Chapter 5 I hate children!

“Are you okay, miss? Did the beast hurt you?” the boy who had first rushed to Aspen’s help inquired, setting his curious eyes upon him.

“I am fine,” Aspen replied curtly, but quickly changed his attitude to appear more feminine. “I mean, you saved me before that big, bad wolf could hurt me. You are a brave young kid.”

“We helped too!” Another boy piped excitedly.

“Yeah, me too!”

“I was the one who shot the wolf in the eye.”

“But I was the one standing the closest!”

Aspen could already feel a headache coming on from all the chaotic shouting and bickering. If there was anyone he hated more than women, it was snotty little children who didn’t know when to shut up.

His fist clenched instinctively, and he raised his hand to hit the loudest in the group, but the child who had led his friends here looked at him.

“What are you doing, miss? Are you unwell?”

Realizing he was about to make a terrible mistake, Aspen quickly came back to his senses and controlled his urges.

“My…hand is aching from swinging that tree branch. I think I sprained my wrist,” he mumbled, lowering his arm.

With the timer ticking down at the back of his mind, Aspen wanted to get hold of some womanly clothes as soon as possible.

“My name is Keko. What’s yours?” the first child asked.

“It’s…Asp…Astrella,” Aspen replied, quickly correcting himself before he could spill the truth. “Listen, Keko. Can you please take me to your village? I need a place to rest and some new clothes.”

Keko looked at Aspen curiously and tilted his head like a confused pup.

“What are those strange things you are wearing? Are you not from around here, miss?”

Aspen found himself in a pickle again. There was no way a child would believe him if he told him the truth. If anything, they all would mistake him for a raving lunatic.

Before Aspen could think of anything, one of Keko’s friends butted in.

“I think those are witches’ robes. She could be a witch, Keko!” he cried. “We should get away from her or she will curse us!”

Listen here, you little shit, do I really look like a damn witch?

Aspen somehow gulped his anger and swept his inner thoughts away.

“I am not a witch, kids,” he spoke in a soft voice. “I mean, just think about it. Would a witch cry for help when faced with a wolf? I just got lost while…while picking berries in the woods.”

Before anyone else could question Aspen, Keko took his side.

“Miss Astrella is not a witch!” he protested. “And father always says to help those in danger.”

“Yes, that’s right. Thank you, Keko!” Aspen breathed a sigh of relief. “Now, please, could you take me to your village? I need some proper clothes.”

“But why are you wearing those strange things?” the chubby boy standing at the back asked.

“I…Well…some bad men stole my clothes while I was bathing. This was all I found nearby,” Aspen replied, carefully weaving a lie. “I think those…bad men were…wizards. I need to burn these clothes so I don’t catch their curse.”

Keko immediately became fired up.

“Don’t worry, miss. I will help you find clothes. You can stay with us in our house,” he volunteered.

Aspen thanked his lucky stars and followed Keko into the village. But as he neared the wooden fence wall, he turned nervous. He couldn’t afford to be spotted in these clothes, or else the adults would surely riddle him with more questions.

“Keko…I’m feeling a little shy and scared. Is there another way to your house?” Aspen asked.

Keko stopped and giggled at him. “I know a secret path around the back. I use it to sneak out of the village at night. Follow me, miss!”

Aspen followed Keko around the back and entered through a small gap in the fence, carefully making his way to a small cottage with a thatched roof.

The other kids dispersed at once while Keko climbed in through a window and opened the door for Aspen.

“Come on in,” he whispered.

Aspen quickly dove into the doorway and disappeared inside the house.

“Wait here, Miss Astrella, and I will get you something to eat.”

Keko was about to run out again when Aspen stopped him.

“I need to change my clothes, remember?”

Keko nodded and scurried off into one of the smaller rooms. He returned, carrying a set of old clothes.

“These are my elder sister’s old clothes. I can’t give you the new ones, or she will get all grumpy.”

Aspen smiled at him. “It’s perfectly fine. Thank you, Keko. Now, please find me some food.”

As Keko ran outside to get some food, Aspen quickly changed out of his original clothes and put on the plain long-sleeved top and loose pants. He completed the look by slipping into simple bamboo sandals and throwing his red hair back.

[Objective completed!]

[+50 Exp!]

[New female clothing successfully acquired!]

[Reward obtained: Simple Rose Tiara.]

Out of nowhere, a tiara made of red roses materialized mid-air, and Aspen caught it before it could hit the ground.

“Wonder what this does?” Aspen put on the tiara, just to try it out, and immediately, his system window flashed.

[Accessory equipped: Simple Rose Tiara.]

[Charm: +1!]

“Alright, that’s what I am talking about!”

Aspen walked up to the dusty mirror in the corner of the room to check how he looked.

“Huh, that’s actually comfortable,” he mumbled, admiring his peachy behind. “At least I have a good ass.”

He then immediately looked into his loose white top and stared down at his plump breasts.

“B-cups for sure!” He grinned, preparing to give them a good squeeze.

“I’m back, Miss Astrella. I brought you some fruits!”

Keko’s voice interrupted Aspen’s thoughts, and he immediately put his hands down.

Aspen forced a smile and welcomed him home.

“Here you go, miss,” he said, handing Aspen a large yellow banana. “It’s my sister’s favorite fruit, so I thought you would like it too.”

Aspen smiled peevishly and grabbed the banana. “Of course, your sister likes them,” he muttered. “Anyway, when are your parents going to return home?”

“It is almost noon. They will head back from their field any moment now,” Keko replied innocently.

Before Aspen could speak another word, there was a knock on the door, and he turned completely silent.

A burly-looking man entered the cottage, lugging an axe on his back.

“Look who I brought home, papa!” Keko exclaimed excitedly. “I found her in the woods.”

Instead of getting angry at the sight of a complete stranger standing in his home wearing his daughter’s clothes, the man grinned at Aspen.

“Well done, my dear son. Ever since your mother and sister were killed by goblins, these villagers haven’t seen a woman’s face,” Keko’s father replied, setting his axe down by the door. “You know what we are going to do, Keko. Don’t you?”

Keko jumped up excitedly. “We are going to use Miss Astrella as bait to lure out the Goblin Brute and kill him!”

What the fuck did you just say? Use me as bait?

Aspen’s eyes widened in horror as he stared at the little boy smiling and clapping in front of him.

God, I really hate children! They are sly little devils, I swear!