“Chapter 278: Intermission: The Scum in the Gloomy Dark Forest”

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    (???’s POV)

    How long has it been since I last came to this side?

    – The Sage’s Forest is different from how I remember it. I guess that’s just how time works.

    Time, huh… I’ve lost complete track of it since I landed in this world.

    I’ve grown a habit of pondering pointless human dilemmas.

    I can’t believe I used to think like that.

    – Okay, snap out of it. No time to waste. I need to find… Oops-

    I noticed my feet were getting scarred from the thorns of the plants I grazed.

    I forgot to bring my shoes. But I’m too lazy to go back now.

    – VANISH.

    All the vegetation around me disappeared, leaving only a circle of black soil.

    I could hear something in the distance.

    It was the sound of someone digging a hole.

    He has already noticed me, in fact.

    But he kept digging anyways.

    – Hey there. What are we doing over here?

    – Can’t you see? I’m digging a hole.

    – With… That puny sword?

    – What else would I use?

    There were about 30 or so more holes around. It must have taken him a long time do to this.

    Especially because there are bodies buried beneath the holes.

    – Did you do all of this?

    – Who’s to say? I don’t even know what happened. We were being tortured, I helped everyone escape, and then they turned on me and said I was useless.

    – These two girls… They’re in a pretty gruesome state.

    – Those two charged at me directly trying to kill me.

    So he says, but there’s not a scratch on his body.

    His voice is also rather calm.

    – And who are you? Did you come here to kill me or something?

    – Close. I’m here to pick you up. I had someone who would do all the work for me, but she… disappeared. I’m looking for a replacement.

    – Did she run away? I wonder if she’s okay.

    – I know, right!? She was such a blessed soul.

    Ernika was an obedient girl, but her usefulness expired.

    – So, will you come with me? I can give you food, clothes, and a roof.

    – Really? You’re just a rabbit plushie.

    – This is not my real body. I’m a pretty girl in reality.

    – Not that I care about that. Listen, can you keep these holes a secret? It was purely in self-defense, but I don’t know what others would think about me.

    – Haha, you’re the perfect scum I need. Don’t worry, I have the power to undo the things you’ve done.

    I knew it. I can tell by his smell.

    Finally, these boring days will come to an end.

    – Let me take you to my place first. What was your name again?

    – Me? I’m Harumichi. I don’t like my surname. Who are you?

    – I don’t know. I’m sure I had a name at some point. But this bunny is called Lilly.

    – I’ll call you Lilly then.

    – The pleasure is mine, Harumichi. REVERSE.

    Returning the vegetation back to normal, I left the Sage’s Forest with my new pawn, Harumichi.