Chương 202: Chapter 5: “Forest of Green Needle Trees 4”

The next morning. Bathed in refreshing sunlight filtering through the trees, Yu woke up feeling refreshed. Esta was still sleeping comfortably. She felt bad about waking him up, but they couldn't sleep forever, so she tapped Esta's shoulder ton-ton.

"It's morning. Wake up."

"Nn... I want to eat more..." Esta was half-asleep. Yu smiles wryly. Yu herself was aware that she wasn't a morning person, but in situations like this where she had to be the most reliable one, she didn't neglect vigilance and could wake up properly.

"If you wake up, I'll make a big breakfast."

"Really...?" There, Esta's consciousness finally became clear.

"Ah, Yu. Good morning."

"Good morning. How did you sleep?"

"Hmm, well. It was warm and fluffy."

"Well, I'm glad you slept well." Finishing breakfast quickly, Yu transformed into a man. During the day, it is more convenient to be in this form to detect human presence. From today, he decided to cast Physical Enhancement on himself and Esta, letting Esta take it easy too. However, if he made it too strong, there was a danger of brushing against the leaves of the Green Needle Trees when jumping, so he limited the enhancement to about three times.

As expected, the boy who gained power was jumping around happily pyon-pyon with his enhanced leg strength.

"Wow! My body feels so light!"

"We're going to make good progress starting today."

"Oh-!" Perhaps because Esta doesn't know much, judging only by his words and actions, he seems like a child younger than his age. Thus, life continued for several weeks: walking aimlessly through the forest with Qi Reinforcement during the day, staying in one place at night to eat and bathe, and sleeping huddled together in the same sleeping bag. During that time, Yu taught Esta simple knowledge, how to find water and food, and how to hunt. Honest Esta absorbed everything he was taught.

With his nutritional status significantly improved, Esta's thin body gradually gained flesh, and his complexion improved. The forest has not ended yet. However, beyond what seemed like an eternally unchanging scenery, Yu finally recognized the figure of mountains towering at the end of his vision from the sky. Descending to the ground, Yu told Esta with a happy face.

"I saw mountains over there."

"Mountains? You mean those high ones?"

"That's right. With this, we can finally say goodbye to the long forest life."

"Yay! A new place!" Yu returned to a man. Immediately, he noticed a faint, special reaction. Something he hadn't felt until a while ago.

"Hm?"

"What? What's wrong?" When he focused his attention, it was certainly a human life response. And it was gradually weakening. It meant a life crisis. Yu turned to the direction of the reaction and pointed.

"Over there. It's quite weak, but there is a human response!"

"Really!?"

"Yeah. Let's hurry! Hold on tight to my back!"

"Got it!" Yu usually acted according to Esta's pace, but if he got serious, it was far faster to carry him. The matter requires urgency. He hurried with all his might, using 《Mind Burst》 and 《Passtrive》 together.

"Whoa, fast."

"There's quite a distance. Make it in time!" Flying through intently, eventually, Yu recognized a single figure in the shadow of a rock.

"Ah, there! Someone's collapsed!" Almost at the same time Yu found it, Esta also raised his voice. An unclothed girl was lying down, suffering a serious injury bleeding from her stomach.

"She looks terrible." Esta points out with a horrified face. He remembered his Uncle's face just before he died. It was the same. The girl is pale, and her body is limp. She was trying hard to live. With her eyes closed, she is groaning terribly in a nightmare. Esta hurriedly got off Yu's back and begged desperately.

"Save her!"

"You don't have to tell me!" Yu crouched next to the girl and observed the wound. Hoping it wasn't too late. Deep claw marks were clearly carved into the girl's abdomen. Was she scratched by a beast? If so, Yu thinks she did well to escape. Since she wasn't wearing anything, diagnosis was easy. Externally, the only major wound was one on her stomach, and the rest were just small scratches and cuts here and there. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

The problem is internal. Yu placed his hand on the girl's abdomen in a position that wouldn't irritate the wound and used Qi to probe the inside of her body. Like an echo. Checking it, Yu was a little relieved. Luckily, her internal organs were hardly damaged. Thank goodness. This can be healed if I close the wound.

"Does it look like you can cure her?" To Esta, who peeked in worriedly from the side, Yu answered.

"Yeah. It's okay. She'll survive."

"Really!?" The boy's face brightens instantly.

"I'm going to start treatment now. It'll take a little time, so wait for me."

"Okay!" Yu held his hand over the abdomen and began to close the girl's wound. He can heal others' wounds by pouring in his own life energy. A vaguely warm aura flows into the girl's shabby body through Yu's hand. Esta was staring at the affected area intently, looking restless. Gradually, the claw marks began to close. If he speeds up the treatment pace too recklessly, there is a danger of necrosis due to excessive cell division. Continuing treatment at a speed that does not burden the girl.

Eventually, the pain disappeared from the girl's face, and she began to breathe peacefully in her sleep. The wound closed beautifully.

"Phew. The wound is closed for now. Her body is still weak though."

"Ah, thank goodness." Both of them stroke their chests in relief. Noticing the disturbing air drifting around, Yu said.

"Let's move a little. The smell of blood attracts beasts."

"Roger." Yu thought that the current him could drive away most beasts without problems, but he didn't want to take unnecessary risks while carrying a weakened human. Yu quietly carried the girl on his back. Although he healed the injury, he could tell from the unreliable feel that she was still considerably weak. Her body, which had poor flesh perhaps due to poor nutrition, felt terribly light.

Also, she was quite dirty with soil, and her hair, a pale cherry blossom pink that seemed to be of good material, was growing wild and messy. I'll clean her up later, he thought.

"This makes the third person." During the move, Esta, walking right next to Yu, said happily.

"That's right." Only the third person. And that includes myself. Esta thinking carelessly and Yu were contrasting. Several weeks have already passed. Yu felt an indescribable anxiety about this planet where the presence of people could hardly be felt. Anyway, he was also very pleased with this new encounter. That day, once they moved to a place considered safe, they stopped moving before the sun went down and concentrated on letting her rest lying down.

Since there was a rare flat place, transforming into a woman, Yu created a fluffy bed with magic and installed it there. Then, she wipes the girl's dirty face clean with a slightly hot towel. Although her adorable doll-like face still gives a very young impression, from her growth, Yu guessed she would be around Esta's age. She makes a white dress of a suitable size and dresses her. With this, her appearance became much more human-like.

Transforming back to a man, Yu stayed by her side all night, applying Qi while nursing her. It was with the hope that her recovery would speed up even a little by sharing his energy. Esta also stayed up nursing her intently together, but perhaps tired, he had fallen fast asleep before Yu knew it. Yu gently put a blanket on him and continued nursing alone until dawn. The next day. The girl opened her eyes pachi. The first thing reflected in her eyes were two unknown humans looking down at her from directly above.

Both are smiling. They look happy.

"Ah. She woke up."

"Good morning. How are you feeling?" Then, the girl said,"A-" Not a proper word. What came out of the girl's mouth was only a single foolish sound.

"Huh?" Esta twists his neck. Yu also tilted his head, Hmm?

"She didn't hit her head or anything, right?" Somewhat, Yu places a hand on the girl's forehead. When she felt that warmth, the girl understood. That's right. I remember this warmth. The ones who saved me, who was suffering from a terrible injury, are these people. Guessing the fact, instead of answering anything, the girl showed a carefree smile nipaa.

"A-! A-!" Flapping her slender hands pata-pata, she tries hard to convey her happy feelings with gestures. With an angelic smile without impurities from beginning to end. Since she is very cute, both Yu and Esta felt like their hearts were being healed and couldn't help but relax their cheeks. The nuance was conveyed very well, but the essential words were not conveyed. Yu smiled bitterly.

"Hmm. This is troubling. It seems she can't speak."

"That's a problem. How should we talk?" As expected, even Yu had never encountered such a complete wild child. Has she lived without knowing civilization until this age? Although it was dangerous, he is impressed that she has managed to survive safely until now.

"Ah. That means she doesn't have a name either, right? What should we do?" To Esta who spoke in a laid-back tone contrary to the troublesome line, Yu thought for a moment with a hand on his chin, and then said.

"Alright. Let's give her a name ourselves."

"We are naming her?"

"That's the only way. Can't call her 'You' forever. Any good names?"

"Hmm." Esta tried hard to think. Various words swirl around in his head, making him dizzy. He was bad at thinking.

"Yu. I leave it to you!"

"Okay." Since he had a hunch it would turn out like that, Yu nodded to him just in case, but was already pondering the real name candidate. It is the first time to become a godparent. Thinking the responsibility is heavy, it didn't get decided easily. Besides, even if he names her, he is worried whether she will recognize it as a name. How can I convey it well?

'Why don't you connect to this side?' Another personality inside Yu,"Me" (Watashi), proposes. Certainly, if via the"World of Heart," emotions can be conveyed directly to some extent. She might understand with that.

'That's a good idea.' Well, even if it fails, there's no loss. It's worth a try. Let's do it. Yu decided in his heart. 《Mind Linker》 Yu has the power to connect hearts by connecting another's heart to his own"World of Heart." This is more effective the more the user opens their heart to him, but let's see what happens.

"I didn't expect it to go this well." The girl was completely invited inside the World of Heart. This phenomenon does not happen unless there is a very high affinity. Following Lilna, she was the second person. It was a surprising result for Yu himself. Did this girl open her heart to me that much already? No, he reconsidered immediately. It's a little different. It's not because it's me. She is showing total affection without doubt just based on the goodwill of being saved.

In other words, it is nothing other than that she is a pure and innocent human enough to connect hearts easily. Inside,"Me" in a female body was waiting for the two.

"Me" crouched down to the girl, made a smile nikori, and held out a hand. Since it is rare for humans other than Yu to enter this world, the feeling of being happy to talk directly with a different human after a long time was strong.

"Nice to meet you."

"A-!" The girl squeezed"Me"'s hand back, grinned nika, and swung it around bun-bun. The girl looked around the pitch-black surroundings like outer space with sparkling eyes. And suddenly, she started running around as she pleased. Finding something fun, she is frolicking, laughing kyakkya.

"Oh my."

"Let's keep dangerous memories away." When Yu wished so, memory fragments that were currently melted into the darkness and not manifesting moved gently away from the girl. It was a measure thinking there is a danger she might be tainted if she touches ugly emotions by any chance.

"A-! A-!"

"She can only say 'A-', huh. That child. Fufu. So cute."

"Really cute." Just watching her frolicking innocently made them feel somewhat happy. Both think it was really good that they saved her." Asha." Suddenly, that name came to Yu's mind, and he spoke it.

"Asha, huh."

"At first, so it's easy for her to say. The latter part is dare to be a little hard to say. Hoping she will learn words."

"Well, isn't it a good name?"

"Me" also agrees. Yu nodded, walked up to the girl jumping pyon-pyon, and placed a hand on her head pon. Looking firmly into the girl's eyes, he announces the name.

"Asha. Your name is Asha."

"A-, ta?" The girl named Asha tilted her head slightly chokon. Her clear eyes without cloudiness are looking straight into Yu. In the World of Heart, thoughts can be delivered directly just by wishing. With this, even if she doesn't understand the meaning of words, what he wants to say is conveyed. Surely it must be conveyed. Yu watches the girl holding his breath. The girl looked down at her chest.

"A-, ta..." Muttering the word alone potsun. She stares at Yu jii. Pointing at her chest, she muttered again as if confirming.

"A-ta." The girl broke into a dazzling smile.

"A-ta! A-ta!" Pointing at herself repeatedly, she is frolicking happily. It seems she liked it. Yu was relieved.

"Nice to meet you. Asha." Taking the girl's hand, they returned to the real world together while being seen off by"Me".

"What happened? You seemed to be zoning out a little." Esta is comparing Yu and the girl looking a little worried. Yu shook his head and answered.

"This child's name is decided. It's Asha."

"Hee! Asha, huh. It's a cute name." The pure eyes of the girl were watching Yu and Esta laughing together.

"A-ta!" Asha, who sat up from the bed, jumped pyokon at Yu and Esta. A lovely travel companion has increased.