Momo the Dryad

My eyes meet with Momo-chan's. We stare at each other without looking away.

　...Let's get some clothes on first. I can't really talk naked.

　I can't find any cloth that's the right size...

　I'm wearing the same clothes I wore before I was reincarnated: black slacks, a black shirt, and a lab coat.

　He takes off his white coat and tries to put it on Momo, but she seems scared, as she flinches at the slightest step.

"I need you to put some clothes on. So, can you put this on?"

　Adjust your eye level to match her as she lies down, and speak to her in as natural and calm a voice as possible.

　I hold out my white coat, but there's no reaction.

　I should be able to understand her because I've received the skill "Language Comprehension" from Lola-chan.

　Momo-chan's gaze moves from my eyes to her hand, opposite the lab coat.

　She is looking at the high-calorie cookies she had taken out of the ring box earlier.

"...eat?"

　He asked, retracting his lab coat and handing over a cookie.

　She nodded.

　Momo sat up, slowly brought her face close to the cookie I offered her, and took a bite.

　The bar-shaped cookies disappear from one end.

　It reminds me of the chickens my parents had when I was a kid.

　If you offer him some grass growing nearby, he'll eat it at high speed. Clop, clop, clop.

　Before I knew it, I had eaten all three cookies, my one day's supply.

　Squeezing tightly.

　Momo's stomach growls.

"...Do you want more?"

　Momo nodded, her face turning red.

"Well then, just get dressed."

"...high"

　Momo-chan is naked but wearing a white coat...she seems even more immoral.

　She has bright pink long hair, fair skin, and a rugged collar around her neck.

　Part of her hair is shaped like a flower, and it also appears that she is wearing a single flower on her left ear.

　He still wasn't getting enough nutrition, and his body was abnormally thin. Considering how he looked before he was given water, it was a miraculous recovery.

　Vegetable manDryadSo that's why he was saved?

"...My name is Momo..."

"IGenstring…No, it's Crow."

　It feels like it's been a really long time since I last spoke to someone, even though in reality it's only been a few hours.

"...Mr. Crow...Why did you help me?...I'm...a dryad, you know?"

"Is there something wrong with being a dryad?"

　According to Momo-chan, dryads are considered a cursed race by humans, or ordinary people.

　The cause of this is the Dryad's "Plant Magic." "Plant Magic" has the power to make plants grow rapidly, and is basically only usable by Dryads.

　A certain human set his sights on "plant magic" and captured a dryad, hoping to make a huge profit by using magic to make the plants in his fields grow.

　However, the result was a failure. The reason was that the field died.

　It seems that in order to grow quickly using magic, the soil must be gathering a lot of nutrients. As a result, after producing fruits and vegetables several times, the land became as loose and barren as desert sand.

　...It's something that you can figure out with a little thought.

　Humans who resented the death of the field spread rumours slandering the dryad.

　As a result, the Dryads have been persecuted for the past thirty years, and many have been killed.

　Momo-chan's village and forest were burned down, her family was killed, and she was finally made a slave and brought to this slave house. Apparently, there was a human who wanted a rare dryad for display purposes.

　I knew it, but humans really are hopeless scum!

"That's terrible."

　As a thank you for the story, I offer him the fourth cookie.

　Momo also doesn't accept the cookie that is offered to her, but instead puts her face close to it and eats it.

　The cookie was nothing more than a calorie lump, but Momo's complexion seemed to have improved since before.

　Before I knew it, the sun had started to set and it was getting dark.

　Zombies are starting to crowd around the edges of the cage again.

　Momo-chan, scared of the zombies, came to me.

"I'm leaving tomorrow. What about you?"

"...Please take me. ...If Crow-sama is my master...I'll be happy..."

　I can't refuse when he says that to me with teary eyes! I never had any intention of refusing in the first place.

　...Master?

"... Please sign a slave contract. Otherwise, I will not be able to leave this cage."

"Slave contract..."

　I feel a bit embarrassed. Treating other people as slaves... Well, it's okay.

"How can I make a contract?"

　If it's called a contract, there must be some kind of magical method involved.

"Touch the collar and let the magic flow."

"That's all?"

"Huh? That's all."

　As instructed, I channeled magic power into the collar.

　Since being reincarnated, I feel like I can somehow sense the magical power within.

　I can use magic, so it shouldn't be a problem to channel magical power.

　The color of the gem on Momo's collar changes from blue to red.

"Is this the end?"

"Yes... I feel Master's magical power closer to me than before."

　Is it just me, or does he have a dazed look on his face?

　It somehow feels a bit cunning...

　Deciding that there was no point in worrying about it, I ate just one cookie and went to bed.

　There is bare ground underneath this building, and ants are walking around on it.

　Lie down on the ground and get some rest.

"Master..."

　Momo-chan jumps into my arms.

"Is it okay if we just sleep together like this?"

"...Uh, yeah, I don't mind."

"...You smell good when you're near master."

　...I see, Momo-chan has been enduring the stench up until now.

　And he was trembling slightly.

　Feeling Momo's warmth in my arms, I fell asleep.

　　　　　　　　　　★

　I wake up feeling the sunlight.

　It's not as bright as I thought it would be. The sun is just starting to rise.

　Just like yesterday, zombies were clinging to the cage. Ahhh, they're so noisy.

　Since I had been using the Clear Air spell even while I was sleeping, I didn't smell anything at all.

"Oh, good morning, master."

"Good morning, Momo-chan."

　A beautiful girl buried her face in my chest and looked up at me as she greeted me in the morning - so cute!

　Once you leave the cage, you never know when you'll get a break again.

　Breakfast ended with each person eating one high-calorie cookie.

"There are a lot of things I don't understand, so please tell me everything you know, Momo-chan."

"Yes, I'll try my best to be of some help!"

　Momo-chan yelled loudly, causing even more zombies to gather around.

"...I'm sorry."

"I have to kill all the zombies though, so I don't mind."

　It's half a matter of self-restraint.

　Still, will they be able to protect Momo-chan against about thirty zombies?

"...Master, please see my power. Sanctuary!"

　Light spreads out in a circle around Momo-chan!

　The zombies who came into contact with the light instantly disappeared.

　Didn't it just wipe out all the zombies in the building, not just those around the cage?

"Could it be, 'Holy Magic'?"

　Sacred magic has the power of purification, and is one of the few ways to defeat zombies. I've heard that there aren't many people who can use it, but...

　Momo-chan might be an angel.

"How is it, Master?"

"That was amazing! You did a great job."

"Ehehehe."

　A smile that felt a bit cunning.

　But I feel a little unsteady.

　This was probably because he had expended magical power while not in the best of health.

"How many more times can I use that one?"

　I asked, supporting myself.

"...I can only use that spell two more times. If it's a small-scale spell, I can do more than ten."

　It'd be best to limit the number of uses to half of what Momo-chan reported. These types of people will report if they push themselves too hard.

　Perhaps she is trying to prove her worth in order to survive.

　The reason she doesn't overtly try to curry favor is probably because she's a very serious person.

　It's clear that Momo-chan prioritizes survival, as seen in the way she avoids unnecessary conversations.

　She seems like a clever girl.

「Please only use it when you think it's dangerous or when I give instructions. I want to use "sacred magic" as a trump card in case of emergency. If there are one or two zombies, I can do something about it with this wooden sword.」

　He explains the importance and necessity of Momo-chan and makes sure she doesn't waste her powers.

　Being a smart girl, I'm sure she understood my intentions well enough.

"First, let's look for something we can use in this building."

　After making sure that Momo's dizziness had subsided, I unlocked the cage and explored areas I hadn't seen yesterday.

　Before I encountered any zombies, I found a place with a different atmosphere.

　Could this be the slave merchants' room? There are a lot of expensive looking items on display.

　The "Ring Box" can hold as much as you want. I put all the jewelry, even the ones that don't have any effect, into the bracelet on my left arm.

"Hmm, a 'high-class prostitute dress'?"

　While searching using "Appraisal" to find something useful, I came across something unbelievable.

[High-class prostitute dress]

⚫ Complete immunity to abnormal conditions ⚫ Magic recovery effect (medium)

⚫Clothing regeneration ⚫Body regeneration (small)

　I don't know how amazing it is compared to other items in this world, but it will be very useful to Momo-chan.

"Momo-chan, wear this!"

"...Master, this is the kind of thing you like."

　Blushing, she takes off her white coat right in front of me and puts on a "high-class prostitute dress."

　For a moment I thought about telling her "It's not something a girl should just take off her clothes in front of a man," but since you never know where a zombie might be hiding, I thought it would be safer if she changed in front of me.

　I desperately try to stop my lower body from reacting.

　In my previous life, I dried up in my forties.

　I was reminded that I had become a healthy baby boy.

　It was a beautiful pink.

　The white coat was collected in the ring box.

"...Master, what do you think?"

　Momo, now dressed, spins around with ease.

　How beautiful and sexy!

　Her chest and thighs were mostly exposed, and the white fabric that covered most of her body was thin and slightly see-through.

　Gold thread was used here and there, giving it a luxurious feel.

"...Master? ...Didn't it suit you...?"

　I was so mesmerized that Momo-chan looked like she was about to cry.

"It suits you! It suits you so well! I thought you were some kind of princess! So please don't cry."

　Even though I thought it was a bit cunning, I tried my best to appease him.

"Thank you so much, master!"

　In an instant, it changed into a smile.

　This area is no different from my daughter.

　　　　　　　　　　　★

　After finishing searching the slave mansion, Momo and I went outside.

　Each shop has a sign with a picture on it so you can tell what kind of shop it is.

　If I hadn't heard so much from Lola, it would have been difficult.

　First, we went into the pharmacy that stood near the slave house.

　The inside was in a mess, and everything except the items on the top shelves was ruined. I collected all the medicines and equipment that were still intact and quickly left the store.

　The next place I found was a travel outfitter. It seemed to have a lot of travel essentials.

　There was a water bottle identical to the one in the ring box, as well as a tent-like object, a magically powered lamp, and some long-term emergency food.

　The emergency food is appraised to make sure it is not spoiled, and then placed in the ring box.

"Master, this is a luxury item!"

　What Momo-chan was holding in her hands was a high-quality looking robe that was all grey in colour.

[Explorer's High-End Robe]

⚫Waterproof ⚫Fireproof ⚫Magic recovery effect (small)　

⚫Blade proof ⚫Clothing recycling ⚫Temperature adjustment　

⚫ Fatigue reduction (small) ⚫ Status abnormality recovery (small)

　There are a lot of effects. Each one is modest, but with so many effects added, it should be useful.

　I'll ignore the fact that the word luxury is in the name.

"Momo-chan and I will be wearing these robes at all times. Let's take them all, including the spares."

　There were various other robes that specialized for water or fire, but I decided that it would be more effective to usually wear the "High-grade Explorer Robe".

　As I continued looking around, I discovered something called an Item Bag. It was a sort of inferior version of the Ring Box, but I decided to give one to Momo-chan just in case she and I were to get separated.

　She'll also want a way to carry her own things, including emergency food.

　An unfortunate fact was discovered.

　Her sexy, beautiful dress was mostly hidden by the robe...what a shame.

　By the way, I haven't encountered any zombies for a while now. Did Momo-chan's holy magic wipe out all the zombies in this area?

　After finding no other stores that caught my eye, I came to a square that seemed to be the center of town.

　Maybe we'll find something if we go to the other side of where we were searching, closer to where the smoke was rising yesterday.

　The square is also cluttered with things scattered about and in disarray, but something about it feels a bit off.

"... Only in this square... there are no bodies."

　On the way here, I saw many livestock that had been scattered. But as soon as I entered the square, I could not find any.

　It was when we reached the center of the square.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!"

　The distinctive zombie voices echo loudly!

　A large number of zombies appeared from the building on the edge of the square and surrounded us.

　In the direction of the voice stood a knight in full armor holding a large sword.

"A zombie in full armor... how troublesome."

　An "identification" immediately revealed that it was a zombie, and it also seemed to be giving instructions to the other zombies.

"I never heard of a zombie that commands other zombies, Lola!"

"Master, what would you like to do?"

　Little by little, the zombies are closing in on the encirclement.

"When I give the signal, activate the magic you used this morning. Attract as many of them as possible and catch them all in one fell swoop!"

　I got some equipment that has magic recovery effects, so I should be able to do some reckless things without any problems.

　The armored zombie doesn't move from the edge of the plaza, with several other zombies waiting nearby.

　It'd be dangerous if we don't hit him now.

　The encirclement radius is now about four meters!

"Now!"

"Sanctuary!"

　The light emitted from Momo-chan engulfs the zombies and makes them disappear.

　I guess it won't reach the armored zombies after all.

　Once you've confirmed that all the zombies around you have disappeared, run towards the armored zombie!

　The surrounding zombies were all wearing simple clothing, so I had no problem defeating them with the wooden sword.

　The moment all of the surrounding regular zombies are defeated, the armored zombie swings down its great sword!

　I narrowly dodged it, and the ground shook slightly, causing a small crack to appear.

　It's a classic zombie feat of brute strength, but it's an unpleasant perk!

"Holy Lance!"

　Taking advantage of the opportunity when I attracted the armored zombie, Momo-chan landed a direct hit with magic.

　The armored zombie disappeared, leaving behind only its armor and great sword.

"Let's move quickly and find somewhere to rest."

"...high"

　We've made a lot of noise, other zombies will soon arrive.

　Above all, I want to give Momo a rest after using her big move.

　He collected his armor and great sword into the ring box and hurriedly left the square.