GLITCH

A Living Forest 1

"So sis, this device has a map, right?"

"Of course. It suits you actually."

"Hehe. Thanks for the gift."

We were now walking together, Wenn and I, towards Knuckle City. There is something that we need to access.

According to the note, a deal between that crazy guy and that other Fallen guy I once obliterated in a swift manner by using the before-known [GraviGrasp] and [GraviCoil] will happen a week from now. Of course, we don't have time to rest.

I just hope that this isn't just some false information, but it's better to check for myself if it's real or not. I could just let Wenn communicate with Sven via using the communication feature of the G-watch.

We bid our goodbyes to them all and headed straight away to our next destination. And that is when we discovered an anomaly right in front of us.

"Does this forest appear on the map?"

"Lemme check. Uh, nuh-uh...it appears that the map doesn't recognize this place for some reason."

That's strange. I'm pretty sure that my map feature in the G-watch is accurate as possible. It's even linked with the Grand Satellite to gain a piece of precise information about the world map.

How is it possible—

"Wait."

"Hmm? Is something wrong, Wenn?"

"I could sense it faintly, sis. There's somethin' not right in this place."

Curious about what Wenn was saying, I used my [Soul Read] and eventually found out what's the cause behind all of this.

"At the center..."

"At the what?"

"Let's go to the deepest part of this forest and find the Dryad that's living here."

Dryads.

They're easily depicted as beautiful women guarding a forest and protecting it. It also sucks energy from those who touch them carelessly or those who threaten them by implanting their seeds to the poor individual.

"Wait, does that mean...!?"

"Yes. This forest is not spawned naturally. It's from a single Glitch. We can't have ourselves go around here or we'll waste a couple of days or so. We shall go right through this forest. Let's go. Be careful of the other Glitches inhabiting the place as well."

"Sure thing, sissy."

•••

PUBLIC MARKET, Port of Kirmish

13th day of December 2500

8:08 AM

"This is a bit tedious, don't you say?"

"Kind of. But still, it's Rylai's decision-making that made me live even today. I trust her decisions."

"Even without knowing her intention as of why they left us to guard here? That's something called being blind uh...something, you know?"

I'm with Rylai's foster brother, Reme, purchasing some raw ingredients for breakfast. I know it's a tad late, but the market only opens at eight o'clock. This is for our meal, and with "our" means everyone else in the slums. Thanks to Rylai's inventory feature installed in this G-watch, I would never raise any kind of suspicion of bringing lots of meat and vegetables.

Speaking of Rylai, I don't understand why Reme has been ranting non-stop now and I think he's kind of disappointed about being not able to come with her sister. She instead brought Wenn along (his rival, I guess? They always taunt each other whenever possible).

"It's fine. It's Rylai we're talking about. I'm sure that you, of all people, would understand her."

"Haha. Nice words. I'm not really mad actually. I'm just...I don't know...dejected, maybe? Why did she bring Wenn along instead of me? I'm powerful too. I could fend off most enemies."

Yep. My prediction hits the bullseye.

Reme continued his ranting as I kept on thinking of my sister's and Rylai's well-being as of now.

"Hey, are you listening, or not? You already missed the corner you know?"

"Eh? Ah! Sorry about that. I'm just wondering about something."

"Wandering about what?"

"I-it's nothing. Let's go now, and let's have some tasty breakfast."

•••

DRYAD'S FOREST

8:45 AM

"Sheesh, sissy. This place is full of plant-type Glitches."

"You can feel them, right?"

"Yes. As a Glitch, moreover an Aero Morph, I could feel their presence. They're mostly Treants, Mandragora, Flytrap Monster, and any other plant-type Glitches."

I could hear Wenn sighing heavily.

"Sigh... I don't want to fight nature."

Treants are, well...trees with limbs. The same goes with Flytrap Monster. It's just a Venus Flytrap but has its roots and leaves as its limbs.

The one rare species here is the Mandragora.

Mandragora screams and inflict serious damage to one's ears when heard but are proven to be rare and could be used as medicine.

I'm not here for getting materials to craft a medicine though. I'm here to make my way to Knuckle City.

"Neither do I, Wenn. Let's avoid combat as possible and meet with the Dryad that's in the center of this place."

"Alright, sissy. I'm just behind ya."