Chapter 2 - "Are You Okay?"
There was only one method other than plucking their wings to capture a fairy.
It was said to be locking them in a silver cage.
I didn't know how many generations ago it had been discovered, but which idiot had brought such information to humans, our natural enemies?
I slipped through the gaps between branches, apologizing "Sorry!" to the flowers I used as stepping stones as I flew through.
The speed I could muster was already at its limit. With my graceful wing maneuvers, humans shouldn't even be able to get close, yet the black human figure chasing us closed the distance without letting up.
——A monster.
I cursed under my breath as I flew with single-minded focus.
The full moon shining brightly in the night sky seemed to mock our tattered selves.
"Ugh..."
Something touched the tips of my wings cutting through the wind, and I glanced back for just an instant.
I saw a human hand emerging from a dark-colored robe.
Did it touch me?
Impossible!
The black figure was darker than the night forest. Just thinking about being glared at by the eyes hidden beneath the hood made my spine feel like ice was sliding down it. The shadow was the height of a human child.
Because of our species, our night vision was sharp.
——...It's Come! Fly!
I sent a 'Message' to the several companions present here. Fly. In other words, gain altitude. Since our method of movement was always flight, it carried the intent of saying, Even higher! Put your back into it!
If I used the leaves of the wild raspberry as a foothold to jump even higher, the night dew splashed up.
Geez! Idiot! Idiot!
I hate humans so much!
The transparent wings, like glasswork, two on each of our backs. These existed solely for us to live peacefully, so they were not something to be overused in a life-or-death chase.
"Ah...!"
"Hey, Wait, Already!"
I grabbed the arm of a compatriot who swayed unsteadily before my eyes and flew. Their complexion was poor. It was a male who had only just been born. We took on our adult forms from the moment we were born and could fly, but this child, born only three hours ago, seemed to lack sufficient stamina.
"Are You Okay?"
They didn't seem okay. The groaned response of "...Nn" indicated their limit.
——E, Elenoa! It's Coming!
"!"
Hearing the 'Message' from a compatriot flying ahead, I immediately looked back.
Rustle. The sound of branches and leaves rubbing together came from very close by.
Close. Run? No, it was impossible no matter how I looked at it. This speed was the limit.
The hand reaching toward me was white like a ghost.
My stiffened body instinctively realized that escape was impossible.
——In that case.
I threw the compatriot I was holding forward. Confirming that several others caught them, I felt a slight relief.
The recoil from the throw pushed me backward. Instead of waving to the companions moving away, I whistled with my fingers.
I hoped they could hear that high-pitched peeeeeep.
A farewell whistle. ——'Wait for God's Whim'.
Believe in miracles. May the eyes of God, who does not save everyone in this world equally, turn toward you, even if just a little.
That faint sound would never reach human ears.
"I finally caught you."
A whispering voice spoke. A young human hand grabbed me tightly from the waist down. It didn't hurt, perhaps because they were careful not to crush me. But it wasn't easy enough to allow escape by catching them off guard; both my wings were pinched together so their shape wouldn't break, and bound with thread.
It was silver thread. Even if this was just a temporary tool, I had no will to resist.
A human fingertip tapped my forehead, and my consciousness faded to black.
Here, as if following a template or something, I remembered 'myself'.
It was my memories from my previous life. I had been a female university student. Born in Japan, I grew up normally, went to school, played around, and lived. My memories cut off when I made eye contact with the sleepy eyes of a large truck driver.
And the crucial part was the game mixed into those memories. Fond of fantasy, I played games rated as national hits without even checking reviews or word-of-mouth.
This world was a romance simulation RPG. You chose the protagonist's gender, which changed the genders of the appearing characters. You made choices during the journey, and in the end, there were many endings, such as getting married or eloping.
It was an otome game, a gal game, and a role-playing game. It seemed I had been born into such a complicated stage. As a fairy, a race that existed with high probability in such worlds of magic and swords, elves and dwarves, slimes and goblins.
By the way, if my memories were correct, I was a fairy whose role was to go from this world to another world's protagonist and recruit them, saying, "Please become the Hero, my world is in danger!" I would then accompany them on their journey, a high-spec fairy who could display levels and status lists, and also a capture target character.
I was female.
Which meant, if the Hero came, they would be male, right?
——I'd like to refrain from being captured, if possible.