Chapter 82

"Wait a moment!"

"Normally, when cute pixies like us welcome humans, they should be overjoyed, right?"

"I can't believe it! My pride as a pixie is hurt."

"This kid smells good~"

"Black hair is so rare."

Currently, Yuu was surrounded by pixies and being lectured.

Yuu had tried to quietly close the door and leave, but the pixies who had chased after him from behind grabbed his hair and clothes, pulling him back into the room.

The pixies dragged Yuu back to the base of a tree and started talking freely. Some perched on his shoulders, others lay on his thighs, and some peered cautiously from behind the tree.

"I'm sorry! These kids are just excited to see a human after so long."

"Hey, this one is a dryad who likes humans and has been ostracized by other dryads. If you treat her badly, I won't forgive you!"

"Ugh... It's true, but it's harsh."

Faced with the rapid-fire chatter of the pixies, Yuu decided to remain silent and not interrupt.

"Yuu~ It's okay. Wow! A fairy. I've never seen one before. So cute."

"...Smaller than me. So cute."

"In the forest where I lived, I often saw pixies, so they're not rare."

Nina and the others, who had just entered the room, approached the pixies with shining eyes. They petted the pixies' heads and poked their cheeks, treating them as they pleased.

Satisfied with Nina and Rena's behavior, the pixies puffed out their chests, as if to say, "See, what do you think of that?"

"There's one cheeky dark elf, but this is how humans usually treat normal pixies!"

"That's right, that's right! Your attitude has hurt our pride so much—Ah! Unbelievable! This kid is sleeping with her eyes closed!"

Yuu wasn't actually sleeping; he had closed his eyes to ignore the noisy pixies, but this only made them angrier.

"I've seen pixies a few times, but I've never seen such friendly ones. And a dryad appearing before humans is also rare."

"Indeed, dryads dislike humans who harm trees, so they rarely show themselves."

Satisfied with the praise from Nina and the others, the pixies perched on Nina's chest, Coro and Sukke's heads and backs, relaxing.

The dryad, also seeming relieved, smiled.

"Here, this is sap. Please, if you'd like it."

Nina and the others looked at the sap in the dryad's palm. The dryad, with a beaming smile and expectant eyes, made it hard to refuse. The pixies also watched, eager for their reaction.

"This kid's sap is very popular with Parabeetles and narcotic moths."

While Yuu mentally noted that it was probably popular with insects, the dryad, misunderstanding that Yuu wanted the sap, offered it to him.

"I appreciate the gesture, but humans don't usually eat sap."

Hearing this, the dryad's spirits fell, and the pixies scolded Yuu for being a terrible human.

Ignoring the noisy pixies, Yuu took out a jar of jam made from ruby strawberries from his item pouch. He scooped some jam with a spoon and brought it to the dryad's mouth.

"Can I eat it?"

"Humans eat things like this."

The dryad closed her eyes and tentatively put the jam in her mouth. The next moment, her eyes widened, and her face lit up as she hugged Yuu.

"Delicious! This is so delicious!"

"No way! It can't be more delicious than sap!"

The pixies started to fuss, but Yuu ignored them and tried to pull away from the excited dryad, who was hugging him tightly. Nina and Rena also tried to join in, but Marifa prevented them.

A pixie, who had been watching from behind the tree, hesitated between curiosity and anxiety. When Yuu offered her some jam, she bit into the ruby strawberry, then dove into the jar, her face covered in jam.

Seeing this, the other pixies looked at each other, nodded, and all rushed toward the jar in Yuu's hand.

"What is this! It's so delicious."

"Hey, you're eating too much. Ah, it's so sweet!"

"For a human, you're being cheeky, but you can't stop, can you?"

The jar was quickly emptied.

"Hmph. I'll forgive your cheeky attitude earlier."

The pixie, with a jam-covered face, crossed her arms and turned away, but her lack of dignity made Nina and the others smile.

On top of Yuu's head, a shy pixie who had been hiding behind the tree sat, grabbing his hair.

"Human food is so delicious."

"Do humans come here often?"

"Sometimes they wander in, and these kids guide them to the exit."

"Hehe! If you get lost, I'll guide you."

After a sufficient rest, Yuu and the others adjusted their equipment. Seeing this, the dryad hurriedly called out.

"Wait, please. Stay a little longer. And there's a really scary treant ahead."

"Indeed, as she says. There's an old treant in the next room. He's very strong, so it's better to turn back."

"An old treant... An elder treant! A rank 5 monster. An old treant can use magic and is a formidable opponent. Of course, it's a named monster..."

Lalit was hesitant about whether to proceed, but Yuu and the others were determined to continue, adjusting their equipment. Rena gripped her staff tightly and swung it around. Coro and Sukke, who had been playing with the pixies, stood up and stood by Marifa.

"Are you really going?"

The dryad's eyebrows drooped in a way that stirred protective instincts. The pixies also buzzed around her face, urging her to stop them, but Yuu ignored them and headed for the exit.

"Um, please come again. I'll be waiting."

"Next time, bring lots of that jam."

"I'm fine with other foods too~"

Nina and the others waved goodbye to the dryad and pixies, who watched them intently. A flower the pixies had stuck in Ekkart's head remained.

"Hey, get down already."

The shyest pixie, who had been on top of Yuu's head, flew off reluctantly.

"See you."

Yuu whispered softly as he left. The dryad and pixies, hearing his words, smiled broadly and waved goodbye.