“Chapter 278: Intermission: The Scum in the Gloomy Dark Forest”


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    (???’s POV)


    How long has it been since I last came to this side?


    – The Sage’s Forest is different from how I remember it. I guess that’s just how time works.


    Time, huh… I’ve lost complete track of it since I landed in this world.


    I’ve grown a habit of pondering pointless human dilemmas.


    I can’t believe I used to think like that.


    – Okay, snap out of it. No time to waste. I need to find… Oops-


    I noticed my feet were getting scarred from the thorns of the plants I grazed.


    I forgot to bring my shoes. But I’m too lazy to go back now.


    – VANISH.


    All the vegetation around me disappeared, leaving only a circle of black soil.


    I could hear something in the distance.


    It was the sound of someone digging a hole.


    He has already noticed me, in fact.


    But he kept digging anyways.


    – Hey there. What are we doing over here?


    – Can’t you see? I’m digging a hole.


    – With… That puny sword?


    – What else would I use?


    There were about 30 or so more holes around. It must have taken him a long time do to this.


    Especially because there are bodies buried beneath the holes.


    – Did you do all of this?


    – Who’s to say? I don’t even know what happened. We were being tortured, I helped everyone escape, and then they turned on me and said I was useless.


    – These two girls… They’re in a pretty gruesome state.


    – Those two charged at me directly trying to kill me.


    So he says, but there’s not a scratch on his body.


    His voice is also rather calm.


    – And who are you? Did you come here to kill me or something?


    – Close. I’m here to pick you up. I had someone who would do all the work for me, but she… disappeared. I’m looking for a replacement.


    – Did she run away? I wonder if she’s okay.


    – I know, right!? She was such a blessed soul.


    Ernika was an obedient girl, but her usefulness expired.


    – So, will you come with me? I can give you food, clothes, and a roof.


    – Really? You’re just a rabbit plushie.


    – This is not my real body. I’m a pretty girl in reality.


    – Not that I care about that. Listen, can you keep these holes a secret? It was purely in self-defense, but I don’t know what others would think about me.


    – Haha, you’re the perfect scum I need. Don’t worry, I have the power to undo the things you’ve done.


    I knew it. I can tell by his smell.


    Finally, these boring days will come to an end.


    – Let me take you to my place first. What was your name again?


    – Me? I’m Harumichi. I don’t like my surname. Who are you?


    – I don’t know. I’m sure I had a name at some point. But this bunny is called Lilly.


    – I’ll call you Lilly then.


    – The pleasure is mine, Harumichi. REVERSE.


    Returning the vegetation back to normal, I left the Sage’s Forest with my new pawn, Harumichi.