MARD Chapter 1 Remastered Where am I? (Patreon)

A soft breeze whispered through the dense forest canopy, carrying the scent of pine and blooming herbs. Shafts of sunlight filtered through the leaves, scattering golden patches of light across the mossy ground. Birds chirped in the distance, their songs blending with the rustle of leaves and the faint hum of cicadas.

Three sisters could be seen wandering the woodland path, each carrying a woven straw basket filled with freshly picked herbs and roots. The eldest, a young woman of about seventeen, wore a long, plain robe tied at the waist with a simple cord. Her long green hair was braided neatly down her back, and her calm blue eyes scanned the underbrush with quiet focus.

The middle sister, about fifteen, walked a short distance behind, her expression sharp and wary. Her dark blue eyes darted left and right, ever cautious of beasts or bandits that might lurk nearby. She wore the same roughspun robes, though hers were more tattered around the edges, showing signs of frequent brawls with troublemakers.

Trailing behind them was the youngest, a twelve-year-old girl with bright, curious eyes and twin pigtails tied with frayed red ribbons. Her small hands clutched her basket, already overflowing with herbs she had picked enthusiastically, and her robe was too big for her, the sleeves dangling past her fingertips.

They moved through the forest with practiced rhythm until.

“Big Sis, what’s that?” The youngest suddenly called, her high-pitched voice echoing between the trees.

The older two stopped in their tracks.

The eldest turned, blinking. “What’s wrong, Wu Xiao?”

The little girl pointed toward a patch of ferns ahead. “Over there! Something’s… laying on the ground!”

The three hurried closer, pushing aside the thick leaves and froze.

Lying among the moss and roots was a boy around fifteen, by the look of him. His short brown hair was messy, his skin slightly tanned, and his clothes… strange.

The eldest sister’s eyes widened. “It’s… a boy.”

He wore nothing but a red t-shirt and a pair of boxers. His chest rose and fell steadily, his expression peaceful, though his sleeping face carried a faint trace of mischief.

The middle sister immediately stepped forward, raising her hand defensively, her stance shifting like someone ready to fight. “Sis, be careful! You don’t know where he’s been or what he is. What if he’s a bandit?”

The eldest frowned at her. “Wu Ying, that’s rude. Look at him, he’s clearly sleeping. Do you see any weapons on him?”

Wu Ying hesitated, eyes narrowing as she examined the boy more closely. “…No, but that doesn’t mean he’s harmless. Who sleeps half-naked in the middle of the forest? It’s suspicious!”

Meanwhile, the youngest sister crept closer, kneeling beside the boy. Her eyes widened with wonder. “He’s kind of cute… He looks like your age, but his face is weird. His clothes are so thin! Isn’t he cold?”

The eldest sighed. “Wu Xiao, don’t touch him yet.”

But the little girl ignored her warning and gently poked his cheek. “He’s warm! Definitely alive!”

Wu Ying groaned, rubbing her temples. “He’s also a boy, Xiao. Have some shame!”

“I’m just checking if he’s okay!” Wu Xiao protested with a pout.

The eldest sister stepped forward and knelt down beside the boy, her calm composure masking her growing unease. She reached out and gently shook his shoulder. “Hey… are you okay?”

No response.

She tried again, a bit firmer this time. “Can you hear me?”

Still nothing. The boy only mumbled softly, turning his head slightly toward her hand.

“Hmm?” she murmured, leaning closer.

“...Oppai…”

All three froze.

“...So soft…”

The sisters exchanged looks.

Wu Lan raised an eyebrow in confusion. “Did… did he just say oppai?”

Wu Xiao tilted her head in confusion. “What’s that?”

“Something perverted, I’m sure,” Wu Ying snapped, glaring down at the boy. “We should leave him here. Whatever disease he has might be contagious, clearly it affects the mind!”

The eldest stifled a laugh behind her sleeve, her expression softening despite herself. “Don’t be ridiculous. He’s just… dreaming, probably.”

Wu Ying huffed. “Dreaming about what, exactly?*”

“I’d rather not know,” She said dryly, before turning her attention back to the boy. His pulse was steady, his breathing calm, whoever he was, he didn’t seem dangerous.

—----------------------------------------

Issei’s Dream

“Kyaaa~! The master is so naughty!”

The sweet, high-pitched voice of a catgirl rang out in a luxurious golden hall, her tail curling in surprise as a young boy’s hands, firm but trembling, found their way to her generous chest. She blushed furiously, ears twitching as she pressed closer instead of retreating, her purr melting into a giggle.

The boy, sitting lazily on a throne draped with silken cushions, had a grin wide enough to rival the sun. His brown hair was messy, his eyes gleaming with that familiar sparkle of pure, blissful idiocy.

“Ahaha! Don’t blame me, kitty-chan! You’re just too soft!” He said proudly, puffing out his chest as if his perversion were a heroic act.

The catgirl playfully batted his shoulder with her pawed glove, her cheeks burning. “Mou~! The master is so bold!”

The sound of bells chimed as another woman approached, this one tall and elegant, dressed in a maid outfit that looked far too short to be practical. The black lace clung to her figure, the skirt fluttering just above her thighs, and a choker with a silver heart gleamed at her neck. Her crimson eyes glowed faintly as she bent forward, holding out a silver tray covered with grapes, desserts, and steaming delicacies.

“Would you like some more grapes, Master?” she purred, her voice sultry enough to melt wax. “Or perhaps… something sweeter?”

The boy’s eyes widened. “Ahhh, yes! More grapes! And… maybe some headpats while you’re at it!”

The maid gave a sly smile, leaning just close enough for her perfume to reach him. “As you wish, my lord.”

All around him, more beautiful women gathered, elves with long, pointed ears and flowing hair, demonesses with wings and horns, voluptuous human women dressed in silks, each gazing at him with devotion that bordered on worship. The throne room shimmered in soft golden light, its marble floor reflecting the beauty of his fantasy harem.

Issei Hyoudou, age fifteen, leaned back against the red velvet throne, eyes closed in bliss as he stretched out his arms and laughed.

“Being the king is the best!”

His voice echoed across the grand hall as two women fanned him with feathers and another knelt beside the throne to polish his shoe, though her eyes made it clear her thoughts were far from professional.

At the edges of his consciousness, a soft voice, gentle and melodic echoed through the dream. “Are you okay?”

The words drifted through the golden air, faint and almost invisible beneath the laughter and giggles of his imaginary paradise.

Issei blinked. “Huh? Who said that?”

The catgirl tilted her head innocently. “Said what, Master?”

“That voice…” He muttered, frowning slightly as the edges of the dream began to shimmer. The walls of the throne room flickered. The maid’s face wavered, the laughter of the other women became faint and distant.

The mysterious voice came again, clearer now—soothing, tender, and unmistakably feminine. “Can you hear me? Please wake up…”

The throne beneath him trembled. The light began to fade. The delicious grapes vanished into mist.

Issei’s eyes widened in panic. “Oh no! Not now! I was just about to—”

The catgirl and maid reached out to him, their forms blurring like smoke. “Master! Don’t go!”

“Wait—come back! My harem! My kingdom!”

The golden world shattered like glass.

And with a startled yelp—

“OH, NOOO!”

—-------------------------------------------

“Huh?” The boy’s eyes fluttered open to find himself staring up at a brilliant canopy of leaves, sunlight pouring through like shards of gold. A soft breeze brushed against his face, carrying the scent of earth, wildflowers, and something faintly sweet. For a second, he thought he was still dreaming.

But then his vision focused on the three girls, all breathtakingly beautiful, who were crouched around him. Their silhouettes framed by the forest light made his brain short-circuit on the spot.

“Eh? EHH?!” He sat up so fast that the youngest gasped and stumbled back a step.

Before he could even process it, his gaze darted from one girl to another. The first one was tall, poised, with long dark green hair and soft blue eyes that radiated gentle concern. Her robes were simple but somehow graceful, and her voice when she spoke carried the calm authority of an older sister.

The second girl, clearly the middle sibling, had sharper features, with shorter green hair, darker blue eyes full of suspicion, and the stance of someone who could throw a punch at any moment. Her sleeves were rolled up, ready for a fight.

And the youngest… a petite, cheerful girl with twin pigtails and a basket of herbs at her feet, looked more curious than afraid.

They were talking rapidly to one another, but the words didn’t make any sense to him. It was all a blur of sounds, like some foreign language.

Until—suddenly—it clicked.

The words shifted, twisting and reshaping themselves in his mind until they made sense.

“He’s finally awake,” The eldest said softly. “Be careful, he could still be injured.”

“‘Injured’? More like dangerous,” The middle sister muttered. “Look at his eyes.”

“Bishoujos…” The word slipped out of Issei’s mouth before he could stop it, his expression instantly melting into a dumb, perverted grin.

The three girls froze.

Wu Ying, the middle sister, tensed immediately, stepping forward with one foot and raising her fists. “What did he just say?! Why does he look like that?!”

The youngest tilted her head. “Bishoujo? Is that… some kind of fruit?”

The eldest confused also wondered what that word meant. “I… don’t think so.”

“Bishoujos,” Issei repeated, practically sparkling with bliss. “I’m surrounded by beautiful girls in robes! Am I… in a dream again?”

Wu Ying didn’t lower her stance. “If he tries anything, I’ll hit him.”

“W-Wait, wait! Hold up!” Issei said quickly, waving his hands. “I didn’t mean anything bad! I just—uh—have a lot of appreciation for beautiful people, that’s all!”

The eldest exhaled slowly, shaking her head. “Are you okay?” She asked again, this time ignoring the lustful look in his eyes and focusing on why he was sleeping here.

Her voice drew him in for a moment, gentle, melodic, filled with genuine concern.

“Huh! Ugh… fine, I guess?” Issei said awkwardly, scratching his cheek. He wasn’t sure what she meant by okay, but he didn’t feel pain anywhere. If anything, his body felt weirdly light… almost free. Like something heavy had been taken off his chest.

“That’s a relief,” The eldest said, a small smile softening her face. “But what are you doing sleeping in a forest like this? It’s dangerous.”

“Forest?” Issei repeated dumbly, blinking.

He turned his head and his heart nearly stopped.

Trees. Endless trees. The soft hum of insects. No buildings, no streets, no vending machines, no posters of gravure idols on his wall. Just… nature.

His confusion hit him all at once.

“Whaaaaaaat!? Why am I in a forest?! Where’s my home? My room?!” His voice echoed across the clearing, sending birds scattering into the sky.

All three sisters flinched in surprise. Wu Ying jumped back, clenching her fists, while the youngest covered her ears.

“Big Sis, is he possessed?” Wu Xiao whispered nervously.

“I—don’t think so,” The eldest murmured, her brows furrowed.

Issei ran his hands through his hair, pacing in frantic circles. “This can’t be happening—did I sleepwalk? Was I kidnapped?! Oh crap, Mom’s gonna freak out, when she finds out I’m not in my room! I can’t even explain this!”

It took several minutes of panicked rambling and deep breathing before he finally managed to calm down.

He turned toward the three sisters, still half-expecting to wake up. “Am I anywhere near Kouh?”

“Kouh?” Wu Ying repeated, frowning. “What’s that?”

“It’s my hometown,” Issei said quickly, his voice hopeful.

“I’m sorry,” The eldest said gently, shaking her head. “We’ve never heard of a town with that name.”

“…Okay,” he muttered, his heart sinking. “Then—uh—am I anywhere in Japan?”

“Japan?” the youngest asked, blinking. “Is it a type of food?”

Issei stared blankly at her. “No—it’s a country! A very real one!”

The eldest exchanged a worried glance with her sisters before turning back to him. “We’ve never heard of a country by that name either. We live in the Blue Sky Empire, in a small village near its border.”

“Blue Sky Empire?” Issei repeated slowly, dread creeping into his chest. The name sounded way too grandiose for anything that could exist on Earth.

He rubbed his temples. “You’ve got to be kidding me…”

His thoughts spun wildly. ‘Blue Sky Empire? That sounds like something out of an Isekai lightnovel.’ His eyes widened. “Wait, no… don’t tell me…”

He swallowed hard, forcing out the next question. “C-Can you tell me the name of this world?”

The eldest looked puzzled. “The world? I don’t know… but the continent we’re on is called the Supreme Wind Continent.”

Issei froze. The words echoed in his skull like a gong.

“Supreme… Wind… Continent?” he repeated weakly.

That was it. The final straw.

His eye twitched. His lips trembled. And then—

“Damn it!” he shouted, clutching his hair. “This is another world! The names sound too ridiculous to be real! Am I officially becoming one of those light novel protagonists!”

The sisters watched him quietly as he ranted to himself, stomping a few feet away and then collapsing to his knees in despair.

Wu Ying crossed her arms. “I told you he was strange.”

Wu Xiao tilted her head. “Maybe he hit his head too hard?”

The eldest sighed, her voice softening with sympathy. “He’s frightened. Wherever he came from… he must be currently lost.”

Issei stared blankly at the dirt, muttering under his breath. “Why me? I didn’t even get hit by a truck… or confess my love before dying dramatically. This isn’t fair.”

He lifted his head, eyes full of frustration and helplessness. “Damn it. Now what am I supposed to do…?”

 Wu Lan’s soft gaze lingered on the brown-haired boy who sat slumped against the floor, staring blankly at the ground. His shoulders trembled faintly with frustration, and though he tried to hide it, the faint quiver of his lip betrayed him.

She took a step forward, her small hands gripping the hem of her robe. “He looks so lost,” she whispered under her breath. “Maybe I should—”

Before she could move any closer, a firm hand landed on her shoulder.

“Wu Lan.” The gentle authority in her younger sister’s tone froze her in place. Wu Lan turned slightly, meeting Wu Ying’s narrowed blue eyes.

“Think about it,” Wu Ying said sharply. “We don’t know who he is or where he’s from. He could be lying to us, faking this whole thing just to gain our sympathy.” She folded her arms, glancing at Issei with suspicion. “I say we leave him here before we get more involved than we should.”

Wu Lan frowned, shaking her head. “But look at him, Sister. He’s clearly in trouble. Maybe he is telling the truth. Wouldn’t it be cruel to just walk away from someone who needs help?” Her tone was earnest, almost pleading.

Wu Ying clicked her tongue in annoyance. “You always think with your heart. This is how we end up cleaning up everyone else’s messes.”

“Maybe… but showing kindness isn’t wrong,” Wu Lan said softly.

Before Wu Ying could continue, another voice chimed in — bright and innocent.

“Don’t be sad, big brother!”

Both older sisters turned in surprise to see their youngest sibling, Wu Xiao, kneeling in front of the boy with a pure, childlike smile. She gently reached out, her small hand hovering uncertainly near his knee. “I’m sure you can go back home one day.”

Issei blinked, raising his head to meet the little girl’s gaze. Her blue eyes shone with warmth, her light-green twin tails swaying gently in the breeze. Despite everything, her cheerful energy seemed to melt some of the heavy air around them.

He managed a faint smile. “Your right…Thanks.”

The boy exhaled deeply, trying to calm the storm inside his chest. “Guess there’s nothing I can do right now.” He scratched the back of his head sheepishly. “Uh… I should probably introduce myself. I’m Hyoudou Issei and I’m currently lost and have nowhere to go.”

All three sisters looked at him curiously, tilting their heads slightly at the strange name.

“Oh.” Wu Lan blinked, surprised at his sudden change in demeanor. Then her lips curved into a polite smile. “I’m Wu Lan. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Issei.”

“Hmph,” Wu Ying grunted, folding her arms. “I’m Wu Ying.” Her tone was curt, though her eyes never left him, watching his every move like a hawk. Her short green hair framed her face, and her expression screamed don’t try anything stupid.

“I’m Wu Xiao!” The youngest piped up, beaming brightly. “Nice to meet you, big brother Issei!”

Her cheerful energy immediately eased the tension. Issei’s grin returned, though this time it was softer and more genuine. “Heh, nice to meet you too, Xiao-chan.”

Wu Lan’s gentle voice broke the momentary calm. “If you truly have no place to stay,” she began, “you can come with us. It’s not much, but we could offer you food and shelter for a while.”

Issei’s eyes widened in disbelief. “R-Really?! You mean it?”

Wu Lan nodded, her smile kind. “Of course. Though…” her tone shifted slightly, becoming practical, “if you stay, you’ll have to help around the house. Everyone works in our family.”

From beside her, Wu Ying’s jaw dropped. “WHAT?! Wu Lan, are you serious? You’re inviting a stranger to live with us?”

“He’s not just a stranger—he’s lost.”

“He’s suspicious!”

“He’s hurt!”

“He’s a boy!” Wu Ying threw her hands up in disbelief. “And not even a normal one—did you see how he looked at us earlier?”

Wu Lan ignored her. “I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

“Fine? How do you know that?!” Wu Ying barked, glaring at her older sister like she’d gone insane.

Wu Lan met her eyes calmly. “Because I trust him not to hurt us. And because… he needs our help.”

Issei blinked, stunned by her words. For a moment, his usual pervy thoughts were gone. No girl had ever looked at him with that much quiet faith before. Something about her gentle sincerity struck a chord deep inside him, a feeling that made him straighten up.

“...I promise that I won’t disappoint you,” he murmured, barely audible.

Wu Ying sighed, throwing her hands up in defeat. “Tch. You and your bleeding heart…”

But before she could turn away, Wu Lan smiled knowingly. She had already seen the tiny crack in her sister’s stern front.

“Fine!” Wu Ying finally snapped, stomping her foot. She stormed over to Issei, glaring down at him. “Listen here, perv. If you even think about doing anything indecent, I’ll—”

Before she could finish, she turned toward the nearest tree. With a sharp cry, she drove her fist forward.

CRACK!

The tree’s thick trunk split clean down the middle, snapping apart with a deafening sound. Birds scattered from the branches above, and a cold chill ran down Issei’s spine.

He stared at the destruction, his face pale. “O-okay… got it! No funny business! Loud and clear!”

Wu Ying stepped back, dusting off her knuckles with a smirk. “Good. I’d hate to waste the effort it took to find you.”

Wu Xiao giggled. “Sister’s scary when she’s serious!”

Wu Lan just sighed. “Alright, that’s enough. Let’s go home before it gets dark.”

The three girls picked up their baskets of herbs and started walking down the forest path, their sandals brushing softly against the dirt.

Issei watched them go for a moment before scrambling to his feet. “W-Wait for me!”

But just as he reached for his basket—something caught his attention.

There, nestled in his palm, was a small blue marble, glowing faintly under the sunlight.

“...What’s this?” He muttered, holding it up. The orb shimmered, reflecting both the sun and the sky like liquid glass. He didn’t remember picking it up, and yet… something about it felt familiar. Important. He clutched it tightly, an unexplainable warmth pulsing from it into his chest.

“Are you coming or not?” Wu Ying’s irritated voice called from up ahead.

“Coming!” Issei shouted, quickly holding the marble tightly. He jogged after them, his heart still racing from confusion and that strange, lingering sense that the object in his hand meant more than he could possibly understand.

As he followed the three girls deeper into the woods, the sunlight dimmed behind the canopy.

Somewhere, faintly, he could almost hear a woman’s voice, gentle, distant, and proud.

‘Grow well, my Red Dragon… and never change.’

He looked around, confused, but the forest gave no answer. So, he simply shrugged, tightened his grip on the marble, and followed the sisters toward the village that would soon become his new home.

Done. Tell me if I made any mistakes.