Purchasing a low-grade health potion, I gulped it down in one sip. My broken hand healed almost instantly.
No matter how many times I witness such a phenomenon, it still intrigues me.
Back on Earth, a broken limb could potentially ruin your whole life, but here it heals with just a sip.
Details like this remind me time and time again that I am indeed in a fantasy world.
[SP: 1,387]
I stared at the cave entrance for exactly three seconds.
Then I walked toward it.
[You're going back in? It would truly be intriguing if it's your spine that's broken this time!]
"Thanks for the reminder. I'll guard my spine with utmost efficiency, huhu."
[Tsk! Annoying!]
A bit of complaint before going silent.
Classic Zero.
As I approached the cave once more, I could clearly feel the gazes of my companions and beasts...especially Timber's. The guy really wanted to guide me inside.
"Just stay here and stay vigilant, buddy! Save me if anything goes south!"
"As Master wishes… Timber stays here… Timber catches Master."
"Aldric, Kaira, don't follow me either. If something goes wrong, you'll hear it."
Kaira opened her mouth.
"I'll be fine," I added before she could object.
Aldric simply folded his arms, leaned against a tree, and watched with the calm of someone who had already calculated the odds and decided worrying was inefficient.
I turned back to the cave.
Manipulating the gravity around the entrance, I cleared it completely, allowing sunlight to pour inside.
[Stamina: 94% -> 92%]
I stepped into the cavern, cautiously scanning the surroundings with vigilant steps.
After walking a little deeper, I could make out a shape.
It was small, perhaps crouched on its knees.
When I stepped a few paces closer, I could see it clearly.
I was right.
It was a child, crouched in on herself.
She couldn't have been taller than four feet, with grey-green skin the color of river clay in early spring and large amber eyes that caught the thin light from the cave entrance and held it. Her ears tapered into soft points. Her hair was dark and matted with something I chose not to identify. She wore tattered, nearly ruined clothes.
A thin, grey-green little girl.
"Zero? What's that…?"
[Scanning… Searching for a match…]
[Match Found!]
[Species: Forest Sprite]
[Rank: Adept ★★]
[Age: Estimated 9–11 years]
[Condition: Malnourished. Injured left leg. Elevated stress response.]
[Note: Forest Sprites are capable of using nature energy for concentrated force bursts independent of physical size. These are mostly used for defense and selective attacks.]
"Forest Sprite? Considering they're classified as Adept in human cultivation, they aren't beasts?"
[They are half beasts and half humans.]
Demi-humans.
That's the only term I can come up with for species like this.
Either way, she looked scared—clearly searching for a way to escape or attack.
Quite the vigilant one.
I don't know why she was here, but one must be patient with this type.
Judging by her condition, I am certain her past was truly unpleasant.
I sat down right in front of her, completely silent, simply staring at her.
Time passed.
I could hear the concerned voices of my companions outside, yet I didn't move.
Just like that, I had no idea how many hours I had spent sitting there, watching her stiffen from time to time without a word.
The sunlight inside the cave began to dim while the concerned voices outside grew louder.
Throughout the entire ordeal, I braced myself for another sudden burst of force—but surprisingly, she didn't attack.
She simply sat there, cautious.
"Wh-What do you want? C-Can't you just leave me alone?"
Finally… she spoke.
With this type, you shouldn't be the first to open up. If you do, they'll just resist harder.
"Am I not leaving you alone? I don't believe I was performing any act to harm you," I said with a gentle chuckle.
She went silent again. However, her sharp eyes tracked every inch of my movement.
If I were to use force here, I was certain she was ready for a life-or-death battle.
What a poor soul.
To suffer at an age when she should be attending school or enjoying her life…
I immediately bought two high-grade potions from the shop.
[SP: 1,187]
The flasks materialized in my hands out of thin air.
"H-How… did you do that?"
"It's a secret!" I winked casually, a bit mischievous.
Without further words, I pushed one potion toward her while keeping the other for myself.
Manipulating the gravity near the cave walls, I pulled a sharp stone into my hand and, without warning, drove it straight into my shoulder.
She flinched at the sudden violence.
"Wh-What are you...?"
Before she could finish, I had already gulped down my potion, which worked its magic and healed my shoulder.
"A high-grade potion. Nothing that can harm you. So drink it."
"Why… why would you…?"
She was still hesitant.
"Timber! CAN YOU PASS SOME FOOD IN HERE? NO NEED TO COME INSIDE, I'M FINE!" I yelled loudly.
In just a second, Timber's vine delivered some skewered meat.
"Thanks, buddy!" I called out.
With a swift motion, I offered the food to her.
"Eat."
She didn't move. Her calculating eyes never left my posture.
I exhaled deeply. I never thought she'd be this distrustful.
Tearing off a piece of meat, I bit into it and ate right in front of her.
"See? No poison. Trust me this one time, alright? Eat."
She still didn't move.
However, after a long moment of sniffing and examining the food, she reluctantly took a bite, then another.
She ate far more fiercely than I did during my first Tchicho.
"Huhuhuhu… Kuhuhu… Now let's both die together. The food was entirely poisoned," I whispered with a voice that oozed malice when she was almost done eating.
Her eyes widened immediately.
However, she didn't spit out the food. She still swallowed it.
The dread—the realization of mistrusting someone she didn't even trust to begin with—was evident on her face.
An immense desire to stay alive, even in such misery.
She… was a strong kid.
Before things could spiral, I chuckled lightly.
"Just messing with you."
I laughed softly and gently caressed her hair.
"I apologize for my earlier intrusion. I wasn't aware you inhabited this cavern."
I was certain she would jerk away,but she didn't.
"You see, I'm building a village in this forest for all to live together. And it seems I'll need to use this swamp space as part of my territory. I'm aware that in this dangerous forest, there's no such thing as territory without force. But if I can live harmoniously with such a cute neighbor, then why would I use force?"
I stood up and dusted off the dirt, though the swamp's dampness still clung to my pants.
"I am genuinely sorry. Please forgive me."
I didn't want to come across as arrogant or prideful.
Pride and arrogance are reserved for those who are absolute...for those who cannot be wrong and hold the power to do the impossible.
I am not one of them.
I am merely a man who doesn't even know why he was transmigrated into this world… or what purpose those who brought me here have.
I am just dust in the games of greater players.
I am aware of that.
I turned and walked a few steps toward the cavern entrance.
"Drink the potion as well…"
With those final words, I walked away.