The Forest I Stayed In (2)
"We clearly only met for the first time today," I said.
Instead of looking flustered, Silverdia let a graceful, seductive smile slip across her lips.
"Oh my. Using the excuse that you heard it from Selene... feels a bit awkward, doesn't it?"
The moment I tried to press her to stop playing word games, Silverdia elegantly picked up her knife and gently cut me off.
"Let's eat first. Cold steak isn't to the Hero's taste, is it? Once you've finished, I'll answer every question you have with complete honesty."
Since it was clear she held no hostility, I decided to focus on the meal.
I cut a piece of steak and put it in my mouth. With no toughness whatsoever, the meat melted softly on my tongue. The flavor and texture were superb.
On the other hand, Silverdia across from me barely touched her own portion. She simply watched with honey-sweet, longing eyes as I chewed and swallowed the meat. Every time I looked up, our eyes met.
Before long the meal ended, and the waiting magic doll approached to neatly clear away the empty plates. Silverdia poured wine into my empty glass and finally spoke.
"We witches have a spell that lets us share another person's vision exactly as it is. When Selene first left to subjugate the Demon King, I secretly cast the spell on her eyes out of a mother's worry for her daughter."
A spell that shares another person's vision? So she'd been watching us through Selene's eyes this whole time.
"Of course there were limits, since I could only see what fell within Selene's field of view. But I was able to take in plenty of moments—like the sight of you grilling meat by the campfire, or the way you'd curl up to the right when exhausted and fall asleep."
Was she talking about me? She'd been watching me?
"At first, I truly only meant to check on my daughter's safety. But at some point..."
She ran her finger smoothly along the rim of her wineglass and flashed a devastating smile.
"My gaze became completely, helplessly drawn to the Hero's every move. The sight of you advancing so boldly and majestically through that harsh battlefield... I fell for you before I even realized it."
- Wait, she fell in love by herself after watching a complete stranger? And the leader of the witches is this easy?
"Does that answer how I know you so well, Hero?"
Her bold confession nearly made me choke. To package the fact that she'd been legally stalking me through her daughter's eyes so elegantly.
- Wow, women really do line up for you even when you just stand there, huh.
'Is Silverdia a coupling target too?'
- Not sure. I've been trying to check but I can't see it clearly. Maybe because she's not an ordinary human—she's probably a pretty high-ranking being.
She definitely was the highest-ranking woman I'd met so far.
"I see. Then I'll be in your care for the next ten days."
"Just a moment, Hero."
As I wrapped up the greeting and stood from my seat, Silverdia stopped me.
"...Could I hold that hand of yours? Just once?"
My hand? It probably wasn't a big deal.
When I held it out, she wrapped it gently as if she'd been waiting for exactly that.
"These truly are the glorious hands that cut down countless demons."
Her tone was endlessly refined and elegant. But her expression and actions were completely different.
The way her fingers stroked my hand was quite blatant. It wasn't a simple handshake—she was persistently massaging the back of my hand and every knuckle, indulging her own desires.
Seeing her face practically smirking with satisfaction, I couldn't bring myself to pull away and simply let her enjoy it until she was done.
After that satisfying contact, Silverdia released my hand with visible reluctance and stood up.
"I'll guide you to your quarters myself."
Instead of heading toward the door that led outside, she walked toward one of the room's walls.
Tap. Tap.
When she lightly tapped the floor twice with the tip of her shoe—
Srrrrrk—!
Giant tree roots and vines writhed as if alive, parting to both sides. A long, dark corridor revealed itself within.
"This way, please."
It seemed to be a secret space hidden inside her residence.
Silverdia stepped through the vines first and took the lead.
When her entire figure came into view, I realized anew just how tall she was. She was slightly taller than me.
An overwhelming proportion that far exceeded a normal woman's height.
Click, click.
The sound of her high heels echoing across the floor.
Every time she took a step, the dizzying, smooth white line of her leg would flash into view through the side slit of her black dress before vanishing again.
Following behind her, I couldn't help but stare at that bewitching, sensual backside.
Hips that matched her tall frame. The abundant curves that swayed with every step.
'Why does it feel like I'm getting tangled up with more and more women so quickly? Is this the power of the Holy Sword?'
- That's a blasphemous thought.
I'd only thought it, but the words had slipped out in my mind.
After walking a short distance, we reached a wooden door at the end of the corridor.
"This is the room where you'll be staying for the ten days, Hero."
When the door opened, the first thing I saw was an enormous bed large enough for three people to lie on comfortably. A faint scent of wood and soft lighting.
Silverdia pointed to the magic doll standing in one corner of the room.
"If you need anything, call me anytime through this doll."
She flashed one last captivating smile and left the room without lingering.
Once the door closed and I was alone, I finally relaxed my body and let down my guard. Then I lay down on the massive bed in the center of the room.
'It's soft and nice.'
The texture of the luxurious bedding enveloping my back was exquisite. The pleasant woody aroma that gently filled the room and the scent of incense that Silverdia seemed to have lit beforehand softly brushed the tip of my nose.
My eyes gradually closed, and my vision went dark.
**
A dreamy forest path shrouded in thick fog.
I was walking along it, moving my feet almost unconsciously.
Before long, a blurry figure appeared beyond the dense mist. It was a cute, youthful black-haired girl in her early to mid-teens who still had some baby fat on her cheeks.
The moment the girl spotted me, she hurried over with quick steps and threw her arms around my waist.
'Who is she?'
The sensation of two small arms wrapping around my waist. Even in this strange situation, I clearly recognized that this was a dream.
Still hugging me, the girl beamed with a bright smile, then silently pointed deeper into the misty forest path. As if enchanted, I followed the direction of her outstretched finger and began walking again.
When I walked in the direction she'd pointed, this time a young woman in her late teens—who had grown much taller than before—waited for me.
She approached with lively steps, lightly wrapped her arms around my neck, and hugged me affectionately.
'What kind of bizarre dream is this?'
Though I felt puzzled, I didn't push her away and simply observed her actions. The woman who had embraced my neck also gave a quick smile before gently pushing my back and pointing toward the next path.
This time, a beautiful woman in her mid to late twenties stood there, carrying the clear aura of an adult.
She quietly rested her head against my chest and hugged me deeply. A faint floral scent brushed past my nose.
I followed her gesture and walked the path once more.
There stood a woman radiating an entirely different sensual and mature atmosphere from the previous three.
I embraced her as well, and the sensation was sticky and dizzying to a degree that couldn't compare to the women before her.
After holding her for a long while, the woman slowly lifted her head and met my eyes. A fatal, captivating smile. She moved her lips as if saying something to me.
'What is she saying?'
Her lips were clearly moving, but I couldn't hear any sound. The moment I narrowed my brow to focus on her voice—
My vision warped violently and everything flashed white.
"Huu..."
The ceiling I had just seen.
"That dream felt way too real..."
I muttered to myself, then glanced at the magic doll standing motionless in the corner of the room.
It was exactly as I had seen it earlier.
Shaking off the uneasy feeling, I stepped outside.
Thick purple mist hung heavily in the air, but far beyond the eastern sky, the sun was slowly beginning to rise.
I was stretching lightly to loosen my stiff body when I spotted two figures approaching through the dense fog. It was Selene and Yvelin. The moment Yvelin saw me, her face lit up with joy. Without hiding her delight, she hurried over with quick steps and gave me a polite bow.
"Sian!"
I exchanged a light greeting with the delighted Yvelin, then turned to Selene standing beside her.
"Is it okay for Yvelin to be outside? Yesterday you said it was dangerous and told her not to wander around."
Selene shrugged and replied bluntly.
"Well, as long as I'm with her, she won't have to worry about getting lost in this fog. Besides, right now the only ones in the forest are me and my mom. She won't get pranked by the other witches."
"But what's going on so early in the morning?"
"I'm taking you two to eat. Follow me."
"Doesn't Silverdia want to join us for the meal?"
"My mom? She sleeps in late, so it's fine. Just follow me."
Selene took the lead and began walking. Naturally, Yvelin and I fell into step side by side behind her.
"Did you sleep okay last night? Nothing happened, right?"
Yvelin's shoulders twitched slightly.
"You must have been really scared and anxious, suddenly left alone in an unknown forest. I'm sorry I couldn't look after you. You don't look well— are you okay?"
Yvelin shook her head urgently.
"N-no, I'm fine! Thanks to what you said about visiting me often, I was able to endure it. Thank you for caring..."
The way she spoke while tightly clasping both hands together.
"Now that I look, your scar's gone. That's a relief."
When I lightly brushed her cheek, the tips of her ears flushed red. Without saying a word, she lowered her head and shifted half a step closer to me as we walked.
- Just a few touches on the butt and she'll be done for.
Just as Lia said, it seemed touching her butt would be acceptable now.
"Come in."
We had arrived at Selene's house before I knew it. She jerked her chin toward the interior.