Chapter 1

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**Chirp, chirp...**

The sound of sparrows chirping echoed from outside the window.

As usual, it was a comfortable awakening, but I wasn't enjoying a leisurely morning. My heart was pounding fiercely, and I was sweating profusely.

—What's going on... What happened...!?

In the bed, which was a bit too large for one person, a girl was lying next to me. My heart was already racing, but the long ears that protruded from her head, the long lashes, and the glossy silver hair that peeked out from under the blanket only made it worse. When I looked down, I saw her bare skin, and the shoulders and chest that were so alluring made my throat dry.

A sweet scent wafted from her slight swelling, intensifying my heart's pounding.

As I was deeply reflecting on what had happened last night, the elf girl opened her eyes. The slow opening of her eyes was like watching a flower bloom. Her pale purple eyes were vivid, and I felt myself being drawn in.

What exactly happened last night? My thoughts slowly traced back. Yes, at that time, I was...

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### Chapter 2

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I believe everyone has one mysterious trait.

Being the biggest eater in the class, or getting a perfect score in math but failing in language, or being ugly but popular with the opposite sex... I, too, have one such mysterious trait.

If I had to describe my hobby, it would be dreaming about medieval and fantastical worlds. I've loved such worlds since I was a child, imagining battles with swords and shields, and getting my heart racing. I've read books borrowed from the library so many times that they've worn out.

—Oh, I was supposed to explain my mysterious trait, not my hobby.

Because of this hobby, I often have vivid dreams. Sometimes they are worlds of swords and magic, or the middle of a war, or stepping into a vast labyrinth. This has made me look forward to sleeping since I was a child, and even now, at 25, I still do.

The only downside is that they are too realistic. I am incredibly weak in these dreams. I've been melted by slime-like creatures countless times, and stripped by incomprehensible locals. But I enjoyed it as if it were a realistic game.

In dreams, even if I get injured, it's fine, and even if I charge a giant dragon, I wake up thinking, "What a fun dream." Charging a mountain-sized existence is something you can't experience in the modern world.

As I mentioned, I am 25. I work seriously, and my hobby is "dreaming," so my expenses are extremely low. Therefore, even if I sleep a bit longer, it's acceptable. This lifestyle has continued since I was a child, so the cumulative time is considerable.

I always place a water bottle and a delicious bento by my pillow. It's not a ritual, but doing this helps. Let me start the actual story.

It was 7 PM. I wake up at 7 AM. Compared to my peers, I have an incredibly long sleep time. But as an adult, this is acceptable. As long as I can take care of myself, no one will complain. It's a wonderfully easy world.

"Good night, then."

I bowed slightly and slipped into the futon. Snoring, I stepped into the usual, yet different world.

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### Chapter 3

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*Chirp, chirp, chirp.*

I blinked, and a small bird was right in front of me. This bird, called Nazuru, is not very afraid of people and is very curious. Its name comes from the nearby ruins. In spring, it comes out to look for food, but in winter, it stays in the ruins.

"Yawn... I slept well. Though it's just the start of the day here."

I offered the breadcrumbs from my chest pocket, and the bird chirped in thanks, taking them in its beak and flying away.

Suppressing a yawn, I looked around. The sun had just started to rise, and my cloak was damp with night dew. It seemed I had chosen a cluster of trees on a grassy plain with a good view as my bed. A river flowed in the distance, so I wouldn't have to worry about drinking water.

"Well, I have a water bottle, but I also want some sweet juice."

Next to the bag I used as a pillow, a water bottle and a bento were placed. These were the things I prepared before going to bed, and for some reason, they fill me up when I eat them and are empty when I wake up. However, it's convenient because I don't have to worry about finding food in this world.

Actually, the food here is generally not very tasty. I thought it might be my taste, but it's because the seasonings are lacking, and most people are lazy.

So, I put these things back into my bag, yawned, and headed to the river to wash my face. The water, just after the start of spring, was cold, and it cleared my sleepiness.

The face reflected in the water was much younger than in the real world. Smooth, youthful skin and sleepy eyes... well, I am awake, but this sleepy look is my characteristic. I guess I look about 15 years old.

"This place is near the Nazuru Nazuru Ruins, right?"

When I wake up, the location can change significantly, but this time it seems to be a continuation from yesterday. The dilemma is whether to go to the ruins or explore somewhere else.

When I touched my bracelet, a blue-white status screen appeared, showing my level as 72, which is much higher than the recommended level for this area.

I've been in this world for over 20 years, so the rate of level-up is quite subtle. Sometimes I focus on leveling up, and other times I spend a week fishing. So, my play skills are also quite high.

Ah, yes, I used to be very weak, but thanks to my steady efforts, I've grown to a decent level.

Well, there are no evil kings or enemies to defeat, so I just enjoy myself. The higher the level, the more places I can go, so I work hard to get new play areas.

"Hmm?"

While washing my face, I felt someone's gaze. Thanks to my trained intuition skill, I noticed it, but it didn't seem like I was about to be attacked. A girl appeared from the shade of a tree, shaking her long ears as she approached.

"Good morning, Kazuhiho. You're still camping in such a primitive way. You look like an elf yourself."

"Good morning, Marie. It's a nice day, which is a relief. Waking up in a heavy rain can be exhausting, mentally."

"I don't understand," Marie tilted her head. She is an elf, her real name is Mariabel, and she is called Marie. She is over a hundred years old, so much older than me. For some reason, my name is "Kazuhiho."

Why did I get the last character wrong? I can only blame my childhood self. My real name is Kitase Kazuhiro, and I must have made a mistake in the initial settings.

"It's rare to see you come this far, Marie. Want to go explore the ruins?"

"Uh, well, if you insist, I might follow. I don't want to be misunderstood, but I'm not that busy. Just..."

She glanced at my bag. It's a small bag, so it's clear that the bento is inside. She is sensitive to food, and since I started sharing, she has been expecting it more often.

However, she rarely leaves the elf forest, so we don't meet often. Thinking back, she might be my best friend in this world, even though she is much older.

"Oh, is that your staff, Marie? It's amazing, show me, show me."

"Hehe, sure. The main part is made of holly, and look, it's adorned with a unicorn's mane."

"Wow, that's amazing. Marie, you're an elf and can use magic, which is impressive. Can I see it while we walk?"

Marie smiled. The first time we met, she killed me. She is known for hating humans and immediately used her staff to turn me into dust. Thinking back, she was a terrible murderer, but she has calmed down over the years.

"Please don't misunderstand. I thought you were a ghost or something because you kept coming back to life. And you always smiled and talked to me, which scared me so much I couldn't sleep."

"Well, either way, it's not murder. And I don't think I was always smiling... But Marie is beautiful, so I'm happy to see her."

"I'm often told that," Marie coolly brushed her hair, making a serious face. Her expression seemed to say, "Say more," and she kept glancing at me.

My body is still that of a child, but in reality, I am an adult, so it's not difficult to escort a cute girl. Her features are so well-defined that just looking at her makes me happy, and her cheeky attitude is a bonus.

Her hair is a soft, cotton-like color, but it has too much luster to be called white. It's more like silk.

Her eyes are a light purple, like amethyst, making them truly "gem-like." Though we are about the same height, her intelligence, gained from living for a long time, far surpasses mine.

As we walked along the river, the ruins soon appeared. The entrance to the Nazuru Nazuru Ruins was lined with moss-covered rocks, and a cave-like opening yawned. Historically, it is said to be an underground city that was destroyed a thousand years ago, but the cause is still a mystery.

"Shall we go, Marie?"

"Yes, Kazuhiho, let's go."

We climbed into the cave, and I lifted her delicate hand to help her up. She was as light as a Nazuru bird, and the momentum made her fall into my chest, her large, round eyes up close.

"Can't you do something about those sleepy eyes?"

"This is just how I was born. I can't do anything about it."

She chuckled and waved her holly staff. The light spirits that emerged from the staff floated around us, dimly illuminating the surroundings.

With everything ready, Marie nodded, and we began our exploration of the Nazuru Nazuru Ruins.