Another World Reincarnation Chronicle

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Passing the Shelter of the Stars, I crossed the Hairan Plateau.

The blazingly hot sunlight gradually transformed into a warm glow, and the wind that had been filled with sand turned into a gentle breeze that carefully caressed my cheeks.

Purr-

I trained in swordsmanship alongside my Nightmare every night.

The seven stars engraved in my sword taught me how to wield it.

With a continuous flow of seven movements, bright constellations flickered in the wake of my sword.

As I exited the Hairan Plateau, I found myself in a lush, green forest.

When the cool breeze blew, the densely grown trees shook their branches and scattered the fragmented sunlight everywhere.

The lighting along the forest path swayed gently with the wind, and it seemed my Nightmare was in a good mood.

It happily hopped along the path, wagging its tail.

As I walked along the forest path, small animals occasionally peeked out.

Watching the little white-furred squirrels climbing the trees, a bright orb of light floated in from the wind between the trees.

This was mana, radiating a warmth similar to the coziness of the forest.

Who could be sending such orbs of mana swirling in the wind?

Looking up at the direction the orb came from, I spotted many more orbs slowly spreading in all directions.

I tugged on Nightmare’s bridle and headed toward the direction the mana was flying from.

The path seemed uneven, as if untouched by human feet, but Nightmare skillfully navigated through the underbrush without any trouble.

The moment the scattered sunlight landed on my face with the swaying wind, the narrow forest path ended, and my view opened up.

The first thing I noticed was the enormous tree growing above a vast lake.

The lake’s gentle waves flowed toward the forest, and a small village was formed around the wide-open lake.

“Wow…”

As I absently exclaimed in admiration, a warm orb of mana brushed against my cheek carried by the wind.

The mana orb was being generated by the tree in the center of the lake.

At that moment, a small shadow rose from the tree located in the lake.

Thanks to it flying up into the sky, I was able to catch a proper glimpse of the shadow’s form.

A woman with flowing green hair and light-colored eyes, reminiscent of the wind.

She gracefully approached, seemingly walking on air with her long limbs.

After taking her last step on the breeze, she lightly landed in front of me and spoke.

“How did you get here?”

The scent wafting from her, carried by the wind, strangely resembled the forest.

I blinked and opened my mouth.

“I followed the light.”

“The light…?”

“Yes, the light that tree is scattering.”

The woman scanned me with a peculiar glance at my response.

Her vividly shining light green eyes resembled soft breezes.

A woman emanating a forest-like aura – could she be an Elf?

I tilted my head as I inspected her ears.

However, the ears peeking out from her green hair were rounded.

Just like an ordinary human.

“It seems you were guided by a spirit.”

“A spirit?”

The woman nodded at my question.

Could she be referring to that enormous tree as a spirit?

As I stared at the large tree in confusion, she spoke.

“Well then, welcome to our village.”

The woman welcomed me.

Then, as if to guide me, she started walking ahead, but when I stood there blankly, she turned back and said.

“Are you planning to stay here?”

“Are you telling me to follow?”

“You’re a guest guided by a spirit. It’s only natural to treat you well.”

I was exhausted from sleeping outdoors for so long.

Taking a short rest in this village didn’t seem like a bad choice.

I looked up at the large tree with a strange gaze and followed the woman.

The sight of a giant horse and a small girl seemed to intrigue the villagers as well.

As I walked along the path following the woman, the villagers peeked out from their homes to watch me.

There weren’t any children; they were all adult men and women.

The noticeable number was about twenty people.

“You can rest here. The meal will be brought to you at the appropriate time.”

The woman guided me to a small cabin.

It appeared to have once been lived in, but now it looked like an empty house.

After showing me the empty cabin, the woman quickly turned around.

As if her part was done.

I hurriedly called out to her.

“Um, excuse me…”

“What is it?”

“What is your name?”

“Uh…”

The woman looked momentarily flustered at my question.

It was just a simple inquiry about her name.

After a while of pondering, the woman finally spoke.

“Galard. Just call me that.”

The woman, no, Galard, said that and swiftly left.

She walked away as if stepping on the air, just as she had come to me.

I stared blankly at her.

Her figure soaring through the air as if she were a fairy looked quite enchanting.

Purr-

At that moment, my Nightmare approached me and rested its chin on my head.

It seemed to be demanding that I loosen its bridle and saddle.

“You’re not going to stir up trouble, right?”

The Nightmare nodded vigorously at my question, wagging its tail.

A horse that understands human speech, huh?

Could it be that all Hairans are this intelligent?

I tilted my head, yet I loosened the bridle and saddle on my Nightmare.

Now free, it circled around me once and trotted lightly around the lakeshore.

What a peculiar village.

I took a look around and then stepped into the cabin.

*

Galard brought food to me exactly at mealtime as she had said.

Fresh fruits washed in the lake.

“Don’t you eat things like meat?”

I know I might sound a bit cheeky at this point, considering I’m in a position of receiving food, but I really wanted some delicious meat.

If Galard wanted, I was willing to pay with gold.

But Galard shook her head.

“I’m sorry. The people here don’t eat meat.”

“Oh… then is it possible to hunt nearby animals for meat?”

“If you wish, you can do so without any restrictions.”

Galard said that and promptly left.

I slowly walked toward the lakeshore.

The clean water reflected the bottom perfectly.

As I stared woodenly at the fish swimming in it, my Nightmare came up beside me.

With the smell of blood on it, it seemed it had sneaked out of this village to hunt a monster or an animal to eat.

“Was it tasty?”

Purr-

The Nightmare lay down next to me, as if responding to my question.

I started practicing swordsmanship beside it.

The calm and spacious area free of monster attacks was an excellent place for honing my sword skills.

The stars engraved in my sword merely indicated simple movements.

The question of how much power to exert in those movements and what kind of breathing to maintain during them was entirely up to my own capabilities.

“Ha…”

As I exhaled softly and concentrated mana toward the sword, seven stars appeared.

I swung the sword following the starlight.

How to move and how to continue the motion.

I constantly pondered in my mind while my body never ceased its movement.

The tip of the sword, cutting through the air, sparked with bright starlight as I carried on to the next movement.

*

On the second day since arriving in this village.

While splashing my feet in the lake, Galard came to visit.

She was holding a small basket woven from branches, filled once again with fruit.

After receiving the fruit basket, I asked her.

“Miss Galard.”

“What is it?”

“How long can I stay?”

Galard shifted her gaze to the great tree when I asked.

She occasionally glanced at that great tree as if seeking an answer from it when she heard my question.

“As long as you desire.”

Galard said that and then floated away on the wind.

I tilted my head watching her figure.

How is she able to fly like that?

She has no wings and isn’t using any mana.

I splashed the still waters, spreading my mana.

The mana imbued with the calm yet grand nature of the sea created a mild resistance as it met the lake’s surface.

It felt similar yet different. I tilted my head while continuously recalling Galard’s movements.

*

It was the third day since I arrived in this village.

I gazed at my Nightmare, peacefully lying on the grass.

The Nightmare, who usually only took light naps to protect me, was snoring heartily, suggesting this place had been deemed safe.

I smiled silently as I passed by the Nightmare.

I was once again training in swordsmanship.

Suddenly, I realized the calm atmosphere of the forest started to feel chaotic.

The always gentle breeze began to violently shake the trees, while the swaying branches created sounds resembling screams.

The forest was in distress.

It seemed I wasn’t the only one to notice this phenomenon. Galard, who always guarded near the trees, moved urgently, and the villagers who had been reluctant to step outside rushed out.

At that moment, Galard, flying around the forest, landed before me, stepping on the wind with a grave expression I hadn’t seen before.

“You must leave this place at once.”

“What’s happening?”

“Something bad is about to occur.”

The instant Galard finished her sentence, a disagreeable wind unlike the gentle breeze of the forest began to blow.

The mana carried by the wind had a purplish hue.

It resembled the dark mana I saw in the Forest of Kalbain.

Clack-

It seemed my ominous prediction was not wrong.

The moment the wind carrying the sinister mana vanished, skeletal soldiers made of pure white bone emerged from the other side of the forest.

With menacing glows in their eye sockets, the bones approached the tranquil lakeside village with clear hostility.

The appearance of the skeleton soldiers.