Chapter 7: A Naked Awakening in the Engis Uir Continent

If I hadn’t been certain that I wasn’t dreaming, I would have found this deduction utterly unbelievable, for it defied all reason.

Now, I stood in a clearing within a dense forest. Just moments before, I had been lying on the very ground beneath my feet. Aside from the thickly packed trees and a carpet of fallen leaves, there was nothing else to be seen. Even the birds that had been chirping and flitting around me took flight and vanished into the distance the instant I rose.

I wasn’t sure if this turn of events was fortunate, considering I was utterly naked, completely ‘unarmed for battle,’ and could find nothing nearby to conceal myself. The reality of my predicament meant I dared not casually glance downwards, lest the alluring sight plunge me into profound embarrassment.

What was I to do now?

I certainly couldn’t remain here indefinitely. At the very least, I needed to locate an inhabited area. But then again, where exactly was this place?

Just as I resigned myself to knowing nothing about my current situation, I was startled to realize I seemed to possess knowledge of this world’s name.

This was… Engis Uir Continent.

Was this truly the name of this world?

The name inexplicably surfaced in my mind, yet all related information, such as its specific etymology, remained incredibly muddled, preventing me from recalling anything of value. It felt as though a wealth of content had abruptly appeared in my memory, but without any context, fragmented and disjointed, utterly incapable of forming a coherent chain.

I surmised that this knowledge must have been deliberately implanted. Recalling the sensation of a vast influx of information into my brain, I suddenly found myself able to comprehend the language of this world…

It was truly marvelous and incredibly convenient; I couldn’t fathom how it had been achieved.

Consequently, I began to diligently search my mind for all knowledge pertaining to this world. However, truly useful information proved scarce; many memories were incomplete, nothing more than fragmented, useless snippets. Nevertheless, I could still vaguely discern a few seemingly helpful details.

For instance, the wings on my back appeared to be concealable.

Following the method recalled from my memory, I attempted it…

Did it require activating some ‘light element’?

Immediately, I intuitively grasped the nature of this so-called ‘light element.’ It seemed to manifest as incredibly tiny particles, yet also as a peculiar aura, imparting a sensation of warmth and profound tranquility.

In any case, it was utterly invisible to the naked eye, but through my senses, I could perceive its omnipresent presence.

They were particularly abundant on my own body, densely packed and forming distinct clusters.

A truly wondrous sensation…

Sure enough, in no time, the wings on my back dissolved into points of light, vanishing without a trace, becoming even imperceptible to touch. How intriguing! Yet, there was a caveat: this state apparently couldn’t be maintained for long. Furthermore, if my body grew too weak, or if my emotions became overly agitated, the effect would be lost.

Another useful ability seemed to be called ‘Purification Art,’ which, by its name, suggested a highly practical skill. Regrettably, no matter how meticulously I followed the instructions, I simply couldn’t cast it successfully. Witnessing my palm remain utterly unresponsive despite my strenuous efforts, I suddenly felt like an utter fool.

Beyond that, there were no other skills.

I couldn’t ascertain whether it was because I hadn’t had the opportunity to acquire them or if they had simply been relegated to some forgotten corner of my memory. In any case, I could no longer recall anything related to skills. However, I did uncover some useful foundational information about this world.

For example, humans inhabited this continent, and their numbers were likely vast, with a wide distribution.

Conversely, I could recall absolutely no information pertaining to angels.

I could only proceed one step at a time. After all, wasn’t there a pair of wings idly attached to my back?

Having found no memories whatsoever related to flight, I had no choice but to vigorously flap the wings on my back myself, hoping to take to the sky.

Immediately, fallen leaves swirled everywhere, and tree branches swayed incessantly. The display certainly looked impressive, yet after a fierce gust of wind, I remained rooted to the spot, not having moved an inch.

Ugh, this was rather awkward.

What purpose did these wings serve if I couldn’t fly? If they weren’t physically attached to me, I might even consider severing them and roasting them for a meal. The pure white, soft wings certainly appeared beautiful, but they were far too large; their wingspan nearly approached twice my height, and when folded, the feathers almost brushed the ground.

They were an absolute hindrance, but fortunately, there was still the skill to conceal them.

So, I attempted to make the wings vanish again, but a flash of inspiration suddenly struck me, offering an ingenious alternative to clothing: I would extend both wings as far forward as possible, then wrap myself completely, much like rolling a spring roll. My entire body would thus be enveloped by the feathers.

This felt rather good. At the very least, I wouldn’t have to fear accidental exposure. It was both warm and alleviated my awkward predicament. Moreover, the direct contact of the soft, downy feathers against my skin felt exceptionally comfortable.

I truly couldn’t imagine being continuously naked and seen by others, especially in my current female body…

It was far too stimulating.

Like a human spring roll, I wandered alone through this endless forest. A significant amount of time had passed; how much further must I walk? Nothing but trees, trees, and more trees. I had traversed so much ground without encountering a single sizable animal, save for a few small birds occasionally soaring overhead.

In truth, I had absolutely no idea which direction to proceed, so I could only attempt to walk straight ahead until I reached some kind of end.

Were there any living creatures left in this forest at all?

I couldn’t help but want to complain, but then I reconsidered, thinking perhaps it was better if there weren’t. Should some ferocious beast emerge, I couldn’t guarantee my survival.

Speaking of angels… they should possess some combat ability, shouldn’t they?

I raised my right hand, as slender as a bamboo pole, and examined it repeatedly. My delicate fingers were as fair and slender as green onions. After a moment’s contemplation, I clenched my fist and punched a thick tree trunk beside me.

With a resounding “thump,” the branches shook violently, rustling loudly, and countless leaves rained down from above.

“Ouch, that hurts!”

Rubbing the back of my fingers back and forth, I continuously puffed out my cheeks and blew on them, tears welling up from the sheer pain.

Fortunately, I had unconsciously held back some strength, yet several deep red marks still appeared on the back of my hand. However, this punch did have some effect; at least a small indentation was left on the tree trunk, though overall it appeared almost undamaged.

Objectively speaking, the power was already considerable, far greater than before; the two couldn’t even be compared. Yet, this seemed a long way from the effect I had envisioned.

I was deeply disappointed. I had foolishly believed I could shatter this tree with a single punch, leaving a long, cracked canyon across the land in its wake…

Alright, I admit I was dreaming nonsense!

Having faced reality, I could only continue forward, one step at a time. The sky gradually began to darken; it seemed night was fast approaching.

I didn’t know how long I had walked. Was it an hour? Or two?

But remarkably, I felt no fatigue whatsoever, nor did I feel particularly hungry. My body seemed to operate like a perpetual motion machine, ceaselessly working.

However, when night fully descended, I was plunged into an abyss of endless darkness. Unable to see my hand in front of my face, there was not a glimmer of light in any direction, save for the myriad stars adorning the sky. With my eyes, I could discern almost nothing.

This… what was I to do?

I began to feel afraid, growing increasingly nervous with each passing moment. Now, all I could hear, apart from the rustling of the breeze through the treetops, was the soft crunch of leaves beneath my feet as I walked.

Walking alone in the uninhabited forest of this strange world, in the desolate wilderness of night, I once again experienced that familiar sense of helplessness.

“Is anyone there? Is there anyone at all!”

I shouted desperately into the surroundings in this world’s language, hoping to attract the attention of some unknown entity. Yet, in the boundless darkness, the only reply was the monotonous rustling of leaves.

Moreover, I couldn’t continue walking.

Now, I was like a blind person, bumping into obstacles everywhere, and could even accidentally crash into some unknown tree.

I could only find a tree trunk to lean against and sit down.

After all, having lived in a city before, I had rarely encountered such absolute darkness, where nothing could be seen. This situation was truly terrifying, and I suddenly understood what it must feel like for those who had just lost their sight.

At this moment, only the fluffy sensation on my back could bring me a shred of comfort. Like a drowning person clutching at a straw, I slumped helplessly, burying myself entirely within the embrace of my wings.

Immersed in the warmth the wings provided, I could almost distinguish the feel of each feather. They gently brushed against my skin, constantly soothing my anxious heart, allowing me to slowly relax from my state of extreme tension.

I didn’t know how much time had passed when I suddenly heard a faint sound of hooves. The sound was extremely subtle, almost imperceptible. Yet, I was certain it wasn’t a delusion, for it was the first time I had heard any other sound in so long.

My spirits lifted as if I had found a savior, and I immediately stood up, rushing towards the source of the sound.

What was that?

Despite the great distance, I could still perceive a faint glimmer of light slowly moving from the far right towards the left. I ran with all my might. Fortunately, at some point, a colossal full moon had risen into the night sky, far larger and brighter than Earth’s moon. Under the moonlight, the ground was no longer utterly black and invisible; at least to my eyes, the surrounding trees and ground cover were clearly discernible.

The source of the light was still very far away, and I couldn’t guarantee reaching it before the light vanished, but I also refused to let this chance slip away. Like a drowning person desperately clinging to a straw before death, I fixed my gaze on that speck of light and ran frantically.

But a few minutes later…

Fate was unkind, and I ultimately missed it.

Approximately 200 meters from my position, the shadow of what appeared to be a carriage sped past. That speck of light must have been a lantern hanging from the carriage. Watching it disappear into the distance, I shouted desperately and unwillingly at its receding form, “Wait for me—”

But my clear, melodious shriek was quickly swallowed by the gradually fading neighing, failing to stir even a ripple.

I stood there dejectedly. However, the place where I now stood was no longer the familiar forest clearing, but a dirt path through the woods, bearing clear signs of human activity.

At least I wasn’t entirely clueless anymore; a road indicated human presence. Despite the long, frantic run, though I wasn’t out of breath, I could still feel a significant loss of stamina. However, compared to my former self, this was quite impressive.

I decided to follow the direction of the carriage, continuing along the road. At least now, the hope of escaping this uninhabited area had grown considerably. To escape this predicament sooner, I didn’t even want to consider what would happen if I were discovered in my current naked state.

At the very least, I needed to encounter someone first…

As time passed, fatigue finally began to set in, along with hunger. I gazed at the road stretching endlessly into the distance, still without a single human figure.

The bright moon of this alien world had moved to a position directly overhead. I sighed softly, utterly unable to walk any further, and could only find a spot to sit beneath a roadside tree to rest. Whether it was due to the warmth of my wings or my body’s inherent nature, enveloped in my feathery embrace, I felt not the slightest chill in the night. Gradually, my consciousness began to blur. Before I could even react, I drifted into a deep sleep.