6 – Chicken Nugged?!
“Drip, drip…”
A cool sensation touched the tip of her nose, like a girl’s soft fingertip tapping rhythmically.
“Wake up~ come on, wake up~”
After a while, the girl tapping Dylin’s nose seemed to run out of patience. Seeing that poking didn’t work, a wooden mallet appeared in her hand with the words ‘10T’ carved on it.
Gently awaken the sleeping soul!
Dylin jolted up, drenched in cold sweat, and sat upright on the ground.
Huh?
The fresh air helped clear her muddled brain. There was no little girl with a mallet in sight.
Was it… a dream?
The rustling leaves, the scent of morning dew mixed with wildflowers and fresh grass, the crisp and refreshing energy of nature, accented by the occasional chirping of orioles. Overhead, the sun was already rising high, bathing the world in golden warmth and vitality.
Being immersed in nature filled Dylin with inexplicable joy. Bathed in the morning sun, a faint smile curled at her lips, even though she couldn’t quite remember what had happened before she lost consciousness.
She rubbed her sleepy eyes, feeling well-rested and full of energy. As she stretched her slender waist, a few soft moans of comfort slipped out.
Ah—her hair was a mess, falling into her face…
Still a bit dazed, Dylin instinctively tucked the loose strands behind her ear and straightened her bangs slightly.
Time to wash her face and find a ribbon to tie her hair up~
Sleepwalking through her thoughts, Dylin followed her instincts, walking with graceful feline steps toward a nearby lake.
Just as she reached the water’s edge, a cute squirrel leaped across her path, splashing water onto her chest. Droplets the size of peas slid slowly down the steep “slopes.”
“Pfft.”
Her clothes got wet, but Dylin wasn’t mad. She bent down lightly, her fair, delicate hand gently stroking the squirrel’s fluffy head, a smile warmer than the sun on her face.
The squirrel, holding a pinecone, blinked its dark beady eyes. Normally sensitive animals like this would bolt the moment they saw a human, but this one didn’t resist Dylin’s touch at all.
Instead, it nuzzled against her hand like a kitten seeking affection.
“No running around by the lake, okay? You could drown, and that would be bad.”
Dylin lifted the squirrel by its tiny armpits and spoke close to its face.
The squirrel seemed to understand and nodded its little head cutely.
“Go on now.”
Dylin gently set the squirrel down and waved goodbye.
Watching it scamper off, she scooped up a handful of clear spring water and splashed it on her face.
The cool water washed away her lingering fog. Reflected in the lake was the shadow of trees and grass—and her own face.
Everything was calm and peaceful.
“...”
Dylin’s smile gradually froze. Her expression stiffened.
The girl reflected on the lake’s surface—beautiful golden hair, wide shocked eyes mirroring her own actions—looked nothing like the person she remembered.
Wha—
“Me?! …”
Dylin’s pupils quaked. Her lips trembled. She stared at her dainty hands, at the terrified elf girl reflected on the water’s surface.
“This is… me?!”
She screamed.
Her voice, like a sweet spring in morning light, was crisp and melodious.
“Heh, heh-heh…”
Dylin laughed dryly and came to a conclusion.
“I must still be dreaming.”
Muttering to herself, she walked to a nearby pine tree, took a deep breath, and—
Slammed her head into it.
Thud thud!
Splat!
The first was her head hitting the tree. The second was the elf girl collapsing onto the grass with stars in her eyes.
“Chirp chirp chirp!” (What’s wrong with that elf down there?)
“Cheep cheep cheep…” (Maybe she wanted to test whether her head or the tree bark was tougher?)
“Chirp chirp chirp chirp.” (No clue. Doesn’t seem very smart.)
“Cheep cheep cheep…” (Is it really okay to leave her alone out here?)
The pine tree swayed from the impact, and the squirrels above chattered away.
Owww… ow ow ow…
Dylin hadn’t held back. Dizzy and dazed, her olive-green eyes welled with tears as she wobbled back to her feet.
Ow… that hurt…
Dammit—why?!
How can a dream have pain receptors?!
“What’s poking me…?”
She reached behind and pulled out a jade plaque from her back pocket.
On closer inspection, she knew it well.
It was her Coleman Academy student ID—the one issued to all official students.
It even had her name, Dylin, engraved in human language.
“My… student ID?”
Dylin looked around in confusion.
Birdsong, flowers, willow trees swaying in spring…
She returned to the lake and saw her reflection—her cheeks still had a hint of baby fat, her eyes were like calm green ripples, and her cute face was flawless… except for a long, blade-like black-and-white birthmark.
No—wait. That’s not a birthmark…
“Ah! Ow, ow…”
She pinched one of her exotic pointy ears, and the sting forced her to accept a terrifying truth.
Bro… I’m gone??
And at that moment, everything came flooding back—The strange flyer, the teleportation to the ancient tree’s temple, the sacrifice ritual—Dylin remembered it all!
If she still didn’t understand now, her brain was just decorative.
This had to be…A damn elf conspiracy!
Triggered without warning, Dylin reflexively prepared to curse in Blue Star profanity—
“You damn pointy-ear—I’ll @#%& you—”
But the insult stopped short.
In her past life, she’d been a Level 11 member of the Anti-Fragile Forum and an honorary troll in Abstract Club.
But the reason she now stopped before swearing wasn’t because she wanted to be virtuous—
It was because…She physically couldn’t.
That’s right. Literally couldn’t.
She felt her instincts violently resisting—Rejecting all attempts to speak vulgarities or curse.
The resistance felt hardwired into her DNA.
Muscle memory embedded into the very fibers of her new body—One that completely rejected profanity.
What the hell?!
If I force myself to say it?!
“F—cough cough!”
Before she could finish, she choked on her own saliva.
This body…Really couldn’t swear.