There was nothing special about the forest from the outside.
Just tall trees, thick foliage, and a strange stillness that made the air feel heavier than usual.
But the moment Rin's feet touched the soil, the ground sighed.
"Did… you hear that?" he asked, staring down at the earth.
Istar nodded with childlike excitement. "Yes! It said: Oh, such soft feet, boy…"
"Perverted forest… fantastic."
---
The path was narrow, dark, and the trees seemed to lean toward them—breathing, watching.
"Are these trees… whispering?" Rin asked.
Istar clung to his arm. "They say you're handsome."
"Hah. At least someone appreciates natural beauty."
Suddenly, a creature burst from the ground—no, not burst… it grew. A body of bark, a wooden face, and mold-colored eyes.
It screamed: "Intruders! This land is forbidden!"
Rin replied, "Does the land know that? Because it was moaning quite nicely under my feet."
More trees began to move. Dozens of sticky, wooden creatures approached.
Istar flipped forward, claws growing from her fingers—glass-like blades glinting.
"Ooh, fight time?" Rin stretched. "I was hoping for a picnic... but alright."
---
The battle was unfair.
Istar danced through them, slashing, laughing, biting one until he turned into a flower.
As for Rin… he just stood in the center, raised a finger, and said:
"Explode."
Every time he said it, a tree silently burst. No flames, no sound. Just—gone.
"Are you using some hidden magic?!" the tree leader yelled.
"No. I just really hate being woken up," Rin yawned.
Eventually, the creatures vanished, and the forest itself shrank back, like it was ashamed.
---
In the middle of the forest, they found a small cottage made of chocolate.
Yes. Chocolate.
"This is a trap," said Rin.
"I know… but it smells soooo good," Istar whispered, licking the door.
Rin stared at the door… then raised his foot and kicked it.
The door exploded. From inside crawled a one-eyed creature with breasts the size of a small sheep.
"I am the witch Mimoona! How dare you enter my—"
"Do you want to die?" Rin interrupted, pulling a butter knife from his pocket.
Mimoona froze.
"N-No… I was just baking a cake… and the house is… part of the ingredients…"
Istar walked in, sat down, and began eating the wall.
---
Minutes later, Mimoona was crying.
"Everything I built… and you're just eating it?!"
"It's delicious," Istar said with a full mouth.
"Do you have a map of the forest?" Rin asked.
"Why?"
"I want the fastest path to a bed. With zero surprises."
---
The witch gave them a map—and a kiss on the cheek (from Istar, not Mimoona)—and they set off.
Just before leaving the cottage, Istar paused.
"Rin?"
"Hmm?"
"Did you know this forest eats memories?"
"What does that mean?"
"It means… maybe when we leave, we forget things."
"…Will you forget me?"
She looked at him silently… then hugged him tight.
"If I forget you, I'll bite this world until it remembers."
---
Outside, a cold wind blew. The trees faded, and the light began to twist.
And there it was… a gate made of bones, breathing, opening its mouth slowly.
"Is that the exit?" Rin asked.
"Or the entrance to another disaster," Istar grinned.
"Lovely. Let's see what's waiting for us."