The Healer in a Japanese-Style Game World: Mastering Healing to Save My Favorite Character in a Brutal World, Only to Find Everyone Around Me Becoming Obsessed - Chapter 02: The Miasma Forest

Chapter 02: The Miasma Forest

A week had passed since my expulsion was decided, and I was being transported in a carriage. 

In the past, I would have enjoyed traveling far, but now it was a different journey altogether. This change made me even sadder, and I kept my head down the entire time.

The driver I met for the first time was extremely cold and didn’t say a word.

Gradually, the carriage slowed down and eventually came to a complete stop.

“It’s here. Now get off, Nameless.”

The place where I was dropped off was obviously different from the destination I was told about. A dark forest spread out before me, and I felt a strange presence. Despite this, I couldn’t do anything.

I was told I would be abandoned in a village, so I tried to ask the driver about it…

“…What? Hurry up and go. I don’t have all day.”

“Um… where is this?”

“There’s a village up ahead and I’ve been told to direct you there.”

His attitude was dismissive, but I noticed something strange about this forest due to my spiritual training. I could sense yokais all around. 

Realizing this, I understood the driver’s true intention and unconsciously stepped back.

“Oh, I see. You were always unnecessarily sharp… so you noticed.”

“…Getting rid of a nuisance, right?”

“Ha! That’s a harsh way to put it. It’s justice—to eliminate an accursed child. So, what will you do? Will you run into the forest, or let me kill you here? Choose.”

I was given two choices, but both were essentially death sentences.

The driver didn’t give me time to respond and started channeling spiritual energy, forming a spear of earth in his hand. It wasn’t just a threat; it was aimed to kill me with certainty.

“Come on, run, Nameless! I’ve never liked you!”

Knowing I would die if hit by that spear, I ran into the depths of the forest. I understood his goal was to send me into the forest, but taking that spear would definitely be fatal.

I hated playing into his hands, but escaping the forest seemed like a better option.

“Hah—hah… I need to get out of this forest.”

Using my spiritual sensing, I felt the presence of yokais close by. The dense, palpable feeling on my skin made my heart race.

…I’m scared. 

A clear and imminent death, spanning both my past and present lives.

Finding myself in this world, I had never really faced death before, and now, its approach filled me with true terror.

I felt sticky gazes and killing intent from all around. 

I could only understand that I was being watched, but nothing came at me, which made the fear even worse—until something appeared a little farther away.

“Gee—Kehehe!”

The yokai that appeared was like a giant monkey radiating an evil aura. It stood as tall as an adult, about 180 centimeters.

But what caught my eye were its heavily developed arms covered in iron. Blood dripped from its claws, and in one arm, it held the carcass of a wild animal, making it clear that it was in the middle of a hunt.

And then, it looked me right in the eyes.

I had to run. 

Run. 

If I didn’t run, I would die.

My thoughts raced at an extreme speed, oscillating between panic and calmness, but no solution came to mind.

“Kehya— hehe”

It laughed at my terrified expression. It was fully enjoying this, seeing me as its prey. There was no time to think—just run!

“―As if I’d let you. Damn it!”

I pushed my body to its limit, using every ounce of my strength. The thought of the backlash from this forced enhancement crossed my mind, but surviving was more important. 

Behind me, I heard a loud cracking and splintering sound.

My instincts screamed at me.

―Dodge! 

Without understanding why, I followed my instincts and dodged with all my might. 

Something whizzed past me and impaled a tree right in front of me.

“Hic—”

A scream escaped my lips.

But my feet didn’t stop. 

I ran without understanding why, driven by my desperate desire to avoid death. 

I had no idea how far I had run, but I kept dodging the trees that were occasionally thrown at me with all my might.

“―――”

I didn’t know how long I had been running, but suddenly I heard singing from somewhere.

It was a beautiful, clear voice, like a humming tune without any lyrics. Realizing it meant there was a person nearby, I changed my direction and headed toward the sound.

Pushing my exhausted body, I aimed for the source of the voice. Eventually, I reached a stone torii gate. 

With my trained spiritual senses, I noticed a barrier there. Believing I could hide there, I stumbled through the gate.

As soon as I passed through the torii, the scenery changed. 

A shrine that hadn’t been there before appeared in front of me, and the singing became clearer. Someone was definitely here. Despite my questions about why there was a shrine in such a place, I moved toward the voice, hoping to find someone.

“…Who?”

Someone spoke to me. 

I heard a jangling sound and turned around.

“…Who are you?”

There stood a girl with white hair, dressed in a jet-black kimono. 

Her white hair and porcelain-like skin were beautiful, but there was something strange about her.

The girl wore a black blindfold and had iron shackles on her hands.

More than anything, I felt an overwhelming demonic aura, divine presence, and a powerful curse emanating from her. She was clearly not an ordinary person.