The Sleeping Devil Vol. 3 - Chapter 19 - Northern Forest

In a forest alive with the chirping of birds, I breathed in the crisp, cold air. Accustod to early rising during my travels, I found myself wandering through the woods early in the morning, a ti when I'd typically still be asleep.

Guided by Didier and Hers, we crunched through the fallen leaves. Our breaths ford white puffs, cheeks tingling in the cold breeze, ears alert to detect signs of creatures.

"Wow, it's such an amazing place. This is my first ti entering a real forest."

The atmosphere felt a bit damp and heavier than usual for the morning. I knew we had to be cautious; getting lost here could an certain danger.

Didier seed to have entered forests several tis before and taught how to spot animals and navigate the woods. While gathering herbs, Didier explained the nas and uses of each one.

"In your previous life, you were a commoner, right? Did you not collect things like this?"

"I used to buy food from stores, so I never went to get it myself. So people would go camping in the mountains or by the rivers, but I disliked going outside, so this kind of nature is truly new to ."

Even in my past life, there were people who ventured into the mountains to gather bamboo shoots and wild vegetables. Although I was usually a hobody and hadn't even played by the river, sohow it felt oddly nostalgic. Did I venture into forests in a previous, previous life?

A crack echoed as a branch snapped. Turning around, I saw a wild rabbit sitting upright, gazing towards .

"Sheriel, it's on top of the rabbit. Look at the tree branch."

"Up..." There was nothing there even when told to look up. As I lifted my gaze anyway, I spotted a small doll with wings perched on a tree branch. It exchanged glances, chuckling softly and swaying its shoulders. Wait, it's alive!? Could it be... a fairy!?

"This is rare. It's my first ti seeing one up close."

"It's a fairy, right? Aren't they uncommon in this forest?"

"They're around, but the Beriard clan is disliked by fairies. Even if we sense their presence, it's hard to catch a glimpse of them."

Co to think of it, I've heard such stories before. Fairies wear skirts resembling flower buds turned upside down and yellow shoes. Their green wings are translucent, just as imagined. Wow, eting another famous figure.

"Hello."

As I waved, the fairies stopped smiling and seed to discuss sothing. I guess words wouldn't work...

However, the two fairies fluttered like butterflies, danced closer, and started circling in front of . They were humanoid but so small they could fit in the palm of my hand; they truly resembled dolls.

"W-What are they? Are fairies surprisingly used to humans?"

"Who knows? It's my first ti seeing one too."

I gently extended both palms, and each fairy sat on one.

"~~~~~"

Their mouths opened and closed, seemingly speaking. Their voices are so quiet... Concentrating magical power in my ears, I managed to hear sothing resembling words.

"Hey, what are you doing?" "That's so strange magic; are you really human?"

Ah, I understand their words. Despite the low volu, it seems we share the sa language.

"Can you hear us? We're speaking normally, right?"

"Yeah, I can hear you."

The fairies quickly covered their ears with their hands and now seed angry at us.

"Too loud! Your voice is so loud!" "Be careful! We're delicate beings!"

"Sorry, I'll be more careful..."

They're quite straightforward in their anger... I lowered my voice and apologized to the fairies, who then straightened their backs with a huff.

"So, why did you co here? Answer us!" "Bringing a demon along, what are you planning? You brought sothing bad here, didn't you!"

A demon? Their gazes are on Didier and Hers, but I didn't expect that term to perate even the fairy realm... Admittedly, Didier might be classified as sothing negative, but we've only co to search for spirits.

"We've co to find spirits. Are there spirits in this forest?"

"Spirits? Spirits wouldn't be in such a rural place! Hurry and leave this forest!"

Huh, none here? Coming all this way, and suddenly the purpose of our journey shatters... Is this place rural for the fairies then? Then where would be considered urban?

"I see... that's disappointing. Also, these people are humans, not demons, okay?"

"They're human!? I don't sense any sweet scent at all!" "Yeah, this one's kinda dubious too, we have to drive out the bad ones!"

"A sweet scent?"

"Yeah! The gentle feelings of humans have a sweet sll!" "But you guys don't have it at all!"

Oh, they discern emotions by scent. Perhaps it was the fairies who first labeled Beriards as demons.

Co to think of it, I've heard stories about leaving cookies and milk for fairies in a past life. I wonder if there's any connection.

"Sir, you have ringue with you, right? Please give so to these little ones."

"ringue? Well, alright..."

Instead of , Didier took out the ringue and placed one in the palm of my hand.

"What's this!" "Isn't this a mushroom?"

"It's a sweet called ringue, but can fairies eat sweets?"

At first, they cautiously poked it, but when one nibbled on the ringue, suddenly its wings fluttered. Seeing this, the other fairy also opened its mouth wide and started nibbling from the other side.

"It's sweet! So, so sweet!" "You're a nice human!"

They swiftly finished the ringue, then relaxed, crossing their legs while rubbing their bellies. It seems fairies like sweet things. Sohow, I found myself conversing normally with them.

Fairies gather magical energy as sustenance, and apparently, honey and flower nectar serve as snacks. They're not nutritious, just for pleasure.

"No scent of honey!" "Why is it so sweet?"

"We used sugar. Haven't you ever eaten it before?"

"Ah, sugar! I occasionally heard about it in human towns!" "It wasn't sothing bad!"

Getting excited about receiving sugar in a forest like this, we decided to venture a bit deeper. Although it seems there are no spirits, we were guided as there were many animals around.

"Both fairies and beasts are further in! We ca to see as we felt a strange presence!"

"Yeah, sorry about that."

"It's okay! We got to eat sugar!" "But this forest doesn't feel lively now. The guardian doesn't seem well, so we're cautious."

Sothing might have happened. Conversing with the fairies, who swiftly change topics, isn't progressing as expected.

With sparkling translucent wings, the fairies continue deeper into the forest. After walking for a while, they reach a water body resembling a pond in the middle of a stream. It seems like a large puddle ford in the stream. There are deer, tall water birds, monkeys, and even parrots.

"Wow, amazing! There are so many animals!"

"This is a watering spot! Oh, by the way, do you still have those white sweets?"

"Yeah, just a few."

The fairies whispered among themselves and flew off sowhere.

"What was that about?"

"Who knows? Maybe they went to call more of their friends?"

As Didier guessed, shortly after, the fairies returned in a group. Besides the flower fairy, there seed to be various types of fairies.

"Hey! Give us the white ones, too!"

"Okay, but will it be enough? If not, I'll bake so more."

"Yay! You sll different, but you're a good human!"

When I spread out the ringue in a small bag, many fairies gathered in my palm. Breaking it into smaller pieces for them, each fairy took a fragnt and joyfully nibbled. It was like feeding birds.

"It's so sweet! Really sweet and white!" "It's crispy and delicious!"

"Do you like it? Near the large spring in the forest, there's a mansion where an old man lives. You should ask for so there occasionally as thanks."

"Really? Then we should thank him too!" "Yeah, we should!"

"Okay, if anyone unknown enters the forest or if sothing strange happens, will you let us know?"

"Sure! Grandpa, please prepare the white ones, okay?"

Though I made the deal without consent, Hers agreed with a laugh. Since the watchtower hardly functions, Hers usually doesn't notice forest disturbances until the fairies alert him.

"Now I can focus on my research. Living long enough to coexist with fairies is quite sothing."

"Did you et Gree-chan here, sir? Really, you've never seen fairies before?"

"Ah, I occasionally sense their presence, but this is the first ti I've conversed with them."

While I couldn't et spirits, making friends with fairies left completely satisfied. Sleeping with Ciel should keep petrification at bay for a while. When awake, my magic is active, so there's not much danger. The overflowing magic during sleep was the problem.

"Oh, at ho, there's a planter that attracts fairies. It's a bit far from here, but co play soti. I'll prepare sweets."

"Oh, the one I gave you? Ah, it's difficult because it needs magic to bloom the flowers."

"Was it such a rare plant? I'll take care of it when I return!"

The fairies seed to have taken a liking to the ringue and started asking for other sweets if available. I plan to progress with my chocolate research when I return, so I'll have the fairies taste-test it too.

Fluttering around the vicinity were nurous fairies, truly emphasizing the feeling of being in another world. Gradually, more animals were gathering around the water's edge.

"Hey! If the Master eats this, maybe he'll get better!"

"Yeah, let's take it to him!"

The fairies each held a fragnt and, while fluttering around, discussed amongst themselves.

"If the Master's not well, the forest isn't well either!" "Let's go quickly!"

"Human, we'll introduce you to the Master! You made this, so you might get praised!"

It seed the "Master" was a bit deeper into the woods and currently not well enough to co to the watering hole. The snippets of conversation from the fairies were the only insights available.

As instructed, we ventured further into the woods, and animals started following, resulting in an unexpected procession.

Suddenly, the procession halted. It seed they couldn't go any further; they remained there, watching us intently.

"Look, it's almost ti!"

A large tree root ford a cave-like hole, resembling a small house. Supposedly, that's where the "Master" was.

"Master~! Humans have co!" "We brought sothing sweet!"

As the fairies entered with their fragnts, we glimpsed sothing white like a branch from the hole. Antlers...?

Erging from the hole was a magnificent stag with impressive antlers. Probably a stag, akin to a moose. With its completely white body and a majestic aura fit for a forest ruler, it exuded a grand magical presence.

Looking back, the animals that had followed us were all bowing low, as if paying homage to a king.

"A white magical beast... in this forest...!"

"Is it really that rare?"

"It's not just rare; they were said not to exist. Including Sheriel, white creatures..."

Right, I think I was told that I'm a color that doesn't exist. But well, I'm here, aren't I? White rabbits and birds were quite common.

"The forest ruler, I suppose. Perhaps governing the forest in place of spirits. But more importantly, I feel sothing unpleasant..."

"Sothing unpleasant? But rather than that, isn't it futile to give it such small fragnts?"

The completely white forest ruler seed slightly unwell. It appeared to drag its hind legs. While not injured, its knees down to its feet were hardened with a mud-like substance, rendering the legs immobile. Although the fairies were offering ringue fragnts, the forest ruler shook its head.

"Mr. Forest Ruler? Nice to et you."

He was so tall that my neck ached from looking up. The forest ruler folded its legs, sitting down and stretching out its mud-covered right hind leg.

"(Hello, Lady in White, I apologize for appearing in this state.)"

"Wow! It spoke!"

"Huh? Did you hear sothing?"

Didier and Hers tilted their heads; it seed they couldn't hear. This resonating voice within was familiar; it was directly addressing .

"Despite not feeling well, I apologize for intruding."

"(It's fine. White is rare. I also t my kind after a long ti.)"

My words seed to reach it directly, allowing for a proper conversation. It's strange to be able to converse with animals when, even among humans, different countries have different languages.

The forest ruler appeared weak, with no strength in its eyes.

"About that leg... Are you not feeling well?"

"(Ah, I've received so impurity. Soon, another like will be born to take my place, so the forest will be fine.)"

"Impurity? It does look like dirty mud, but is it a cleanliness issue?" The forest ruler was glancing at the animals behind it and quietly echoed its voice in my head.

"(Fellow being, could you hear my request?)"

"What is it?"

"(I want you to kill . I'm about to die. Just dying isn't a problem, but if I beco a monster, I'll trouble everyone. So, before that...)"

Uh, this forest stroll suddenly took a heavy turn, asking for a sudden kill... Huh?