has a bright and pure personality. You can tell this fact to some extent just by looking at the fact that he helped a prospective agent whom he met for the first time.

However, they are also very alert like wild animals. Walking around with your eyes wide open will only have the opposite effect. If they hide or run away, it will be difficult to find them.

'More than anything, I'm the one who's bothered.'

Kim Lee-hyun picked up the tongs. The meat packed in a vacuum pack went onto the grill.

Cheeeeek!

The sound of grilling meat began to spread through the forest.

* * *

"킁."

Arya flared her nostrils. Trees and grass, damp moss and animal excrement. She could clearly distinguish even the faintest smells that ordinary people could not detect.

And now, a strong scent I had never smelled before began to tickle my nose.

"킁킁."

He tilts his head in the direction of the smell. At first, he seems a bit embarrassed, but gradually he takes a deep breath as if savoring it. Even his crouching body tilts back.

"Ph ...

An ecstatic breath burst from her mouth. At the same time, her stomach growled as if by instinct. For Arya, who had been wandering the wild since the day she began to remember, hunger was like a familiar friend.

But it wasn't all that welcome. Whether in human society or in the wild, there's no way a creature would starve because it liked it. It was inevitable that my legs would be drawn to it as if I was possessed.

I was able to arrive at the vacant lot in no time.

"...힉."

As soon as she spotted the person, Arya hid behind the bushes. Even then, a sweet scent tickled her nose. In fact, it became thicker as she got closer.

I looked at the situation carefully.

Just then, the man was putting meat in his mouth. A drop of oil dripped down. The man licked his lips and soon spit out hot steam.

Gulp.

Arya's pupils dilated.

She doesn't know exactly what kind of food it is. The only meat she's ever eaten is the occasional wild game she's lucky enough to find. And even that, she eats raw.

The spectrum of foods she knew was so narrow that she couldn't even imagine the taste specifically. It was clearly an unknown territory, but her whole body's senses were naturally drawn to it.

It was a sight of such magical power.

"Keeing."

But I couldn't bring myself to approach him rashly. I could say it was just a feeling. Even though he was eating defenselessly, the man looked very flawless.

It was different from the person who had flown into the forest the other day. Even then, Arya had waited until he fell asleep before acting. Just in case he was noticed.

What should I do this time?

If things continue like this, monsters like him will be drawn to the smell. If he helps them then, he might even get some bean curds… … .

It was a time when Arya's underdeveloped brain was spinning.

"꺼억."

The man got up from his seat, grunted, and headed in the exact opposite direction to Aria. Soon, even his back was out of sight.

opportunity.

Arya hesitated for a moment, but eventually took a step forward. After overcoming her hesitation, her actions became bolder. She approached the grill with the momentum of rushing forward.

"...."

He stopped again in the middle of the road to check where the man had disappeared. After ten seconds of persistent vigilance, he reached out to the grill. Soon, he picked up a whole piece of meat that hadn't even been cut.

Bam.

I took a bite of it in one go.

She moved her chin up and down a few times. As the juice spread through her mouth, Arya's entire body trembled. Even her toes curled tightly.

"Hyaaaa…!"

The meat was still undercooked and blood was pooling in it. Nevertheless, Arya felt a thrill that she would never forget for the rest of her life. It was a fulfillment that she could not express in words.

She usually survived by eating unidentified mushrooms and grass. Eating was just a way to satisfy hunger. It had no other meaning, but now it was different.

Now, I started to bite the meat in a hurry. Various hormones were secreted from my nervous system. Any thoughts of being careful had long since disappeared.

At the moment when the best moment of your life is renewed.

"헤엑...."

Arya fell down with a sudden feeling of dizziness, holding a half-eaten piece of wood heart tightly in both hands.

And after a while.

Kim Hyun-hyun returned as if he had been waiting. He looked down at Aryah while picking his teeth with a wooden skewer. Aryah had stumbled and fallen backwards, and was lying face-first.

"Thank goodness my face wasn't smashed into the grill."

Five star agent Arya.

The roughly grown hair was not like a beast's mane. Its appearance was extremely dirty with grease and dirt. It was even more of a mess than the illustration in the scene where it first appeared.

She is estimated to be in her teens, but her exact age and identity are unknown. She is secretive and naive, and even she herself does not know her origins. She is a girl who has lived in the wild with little contact with humans.

To summarize the event, it is as follows.

One day, a strange rumor about the forest began to spread in the lab. The professor sets out to find out the truth. And he meets Arya, who lives like an animal in the forest.

'The professor almost tames it.'

Arya is initially wary of the professor, but gradually begins to follow him. The story does not feature anyone being brutally murdered or criminals appearing.

'I could have followed the same procedure.'

To be honest, it was annoying.

There is a way to get through quickly, so there is no need to take a detour. Above all, the person Arya should trust and follow was not Kim Yi-hyun.

"It's more amazing when you see it in person."

Aside from her upbringing, Arya has something unique about her. She has animal ears sticking out of her hair. This is not clearly revealed in the game.

I can only guess that it is a mutant species similar to Pecatum.

"hmm."

Suddenly, I became curious. As is the case with all the characters in the series, Arya's illustration had the side hair covering the area where a person's ears should be.

So what is it like in reality?

There is no reason not to check.

Kim Lee-hyun tried to brush away his hair with the back of his hand.

"Ah. So this is the structure."

When I found out, it turned out to be nothing special.

"Shut up."

I lifted Arya. She was lighter than Chelsea, despite her smaller body. Even though she was asleep, she didn't let go of the meat. She looked extremely happy.

Somehow, he felt more guilty than he did when he was with Ainoa. Kim Yi-Hyeon muttered to himself in a bad mood.

"Don't worry. I'll make sure you have plenty of food."

Not me, but someone else.

* * *

"...omg!"

Arya's bright yellow eyes flashed open.

The first impression I got was that it was bright. The surroundings were brightened by a light different from the sunlight. A soft feeling was transmitted from my back, different from the ground.

Bam!

She quickly got up and curled up on the bed. For some reason, her skin felt soft. It was just an unfamiliar sensation. She looked around with a very embarrassed face.

Then my eyes met with a woman with horns on her head.

"What do you do as soon as you wake up?"

Asterike's reaction was dry. Even though he was clearly showing his wariness, she didn't even bother to look at him. She just closed the book she was reading and pushed the plate off the table.

There was a cooled steak on the plate. It was food that Kim I-hyeon had prepared in advance. Arya growled and looked at the meat and the asterique alternately.

"Why aren't you eating?"

"...."

"If you don't like it, then don't say anything."

He puts the bowl back, telling her to do as she pleases. She sits cross-legged on the chair and opens a book. Arya, who had been watching Asterike for a while, hesitantly reaches for the steak.

During that time, there was no resistance. The attitude of not caring at all actually gave Arya a sense of relief.

I took a bite of the steak as is.

"Huh...!"

Sweet sauce and juicy meat. Arya's taste buds were once again broadened. She chewed absentmindedly, then flinched and looked at Asterike.

"Eat it all."

Asterike rested her chin on her hand and simply turned the pages. She remained completely indifferent. However, words and actions are perceived differently by different people.

It was a kindness that Arya had never received before. Someone with extraordinary appearance and inhuman horns who coolly gave her heavenly food.

That is… so to speak.

"god."

"what?"

It was the day when the two golden ones met.