Published: September 4, 2025
Satou here. In manga, you often see scenes where parents and daughters are mistaken for each other, but I've never actually encountered that in real life. After all, wrinkles and skin textures can't be faked.
However, in another world where long-lived species exist, it seems to be relatively common.
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"â– â– â– ...â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– maiden of the forest summon (summon dryad)"
Mia's Father is fluent when casting spells, isn't he?
At his spell, a small girl with long green hair and green skin emerges from the tree trunk. She looks exactly like the dryad we saw near the labyrinth of Torazayuuya. Since her level is 30, she must be a different individual.
But when our eyes meet, she casually greets me.
"Boy! Long time no see."
"Are you perhaps the dryad I met at the withered mountain?"
If so, that's an incredibly fast level-up.
"You could say that, or you could say I'm completely different. My body changes depending on the status of the tree I use as my vessel, but the essence inside is the same."
Is this like different PCs running the same software?
"Dryad."
"Wait a moment."
Mia's Father calls out to the dryad, but she brushes him off casually and prioritizes talking to me. Oh? She can disobey the summoner?
The dryad floats slightly in the air, wraps her hands around my neck, and presses her body against me. Her face is close. Too close.
I push back her overly affectionate body contact.
"You were delicious back then. I want to taste you again."
"Hey, hey, cheating? Is this cheating?!"
"Ma-mistress."
"Hmph."
Hearing the dryad deliberately omit the word "magic power," Arisa growls and confronts me.
Even though it's baseless, Lulu looks at me sadly, and Mia, who was hiding behind me, is rubbing my back.
The dryad turns her face to peek under my armpit and look at Mia.
"Oh? Oh my, oh my? Is that a little child there?"
"You're mistaken."
"Not at all~ You should pay your due soon~"
Like a cat cornering a mouse, the dryad pursues Mia hiding behind me. I wish they’d stop circling me together; I might melt into butter someday.
Hearing the word "due," even Mia's parents start questioning her.
"Mia!"
"Hey, Mia! You didn't ask the dryad for a favor, did you? You did, right? I warned you so many times! I warned you, didn't I?—"
"Hmph, emergency."
From Mia’s mother's long speech and Liza's clarification, it seems that during the incident in Muno City, Mia took a shortcut through the forest and borrowed the dryad’s power. Mia's mother is negotiating with the dryad, but they can't reach an agreement easily.
If this continues, the dryad will suck Mia’s magic power and life force dry, turning her into a dried-up husk. I don't want to see that happen.
"Dryad, will the due be magic power?"
"Of course, that's fine~ It’s because there isn’t enough magic power that I end up sucking her stamina too. I’d be thrilled to have the boy’s magic power."
"Understood. Then absorb it."
As the dryad tries to steal a kiss, Mia’s parents and Arisa voice stop her.
"Wait."
"Yes, wait, Satou-san. The dryad is a big eater, you know? She'll suck and suck endlessly. You're still young—do you want to become like dried fish? You don’t want that, right?—"
"Ahh, no no no! Those lips are mine~~~"
"Hmph."
My lips belong to me.
Mia cuts in front of the dryad and me. She seems to be trying to protect me, but judging by her slight trembling, she’s scared of being sucked by the dryad.
I gently move Mia aside and ask the dryad.
"Dryad, can’t you absorb from somewhere other than the lips?"
"I can, you know? Want me to be a bit naughty?"
The instant the dryad says "naughty," Arisa almost erupts. To keep things moving, I quickly cover her mouth.
"No naughty stuff."
"Then, how about placing my mouth on your heart and sucking?"
It sounds a bit criminal visually, but I guess that’s acceptable.
I take off my knight's uniform jacket and shirt. I feel the gazes of Arisa and Lulu on me, but maybe it’s just my imagination. They see me change clothes all the time; why stare now?
Mia’s parents worry about me, so I tell them I’ve transferred magic power once before to assure them.