episode_0100

[When you go to the mountains, make sure to go naked…]

Author: Mountaineering Club Member

A friend who always smoked a cigarette when climbing the mountain… Just like any other time, he reached the summit and lit up a cigarette…

Despite everyone warning him that it’s a non-smoking area and that he’ll be screwed if a dryad or an elf appears, he continued smoking, saying it’s fine…

(A scene of being whipped mercilessly by a dryad while tied to a tree trunk)

He was dragged away right in front of my eyes… Caught and dragged into the depths of the forest in an instant… Disappearing deep into the forest leaving only a few screams behind… Still unforgettable…

Since then, when going to the mountains, he goes naked with only a bottle of water.

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– Your friend messed up haha Why bring cigarettes to the dryad’s territory? lol

– Be careful, they’re a shady race that will drag you into the forest if they see any gaps;;

– Oh… so if you want to experience an SM play with a beautiful dryad, you just have to smoke a cigarette?

ㄴ The default is a woman, but there are also men…_(Author)

ㄴ A muscle-bound gay guy wanting to do an SM play… noted…

ㄴ Damn

– Still, dryads are better than elves, right? They are relatively more docile…

ㄴ Dryads really get the short end of the stick haha If it were you, would you just stand still while they burn down your house?_(Author)

ㄴ Why do they leave their nice homes and live in the forest?

ㄴ I don’t know? Maybe the forest is more comfortable than a home… How would I know, I’m not a dryad…_(Author)

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The race that always appears alongside elves when the word ‘nature’ is mentioned, the dryads.

At some point, a woman who patted my back with a sly look and a gentle touch on my back… that was her.

It wasn’t difficult to figure out her identity.

Deceiving the senses of a vampire, who is endlessly sensitive, and being able to approach closely is impossible for an ordinary human.

So, the woman must be a race shifter, and now all that’s left is to determine what race she is.

This could be confusing, it could be unknown.

And for good reason.

The place I was in was a bushy mountain path.

Although the woman had a similar appearance to an elf, her words and actions were nothing like an elf at all.

I don’t know, the atmosphere around her was very mysterious.

Of course, there is a possibility that she is a variant elf, but at this late hour, the only ones who would stay in the forest are dryads or alraunes.

However, she was too voluptuous to be an alraune, so I could confirm her identity as a ‘dryad’.

…But why did the dryad approach me?

Could it be that she came to inquire about the time I broke a branch for my dendrology assignment?

As I realized her identity, a strong sense of unease washed over me.

Like the elf who labeled me as a ‘tree killer’, could she be causing even more trouble than that?

Keeping silent and keeping my gaze fixed, the dryad smiled elegantly and took a step back.

“Oh, I’m sorry… I unknowingly disturbed your alone time. I should have just stayed quiet.”

“Yelling in a public place at night is wrong. Shouldn’t I be the one apologizing?”

“If you’re feeling frustrated and depressed, it’s understandable. Hehe, screaming in the forest like you did is much better than getting angry for no reason, isn’t it?”

Seeing her offer an apology to my confused and flustered self, it seemed she wasn’t here to bring the wrath of nature.

With her gentle voice and comforting words, she offered me solace, and I cautiously posed a question.

“…So, what brings you here? It doesn’t seem like you approached me just to chat.”

“Oh my, the dryad is disappointed to hear such words… It’s a shame that your guess is wrong, but I did approach you to have a conversation.”

“I don’t really have anything to talk about with you.”

“Nature sometimes provides good conversation partners, you know? Perhaps, do you know? I might be able to help with your worries.”

The dryad persisted with a bright smile, clinging to me persistently.

Glancing at my phone for a moment, I let out a deep sigh and decided to engage in a conversation with her.

Honestly, even if I were to return to my studio apartment now, I would undoubtedly find myself restless with boredom once again.

Having a fairy in front of me to pass the time was something I was grateful for.

So.

“…I think I’ve fallen in love.”

I began to calmly share my dilemma with her.

Acknowledging the fact that I love someone was a long process for me.

It was natural to deny it.

Even if an unexpected accident changed my gender, falling in love with someone of the same gender with a normal gender identity as mine, especially when that person was a close friend for over 9 years, seemed like an odd occurrence, right?

How could I easily accept it? It wasn’t something I could joke about.

Finally.

After many twists and turns, I had to admit that I couldn’t deny my feelings any longer.

Sadly, I couldn’t go any further than that.

My mind was in turmoil, and this ticklish yet sweet emotion was unfamiliar to me.

I was just overall confused.

How should I treat Jaehyuk in the future?

How should I narrow the distance between us?

How should I express my feelings to him?

Having never experienced loving someone, I truly didn’t know anything.

I needed someone to advise me.

All my close friends were also close to Jaehyuk, so if I requested relationship advice, they would most likely inform him.

That’s why I wanted advice from a complete stranger rather than someone around me.

In that sense, the conversation with the dryad was an opportunity for me.

If it wasn’t an encounter to be repeated, then today would be the first and last meeting with her.

There wasn’t really a problem with her going somewhere and talking about my worries, so I confided in her comfortably.

“…So, the other person already loves the vampire, and the vampire loves them back, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Then why not just confess? Why are you even hesitating about this?”

Why was I hesitating?

Well.

“I, I just can’t muster up the courage to confess. It’s, it’s kind of scary…”

“Tsk… You’re quite selfish, aren’t you? The other person mustered up the courage to confess, but you can’t even gather the courage to do the same.”

Tutting, she mercilessly pummeled me with facts, leaving me with a heavy heart. As I held back tears, she let out a sigh and continued.

“Why drag it out when you can just cover it up… Ugh, how about trying this?”

“Yes?”

“Do you know the phrase ‘I almost said…’? It’s a similar feeling to that!”

With a hint of doubt, the dryad excitedly began to explain the method she had come up with.

…Will this actually work?

Listening, I couldn’t help but feel skeptical, but for now, I had no choice but to believe in it.

Right now, I couldn’t think of any way.

I hope that her way of speaking is effective.

I silently wrote down the essence of her words on a notepad.

—–

“…I’m tired.”

“You’ve worked hard, Hyuk-ah. Here, have some cold water.”

“Ah, thank you, Jooyeon. I’ll enjoy it.”

“Oh, it’s nothing. Maknae! Yejin! Come and have a drink too!”

“Yes!”

“Uh…”

The store’s business ended much later than usual.

After quickly finishing closing preparations and stepping outside the store, I realized the clock was already pointing to the time when Jiwoo would be asleep.

“…I said I would make dinner, but I’m too late.”

It wasn’t intentional, but the guilt kept creeping up on me.

Trying to erase even a little bit of the guilty feeling, I quickly started walking towards my studio apartment.

She might be asleep when I arrive, but you never know, right? Maybe she’ll be awake.

With a hint of anticipation, I walked briskly, and thanks to that, I arrived at my studio apartment much faster than usual.

“Phew…”

After catching my breath, I slowly entered the door lock code.

At the same time, I cautiously listened to the sound coming from beyond the door.

Whoosh –

But all I could hear was the faint sound of the wind.

…She must have gone to dreamland after all.

Sighing with regret and guilt washing over me, I slowly opened the front door.

And then.

“Honey, you’re really late today.”

I faced a vampire who greeted me playfully with a tired face.

One word sounded so strange and enchanting, ‘honey’.

As I stood there quietly, forgetting about the guilt, Jiwoo approached with a mischievous smile and urged me to come inside.

“What are you doing out there instead of coming in? Do you plan to live out there?”

“No, it’s not that…”

“Then come in quickly and eat. It won’t taste good if it gets cold, honey.”

I tried to gather my thoughts to leave the entrance.

But once again, the word ‘honey’ made my mind go blank.

Of course, I knew it was a joke.

I must have said ‘we look like a married couple’ before going to work, so this must be a joke.

Yeah, I know.

I know.

Why does it sound so tempting though?

…Since she played a mischievous joke first, I can’t say anything if I play along the same way.

After calming my racing heart, I approached the vampire and whispered softly.

“Thank you, honey. I’ll enjoy it.”

“…Hehe!”

With that, Jiwoo giggled once and ran into the room without looking back.

“Looks like she’s really tired.”

Seeing her dart towards the bed like that, you know.

It feels like all the hard work of the day disappears.

The breakfast I enjoyed in a lazy happiness was truly delicious.

Thanks to the cohabiting vampire.

Just like her reaction a moment ago.