Avoid 19-rated content

Chapter 69

The movements of fairies and spirits came to a sudden halt at my outburst. The estimated number of fairies and lights was over a hundred. They buzzed around, shouting phrases like "First come, first served?" "Yes, first come, first served!" "Ten people!" "Me first!" They soon began to cluster together like a chaotic mass, engaging in what seemed like a physical struggle to be among the chosen ten.

I think I just saw green blood splattering, but let's pretend I didn't.

I took advantage of the distraction and slowly lowered my body behind a tree. A few fairies glanced at me, but they quickly returned to the struggle, apparently deciding that they could catch me anytime. Ignoring their screams that sounded as if they were about to tear each other apart. I escaped, leaving them behind as they were screaming.

I was afraid if I ran I would provoke them, so I kept my body low. It was more exhausting than running, and sweat poured down like rain. My fists were tightly clenched, leaving deep nail marks on my palms, and my lower back was stiff from constant bending. Nevertheless, I didn't stop moving forward.

The hourglass in the sky, almost empty above the sand, indicated that only about five minutes remained. That much time I could drag out.

I went into the tall grass crouched down, and hid. I even smeared dirt on my forehead and cheeks, hoping that if there was vitality in the grass and soil, it might mix with my human vitality. After that, I could barely manage to breathe.

Outside, a fierce brawl continued. There were fairies screaming in agony and others laughing mockingly.

The image of fairies and spirits that I had encountered in books or media until now was that of beautiful, gentle, and pure guardians of the good. However, the fairies here, while possibly lovely in appearance, were extremely aggressive and terrifying. Thinking about fairies with soft gums smiling and giggling, my heart raced anxiously.

I wondered how they consumed mana. It was fortunate that they didn't have teeth, but I didn't know if they consumed mana through some other bizarre process. Hopefully, it wouldn't escalate to an adult 19+ rating, or worse, a horror rating. As my thoughts reached that extreme, I became suddenly terrified, burying myself even deeper in the bushes.

At that moment, the hourglass in the sky burst with a loud sound. Fragments of dazzling light, like fireworks, fell to the ground and disappeared. The time had come.

"Phew..."

I breathed a sigh of relief but didn't relax my posture or venture outside the bushes. The fairies and spirits were still fighting, and it would take some time for Heron or Cain to confirm that I hadn't arrived. It was wise not to act hastily. And that turned out to be the right decision.

Soon, the fairies in the distance started murmuring sharply.

"Wait! Where did that human go?"
"New mana! It's gone!"
"I saw him go over there!"
"Right there!"
"I don't know!"

The voices of the fairies grew closer. The rustling sound of their wings as they moved also increased louder.

I took out the plant catalog that I had tucked into my side. The book was thick, so I was prepared to use it to swat the fairies down like insects if necessary. No, would it be better to just stay still? There were over a hundred of them, and swinging a book wouldn't help me catch any of them. It might even provoke them further.

"Fuck! Hey! System! Come out!"

Come out, you crazy bastard. I silently called for the system with all my might. This time, it was a threat that wasn't a threat to a male lead. Fortunately, my desperation seemed to have paid off, and a blue window appeared with a ding-dong sound.