"I… I've become a child!?"
Allen rubbed his face in astonishment, completely filled with disbelief.
What he saw wasn't his real self, but the face of a little boy.
His cheeks were chubby, his nose was small, his light-green eyes were round like eggs, and his short hair was silver.
What stood out the most were his ears and the two small horns on his forehead.
"This… what's going on? Why did I turn into a little kid?" Allen exclaimed in horror. "And I clearly don't look like a normal human. Could I be an Elf?"
He rubbed his ears, feeling their shape. They were clearly real, not fake or part of a costume.
"And these two horns…" He touched both small horns in confusion. "How did these even appear? I'm an Elf, right? Since when do elves have horns?"
No matter how hard Allen tried to think, he couldn't find any reasonable answer.
Becoming a child was strange enough—but now his appearance didn't even look human.
"Allen? What's wrong with you? Why do you look so panicked?" The girl's worried voice came from behind him.
Allen quickly forced himself to calm down. The situation was absurd, but he couldn't let her notice anything strange.
If she realized something and reported it, it could put him in danger.
Turning to face her, he looked at the little girl and shook his head. "It's okay… big sister. I just have a headache. It feels like I've lost some of my memory."
The girl froze for a moment before her face suddenly brightened with joy.
"What did you just call me? Big sister? I didn't hear wrong, right?" She jumped up and down excitedly.
'Eh? Why is she so happy? Did I say something wrong?' Allen was confused.
Since the girl looked more mature than him, she must be his older sister, right?
After calming herself down, the girl pulled him into a tight hug.
With Allen's tiny body, he almost disappeared in her embrace.
"I'm so happy, Allen! You finally called me big sister! You always called me by my name, and it made me sad, you know?" She puffed her chubby cheeks. "But now…"
Her smile bloomed again as she lowered her head and pressed her forehead gently against his.
"You called me big sister, and I'm super happy!"
Allen looked at the sincere happiness on her face, and for some reason, his heart felt warm.
He didn't know if the feeling came from him or from the child's body he was in, but he didn't dislike it.
"Um… big sister," Allen called out shyly. "Can you tell me your name? My head hit the ground earlier, so my memory is a bit fuzzy."
"Eh?" The little girl looked surprised. "Really? Are you hurt?"
She rubbed Allen's head, clear worry in her eyes.
"I'm fine. I just lost a bit of my memory," Allen quickly reassured her.
"Phew…" The little girl pressed a hand to her small chest. "Thank goodness. If you were seriously hurt, my mother would definitely scold me. I was supposed to take care of you, and it's my fault for letting you out of my sight."
She finally let go of him and then introduced herself.
"It's a bit strange to say this now, but my name is Seralyth, Allen. Remember my name well, okay? So even if you lose your memory again, you'll still remember me." She giggled, covering her mouth with her left palm.
"Seralyth, huh?" Allen whispered. Then he smiled and nodded slightly. "Don't worry, Big Sister Seralyth. I'll remember you forever."
Badump!
Seralyth's heart pounded rapidly. Her chubby face turned red, and her eyes grew unfocused.
"So adorable!" She immediately pulled Allen back into her arms and swayed side to side. "Allen, I'm in love with you! Will you be my husband? Oh! I forgot we're siblings and can't get married. But that's okay. I heard it's allowed in our race's traditions. Kyaa! I can't wait to marry you!"
She kissed Allen's left and right cheeks in quick succession, unable to resist his cuteness.
Allen could only accept it helplessly. His body was only that of a one-year-old child.
Compared to Seralyth, who was probably five or six years old, he was nothing.
Once she was satisfied, Seralyth released him and held his right hand tightly.
"Then let's go back, Allen. Mother must be very worried since we both disappeared," she said.
Allen didn't object and simply nodded.
Right now, he still didn't understand how he had ended up in this world.
Maybe it had something to do with that mysterious voice, but he wasn't sure.
He needed to find out where he was and why he was in the body of a small child.
Not long after, Seralyth led Allen along a small path behind the bushes until both of them disappeared from sight.