Chapter 344: Episode 1

"Oh, after all, Hunter x Hunter is interesting."

Vacation. I was at home watching manga to kill time. After a long time, I read Hunter x Hunter again, but it truly is a masterpiece. Before I knew it, I had already read about 10 volumes. What am I doing with my precious free time...

"I wish I could go to the manga world."

I blurted out this nonsense while lying on the sofa resting my eyes. In the past, I used to be obsessed with such delusions. I seriously came up with the "strongest Nen Ability I could think of," without any meaning. What kind of ability did you create? I've already forgotten.

If I remember correctly... I transferred to the world of hxh as the protagonist, and my talent was at the highest human level... Wow, it's embarrassing just thinking about it. A complete dark history.

Now, let's spend our time more meaningfully instead of thinking about stupid things. I thought if I kept lying on the sofa, I might fall asleep, but perhaps due to the exhaustion from reading manga, my consciousness slipped into slumber before I knew it.

"Oh!?"

An impact pierced through my buttocks. My body disappeared from the sofa onto the floor in an instant.

No, not just the sofa. The ceiling, the walls, everything disappeared. It wasn't the floor I was resting on, but the ground. I am now outside with no man-made objects around, only a desolate natural landscape.

"... Teeth?"

I, who was sleeping on the sofa, was instantly thrown into an unfamiliar wilderness. Facing a phenomenon beyond human understanding, there was nothing to do but be dumbfounded. The changes didn't stop there.

My body was shrinking. Just like Conan-kun was drugged and turned into a child. The casual jersey I was wearing was loose, with excess hem and sleeves.

The only thing that changed was my hair. It grew to my waist, and the color was silver. It wasn't white hair, but beautiful, flowing hair with a silver luster. It sparkled in the Sun, and when you touched it, it flowed through your Finger like silk.

"Haaaaaa!?"

Even his voice had changed. It sounded like a pretty girl. I was confused and placed my hands on my chest.

Muni.

Even from the top of the jersey, two soft protrusions could be seen. I put my hand on my crotch.

Suka.

Nothing. The symbol of a man, the partner who had shared joys and sorrows, had disappeared.

"Hahahaha..."

I had to laugh. How could I be like this, I am a girl. If you said this was a dream, you would still be convinced. However, the scene unfolding before me and my body, that feeling was definitely real. Have I lost my mind?

Organize your chaotic thoughts. Until a short while ago, I was enjoying my leisure time at home. While reading manga and thinking about going to that world...

"No way, did you really transfer to the manga world?"

This is an absurd story, but the situation I am in now is already absurd. The change in the surrounding environment could be forcibly explained, such as it happening unconsciously. However, no matter how I think about it, it's impossible for my body to have turned into a woman.

Assuming it was transported, is this the world of the original work? Then, the request I was just thinking about has also been manifested. With the talent and Aura of the strongest class of humans... a sense of anticipation suddenly rose.

But why is it a girl's body? I only wanted her to be beautiful. Good-looking... of course, I didn't specify a gender. But you don't have to be a woman, right?

It doesn't matter. No, this is bad, but being selfish is meaningless. This seemingly surreal experience of becoming a woman is surprisingly calm. If I had come here in my previous form, I would have felt like I was hit by a semi-realistic supernatural phenomenon, and I might have been even more depressed.

Or is it just escaping reality? There is no guarantee that this is the same world as the original. If I could use my Nen Ability, I would have confidence.

"Ha!"

I put all my energy into it and tried a pose similar to a kamehameha, but nothing happened. Well, I only asked for talent and an amount of Aura, so it might require separate Training. Nen has a side capable of fighting, but it is basically a martial art that becomes stronger through diligent Training. It cannot be used overnight.

In any case, we need to Collect information first. Meet people, listen to their stories. If you ask about the various proper nouns that appear in the hxh world, your concerns will become clear. If you don't know where this place is, you can't start.

It would be better if I didn't transfer to another world. If you can't return to your original place like this, you will worry about your family and friends. Even in that case, I need to consider the gender change issue separately.

I looked out over the wilderness. It really is an empty place. The bare ground is covered with dry grass, dry and cracked. Twisted little trees grow sadly here and there. The Retsu Sun is overhead, and just standing there makes me sweat.

When thinking about another world in some way, that might not be the case. If there is no town nearby, it will be a life-threatening situation. Water, food, wild animals, the potential problems are endless. We cannot stand here forever. Take action.

"Ha... ha..."

How far have you walked? I'm out of breath. Compared to the body I had when I was still a man, my physical strength has greatly decreased. That was nothing more than the body of a weak girl.

When I first started walking, I still felt relaxed. What kind of story would I tell when I met the characters from the original work?

This is just the beginning. The intense sunlight is mercilessly evaporating my physical strength. I took off the top of my jersey, and underneath was my underwear. Her interest in the chest that had become feminine was quickly exhausted, and she only focused on walking. I could no longer hesitate to expose my perfectly fair skin to direct sunlight.

You can't really take off the bottom of the jersey. It's not a question of shame, but a lack of shoes. Since the whole body has shrunk, the remaining hem is dragged and used as shoes. Of course, walking is difficult. Since the waist has become quite thin, the elastic of the pants has loosened and is about to fall off. It is unnecessarily difficult to walk.

A gust of Wind blew by, just like in my memories. In the face of the strong Wind mixed with sand and dust, my vision was blocked, and I couldn't even stand. I had to squat down and endure until the gust of Wind passed.

No matter how talented you are, no matter how much Aura you have, it's useless against nature. If this situation continues for a few days, it's no joke, I will die. No, I'm afraid it might last all day today. Besides hunger, my thirst is approaching its limit.

The Sun is gradually setting. The temperature will drop at night. In such a dry climate, the temperature difference between day and night is very obvious. If the Wind joins in there, the perceived temperature will drop rapidly. If only I could find a place where the Wind could block me before nightfall.

As if mocking my impatience, no matter how far I walk, the scenery of the wilderness does not change. There is something like a mountain in the distance, and I have barely lost my sense of direction, but this does not help me at all.

I looked toward the horizon many times. There are no roads, no buildings. I wonder if this is possible, and all I approach is a tree or a Stone. It is said that when you are lost in the desert, you will have the illusion of seeing an oasis at the end of a mirage, but this is neither a metaphor nor an exaggeration. I did not get stuck and run away in a hallucination. In order to live, I must go and check, whether it is a mistake or not.

I don't want to go to a cartoon world. I don't need talent and Aura, so I want food and water. Just as I started praying to God to restart the teleportation, I saw something beyond the horizon.

At first, I didn't know what it was. I saw a red dot. As you get closer, the red thing becomes bigger and bigger. This is not a mistake. It is definitely there.

Artifact!

The lost energy returns. My pace quickened. A sense of relief at being saved welled up in my heart.

But as I got closer, my doubts grew. I don't know what the "red thing" is. There is a place in the middle of the wilderness that is densely packed with bright red objects. Even from a distance, it is large. At first, I thought it was a building. In reality, the "red thing" is also that big, with several standing side by side.

Not in town. No, it hasn't been decided that there is no one. This is clearly the only difference. Perhaps someone is holding onto a glimmer of hope, and I headed to the area where the "red things" are concentrated.

"What is this?"

A hoarse voice escaped. What I found when I arrived was indescribable.

The "red things" seem to be made of minerals. Its shape is similar to a cactus without Needles. A huge circular Projection with radial cuts extending from the center. A group of such succulents grew out of the ground.

They come in various sizes, some as big as your Finger and some as big as you look up at. They all present a beautiful red color, as Transparent as a ruby. Under the setting Sun, the reflecting madder-colored Stones shine brightly. A statue made of gems. This spectacle is both mysterious and daunting. I felt the grotesqueness of peeking into the internal organs of a living thing.

The texture is smooth and Hard, like polished Stone. It doesn't seem to have life. However, if this is not a living thing, why does it exist here in this form? Is it possible that some curious sculptor displayed his work here as a piece of art?

I don't know the details. I just need to make sure someone is there.

If it is true, I am afraid it is dangerous just to approach such an obviously abnormal place. In the world of hxh, many dangerous creatures that easily prey on humans have appeared. If possible, I don't want to walk in. However, if someone asked me if I wanted to ignore this place and continue walking in the wilderness, I would immediately deny it.

Frankly speaking, if I keep walking forward, I don't think I will find human habitation. Even if I check the vicinity of this red cluster, there is nothing beyond the horizon. We have passed the stage where we can hold onto the hope that there might be a town in the future. The body can still move, but it will be too late when it reaches a state where it cannot move. If I can't find anyone by then, I'm dead. Or, assuming this red thing is a living thing, there might be water here. There might be food.

I walked into the red forest. Proceed with caution. Even in the forest, the "red things" are growing in small places, but there are also gaps enough for one person to pass through. The Wind blowing through the cracks made a groaning sound.

I just moved in, and I don't want to stay here anymore. I can't help but feel nauseated. However, this is better than spending the night in the wilderness where gale-force winds rage. It is still evening, yet it has already turned cold. My physical strength is also limited. Staying here or leaving—a conflict.

"Whoa...!?"

Perhaps I was so tired that I was dizzy; I nearly tripped over a Stone under my feet and fell. Were there Stones in a place like this before? Just as I was wondering, the Stone began to move.

Kitten, kitten, kitten.

No, it is not a Stone. It is a type of insect. It looks like an insect, but its exoskeleton is large and Heavy, thick and short like armor. The size is also large. About 20 centimeters. I mistook it for a Stone because its exoskeleton has the exact same texture as the "red substance" surrounding it.

The giant insect gnashed its teeth and approached us. I avoided it and put some distance between us, but it still aimed at this, approaching me. It moved very slowly, so it was easy to Escape, but I was afraid that it was clearly targeting me.

"What the hell...!"

I did not have the courage to rest in a place where these things roam. Visibility at night becomes poor. I imagined in terror it crawling onto me while I slept.

This is the first animal I have seen in this wilderness. Since the food issue is imminent, if I want to survive, I might have to have the courage to catch and eat that thing... but that is impossible. Even without psychological resistance, I do not want to risk poisoning, bacterial infection, Parasites, and so on to eat it. For now....

I decided to leave the Red Forest. The fact that life exists means there is some kind of ecosystem in this ore forest. Perhaps this cactus-like object is also alive. I don't know what kind of dangerous creatures are lurking.

Toke.

Behind me as I was walking on the path, came the sound of something falling. I quickly turned back to look. But by then, it was already irreversible.

"Ah!?"

A lump like a ruby. The bug I saw earlier was Attached to my leg. Two or three other insects that looked the same also fell from above. It was a slow-moving bug that I could walk away from, so I thought if I encountered it again, I could escape immediately. Although I thought I could handle it calmly, the distraction caused by fatigue and the narrowing of my field of vision were much more severe than I had imagined. But now it is too late to regret.

"Wuaaaaaah!"

Half-crazed, I shook it off. The bug was heavier than I imagined. It gripped the hem of my jersey tightly and would not let go. My ankle hurt. I was bitten.

However, perhaps because he wanted to get rid of it in a frantic way, he seized the opportunity, took off his jersey, and successfully escaped. It was just a pair of pants, but now is not the time to worry about that.

Anyway, I ran. The attacking bugs disappeared, but they still did not stop. I don't know where the attack will come from. I want to escape this red forest as soon as possible.

I can see the exit. It returned to the sickeningly familiar wilderness. I am exhausted physically and mentally. I knelt down as if I were about to collapse.

"Ha! Ha...! I don't want this anymore!"

I want to go home. My face is covered in tears. This must be a Dream World. It must be. Being thrown into such a strange place and even having my gender changed, this cannot be real.

I want to forget everything and fall asleep. When I wake up next time, I believe the same daily life as yesterday will be waiting for me.

I don't care if my body gets dirty and lies on the ground. I am going to exhaust my strength with my motivation. I feel dizzy. This may be the natural result of walking all day without eating or drinking and enduring excessive stress.

My limbs have lost sensation. I cannot move a single Finger. When I try to move it, my muscles tremble slightly. My legs are equally numb, as if I had been amputated below the knees.

... Strange. I cannot get up. On the contrary, I cannot even move my body. No matter how tired I am, I don't know if there would be such a sudden change.

I no longer feel cold. The sensation is disappearing from the extremities of my limbs toward the center of my body. It is as if your body is no longer your own.

(Well, are you going back?)

I am trying to wake up from the dream. I remember this feeling. It is being bound.

Sleep paralysis occurs when the brain is awake but the body is asleep. Fatigue, stress, lack of sleep, etc., are the causes, and the brain's functions are disturbed and it happens. Even if the brain is awake, it is not fully awake, so it dreams. At this time, the feeling of oppression of being unable to move the body is manifested in the Dream World, and the nightmare is as real as if it were happening in reality.

I have experienced it several times before. You might think that you can realize you are in sleep paralysis while dreaming, but there is a close relationship between sleep paralysis and lucid dreaming. If you are used to it, you can realize you are dreaming while paralyzed.

The best way to deal with paralysis is not to panic. To deal with the discomfort of being unable to consciously move the body, the brain is just making up a nightmare to maintain the consistency of recognition, so as long as you stay calm, it will not become a nightmare. If you stay calm and wait, you will wake up soon.

This time, I could not see through it while dreaming, but now I am clearly aware of it. I slowly closed my eyes, and my body began to lose sensation.

Kitten, kitten, kitten.

Calm down. Slowly, take a deep breath. This is a dream.

Kitten, kitten, kitten.

Kitten, kitten, kitten.

The next time I open my eyes, I will be on the sofa at home.

Kitten, kitten, kitten.

Kitten, kitten, kitten.

Kitten, kitten, kitten.

Open your eyes and count 3, 2, 1. Then everything will return to normal.

3

2

1

"Blue..."

There is an insect whose neck is motionless, only its eyeballs are moving rapidly. Dozens of red bugs are gathered around me. It is also sitting on your body. You don't feel like you are on a boat. I can't feel anything.

"Hmm?"

I have lost my voice. This is a common phenomenon during sleep paralysis. I thought I was screaming desperately, but I could only groan. It happens often.

The bug bit my clothes. My line of sight moved. I am being dragged. It is dragging my body around like an ant, taking food to its nest.

""

Shout. Only the sound of air passing through the throat. Still screaming. I will keep screaming until I wake up from this dream.

The Red Forest is waiting for my entry. At its entrance, many insects welcome them. Red particles squirm like fluff, covering the intestinal wall.

Yes, this is a dream.

Dark Continent. There is a Magic world rampant with dangerous creatures whose very existence has reached the level of a Disaster. Humans are merely building prosperity on an isolated island surrounded by this continent.

In such an undeveloped land, in a wilderness that has yet to be named, there is a forest that shines like a jewel.

There are very rare plants in the forest. This plant can produce special minerals within its body and is very cold-resistant. It is also highly toxic, and almost no creature can eat it.

However, in this forest, there is an exception. The insects that prey on ore plants are called Chimera Ants.

These ants, also known as gourmet ants, have a unique reproductive system called Foraging Mating. It is still a social insect; the Ant Queen lays eggs and produces soldier ants for obtaining food and building nests. However, the Ant Queen has the ability to pass on the characteristics of its species to the next generation of ants by eating other creatures.

Because of this ability, the Ant Queen tends to favor and prey on stronger creatures to produce offspring with stronger characteristics. Not to mention it is called a gourmet ant, its taste is extremely paranoid.

The Chimera Ants, expanding their habitat in this nameless wasteland, once took a fancy to the ore plants as food on a whim. The Ant Queen, having eaten this highly inedible and extremely toxic plant, suffered Immediate Death.

Among a group of Chimera Ants, when the Ant Queen dies, some soldier ants mutate into reproductive King Ants as an emergency measure to keep the colony alive. The King Ants also ate the ore plants and died. Furthermore, the newly born Ant King also died after the same action.

The Chimera Ants died one after another. I never changed what I ate. At the end of a paranoid dietary habit that had reached a state of madness, one ant finally acquired resistance to the Poison. A Chimera ant that had inherited the properties of the ore plants was born.

Their numbers increased in the Red Forest. The King Ant mated with a female of another species to produce an Ant Queen. The Ant Queen gave birth to a large number of soldier ants, and once the herd was complete, she would gestate the next King Ant. Thus, a paradise for the Chimera Ants was established in the Red Forest.

However, the proliferation of the Chimera ants reached a plateau at some point. In this wilderness, there were no reptiles suitable for them to mate with. Capturing small, fast-moving female animals was also difficult, and it was impossible to create new herds.

But one day, a human girl stumbled into the Red Forest. This allowed the King Ant to fulfill his original role.

The girl was deprived of her freedom by paralytic Poison and brought to the nest to mate with the King Ant. A girl carrying an Ant Queen would give birth in three days. The soldiers accompanying the Ant King tore open the girl's stomach and successfully extracted a healthy Ant Queen.