Driad Ariadd (1)
Early in the morning, the first thing that greeted me when I woke up was my towering morning wood.
"Fuck, you startled me."
Its size made its presence impossible to ignore.
I thought someone had stuck a club between my legs and propped it upright.
Feeling annoyed that the first thing I saw upon opening my eyes was my own dick, I still dragged myself out of bed.
I had to make breakfast, after all.
"Ah... right, she went home."
As I hauled my shiny, sweaty body upright, I remembered that Lilith—the whole reason I'd been getting up at the crack of dawn to cook—had gone back to her place yesterday.
"...Might as well sleep more."
I wasn't scheduled for work today anyway, and Lilith usually didn't stir until much later, so crashing for another hour or two seemed fine.
With that thought, I sluggishly crawled back under the covers.
That's when I heard the ding-dong of the door unlocking.
"Huh?"
I sat up again at the sound from outside, and the door burst open.
"What the hell? Why are you still lazing around? Get up already."
"No."
The woman who always sprawled out in bed like a starfish—what the fuck was she doing up this early?
I wondered if I'd overslept, but it wasn't even 7 a.m. yet.
The weird one here was Lilith. Normally, she'd be dead to the world for hours longer.
So why the hell was she up already?
More importantly...
This wasn't the mind-bogglingly skimpy outfit I'd seen when we first met, nor her usual super-casual home loungewear that looked comfy as hell. No, here was Lilith in plain, everyday clothes.
Sure, I'd seen her in dresses before—mostly on TV.
But after only ever catching her in those extreme polar-opposite looks, seeing her in casual civvies felt... off somehow.
A white blouse and black skirt...
It didn't look bad on her. Of course it wouldn't—Lilith could pull off anything.
She was a stunning beauty with killer style; nothing would clash.
It just felt weird seeing this girly, everyday version of Lilith, so different from her usual vibe.
"Who the hell are you dressing up like that to meet? Looks good, though."
"Dressing up my ass. Quit yapping and get ready to go."
At her urging, I mumbled a lazy "Yeeeah" and hauled myself up.
"......"
"Why are you staring like that..."
Oh, right.
Following her gaze, I spotted my dick still standing at full attention and awkwardly crossed my legs—but no way was that hiding anything.
"No, this is just, y'know, morning wood? So..."
I tried covering it with my hand, but fat chance. The damn thing was too big to hide even with both hands. Lilith shot me a glare at my futile efforts.
"I know that already, dumbass. And you're making it look even weirder—knock it off. You're acting like it's some big revelation."
True, it was pretty damn belated to be embarrassed now.
"Anyway, I'll wait outside. Change clothes and come out. And get that thing to chill first. You weren't planning to head out like that, right?"
Obviously not.
Before I could even reply, she spun on her heel and headed out. I watched her go—her ears looked kinda red.
Was she feeling under the weather or something?
Whatever. I couldn't keep her waiting, so I got ready too.
After a quick wash and change, I stepped out and found her waiting. I opened my mouth.
"Sorry for making you wait."
"If you knew that, why'd you take so long? Damn, you're quick when you wanna be."
There she was, crouched by the front door, grumbling.
I'd rushed as much as I could, but washing up and changing doesn't happen in seconds.
She'd probably been waiting twenty minutes or so. I felt bad, but at the same time, she shows up unannounced at dawn and then bitches me out? Mixed feelings.
"I had to wash up too, y'know."
"Then you should've done it earlier."
No heads-up, just barges in at the ass-crack of dawn and expects miracles.
"You didn't say you were coming this early."
"Yeah, yeah, my bad. Anyway, ready? Let's go."
She stood up, and I held out my hand.
"...What?"
She eyed my hand suspiciously.
"We're going, right?"
I figured she'd just teleport us with magic or something.
"Can't poof there or I'd get chewed out. We're taking normal transport."
"Ah..."
Feeling awkward, I pulled my hand back and smacked my lips.
"You could've said so earlier."
I'd have grabbed my wallet if I'd known we'd be using public transit.
"Gimme a sec to grab my wallet."
"Nah, no need. I brought the car."
Sure enough, there she was twirling the keys around her finger.
"You have a car?"
"Kinda. Don't drive it much. Flying or magic gets me everywhere. Oh, you got your license?"
"Yeah."
I'd gotten it before shit hit the fan, and it was still valid.
Heard we'd need to renew for the new World Government ones soon, but without a car, I'd just let it lapse.
"Cool. Here, you drive."
"Huh?"
I caught the flying keys and stared at her.
"You mean, keep it?"
Had I heard that right?
Not borrow—keep?
"Yeah. I barely use it anyway. Magic covers everything. It's just been rotting in the garage. Better you have it."
"But..."
Logically, sure, but just giving me a car?
Cars aren't cheap pocket change.
And these keys screamed high-end. Looked like a luxury beast.
No way this was something she'd hand over like "eh, you take it."
"Oh."
Right. I'd forgotten who I was dealing with.
This was Lilith—the one who'd casually shoved elixirs worth over 1.5 billion down my throat, the kind people would kill to buy at ten times the price.
A car was chump change to her.
Especially after she'd already flushed several high-end sedans' worth of potions into my gut.
Classic Lilith.
Decision made, I asked,
"So, where's it parked?"
"Just up front."
Looking down, I spotted it immediately—a sleek luxury sedan that screamed money even from afar.
Black, matte finish.
Made the already baller car look even more insane.
"...That one? You're giving me that?"
"Don't like it? Want a different one?"
There were others? Whatever, didn't matter. I hugged my precious new baby—the keys—to my chest.
"Who said I didn't like it?"
Fuck yeah, I loved it.
Wouldn't wanna hear any snide remarks from Lilith and risk sour grapes, so I gently stroked the keys as I said,
"Let's head down, Mom."
"Hell yeah!"
The seats were plush as fuck, cradling my ass like a hug. Was this that slime-tech ergonomic whatever? Mimicking slimes' shapeshifting bodies for next-gen seating or some shit.
Rumored to adapt perfectly to any rider regardless of gender, race, or build for max comfort. Didn't think it was legit.
Hell, I could sit here for hours without my ass or back complaining.
And it wasn't just the seats—top-tier tech everywhere.
Windows were anti-magic glass tougher than bulletproof, shrugging off most spells. Shock absorption barriers etched inside made it basically an artifact on wheels.
Price tag? Unfathomable.
"Quit screwing around and drive properly."
Lilith griped from the passenger seat, but I couldn't help it.
Me—a guy who'd barely driven beyond designated gigs after getting his license—suddenly behind the wheel of this? Excitement was natural.
"Even if I crash, we won't get hurt anyway."
"Wreck it and I'll confiscate it on the spot."
"Ack..."
Her "confiscate" killed my buzz instantly.
She wasn't bluffing—she'd yank it away for real.
"This isn't a Gift testing center, is it?"
I'd punched it into the nav per her directions, but we weren't heading toward any inspection site. She replied with a bored look.
"There's a place that gives more accurate results. Just follow the nav."
"If you say so..."
Fine by me.
First drive on the highway? Sweet.
We arrived before long.
But for a Gift testing spot, it was eerily serene.
"This the place?"
Nothing lab-like in sight.
If anything, the buildings screamed "not a lab."
Driad Botanical Garden
The massive sign left no doubt.
Couldn't miss it—one building, huge sign, surrounded by nothing else.
For a botanical garden, it dominated an absurdly vast plot—like it could fit apartment complexes.
Land had expanded post-crash, sure, and population boomed too.
But a botanical garden this massive?
Parking lot was near-empty too—just my shiny ride and a few others.
And we were here for Gift testing?
"C'mon, let's go."
"This is really it?"
"Yes, so shut up and follow. Unless you wanna get hurt."
What?
It was just a question—no need for threats.
Grumbling, I trailed her inside. That's when I realized her "don't wanna get hurt" warning wasn't about smacking me for backtalk.
"Customer?"
"Customers?"
"Customers here!"
"Who?"
"Said customers."
"Customers."
"What customers?"
"Customers?"
"Edible?"
Tiny girls, kid-sized with green hair, swarmed us the second we entered. They looked adorable, but obviously not human.
Especially the last one, drooling at me like a starving pup.
"......"
Fairies.
Hordes of them. All with green hair—plant fairies, maybe?
"This okay?"
I stuck close behind Lilith as I whispered.
Fairies.
I'd heard the rumors.
Pranksters who sometimes dragged humans into deadly "fun."
Tiny and cute, sure, but no slouches—superhuman physicals, magic, you name it. Humans couldn't compete.
They only lived near nature, so they were rare.
But this many?
One prank from them could end me.
"It's fine. Just stay by me."
Ah...
Stray and you're fucked.
"Edible?"
"Edible, they say."
"Customer edible?"
"Edible..."
"Customer tasty?"
"Customer tasty?"
"Customer's tasty."
The vibe turned sinister at that last fairy’s nonsense. The girls—no, fairies—crept closer.
Fuck no.
"This is really okay?"
"Who do you think I am?"
Ah...
Relief hit. Right—Lilith. A few fairies were no threat.
"Anyway, enough pranks. Come out already. You're scaring him."
She spoke to thin air.
Hey, I wasn't scared.
Okay, maybe a little. Briefly.
At her words, a massive tree erupted from the ground.
Had to call it a tree.
If not for the woman emerging from its knot—a green-haired bombshell with tits unlike the kid fairies'. Massive didn't cover it. Monumental.
"...Whoa."
I gasped involuntarily, and Lilith stomped my foot hard.
Ow, fuck.
The tiny fairies rushed over, draping leaves and such on the naked woman.
"Draping" was generous—they bonded to her skin.
Soon, a leaf-bikini babe stood before Lilith.
Tall... insanely tall.
I thought her tits were minotaur-sized, but she towered over me by two heads easy.
Over 2 meters of goddess.
Her demeanor screamed non-human.
And the fairies' fawning obedience? No human commanded that.
"Aaaahh~ Long time no seeee~. Lilithhh~."
Her voice resonated like music from an instrument straight into my ear.
What a voice...
As I marveled, Lilith glanced at me, then addressed her.
"Yeah, been a while. Ariadd. You been good?"