Chương 199: Chapter 2: “Forest of Green Needle Trees 1”

As far as the eye could see, endless. The great forest, where absolutely no landmarks existed for humans, continued forever. On the surface of the trees, rugged like rock faces, fresh green vines and poisonous-looking purple vines were entangled as if competing. High above, deep green tapered leaves grew thick as if capping the ceiling, covering the sky wrapped in white light. Illuminated by sunlight filtering through slight gaps, red carnivorous flowers opened their large mouths.

If a stupid animal carelessly approached, it would move instantly, and the animal's existence would be swallowed whole. Since the boy Esta went on a solitary journey, about a week was passing. The boy was surviving robustly today as well. utilizing the knowledge of the forest learned from his Uncle. The forest is a land of blessings overflowing with food. As long as one has eyes to distinguish between what is edible and what is not, one rarely suffers from hunger.

Only one thing, securing water was a slight difficulty, but that too could be supplemented to some extent by munching on fruits full of moisture. Inhaling the clear air deeply into his chest. If he listens carefully, he can quietly hear the cries of small birds and insects occasionally. Although he is all alone, he didn't feel as lonely as he thought he would. If this were a desolate wasteland, it might have been a different story, but the forest is full of the pulse of life everywhere.

However, the boy's pulse seemed a little weak. He had scraped his knees here and there, and his appearance was terribly full of scratches. Several small green thorns were sticking painfully into his legs. He had inadvertently stepped on the seeds of the Green Needle Trees that grow most abundantly in this forest. Eventually, the tired boy found a mossy small rock that was just the right size and sat down there. Perhaps he rested for a few dozen minutes. Just when he was about to get up heavily.

The boy was startled and stiffened his body. From over there, he saw a huge four-legged beast with vivid three-colored mottled fur of red, blue, and yellow approaching with a leisurely gait. Having charming ears like a dog, and sharp eyes and fangs like a tiger that didn't suit them. Its limbs were sturdy like a rhino. A rainbow-colored tail with feathers was standing straight up. Uncle had said. It doesn't have a name or anything, but it's a guy you must absolutely never encounter.

The boy sensed the end of his journey early. Unluckily, this was "his" territory.

"H-Hi. H-Hello..." Gururururu, it is growling. Judging from its quite bloodshot eyes, it seems to be hungry. The beast, having found the exquisite prey of a soft human child, licked its lips in a good mood.

"You won't... let me go, right?" Garu, the beast nodded once, and he felt like a conversation was established.

"Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" The boy screamed and ran at full speed. Making use of his small body, he runs as if sewing through the trees. Determined never to let him escape, the giant four-legged body trampled through the grass and branches powerfully and chased leisurely. The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. No matter how agile he was, being caught up was only a matter of time.

Turning around, the boy took out hard nuts from his cloth sack and threw them desperately. He hoped it would flinch even a little, but there was no way the strong of the forest would stop its feet for such things. The beast's fangs approached. It's over! The boy finally prepared for death and closed his eyes.

"Hup." Just when the boy thought he heard someone's voice. A young man intervened between him and the beast. And with just his left hand, he was holding down the beast's forehead. The beast, which should have been far larger than a human, became unable to move forward as if blocked by a wall, no matter how much it struggled, just by that.

"Are you okay?" The black-haired young man with a gentle atmosphere called out to the boy with a slightly high-pitched voice for a man. Then, he turned to the beast again.

"Here. Go away." Even though urged softly, the beast didn't listen. Still trying to bite into the exquisite prey it found after a long time, it tried to force its mouth open.

"Go away. Okay?" Thinking it couldn't be helped, the young man heightened his Qi with intimidation and admonished the beast in a quiet tone. The forehead was pushed in forcefully, and the beast's entire head was forcibly pressed to the ground. Perhaps realizing by instinct that it was absolutely no match. The beast trembled like a baby rabbit and became docile. When the young man relaxed the strength of his arm, it curled its rainbow-colored tail and ran away.

Watching nonchalantly as the beast ran away over there, the young man breathed a sigh of relief. Although called a young man, he had a physique and face with a neutral atmosphere rather than the masculinity or robustness associated with that word. Squatting down to meet the eyes of the boy who was sitting on his butt in a slump, the young man spoke.

"That was close."

"I, I..." The boy was frozen, staring with wide eyes at the young man who exuded a somewhat mysterious atmosphere. It's no wonder. He never thought he would find another human so soon.

"What's wrong. Were you scared?"

"There yoooooooooooou aaaaaaaare!" In the next moment, with a face crumpled up as happily as could be, the boy jumped up. And just like that, the young man received a tackle. No, he was jumped on with that much momentum. The boy buries his face deep into the young man's chest. As if never to let go, he wrapped his arms tightly around the back. Not understanding the situation at all, the young man decided to gently pat the boy's head until he calmed down for the time being.

Eventually, the calmed boy looked up at the young man's face blankly. The young man placed a hand on the boy's head pon, and this time lowered his posture slightly to meet his eyes.

"I am Yu. What is your name?"

"I'm Esta."

"Esta. What were you doing in a place like this?" Then, Esta fidgeted. But, looking straight into Yu's eyes, he said.

"Umm. You see. Please live with me, forever."

"Eh?" Being told something unexpected suddenly, Yu was dumbfounded. Esta continues.

"There's no one left anymore. I was all alone, searching for other people, traveling..." Esta told his circumstances. Hearing that story, Yu sympathized deeply. For Yu, it was also a corroboration. Since coming to this world, he was well aware that there was absolutely no sign of people around. The reason he could discover Esta was also because he followed the faint human Qi that he caught by chance. Yu takes out something like a silver watch from his pocket. World Gauge.

An item that roughly tells a FabL traveling through different worlds the possible activity time in that world. Checking the remaining time, Yu sighed slightly. About one year. That was the time limit given to Yu this time. It's not short enough to be called mere moments, but it's still too short a time to say "live together forever."

"Sorry. I can't stay with you forever."

"Eh. Why?" Shocked, the boy's face darkens. Yu looked firmly into his eyes and said with sincere feelings.

"Eventually, you see. I have to go far away again. Leaving here, to a place faaaar away."

"Then, I'll follow you!" To the enthusiastic Esta, Yu shook his head sideways regretfully.

"It's absolutely impossible. Because it's a very far place where you absolutely cannot go."

"I see..." Esta was disappointed from the bottom of his heart. Can't be together forever. Even though I thought I finally found a survivor. Even though I thought we were companions. The only human he knows. The feeling is too different from Uncle. That strange outfit and the atmosphere somewhat detached from himself made him, who originally didn't have much of a doubting heart, believe Yu's story. To him being disappointed, Yu smiled gently.

"But you know. For as long as I can. I'll accompany you on your journey."

"Really!?" To the boy whose eyes sparkled instantly, Yu nodded firmly.

"Yeah. It's not guaranteed that you won't encounter something like earlier again, after all." Yu secretly felt it. Maybe, this journey will become quite a long one. Except for Esta, there is no clear sign of people within a radius of several hundred kilometers. If there were many humans, he should have been able to tell even if they were farther away. In this world overflowing with great nature. It was predicted that the number of humans itself was considerably small. Maybe, there are almost none.

Yu also spent lonely nights for ten days since coming to this world. Since even he felt a little lonely. Leaving the innocent boy Esta alone in solitude was not an option he could consider. This must also be a meeting by fate. Accompanying this innocent child's journey, Yu wondered what kind of future it would lead to.

"Ehehe! Thank you! Yu! Nice to meet you!" The solitary journey became a two-person journey. Esta took Yu's hand and started walking triumphantly. The forest is still deep. And the destination of the two's journey, which has just begun, is not yet visible.