V1C21

Parsed with an automated reader. The content accuracy is not guranteed.

It happened when I was five, when I left the city on my own for the first time. In other words, the day that, unable to bear my hunger any longer, I stuffed my face with trash skill fruits.

I had collected all the skill fruits my bag could hold and was doing my best to scarf down those it couldn’t. How could I waste even one, when they were all so delicious? That was when I first heard her voice, a pleasant chime close to my ear.

“Oh hoh? How strange to find a child as young as you in a place like this. Even stranger to find you, a human, dining, of your own accord, on these fruits.”

When I turned to see the owner of the voice, I found a small girl sitting on my shoulder. It was Zappy, but I didn’t know her then.

“Who are you?” I asked the unfamiliar fairy girl.

“Me? I am Altrosen, a leader of the fairies who rule that forest there. And you, little girl, what are you called?” Zappy pointed to the forest that lay on one side of the shooting beans hunting ground.

“I’m Marron. My dad told me that fairies will curse you if you make them mad. Did I do something to make you mad?” I couldn’t think of any other reason why a fairy would approach me, and I was pretty worried I’d done something foolish without realizing it.

I’d heard about fairies from Dad. He told me that, while they may be small physically, they have great powers that humans don’t, so you mustn’t make them mad. Luckily, as long as you avoid doing that, you have nothing to fear, since fairies try not to interact with humans. That’s why we humans do our best not to cross paths with fairies and avoid entering their territory.

But I didn’t know there was fairy territory right next to the shooting beans hunting ground. Dad never told me not to go into those woods, so he must not have known either.

The fairy smiled up at me. “It’s nice to meet you, Marron. No, I’m not angry with you. I just thought it strange to see such a small child alone in a place like this, and I was struck with the desire to find out why. That’s all.

“Can you tell me, Marron, why you came all this way by yourself? I know there aren’t many, but monsters do come here. It’s a dangerous place for a little girl to stroll alone.”

She asked, and I answered. I told her that my father died and that I was hungry and came here in search of food.

“I see. It must be difficult for a young girl to make her way alone in this world.” Zappy leapt from my shoulder, and her wings held her aloft a foot in front of my face. “Okay, then. I’ll help you. Come with me, Marron. I welcome you to the Fairy Forest.”

And with that, she led me to this glade, and fed me delicious fruits that weren’t skill fruits. You might be thinking, but didn’t you already have your fill of skill fruits and then some? To that I can only say that there’s always room for dessert, especially when it’s so tasty and free and they bring it just for you.

From that day on, I frequently made my way here, and Zappy made sure I ate my fill. She also made sure to tell me a couple of things.

First, she told me, “The water from this spring works on any illness. When you come here, make sure to drink some of it. As long as you do that, you will grow into an adult without ever falling ill.”

I did, and still do, as she told me, and each time I come here, I drink from the spring. And thanks to the spring water, I haven’t gotten sick even once these past three years.

The second thing she told me is the one more relevant for this current situation. “This place is special to me and my people. So, we’ve placed a barrier around it through which humans may not pass. Except for you, Marron. You’re special, because you alone have been invited to these woods by me, and you may enter them freely whenever you wish. Not only you, but anyone you bring with you, so you must be sure not to let in any strange people. Whenever you’re hungry, come to this place, and I will treat you to a delicious meal; whenever you are lonely, come to this place, and I will sit and talk with you; whenever you are in trouble, come to this place, and I will aid you.”

These were the words that Zappy used to welcome me graciously into her home. It was on this day that we met, and on the days after I often made my way here before heading home from shooting bean hunting.

Recently, however, I haven’t lacked for food, so I come just to talk.

*****************

She’s right. One of the first things she told me was not to bring any strange people here.

“I’m sorry for bringing a weirdo with me. But I felt like I had to, for Old Man Japan. He’s helped me so much, and he and Tarō are from the same place. He’s been waiting dozens of years for a chance to meet someone from his homeland, and he’d be heartbroken if the first person he found wound up dead in a field somewhere. Tarō’s sick, like you can see, and he’s not good at anything. I didn’t think—I don’t think—he’d be able to catch enough slimes to live anywhere but here. That’s why I brought him. So please, Zappy, could you let him come here, even if it’s just to catch slimes?” I plead with her, bowing my head.

I hear Tarō say, “I’m really that bad?” but I ignore him.

Zappy, for her part, sighs once more. “I suppose I don’t really have a choice. You’ve never asked for anything before. Fine. I will permit the boy to be here but only to catch slimes.”

“Yay! Thank you so much, Zappy!”

She may have been reluctant, but she did give him permission.

After I thank her, she turns to Tarō. “The only reason you have my permission is because my darling Marron asked me for it. You may capture slimes here, but you must always keep in mind that this place is sacred to my people. No blood may ever profane this ground, these trees, or these waters—that means you mustn’t kill even a single insect or slime within this forest. Additionally, Marron is the only companion you may bring with you. If you can’t adhere to these two rules, you will be expelled out past the barrier. Regardless of where you end up, you will be on your own, and I will not help you. Do you understand and accept these conditions?”

Oh boy. Sounds like he could be blasted out somewhere random if he breaks his promise. Since the forest is so big, he’d probably be completely out of luck if he ended up on the wrong side.

“Yeah, I got you. Seems like I won’t be able to live if I can’t catch slimes here. So I’ll do as you say. Could I get your permission then?”

“It’s settled. I grant you, Tarō, permission to enter the Fairy Forest.”

“Nice! You’re a real one.”

And so Tarō is allowed to capture slimes in these woods. But why does everything he say have to come across so arrogant? Why is it so hard for him to just say “thank you” and mean it?