Chapter 3
“Oh my…”
The words slipped out of me as I stared into the clear water beside the waterfall.
This place, this exact clearing. Was where I first woke up after reincarnating.
The center of my territory.
I leaned closer, studying my reflection.
Long, golden-blonde hair flowed past my shoulders, catching the sunlight like strands of silk.
A sharp, chiseled jawline.
Eyes that shimmered somewhere between blue and gold.
Smooth, fair skin that didn’t look like it had ever known stress, exhaustion, or overdue bills.
“…Wow.”
A fairly young, handsome gentleman in his mid-twenties stared back at me.
I looked… delicate.
Not weak, just refined.
Honestly, I didn’t care much about appearances.
But if this helped me sell myself to future “clients”.
I mean, residents
then looking friendly and approachable was already a huge win.
My previous rugged look would’ve scared off my sla—
cough
my people.
Debt really did ruin a person, huh?
But that was all in the past now.
No more worrying about taxes.
No rent.
No being crushed under the injustice of minimum-wage slavery.
Because I was standing in the middle of a forest.
In another world.
Who could possibly tax me here?
It’s not like debt collectors were desperate enough to isekai themselves just to chase me.
“…Heh.”
I felt lighter.
Like a kid again.
No longer job hunting.
No financial obligations.
“Hoorah!”
“Kyun!”
A small voice echoed behind me.
I turned to see one of the wisps mimicking my ridiculous pose mid-air, glowing faintly as it raised its tiny arms.
“…You’re adorable.”
I gently pinched its chubby, glowing cheeks.
“Kyaang…”
It squirmed, clearly annoyed. But didn’t pull away.
“Well, it’s your fault for being so cute~”
This little one was the only one with me at the moment.
Its partner was wandering somewhere else in the forest.
As for the unicorn…
I hadn’t dared to ride such a majestic beast yet.
First impressions mattered.
But now that it had restedand it was already past noon, it should be fine.
More importantly…
It was time.
Time to gather all my companions.
Time for a little surprise.
“Heeey, little guy~”
I called out in an embarrassingly high-pitched voice, like someone cooing at a pet.
The wisp perked up immediately, glowing brighter as it hovered closer.
“Would you mind calling your partner and guiding them to the place where we first met?”
“I want to gather everyone together.”
“For a surprise.”
The wisp spun excitedly in the air, vibrating like an overjoyed puppy.
“Hehe. How adorable.”
“Alright then, go on! I’ll be waiting~”
The wisp vanished in a flash of blue light.
I followed soon after.
“…System.”
In the next moment, the waterfall clearing returned to silence.
No traces of existence remained.
—
Meanwhile,
Deep in the southern region of the forest.
Two female adventurers cautiously moved through the dense foliage.
“U-unnie…”
Mina, an E-rank adventurer, tugged nervously at the sleeve of the woman in front of her.
She had short brown hair cut into a neat bob, her plump figure swaying slightly as she walked.
Her round face and timid eyes made her look more like a lost civilian than an adventurer.
“I hope we did the right thing…”
The older woman sighed.
Keila, a D-rank adventurer. Turned with a grin.
Her crimson-red hair was tied into a high ponytail, swaying behind her with confidence.
Her build was lean and athletic, light muscle visible beneath her exposed midriff.
A faint outline of abdominal muscles peeked through her armor, proof of countless battles.
She slung an arm around Mina’s shoulders.
“What? Having second thoughts already?”
“We came all this way. Didn’t you suggest investigating it?”
“Haah~ you won’t get a man with that attitude, rookie.”
Mina’s brows furrowed briefly before she shrank back again.
“I know… it’s just…”
“This forest feels… different.”
Keila’s smile softened.
“I know. That’s exactly why we’re here.”
“Besides, Moonglow grows nearby. We’re killing two birds with one stone.”
“S-so… we’re being efficient, right?”
“Haha! Exactly!”
Keila laughed, then smirked.
“See? You do have a brain.”
“Even if most of it went straight to your chest.”
“U-unnie!!”
Mina flushed bright red.
Their banter stopped abruptly.
“Don’t move.”
Keila raised a finger to her lips.
Mina froze.
Two faint blue lights drifted past them silently, hovering just above the ground.
“…A wisp?”
Keila whispered.
Once the glowing figures vanished deeper into the forest, Mina finally spoke in a hushed voice.
“W-what’s… a w-wisp…?”
Keila began walking after them.
“Hey—u-unnie, wait!”
Mina scrambled to follow.
“Wisps are sprites,” Keila said calmly.
“They guide the lost.”
“G-guide… f-for what?”
“Adventurers. Wanderers. People searching for fate… destiny…”
She grinned.
“And sometimes, treasure.”
“R-really!? Should we follow them!?”
“What about the Moonglow!?”
“It can wait.”
Keila’s eyes gleamed.
“This opportunity? It only comes once in a lifetime.”
“If we’re lucky, we’ll get rich.”
“Maybe I’ll even get recognized.”
“And maybe, finally. Get a partner.”
“Hehehe~”
CRACK.
A twig snapped behind them.
Keila turned pale.
Slowly, she turned around.
Mina gasped.
“A… a unicorn!?”
“Mina—RUN!!”
Keila bolted instantly.
“H-huh!? U-unnie!?”
Mina ran after her, panic setting in.
“U-unnie!! Wait!!”
The ground thundered.
Hooves pounded closer.
Mina’s legs trembled as she struggled to keep up.
“U-UNNIE!!”
Suddenly,
She was lifted off the ground.
“KYAAAH—!?”
Mina shut her eyes, bracing herself.
But instead of pain,
She landed softly.
On warm fur.
“…Huh?”
She slowly opened her eyes.
She was sitting on the unicorn’s back.
It wasn’t attacking.
It wasn’t raging.
It was… carrying her.
“U-unnie!!”
She turned back desperately.
“It’s friendly!!”
Keila skidded to a stop, gasping for breath.
“N-no!! Huff… huff…”
“It only… huff…”
“Only what!?”
“It only… huff… targets non-virgins!!”
“…Eh?”
Mina blinked.
“…Unnie.”
“Does that mean you’re not a virgin?”
“WHY ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT THAT!?”
“I’M BEING CHASED BY A UNICORN!!”
The forest echoed with shouting.
