Mistress Of The Evil Forest

C-A 4: Reunited.

[Astra Magical Academy] was a 2D game. To be more specific, it was an RPG with high-end graphics. But 2D had its limitations, obviously.

So seeing the academy in real life like this is exciting, to say the least. And what else... I didn't get the achievement system, what a disappointment...

Whatever, I'll just have to push harder.

...Hmm, can I meet the protagonist here? She should be in the academy right now.

As I'm lost in my thoughts while walking around like that, Nydia suddenly speaks up.

''My Lady, why did you insist on coming here this early?''

I stop at my track.

We both look around at the students, who seem to be mostly commoners and rural nobles. It's true, at this point, only commoners who seek good accommodations from the academy, and people from far away who don't want to be late are here.

The Dukedom of Luminous is relatively close to the capital - where the academy is, so I have no reason to be here this early. If I was the real Amelia, that is.

''I need to do something important.'' I reply.

''...Understood.''

I want to get another hidden piece as soon as possible before the evaluation exam starts—the Gauntlet of Severance.

It was an extremely broken item in the game, despite being at only [Epic] grade. In terms of functionality, it was basically a remote skill activator, and it could interfere with other entities' bodies as well, super dirty stuff.

To get it, you had to help a friendly skeleton NPC in the evil forest to get out of a barrier by defeating the guardian golem there. Then, you would be able to uncover the identity of the strange skeleton and his story with his sister. The sister unfortunately went missing just before the quest started though.

After that, he would hand you the gauntlet as a reward and go on a journey to find his sister.

All in all, the quest was relatively easy, and the item you get from it would be a must-have if you wanted to beat the game and get a high score.

''...''

Well, it's not the time to admire the academy, I suppose. Let's get to work.

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To get to that location, I need to do two things—get through the security and hide from the boss of this region - the giant serpent.

For the latter one, I'd already prepared for it. I bought a bunch of items from the hidden shop in the capital when I just got here, and one of them is the Silence Mantle. It allows the user to go unnoticed, the effect can be compared to a level four or five [Stealth].

Although there is a huge barrier dividing the forest from the human world, a few small gates still exist, mostly for inspections—to see if the monsters are still manageable.

After spending a few days carefully watching the shifts of the guards here, I have now slid through the only gate connecting the forest and the academy.

I run and run, following the map—another item I bought that allows me to see my position on it through an indicator.

On the way, I meet quite a few monsters, but they seem strangely agitated for some reason. And after some twenty minutes of running-

VROOOOM—!!

''What the...'' I narrow my eyes at the sudden vibration of the earth.

I jump onto a tall tree nearby and look around. In the night sky, I can see faintly a source of light in the distance. It's moving through the air at high speed... Is that a mana swirl...?

Something's not right. There should be no one capable of using light magic in this forest right now. I need to check the anomaly.

So I jump down and begin to sprint off in that direction.

Another minute of running, my body feels unexpectedly fine. I'm still not used to being a superhuman, it seems.

''Huh...?''

Isn't this the direction of the serpent's nest...?

THUD

Suddenly, I see a flash in the sky, blinding me for a second before something falls down the trees near me.

gulp

I slow down, moving stealthily from tree to tree. Gradually, I'm closer and closer to the location, I peek my head out from a tree that I'm hiding behind, and-

''...''

...W-What? Am I hallucinating?

Why is Aurora standing there...?

Subconsciously, my body moves towards the girl. The girl I've been holding dear for the longest time ever. Ignoring the logic in my mind, ignoring everything. And obviously, she notices me.

''Who are you?''

She points a Katana imbued with Golden-white ice at me, eyes narrowed. Her appearance is a bit different, but this sweet voice and everything else is...!

''A-Aurora?'' I speak up.

''...I thought I faked my name...'' She mutters something, I can't quite make it out.

''Aurora...?''

''How do you know my name?'' She continues to glare at me, clearly on guard.

''It's me, Chloe!'' I take a step further, hand outstretched.

Aurora's eyes widen for a bit before she returns to her usual cold expression, and silence fills the space.

''...Prove it.'' She says.

''86-61-95.'' I immediately reply.

Aurora's face goes blank.

'''' ... ''''

''You love horror creatures, you love taking naps, you love potato chips—slight salt flavor, you love rap music, on my 16th birthday, you-''

''Enough.'' She lets out a sigh and lowers her sword.

'''' ... ''''

''...Chloe.'' She smiles lightly, opening her hands.

''Aurora~!!''

I immediately shoot myself at her, hugging her whole tightly. For the first time in two months, happiness floods my heart.

''I missed you so much...!'' I bury my head in her shoulder.

''Me too.'' She hugs me back. ''Though... What happened to you?''

''I'm possessing a character.'' I reply, heartily inhaling the dose of Aurora that I've been missing so much. ''Remember the game I used to play on my PC? This body was the villainess of that game.''

''...This world is a game world?''

This is why you should've played games with me instead of occupying my bed all the time. It's not like I'm complaining though, she should sleep in my bed for the rest of her life.

''Yeah, but what about you? How did your hair and eyes get like this...'' I pull away from our hug, but my hands are still on her waist.

''I got turned into an owl.'' She replies calmly. ''See this?''

''!!''

To my absolute surprise, two smooth, warm, and soft things poke out of her robe and touch my wrist. 

''W-Wings?!"

I flip her robe wide open, and- oh, she's naked, damn. Don't mind if I do!

''Hey...!''

I crouch down and plant my cheek against her hot belly, my hands stroking the big and fluffy wings aggressively.

''You... Pervert!''

She smacks my head lightly, but that is not nearly enough to stop me.

''Hah...''

This is it. This is the feeling I've been longing for. Ah, I'm melting...

''...Wait. There's enemies left.'' She turns my head up to presumably let me look at her face, but she's forgetting that her chest is too big for that.

''I'll protect you, my princess.'' I stand up and grab her hand, then kiss it gently.

''You're weaker than me, idiot.''

...Eh?