Chapter 2: Walking the Wrong Way
"Ah... Qiong Xing, that way is the opposite of the town."
Beside him, a silver haired boy who is just as beautiful had dropped to one knee.
Unable to watch any longer, he covered his face with both hands as he looked at Qiong Xing’s back disappearing deeper and deeper into the forest.
They had been peeking down from the upper world because they are worried about what would happen next and in a way, it was good that they could at least confirm what was going on.
"No! Not that way! You can’t go that way! It’s dangerous, it’s dangerous! Please, please come back!!"
Even though he knew Qiong Xing could not hear him, his mouth would not stop.
"Why... why would he walk straight into danger on his own? I... we never taught him to do that!"
The silver haired boy was now only one step away from crying. He felt like a mother watching a reckless child.
Please, just come back.
He tried his best to send that wish with his thoughts, but it did not reach the person he cared about at all.
"The map! We taught him how to bring up the map! Why? Why isn’t he using it?!"
"That’s right! Say ’status’! Just say ’status’ and it will show up! You can even just think it in your head! Please!"
"Please notice! Ah! no, no, that’s not it! That’s not what I want you to notice!"
When Qiong Xing suddenly started gathering nuts from the trees, the blond boy stomped his feet in frustration.
He understood that Qiong Xing was curious about this new and unfamiliar world, but on their side, their stomachs were tied in knots with worry.
They urgently needed some stomach medicine.
"Ah, no, that one’s bad, the color is seriously dangerous. Oh, that one is okay. And that nut over there looks tasty, wait, that color is obviously a no! Throw it away, throw it away!"
As they watched while already completely worn out, Qiong Xing cheerfully picked up everything that caught his eye and tossed one strange mushroom or tree nut after another into his bag.
It felt like a fun hiking trip to him.
For those watching over him, it was a hike straight through hell.
"Ah, there’s a step there, so be caref... He fell already! I just said it! Watch your footing properly. Stop worrying about the nuts. It’s a magic bag anyway, it won’t break. More importantly, you have to worry about yourself!"
It was exactly like parents secretly watching over a child on their first errand.
That comparison was not entirely wrong.
"If this was going to happen, we should have assigned someone to stay with Qiong Xing."
However, realizing that now was far too late.
Regret always comes after the fact and it’s truly a universal truth.
"Yes, he clearly needed a guard, a supervisor, and a caretaker. From first impressions, I thought he was a reliable person, but, ah, now he’s hit his head again. Please, please look around more carefully!"