It was a nice sunny day; a young woman hummed in joy to and fro. She was skipping as she walked and enjoyed the fresh air of the lush forest. Underneath the huge tree in the distance, piles of different items could be seen stacked upon each other.
She briskly rubbed her hands in delight and increased her pace. Unable to sit still, the young woman snapped her fingers. Light in the form of flat transparent polygons covered her entirety. Her body gradually disappeared into thin air.
[Teleport]
With a pop, she appeared again but right in front of the huge tree.
"What a huge haul!"
Landing safely, the young woman warmed up her hands together before checking the goods.
There were enough items present that one won't be able to notice the platform buried by it.
"Uwaa! The harvest must be good this year! So happy!"
The woman savored every satisfying feeling she got from unwrapping the goods, when—
Hik! Hik!
The unexpected sound made the young woman jolt in place.
Someone is here.
Hik! Hik!
The creepy sobbing sound continued to echo in her ears.
The young woman immediately formed [Defensive Barrier]. It was a transparent dome made from several transparent polygons sustained by the energy called mana. It could cover the desired radius of the caster.
To focus, the young woman even squinted her eyes to pinpoint the possible source of the sound. But every time she passed by around the center, it sounded much clearer than anywhere else.
That direction was supposed to be where the platform—also known as the Altar for the Witch—was located.
Observing the height of the pile before her, the young woman concluded that it would either be a dwarf or a lost child.
Haaa...
Choosing in between, the young woman decided to believe it was the latter and she dispersed her barrier.
Not to aggravate the other party any further, she slowly approached the area. To her surprise, there was nothing; nothing in all directions.
But it was apparent that the sobbing sound had become louder and clearer. She was confused but was able to confirm that she was in the right direction.
Until she found an oddly big rattan picnic basket.
Usually, there were only sacks of goods and boxes but a basket was a rare occurrence. They were only about the size where small portions of food— cooked or uncooked—were stored.
But what's truly odd was the fact that it was heavily covered in several layers of blanket.
It was nearly summer, it was known that the food unpreserved by ice magic would be spoiled in 3 hours or less.
"Are they planning to kill me now? I still know common sense though…"
Hik Hik
The young woman was then able to confirm that the sound came from the basket. Her lips tightened unconsciously.
The unnecessary huge basket.
The odd pile of blankets inside.
Gulp.
One look and the young woman's thoughts were written in her expression.
That basket is bad news.
Powerless, the young woman decided to take out the several layers covering the item inside.
"Fuck"
Facepalm. The young woman's expression went dark and heavy.
A pair of watery eyes was revealed underneath. The creature inside warned an impending cry.
The woman's lips kept on twitching as the creature innocently tilted its head.
Observing the woman's troubled face, its lips formed a smile even brighter than the sun and cried in joy.
Kya!
The young woman's expression became even more unpleasant at the situation.
What kya kya—fuck! Is this really happening to me?!
The young woman didn't expect that someone would dare to leave a baby in such a notorious place.
Despite her misgivings, the young woman had mixed feelings. The thought of someone abandoning a baby wasn't good by any means. But leaving a baby with exceptional features was confusing and enraging to anyone, even to her.
After all, this place was in the middle of the Forest of No Return. Underneath the biggest tree—the Tree of Offerings—was the Altar for the Witch. Currently, the place where the young woman was getting her 'goods' aka offerings.
The young woman frowned, clenching her fists.
"Who the fuck would leave a baby in the offering altar?"
She cursed as the young woman recalled a horrible fact. In her previous life, there were records of exercising sacrificial rituals. It was conducted to gain protection or to appease the one with greater power.
But as far as she could remember, there's no need for the town to gain any more protection as she—the witch—would be enough.
That left the horrible hypothesis.
The young woman began to wonder if someone was impersonating her for power.
"It'll be bad if it's true—! I need to immediately stop this. I don't want to see blood on my altar!"
After deciding on what to do, the young woman noticed the baby raising its arms enthusiastically at her.
Her mind went blank.
She couldn't think of what to do with the poor toddler.
The baby didn't give up and looked like it wanted a hug.
But instead of caressing the baby, the young woman snapped her fingers, and transparent polygons formed around the baby. It soon transformed into a comforting breeze that lifted the baby out of the basket.
[Float]
The baby's blanket fell exposing itself, naked. But the baby didn't care, it even giggled, amused, at every action the young woman was doing.
Without care to the world, the woman observed the baby in much more detail.
A baby girl.
Blue Eyes.
Blonde Hair.
A Rose Birthmark on the nape of her neck.
Holy-!
The young woman shivered at a thought. She carefully laid the baby down into the basket. She covered her face, unable to accept the reality.
This—I might've fallen into an otome game!
Pinching in between her eyebrows, the young woman managed to calm herself. She wouldn't die if she didn't harm the baby or anyone. But—
"YOU FUCKING GOD!!"
A flash of blinding light struck the ground.
…
Huffing, the woman noticed the dark clouds forming.
It was about to rain.
The young woman snapped her fingers again and a pitch-black spiral hole appeared next to her.
[Item Box]
Like a vacuum, the black hole pulled in the target items.
One by one, the items were sucked into nothingness.
That left the big basket with the baby inside.
The young woman noticed the baby that paid no attention to her naked self.
After thinking for quite some time, she remembered an item from her [Item Box]. She pulled out a blue onesie that was used to be worn by her godchildren.
I didn't think that I would take this out again.
"Make do with this for now."
While dressing the baby, the young woman decided to go to the Adventurer's Guild.
Then, raindrops started to fall.
The young woman hurriedly grabbed the basket with the baby. She used raindrops as a medium to mix in the barrier and snapped.
[Water Barrier]
It would serve as a shield and an umbrella to prevent water from making contact with the lass.
As she threaded the path out of the forest, both her silver hair and green eyes magically changed into black.
The regal feeling was gone.
The casual indifference remained.
She changed into a different person within seconds.
The toddle witnessed this change and it shrieked in amusement.
The young woman went face to face with the baby. Her lips turned up at the baby's reaction that was very much fascinating.
She put her index finger on her lips.
"Shh. This is a secret okay?"
As if the baby understood her intentions, she covered her mouth with her thumb as she sucked and giggled.
Satisfied, a black coat suddenly appeared out of nowhere. She wore the coat and put the hood on, hiding her face.
Upon her arrival at the gates of the town, no one blocked her way to bother her. She directly entered the Adventurer's Guild.
Inside behind the desk, a senior receptionist who noticed her respectfully greeted her.
"Welcome, Lady Christina. Is there something that I could help you with?"
Poker-faced, Christina asked the receptionist.
"Where's Mike?"
It might've appeared rude for the newbie staff in the guild, but the receptionist was used to it.
"He's available and currently in the office. Should we inform him of your arrival?"
Christina waved her hand refusing the offer and her hood slightly fell.
"Just lead me to him. It's urgent."
"As you wish."
As they went away, several new staff groups gathered and gossiped.
"Who is she?"
"Did you hear her name?"
"Yep. Clearly, he said she's that Christina."
"You mean that family with Christina's?"
"That's right."
"Eeh?! That weird family that named all the girls of their family, Christina?"
"Yes! That's right."
"Ohhh..."
Everyone marveled at the presence of Christina but they didn't dare to hinder her way. They mind their own business while gossiping around.
Once a Christina came over to the guilds, everyone would admire their power. It was said that only the most powerful woman in their family would be named after their ancestor, Christina Edwards.
In other words, Christina became a legend of her own in the town if not the world.
After a while, Christina and the senior receptionist arrived in front of the door with Adventurer's Guild Master's Office placard.
Indecent noises could be heard from the inside. The senior receptionist instantly understood what's happening and was about to persuade Christina, when—
Bam!
Christina slammed the door open. The senior receptionist had his mouth wide open. He was baffled at her actions that he turned to look at her face.
She seemed to be under the weather. But why?
"Are you done flirting around?"