The first thing I open my eyes to is the dull scenery of a wooden ceiling. Surprisingly, though I have just awakened, I feel strangely refreshed and can also remember the events that occurred prior to me losing consciousness. I recall myself stupidly losing to the desire of eating that purple 'fruit.' Though I found it delicious at first, pain struck my body shortly after-it must have been poisoned... The feeling of embarrassment strikes me hard when I remember what I said after eating it. What was it again? Oh, yeah...now I remember.
"It seems I have finally proven the 'if you don't know what it is, don't eat it' logic of my old world completely and utterly wrong."
...
So much for that, Akio!
Well, that's enough blaming myself at the moment. There seems to be more important things to address. Currently the main thing being... where exactly am I? I turn my head away from the ceiling and look around the room I seem to be in. The thick wooden walls seem to be the same in every direction. In the corner sits a lone wooden table. The only thing you could class as 'decoration' in here is a strange-looking silver brooch of sorts stuck on the door positioned to my right. Oh, and it seems I'm laying down in a bed as well-a fairly comfortable one at that. But my question of where I am still remains unanswered. I rack my brain trying to think of anything else that happened before I passed out and...
'Oh right, I remember!'
Using my detective-level deduction skills I deduce that right before I did lose consciousness, I heard a voice. I wasn't in the state to understand the words it spoke at the time, though now I can faintly remember it saying something along the lines of 'I'll help you!' Continuing to use my now evolved super detective powers, I come to the conclusion that the voice of the person saying they would help me must belong to the person who brought me to this room. In that case, I definitely have to thank them for preventing me dying a pitiful second death (Though I'll probably emit the part about me dying a first time in case they think I'm crazy). However, just as I am about to exit the room to find my saviour, the door gently creaks open.
'A-Ah, It seems you're awake. Ho-How are you feeling?'
Despite the difference in volume (and the nervousness), I recognise the now-timid, sweet voice as the one that called out to me after I nearly died from eating that purple fruit-like object. It sounds pleasant to my ears but not as much as the radiant beauty of the one who uses it... The owner of the voice is a youthful-seeming woman. Though not frail looking, she has a thin figure and medium-length midnight black hair covers her left eye. Her uncovered eye is of an emerald-green colour, almost as if it were truly the gemstone itself and her simple-though perfectly complimenting-clothes seem to be made of a material I haven't ever seen before.
I was half expecting-and somewhat scared- to perhaps be greeted by a demi-human race native to this world, so am momentarily stunned by the appearance of her. If this were an RPG, I would most definitely have the
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'U-uum. Is something wrong? Are you perhaps hungry? I can get you something to eat if you want.'
Coming back to my senses, I realise I am quite hungry and that maybe some food would be nice. Though I decide it is most likely better to give my thanks to her first.
'Firstly, thank you for helping me out back there. I clearly shouldn't have set foot into the forest without even knowing the area. I didn't even know what the thing I ate was. My name is Akio. You saved my life and-
Grrrrrrrrrrghghllllllll.' The sound of my stomach interrupts my thankful speech.
...
And that leads me on to my second point, I would love to take up your offer on having some food right now!'
The girl stares at me for a few seconds...and then her previously nervous expression turns into one of a smile accompanied by some faint laughter.
'No need to thank me. I'm just glad you're ok. I have some food prepared on the table so feel free to have as much as you want. O-oh and I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Yua-it's nice to meet you Akio.'
And with that, I follow her to the table the food is on and sit down opposite to her. In front of me seems to be a brightly coloured bowl vegetable stew of some sorts. The aroma coming off from it is quite pleasing and I scoop some up with a spoon and eat it.
'I-I'm not a very good cook but I hope you like it-if not, let me know and I'll prepare something else.'
Yua's description of her cooking ability as 'not very good' is instantly blown away by the delicious flavour in my mouth. It warms me up and I can't help but slurp it all down in an instant. It is so good in fact, I decide I have to reassure her.
'Yua, this food is amazing! I'm not sure why you seem to doubt in your cooking skill so much but I want you to know you are completely wrong!'
Her face blushes bright red and she smiles widely.
'T-Thank you! I'm glad you enjoy it!
In my previous life, I only seemed to make my boss angry at me for being sick and asking for a day off work. It's been so long since I've talked to someone not about work that the fact I made Yua smile fills me with a sense of happiness. A few moments pass before I decide I should probably ask about what exactly was going on with that forest I encountered.
'Yua, what exactly was that forest and what was the purple 'fruit' I ate yesterday? And could you please tell me about the area we are in right now?'
She seems surprised at my sudden questioning for a moment but then starts to speak.
'O-Oh right, I forgot you were knew to the area Akio. Let me explain. We currently are in a country called Ambris far east of the Mezalor continent. A-As for the forest...It's known infamously as the 'illusionary forest' because it disguises itself to fit in with an ordinary piece of land. Once you find out what it truly looks like inside, you would think you would instinctively run away but by that point, it lures you in deeper...
Whilst Yua is regaining her breath from talking so quickly, I take a moment to take in the information she gave me. The forest I entered seems to be one that people usually stay well clear of. It would have been nice to get a warning about it before I was randomly teleported next to it! I do wonder what Yua was doing in there though...
'Thanks for the information. May I ask why you were in such a dangerous forest at the time Yua?'
She hesitates for a bit before answering.
'W-Well. I was given orders to collect greed-berries-the thing that you ate yesterday. O-Oh I should probably warn you to stay away from them next time. They multiply your existing hunger an endless amount and then tempt you to eat it...'
...
AREN'T THEY TOO OVERPOWERED?!!
I mean, a poisonous berry that forces you eat it?! That's the kind of weird thing growing in this world?!! And wait, did I hear that right? Yua had orders to collect that death-trap of an item?!!
It's only natural that I start to feel uncomfortable thinking of the danger this strange, supernatural world contains...