* * *

When I blinked my eyes open, the campfire in front of me was almost completely extinguished, leaving only white ash, charred branches, and a few remaining red embers.

It seems I fell asleep sitting in front of the campfire.

A bit of a blunder.

I was too careless.

I quickly deployed my 【Mana Sensing Threads】 to the surroundings... but there was no sign of any moving creatures.

I breathed a sigh of relief.

<Fwaah, ah, ah... huh, is it night already?>

Inside me, Omake-sama also woke up.

Drawn ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) by her voice, I looked up.

The sky, which should have been bright red from the sunset, was now a star-filled sky.

I fell onto my back—Thud—and watched the twinkling of the stars for a while.

A gentle breeze blew, tickling my cheek.

It feels good...

<It's nice that it's neither too hot nor too cold...>

Omake-sama said that with deep emotion.

I feel the same way.

After all, the place I was in until now was just too terrible.

I rolled over onto my stomach, then stood up, and looked at the Lasanaskiros Great Desert, spreading endlessly from the top of the cliff.

On top of the cliff... in other words, I'm currently on the great rock wall at the western edge of the Lasanaskiros Great Desert, at the border with the neighboring area.

Below me, the white sand, faintly shining in the light of the stars.

I was forcibly transferred to the Great Prison, attacked by a Calamity... and although I managed to defeat it, I went on a rampage due to a lack of magical power.

Come to think of it, I've been in such a harsh place for a long time.

It's a little rude to the people who live there, though.

<Even after you were able to move freely, you were wandering the Great Desert for a while, aiming for large monsters.>

Well, yeah.

I looked at my own stomach and stroked it.

Even after devouring so much, I haven't gained any extra fat, the stomach of a beautiful girl.

My stomach growled loudly—Guuu.

<...Are you still hungry?>

Omake-sama asked worriedly.

Yeah, well, I'm hungry.

I'm still hungry.

But it's okay.

During the day, I was able to respond rationally to that boy at the bottom of the cliff, right?

I don't think I'll go on a rampage anymore.

<Please be careful, Emi. If you're noticed by the gods at the end of a rampage and become a target for subjugation, it would be terrible.>

That's true...

While looking at the scenery of the Great Desert for a while, the wind blew again.

The desert is hot during the day and cold at night.

So, in the Great Desert, the wind blowing at this time was quite cold... but it's not like that here.

<Generally, this wind should also be quite cold. Seasonally, it's the middle of winter right now. It's just that you're tough, Emi.>

Even so, it's better than the Great Desert.

Why does the climate change so drastically just by climbing a cliff?

Even though it's on a cliff right next to a desert that's hot all year round, there are seasons here?

<It is often said that the Fantasy Continent, Nijial, is a "patchwork of the gods". Various climates, terrains, and political systems are arranged next to each other, sometimes without any context. It's better not to think about why.>

What a haphazard continent...

<It's a fantastical continent.>

Saying that, I turned around to the opposite side of the Great Desert.

What's there is a beautiful... truly fantastical forest.

The trees that grow in that forest all have bark and leaves like jewels, and they shine even at night.

The grass and moss growing on the ground also glow brightly... and among them, illuminated by the plants, several small streams are flowing.

Yeah.

It's a truly fantasy-like forest that I would never have been able to see in my previous life.

It's beautiful.

<As expected of the Spirit Forest. It's no wonder the Travel God chose it as one of the 'Top 100 Famous Places in Ardyst You Must Visit'.>

...Was that also broadcasted?

<Yes. It wasn't an Isekai Reincarnation broadcast, but more of a public broadcast to promote the beauty of Ardyst.>

Hmm.

...So it's a famous place.

<Yes.>

That's why, Omake-sama.

<What is it?>

You're itching... to explore, aren't you?

<W-Was it that obvious?>

Hahaha, how many years do you think we've been together?

Omake-sama, you always want to go to the famous places you see in the broadcasts, don't you?

I thought this might be one of them!

I've been sleeping at a strange time anyway, so my eyes are wide open.

Let's go for a night stroll.

<But walking in the forest at night is dangerous.>

Are you saying that to me, after all this time?

And look, Omake-sama, this forest.

The trees and grass are shining, so we won't have any trouble with light... and the undergrowth is not overgrown at all, as if it's been mowed.

<It seems to be that kind.>

In other words, it's very easy to walk.

I don't hear any animal voices either.

In fact, isn't this a fairly safe forest?

<........................Hmm.>

And here.

Omake-sama was silent for a while, as if thinking about something.

<...Okay, it's fine! It's probably fine! Let's go! Let's go!>

She said, and gave the green light for the Spirit Forest night tour!

Alright, that's what I'm talking about!

So I stomped on the campfire remains to completely extinguish the fire, and started walking briskly towards the forest.