I knew it already, the moment the words flew out of my mouth. It was a bad question. Even though I'd been secluding myself from people ever since I was no longer an adventurer, I knew it was really a terrible mistake by heart.

How could I ever come with the question, perhaps the first thing that I should have asked to myself, instead.

Maybe, I’d hit my head too hard, to be honest.

“... Um, pardon, But what do you mean?” The auburn-haired girl asked, tilting her head in a visible confusion, her expression told me she was wondering whether she had misheard the question.

“No, it was nothing. Forget about it.”

I tried to shrug it off, but she didn’t seem satisfied to accept that as the answer just yet.

“That definitely wasn’t nothing, no? Did I just mishear, or do you actually just asked me whether I’m a human or not?”

She raised her eyebrows, crossing her arms, looking pretty slightly upset.

“Excuse me, If I’m overstepping myself. But, I think that’s pretty rude to ask for a stranger, a first time meeting, nonetheless.”

She cleared her throat.

“But, I think I could see where that is coming from. I mean the figure earlier, she has the exact face as mine, or rather she looked exactly like myself. So, I couldn’t help but to raise a question, do you know who that was or maybe the exact question should be, what was that, I suppose?”

That was faster than I thought, here I thought, I would chew down for a whole minute for that slightly rude question, and she gave that kind of vibe. Was I hoping for something like that to happen? No, no you misunderstand. It just was one of a few possibilities that I predicted to happen. That was the whole reason I shut my mouth off, not trying to argue.

Enough with that, it was just exactly what she’d said, ‘what was that?’ The more I thought back about her figure, I began to realize more and more how terrifyingly similar they looked to each other. Or to be exact, they are like literally the same person. A twin, perhaps? No, even a twin has something different with them no matter how similar they are, but to me it looked like the figure was another copy of herself.

Even after I observed the auburn-haired girl in front of me for a little while, I could not spot any fault within the imitation. Her shoulder-length auburn shaded with brown color, the dirtied spots on the cheek, elbows, and shins. As well the little mole on the right side of neck as I'd the opportunity to look at it once, when she carried me.

No, no, it was not as perfect as I thought. The mischief spirit had a bit of a mature aura about her. Quite different from the auburn-haired girl in front of me, where she looked like has a naivety of a young girl. Still, I wouldn’t even know if it was a facade or not, when I’d not know the real one. It was an impossible errand, to spot if it was a fake or not.

And, yes, you might be wondering about her attire, perhaps it could make some difference. While the one in front of me wore brown, dark trousers, and a blue ocean vest on the top of white blouse, like what the common outfit of the lower class would wear. And, definitely something that one would wear in a forest like this.

Unlike the pure white dress. Quite an odd choice to be sure, but not entirely impossible depending on the situation if I’d say. I could think of several situations where it could happen, where they might be chased by monsters and have no time to change. Perhaps, the chance of such a situation arising sounds ridiculous to happen, but not impossible enough if I’d say.

So, in that case, do you ignore their plea for help, because they simply looked suspiciou--

“Um…, what do you think about this? I haven’t heard your opinion, just yet.”

Her voice rang me up from all the pondering in my little world. When she pointed that out to me, I realized I haven’t said anything to her. My bad, I suppose. However, the real question is how should I approach this? I could just bail out here and now, and say bye. But, is that even an option? In a way, yes.

No, no, let’s not. I always hold up the promise that I make. But, I didn’t even know if the story that the mischievous spirit talked about was real or not. Then, I should just find that out. But, how? As I pondered how I should take the best approach to this, I remembered some children's stories related to fairies. Perhaps, I could use that.

“My apologies, but I was thinking. Hmm, that’s right. Perhaps, have you heard the story of the fairy and the shoemake— *cough*”

A dry cough cut me off, I felt my throat was a little too dry. But, it mattered not. Though the person in front of me didn't think so, I hurriedly reassured her with a wave of the hand.

“A fairy? It shouldn't be the gnomes, instead the fairy? I’m pretty sure, it is The gnomes and The Shoemaker, no?”

“Is it?” I didn’t seem to remember, I only read it when I was a child only, it was not surprising actually. But, was it really? Perhaps there was a different variation, one of them is fairies?

“Ahem* Anyway, in the end, it doesn’t make any much difference, either it was gnomes, fairies or golems. And you realize what the gist of the story is right?" I said,

“Oftentimes, they offer their hand to help people who are in need like you are. But, unfortunately, they couldn’t this time for whatever the reason and sent me instead. And I am here to oblige that role, just this once.”

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“So, are you saying that figure was a spirit, and she wanted to help me. But, she couldn’t, so ask you instead to help me in her place? Did I get that right?”

“Yes, exactly like that.” It's really nice when you talk to a smart person, making things easier.

“But, why me? Aren't there a dozen more people who need help instead of myself?” She said, “Besides, I don’t need any help.”

“Huh, no?”

“Yes, thank you for asking, but I’m perfectly fine.”

Hmm, this was weird, really weird.

Was the cry of the help from the mischief spirit earlier was just a little prank that she came with. And, if that was the reason, why she bothered to take the form of someone, even more someone in the same place. If it was me, I would take the form of some random person, so the chance of me being exposed would be as low as possible.

Perhaps, she was too dumb to think of that. No, no that was not possible. The story of mischief spirit had traveled quite far from here. Besides, she seemed smart enough to give some adjustment to improve the odds of success in her tricks, like the outfit for example. Then it's safe to remove this assumption first.

Then was it to maximize the prank? It was quite possible, yes. After all It was quite a common story, when someone gets betrayed by someone related to them, their loved one more so. It is easier for them to fall into a state of despair. But, I did not relate the auburn-haired girl in front of me to me whatsoever. So, this assumption made little sense at all.

Or perhaps, she was unable to do that, and could only take the form of someone existing in the same place. But if that was the case, then how did she find success in her trick? That couldn’t be real, for example, if a lone man wandered in the forest by himself, how would she be supposed to trick him? By taking the form of the man himself, what the result could be found in that? He got freaked out and all? Quite possibly.

So in the end, was the story real or not?

Shit! I felt like I was in a loop. Perhaps, I’d hit my head a bit too hard. I don’t think I can think straight anymore.

A question to myself, did this matter to me whether the story was real or not? No, perhaps, no, I could just shrug it off, and leave like that. Even the person in the question herself didn’t seem to want any help.

However, would I be branded as a flake, a reneger, the violator of promise, for failing my promise? Me, Kash Kashim to simply be reduced as a flake?

Even if I was a liar, and a coward at the very least I always hold to my promise. Wasn’t that the creed that I lived at this moment now. How could I die in peace, and become free as a bird, knowing I broke the last thing that held me together?

The answer would be no. There is no way.

For that I needed to confirm the truth so I could peacefully took my foot on the another side of life.

“By the way, could I ask you one thing?”

“Yes, what is it?”

“Why are you here in the forest?”

“Why? Ah, we were looking for a flower. I think I have something if you want to help. Have you seen a pretty light- bluish flower, it had a tint of yellow in each of the four petals?”

“I don’t know if it was four petals or not. But, I think I’ve seen something similar.”

As soon as she heard my response her face lit up, bursting with excitement.

“Oh really, where is it?”

“...Yes, to the southwest from here. Around 300 meters, I think. There should be a flower bed around there.” I pointed toward the direction where I came from.

As you might've guessed, it was near where the place where I tried to hang myself. But, deciding that I should not spoil the beautiful spectacle with my soon rotten corpse, I took myself a bit farther from where it was.

“Thank you very much!” She bowed, before running toward the direction that I’d pointed.

“Wait!” I grabbed her shoulder, as she tried to pass me. But, I didn’t think I put much strength on it, as I felt like getting pushed off instead. But she still stopped nonetheless.

“Yes, anything that I can help, mister?”

“Didn't you just say we? I don’t see anyone beside you though? Or is it someone that I can’t see, someone invisible, perhaps?”

“What are you on about? Yes, that’s exactly what I said. We. My father and I went to this forest together,” she said, and sounded exasperated.

“And I don’t see him?”

“It was because I separated from him. He was attacked by monsters. But, I think he will be fine. My dad is strong, after all.”

“I see. So, he was attacked, huh? But you don’t want my help because you put trust in him?”

“Well, yeah. That’s half the reason. Besides, I couldn’t afford to ask for help from a sick man, no?”

She said it, as a matter of fact. But, I didn’t believe I was as sick as she thought. Sure, I felt a little dizzy and weak, but that was all. And, honestly, I felt more energized than before. Besides, how could she know? Is she a psychic?

“A sick man? Me? I don’t think so.”

“Yes, haven’t you seen your complexion, you look as pale as a white sheet. And your hand was so cold. Sorry if I’m being rude, but I’m almost mistaken you for a ghost before”

“No, it’s just how I usually look. Nothing to worry about,” I said.

However, she didn’t seem convinced, for she let out a short sigh.

“I think you should treat yourself better. I don’t quite understand why you’re so adamant to help.”

“It’s nothing but personal. I made a promise, so I need to fulfill it.” Besides, what is a better place to die besides at the hands of monsters.

“Promise.” Somehow the word stuck to her, as she repeated the word back. Her expression grew soft, as she looked at me.

“I know a promise needs to be fulfilled. That’s what my mother taught me. But, at the same time I also had made a promise to him, to look for the flower in the meantime.”

“While, he dealt with the monsters. And, he never breaks his promise. I thought I needed to fulfill mine. Maybe I should look for the flower first and come back later.”

She looked confused, perhaps never encountered this kind of situation before. But, for me it was a chance.

“No, that would definitely be too late, in case something went wrong. In my years of experience as an adventurer, you never know what kind of situation when dealing with the monsters. So, what do you think if we go to your father’s location first, and assess the situation, and if everything seems to be fine. Then I could guide you to the place.”

“That sounds good to me. Um, but do you think you’ll be fine?”

Yet, one thing that I wondered how could be that a single leaf on the top of her head just sat comfortably, and never once fall. Even though she'd moved around so much. It was mysterious to me. Perhaps, it was also the work of spirit.

However, it is nigh time for you to leave, buddy.

“I am. By the way, you have a leaf on your head!”

The auburn haired girl quickly brushed her head with a pout, as I pointed that out, and the leaf fell, gently, swaying forth and left, before finding its place on the ground. To become another source of the next tree.