Slave Harem Volume 5, Epilogue

Epilogue

　A black-haired boy was wandering through a vast forest.

　He had just turned ten years old this year.

　The forest was located near a giant tree called the World Tree, and adults were strictly warned not to approach it.

　It was said in the boy's village that it was a place where not only monsters but also ancient demons existed.

　Once you entered, you couldn't come back alive――

　The boy came here as part of a dare from the children in town and ended up getting lost.

「Where am I......?」

　The gloomy forest felt eerie, and it seemed like unknown beings were watching him from the shadows of the trees.

　The wind rustled the branches, causing the boy to tremble, crouch down, and cry repeatedly.

　He didn't know which way to go.

　Whichever direction he went, he couldn't find a way out.

　The sky darkened, indicating that night was approaching, and the boy felt a sense of fear.

　Even for those accustomed to it, the forest at night was a dangerous place.

　The boy knew that if he got lost, he shouldn't move from that spot.

　He crouched down in the hollow of a tree, feeling small.

　He despaired, realizing he could never return home again.

　His father and mother must be worried.

　Today's dinner was your favorite stew, his mother had said.

　――I want to eat my mom's meal...

　Tears welled up again as he recalled his mother's smile.

　Instead of this dark forest, he wanted to return to his warm home.

　At that moment, the branches shook with a loud rustling sound.

　It wasn't a phenomenon caused by the wind but rather something caused by a monster. The boy nearly gave up on his life.

「Nyaa? There's a little one here-nyaa.」

　Jumping down from the tree was a silver-haired woman with a tinge of blue.

　She had cat ears on her head and a tail.

　Her slender limbs were those of an adult, and she was the most beautiful adult woman the boy had ever seen.

「A black-haired human-nyaa... but not Hazuki-nyan's child-nyaa. Nemu has never seen you before-nyaa. Are you from the town-nyaa?」

　'Nyaaaa...,' she purred and shook her tail as she looked at the boy with a troubled expression.

　Although she was an adult woman, she seemed a bit childish when she spoke.

「Are you lost-nyaa?」

「Y-yes...」

「It's already nighttime, so it's difficult to accompany you-nyaa... and it's hard to walk with you-nyaa. Nemu guesses you have no choice but to come to her place today-nyaa.」

　The woman crouched down and urged the boy to climb onto her back.

　He felt scared that she might be a talking monster trying to lure him into its nest, but he had no other options.

　The fear of being alone in this forest outweighed everything else.

　The boy obediently climbed onto her back.

「Hold on tight, okay-nyaa?」

　While carrying the boy, the woman jumped up into the trees.

　She leaped from branch to branch at an astonishing speed.

　For the first time today, the boy felt relieved by the sweet fragrance emanating from the woman's hair and her warm body temperature.

　After a while, they arrived at a place that seemed like a village within the forest.

　It was not like the small cabin in the forest that he had imagined; it was a large town.

　It seemed more advanced than the town where the boy lived, and it was hard to believe that it was located in the middle of the forest.

　Near the entrance gate, there was a mysterious statue of a young man. It was remarkably well-made.

　There were also statues of women next to it, and upon closer inspection, there were even statues of what appeared to be a woman with cat ears carrying a boy on her back.

　 However, compared to their actual appearance, they seemed to depict a much younger version.

　There was a river surrounding the village.

　But there was also a scent of the sea in the air, making it clear that it was the ocean.

　From the sea, a gentle singing voice could be heard. It was a slightly sleep-inducing melody.

「Oh my, is this young boy the harvest of today's treasure hunt?」

　A woman with pink hair emerged from the sea near the gate.

　Unlike the woman with cat ears, she exuded a gentle atmosphere.

　The boy was truly surprised as she emerged from the water, but the woman with cat ears showed no signs of surprise.

　Upon closer inspection, the lower half of the woman's body was that of a fish, and the boy realized that she was a mermaid from the fairy tales, leaving him speechless.

　There were also several small mermaids, who seemed to be her children.

　They were the ancient demons said to inhabit this forest.

　The boy realized that these women were those demons.

「Nemu only found this little one today-nyaa. The rest were just acorns for children's toys-nyaa.」

「There are days like that. Senpai, could you please let Lilia-sama know that I will be taking the children soon?」

「Got it-nyaa.」

　The boy, confused and unsure about what was happening, watched as the woman with cat ears entered the village while carrying him on her back.

　Inside the village, there were many houses, and children could be seen everywhere.

　There were children with long ears, beautiful children, children with black hair like the boy, and children with cat ears and tails like the women.

　Similarly, there were adults of various races.

　The town was bright and lively, giving the impression that there was some kind of festival. The boy trembled, fearing that he might become a sacrifice for that festival.

「Over there.....What is that......?」

「That's the playground made by the Lucille-nyan and the other-nyaa. It's a fast ride that makes your stomach go 'whoosh'-nyaa. You can ride it in the morning-nyaa. Because it's dangerous at night-nyaa.」

　What the boy was looking at was a giant structure located on the outskirts of the village.

　In modern terms, it would be called a roller coaster.

　Similar attractions could be found throughout the village.

　Even though it was a town in the middle of the forest, there were machines scattered around that the boy had never seen in his own hometown.

「What is that over there.......?」

「That's a ramen shop-nyaa. It's a place that Sion-nyan, whom we met earlier, is really obsessed with-nyaa. Nemu doesn't like hot food, though-nyaa,」

　The boy's stomach grumbled audibly.

　The enticing aroma stimulated his appetite, and he realized that he was hungry.

「Do you want to try it-nyaa? You can't eat that in town-nyaa. Nemu thinks it's only available here in the whole world-nyaa?」

「B-But I don't have any money...」

「You can have a bowl for free-nyaa. The basic principle here is mutual help-nyaa. In return, you can help with something-nyaa.」

　'Nyahaha', The woman chuckled.

　She was so kind that the boy felt like apologizing for thinking she was a monster earlier.

　She treated him kindly, a stray like himself.

　He felt like crying a little.

　The more he looked around, the more mysterious the town in the forest seemed to be.

　There were many shops serving unfamiliar foods and selling toys that he had never seen before. His fear turned into curiosity.

「Huh!? He's not our child, is he?」

「Nemu found him in the forest-nyaa. Nemu'll take him to the town tomorrow when it's brighter-nyaa. It's tiring to walk through the forest at night, and explaining in town is troublesome-nyaa. Nemu'll let him stay for tonight here-nyaa.」

　Now a woman with black hair approached and spoke.

　She seemed like an adult but had a somewhat childish face.

　One of her eyes was hidden by her hair.

「So cute! Are you hungry? We're going to have a meal now, so let's eat together! Was there any particular shop you wanted to eat at?」

　The boy's cheek was lightly tapped.

　It seemed like she was enjoying the softness of his cheek.

　Though he didn't like it, he didn't feel repulsed either.

　Because this woman was gentle and kind, he didn't feel much fear.

　She exuded an extraordinary sense of acceptance.

　He was hungry. It was natural after wandering through the forest all day long.

　And due to catching a whiff of the ramen aroma earlier, he felt even more famished.

「This one's stomach is growling-nyaa.」

「Well then, let's show it to Lilia-san and the others first before we eat! I wonder what I should have today for myself!」

「I-I'll get off. I can walk by myself.」

　Embarrassed by the sound of his stomach, the boy got off the back of the woman with cat ears.

　Guided by the two women, the boy started walking.

　After a short walk, they arrived in front of a slightly larger house than the others.

　The boy guessed that it was the home of the village leader.

「Lilia-san! Nemu-chan kidnap someone here!」

「Nemu dodn't kidnap anyone-nyaa! He was lost-nyaa!」

　Without any hesitation, the woman with black hair opens the entrance and calls out to the residents in a loud voice.

　Not only was there no lock on the door but there wasn't even a lock mechanism, which surprised the boy with a slightly different perspective.

「I can hear you even if you don't shout like that. I heard you. Nemu, you shouldn't be kidnapping people.」

「Are you only hearing the weird part-nyaa!?」

「I heard everything perfectly. He must have been lost, right?――Is this the child?」

　A beautiful woman with golden hair descends the stairs and gazes at the boy.

　Her long ears and pure white skin catch his attention.

　She exudes beauty as if she has stepped out of a book, causing the boy to forget to breathe.

　There was a slightly intimidating aura in her gaze as she observed the boy, more so than the other woman.

　However, she kindly smiles and strokes the boy's head.

　She, too, is a person who doesn't emanate any fear.

「It seems that the children in the town have been entering the forest for some kind of courage test recently. Most likely, this child is one of them. The residents of the town have been warned not to venture too far into this forest as it is dangerous, but...」

「But wasn't that a hundred years ago? I think it has turned into a scary story of sorts now. The migrants haven't come here in a while either. In the past, those who wandered in didn't want to leave and chose to live here.」

　――A hundred years ago? How old are these people?

　The boy shares what he knows about this forest.

　This place is known as the Forest of Demons. He heard that no one returns alive.

　These women are referred to as ancient demons.

　From what the boy gathers from their conversation, it seems that those who didn't come back voluntarily chose to settle here.

　If it's such a rich place with so many different things, it's understandable why they wouldn't want to leave.

　There would likely be fewer things in the town. Even a child could understand that kind of disparity.

「You heard that right!? I knew it! I've become an urban legend girl, you know!?」

「W-We'll have to go and explain it again somewhere else...」

「Being accountable for explanations is important-nyaa. That's what Lucille-nyan said-nyaa.」

　The stunningly beautiful women engage in a discussion, leaving the boy momentarily dazzled.

　This town is strange.

　Everyone here is extraordinarily attractive, and these people behave as if they have no concept of lifespan, which once again frightened the boy.

「Hmm, what's all the commotion about?」

「Master, it seems that Nemu has brought a child. And it appears that our existence has become an urban legend in the town.」

「Seriously? I don't like being treated like a horror story.」

　Descending the stairs was a young man with black hair.

　As soon as the young man saw the boy, his eyes widened.

　It was a reaction as if he had suddenly encountered a familiar face.

「――You, do you have any friends?」

「Y-Yes. I was playing with my friends today and got separated...」

「I see. I see...」

　As if seeing a long-lost family member from a distant past, the young man smiled with a face that seemed on the verge of tears.

　Despite looking like he was about to cry, he seemed happy.

「I didn't tell you guys this, but when I became a god, I made one more wish. If I am reborn again, there is someone I want to see happy this time.」

　The young man looked at the boy's face and smiled again.

「Do you like this world?」

「? Yes. My mom and dad are kind... and it's fun.」

　The young man's question was abstract, and the boy couldn't fully grasp its meaning.

　However, the young man nodded with satisfaction at the boy's answer.

「Let's have ramen for dinner tonight. I suddenly feel like having that.」

「Master, could it be that this boy is...」

　The blonde woman looked at the boy with a surprised expression.

「I'm sure――Once again, welcome to this world. Will you become my close friend?」

　The young man extends his hand for a handshake.

　It was a large and warm hand.

　Strangely, it felt familiar, like a sense of nostalgia.

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